God’s not real. It’s a cult.

This one is two claims stuck together. “God’s not real” and “it’s a cult.” Take them one at a time.

“God’s not real”

The Bible doesn’t argue with this one much. It just says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). And it says everyone can already see enough: “the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

The full answers are already on this site:

• Everything that begins has a cause, and the universe began. See Who made God?.

• If anything is really evil, there’s a real standard of good, and that points to a Lawgiver. See I don’t need God to be moral.

• Faith isn’t believing without evidence. See Isn’t faith just believing without evidence?.

• Jesus was a real man in real history. See Wasn’t Jesus just a good teacher?.

“It’s a cult”

A cult has a few marks you can check. It’s run in secret. You’re not allowed to question it. It won’t let you leave. The leader takes from the followers. And it’s built on one man’s new revelation. Hold Christianity up to each one.

Cults hide things. Jesus taught in the open. “I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing” (John 18:20). Paul told a king, “this thing was not done in a corner” (Acts 26:26).

Cults say don’t question. The Bible says check everything. The Bereans were praised because they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11), and that was about Paul’s own preaching. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Cults won’t let you leave. Jesus let people walk. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?” He didn’t chase them or threaten them. Peter stayed because he wanted to: “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:66-68).

Cult leaders take. Jesus gave. A cult leader lives off his followers. Jesus “came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). When a man tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter told him, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20). Jesus told His disciples, “freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

Cults run on one man’s secret revelation. The apostles were eyewitnesses. “We have not followed cunningly devised fables... but were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). And the Bible locks the door against anyone who shows up later with something new: “though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

“But some churches act like cults”

Some do, and Jesus warned about them first. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15). “There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets” (Matthew 24:24). A group that hides things, controls people, takes their money, or adds a new revelation on top of the Bible fails the Bible’s own test. That’s a reason to check a church against Scripture, not a reason to throw out Jesus.

Jesus sets people free

A cult puts you in chains. Jesus said, “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Paul said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

Say it like this

“A cult hides things, won’t let you ask questions, won’t let you leave, and the leader takes from the people. Jesus taught in the open and said ‘in secret have I said nothing.’ The Bible tells you to check everything. When people walked away from Jesus, He let them go. And He didn’t take from anybody. He gave His life. That’s the opposite of a cult.”

Keep reading: Isn’t faith just believing without evidence? · Who made God? · How do I actually get saved?