Copyright 2018 Theresa Harvard Johnson
Read Part I: The Critical Importance of Your Tribe
Read Part II: The Authority of Your Tribe
In the Christian faith, a cult is generally defined as a group whose members are a part of a manipulative and controlling leadership that demands total trust, exclusivity, secrecy and unquestioned loyalty. Generally, the type of commitment required places the leaders of these organizations and its members above all other relationships including family.
Cults can exist in any area of society – not just in religious contexts. However, the behavior of cults often mimic religious contexts through its devotion and practices; and as such becomes a religion. As such, some groups that start off right – if not careful – can enter cult-like behavior and practices. We must be mindful of this, especially within our Christ-centered faith. Cultish assimilation “of any kind” completely contradicts the message of the Gospel, the intent of fellowship, the call for brotherhood and the lifestyle of Christ we are urged to imitate.
What separates Christ-centered tribes from ANY type of cultic groups is the central focus on Christ after the pattern of New Covenant fellowship. Tribes, from biblical patterns, focus on strong, spiritual family units, the building of spiritual maturity, encouragement in the heart of God and the building of the collective Kingdom. They are never self-serving, personality-driven or selfishly focused. Please understand: ANY TYPE OF GROUP CAN BECOME A CULT WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPPING!
Cults are detrimental! But the idea of “finding your tribe” or “connecting with your tribe” from a Christ perspective is LIFE GIVING AND COMPLETELY BIBLICAL!
- Tribes, after the pattern of Christ’s bride, are not cults.
- Tribes, after the pattern of Christ’s bride, are family groups.
- Tribes, after the pattern of Christ’s bride, are strategic units geared toward encouraging and maturity the Body.
A Christ centered tribe will never:
- Force identity outside of Christ.
- Insist on ungodly conformity.
- Force a system of ungodly beliefs and rituals outside of Christ.
- Exalt “the tribe” above Christ.
- Force loyalty to the tribe instead of Christ.
- Control or manipulate members of the tribe.
- Operate out of a spirit of division.
- Force tribes to only fellowship with that tribe.
When tribes become cults, the intent of the Gospel is perverted… lost, and the people of God are led astray.
Scribes of the King, we already know that men often corrupt “the good” that God created. The concept of TRIBE in the Bible has a completely different root system than the perversion often purported in cultic practices that elevate the ideas of men over the ideas and identity provided to the congregation in the Gospel. In addition, language changes over centuries and generations.
As “scribes,” we must be aware of language defined within THE KINGDOM vs. language twisted and/or lost in the world system.
Christ-centered tribes are catalysts for personal and corporate revival.
Don’t miss it by looking at religious ideals and current culture. Embrace the ancient way, a time when intimate community, accountability, learning and growth mattered among the Body in a more defined way.
Finally, remember that every GODLY DIVISION set in the scriptures FILLED A NEED in a particular territory, group or among a people. ALL DIVISION IS NOT EVIL! God understood this… and the people of God should recognize it as well. We are ONE B-O-D-Y… many parts.
