A counter-cult apologetic inquiry into "Christ in me international"

Abstract

When the phenomenon of Christ in Me International (CiMI) appeared in South Africa, they received media exposure on multiple platforms. They were blamed by many as the cause for breaking up families and they explicitly rejected biblical doctrines while claiming to be Christians — actually the only true Christians. Their rejection of essential Christian doctrines gave them the label of a cult from a theological and doctrinal perspective. This phenomenon called for a counter-cult apologetic inquiry into CiMI. It was decided that the apologetic approach to CiMI would be both from a theological and doctrinal perspective, and from a sociological and psychological perspective. Since CiMI has its own unique history and rejected the essential doctrines of Christianity, it was important to document their historical development and systematise their theology and doctrine in order to know where they come from and what it is that they believe. This was also particularly important since one would not want to be guilty of a straw man fallacy when refuting CiMI apologetically. Although the theological and doctrinal approach to cults is primary, the sociological and psychological aspects of cults are especially meaningful when doing counter-cult apologetics. Consequently, this study engaged with the sociological and psychological characteristics of cults and applied it specifically to CiMI. By following this approach, this study established CiMI as a cult, not only from a theological and doctrinal perspective, but also from a sociological and psychological perspective. This entails that CiMI implements certain so-called control mechanisms to exercise high levels of control over their members and to keep them for as long as possible. This study also investigated CiMI from a theological and doctrinal perspective, starting with CiMI’s hermeneutics. It was extensively shown that CiMI does not implement a consistent hermeneutic when interpreting the Bible and is guilty of twisting the Scriptures. By misusing the Bible’s authority for their own ideas, they are following in the footsteps of other cultic groups such as the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The result of consistent Scripture twisting is doctrine twisting. Since CiMI rejects the essential doctrines of Christianity, it was necessary to reclaim some of these essential doctrines. An apologetic contrast and reaffirmation of Christian truth therefore accompanied this study. The specific doctrines discussed are the doctrine of revelation and Scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity, and the person and work of Jesus Christ. It was

demonstrated why CiMI’s doctrines are not according to sound biblical teaching (while it claims to be). The major contribution of this project lies in the fact that it is the first ever formal academic attempt to critique CiMI as a cult and thereby providing a stepping stone for anyone who is interested in doing counter-cult apologetics with members of CiMI and similar groups.