Depends on what you mean by a "cult," I guess. The word has a fairly broad meaning, ranging from an actual new religious movement with destructive practices (e.g. Scientology <tm>, Jim Jones, Charles Manson), to a heretical sect with unorthodox beliefs, to "that church I don't like."
I'll assume you mean the first of those: a destructive cult. Here's a fairly good list of characteristics of such a group, which I've paraphrased from here:
Cult Characteristics. I've listed their characteristics on the left and put my own remarks on the right.
Characteristic | My remarks |
---|
Zealous and unquestioning commitment to the leader | "100% Hyles" |
Questions or doubts are discouraged | Not that I've directly observed |
Mind-altering practices, e.g. chants, meditation, denunciations, harsh work routines | Not that I've observed, apart from the common expectation that members will be at church whenever the doors are open or take part in every church activity. |
Leadership dictates how members should think, act, etc. | "Ask your youth pastor about every decision you make."
'Nuff said.
|
Group claims elitist, special status for itself and its leader | All Christian churches have an exclusive claim to truth, broadly speaking. Tendency towards cults of personality in certain leaders (e.g. Hyles). |
Us-vs-them mentality | Frequently. |
Leader unaccountable to any authority | Frequently single-pastor leadership, with no accountability to a denomination/synod/diocese to bring heresy or abuse in check. |
Teaches that the cult's ends justify the means | Not really that I've observed. Maybe the oft-repeated IFB "indulgence" that excuses things like sexual abuse because the perp is a legendary soul-winner. |
Use of shame to control members | Blaming victims of sexual abuse. |
Leadership requires members to cut ties with family and friends | Not that I've observed. |
Preoccupied with bringing in new members | McHyles; billions and billions saved! |
Preoccupied with making money | Not that I've observed. If anything, poverty seems to be a virtue (e.g. giving pastors a car or home "allowance" in lieu of a larger salary). |
Members expected to devote inordinate amounts of time to group activities | "Three to thrive"; mandatory soul-winning. |
Members encouraged to socialize only with other group members | "Separation" even from other Christians. |
So is IFB a cult? I would judge no, but there are definitely some IFB churches, even some of the big and influential ones, that are leaning in a cultic direction. To be fair, the fact that you even feel the need to ask the question should raise a red flag.