In about 48 to 50 AD, Paul of Tarsus wrote to the Galatian Church being befuddled about their willingness to accept a different Gospel. He wrote (1:6-8) “I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the good news about the Messiah. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!” If we can take anything from Church History we see from the very beginning the Apostles had to contend for the faith (Jude 3) and correct variant beliefs (1 Joh.4:2-3).

We also recognize that the earliest form of heresies came from the Church itself and John cautions us that some “went out from us, but they did not really belong to us” (1 Joh. 2:19). Paul cautions the earliest Christian community that at his departure “from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:30). Heresy is nothing new, and as Pastor Willie Venter concluded this Sunday at our service that, “The Cults find their allure in the fact that they promise individuals a path where they are absolved from their own responsibilities” (emph.mine). Imagine a religious institution that prefaces their Church structure, belief system, and ambitions solely focused on one man, a new mediator with an enticing new way to perceive the Gospel. This man promises you fulfillment, actualization, and ultimate autonomy that are brought forth by the pragmatic understanding of his new truth. This is exactly what Christ in me International promise.

Defining a Cult:

Evangelical scholar Walter R. Martin (not to be confused by George R. R. Martin) writes; “Cultism, in short, is any major deviation from Orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.”[1] Personally, I think that we live in a day and age where Martin’s definition is not entirely adequate because Martin’s definition presumes a Judeo-Christian worldview. When Christians, Churches, and Apologetic organizations speak about Cults, we need to realize we live largely in a secular World and sometimes a worldly Church. Sadly, culture has become the measuring rod for what is deemed to be Orthodox and spiritually legitimate. For the majority of Churches, the ultimate goal is better quality membership and booming Churches, not faithful discipleship. Unfortunately, as a result, the cults are always the unpaid debts of the Church that needed to affirm timeless truth (1 Tim.3:15).

As for a definition of the cults scholar, Dave Breese defines a Cult as “A religious perversion. It is a belief and practice in the World of religion, which calls for devotion to a religious view of a leader centered, in false doctrine. It is an organized heresy. A cult may take many forms but it is a religious movement, which distorts or wraps orthodox faith to the point where truth becomes perverted into a lie. A cult is impossible to define except against the absolute standard of the teaching of Holy Scripture.”[2] 

Breese’s definition gives clearer distinctions in that it does not hold us solely accountable to the foundational beliefs of the Church but allow us to consider a cult in the context of normative religious society as well as biblical imperatives. In this investigation of C.I.M.I., we will look at the social structure of this cult and the absolutist demands from its leader and provide the central definition of this Church’s function. Let us remind ourselves of what second century Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons says when he writes; “Error indeed is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced more true than truth itself.”

Allow me to interrupt myself and say that essentially, the Church or broad themes of Christian Dogmatism can never adequately account for true Orthodoxy. Subtly, the agreement of majority affirmations is not a passable measure of what should be deemed as Christian truth. If we can take anything from the history of heresy in the Church, it is that even councils and creeds can only point to what was already established. It cannot bring forth a new truth but rather confirm what was already clearly established. What is the objective standard of truth? Jesus makes it clear that “The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life” (Joh.6:63) He also mentions that the disciples are sanctified because of the truth which is God’s Word.” (Joh.17:17). I would suggest that the sole foundation of truth is God’s Word. It should be noted, that investigating ”Christ in Me international” is not a witch-hunt and this discussion is a comparison between the biblical imperatives and the central held beliefs of this community and its leadership.

• From that perspective, please allow me to give you some points central to our investigation about Christ in Me International.

1. Who is Christ in me international and what do they teach.

2. What is the Biblical response to Christ in Me international?
______________________

1. Who is Christ in me international and what do they believe.

 

Leadership:
Xandre Strydom is the Founder, CEO, and Vision Leader of the ministry that is supported by 10 teachers (leermeesters). He describes his calling as supernatural on the 13th of May 2006 and was asked to go into full-time ministry the 24th of September 2007. Xandre went into full-time ministry on the 31st of October 2007 and as a result, Christ in Me international opened on the 1st of September 2010.

The Church describes Xandre on their site as: “The appointed man of God for Christ in me international and visionary leader. He is the Set Man for the ministry and leads the team as Prophetic Apostle to ensure that the ministry is built on an undefiled and pure Christ foundation and to move the ministry and leadership team toward its God-given destiny.”[3] 

Teacher of the Church Mathys Kotzé describes Xandre’s position as:
“CIMI believes that Xandré Strydom is the appointed man of God that will reveal the inauguration of the second coming of the Christ species. Only a son could reveal and construct the coming Kingdom. Jesus said that the Kingdom is within you (Luk.17:21) and that God’s Kingdom should come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. For God’s Kingdom to be visible, it can only take place as the ‘Sons of God’ reveal the perspective, judgment, and opinion, as God.”[4]

Christ in Me International:
It is important to note that for this Church, its identity is intimately connected and paralleled to the life, chronology, and centrality of Xandre’s and other experiences.[5] The Church received various ‘signs and manifestations’ that confirmed the fulfilled dispensation of the seventh day which is known as the second coming of Christ or rather the Christ Species. In the YouTube clips, I have made I look at the signs that they hold dear in their midst. The Church also functions by drawing parallels between specific births, names, and dates that seems to give legitimacy and significance to the direction and verification of this Churches claims and teaching. Here are a few important dates:
• For the first time in the Jewish calendar and the normal A.D. calendar, “Shivot” and “Easter” was on the same day that would correspond with the day Xandre received a word to go into ministry.
• Shivot, therefore, indicated God was present at Sinai (Ex.19:1-25).
• Easter indicated God’s presence in Jerusalem (Hand.1:12/2:1).
• Christ in Me International therefore indicates God’s presence in Zion on the 24th of the 9th Month of the second year of God’s rule, which is now the fulfillment of day Seven or return of Christ.
• Xandre is laying a new cornerstone of Zion and the Church (C.I.M.I.) is the era of the Church, which is Zion, now appointed from Judea and Israel to the corners of the earth.
• God appointed Xandre as the new King of this new dispensation and He moved from religion to the new dispensation, a Christ Church!
• ”Christ in me International” is, therefore, the first “Christ Church” as a sign that God is shaking heaven and earth turning from a democracy to a Monarchy where King Xandre now takes his rightful place as God’s Vice Regent.
• Confused? There are some more dates that seem to correlate with their overall teaching but for the sake of time, we cannot really get into them.[6] 

The central teaching of CIMI is that God has one dream, one plan, and one strategy: The Church propagates the reality that it is God’s dream to fill the earth with His glory by His view judgment and opinion. His plan is that He has chosen humanity to be in Christ as a second Adam Species. God’s strategy to enforce this plan is through the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. Ultimately, God’s purpose is anthropocentric and a semi-deified man was His ultimate goal in day seven. The Historical person of Jesus Christ is, therefore, a paragon of what individuals should look like when becoming a member of the Church.

Jesus Christ:
It is important to note that CIMI demands a schism between the historical person Jesus of Nazareth, and Jesus the Christ. There are two generations of ‘Christ’, Jesus Christ. , and the Christ. Jesus was the Alpha or genesis of the new species (1Cor.15:48) and the Omega [end] of the sinful Adam (2 Cor.5:14-15).[7] 

For Jesus to be the perfect example He could not have been God in the flesh or part of a triune God. CIMI believes therefore that Scriptures like John 1:1 does not speak of the person of Christ but rather the Word [Logos] that became enfleshed in the person of Christ. They say Word means ‘Logos’ [intent, motive, reason, speech, utterance] which shows Jesus Christ was the first in which the Word became flesh visibly and also in his disciples afterward (Joh.1:14).

Salvation:
The very purpose of the Cross of Jesus Christ was to lay down the Adam with his sinful nature and the resurrection of Christ, which is a new creature. Note therefore that Xandre teaches that the resurrection of Christ was not a physical bodily resurrection but a new Spirit man that appeared as a glorified entity or body. The message that was brought through Gods appointed leader, Xandre Christ Strydom is that Jesus Christ came for the salvation of the spirit man so that humankind could become one with God the Father. The purpose of the first coming of Jesus Christ was a foreshadowing of this second coming of Christ through which the thoughts, and character of God can be manifested in the children that would become mature sons. With the second coming of Christ through the rescue of the soul or thoughts, we can now manifest the mind of Christ. God supernaturally can open one’s eyes to the truth promulgated by His appointed King of the hour Xandre Strydom.

The Manifest Kingdom:
CIMI demands that the Kingdom should be evident on earth and it is NOT evident right now. The Kingdom according to CIMI is to bring forth the ‘Christ species’ and make Sons that will rule the earth and unless this is accomplished, the Kingdom shall never reign. The reason for all the pain and suffering is in part because we have not seen the manifest Kingdom of God evident right now here on earth.

The purpose of God:
CIMI believes the Gospel was never about the Incarnation of God but for the sole purpose of the generation of many Sons and people marginalize God by making Him a man. Even though humankind was created in the image of God, they are not God. In addition, if Jesus was God, it makes the Gospel less good news because we are image bearers of God and called to rule and reign with Christ’s on earth. CIMI also believes the second coming of Christ has arrived by the harvest of many Sons as the seed of the Christ (Joh.12:24). For CIMI the purpose of God is only truly in full force when the Sons rule on earth with God’s dream, plan, and strategy as in heaven, so also on earth. God can ONLY rule through His Sons (Hebrews 1). [8]

In Summary:
1. One man Xandre Christ Strydom is the central hope, esteem, and custodian of this new moves teaching and potency.
2. CIMI is the only accurate Church that preaches the original truth about bringing many Sons into glory.
3. The sole foundation for truth is not the Bible alone but the mitigated reality as taught by Xandre and affirmed by different signs evident in dates, and other experiences.
4. The purpose of God was to reveal a semi-deified man in this new dispensation through this newly revealed knowledge.
5. Jesus Christ was a sufficient exemplary but not a sufficient Savior. His death was not fully efficacious. His revelation of who God was not relevant. His death and resurrection not apparent. His divinity not real. Jesus did not come to reveal a Triune God but rather godlike men, a “Christ species.”
6. CIMI demand an actual Kingdom visible now through a central King that rules and reigns on earth as God is in heaven. Pain and suffering are not necessarily a symptom of sin but rather a symptom of ignorance. This is the purpose of God now, a Christ sort on earth that can rule as God can only rule through His Sons on earth.

2. What is the Biblical response to Christ in Me international?

Is Xandre the sole proprietor and CIMI as a Church the only accurate body that preaches the truth about bringing many Sons into glory through various signs?
This sounds like the “mono-episcopate” or “rule by one bishop,” claimed by Roman Catholicism or adherence of the final prophet Joseph Smith, Muhammad, or David Koresh of the Branch Davidians. This claim is a direct infringement on the purpose and work of Jesus Christ.
CIMI inevitably asks every Christian to question the sufficiency of Christ and the Scripture. As a Bible believing Christians, we should hold to the sufficiency of Scripture! Jesus makes it clear that His words and message was sufficient for all times and to all people! In Mark.13:31 Jesus assures us that His central teaching will remain when He says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” In 2 Tim.3:16 Paul says that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness”.

Psalm 19:7-10 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
This means that it speaks authoritatively and clearly and hold above else to the absolute sufficiency of Christ as the sole proprietor and example of our Faith. The foundation of our faith is not another man, but the God-Man. The Foundation for belief is the Bible, not another man’s interpretation of the Bible!

Hebrews.1:1-3 says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Hebrews.12:1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith.”

What we can gather from these texts is that the Work and revelation of Jesus Christ are final! What about the Work of Jesus, was there still something else that needed to be done? Jesus says: in John 17:4 “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” On the Cross he declares in John 19:28 “After this, knowing that everything had now been accomplished, and to fulfill the Scripture, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” v/30 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He yielded up His spirit.” In short, Scripture is sufficient and Christ is ultimately sufficient! That is the ultimate cornerstone of truth that any Christian need to uphold and take a stand on (Rom.9:33, Isa.28:16, 1 Pet.2:4-8, Eph.2:20). Nothing in the life and teaching of Jesus indicates a future expectation of another Christ or a new deeper revelation. In Christ, the message and revelation of God have reached its full climax! Does one individual or one Church possess the right to a foundational truth? Yes, and for Christians, that person is called Jesus Christ! His message was sufficient! He was the full revelation of God and the fruition of the Old Testament expectation. Is it necessary for CIMI to bring a new truth? No, because Christ was sufficient in his message and His person! Do we need signs, dates, and evidentiary experiences to validate any message? No, Jesus was the very sign of God and the final word of God.

Is the purpose of God to reveal semi-deified men in this new dispensation through a newly revealed knowledge? Did Jesus did fail to reveal a Triune God? If men can be made into little gods what the serpent said to Eve was correct, “You will be like God” (Gen.3:5). The Mission of God was not ‘ecclesiocentric’, it will never be about a new Church or fad, not chronocentric, there was never an expectation of a new Christ in a future time, nor ethnocentric, just for those elect people in Pretoria, nor anthropocentric. The Mission of God was Christocentric and the purpose of Scripture had always been to reveal Christ (Isa. 9;6-7 & 53). That is the true purpose of God throughout all of Scripture! CIMI distorts the purpose and person of Jesus Christ by demanding a new revelation adding something new to the old. In fact, Jesus says, (John 5:39-40) “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.” In John 6:29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Please note that nowhere in Scripture is we motivated to expect another Christ or Christ Specie in the future, 2000 years after Christ! No! We need to believe in Christ and believe in what Jesus Christ said about Himself and His work! Jesus came to save sinners, not to make men into little gods. In fact, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Jesus Christ came into the world to call sinners to repentance. Mark 2:17 says, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Jesus Christ came into the world to seek and save the lost and Luke writes (19:10); “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Ultimately, Jesus came to reveal the Father and the Spirit. In John (14:9) He is recorded saying, “The one who has seen me has seen the Father”… v/10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? ”… v/16 “and I will ask the Father and He will give you another counselor”. The very revelation of God finds its full expression in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. The person and work of Jesus Christ find itself only in the atmosphere of the Trinity! We can agree that the purpose of God is to make us Sons and daughters of the Most High (Galatians 4:5-8) but it should be understood that we are Sons and daughters through adoption, and we are not Sons by nature, like Jesus Christ! Christ is the only begotten, unique, one of a kind [Greek – monogenes Theos] (Joh.1:14-18). Jesus Christ was truly God by nature (Phil 2:6, Joh.1:1, Gal.4:8).

Is there a difference between Jesus and Jesus Christ?
We need to note here that CIMI has a similar manner in which the early dualistic Gnostic cults in Church History propagated their understanding of man’s condition and its remedy for its brokenness. Gnostics would speak of two equally opposing forces in one reality and through the understanding of a ‘secret knowledge’, one can bring forth one own liberation. [11] CIMI will here note that the second return of Christ is evident amongst them through their example, Xandré Christ, being the example for the Christ Species (members that accept his Kingship and election as laying down the new cornerstone). This is problematic for various reasons: From the Biblically imperative we understand that the return of Christ is not a spiritual reality but a physical certainty in which all peoples of the earth will see Jesus Christ evident in the flesh (Acts 1:11, Luk.24:39) where Jesus will finally conquering physical death (cf. 1 Cor.15V/26). Paul also shows very clearly that there is in no way a dualism that should be evident in the Christians hermeneutic. Allow me to show you this reality in Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

Paul describes Jesus Christ in Colossians 1 as:
The head of Paul (1:1), mediator and object of all believers faith (1:2-4), who are being determined to know the person of Jesus Christ wholly (1:9). Believers are called to walk worthy of Him (1:10) for redemption (1:13) and the forgiveness of Sin (1:13).
Paul does not speak of an ambiguous dualism between Christ and Jesus Christ, he identifies Jesus Christ as a personal individual who is the head of His Church (Eph.4:2; Col.2:10) and the object of our faith (Heb.2:9, 12:1-2) for their liberation of sin (1 Tim.2:5). There is no indication that Paul is calling for an interaction with an impersonal Christ consciousness but with an actual encounter with the historical person Jesus Christ that became flesh and dwelled amongst us (Joh.1:1-3&14, Fil.2:4-11, Heb.2:8-9). Jesus is the object of the invisible God (1:15) and the revelation of the very being of God!
Paul shows Christ is before all things and eternal (1:17) [Greek- “pro panton”], everything is created through Him (1:16) [Greek- ”en auto”] (Rev.4:11), by Him (1:16) [Greek- “di auto”], for Him (1:16) [Greek- “eis auton”]. Jesus Christ reconciled us to God through His blood on the Cross (1:20, Col.2:15).

This essentially debunks the central myth on which CIMI’s theological axis rest. Even in Chapter 2 Paul makes it clear and emphatic. Paul stipulates that it Christ in them their hope of Glory (1:27) is Jesus Christ in the flesh, not a tearing between Jesus and Christ, not a spiritual apprehension but the physical person of Jesus Christ in the flesh by His death (1:22).
In Colossians chapter 2 Paul makes it clear that:
We walk in Jesus Christ (2:6-7) and that our faith is IN Jesus and not just our identity WITH Him! In Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily” [Greek – ”hoti en auto katoikei panto pleroma tes theotes somatikos] and we are IN HIM not as a dualistic certainty but a clear incarnated reality!

CIMI denies the sufficiency of Jesus Christ and calls for people to invest their assurance in Xandré Christ. However, Jesus Christ is the sufficient “author and finisher” of our faith (Heb.12:2) that completed our expectation, salvation, and revelation (Heb1:1-2, Col.1-2). Jesus assuredly was, is, and still will be the sole proprietor of our faith! Nowhere in Scripture are we called to look for another Christ or expect the revelation of a new Christ! In fact, anything in the New Testament to that effect we are warned against (Matt.24:24, 26; Mark 13:22; Gal.1:8; 2 Cor.11:4). Jesus is Sufficient in His work and His person! [10]

Can CIMI demand an actual Kingdom visible now through a central King that rules and reigns on earth as God is in heaven?
When you mention that your ultimate goal is a physical Kingdom on earth Jesus explicitly said that His desire was never for a Kingdom on this Earth. In John (18:36) Jesus says that “My kingdom [k]is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not [l]of this realm.” Luke (4:6-7) accounts that Jesus explicitly denies the Kingdom of this World in His temptation. John (6:15) says “So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone”. Luke (17:20-21) goes further and says; “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with [n]signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

In fact, Jesus cautions them not to expect a physical Kingdom in their midst that will come via numerous signs (nl: the sign of the dove, the sign of Jonah or the sign of the fig tree as Neels and Xandre so boldly proclaim). Another claim of CIMI is that they do not hold to a Democratic system but rather a Theocracy that would be governed on earth by a Monarchy as Xandre is that King on Earth? The problem once more is that Scripture once more declares Christ to be the only and ultimate King over heaven and earth. The Prophet Jeremiah (23:5) mentions that the Messiah Christ will be King. Isaiah (9:7) says, “to His government, there will be no end”. All Authority is given to Christ (Matt.28:18), and He is described as the ONLY Sovereign and blessed King of Kings (1 Tim.6:14-16), John the Beloved mentions that the Kingdom of this World has become the kingdom of the Lord and Messiah and Christ will reign for ever and ever (Rev.11:15, Dan.7:14, 2:44, Luk.1:33).
In fact, that is the whole point of the book of Hebrews, Christ is the “minus triplex” (Prophet, King, and Priest). As for public platforms of discussion, this is exactly the example of Christ, the Apostles in the book of Acts and the concern of the faith (Act. 4:5-12, 9:29, 17:22-34, Jud.3, 1 Pet.3:15-17).

Are pain and suffering a symptom of ignorance rather a symptom of sin?
The idea is given that because the Kingdom of CIMI is not realized or present the Church is not victorious and therefore the reason for humankind’s pains and suffering because man does not really understand His realized purpose as Christ. Scripture reveals though that the main reason for pain and suffering IS MANKIND and their fallenness! The world is not bad because we forgot how to be good; man is wicked and therefore only perpetuates Sin and brokenness!
Paul writes in Romans 3:10-12 (ESV) “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.” (Mark 10:18). Only Jesus is the good guy, not us, we are the bad guys. The problem is that CIMI believes that the solution for man’s wickedness is self-actualization and realization as a Christ or Christ species. That is just flawed! The solution is the Gospel and Jesus Christ! Does God rule through His Sons on earth? First, we need to understand that God is the only ruler in heaven and on earth!
God says: “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” (Isa.46:10).

David exclaims, “Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases” (Ps.115:3).

In addition, “The Lord does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths.” (Ps.135:6).

God’s reach and potency are not limited by the lack of delegates on earth or sons with authority. A God that is exclusively dependent on our presence, prayers, or confessions is not an omnipotent God, but a dependent limited God. This is not the God of the Bible as He is omnipotent and entrusts to the Son has all authority in heaven and on earth to rule (Matt.28:18) because He is declared ruler by the Father who submitted all things to Him in heaven and on earth (Matt.11:27, Eph.1:22, Heb.2:8, 1 Cor.15:27). The sons and daughters of God function on delegated authority, where all authority, potency, and dominion are surrendered to the Son Jesus Christ (Rev.1:5-8, Col.1:16, 2:10). God can do as He please through His Son Jesus Christ because He is God with authority in heaven and on earth!

Was the Gospel never about the Incarnation?
For CIMI the reason of the Gospel was to bring people from the person of Jesus Christ to the knowledge of being Christ or a Christ Species. The Gospel was never to reveal God in the incarnation of Christ, but to reveal the Christ in the Spirit of man.
We agree that the purpose of Christ included the reality of “bringing many sons into glory” (Heb2:10). CIMI makes the incarnation something marginal and Scripture makes it clear that the purpose of the incarnation was:

• for the Son to reveal the Father in nature and in essence (Joh.1:1, 14, 18; 14:7-11),
• to be our eternal High Priest and intermediary before the Father (Heb.4:14-16, 7:25, Rom.8:34),
• to be our perfect example (1 Pet. 2:21, 1 Joh. 2:6),
• to pay for our sins (Heb.10:1-10),
• to defeat the evil one (1 Joh.3:8),
• to be Lord over all forever (Eph.1:19-22),
• to be the King forever (Isa. 9:7, Jer.23:5, Dan.2:44, 7:14, Zech.14:9) and;
• to be the eternal judge (Joh.5:22, Acts 10:42).

The problem is that CIMI preaches a very anthropocentric (man-centered) Gospel that makes the sole purpose of God the generation of many Sons. Even though this is part of the function of Christ, we also see a greater scope of reality evident within the scriptures.

Does the idea that Jesus is God diminish the God of the Bible?
Another fallacy is to think that Jesus being God makes our Father less. That is just purely disingenuous and obviously obfuscates the central greatness of our transcendent yet, immanent God as revealed in the full context of Scripture. In fact, the purpose of Jesus Christ was to reveal the Father in function (work) and ontology (nature). Jesus shows He was equal with the Father (Joh. 3:36, 5:23, 14:1;6-7;9;11;21;23, Matt.10:32, Mark 9:37, Joh.5:23), and refers to Himself as the revelation of Yahweh of the Old Testament (Joel 2:32 + Rom. 10:9-13, Isa. 45:22-25 + Phil. 2:5-11, Isa. 46:4 + Joh. 8:58, Isa. 43:11 + Joh. 4:42, Ps. 51:1 + Acts 7:59, Ps. 95:3 + Rev.19:16). It is also made clear that the Jews accused Christ of blasphemy (Joh. 5:17-18, 8:58-59, 10:30-33, Markus 14:61-64) because He made Himself one with the Father in purpose and identity! Lastly, we also see Jesus Christ emphasize His Deity by utilizing divine prerogatives like forgiving Sins (Mark.2:5), something only God could do (Lev.16:30, 2 Sam.12:13). Jesus accepts Worship (Matt.28:17, Rev.4-5), He answers the collective prayers of all believers (omnipotence/omniscience) (Joh.14:14), he gives live from Himself (Joh.5:21), He is the eternal judge of all humankind (Joh.5:22) which only God can do (Gen.18:25, Judg.11:27).

Conclusion:
I want to end off by stating once more that my ardent desire is for God’s people to walk in the truth (3 John 1:4). I pray that the readers of this article would be encouraged and grieve stricken with a desire to pray for everyone that is trapped in this cult! Please understand that there is an obvious Spiritual dimension that we cannot ignore, but our fight is not against flesh and blood (Eph.6:12). Let’s pray for truth to prevail, it is the best argument anyway! Be blessed!

Rudolph P Boshoff
Johannesburg, South Africa. Sept. 2017.

Sources: 

[1] Russell Spitter. Cults and Isms Pg. 12.

[2] Dave Breese. Know the marks of Cults. Pg.14.

[3] http://www.christinme-international.com/preachers/11-xandre-strydom

[4] https://nuwewyn.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/gesprek-oor-die-leringe-van-christ-in-me-international/

[5] 24ste van Mei 2015 / 24ste van die 9de Maand van die 2de Regeringsjaar skud God die Hemel en die Aarde, plant ons die 1ste Christus Gemeente as teken van die draai van godsdiens na Christus toe. Nuwe regering. Demokrasie is klaar, die Koninkryk het gekom.

[6] •  16 Mei 1983 word ek gebore in die Ooste van Pta • Mei 1983 kom die Woord uit oor Sg Elton • 13 Mei 2006 roep die Here my baie bo-natuurlik • 24 Sep 2007 word ek gevra om voltyds in die bediening te gaan • Profetiese Woord • 31 Okt 2007 begin ek voltyds in die bediening •           Aug 2009 Woord ontvang oor geboorte van bediening •           25 Feb 2010 – Tineka gebore – 5 Mrt vat bediening •                2 Mei 2010 – Woord by Thys dat ek Dawid is • 1 Sept 2010 – CiMI Word gebore • 12 Junie 2011 – Miane gebore op Pinkster Sondag • Jun 2012 Water manifestasie en hemde uittrek •24 Jan 2013 – Alexander word gebore as teken van Seunskap •16 Mei 2013  – Word ek 30 Jr oud soos Jesus en Dawid •16 Mei 2013 – Ontvang my Woord by Thys dat ek Joshua is • 10 Sept 2013 – Begin Neels met sy kamp by Agterbergh • 14 Sept 2013 – Salf Neels my as Koning Dawid en vra die Volk of hulle my kies as leier • 14 Sept 2013 – Toe sluit die Here verbond met CiMI as Juda priesterorde deur my • 27 Nov 2013 – in n droom se die Here ons moet Jesus skeur • 1 Des 2013 – Woord deur Neels ek gaan Israel uit Babilon verlos • 2014 Woord begin en ek slag die FORSAKEN (Jesus) en laat Jesus Christus opstaan, Arise en Shine kennis kom na vore en God se weer laat daar LIG wees! • 5 Mei 2014 – Plant 10de gemeente • 13 Mei 2014 – Teken van die duif deur Neels in Ps 68 • 16 Mei 2014 – Word ek 31 •      Jun 2014 – Vyeboom Bot in die 1ste Regeringsjaar van aangestelde koningskap vanuit hierdie Wingerd… Wingerdstok(ek) en Lote(Seunskap) • 4 – 5 Aug… Woord, Aardbewing, En Swanger plus droom •                Sep 2014  – Woord by Egiptenaar Sendeling en Johan oor Jer 1:5-10 • 12 Sep 2014 – Bal, aankondiging van 7 Leermeester, ouderlinge en diakens asook dag waarop TB Joshua se 6 vloer gastehuis val • 13 Sep 2014 – Woordskool, ek kondig aan snellerword getrek uit Nigerie • 14 Sep 2014 – 1ste Viering van Christus Verbond (2de Regeringsjaar begin) •14 Okt 2014 – 1ste Verbond sluit saam met Volk (300 Mense) •      Ons word toe vir die eerste keer na Israel van ouds n VERBONDSVOLK want in die volgende 1000jaar sal daar weer n ISRAEL wees. • Begin toe kalender verstaan en dat God nou duidelik net op die CIM kalender werk • Passover Jaar is verby • 2015 – Advent of Christ openbaring begin die grootste geheimenisse bedien ooit • 2015 – 2021 is die Fees van Ongesuurde brode(Geen Suurdeeg) •Slegs Leermeesters bedien • 21ste van Maart / 21ste van 7de maand van 2de regeringsjaar toe word Shiloh – Aurora gebore as hoeksteen tipe en dat Juda nou die Septer het asook dat die dag breek en die Koms van die Dag is hier net soos Haggai 2 se: • Woord oor die plant van gemeente by Mamre asook Simone se Amandel Staff    Jer 1:11-12.

[7]  https://nuwewyn.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/gesprek-oor-die-leringe-van-christ-in-me-international/

[8]  https://nuwewyn.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/gesprek-oor-die-leringe-van-christ-in-me-international/

[9]  https://nuwewyn.wordpress.com/2016/06/11/gesprek-oor-die-leringe-van-christ-in-me-international/

[10] Mathys wrote: Die kruis van Jesus Christus is die neerlê van Adam met sy sondige bestaan en die opwek van Christus, ʼn nuwe skepping/skepsel.

[10] Mathys wrote: “Die Koninkryk van God is God wat deur die Seuns heers op aarde met Sy siening, oordeel en opinie. Sy ware gewig. Soos in die hemel, so ook op die aarde. God kan slegs deur die Seuns heers (Heb 1).

[11] BD Ehrman, Pg.144-145.  After the New Testament. &  D Marshal, Pg.23, The truth about Jesus and the lost Gospels.

[12] Jesus se werk:

Die Woord se dat die doel van Jesus was om die Vader te openbaar aan die mensdom (Johannes.1:18, 14:7-11), om ons Hoe Priester te wees wat vir ons intree voor die Vader as perfekte mens (Hebreers 4:14-16), Jesus was die perfekte middelaar (Romeine 8:34, Hebreers 7:25),om die perfekte voorbeeld vir ons te wees (1 Petrus 2:21, 1 Johannes 2:6), om vir ons Sondes te betaal in ‘n plaasvervangende possisie vir ons Sondes (Hebreers10:1-10), en om die duiwel uit te klee (1 Johannes 3:8). Jesus is die Heer oor alles vir ewig (Efesiers 1:19-22) en ook die toekomstige Koning (Jesaja 9:7, Jeremia 23:5, Daniel 2:44/7:14, Sagaria 14:9) en Regter (Johannes 5:22, Handelinge 10:42).

Vraag: Wat is CIMI se opinie oor Jesus se genoegsaamheid? Is Jesus die perfekte openbaaring van God? Is Jesus die perfekte hoe Priester vir ewig? Is Jesus nog die perfekte tussenganger tussen God en die mens? Is Jesus die enigste middelaar? Is Jesus die perfekte voorbeeld vir ons? Is Jesus se werk rerig voldoende vir almal oor alle tye? Is Jesus Heer oor alles in hemel en op aarde? Is Jesus die enigste Koning in die Hemel en op aarde? Is Jesus die enigste regter op die aarde en die hemel?

Jesus se genoegsaamheid (2):

Sy persoon:

Die Woord se Jesus is gelyk met die Vader (Johannes 3:36, 5:23, 14:1;6-7;9;11;21;23, Mattheus 10:32, Markus 9:37, Johannes 5:23), en verwys as Homself as die Yahweh van die Ou Testament (Joel 2:32 + Romeine 10:9-13, Jesaja 45:22-25 + Filippense 2:5-11, Jesaja 46:4 + Johannes 8:58, jesaja 43:11 + Johannes 4:42, Psalm 51:1 + Handelinge 7:59, Psalm 95:3 + Openbaring 19:16).

Die Woord se ook Jesus was beskuldig dat hy gelaster het (Johannes 5:17-18, 8:58-59, 10:30-33, Markus 14:61-64) want Hy het homself as God verteenwoordig.

Die woord se Jesus beklemtoon Goddelike regte vir Homself deur om: Sondes te vergewe (Markus 2:5) iets wat net God die Vader kon doen (Levitikus 16:30, 2 Samuel 12:13). Jesus aanvaar aanbiding (Matteus 28:17, Openbaring 4-5), Jesus antwoord gebed (Johannes 14:14), Jesus gee lewe (Johannes 5:21), Jesus sal die mensdom beoordeel en veroordeel (Johannes 5:22) iets wat net God kan doen (Genesis 18:25, Rigters 11:27).

Vraag: As Jesus beklemtoon Hy en die Vader is een in natuur hoe is Hy gelyk aan die Vader? (NB! Jesus praat van ‘n onderskyd in funksie NIE in ontologie nie!), Hoekom beklemtoon Jesus en Sy disipels Hy is Yahweh? Hoekom se die skrif geleerdes Jesus laster? Hoe kan Jesus doen,weet, en vir homself toedoen wat net die Vader toekom in werke,aanbidding,gebed,lewe gee en beoordeeling?