If the shoe fits...

Just a few definitions of a cult:

According to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cult:

a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies

According to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cult:

a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad

I spent the majority of my life in Independent, Fundamental, Premillenial, King James 1611, Missionary, Baptist Churches. In my lifetime I have often heard those churches that I grew up in, referred to as cults. As a child and teenager, I never really thought that the term 'cult' fit the churches that I knew. Now as an adult looking back I can see where people could get that idea.

Many of you know as well as I do that the first definition, a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies, does sound pretty familiar when you think about it. Rites and Ceremonies, how many churches do you know that have a particular format for worship:

1. One song

2. Pastor welcomes everyone

3. Choir sings 3-4 songs

4. Prayer and offering

5. Choir comes down and everyone shakes hands

6. Someone sings a special song (or in some churches 3-5)

7. Pastor preaches

8. Invitational Song

9. Dismissal

This format is basically the same in all the churches that I attended, and if for some reason the format gets changed then they act like it is the end of the world. If we feel we have to have everything so scheduled out, then were do we leave time for something special that God may have in store? Then you have the competitions, why did they get to sing and I didn't, why didn't I get asked to pray, why are they always the ones who get to take up the offering? Then there are the churches that preach and teach the Church Covenant as if it were the Ten Commandments. Most of the pastors and preachers I know have a hard enough time abiding by the Ten Commandments, little own the Church Covenant.

The second definition, great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad. My interest in this definition is, the great devotion to a person, I could name so many names here of pastors and preachers that people have put into almost God like roles. They believe everything these men say as if it were God himself in person talking, not God speaking through just a man that he has called to be his mouth piece. There are some of these preachers and pastor's that have taken advantage of this admiration. They now preach their convictions and beliefs as gospel, when the majority of those convictions and beliefs have no Biblical foundation. Convictions are something that differ based on individuals. My convictions may not be the same as yours, but they are convictions non the less. Convictions are not something that you can try to push on others, however, I know hundreds of preachers and pastors that do just that. Here are some of the ones that I can remember that have come and gone like fads:

1. You shouldn't drink anything with caffeine because it is a stimulant.

2. You shouldn't own or watch a TV because you are just inviting the devil into your home.

3. The Internet is evil and is like bringing free pornography for your family to view.

How many preachers do you know, that at one time or another preached and taught any of these 3, that now drink caffeine, own at least 1 (probably multiple) TVs possibly now have their own TV shows, and now have their own websites, blogs, and FaceBook pages. While I feel that there is nothing wrong with caffeine, TVs, or the Internet, I still find it funny how what some preachers and pastors preached against so adamantly a few years ago is now somehow OK.