By: Admin

Admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:15:26 +0000

In reply to David.

David,
You may also want to read the recent posts about “predatory religion”. Please, email with any questions you may have. author@religiouscultsinfo.com

John

By: Admin

Admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:11:19 +0000

In reply to David.

David,

Thank you, for taking time to read and comment. For some reason, your comment was filtered as “spam” and I approved it today. I don’t get to review that folder every day. As far as your understanding of what makes a group a religious cult and what does not, please, start here – http://religiouscultsinfo.com/?p=3225 and read the posts which explain thought reform. Many experts do not consider the “beliefs” of a group to qualify them as a cult, but, their “practices”. It is not the creed(s) but the deed(s). I was in a “non-denominational, Protestant” church for many years that believed many “mainline” doctrines. But, the controlling practices betrayed the displayed sincerity of the leaders. I trust you will find peace in your search for Truth.
John

By: David

David — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:12:28 +0000

Christian Gospel Temple a cult? Sorry, but CGT is as far from a cult as you can get.
How many cults have an open door to anyone that wants to visit? How many cults offer their members the freedom to stand up and testify any time they want? How many cults allow their members the freedom to take the pulpit and say anything they want anytime they want? Yes, people that attend the services do dress nice, but you can walk in wearing jeans and a T-Shit and be welcome. When people had questions about things they did in their daily life, they had the freedom to contact the pastor and ask his advice. Yes, the doctrine may have been strict by many people’s standards, but the doctrine was the Bible, nothing more… but certainly nothing less.
Unlike some churches, CGT wasn’t lax about what the Bible taught. CGT had nothing to gain by telling people they could live their lives any way they wanted as long as they paid their membership dues, because there weren’t, and still aren’t, any dues or membership fees of any kind to pay. Offerings and tithing are 100% voluntary and anonymous. No one, not even the pastor, knows if you gave money to the church, or how much. How many cults (or other churches for that matter) have no membership fees of ANY kind? You never even have to sign any kind of register or fill out a membership card to attend. How can anyone call a church like that a cult?
How do I know all of this is true of CGT? Because I attended the church in California as a child and young adult. When I moved to KY, I also attended the church in Louisville under Brother James Sowders. When I stopped going to church, no one harassed me, no one threatened me, I never received phone calls trying to get me to return. It was my choice to come and go as I pleased. I hope during her time at CGT Mrs. Howerton did learn and remember a few things… like the fact the only way to offend Christ is by offending his people. Don’t worry, the church will not seek vengeance on Mrs. Howerton for her book. That’s not their way. They will pray for her, and they will turn the other cheek, just as Jesus taught us to do. How do I know this if I haven’t attended CGT since I moved away from California over 20 year ago? Because I know what the church taught then is still the same thing they’re teaching now. The truth doesn’t change.
As far as CGT, or any of the other churches associated with it, I will remind Mrs. Howerton that the doctrine is simple: Teach what the Bible says. If trying to live a sin free life is a “false gospel”, then Matthew 19:21, Luke 6:40, Luke 8:14, John 17:23, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:12, Philippians 3:15, Colossians 1:28, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:17, Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 7:11, Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 11:40, Hebrews 12:23, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 5:10, and Revelation 3:2 must all be false, because every one of those scriptures tells us that we are to be perfect. In fact, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus tells us “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” It doesn’t get any more clear or straightforward than that. Thankfully, I still remember the teachings of Brother Mears and Brother Sowders.
I’m not trying to judge you Mrs. Howerton, but you say you are sorry if you hurt anyone from your past. Well, leaving the Body of Christ is your choice, not believing Brother Mears taught us the truth is your choice, and while it hurts me to hear of anyone doing that, writing a book and calling CGT a cult is very hurtful. In all my life I would have never thought anyone that attended a church that gave it’s congregation such freedom like CGT did could ever consider it some kind of cult. Yes, I am very hurt to find out about this.
You are my sister in Christ, and I love you more than you will ever know. Please forgive me if my words seem harsh toward you, but finding out about this book, then finding out you attended the same church I grew up in… I honestly still can’t get a grasp on it. Christian Gospel Temple a cult? Teaching that striving to live a sin free life and killing the flesh daily as the Apostle Paul said we should do is a false gospel? I’m a 47 year old man, and I’m having a hard time seeing the screen right now for the tears forming in my eyes at the thought of this.
God bless you sister, and I pray that someday Jesus will somehow get your attention (as he did me recently) and you will return to his fold.

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