Is My Church Turning Into a Cult? 10 Signs to Watch for.

Sometimes churches and ministries can start off well following the Holy Spirit but eventually get off track. Paul even said to the Galatian church, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1 and 3:3a). 

In this blog, I’ll go through 10 warning signs that your church or ministry may be going off track and becoming a cult rather than a house for God. 

Now before I get into it, I want to say there is no perfect church or ministry. Proverbs 14:4 says, “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty.” The oxen get the barn dirty, but they also plow the fields for the crop. In other words, where God is using people, there will always be messes to clean up. So, don’t confuse an imperfect church or a church that is lacking in maturity with a cult. While any one of these issues is a serious warning sign and has the potential to create a toxic environment, one warning sign does not make a church into a cult. A cult demonstrates many of these characteristics. This information is not meant to give any person ammunition to tear down a church or ministry. Instead, it is meant to enlighten you so you can identify the signs and act by the leading of God out of your understanding and awareness.

These ten common signs of a cult are based on research done by the Cult Education Institute, and I’m going to explain how they can play out in a church or ministry context. I will also contrast these ten characteristics of an unsafe cult environment with God’s plan for a healthy, biblical church or ministry.

So let’s dive into it. 

1. The ministry or church has an authoritarian style of leadership with no accountability. 

Church or ministry leaders carry authority. But that authority is not meant to be authoritarian. When a leader creates a strong hierarchy and a huge distance between himself and his followers (or even his staff), this is a red flag. Often, this type of leader has an inner circle of people who are effectively “yes men.” This inner circle might appear to be an inner council, but instead, they acquiesce to the leader’s hierarchy and carry out orders without challenging the leader’s ideas.

This kind of leadership can easily fall into the trap of “groupthink.” Groupthink happens when the members of a group all think the same way because they want to maintain harmony and would rather not suffer the stigma of being the odd person out who disagrees with the majority. Groupthink is dangerous because people who think the same way without ever being challenged all tend to develop the same blind spots. When team members are stuck in groupthink and fail to challenge a leader, the leader can end up making bad and very costly decisions.

Authoritarian leaders who are not accountable to anyone inadvertently create a team or following that is no longer focused on being aligned with the Holy Spirit but on being aligned with the leader. The unspoken expectation is that to be aligned with the leader is to be aligned with the Holy Spirit. The leader is another synonym for God. If you are not aligned with the leader, it means you are not aligned with God. This can be very dangerous because it puts the leader on a pedestal and causes members and staff to fall into idolatry.

Even Peter, Jesus’ disciple who walked with Jesus for three years and to whom Jesus gave the keys of the church, fell into this hypocrisy. Peter gave into the pressure to conform to Jewish ways of thinking and acting and started living a double life, depending on who he was with. Not only that, but those around him didn’t challenge his behavior. Not until Paul, who worked outside of Israel, confronted him was Peter called out.

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? (Galatians 2:11-14)

If even Peter, who walked with Jesus, and those around him (like Barnabas) were susceptible to peer pressure and groupthink, how could leaders today think they are above the need for accountability?

Unfortunately, however, this is all too often the case in churches that become cults. The leaders take themselves too seriously, believing that they are above accountability. They believe that no other human can confront or correct them. Only God himself can speak to them. That is not biblical, nor is it what Jesus modeled for us. 

In the context of authoritative church or ministry settings, it's quite common to come across leaders who, despite their visionary claims and promises of shared responsibilities, tend to slip into the habit of micromanaging. This shift from their professed ideals creates an insatiable thirst for control and a strong desire to oversee every minute detail, ultimately leading to significant bottlenecks within the organization. This, in turn, hampers progress, resulting in frustratingly slow developments.

In practice, these toxic leaders might indeed possess a visionary perspective, expressing their willingness to share responsibilities rather than shoulder the burden alone. Nevertheless, they frequently contradict this notion by delving deeply into operational minutiae, becoming excessively controlling, and insisting on being consulted about every aspect. This can hinder the efficiency of the organization and the effectiveness of their collaborations.

The giveaway that this micromanaging has gone beyond bad management to become truly toxic towards a cult is the consequence of failing to consult the leader. When you don’t consult with a leader in a cult, the ramifications can be nightmarish. Failing to consult may lead to being accused of disobedience, suspicions of undermining their authority, or even allegations of pursuing your own agenda right under their nose.

This scenario is symptomatic of a bigger issue in an abusive church. In abusive churches and in cults, there is an unhealthy need for submission and compliance.  Any member displaying the slightest hint of independence is swiftly labeled as a challenge, a threat, or as someone embodying an immature, lawless, or spiritually orphan type of Christian. These authoritarian leaders, often driven by deep-seated insecurities, become intensely suspicious in these circumstances.

Unfortunately, this style of leadership can be frustrating and demoralizing for all the staff. Although a leader like that can preach from the pulpit that they are all about empowering and building up their people and even proclaiming it at staff meetings, the systems they create in their ministry communicate an entirely different message. Basically, the message is that the leader does not trust his team and that team members are merely extensions of the leader to execute his or her vision. It is a disempowering form of hierarchy. 

How does this contrast with a healthy church?

In a healthy church, the leader does not assume an authoritarian role even if he or she is in a position of authority. When they are with their core team, they view themselves as first among equals. They are not lording over their staff or congregation. They place around themselves trustworthy, mature, and godly people who are very gifted, intelligent, independent thinkers, and leaders in their own right. Those team members are invited to battle it out with the leader in the decision-making so in the end, they get all the pieces of what God is saying and arrive at the best God-given outcome. In this setting, every person on the team is a valuable player who hears from God. 

2. No tolerance for questions or criticism.  

In a toxic or unsafe community, questioning or criticizing is met with judgment and blame.Questioning is perceived as a direct challenge to the leader's authority. Toxic leaders interpret questions to mean you are not on board or are against them or that you are truly out of touch and not getting it. This fosters an atmosphere of shame, blame, and punishment.

A leader who exhibits zero tolerance for questions, dissent, and criticism perpetually finds fault with the manner in which a message is conveyed to them or with the individual delivering it. They might assert, "Oh, that person is spiritually immature," "they lack character," or "they did not ask in the right spirit." These leaders consistently fault the delivery of the message as a means to disqualify anyone who dares to question them or offer guidance. They are more preoccupied with pointing out the flaws than understanding what is at the heart of the message and finding out the truth. In a toxic environment, the mantra becomes, "If you have an issue with your leader, it's because there is an issue with you!" These toxic leaders prioritize safeguarding their honor and reputation over the pursuit of understanding and truth.

3. The leader is not transparent about their finances.

Cult leaders will not be upfront about their spending of churches finances or allocation of money. Finances are never a topic of discussion. And if they are, the leader may communicate in a general and ambiguous way to pacify peoples’ concerns. Otherwise, the leader may delegate to someone else to speak on their behalf in order to avoid tough questions.

A healthy leader has no problem disclosing documents on budget and spending and working with his team to ensure everything is above board. They will make things public and transparent.

4. The leader has a “persecution” or “enemy” complex.

Cult leaders often feel people on the outside are against them or out to get them. I believe the root of this complex is that the leader has a “victim” mindset. 

By making an enemy “out there,” they can avoid having to face their demons within. That is how leaders can become self-deceived and fall into pride and denial. 

This becomes dangerous for a church when an enemy complex is combined with a sense of elitism. A church that believes it is overly special and called to things higher and greater than any other church or ministry falls into arrogance. This makes it easy to dismiss everyone else on the outside who “doesn’t get it” or is not one of the “chosen” people for such a high-profile spiritual work. This is a twisted view of Christ’s church. Yes, ministries, churches, and individuals are called to unique roles, but at the end of the day, we are all just one part of a larger body.   

In a healthy church, everyone sees and knows their weaknesses. There is humility there. They understand that they are only there by God’s grace. They are not judging other ministries, denominations, or Christians. They understand that they have only one piece of the whole puzzle. The scriptures say that we know in part and we prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). In other words, there is no church or ministry that has the whole picture. We are all part of the larger body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12). Each part carries its unique function and purpose, and we all rely on one another. In the Body of Christ, there is no room for self-sufficiency; it's both perilous and arrogant for a church (or ministry) to believe it can thrive in isolation without connections to the larger body.

5. People are shamed and shunned for leaving.

 In a toxic church or ministry, leaving is treated like a betrayal to the church, ministry, and to God. Leaders and members inflict shame and guilt for leaving. In the end, people who leave can end up shunned, excommunicated, and vilified. 

This is probably the most devastating consequence of being part of a toxic community. It is also what makes these communities (or cults) so hard to leave.

In case you find yourself in a situation like this, and you aren’t sure you have the courage to face the consequences of leaving, I want to encourage you:

You didn't convert into a church when you met Christ. You converted into the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God can be anywhere and everywhere. God has many vineyards in his Kingdom and he may call you to any one of them. There is not one church or ministry that is the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom is huge and goes on for all eternity. What you are part of now may feel like it’s everything, but it is not. It is just a tiny speck on the map. Don’t forget that. The world is so so big out there. There is way more for you. 

If a church consistently takes offense when someone leaves, there is something deeply wrong. That is a sure sign that the church has forgotten to build the church for Christ and is instead building its own kingdom. When this happens, leaders start building for their own gain, making a franchise out of Jesus and the Bible. They may have started out building God’s kingdom but then been lured away by temptations along the way. Be careful to discern what looks like the kingdom but is built for selfish gain and what is God’s kingdom. When leaders build their own empires, it can resemble a form of godliness but deny God’s power and his leadership of the Church (2 Timothy 3:5). 

In healthy churches and ministries, the leaders are more focused on the kingdom than on their own silos. They understand that advancing the kingdom of God is beyond their own ministry, and their hearts are on pleasing Jesus, the King. They are more delighted to see people fulfilling their God-given purpose than joining their church. They celebrate their members and send them off with blessings. They do not forbid members from associating with people who have left the church. The bridges are never burned when people leave, but relationships are maintained.

6. There is a pattern of abuse and grievances.

 Is there a pattern of people experiencing the same negative issues with the church or leadership? Is something about this ministry leaving broken or blown-up relationships in its wake? If yes, this is a red flag.

In a healthy church, you might have a disgruntled or critical person or the immature person who is acting out. So there may be these one-off negative issues with a leader or ministry, but it is not the norm.

7. Abuses by the leadership are going on official records and becoming known to the public. 

If a ministry gets quite large or abuses become more extreme, it can result in official records revealing the leadership failures to the public. It is sad to see many leaders of large mega churches and ministries having moral failures. In fact, I put this list together not just to help you discern if you are in a toxic environment but also because I believe there needs to be a change in the way we do church that does not put church leadership on a pedestal.  

A healthy leader will nip problems in the bud. They have such a desire to have a pure heart before God that they will be broken by any revelation of sin in their hearts. They will do everything they can to banish it. Think of King David’s response when Nathan the prophet confronted him on his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). He was repentant on his face. Or think of Moses’ response when Korah and his men challenged his authority (Numbers 16). Even though Korah and his men were wrong in what they did, Moses’ humble response was priceless. This illustrates that even if church members or staff are out of line, it is not an excuse or a license for a leader to abuse his position of authority.

8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough."

To maintain their authority, leaders often resort to criticizing their followers, a defense mechanism that may not be immediately evident but becomes apparent over time. Initially, these leaders might undertake remarkable efforts to make their followers feel valued and eager to participate in the mission. However, once people become involved, the leader intensifies their demands, insisting on higher performance, greater loyalty, increased compliance, and a bigger commitment of resources for the work. The bar keeps rising, and no matter how much you give, it's never enough. It can feel as though your involvement in the ministry is draining the life out of you, leading to inevitable burnout. What makes this even more bewildering and distressing is that all this service to the leader is often justified in the name of being a devoted servant of Jesus Christ.

Leaders continually seek out the highest performers or those willing to offer unwavering allegiance. This dynamic fosters an environment where staff are in a perpetual competition, vying for the leader's attention and approval. Instead of channeling your inner emotional and spiritual resources into creative service for God, they get consumed by the ongoing mental warfare within that ministry or workplace.

In a healthy setting, individuals are entrusted with work that aligns with their unique gifts and talents. Each person experiences a profound sense of love and value, and the significance of every job and role is recognized. It's a culture that thrives on honor and celebration, rather than one rooted in shame, blame, and punishment.

9. The leader is always right.

In a cult, whenever an issue or conflict arises between you and the leader, the default assumption is that you are at fault, and the leader is deemed infallible. The leader holds the position of God's delegated authority and serves as His representative. Consequently, questioning or challenging the leader is equated with challenging God Himself. This dynamic inherently fosters an environment that thrives on manipulation and gaslighting.

A healthy leader makes space for healthy conversation and debate. Instead of getting defensive when being asked questions, they get curious to understand more. They are more interested in gaining understanding and finding the truth than preserving their own honor. They view themselves as a human and are more down to earth rather than behaving like a god-like entity that can never be challenged.

10. The group or leader believes that they alone possess all knowledge and divine revelation. They regard themselves as gurus and dismiss all external sources as unreliable.

If a leader calls him or herself a prophet but has a ministry that resembles a cult, the situation is set to become dangerous. 

It's incredibly damaging when a leader believes they understand their followers better than the followers understand themselves. This leader might think they possess the ability to peer into the hearts of their followers or "discern" things about them. When you dare to challenge the leader's interpretation of your thoughts, motives, or perspective, it's often viewed as arrogance, denial, or blindness. This leaves followers questioning their own judgment and discernment, especially when it conflicts with the leader's views. This is a huge red flag. It is the kind of deception that can lead people to do crazy things for a leader, like drink the Kool-Aid, donate large sums of money, and cut off all their friends and family members from their life — all in the name of serving God.

A healthy leader is aware of their human limitations and would be concerned if people revered them too highly or depended on them as a source of ultimate truth. Healthy leaders are humble enough to know that they do not know it all and acknowledge that even in their giftings, they can get things wrong. They willingly guide followers to seek help and wisdom from various sources, unthreatened by differing viewpoints. Strong leaders grounded in their faith trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit, not only within themselves but also within their followers. They don't aim to replace the Holy Spirit in the lives of others but instead, see their role as helping people connect with the Holy Spirit and discern His voice for themselves.

Summing Up

To sum up, there are ten signs that your church or ministry might be turning into a cult:

1. The ministry or church has an authoritarian style of leadership with no accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or criticism.
3. The leader is not transparent about their finances.
4. The leader has a “persecution” or “enemy” complex.
5. People are shamed and shunned for leaving.
6. There is a pattern of abuse and grievances.
7. Abuses by the leadership are going on official records and becoming known to the public.
8. Followers feel they can never be “good enough.”
9. The leader is always right.
10. The group or leader believes that they alone possess all knowledge and divine revelation. They regard themselves as gurus and dismiss all external sources as unreliable.

If you find yourself in this situation and feel stressed or anxious, look to Jesus. You can cast every care and worry of your heart on Him, and He will supernaturally fill every fiber of your being with His peace. He hears you, and remember that you can speak to you. He is so faithful.  For steps on how to leave a toxic church unscathed, watch this video.

Watch the video version of this blog here.

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Downloadable Resources 

• Signs of Spiritual Abuse or Cultish Environments Checklist 
• 20 Signs that You Might Be Experiencing Narcissistic Abuse
• How to Pray for a Narcissist Guide
• Healing from Gaslighting