Are there similarities between a thought reform environment and a Christian training environment? Are there differences? Is biblical Christianity a totalistic cult? Let us discuss Lifton's thought reform environment characteristics with a view towards the training environment of biblical Christianity.

Milieu control
By the very nature of following Jesus and the teachings of the Bible, there is a form of communication control. Other sources of information are not necessarily evil or wrong, but they are not as authoritative as the Scriptures. There is no attempt to eliminate other information, since that would be an impossible task anyway. But to Christians, the Bible has higher authority than information from other sources.

Mystical Manipulation
Christianity does not seek to manipulate behavior and emotions in its adherents. But there are certain facts or truths that may result in particular responses. For example, recognizing the greatness of God should result in human humility. Sin results in guilt. God's love should lead to human trust. Genuine belief in Jesus results in significant efforts towards righteous living. Grace results in thankfulness. Within a Christian framework, each of these are natural responses to their causes. The Scriptures testify to numerous causal relationships like these.

The Demand for Purity
In a real sense, there is a demand for purity in a relationship with God. God is light, and there is no darkness or sin in him (cf 1 John 1:5). Yet mankind is in sin (Romans 3:23). The sacrifice of Jesus results in forgiveness for those who believe in him. The recognition of one's own guilt should be a cause for man to seek God's forgiveness. Man, even a man converted to Jesus, cannot experience sinless perfection. But forgiven, he is free to serve and do good even though he may stumble along the way (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The Cult of Confession
Confession takes two different forms in Christianity. First, there is the confession of faith (e.g. Romans 10:9). Second, there is the confession of sin (e.g. 1 John 1:9). Lifton's use of confession applies first to the confession of wrongdoing and then to devotion to the principles of the milieu. Followers of Jesus may confess their sins; but just as importantly they recognize their inherent tendency towards sin and the influence of their sinful nature. Sin is forgiven by one's recognition and confession of it, in conjunction with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

The Sacred Science
Jesus claimed to be the only way to have access to the Father (John 14:6), and that without him all men are lost (John 3:18). Christianity claims an exclusive route to God and a true and genuine "ultimate moral vision" for mankind. Hence, Christians seek to teach all nations to follow Jesus. Yes, Christians have an "ultimate moral vision" for mankind.

Loading the Language
Christianity has its own definitive language and terminology for spiritual concepts. Yet these terms are not generally terms borrowed from secular usage and twisted into terms having new meanings. Nor are these terms designed to "terminate thought," as Lifton's criteria demands. Instead, the simplicity of Christian terms-- such as righteousness, sin, faith, love, the good news-- are profound and more thought-provoking than thought-terminating.

Doctrine over Person
Christianity is divinely inspired and as such is more real or valid than human experience. For example, humans may feel that certain behaviors are right under various circumstances. But if those behaviors are regarded as sinful in the Bible, such a biblical pronouncement overrides human approval (ref. Romans 1:32).

Dispensing of Existence
Christianity teaches that only Christians will be saved and be in heaven with God for eternity. This salvation is a gift of God through Jesus (Romans 6:23), however, not "earned" by faith or obedience. In a very real sense, no one is "worthy" of salvation. Christians are not "proud" (in a worldly sense) of their salvation; instead they are greatly humbled by it.

Because of the gift of eternal life and God's love for mankind, Christians attempt to teach others about Christianity. Evangelism towards non-Christians is not a statement of the lack of worth of non-Christians, but rather a statement of their worth and value to God.

Thus, Christians also love and serve mankind in humility as the "salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13) in the hope that they will believe in God because of them (1 Peter 2:12).

Within the church, the Scriptures encourage Christians both to hold those with a great example in high esteem, and to not follow the poor example of others (e.g. Philippians 3:17-19). Tthough it is a practice intended to reinforce standards of Christian behavior, this is far from the self-righteous and cold "dispensing of existence" in Lifton's thought reform milieu.

Is Biblical Christianity a Liftonian Cult?
Biblical Christianity is somewhat "guilty" of nearly all of the traits in Lifton's criteria. Biblical Christianity will appear "cultic" in a Liftonian sense in the ways discussed above.

But there are significant differences between biblical Christianity and the type of environments Lifton discusses. Lifton is concerned with human organizations, environment and leaders, and the benefits of the thought reform environment to those controlling it. Biblical Christianity is primarily for the benefit of the individual believer, and not some humans or human agency. Because of this, biblical Christianity is not really the subject to Lifton's criteria-- unless one has the boldness to sit in judgment of God Almighty.

However, any group of humans practicing biblical Christianity may come within the scope of Lifton's criteria simply because the human organization layer has been added to the mix.

Copyright © 2000 John Engler. All rights reserved.