The International Christian Church (ICC) has often been labeled a cult—but not because of anything secretive or manipulative.
Instead, it’s because we unapologetically call every follower of Jesus to obey 100% of the Bible.
That’s right: not 80%, not 90%, not even 99%. All of it.
And in a world that has watered down Christianity, that level of commitment looks extreme.
But before we accept the label of “cult,” let’s ask the most important question: What does Jesus expect?
Jesus Calls for 100%, Not 99%
Today’s religious world is saturated with partial obedience. Churches are filled with “good people” who give most of their hearts to God—but hold back in one area or another. Maybe it’s their relationships. Maybe it’s their finances. Maybe it’s their pride or traditions.
But here’s the truth: God doesn’t grade on a curve.
In Mark 10:17-23, the rich young ruler comes to Jesus eager and religious—he’s kept the commandments since he was a boy. But Jesus sees through his 99% obedience and challenges him to give up everything.
He can’t. And he walks away sad. That one missing piece cost him a relationship with the Son of God.
Jesus didn’t lower the standard. He didn’t say, “99% is good enough.” Instead, He let the man walk away because discipleship has a cost—and that cost is everything (Luke 14:33).
Religiosity Isn’t Enough
In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus gives a shocking warning: many who call Him “Lord” will be rejected on judgment day. Why? Because though they were religious, they did not do the will of the Father completely.
Religious activity without total obedience is not what God is after.
In other words, God wants faithfulness, not just familiarity.
Even in Jesus’ time, His harshest critics were the ultra-religious —the Pharisees—who preferred tradition over transformation (Mark 7:1-13). Jesus call for 100% obedience exposed their hypocrisy, and for that, they persecuted Him.
God Expects The Same Standard Today
Fast-forward to today. The ICC is misjudged for the same reason Jesus was: we teach that sin is still sin. We call people to repent of sexual immorality, pride, greed, gossip, and yes—homosexuality. Not because we’re trying to be harsh, but because the Bible is clear, and we don’t have the authority to edit God’s word.
We believe there are two genders because that’s what Jesus taught (Mark 10:6). We believe sex is a gift for marriage alone. And we believe all Christians must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above everything else (Matthew 6:33).
That doesn’t make us hateful. It makes us biblical.
Not Perfect, Just Faithful
Now, are we perfect? Far from it. But God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s looking for faithfulness.
If you asked my wife whether I’m a perfect husband, she’d laugh and say, “No way!” 🙁
But if you asked if I’m a faithful husband, she’d smile and say, “Absolutely.” I may stumble, but I don’t quit. I recommit. That’s what love looks like.
In the same way, Christians aren’t expected to be perfect every day—but we are expected to be faithful every day. That means obeying 100% of God’s Word, repenting when we fall, and never settling for a halfway version of Christianity.
Jesus Was Hated Too
Jesus said it plainly: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). The same world that crucified Him will call anyone who teaches full obedience a radical. That includes us.
But we’d rather be hated for telling the truth than loved for staying silent.
Final Word: Not a Cult, Just Committed
So, is the ICC a cult? Not even close.
We are simply a church that takes Jesus at His word. We believe being a Christian means walking as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). That means calling people to full obedience—not cultural Christianity. That means loving enough to tell the truth, even when it’s unpopular. And that means refusing to settle for anything less than 100% of what God has commanded.
If that’s extreme, then so was Jesus. And we’re honored to follow in His footsteps.
Because 100% commitment to Christ isn’t cultish. It’s biblical.