Cheryl Schatz

Robin,
One the marks of a cult is the narrowing of the doctrine.  Differences of opinion is not accepted.  When denominations major on the minor points of doctrine and use these minors to divide from other believers they have crossed over the line of a healthy church.  There are several things that we are required to do as believers.  We must forgive our brother when he asks us for forgiveness and we must also love our brother.  It is very difficult to love another believer when you are dividing from them on a secondary issue of faith.

I recently asked another believer who was dividing over a secondary issue if there was anything good about me and if I was considered to be his sister in Christ.  This person had not one good thing to say about me and as far as whether I was a sister in Christ, they said they couldn’t read my heart.  If reading someone’s heart was necessary then we couldn’t know that anyone was a Christian.  Since we believe the same on all the major doctrines of faith there should be no question whether I am a sister in Christ. Yet there is blindness when it comes to a secondary doctrine that must be protected at all costs.  The heavy cost is that of separating from other believers and treating our brethren in Christ with disdain.