Cults Exposed

A Biblical Guide to Spot, Test, and Reject False Teaching

Cults Exposed is a biblical apologetics and discernment guide written from a conservative evangelical Christian perspective. Dr. John M. Hartinger equips readers to examine religious claims carefully, compare teachings with Scripture, and recognize where doctrines may depart from historic evangelical understandings of God, Jesus Christ, salvation, biblical authority, and the Christian life.

The book examines thirty movements that have been described in Christian apologetics as cults, sects, heterodox Christian movements, or new religious movements, while acknowledging that some of these classifications are disputed. Its purpose is not to condemn or ridicule individuals, but to help Christians distinguish between people and doctrines, investigate teachings responsibly, ask honest questions, and respond with both conviction and compassion.

At the heart of the book is a practical five-part framework for testing religious teaching: the God Test, the Christ Test, the Gospel Test, the Scripture Test, and the Fruit Test. These tests encourage readers to examine what a movement teaches about the nature of God, the identity and work of Christ, the way of salvation, the authority of Scripture, and the character and accountability of its leadership.

Each movement is approached through recurring questions about doctrinal authority, the identity of Jesus, salvation, additional revelation, and leadership. Readers are also encouraged to distinguish official doctrine from common practice or allegations, examine primary sources where possible, and remain gracious toward individuals even when rejecting teachings they believe conflict with Scripture.

Ultimately, Cults Exposed presents Christian discernment as an important part of discipleship. Its goal is not simply to make readers better at identifying error, but to make them more firmly rooted in Scripture, clearer about the Gospel, less fearful of competing religious claims, and better prepared to speak truth with humility, courage, and love.