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Dr. Robert Sumner passed away in December 2016. The Biblical Evangelist newspaper is no longer being published and the ministry of Biblical Evangelism has ceased operation. The remaining inventory of his books and gospel tracts was transferred to The Baptist Tabernacle of Los Angeles and may be ordered here. Reaching Cults for Christ (Part 4) Reaching the Cults for Christ! by Evangelist Robert L. Sumner (Continued from the November-December Issue) In our previous studies we have examined those trapped by so-called “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” Judiasm, Roman Catholicism and Seventh-day Adventism. We now continue with a look at, THOSE TRAPPED BY THE ERROR OF UNITARIANISM The Unitarian, like the Jew, rejects the deity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity. In dealing with a professed Unitarian, it will probably be well to begin by showing him that eternal salvation is absolutely impossible apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Let him face the declaration of Peter in Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Let him read also such passages as John 10:1-9; John 14:5,6; and I John 5:11,12. Another line of approach is in showing him what is involved in a rejection of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Here you might use such passages as I John 2:22,23; I John 4:1-3; I John 5:10-12; II John 7-11; Hebrews 10:26-31; and John 8:21-24. William C. Irvine, in his valuable book, Heresies Exposed, lists seven times where an "if" to Christ's deity is questioned and seven times answered in the affirmative: (1) There is the "if" of Satan in Matthew 4:3 with the answer of God's testimony in Matthew 3:17; (2) There is the "if" of the Jews in John 10:24 with the answer of Christ's testimony in John 10:36; (3) There is the "if" of the passers-by in Matthew 27:40 and the answer of the centurion's testimony in Matthew 27:54; (4) There is the "if" of the chief priests in Matthew 27:42 with the answer of Nathaniel's testimony in John 1:49; (5) There is the "if" of the rulers in Luke 23:35 with the answer of Peter's testimony in Matthew 16:16; (6) There is the "if' of the soldiers in Luke 23:37 and the answer of Pilate's testimony in Luke 23:38; (7) There is the "if" of the malefactor in Luke 23:39 and the answer in the other malefactor's testimony in Luke 23:40. THOSE TRAPPED BY THE ERROR OF MORMONISM Possibly the best approach with those ensnared by this cult is to show the prospect that the Bible is our sole authority for today. Mormons are taught to trust in the Book of Mormon, in the Doctrine and Covenants, in the Pearl of Great Price, and in other so-called authoritative works of Mormonism. Show your prospect the warning of God in Revelation 22:18,19: "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." Here it is crystal clear that God has no other book for man than the Bible. Point out that even a revelation by an angel should not be accepted as authoritative, showing him Galatians 1:8: "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Not even the angel " Actually, it is not a very difficult task to prove that the Book of Mormon is a very fallible book. To date, there have been over 3,000 changes made in it since the original 1830 edition; and over 500 of these have been in the first 25 pages alone! And, evidently, not all the errors have been corrected yet, to say the least, since Alma 7:9,10 has Jesus being born in Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem, as the Bible says (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:1-7). In the front of every copy of the Book of Mormon is "The Testimony of Three Witnesses"; and on another page, "The Testimony of Eight Witnesses." What is not revealed, however, is that all three of the original witnesses "apostasized" from the Mormon Church and five of the eight witnesses did the same. After showing the prospect the Bible to be our only authority, next point out to him what this Book says about forgiveness of sin. Show him that it is received by simple faith in Christ. Such passages as John 1:11,12; John 3:14,18; John 5:24; Acts 10:43; and Acts 13:38,39 might be used to good advantage in this. THOSE TRAPPED BY THE ERROR OF SO-CALLED "CHRISTIAN SCIENCE" Let me interject a note of warning here. You will find a great temptation with the so-called Christian Scientist – as well as some of the other cultists – to use ridicule because of the absurdity of their beliefs. Don't! You are not trying to gain a reputation as a comedian, but to win a precious soul to our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not mean that you should not point out the ridiculousness of the prospect's false position, but it ought to be done in such a way he will not rebuff every attempt on your part to point him to Christ, even though convinced his way is wrong. You not only want to lead the horse to water and make him thirsty, you want him to drink. Personally, I consider the atonement one of the strongest points of attack with those trapped in this particular error. Recall that Mrs. Eddy, in Science and Health, declared: "The material blood of Jesus was no more efficacious to cleanse from sin when it was shed upon the accursed tree than when it was flowing in His veins. . . ." For this reason, excellent passages for consideration include Isaiah 53; John In closing this section, it might be well to point out that a main argument for the validity of "Christian Science" lies in its physical cures. In all probability, it was the physical appeal which attracted your prospect to the cult in the first place. It will be most unwise to deny those cures because of tile simple fact that many of them are real. A great many diseases are a matter of the mind; and when the proper psychological attitude is reached, the healing is effected, sometimes instantaneously. However, it will be wise to point out that such healings by themselves are in no sense proof that "Christian Science" is true. Show what our Lord said in Matthew 7:22,23: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Because of this, whether or not a group follows the Word of God in its teaching is the proper test in checking, not the phenomenal manifestations which may or may not accompany it. You might also call attention to the wonders which the Antichrist will perform when he comes. See II Thessalonians 2:8,9. Don't give up on those trapped in the cults. You, obviously, will not reach everyone you endeavor to win, but neither will you bring to Christ every other type of sinner with whom you deal. Each one you do win, as a brand snatched from the burning, will be a cause of rejoicing throughout all eternity. Never lose sight of the fact that "… the gospel of Christ … is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth . . .” (Romans [Taken from the editor’s book, Biblical Evangelism in Action, © 1966; $11 Postage Paid] Additional books by the author the reader will find helpful when dealing with cultists: Jesus Christ IS God! (329 pages, $12, postage paid) Mormonism: A Soul Damning Religion (47 pages, $2.50, postage paid) Falsities of Seventh-day Adventism (28 pages, $2, postage paid) Armstrongism: The “Worldwide Also published by Biblical Evangelism Press: Letters to Teresa: Studies in Roman Catholicism by Samuel Fisk (91 pages, $5, postage paid) |
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