Can Truth Be Known With Certainty?

             Some skeptics contend they cannot be sure about Christianity’s truth claims because, they assert, truth cannot be known with any certainty. However, when they claim that truth cannot be known with any certainty, they posit certainty.

            They say with all certainty that truth cannot be known with any certainty. So their statement ‘truth cannot be known with any certainty’ is a truth claim that is predicated on certainty.

            J. Warner Wallace of Cold Case Christianity elaborates:¹ [Emphasis Mine]

In this article, we’re offering “Quick Shot” responses to the objection, “You can’t be certain about Christianity because truth cannot be known with any certainty.”

Response #1:

“Are you sure? Are you confident about that statement related to truth? It sounds like you have certainty. But if truth cannot be known with any certainty, then you can’t have certainty that truth can’t be known with certainty. Do you see the problem? As it turns out, all of us are certain about something, even if it’s just that you can’t be certain. But that claim, in and of itself, is self-refuting. It’s important that all of us determine which truth claims what we should trust or distrust. But to claim that nothing can be known or trusted is contradictory and impossible to live out effectively. Can you see why this sort of claim cannot be sustained?”

OR

Response #2:

“What do you mean by certainty? Do you mean “beyond a possible doubt”? If that’s the standard, we would be paralyzed by fear and indecision. Will my car explode when I turn the key today? I can’t be sure beyond a possible doubt. Will my next restaurant meal result in food poisoning? Again, I can’t be certain beyond a possible doubt. We can’t (and don’t) live by that standard, because, if we did, we wouldn’t want to leave our homes. Instead we live by a lower standard known as “beyond a reasonable doubt.” This is also the standard we apply to the most serious criminal trials. If it’s good enough to use in those trials, it’s also good enough for us to use in our daily lives. Do you honestly think truth can’t be known beyond a reasonable doubt? Have you ever applied this standard to the case for God’s existence or the truth of Christianity?”

Endnotes:

¹https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/quick-shot-truth-cannot-be-known-with-any-certainty/, last accessed 31/July/2021. 

Where Does Our Soul Come From? (When Can The Fetus Be Aborted?)

 

            The Bible uses the word ‘soul’ (Hebrew nephesh; Greek: psuche) in at least four different ways:¹

            1. As a synonym for a person (Exodus 1:5; Deuteronomy 10:22; Acts 2:41).

            2. The form of life man possesses in common with animals, which ceases to exist at death (Genesis 1:20,24; Psalm 78:50; Matthew 6:25; Luke 14:26).

            3. Emotions or inner thoughts of a man (Deuteronomy 13:3; Psalm 139:14; Matthew 22:37).

            4. The immortal part of a man that never dies (Genesis 35:18; 1 Kings 17:21; Matthew 10:28).

            The soul is the immortal part of our body.

            With regards to the origin of the soul, William Lane Craig explains that it is more plausible that God creates the soul for every human being that HE creates:² [Emphasis Mine]

...there have been traditionally three competing views as to the origin of the soul. One would be Creationism. This would be the view that God immediately creates the soul...The second view is Traducianism. This is the view that the soul is produced by the souls of the parents...So the soul is not specially created by God ex nihilo or out of nothing. Rather just as the parents’ bodies engender the body of their offspring, so their souls engender the soul of their offspring. One soul is produced or generated by the parents’ souls. The third view would be the Preexistence view which is the view that souls preexisted their embodiment in human bodies...This was a Platonic view that there is a realm of souls that exist prior to their incarnation in the world, and then God puts these souls in particular bodies.

Which of these views is the most plausible? Well, again, I think apart from the Preexistence view (which I think is clearly unbiblical), biblically there really is no way to tell whether you should be a Traducian or Creationist. But it seems to me that Creationism is more plausible than Traducianism...

            So the soul is created by God. But, at what point does HE create the soul?

            This question is relevant because it concerns the issue of abortion.

            Consider these two verses from the Bible: [Emphasis Mine]

            Jeremiah 1:5: ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...”” (ESV)

            Psalm 139:16a: “Your eyes saw my unformed substance...” (ESV)

            It is rather plausible to infer from these verses that God knows every human being from the time of their conception – even before they were formed in the womb. Ergo, God places the soul at conception.³

            Herein we should realize that abortion, at any time, is a sin against God because at the time of conception, the soul is placed, so when the soul is placed, the fetus should be considered as a fully human person.

Endnotes:

¹https://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/courses_pdf/hsc0207.pdf

²https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-1/s1-the-doctrine-of-man/the-doctrine-of-man-part-8/

³https://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/courses_pdf/hsc0207.pdf

&

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/podcasts/defenders-podcast-series-1/s1-the-doctrine-of-man/the-doctrine-of-man-part-8/

Websites last accessed on 30^th July 2021. 

No! Historic Christianity Is Not A Copycat Religion

 

            Mithras, Osiris, Horus, Dionysus, Adonis, Attis, Demeter, Persephone, Aphrodite, Isis, Danae, Melanippe [and who knows how many more], are some of the deities claimed to be the source for the Christian miracle narratives. The virgin birth, sacrificial death, crucifixion, resurrection, etc. have been attributed to these deities. Hence, some skeptics claim that Christianity is false since it has copied the miracle narratives from the pre-christian deities/religions.

            But please note that no serious academic scholar/historian from any credible academic institution confer any credence to this accusation against Historic Christianity. This accusation is absolutely baseless and outdated, but still it makes its rounds in social media as and when appropriate.

            Here is a few reasons why this accusation is without any credible foundation:

            1. Dr. William Lane Craig dismisses these accusations based on the lack of serious scholarship, “When they say that Christian beliefs about Jesus are derived from pagan mythology, I think you should laugh. Then look at them wide-eyed and with a big grin, and exclaim, "Do you really believe that?" Act as though you've just met a flat earther or Roswell conspirator. You could say something like, "Man, those old theories have been dead for over a hundred years! Where are you getting this stuff?" Tell them this is just sensationalist junk, not serious scholarship. If they persist, then ask them to show you the actual passages narrating the supposed parallel. They're the ones who are swimming against the scholarly consensus, so make them work hard to save their religion. I think you'll find that they've never even read the primary sources.”¹

            2. Dr. Mark Foreman questions the causal influence of the parallels. Even if there were parallels, there is no good evidence to ascertain that these parallels influenced the Historic Christian worldview. He emphasizes that Judaism, which is an extremely exclusive monotheistic religion, would not have tolerated the syncretism of the mystery religions. Moreover, the earliest Christians, who were primarily Jews, were even more exclusivistic. Hence, they would not have imported any stories from the mystery religions.²

            3. Greg Koukl encourages Christians and honest seekers to primarily examine the credibility of the Historic Christian narrative. He says, “Those myths are only valuable if you first determine that Jesus is a fiction by looking at the primary source historical documentation. If you look at the historical record and decide that it is unreliable, if you first conclude that there is no good reason to believe that Jesus of Nazareth existed the way the Biblical records say He did, then it might then, and only then be useful to ask the question: How did this story come to be?”³ He also states that the primary source documentation is highly credible for Historic Christianity than the mystery religions.⁴

            4. Sean Mcdowell in an article entitled “Is Christianity a Copycat Religion?” emphasizes that the differences between Christianity and the mystery religions are more profound than the alleged similarities. He also asserts that the parallels prove nothing, and the chronology is all wrong.⁵

            These reasons are sufficient to dismiss these accusations against Historic Christianity.

            Last but not the least, even non-christian scholars reject these accusations:⁶

Dr. Tryggve Mettinger (a Swedish professor at Lund University) has written the most comprehensive account of the dying and rising god motif. He himself affirms the concept of “dying and rising gods.”[3] Yet he concedes that he is in the strict minority: “There is now what amounts to a scholarly consensus against the appropriateness of the concept [of dying and rising gods]. Those who still think differently are looked upon as residual members of an almost extinct species… Major scholars in the fields of comparative religion and the Bible find the idea of dying and rising deities suspect or untenable.”[4] For instance, Jonathan Z. Smith (historian from the University of Chicago) writes, “All the deities that have been identified as belonging to the class of dying and rising deities can be subsumed under the two larger classes of disappearing deities or dying deities. In the first case, the deities return but have not died; in the second case, the gods die but do not return.”[5]

Skeptic Matt Dillahunty (of Atheist Experience) writes, “The first third of the film (Zeitgeist) is an unscholarly, sophomoric, horribly flawed, over-simplification that tries to portray Christianity as nothing more than the next incarnation of the astrologically themed religions that preceded it. Like all conspiracy theories, they combine a few facts, focus on correlations and build an intriguing story that seems to fit the pieces together nicely—provided you don’t actually dig below the surface to find out where they might have gone wrong.”

In describing the German higher critical school which gave birth to this entire theory (Religiongeschichtliche Schule), critical scholar Maurice Casey writes that this is “now regarded as out of date” and “significantly mistaken.”^[6]

Regarding the Cross and Atonement, atheistic critical scholar Bart Ehrman writes, “Where do any of the ancient sources speak of a divine man who was crucified as an atonement for sin? So far as I know, there are no parallels to the central Christian claim. What has been invented here is not the Christian Jesus but the mythicist claims about Jesus… The majority of scholars agree… there is no unambiguous evidence that any pagans prior to Christianity believed in dying and rising gods.”^[7] He adds, “None of this literature is written by scholars trained in the New Testament.”^[8]

            So whenever you come across an accusation that Historic Christianity is a copycat religion, you can wholeheartedly pay no attention to the accusation, for it is tenuous, asinine, and sophomoric.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/jesus-and-pagan-mythology/

²http://christianapologeticsalliance.com/2017/03/12/did-christianity-copy-from-paganism-part-2-no-causal-influence/

³https://www.str.org/w/the-zeitgeist-movie-other-myth-claims-about-jesus#.UcbtoT772vE

⁴Ibid.

⁵https://www.apologeticsbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Is-Christianity-A-Copycat-Religion_.pdf

⁶http://christianapologeticsalliance.com/2017/02/10/did-christianity-copy-from-paganism-part-1/#_ftn4

Websites last accessed on 19^th July 2021. 

Was Christianity Influenced By Zoroastrianism?

 

            The ancient religion of Zoroastrianism (Parsi faith) apparently dates back to the 6^th century BC/BCE.¹ Zarathustra or Zoroaster² founded Zoroastrianism. While Zoroastrians claim belief in one supreme God known as Ahura Mazda, they also believe in another immortal deity called Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), who is the epitome of evil.

            Critics of Historic Christianity claim that Christianity borrowed the following ideas from Zoroastrianism:³

1.      Zoroaster was born of a virgin and “immaculate conception by a ray of divine reason.”

2.      He was baptized in a river.

3.      In his youth he astounded wise men with his wisdom.

4.      He was tempted in the wilderness by the devil.

5.      He began his ministry at age 30.

6.      Zoroaster baptized with water, fire, and “holy wind.”

7.      He cast out demons and restored the sight to a blind man.

8.      He taught about heaven and hell, and revealed mysteries, including resurrection, judgment, salvation and the apocalypse.

9.      He had a sacred cup or grail.

10.  He was slain.

11.  His religion had a eucharist.

12.  He was the “Word made flesh.”

13.  Zoroaster’s followers expect a “second coming” in the virgin-born Saoshyant or Savior, who is to come in 2341 CE and begin his ministry at age 30, ushering in a golden age.

            These have been meticulously disproved.⁴

            Although Zoroaster’s life predates Jesus Christ, all information pertaining to him comes from the book of Avesta. Interestingly, Avesta was not composed until the 4^th century (AD/CE). This is almost 400 years after the life of Jesus Christ.

            Significantly, the earliest manuscripts of the Avesta have been dated to the 13^th century (AD/CE). In comparison, the manuscripts of the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles have been dated between 45-60 (AD/CE).⁵

            If the New Testament manuscripts are dated much before Avesta, then it is clear that Christianity could NOT have borrowed ideas from Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism may have borrowed ideas from Christianity, but it is certainly not the other way around. 

            Despite the oral traditions of Zoroastrianism predating Christ, the information in Avesta could be unreliable because of the large gap in time (1000 years plus or minus). Moreover, historians claim that the book of Avesta has been updated over time.⁶ If Avesta was updated over time, then it is more plausible that Zoroastrianism borrowed concepts from Christianity.

            The Bible could not have borrowed the concept of Satan from Zoroastrianism. Satan appears in the book of Job, a very early book. Moreover, Satan (a created subordinate to God in Christianity) is much unlike the evil god Angra Mainyu (Ahriman), who is a dualistic equal to Ahura Mazda.

            Last but not the least, the doctrine of salvation clinches the deal. Any religion that teaches salvation by works cannot be true.

            Zoroastrianism opposes Historic Christianity in the doctrine of salvation. Zoroastrianism teaches salvation by works, “Salvation was by works alone; there was "practically no place for repentance or pardon:" and "no doctrine of atonement." There is some issue about the fate of the wicked; one account says they will be tormented three days, then return to do good deeds; another source says they will be annihilated. There is an essential equivalent to Heaven and Hell...”⁷

            Salvation cannot be achieved by doing good deeds. Salvation can only be through the grace of God by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). Dr. Carl Broggi describes this beautifully, “God does not spell salvation “DO” - and God does not spell salvation “DON’T” - God spells salvation “DONE” (John 19:30).”⁸

            Therefore, we can confidently assert that Historic Christianity cannot be an offshoot of Zoroastrianism.

Endnotes:

¹Dating of Zoroastrianism is much disputed.

²Zoroaster is presumed to have lived sometime between 1700 – 600 BC/BCE.

³http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/zoroaster.php

⁴http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/zoroaster.php 

& 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x6aOBqc9d0&ab_channel=InspiringPhilosophy

⁵https://coldcasechristianity.com/writings/why-i-know-the-gospels-were-written-early-free-bible-insert/

⁶http://www.tektonics.org/copycat/zoroaster.php

⁷Ibid.

⁸https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/world-religions-and-cults-zoroastrianism/

Websites last accessed on 17^th July 2021. 

Atheist's Hypocrisy Revealed!

 

            Belief/faith is present in the lives of both the atheist and the theist. Although an atheist chooses not to believe in God, ‘belief’ is not nonexistent in his life. Interestingly, the Covid pandemic reveals a contradictory feature in the ‘belief’ of an atheist with respect to the evidence.

            The Covid pandemic has motivated us (both the theist and the atheist) to believe in so many facets of life insofar we take enormous risks predicated on those beliefs. Let us consider five important aspects:

1.      Mask: We simply believe that which has been claimed about the mask and we wear it. When we wear masks (N95 or others) we believe it will prevent the coronavirus from entering through the mask. We believe the manufacturer adhered to and has provided 100% quality. At times, when the mask strap loosens or gets cut, we even, desperately, wear a mask bought from the roadside vendor, believing it will do its job. At no point, have we researched or posed a million questions about the quality of the mask.

2.      Sanitizer: Similarly, we believe that which has been claimed about the sanitizer. If the manufacturer claims there is 70% alcohol, we blindly believe and use it. We neither have the time, nor the expertise and tools to find out for ourselves if the sanitizer does have 70% alcohol content.

3.      Healthcare: When we or our loved one is sick, we believe in the healthcare system to enable our recovery. During the pandemic, we did not have the luxury to choose the hospital. We were forced to go to the hospital that had the space for admission and when we did, we believed they will provide the best treatment.

4.      Medicine: Same holds true with medicines. When we take the meds, we believe they will cure us. We do not question the efficacy of the medicines. Often, while being treated in the hospital, we do not have all the information as to whether the medicine can effectively combat the coronavirus. Yet we believe in the medicines.

5.      Vaccine: We believe the syringe contains the vaccine and not saline. We do not question the nurse as to whether there is saline or vaccine in the syringe. Although we do not know much about vaccines, we obey our government and take the vaccines believing that they would prevent us from Coronavirus infection. Simple belief!

            We can go on, but we will stop here.

            So in an effort to save his own mortal life, the atheist (and even the theist) believes in that which is proximal and available. He barely spends time researching and hardly questions the solutions offered to cure him.

            But when it comes to God, wherein his eternal life is involved, the belligerent atheist refuses to accept even the most reasonable evidence offered to him.

            This then is the hypocrisy in the belief system of an atheist.

            During the Covid pandemic, he believes just about everything that’s been offered as a solution to him. But when he or she is challenged to believe in God, they blatantly reject even the most plausible and reasonable evidence.

            Therefore, the atheist primarily believes in the goodness of an imperfect man who is prone to multivarious and a broad spectrum of nefarious practices. It is the imperfect man who manufactures the vaccine, mask, and medicines. Yet, without asking any question, the atheist primarily believes in the product or the treatment offered.

            In contrast, the Christian theist primarily believes in God. God, according to the Christian, holds the key to life and death. When we wear the mask or use the sanitizer or get admitted to the hospital or when we take the vaccine, we primarily believe in God for health and cure.

            There are many atheists who are sincerely seeking God. These atheists are not referred to in this article. The atheist featured in this article is the belligerent one.

            It is our prayer that all atheists would humbly and sincerely seek and believe the one and the only living God. Amen.

An Open Letter To The Churches In India About The LGBTQ Movement & The Pride Month

 

Dear Pastor / Church Leaders,

            As you may be aware, we are nearing the end of the ‘Pride Month’ or the ‘Gay Pride Month.’ Every year, during June, the LGBTQ community celebrates ‘Gay Pride’ in several different ways. Although June is coming to a close the LGBTQ community will continue to celebrate ‘Gay Pride’ throughout the year. To make it more alluring, celebrities will endorse these celebrations.

            These celebrations happen in India as well. Various kinds of groups and NGOs have been established in India to help further the LGBTQ cause. Various major cities, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, conduct ‘Pride Parades.’ The LGBTQ cause is being relentlessly strengthened in India by Social Media, Radio, Television, and the Movie industry.

            If your church subscribes to the doctrines of Historic Christianity, you will affirm the biblical teaching that the LGBTQ ideology is sinful. Hence, you will oppose the practice of LGBTQ ideologies. Thus it is morally incumbent upon you to educate your members to oppose the practice of LGBTQ ideologies, but, at the same time, to love those who practice these sins.

            Young Christians are being devoured by the LGBTQ movement. It’s not only the young ones but the older generation is also enamored by this movement. I have personally experienced situations in Christian families in India wherein parents motivate their children to support the LGBTQ movement.

            To make matters worse, Progressive Churches are actively deceiving Christians teaching that God approves the ideologies of the LGBTQ movement. In essence, the Progressive Churches and the Progressive Christians have rejected the God of the Bible.

            The devil has made great inroads into the minds of Christians in India and elsewhere in the world. It is our bounden duty to break these strongholds.

            Churches should play an active role in shattering the myth that God approves LGBTQ ideology. Churches should instruct their congregation from the Bible as to why LGBTQ practice could lead a Christian to hell.

            To reiterate, if your church subscribes to the Historic Christian doctrines, then you are mandated by God to edify your flock.

            Think about this.

            Have you preached or, at least, mentioned the sinfulness of the LGBTQ movement [this month]?

            Did your church organize seminars, lectures, and retreats to educate her members about the sinfulness of the LGBTQ movement?

            I praise God if you and your congregation are vociferously against the ideologies of the LGBTQ movement. Else, I pray to God that you and your congregation would stand for God, especially in this context.

            The LGBTQ movement is actively deceiving Christians, and it’s time we break this deception in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

            Today, by the grace of God, India has an active group of Christian apologists. Each and every one of them would be available to serve the Church to edify your congregation so as to break the LGBTQ stronghold from the minds of every Christian. I pray you use them to edify your church.

            The ball is in your court...

            May God bless you and your church.

Serving Together,

W.J.F Rajkumar Richard

Rajkumar.richard@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/rajkumar.richard

 

P.S: In case you need more information please read my blogs debunking the LGBTQ ideology:

·         Does Consensual and Harmless Sexual Intercourse Legitimize Homosexuality? (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2018/06/does-consensual-and-harmless-sexual.html)

·         Consequence of Same Sex Marriages: Disaster (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2013/09/consequence-of-same-sex-marriages.html)

·         Does God Make People Gay? (Pope Francis At It Again?) (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2018/05/does-god-make-people-gay-pope-francis.html)

·         What Do Some Sincere Christians Ignore When They Approve Homosexuality? (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2020/11/what-do-some-sincere-christians-ignore.html)

·         What’s Wrong If The Church Marries Gay Couples? (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2015/09/whats-wrong-if-church-marries-gay.html)

·         So What If There’s Gay Gene? So What If You Are Born Gay? (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2014/09/so-what-if-theres-gay-gene-so-what-if.html)

·         Laws Cannot Change Flaws (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2018/07/laws-cannot-change-flaws.html)

·         After Homosexuality, Christian Churches Will Bless Polyamory (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2017/11/after-homosexuality-christian-churches.html)

·         Straight Pride; Why Our World Adores The LGBTQ Agenda (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2019/06/straight-pride-why-our-world-adores.html)

Cult Watch: Should Christians Observe Sabbath, Passover, And Other Jewish Rituals?

 

            Some Christians observe the Sabbath and the Passover (they do not mandate it on other Christians). Some other Christians do not observe these for they claim that these are no longer applicable to the contemporary Christian. But a few other Christians claim that the Sabbath and the Passover observances are mandatory. What then is right and wrong?

            We are saved by grace through faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). We are not saved by performing good/holy works. This is salvation 101.

            So if a fellow Christian mandates us to observe the Sabbath and the Passover for the sake of salvation, then they are misleading us and they belong to a cult group. Observance of the Sabbath and the Passover plays no role, whatsoever, in gaining salvation. Let’s be clear about this basic fact.

            “Believers are not obligated to observe the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the sign of the Mosaic covenant. The Mosaic covenant and the Sabbath as the covenant sign are no longer applicable now that the new covenant of Jesus Christ has come. Believers are called upon to honor and respect those who think the Sabbath is still mandatory for believers. But if one argues that the Sabbath is required for salvation, such a teaching is contrary to the gospel and should be resisted forcefully. In any case, Paul makes it clear in both Romans 14:5 and Colossians 2:16–17 that the Sabbath has passed away now that Christ has come. It is wise naturally for believers to rest, and hence one principle that could be derived from the Sabbath is that believers should regularly rest. But the New Testament does not specify when that rest should take place, nor does it set forth a period of time when that rest should occur...” says an article entitled Is the Sabbath Still Required for Christians? in The Gospel Coalition website.¹

            Should we observe the Sabbath since Jesus observed it? Jesus observed the Sabbath for HE lived under the Old Testament law (cf. Galatians 4:4). But the same Lord Jesus proclaimed that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). The Gospels also teach us that the Sabbath does not continue to play a significant role in a Christian’s life (cf. Matthew 12:3-4; Mark 2:28; Luke 13:10-17; John 5:17).

            But let us not ridicule our brothers and sisters who celebrate the Old Testament festivals as an act of worship and not as a means to salvation.

            Consider the Passover.

            Some Christians celebrate the Passover, not to gain salvation, but as an act of worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ, “While it is not required for Christians to celebrate the Passover, it is beneficial to study it and could be beneficial to celebrate it if it leads to a greater understanding and appreciation for Christ’s death and resurrection. The Passover is a wonderful picture of Christ’s atonement for His people and His deliverance of us from the bondage of sin. That is something we should celebrate every day of our lives.”² 

            Similarly, it is ok for Christians to celebrate the Old Testament festivals as an act of worship. But it is not ok for Christians to celebrate the Old Testament festivals as a means to their salvation.

Endnotes:

¹https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/schreiner-qa-is-the-sabbath-still-required-for-christians/

²https://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Passover.html

Websites last accessed on 25^th June 2021.

Cult Watch: The World Mission Society Church of God

 

            The World Mission Society Church of God (WMSCOG) is a cult¹. Beware!

            These names are also associated with this movement: Mother Jerusalem, New Jerusalem Mother, God the Mother, Heavenly Mother, etc.

            This cult “was established by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, in the Republic of Korea, at the ends of the earth in the east, in 1964.”²

            They claim “to have over 3 million members, in nearly 7,500 churches, throughout 175 countries–all within only half a century.”³

            Most of their teachings are heretical. Herein I present three significantly heretical teachings that are dangerous for our soul:

1. They believe that the Second Coming of Christ has already occurred in the personhood of  Christ Ahnsahnghong, “So the First Coming Jesus, who came as the prophetical David, established the new covenant and preached it. In the same way, the Second Coming Christ, who is to come as the prophetical David, should also establish the new covenant and preach it for 37 years.

It is Christ Ahnsahnghong who fulfilled the prophecies of the prophets. Christ Ahnsahnghong, the prophetical David, was born in 1918. At the age of 30, in the year of 1948, He was baptized according to the prophecy of the fig tree. He started His ministry at His age of 30 as the prophetical King David. In 1985, the 37th year, He ascended to heaven. Exactly for 37 years, He preached the New Covenant Passover which is the sign of David.

Christ Ahnsahnghong foretold that He would pass away after preaching for 37 years, four years before His death.”⁴

2. Salvation, according to WMSCOG, is gained through belief in Christ Ahnsahnghong (the founder of this cult.), “Christ Ahnsahnghong is the Second Coming Christ whom the Bible testifies about, and He is King David we have to seek and fear in the last days. Let us receive salvation by believing in Christ Ahnsahnghong, the spiritual David.”⁵ Any group that denies salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be Christian.

3. They also believe that keeping the Passover is essential for salvation, “The New Covenant Passover is the core of the Bible and an essential feast that grants God’s people protection from disasters, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.... When we celebrate the New Covenant Passover, Christ is in us and we become one body with Christ. Like this, God promises us protection from disasters and eternal life.”⁶

            To conclude, if you happen to locate this cult in your vicinity, please ignore them or evangelize them if you have the necessary knowledge and spiritual strength.

            If any of your friends are into this cult, please pray for them, and speak the truth to them to liberate them from the clutches of evil.

Endnotes:

¹“A cult is a perversion, a distortion of historical Christianity and/or a rejection of the historic teachings of the Christian church, says Josh McDowell. He also cites Walter Martin’s (a Baptist minister and a counter-cultist) definition of a cult: A cult, then, is a group of people polarized around someone’s interpretation of the Bible and is characterized by major deviations from orthodox Christianity relative to the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly the fact that God became man in Jesus Christ. ¹” (https://rajkumarrichard.blogspot.com/2020/09/cult-watch-definition-modus-operandi.html)

²https://watv.org/church-intro/

³Ibid.

⁴https://indiawmscog.org/beliefs/christ-ahnsahnghong/king-david-and-christ-ahnsahnghong/

⁵Ibid.

⁶https://wmscog.com/new-covenant-passover/

Websites last accessed on 23rd June 2021.