The problem is that such theologizing turns a transcendent God into a group possession. Since I knew some of the candidates and suspected that there might be passages in the Nazarene manual that they would find difficult to accept, I asked him about this. Let's face it. But whether they should therefore be ignored is questionable. One serious criticism of many of the cults is that they operate in a climate of secrecy.
Consequently people have a difficult time determining what they are getting into.
This strategy of tension reduction is closely related to strategy number three. Operating in this mode, the church functions as though it had procured the services of a hard core public relations firm to head up the promotion department. Under the competent hand of the P.R. firm, Jesus winds up endorsing popular values. Even renderings of His physical appearance may appeal to such values. Those who would opt for this strategy dare not pattern their behavior after Christ's.