Have you ever noticed the similarities between Christianity and cults?

Cults are built on a community of people devoted to each other and some leader, religion, or ideal.

For the Nazis, Hitler led them towards the ideal of a “pure race.” They died (and killed) for this ideal.

(If you want to learn more about how things like Nazi Germany happen, read The Wave by Todd Strasser. It’s a fiction book based on a true story–intense, but enlightening.)

For us, Jesus leads us towards a relationship with the One True God. We’re (hopefully) willing to die for Him.

It creeps me out to see communities used in such a horrific way for cults. God created something good (community on a mission together) and they’re misusing its power for evil.

Should We Do Something?

If such a thing is possible, we should avoid it.

We could always become hermits…little cabins in the woods. No dangerous vulnerability or community or submitting to each other.

Really, why care about growing a strong, healthy community with deep friendships when hermitage is easier?

1. The alternatives are awful…cults or the deadly loneliness epidemic.
2. God designed us for community

So how do we stay free from sliding into unhealthy community?

The Sunday school answer works: Jesus. 

And that’s true, but what practical step can we take right now?

You can pray. Like I shared in this post, prayer is the big secret to a healthy community.

The Famous Verses on Prayer

So let’s see what the Bible teaches about prayer and community.

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 
Give us today our daily bread.
12 
And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 
And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’”

Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

Notice how we’re taught to pray with a community based mindset: “our, us, we.”

If you read Paul’s epistles, you’ll see that most of his prayers use the same terms.

Prayer is a community minded thing.

Prayer: A Conversation with Your Best Friend

The simple definition of prayer is “talking to God.”

The most powerful thing you can do is to talk to your closest friend (God). Isn’t that crazy?

Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Again, the Spirit is our friend. God is our Best Friend Forever. Not to mention Jesus, who saved our lives by dying in our place.

Matthew 6:6 – But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Take this verse literally! Go into your bedroom, close the door, and pray.

Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

This is spoken from one friend to another – Jesus to Peter and the disciples. 

So what does Jesus tell his friends? To believe their prayers will be answered.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Pray without ceasing and full of gratitude. Every time you pray, you can find something to say “thank you” about.

Finally…

So that’s it. Talk to God, study the Bible, and continue loving the people around you like Jesus does.

I’ve saved you from cults and hermitage–you’re welcome. 😉