Cults Are Fanatical

Although most Christians would at times be tempted to lie, cheat, steal, or commit immorality, perhaps most who are so tempted would not yield.  Yet many of these same people who would not yield to carnal temptation could be pushed to other extremes -- to devote long hours to a cause, weaken their ties to friends and families, or develop an elitist mentality whereby they view their group as more spiritual or more favoured by God than other groups.  What they don't realize is that pharisaical fanaticism and extremism are as destructive as the sins of the flesh.  

When I (Dr. Paul R. Martin) belonged to the Great Commission International, a man whom I will call John was also involved.  John became one of the leaders of our movement.  In the early days, some of the leaders and I had observed some problems with the movement, and we would talk openly and freely to John about these problems.  While John agreed with our analysis, he rationalized the team's problems away.  He said that we were young and still learning, that there was no spiritual "action" anywhere else, and that nobody else was doing what we were doing to reach the world.  Every other group seemed dead by comparison.  

In this way, John and countless others excuse excesses and errors of many kinds.  And they were often justified by means of Scripture taken out of context.  "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16) and "wisdom is proved right by her actions" (Matthew 11:19) were two of the most abused verses.

Other groups have protected their pastors from charges of immorality with similar reasoning.  "How could such a dynamic and spiritual soul-winner possibly be wrong?"  I know of pastors that justify their own sexual immorality because they "are not like other men," and that "God knows my special needs."  Some claim their sexual liaisons are the only way they can show the love of God to some of the women (or in some cases, men).  This is how cults and fringe churches justify their practices and excuse their leaders.

(from Cult Proofing Your Kids by Dr. Paul R. Martin)

False Teachings of Barrie Victory Centre from their Statement of Faith:

"Jesus Christ became sin and sickness, thus providing both salvation and healing for all mankind."  Scripture, properly interpreted, does not support this teaching.  Christ died for one reason and one reason alone; to pay the price for our sin.

"All believers are entitled to and should expect and earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit; according to the command of Jesus Christ...the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is found in speaking with other tongues..."  There is no scripture to support the belief that Christians should earnestly seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit or that Christians are commanded to speak in tongues.  Scripture has been grossly misinterpreted.  No command of this nature appears anywhere in Scripture.

"Total prosperity is available to every believer, spiritually, mentally, physically, financially and socially."  The Health and Wealth Gospel is man-made theology based on manipulation of Scripture but has nothing to do with Christianity.  

False Teaching By Omission:

"The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the revealed Will of God." Crucial words omitted from this belief are "and contain the complete revelation of God." The omission of these words means that Barrie Victory Centre believes in extra-biblical revelation which is one of the primary marks of a cult.

Glossolalia is learned, addictive behaviour.   Anybody can learn how to do it, including non-Christians.  Glossolalia has nothing to do with "other languages" that were used by God to communicate the Gospel in the early days of the church. Glossolalia is not tongues. 

"He is the same yesterday, today and forever" is falsely used by members of Barrie Victory Centre and Pentecostals in general to justify their practices of speaking in tongues, their belief in all kinds of healings and miracles.  The false teaching here is that this Scripture refers to Jesus' character, not to the things He did while here on earth.  This is total misuse of Scripture.

For complete information on the Faith Movement, which Barrie Victory Centre is involved in, you need to read "Christianity in Crisis 21st Century" by Hank Hanegraaff (available at www.equip.org).