The WMSCOG as a Cult

The World Mission Society Church of God founded by Ahnsahnghong (Ahn Sahng Hong), does not seem to mind being called a cult. They will take some of the known characteristics of cults, such as a change of personality for its members, and say that Christianity itself is also a cult if you follow those guidelines.

There are several definitions of the word "cult". If you use the definition, "a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.", then any religion can be called a cult. But from a Christian perspective, we'd use this definition, "a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader."

Here are other ways to tell if a group is a cult:
from Walter Martin's The Rise of the Cults,
"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."

from Josh McDowell and John Stewart's Handbook of Today's Religions,
features that characterize cults include:
"New Truth....God has revealed something special to them. This is usually truth that has never before been revealed and supersedes and contradicts all previous revelations."
"New Interpretations of Scripture....[They] believe they alone have the key to interpreting the mysteries in the Bible."
"A Non-biblical Source of Authority....sacred writings or a source of authority that supersedes the Bible."
"Another Jesus....false teaching about the person of Jesus Christ in the light of historical biblical Christianity."
"Rejection of Orthodox Christianity....They argue that the church has departed from the true faith."
"Double-Talk....they say one thing publically but internally believe something totally different."
"Non-biblical Teaching on the Nature of God (Trinity)....deviation on the doctrine of the Trinity and the nature of God."
"Changing Theology....[members] will learn a doctrine only to find that doctrine later changed or contradicted by further revelation."
"Strong Leadership....central leader figures who consider themselves messengers of God with unique access to the Almighty....This strong leadership leads the cult follower unto total dependence upon the cult for belief, behavior and lifestyle."
"Salvation by Works....No one is taught in the cults that he can be saved from eternal damnation by simply placing his faith in Jesus Christ. It is always belief in Jesus Christ and 'do this' or 'follow that.'"
"False Prophecy....Cult leaders, who believe they have been divinely called by God, have made bold predictions of future events, supposedly revealed by the inspiration of God. Unfortunately, for the cult leaders, these predictions of future events do not come to pass. The one who prophesied is exposed as a false prophet."

If you are a Bible-believing Christian, then there is no doubt that the doctrines of the WMSCOG deviate from traditional Christianity. From that perspective, Ahnsahnghong's church is a cult. Watch out for it.