Vol. 7, No. 1, 1990

Articles on Cults and New Religions

James Walker

A ritual accompanying all airline flights is a lecture given by the stewardess concerning "additional safety features" of the airliner. After explaining seat belt operating instructions, emergency exits, and seat cushion "flotation devices," she gives instructions as what to do if there should be "a sudden change in cabin pressure." (This is a nice way of describing what happens if the plane develops a hole in which everything that is not tied down along with all the breathable air is sucked out in a less than 2 seconds!) She then tells what should take place "in the rare event that such an event should occur": 1) an oxygen mask will automatically drop from overhead; 2) you should extinguish all smoking materials; 3) place the mask down over your nose and mouth, and; 4) breath normally (???).

When flying I have often watched around me as the stewardess gives these emergency procedures. Most never even look up from their books or magazines. Many continue their conversations with traveling companions, not even glancing up to see where the nearest emergency exit is located.

Why such apathy? I believe that most passengers are convinced that this safety lecture doesn't apply to them. They have flown many times in the past and never needed an oxygen mask or an emergency exit. They feel safe - perhaps too safe. How different would the same lecture be if, once airborne, the stewardess preceded her speech by saying, "The Captain has just radioed the tower that the plane has developed a serious problem. We will momentarily be losing cabin pressure and we will attempt an emergency landing followed by immediate evacuation."

Could you imagine the difference if she then shared the same speech she normally gives before take off? She would have everyone's undivided attention. (I know I'd take notes!) Each person would listen as if their life depended on it - and indeed, it may.

I have noticed that, as with average airline passenger, there is a subtle tendency among some Christians to ignore the cult problem as something that doesn't apply to them or their family. Often our "safety instructions" go unnoticed or are shrugged off as irrelevant trivia.

I believe that we are living in a day when every Christian family faces a very real danger from the cults. The average Christian can no longer afford to ignore the warning of the cults.

The 1990's are here and our "plane" is in trouble. Cults and the New Age Movement have seen tremendous growth in the last few years in followers, favorable publicity, and finances. This is a trend which needs to be reversed in the '90's. This decade is the battleground dictating the future of America in the next century! Trends which have begun in the 1980's will almost certainly continue if Christians are not able to properly "contend for the faith" (Jude 3).

The 1980's saw Mormonism increase from a worldwide membership of 4.6 to 7 million. Likewise, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has grown from about 2 million to over 3.5 million in the same ten years.

The New Age Movement is more difficult to chart having no official membership, but in the 1980's the movement gained national attention with Shirley MacLaine's Out on a Limb book and mini-series along with her subsequent books. We now have information on several thousand separate New Age groups in our files - and this represents only a fraction of the movement. Who would have thought ten years ago that New Age Channellers (Spirit Mediums) like J.Z. Knight (Ramtha) and Penny Torez (Mafu) would be featured on national TV talk show programs? Its growth in the last 10 years is documented by the fact that entire "New Age" sections can now be found in most major book stores in America.

The 1990's will see the major cults, along with many of the smaller ones, continue to grow and influence millions. Christians in this decade can not look at cult apologetics and evangelism as an option - it is becoming a necessity. We sometimes conduct impromptu "surveys" in churches and colleges where we are speaking. It now seems, generally, that about 90% of the Christians raise their hands saying they personally know someone in a cult or involved with the New Age.

The cults are also coming to our homes. Show me someone who has not had a Mormon or Jehovah's Witness at their door lately and I will show you someone who needs their doorbell fixed. Seriously, the cults are reaching into almost every home in America. The Mormon missionary force is now over 37,500 and every Jehovah's Witness spends hours going door-to-door each month. The Mormon influence is brought into the home through their powerful TV specials and public service announcements. (It seems that the Mormons and the beer advertisers have the best commercials on TV; but, this does not prove that either is good for you).

Recent issues of the Expositor have shown the influence of the New Age in all aspects of American life <158> from well known entertainment personalities to the grade school text books of some public school systems. Yes, the current cultic influence in the United States has in many ways made the 1990's a pivotal decade. We at Watchman Fellowship promise to do everything possible to rise to this growing challenge of the cults.

I ask you renew your commitment to join us in this vital work. Remember that our teaching and writing is not like the stewardess's speech - telling of a "what if" situation that rarely happens. For those of you who have family or close friends in a cult we know that you are keenly interested in the "emergency procedures." I challenge the rest of you to listen up to those "safety features." Be ready for that next Mormon or Jehovah's Witness at the door. Know how to respond to the Moonie selling flowers at the corner or the neighbor in the Worldwide Church of God. Learn the warning signs of a friend or loved on becoming involved in the New Age Movement. Flight 1990 has taken off - and it looks to be anything but a routine flight!