Xenos Christian Fellowship?

[Jon Miller]

hmm, I think it is generally defined more in terms of a charismatic leader...

JM

[phoenixcager]

Have you found anything else on the website that seems to point to this?

I found this quote in that FAQ on the difference between a biblical church and a cult that seems to indicate tht they don't quite fit your definition of a cult.

We are to live "in the world" not "of the world." Beware of a call to withdraw or become isolated from the surrounding culture. On the other extreme, beware of surrendering biblical morals or God's truth and love to go with the cultural flow.

EDIT: x-post. This was in response to Japher

[phoenixcager]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
hmm, I think it is generally defined more in terms of a charismatic leader...

JM

Hmmm... quite a few mainstream churches would have one of those these days.

[Japher]

If they are to 'go with the flow' why do they encourage college kids to check in to one of their Minsitry Houses? Wouldn't you want them to be emersed in society instead of emersed in the church? Fishing for men?

IMO, it's because they want greater influence over them.

I'm not saying they are a cult, I'm asking. I am concerned for my friend as it doesn't seem they are getting proper religious guidance. And, yes Jon, a charismatic leader is needed and they have Dennis McCallum, it seems.

[phoenixcager]

I've heard Dennis on the podcast a few times. Doesn't sound particularly charismatic... Just your typical teaching pastor. If they have won people over, it's not through the typical emotion-evoking that you would find in a church with a charismatic leader, but probably through the complex compendium of teaching materials they have developed.

[Elok]

They seem somewhat cultish, but it's hard to say with only their own testimony to go by.

[Japher]

http://www.byron-harvey.com/2004/03/20/xenos-christian-fellowship/

the only thing I find on it being a cult, probably just a couple of girls rebelling against their structured society

still, I find any organization whose wiki article was pulled because it was considered advertising questionable... That, and I'm not a big fan of Apologetic organizations, it makes it seems like you have something to hide. Individuals who take apologetic stance, however, are less hypocritical, because faith should be question, but not by those preaching it as fact.

[MRT144]

my uncle goes to xenos. they are a tad bit loony

[Provost Harrison]

Why go in for this sh*t, seriously? Many people try and present their religion to be credible but this nonsense really doesn't help your arguments. I tell you what, if you're going to believe in that stuff, make up your own damn mind about it rather than someone else psychologically manipulating you with guilt trips about simply being a human being...

[MRT144]

but i am a secularist from the bay area so go figure

[Elok]

Yeah, I'd just seen that link myself, Japher. Was about to post it, but you beat me to it. If they're a cult, they've kept things under wraps unusually well, TBH. Even factnet doesn't have a whisper of a complaint about them.

[Straybow]

Originally posted by Japher
but the rules seem very very strict for a religious based support group. They frown upon and even kick people out for sins. IMO, that is not what a good church should do. They should forgive the sins and help them to change for the better, not remove them.

Originally posted by Nikolai
Absolutely! The church is made up of sinners, for sinners. If they can't accept that sin is a part of every human being's life, themselves included, they are on a dangerous path...

Except Paul told the Corinthians that the unrepentant sinner must be kicked out, until they repent. You make rules in an environment like that to teach discipline, and most college kids sorely need it.

[Jon Miller]

If God hasn't impressed on them that it is a sin, how are they unrepentant?

JM

[snoopy369]

The only part i'd be particularly concerned about is "forfeit everything to the church". That screams cult. Monastic groups expect you to forfeit everything to someone, but not to the organization (ie, groups that value a life of poverty); giving everything to the church tells me they're trying to make a buck...

[Ben Kenobi]

Never heard of them.

That does seem rather questionable that they would ask their members to enter a life of povery by giving all they have to the church.

The other big thing about cults is that they ask you to separate yourself from the 'sinners' in your life, parents, family and friends and keep only friends in the group.