Groups, individual teachers, ideas, doctrines and practices may be included in this Guide because they have characteristics which fall under one or more of the following areas of concern, or have intimate connection in some way with groups or ideas which do. The overriding concern on all of these matters is that they may distract Christians from the Simplicity that is in Christ.
Religious settings in which the freedom of the individual to have a personal, one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father is inhibited in any way.
Religious organizations, leaders of such religious organizations, and teachers who in any way insert themselves or their system or their teachings between the individual believer and that believer's immediate access to God ... and to the simple truths of the scriptures.
Religious teachings which subvert the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus and turn faith and salvation and the daily Christian walk into a complex, convoluted process through twisting of scripture and through requiring or encouraging extra-biblical and unbiblical gimmicks and standards.
Teachers or religious groups which takes the simplicity of the truths of the Bible and distort them to use for an illegitimate or evil purpose--whether it be to validate their own warped views such as rabid racism, to justify oppression of one group of people over another, to excuse their own sinful actions, or any other reason.
Teachers or religious groups which, subtly or openly, strip from the individual believer their right and/or ability to think and act for themselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Teachers or religious groups which use misleading tactics to obscure some of their most fundamental beliefs from potential or new supporters.