Question:  Hello Greg,

            I have family members (specifically my brothers and parents) who belong to a cult.  I’m searching for information or anything that would help me witness to them.  I was in the cult years ago, but God rescued me.  My heart goes out to my family.  What is the best way to approach this?  They all think I’m crazy.

            Thank you and God bless,

            Tim

Answer:  Dear Tim,

            It is standard operating procedure for a cult or sect to demonize “normal” Christians.  Distrust of all “outsiders” and “outside” reading material is part of the manipulation and “training” that those who are convinced that their group is the “one and only” have received.

            So, if you have loved ones in a group that believes that anyone outside their group does not have “the truth”—and if, as in your case, you are further tainted with the fact that you were once a true believer but you have now left the “one and only” to be one of the “falsely so-called Christians”—you will not be popular within the group you left.

            Put yourself in their shoes.  What do they expect you to do?  What is their stereotype of you?  They expect you to “witness” to them, to covertly or overtly try to evangelize them.  So, why not forget about doing that?  After all, there is no way that they will believe anything you say that remotely borders on the subject of God and the Bible—so why push that?

            I think the best approach is to remain friendly—keep the contact alive—keep the family ties strong and back off of all the religious stuff that they expect you to do.  Be a good and respectful son, a good brother and a good friend.  Christ can use you even though you say nothing, even though you do not offer doctrinal proof that they are wrong and even though you do not “witness”.  Perhaps Jesus will use your obvious peace, love, joy and contentment to get them to think about what is different about you now, as opposed to the past.

            Some thoughts—hope they can hit a chord somewhere. God bless you, Tim.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht