If you look carefully at the definition of the word "cult" you can understand that the word actually applies to all organized religions.
So, even Christianity, by definition is a cult.
And so it becomes a question of whether it's a positive or negative cult in the control these groups have over your life. Which is only adjacently related to the subject of the OP.
There are conservative circles within the Anglican church as well as extremely liberal circles. Kinda a hodge podge. Most are fairly liberal. Which us why their theologians are usually considered "a bunch of nice old guys". Their women priests are not welcomed into other denominations whatsoever on a regular basis where the men, after a few weeks of training, are ordained and placed in the pulpit.
So....
The part I kinda am wondering about was why he threw away his slowly growing leadership position in SBC circles to join the Anglicans and be figuratively hidden away in the closet. Anglicans don't really have a centralized theology that is dictated down to the churches. (Kinda like SBC in that regard)
And what little theologies are given are largely disregarded.
The SBC has a literature program that teaches scriptures in small group settings. It's where the whole small group concept comes from inside large churches. So even though the SBC claims it doesn't have any centralized theologies....the literature certainly does. (There's been some growing discontentment with it for the past 20+ years....mostly stemming from the editing processes....another story for another day)
So....
What the curious part is that among SBC circles theology is all important and in Anglican circles the least important. Why the switch when scripture is the goal?
I love scripture myself....can't get enough of it. As an avid reader there is no other literature in existence like scriptures. It's contracted but sufficiently complete writing style is miles above every other writing style. It cannot be duplicated today. Not even by an AI.
This one conservative church he is attending is an outlier. It's nothing of the rank and file. (Despite their claims...too much first hand experience tells me exactly what I know)
I've heard of and met others who will do anything for a leadership position. Never really understanding that in church, leadership is given...not appointed. You become a named leader because people follow you. Not because you have a title.
And I don't think that he really understands that at all.
The story is very well written. I think maybe this Christain saw flaws in his church (which all have) that remained;
He thought he was missing out on something, tried another church and saw beauty he hadn't experienced before. This is nothing new, people make changes in life.
Their faith remains though. He evidently had been wrestling with certains ways of his church. His attraction to the Anglican way, the liturgy, the oneness, call and response and certain traditional aspects, songs of worship all have some beauty. Whatever, he found peace and happiness.
No church is perfect and you'll usually feel like something is missing. The art, for instance in modern churches seems to have been lost. Walk into the Notre Dame Cathedral or view the Sistine Chapel and there is heavenly inspired artistic beauty. Actually if you removed Jesus' influence from Europe, most of the art would be absent.
Currently there are 1.4 billion Catholics,
and over 1 billion Prostestants of many denominations, which to me include non-denominational, Eastern Orthodox and even Anglican is said to be a blend of Catholism and Protestantism. There are a couple hundred million more in the BODY OF CHRIST and I do believe most of them are Christ's sheep (with the exception of extremely liberal churches that accept homosexuality. It's a mixed bag.
Look at the Seven Churches of Revelation. Only a couple did not receive rebuke! They suffered false doctrines and all sorts of sin. One was almost dead, another God hated their ways and yet another lukewarm. These were Church Types that existed throughout the Church Age and we see these problems within churches today. But even one church is filled with different individuals, with different levels of faith, service and beliefs.
I attended a Mega-Church, intially part of the Four Square denomination and did not accept all their teachings and ways. I think the Holy Spirit cautioned me about certain teachings but overall told me to stay fir 12 years. Our Pastor was brilliant and Spirit-led. As he grew, the church did.Years later, they dropped some practices ( female Pastors for one) and I did not hear him mention the label Four Square anymore - only to mention it's origins. I would liken it to a Calvary Chapel type church.
God grows churches that are faithful and Spirit-filled. I have been to a dead Baptist church, where the preacher seemed just too serious and even mean. He focused on sin and pointed his holy finger at us, making us feel unworthy to receive communion. That church had less than 100 people in it and had been around for 50 years - an example of a stagnant church that did not grow - because rhe Pastor was not Spirit - filled, he was more of a legalist.
Chuck Smith started his church in a Drive-In movie theater lot. Fifty years later, 2,000 churches sprung from the seed he planted and many millions came to know Christ.
The Anglican Church has 100+ million members on 165 countries, so make no mistake, God is working in that church too!
All in all, faith in Christ is the single most important common denominator that we all share.
Praise God, for His Grace, Mercy and diverse ways he guides us.
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