Why do people get involved in cults?
Q: Why do people get involved in cults? I think my cousin has gotten involved in one, but she won't listen to any of us who try to talk to her about it. In her view, we're all wrong and her group is the only one that's right. -- Mrs. D.L.
A: People get involved in cults for many reasons, but often it's because they are spiritually hungry and are searching for God -- and they hope this group will satisfy that hunger. And for a time they may think it has, and they turn their backs on anyone who tries to tell them otherwise. The Bible warns that in the last days "there will be false teachers among you" (2 Peter 2:1).
But all cults have one thing in common: they can never bring a person into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He alone is the divine Son of God who came down from Heaven to save us from our sins, and He alone took upon Himself our sin and our guilt when He died on the cross for our salvation. We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try; only Christ can save us.
More than that, Christ alone offers us eternal life as a free gift -- because He has already paid the price for our salvation. All we have to do is accept His gift, by putting our faith and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior. The Bible says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Pray for your cousin, that God will open her heart to Christ and help her turn away from everything false. And let her know that you still love her -- and so does Christ.
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(Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.)
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