5 clear signs your pastor is running a cult
By David Nthua, October 6, 2025Many people go to church to find peace, grow in faith, and feel close to God. But some churches today are no longer about God. They are about power, control, and money.
Some pastors have turned their ministries into small kingdoms where members fear them instead of respecting God.
Also Watch: Nakuru: Police arrest two suspected Ugandan cult pastors
If you have ever felt confused or trapped in such a church, here are five clear signs that your pastor might be leading a cult and not a true church.
1. The pastor wants all the praise
If your pastor always wants people to clap for him, praise him, or call him names meant for God, that is a big warning. A true pastor will direct people to thank God, not himself.
When someone keeps saying, “I prayed for you and that is why you succeeded,” instead of saying, “God helped you,” that is pride.
It means the person wants glory that belongs to God.
Also Watch: Questions arise over Malindi cult that has been operating since 2003
2. Everything in church is about money
If every blessing or prayer comes with a price, you are being used. A church should not sell miracles, holy oil, or water.
Some pastors even charge people for prayers or appointments.
That is not serving God; it is doing business. The Bible says we should give freely because we have received freely.
3. You cannot listen to anyone else
If your pastor tells you not to listen to other preachers, not to visit other churches, or not to read your own Bible, you should worry.
That is a way of controlling you. A true church allows members to grow, learn, and ask questions. A false one locks people in fear and ignorance.
4. The pastor says only their church is the best
If you are told that every other church is fake and only your pastor’s church will go to heaven, that is a lie.
Real pastors do not compare or insult other churches. They teach love and truth, not division.
5. The teachings do not match the Bible
If your pastor says things that sound spiritual but are not in the Bible, that is dangerous. Some talk about selling handkerchiefs or giving money for healing.
If it cannot be found in the Bible, it is not from God.
If you see these signs, step back, pray, and find a church that teaches the truth. Remember, faith should bring freedom, not fear.
God wants your heart, not your money or blind loyalty.