Sense of belonging + sense of moral superiority = Dismissal of Truth
If you think through every war in history, the recipe is easy and the same. Put soldiers in a boot camp. Not just for military discipline alone but because it forges relationships. The harder the tasks, the stronger the bond.
Then before you need to get them do a big task that is life-threatening, tell them a story, whether it is true or false, about how they are the heroes of the narrative. They are the ones standing up for truth and righteousness. They are the ones protecting the world from evil. Admit, yes, that we have problems. We have issues. But give them a sense of an edge of moral superiority.
At that point no matter what happens, if they are bonded together and believe the story, truth will easily be dismissed. They will die in their perceived notion of freedom fighters and heroes.
Every nation does this. And in every time frame in history.
It happens in the media as well. Create two dominant political parties where people feel a sense of “belonging” with others in that party. Create a sense of moral superiority, acknowledging your own faults (humbly of course), but that you are not nearly as bad as the others. And once that tribalism and moral superiority is formed, there is dismissal of truth. As well as the blaming of the other party doing the very things that your own party is accused of.
It happens eventually in every nation.
People have two very strong needs. That sense of belonging to others. And that sense of feeling morality right and that their life matters, and a sense they are doing good in the world, even willing to die for it.
As I study the cults I am seeing this too. They tell their people that people must be loyal not necessarily to Jesus, but to their organization. If they aren’t then their place in heaven is shaky. If it all. This creates a sense of subtle manipulation to be and do all the time for the organization of the church/ward/mosque/hall etc…
Interestingly when people are religiously forced to be participants or the salvation is in jeopardy, they do come together. Often. And that togetherness forms very strong relationships. Good relationships that create a strong sense of belonging.
Then tell them somehow that they have the edge on moral superiority. If done in a humble way, that sense of superiority is subtle. But it’s there.
And after that happens people don’t want the truth. They have their sense of belonging. They feel they are in the right. So why look anywhere else? Cults especially have social consequences for looking elsewhere which should be a huge red flag. But it isn’t for those who have the right ingredients.
This can happen in churches too. But here are some thoughts:
1) God is a God who supports freedom. He has always been about freedom and free choice. Yes, there are consequences for choices, but he doesn’t make us robots. And yes, there is truth and that truth is in Jesus, but he gives people the ability to reject Jesus.
[This doesn’t mean God doesn’t have laws and rules. He does. It’s the moral law. And to break it there are consequences. So don’t misunderstand and say then that there should be no laws. As Timothy says, laws are for the immature who cannot govern themselves according to the laws of God. Therefore laws are in place to protect people.]
2) Salvation is through Jesus, not an organization. When salvation is dependent upon your commitment to give to contribute to the organization, not just tithing but your time, talents, etc… it’s very possible you may be in a cult. Run. The gospel gives us freedom, the freedom to love in the truth of Christ. It doesn’t mean becoming a slave to an organization.
Having said that, such freedom means that oftentimes there is less participation in things like church activities. That lessened participation means less righteous bonding that so many need. It’s such a core fundamental truth. Belonging is good. And suffering and persecution actually does help facilitate that. Although there are always moles and traitors which keep the mix from solidifying fully.
Now as far as moral superiority, we can’t have that in Christ. If we truly know the gospel, we know that there is no one righteous, not even one. There are none that are worthy. We are all sinners and recipients of grace.
Because we do not have moral superiority, only Christ does, then we cannot dismiss truth. Jesus is truth. We must pursue truth at any cost. With love of course as well. They walk hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.
I write these things as I’m studying the cults and seeing how clearly they operate. When I hear people saying, “even if it’s false, I don’t want to know.” That is tough to hear.
And then I look online to media and see the two sides on YouTube comments. Each side thinks they have the moral superiority and even Christians align themselves more with a political party than with truth and Jesus. (Christian nationalism is very faulty).
And then there are wars in the world. I listened to Putin as he told his troops they are going to liberate the people. I saw in the comment section the other day someone saying, “we Russians are the only ones standing up for what is right in the world.” Then I saw Russian TV that said their sons were fighting for that which is right and good. No matter what side of the conflict you stand on, the recipe has been enacted. Create a sense of belonging through national identity and proud military training. Add a moral of how they are the heroes of the world. And you get a dismissal of truth.
No nation is guiltless. No media is guiltless. No person is guiltless.
These things feed right into our human needs and desires.
So that’s why following Christ is so important. Humbling ourselves before him. Knowing that we have nothing to boast about except Christ alone. And we must pursue truth. Because Jesus is the Truth. In Him there is no evil. Only righteousness.
