QUESTION FROM WISCONSIN:

How do I deal with someone involved in a cult/occult? I’m discouraged!

Dear Becky, I am deeply in need of encouragement!  I just met with my neighbor for our second meeting (we studied John 4 from your guide) and I feel no progress is being made in breaking through her New Age belief system.  Actually, it seems like my passion for sharing Christ with her is spurring her on to share her New Age beliefs with her friends!! Even though she has had some religious background she knows nothing of the Bible and clearly doesn't see Christ as the only way to God.  But as we were studying today - I did lay out Christ's exclusive claims - CS Lewis style - either Christ is a lunatic or He is who He claimed to be  - but He can't be lumped into the "good teacher" category.  She seemed to think about that - but can't reconcile that to what she's experienced through the spirit healers (people who believe in Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed and anyone else who claims to be god). She kept saying how Christian people could benefit from the spirit healers - and I kept emphasizing how the Bible and a relationship with Christ is the true source of change.  I felt like I was speaking Swahili!

Please keep us in your prayers - I'm not sure where to go from here.  She was hinting that she's not sure she should keep studying the Bible with me because she doesn't really believe it and she wants our friendship to be more than just talking about "religion".  Should I back off?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!  Your encouragement means so much.

Blessings, C.

Becky’s Response:

Dear C., I understand your frustration. The hardest people to reach are those involved in cults or spiritual deception. Give me a hostile skeptic over a spiritually deceived person any day! You raise some very important issues which I will address. But first, never underestimate how God is using you. Your love and care for her as a person is something she will never forget. She may be the kind of person who pulls away from the study for now – but when hard times come you will be the 1st person she calls.

First, I sense you may be expecting immediate results and that is a mistake. We can’t expect postmodern people, who have little background or understanding of the biblical view of reality, to “get it” quickly. Most people today happily “cherry-pick” their faith by taking a little from that belief system and a little from another - while having all sorts of contradictory and inconsistent beliefs floating around in their heads without the slightest discomfort! It IS frustrating but we need to be patient. If she is willing then keep exposing her to the Jesus of the gospels and continue to love her and pray for her.

Second, it sounds like you may have inadvertently got into a discussion of which belief system is right: yours or hers. What we want to avoid – especially in the beginning – is allowing the conversation to drift into our areas of disagreements. May I suggest that laying out an apologetic for the deity of Christ [even using C.S. Lewis’s brilliant approach!]is not the purpose of this study. The purpose of this study is to expose our friends to Jesus. That’s why it’s important to keep drawing their attention back to the text and pray they will become captivated by Jesus.

Third, you are surprised that she seems almost worse. Actually I see this as a good sign not a bad one! When we engage in evangelism we are taking on territory that the Enemy wants to keep for himself. That is why prayer is so critical. In dealing with a person who is practicing New Age beliefs and communing with the Spirit world we are dealing in spiritual warfare. So we have to be armed in the Spirit. Pray in Jesus’ Name for her spiritual deception to fall away and for God to remove all vestiges of false peace. Ask God to open her eyes so she may see Jesus. Ask that her prayers to these false spirits will quickly feel empty and bankrupt.

Fourth, I think it’s important to bring other seekers into this study. It is one thing to do a Seeker Study with someone who is open – but you are dealing with someone actively involved in cultish behavior. Ask God to guide you to people who are truly open. See if you can find someone who might co-lead with you and then she can bring her own seeker friends too. If your friend wants to get out of the study then I’d let her bring it up – but I just wouldn’t be the one to terminate it. And continue the friendship whether she comes or not. Don’t be discouraged! You are learning so much and that is what obedience is all about. Learning just one step at a time. “Have I not commanded you: Be strong and very courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Keep me informed and I will keep you in prayer!

Warmly, 

Becky