"Which church should I go to?"

"Which church is the True Church?"
"Where do I go for salvation?"
"I know I should leave, but if the WMSCOG is not true, then no church can be true. What will I do?"
"Meeting WMSCOG members made me want to go back to church, but how do I find one?"

I hear questions like these regularly.
Sometimes it's from a World Mission Society Church of God member trying to make their point.
Sometimes it's from a member who realizes something is wrong, but they are afraid to leave.
Sometimes it's from a person whose encounter with the WMSCOG makes them want to get closer to the true God.

No matter the reason or what form the question takes, it's a good question, and one that deserves attention.

First, let's define "church." For our purpose here, there are three basic definitions:
1. The worldwide group of people who truly believe in Jesus (God), not confined to a building or location
2. A denomination of Christianity, example: the Baptist church
3. A local congregation, example: First Baptist Church on Main Street

Which church is the True Church?

That is definition #1, the body of true believers worldwide. (John 10:27)
Here is a good article about it.

Where do I go for salvation?

It is not a church of any kind that can give you salvation, it is Jesus Himself. Go to Jesus for salvation. (John 14:6; Acts 16:31)

Then what about denominations and local congregations?

Local congregations (most of which are part of a larger denomination) can help you with your walk of faith. They can help you get to know Jesus better and have a closer relationship with God. But your salvation is about your relationship with God, not your relationship with a particular church (definition #2 or 3).

I know I should leave, but if the WMSCOG is not true, then no church can be true. What will I do?

Here's a question for you to think about--If your particular church is teaching you to worship a false god, should you stay there? Of course not! There are good churches that teach truth out there, but you won't find one until you leave and search for one, even if leaving is emotionally difficult.

I've heard from members who know that Ahnsahnghong and Zahng Gil-jah are false gods, but are hesitant to leave the WMSCOG because they agree with other teachings like Sabbath and the Feasts. Which do you think is more important? Who you worship or how you worship? Isn't it better to leave the church that worships false gods? Then you will see more clearly to find a better place to worship the true God.

I want to go back to church (or I'm leaving the WMSCOG), but how to I find a good church?

You can start by asking friends or relatives for suggestions, looking for local churches on the internet, or noticing what churches are in your town. But once you find some, how do you know if they are good ones?

The next step is to look at their statement of beliefs. You can usually find this on their website or in a pamphlet at the church. If they don't have one, that's a red flag--try a different church.

While denominations have some differences, all Christian churches that preach the truth about the Bible will share these same fundamental beliefs:

• The Bible is the inspired word of God.
• There is one true God, creator of heaven and earth, who has been revealed as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• Jesus is God. He lived a sinless life, was crucified for our sins, and was bodily resurrected.
• All humans have sinned and can only be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
• Salvation is received by God's grace, through faith in Jesus, not by any works of our own.

If you see anything in the statement of beliefs that contradicts these things, such as that Jesus was not God or that people must perform certain tasks for their salvation, that's a red flag--try a different church.

If their beliefs look good, try visiting the church several times. Observe how the people interact with each other and with guests. See if they have programs and classes to help you study your Bible, grow in your faith, and connect with others. If it doesn't feel like the right fit, don't lose hope, just try a different church. You can also go back in a few months and see if you feel differently about it.

Don't be afraid to ask the leadership of the church if you have questions about what they do and what they believe and why. Remember that the WMSCOG is wrong about many of of their teachings. Don't dismiss a new church simply because they do and believe things the WMSCOG taught you were wrong.

Beware of local churches or denominations that might sound good at first, but actually teach falsehood (like the WMSCOG). Here is a list of points that will help you check if the church falls into this category. Sometimes you won't realize these teachings until you've been attending for a while. If that happens, just realize it's time to try a different church.

Here are two excellent articles with more advice about finding a good church:
"Looking for the 'Right' Church?"

"Choosing a Church After a Painful Experience"

Rebecca's full interview with Today, Part 2

I'm still grateful to the Today Show for bringing exposure to the World Mission Society Church of God with the segment they broadcast about it earlier this year. And I'm thankful they posted their full interview with Rebecca, the member who was featured in the segment.

Again, for your convenience, you can view the full interview by clicking here.

I've watched the interview several times and found it thought provoking. Last time I wrote about thoughts it brought up regarding mainstream Christianity. Now I'll focus on comments specific to the WMSCOG.

The End of the World?

There has been controversy about if and when the WMSCOG had made predictions about the end of the world. Rebecca was asked about this and responded that she had not been taught a specific date. She said that in fact it would be wrong for the church to teach a specific date because the Bible says no one knows the day. That part is true (see Matthew 24:36), though other ex-members and family of members report that they were indeed taught at least an end year.

Beyond that, I was struck by something she said at about 14:36,

"It could happen whenever. For, individually it could happen tomorrow. We don’t know… I could get in a car accident when I leave this place. No one knows that, that time frame when this is going to happen."

She was talking about how any of us should be ready at any time because we don't know when our time will be up here on this earth. The part that confused me was her implication that she could die in a car accident that day.

The reason this confused me is that the WMSCOG teaches that those members who take the Passover are protected from disasters. They even have a video about it, which shows people claiming they were protected from fire, earthquake, accident, and more, all because they had taken the Passover. Accordingly, I would expect no fear or even thought in a member's mind about dying in a car accident.

Preaching to Your Family

Several times Rebecca made comments like this, at 20:50,

"I never told my family to change their beliefs. I never asked them to believe what I believe."

Perhaps she never phrased it in just that way, but I have a hard time believing that she never preached to her family hoping for them to join the WMSCOG with her. This does not ring true for me for two reasons.

First, if her new faith truly was her "absolute happiness," if she had found her "true purpose" and "all the answers," and if she loved her family, why would she not share with them about it and want them to find all that too? It is only natural to want your family to join you in this new faith.

Second, the WMSCOG teaches that salvation is based on obedience, and obedience includes preaching. If she did not at least try to preach to her family, then she would not be obeying the requirement to preach. I wonder if Rebecca would like to go back and rephrase that.

The Intervention

Apparently Rebecca's family tried an intervention that did not go well, and it seems the effect was more traumatic than helpful.

At about 19:50, she was asked why her family would say that after joining the WMSCOG, she began "slipping away," was "sleep deprived," seemed not herself, and "talked to them less." Rebecca paused for a long time, and then rather than answering the question directly, began to describe what they did to her,

"I want you to imagine being locked in a hotel room against your own free will, and your entire family is there and tells you you cannot leave the hotel room until you see a cult counselor."

She came back to this incident several times during the interview, frequently using the phrase "locked in a hotel room."

I have been in numerous hotel rooms around the world and have never seen one where a person can get locked in. Locked out, yes, but never locked in. The door will always open from the inside. It's a safety measure. I wonder if this is another occasion where Rebecca would like to rephrase herself.

After describing this failed intervention, Rebecca then gave the reason for her pulling away from her family. She said,

"Tell me that it's easy to trust your family after they do that to you.... They have discriminated against me from the beginning.... Every word that comes out of my mouth they consider it a lie.... How can you have a relationship with someone who thinks your brainwashed?... Their intolerance for what I want to believe is what has caused me to step away."

This can be a vicious cycle. Family is concerned by changes in their loved one after they become involved with the WMSCOG. Member perceives this concern as an offense and responds with anger, withdrawal, etc. Family becomes even more concerned....

Later at 25:05, she said about her family, "They don't see how their own actions are affecting me."

It is true that our actions affect others' responses. I remember in the first year of my sister's involvement with the WMSCOG, I was completely unprepared with how to handle the situation. I'm certain I said and did things that were counter-productive because I didn't know the extent of what I was dealing with. But I was motivated out of love for my sister. Perhaps it was that way with Rebecca's family.

But it's important for Rebecca (and other members) to realize the same thing is true for them. Their actions affect their family's responses too.

Missing the Wedding

At about 30:00, Rebecca was asked about missing her brother's wedding. Arrangements were made, and she was expected to be there, and then she left a message that she would not be attending. The family was under the impression that it was because of the WMSCOG. Rebecca responded,

"“I chose not to go to the wedding based on personal circumstances at that time, having nothing to do with the church."

I know other members have also missed significant family events such as weddings and funerals. These events are extremely important markers in a family's history and identity. They are experiences that connect the family together.

Unless you have a compelling and unavoidable reason, you can't miss these events without causing hurt feelings. And it's not like your nephew's birthday party that happens every year. Weddings, funerals, and that type of event happen just once. Miss it, and you don't get a do-over. Just read the advice columns. Letters about this kind of thing come up regularly.

That one sentence was all the explanation she gave. If it really had nothing to do with the church, she should have just explained the personal circumstances. She says she did visit her brother and his new wife later to offer congratulations, and it was after that that the intervention attempt happened.

Thinking back to how our actions affect others.... Rebecca would be fooling herself if she thought missing her brother's wedding would not cause a rift in the family relationship.

The "Arranged" Marriage

Rebecca's family believed she was part of an arranged marriage. I've heard other families worry about this for their loved one too, so I was very interested to listen to Rebecca's comment about it. It's at about 25:35 when she answered,

"It’s absolutely wrong. I fell in love with James, and people fall out of love. So, it was not a forced marriage by any means at all. We fell in love with each other; we met, and decided not to continue the, our relationship."

That was... confusing. Does that mean they were married and then divorced, or decided to call it off before getting married? If it's not "forced," does that mean it was arranged but she was happy to do it? Her comment leaves me with more questions than answers. I wish she could have another chance to answer that and clarify herself.

Listening to Strangers

At about 23:06, when Rebecca was asked why she thought her family was attacking her faith, she said,

"I think it’s because they’ve talked to outside sources who have a negative view of the church. And they’ve chosen to believe those sources rather than their own daughter, their own flesh and blood."

And later at 29:50, her message to her brother included this,

"I wish that you would believe me and trust me and not listen to complete strangers rather than your own sister."

I've heard this type of comment before from other WMSCOG sources. The idea is that the family should believe their loved one's report and opinion about the WMSCOG, instead of believing information from "strangers"--other sources, such as the website you are currently reading. (However, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if the family listened to "strangers" who supported the WMSCOG, right?)

This works both ways. I hear from many families who are upset that their loved one is refusing to listen to "their own flesh and blood" and instead listening to "strangers"--the WMSCOG evangelists they just recently met. Rebecca's family would probably echo the sentiment back to her.

Conclusion

Once more, I say thank you to Today for bringing attention to this group, and thank you to both Rebecca and her parents for sharing their story. I pray for them and other families in the same struggle that they would find peace and restoration.

Rebecca's Response to the WMSCOG Today Show Segment

Earlier this year, the Today Show aired a segment highlighting the World Mission Society Church of God (you can watch it here).

If you are familiar with the WMSCOG, you will not be surprised to hear that they came out with their own videos in response, showing Rebecca Gardner's side of the story in three parts. You may have seen them yourself. I have seen them too and believe they deserve comment here.

I spent some time over the summer reviewing Rebecca's videos and the full videos of her interview and John Power's interview which the Today Show made available.

Well, you know how life goes... some seasons are busier than others. Now that I'm sitting down to write a response, guess what... Rebecca's videos have disappeared!

They are no longer available on youtube or on vimeo due to "privacy settings." Numerous pro-WMSCOG blogs and websites had posted about these videos, but now many of those posts are hard to find, with "page not found" errors. There is one still available at truthofgodthemother, but look quick in case it disappears too.

WHY did Rebecca's videos disappear?

Was she or the WMSCOG afraid of being scrutinized for their videos, perhaps in the same way they were scrutinizing the Today Show's video? Did they have legal issues with the videos? It is mysterious, and the speculations abound in my head.

Honestly, I thought it was good that Rebecca was able to tell her side of things. Her videos showed that both the member and their family struggle. The Today Show segment seemed to highlight the family's hurt and sadness with the situation, but with Rebecca's videos I saw that she was also hurt by the broken relationship.

Also, on the plus side for Rebecca, she was able to explain how part of the Today Show video was not quite as it appeared. I'm sure we all realize that the media can edit and skew their reporting, taking things out of context, to support the perspective they wish to portray. Rebecca was able to explain places where this had happened. (Of course, the WMSCOG does this type of thing too when it benefits themselves.)

It is honorable that the Today Show made available their full interviews with Rebecca Gardner and John Power. I believe the interview portions were not taken out of context, though you can check that out for yourself.

I hope that Rebecca and the WMSCOG will repost (or even remake) the videos for the simple reason that they promote dialogue, and I would like to open a dialogue here about them. There is a lot to say.

NBC's Today Show covers WMSCOG controversy

The Today Show on NBC did a segment on the World Mission Society Church of God.
Here's a screen shot.  Click here to see the video on the Today Show's website.

Another ex-member of the WMSCOG speaks out

Last week, Steven Hassan released a video of Ron Ramos, a 12-year former World Mission Society Church of God missionary, sharing his experience.

Yesterday Diane Sims' video was released.  Diane, a former deaconess, was with the WMSCOG for 9 years.  It's long, but I hope you will be able to watch all the way to the end.  Go to http://vimeo.com/58850933 to watch, or click the video below.  (Description below the video is from Steven Hassan on Vimeo.)

Diane Sims, ex-deaconess WMSCOG filmed February, 2013 from Steven A Hassan on Vimeo.
Ex-deaconess, Diane Sims, involved for 9 years in the World Mission Society Church of God (WSMCOG) sits down with Steve Hassan to discuss her experiences. Diane and her husband, Jeff Sims have left the group and she discusses in great detail many of her experiences. She and her husband were "fruits" of Ron Ramos and he was their mentor while they were in.

Breaking News! Ex-member of WMSCOG speaks out on video

I don't have a lot of time right now, but this was released today, and I want to make sure you all know about it...

An ex-missionary of the WMSCOG, who was with the church for 12 years has spoken out about the World Mission Society Church of God with Steve Hassan.  Go to http://vimeo.com/58659859 to watch, or click the video below.  (Description below the video is from Steven Hassan on Vimeo.)
World Mission Society Church of God exposed: Ex 12 year Missionary Ron Ramos and Steve Hassan from Steven A Hassan on Vimeo.
An apocalyptic group that claims that Mother God is living in Korea. It is relentlessly recruiting new members who are almost instantly baptized. Former members say that they believe the Catholic Church is the anti-christ and that all churches that worship on Sunday are satanic. The group is accused of breaking up marriages and families, encouraging members to drop out of school and abandon their life goals. Also that they break up families.
Children in the group are viewed as a hindrance. Some former members have claimed they were encouraged to have abortions by leaders.
Ron Ramos was the first American installed as a deacon and was made a Missionary in 2005. He went to Korea three times and was an intricate part of the recruitment process in the United States. He and his wife decided to leave in 2011 due to inaccuracies in doctrine, lies that were uncovered, and the growing realization that the WMSCOG is destructive.

Reader Responses to the Conversation with Cyrus

Cyrus (a World Mission Society Church of God member) and I have been having a very interesting conversation for the past several months.  You can read it in the comment section of this post: Conversation with Cyrus, a WMSCOG member.

Although I have limited the conversation to Cyrus and myself, I have been pleased to hear from readers who wish to chime in and thought you all would also like to hear what others have been saying.

Anonymous wrote on October 23, 2012:

"Genny
Very good comments about objective and subjective. This make pretty clear what these people really want to do with others person.
Pls keep it up. You are doing an excellent job.
God will keep you in the right way"

Thanks for the encouragement. :)  This was when we were talking about evidence in favor of Ahnsahnghong and the WMSCOG, and the need for objective (factual, provable) evidence rather than subjective (based on opinion and interpretation) evidence.

"Andi" wrote on November 8, 2012:

"Aw..God the mother is the wife of Jesus? Sounds like incest to me. Surely, the "bride" refers to Jerusalem, a place, not a particular person. Cyrus, you should attend your english 101 class. "

Thanks for your input Andi.  The idea of whether this is incest ("God the Mother" also being the Bride of Jesus) has been debated in the forum at examiningthewmscog.com.  And in Ahnsahnghong's books He repeatedly describes the Heavenly Jerusalem as a place, not a person.  But honestly I think Cyrus' English and writing skills are great, so I'm not sure where your last line came from.

"Daniel" wrote on November 16, 2012:

"Hi Cyrus,

My name is Daniel... I have read through this whole discussion and I am a little curious about one thing. It's something you said in your last post.

"There are more prophecies you havent listed there in April 2010 that point to the founder of our temple, Christ Ahnsahnghong. The bible is so vast. But if I gave them to you, would you look for a way to disprove them? Maybe I'll let them stay within the church. There are quite a bit missing. Christ Ahnsahnghong said there is a treasure hidden for ages. So let it be for our church members."

If this man is truly the second coming of Jesus Christ, then why would he want his prophecies to remain a secret? When Jesus came the first time, He repeatedly claimed to be the Messiah and God by quoting Old Testament prophecies. His followers pointed out many more (Isaiah 53, Isaiah 9:6, Daniel 7, Psalm 22, Isaiah 52, Hosea 11:1, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5, Zechariah 9:9, Zechariah 12:10, Psalm 2, Psalm 110, Joel 2, etc.)

None of these prophecies were "hidden". They were actually trumpeted from the rooftops by the early Christians! Jesus fulfilled all prophecies of the Messiah in the Old Testament, and for that reason only, Jews accepted him as their Savior.

Now, let's assume that WMSCOG is the new revelation of Jesus Christ. That would make your group the new "early Christians", the newest believers of the revelation of God. In order to convince a world full of Christians, Jews and Muslims that Ahnsahnghong is the Christ, why would your group refuse, or avoid, showing us the prophecies he fulfilled? We need to know the prophecies in order to believe! Jesus did not hide any prophetic fulfillment. He made the Scriptures clear, and He didn't hide or confuse any meanings.

And if you believe that Ahnsahnghong is Christ, that means he must fulfill every prophecy in both Old and New Testaments regarding the Messiah. Please, we need to know how this can be possible.

If you want many other people to be saved, you shouldn't need to hide your revelations for only the church to see. Jesus did not establish a church like that. He did not have "treasures hidden for the ages". He invited all people, from all nations and religions to come and see that he was the Messiah. Can't Ahnsahnghong do the same?"

That's a good point, Daniel.  There should be no need to hide prophecies and doctrine and revelations from the world.  I know of no legitimate church that does so.  Any church that truly wants to spread their message to the world will make it as available as possible.

The WMSCOG doesn't make their books available to the public, even though Ahnsahnghong says in the preface of The Mystery of God and the Spring of the Water of Life, "This book is worthy to be read not only by the general believers but also by pastors and professors of theological schools."

And then he says, "Please study this book seriously and visit us."  He meant his book to be read by non-members who would then visit the church, but the WMSCOG will not sell it to non-members.  Isn't there something wrong with that?

Anonymous wrote on November 29, 2012:
(I'm not publishing the email address that was included.)

"I think that it is important that the proper wording is use....the teaching of WMSCOG never said "the Passover disappeared" It was ABOLISHED at the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. Christ Ahnsahnghong RESTORED the Passover....how many "Cult" religion you know or heard talk about the "Passover" In all honesty, cults dont talk about the Passover and let alone put any of God's commands into practice....thats should be a red flag to any true christians....2000 years ago Jesus pointed out those who are God's people, people who love God-im sure your familiar with "the Wise and Foolish Builder" Matt7:24-27...and Jesus also testify in the same chapter Matt7:21-23
My email [removed]"

I appreciate hearing from you, but if you think it's very important that the proper wording is used regarding whether Passover disappeared, then you should correct the WMSCOG.  They do use that word, and you can even see it on their main website about the Feasts of God.

I think you are letting your feelings get in the way of your thinking regarding what a "cult" would not teach.  Do you consider Mormonism or the Jehovah's Witnesses a cult, or a heretical church?  They teach many Biblical practices and follow many of God commands, but their core teachings are drastically different from mainstream Christianity.  (Mormons believe there are many Gods and that man may become a God.  Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus was not God.)  Plus they are also categorized as cults according to their behavior.

Anonymous (the same one?) wrote on November 29, 2012:

"Genny......you said "I'd like to talk more about what is required for salvation. Imagine this situation. You and I happened to meet in person, but just while we were greeting, I am hit by the bullet of a drive-by shooter. I am lying there, on the sidewalk, bleeding (but conscious) with only a few minutes left to live. What would you tell me that I needed"

The only answer to that is reflect back 2000 years ago during Jesus' crucifixion, two robbers that were crucified. One rebuked him but the other had a repentent heart and believe in heart(soul)Jesus as his savior. I would say to you "Do you accept and believe that Christ Ahnsahnghong and Heavenly Mother who is the Spirit and Bride-Wife of the Lamb as your Savior?" and the rest is up to God. God sees whats in every man's heart theres no escaping. But only by believing and accepting the existance of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, like the robber that believed and accepted Jesus, can anyone be saved...!! "

In my experience, the WMSCOG does not teach that "believing and accepting the existence of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother" is enough for salvation.  Perhaps you should double check that with your pastor or deacon.  They have always preached to me that faith is not enough.

"tru sagacity" wrote on November 30, 2012:

"Genny....

I’ve been following your conversation with Cyrus who happens to be a member of World Mission Society-Church of God. In life I have come to learn how erroneous Man have shown throughout history. That is our very flaw of our sinful nature which we also know as arrogant. I commend you for the bible vs. “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”--1 John 4:1 And as christians we should test the spirits, but with LOVE in our hearts. It breaks my heart to see that your initial intent was to test the Spirits yet display a very offensive Head-Liner. Unless your true motive was to expose WMSCOG as a Cult Religion, and the general public who view your page receive a misconception about the WMSOCOG and the message the church brings. The thing about all this is really irrelevant, because everything has been set in motion. Where there is chaos, God already set order and we can see God’s work (Prophecies) being revealed in the Age of the Holy Spirit. You both can make arguing points all day, but in reality God already spoken and prophesied in the book 2 Cor 3: 6 “He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” You can clearly see its affect, this is what’s happening. Its dividing each one of us from seeing the truth and placing doubts in our hearts and minds. Further more as it is written in the book of Heb 8: 10-11 “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.” As you and I can come to understand its not our extensive study, accumulated knowledge or what we think is the right interpretation of the bible that defies which person or beliefs has the truth.What you may not know about WMSCOG is that they are against and taught not to get our selves involve with debates, that can turn out to an on going “I’m right and your wrong” (allowing satan to place doubt and stir negative/hate/anger attitude towards a goal, to saving souls).... but you read the verses so I hope it is clear to you. WMSCOG express this to members to not do, yet our sinful nature invites us to disobey, which leads to all misunderstanding and views that truly represents WMSCOG. "

and

"WMSCOG are to relate what the bible teaches, practice the examples that were taught, set by our Lord Jesus for his children to follow. Members of WMSCOG follow the prophecies and the commands that Jesus commanded his children to do. Members of WMSCOG are active in the 10 talent movement prophesied in the Scripture, so they are encourage to preach and look for the scattered sheep. God’s sheep who hear and recognize his voice and follow him. You might already know these verses to be in agreement those who are God’s children and reasons why not everyone that has eyes, ears, mind and heart have absolute truth and understanding....I list a few....John 10:26-27...John 8:42-47...Matt 13:11.....Many who become members are quick and eager to spread the good news of what they have heard and learn, even though they don’t have all the studies put in, so they can or may come out pushy, unknowledgeable, or lack tact. Its not an over night thing, but their hearts in the right place and in time growing in the faith, slowly shed old negative habits(sinful flesh).

With everything said, we should be slow with our tongue and not pass judgement on others. We should look at ourselves and judge only ourselves, after all are we not all born with sin...?? and isn’t God the judge of us all...!?! I ask that you reconsider posting sites like this one, but if you have concerns don’t make it public, but pray about it and let God handle it... Id like to finish this conversing with a quote from “Teachings of Mother” taught in the WMSCOG....”A Beautiful mind has no hate, and brings forth a PERFECT ‘LOVE’.”

Ps. if you want an objective proof to WMSCOG in their belief of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, God summed it all up in these verses, Romans 1:19-20... Rev. 21:9... Rev.22:17 and in truth all 66 Testaments is practically screaming the Words Father and Mother......( This is how you should pray “ Our Father who is in Heaven......” in Gal 4:26 “but the Jerusalem that is Above is free, and She is Our Mother...” ) if one is to have a spiritual understanding (not the physical eyes and ears, or heart) then you will see that the verses are mated to see the secrets that has been hidden and sealed through all ages, until NOW......and in relations to your Bible verse 1 John 4:1 this is how a spirit is tested....God Bless You...!!! <3"

You sent the same thing by email, and I've appreciated the exchange we had there.  Since you also posted this as a comment, you must have wanted this published for everyone to read.  Therefore, I will also share my response...

Do you mean the headliner "Encountering the Cult of Ahnsahnghong" with the word "cult"?  I would agree with your point if I was just throwing the term around lightly without thought, but people visiting my webpage need for information need to know that this group has been labeled as such by experts in the field.  It is not my own label.  There is plenty of information available on my blog and my linked resources for people to investigate whether this is reasonable.  Also, the WMSCOG already had a well-formulated response to being called a cult, so it is not new or unexpected to them as an organization.

My main intent with the conversation (and the whole website) is not to get people out of the WMSCOG, but my main purpose is to educate people about what the WMSCOG teaches and how it differs from Christianity and how to understand a loved one who believes it.  If the information helps people to leave the WMSCOG or not join in the first place, then I admit I am happy for that.

Yes, I agree that a person can have a whole lot of knowledge, but still not have the truth.
I'm not sure if you are saying that Cyrus does not represent the views of the WMSCOG and is causing people to misunderstand what the WMSCOG teaches.  I have discovered that the WMSCOG seems to teach different things in different place, so I would not be surprised if you think he misunderstands the WMSCOG.
If you are saying that the WMSCOG teaches not to get involved with discussions on doctrine--why?  Are they worried that you might hear ideas to contradict what you have been taught?  It seems to me that the WMSCOG are happy to have discussion when it's them telling others their church is wrong, but they are not ok with discussions in which they have to hear that they themselves might have it wrong.

I would expect someone who truly believes in their faith to live by it.  I live by my faith, and I am not surprised that WMSCOG members live by theirs (even though I think they have been taught incorrectly about many things).

I did pray about it a lot before I started the website, and I did pray and try other things before writing online at all in any forums even before that.  As for passing judgment, we are to be careful how we judge because the same measure will be used to judge us.  We must call sin for what it is, but correct others with love.  If you believe what you have said here, then you should also consider asking the WMSCOG to not pass judgment on other churches and to take down the many blogs, videos, and websites that severely judge Catholics and other Christian churches.  If they have such concerns about other churches, do you think they should not make it public but let God handle it?

If all 66 books of the Bible are "practically screaming" about "father and mother," then don't you think other churches and Bible scholars would have seen it by now?  The WMSCOG's interpretation of Gal. 4:26 is flawed from the beginning.  You can read about it here: http://encountering-ahnsahnghong.blogspot.com/2010/11/galatians-426-part-1.html
If you are going to "mate" verses that have similar words, you have to use good scholarship to do it, or you will end up with faulty doctrine, which unfortunately is what has happened with the WMSCOG's mated verses.
I'm sorry to be so blunt, but I do care about what happens to you and your friends in the WMSCOG.  If I didn't, I wouldn't try so hard to share these things with you.

 Happy New Year to you all!
 

Conversation with Cyrus, a WMSCOG member

In my previous post regarding clues that the World Mission Society Church of God is false, one of those commenting was "Cyrus."  Cyrus is currently a member of the WMSCOG and is willing to engage in conversation to clarify some points.  Thank you, Cyrus!

Our conversation will take place right here, through the comment section of this post.  I hope it will serve as a good source of information for the rest of our readers here.  However, I respectfully request that the comments on this post be limited to just Cyrus.  For anyone else who wishes to comment about this conversation, please visit the forum (examiningthewmscog.com/forum), or send me an email.  Thank you!

First, some ground rules, Cyrus, for you and me:

• Each comment should be made in two parts, a response to the previous point and the raising of a question.
• Response -- We should respond to the question that was last put forth, keeping in mind the purpose of explaining and encouraging understanding and not simply fighting.  Also, please avoid using phrases such as "You don't understand because you are not one of God's chosen" (more examples here).  We can also respond to the previous response, as long as it doesn't include an additional question that needs an answer.
• Question -- We should ask a question, either to further pursue the issue, or raise a different point.  For the ease of following the conversation, please limit the question to one point.  Do not ask a question related to your response and ask a new question as well.
• If we think the other's response is incomplete, inadequate, or needs to be clarified, first we should answer their question (give our response), then our question should concern the previous response.  In other words, don't avoid their question in order to focus on their response.  In this way, we should never be talking about more than two topics at once.
• Timeliness is nice, but life is busy.  A delay in answering should not be taken negatively or cause concern, unless there has been silence for more than two weeks.

I hope that is all clear.  Thank you, again, and now let's get started.  You posed the first question...

---

"Let us make man in our image... Male and female He created them" Genesis 1:26-27. "the Spirit and the bride say come... Take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22. The bride of christ is His bride. Guests are invited to the wedding supper, not the bride. We are the guests. Right?

My response:
The first part of what you wrote (Gen. 1:26-27) is about the word Elohim.  I have written about that here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  I'm going to focus on your question about Revelation 22.  I understand your question to be, "We are the guests at the wedding supper.  Therefore, doesn't someone else have to be the bride of Christ?"

I have heard the WMSCOG say that the Church cannot be both the bride and the guests at the wedding.  But please consider this...

God is called the father of the Israelites, but God is also called the husband of Israel.  But how can the Israelites be both the children and the wife of God?  It doesn't make sense, does it?

It does when you consider that individually, the people were counted as God's children.  But corporately, together as the nation, they were considered as God's bride

In the same way, individually, we are each invited to become part of the Church, the body of believers.  But corporately, together as the Church body, we are the bride of Christ.

God uses descriptive language to help us understand our relationship with Him.

I hope you are able to understand that this is a valid, alternate interpretation of the same verses.

My question for you:
The WMSCOG teaches that there are two distinct Gods.  How do you reconcile that with verses such as these which declare there is only one God?  (Note that all of these quotes use the singular word for God.)
"For I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22 and 46:9)
"Is there a God besides me?  Indeed, there is no other rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:8)
"Before Me there was no God formed; nor shall there be after Me." (Isaiah 43:10)
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God," (1 Timothy 1:17)

Ok, your turn.  Please remember the two parts, response and question.

Accusations -- Responding to WMSCOG comments

I have received quite a few comments from World Mission Society Church of God member(s) in the last few days.  Rather than trying to address them all in the comment section, I'm going to post them here.  I'd also like to remind everyone about the forum where you can discuss WMCSOG topics.

I'll copy the comments exactly as they were written, without adding, removing, or editing anything.  However, they will not necessarily be in the order received...

On July 29 at 6:39 pm, Anonymous posted on "The name of Jesus" --

Genny, you are not posting all comments on your blog!!! These means that you are a false prophet who testifies falsehood. You do not want your evil schemes to be exposed so people will believe your lies!!! 

No, I do not post all comments on my blog.  You might be surprised at the magnitude of rudeness (to put it nicely), that occasionally comes through (both from pro- and anti-WMSCOG commentors).  I also won't post any comments that reveal personally identifying information.  Also, some comments are picked up by the spam filter.

Another thing to think about, I have a full life outside of this blog, my own family and job and activities, so sometimes I am delayed at approving comments and responding to them.  Please be patient with me.

Now, if you are serious that my "not posting all comments" is evidence that I'm a "false prophet" and that I don't want my "evil schemes to be exposed," then what would you say about all of the WMSCOG sites and member blogs that do not post all comments?

On July 29 at 5:54 pm, Anonymous posted on "The name of Jesus" --

The secrets of the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven has been given to God's children but not to people who are not God's children that is why Ahnsahnghong's books are not available to the general public. 

That's not a very useful quote to argue with.  Anyone could say, "I am God's child and you are not.  That's why you don't understand the truth I'm telling you."  You need something more substantial than that.

If Ahnsahnghong's books truly held the truth, and the WMSCOG truly preached the truth, why wouldn't they want the truth available to everyone? 

Think about other organizations that restrict their publications in the way the WMSCOG does.  What kinds of organizations are they?  Why do they have those restrictions?  (If you can't answer those questions for yourself, let me know.)

On July 29 at 6:44 pm, Anonymous posted on "The name of Jesus," in response to Carlos' comment --

Carlos, this website did not open your eyes but it closed your eyes to the truth! Genny does not follow the teachings of the bible absolutely and she encourage people to worship God in their own ways. That is absolutely WRONG. It is because Salvation belongs to God. And His statutes we need to keep. You are being deceived!!!  

We can each call the other "deceived!" but the word means little if it's not backed up by evidence.  Please check out my three summary pages (Key Verses, Internal Evidence, and Mistakes).  Also, if you haven't read the Start Here page, please do.

When you say that I "encourage people to worship God in their own ways," what do you mean by that?  What I think of when I hear that is that people should worship according to the personality that God gave them, and what is meaningful to them, in a way that pleases God.  For example, someone who loves nature probably worships God better when they are camping or on a hike and should not think that a building is the only suitable place to worship God.

On July 29 at 6:24 pm, Anonymous posted on "The name of Jesus," in response to Daniyyel's comment --

Danniyel, your sister is the one who is so sorry for you because your poor soul is dying. You believe that she is in a cult but in reality, you are the one who is in a cult. Let me explain this. The Jews captured apostle Paul and beheaded him because Paul was charged of heresy leading the Nazarene sect(cult). In the eyes of the general public who claim to believe in God persecuted the true believers: Paul, Peter, Stephen, the disciples. People like you also believe in God right? But you are the one persecuting the true believers in God, you even call them being in a cult! Someone who is in a cult does not follow the teachings of the bible. Let me ask you this. Do you celebrate Christmas? Are you a Sunday worshipper? If you are, then you are not following the teachings of the bible because the bible does not teach people to worship God on Sundays and also, nowhere in the bible Dec 25 is the birthday of Christ. You are being deceived by satan's schemes. 

And, on July 29 at 6:11 pm, Anonymous posted on "The name of Jesus" --

What is heresy? How do we know that a church is heretical? In the bible, heresy is a practice that does not follow the doctrine of the bible. Then which church is heretical? Sunday keeping churches or Saturday keeping churches? In the bible, God commanded people to keep the Sabbath day holy, which is Saturday. There is a Sabbath in accordance with the law of Moses and there is a Sabbath in accordance with the law of Christ. Since Christ gave us examples to follow even after his baptism, He kept the Sabbath day as his custom which is on Saturday. He said he is the Lord of the Sabbath. Obviously, Sunday is not the day Jesus gave, as an example to follow. Then, which church does not follow the example of Jesus Christ? Sunday keepers or Saturday keepers? The Sunday keeping churches are obviously heretical because they do not follow the examples of Christ and his disciples. Who introduced Sunday worship then? If it did not come from God, then it must come from the enemy of God which is the devil who uses all religious leaders, priests ,pastors, government officials, etc in his evil schemes to lead the whole world astray. 

It is true that when you have two people with opposing stands, each will say that they themselves have the truth and that the other is the one who is wrong.  That is why it's so important for both to set aside any preconceived notions, distinguish fact from opinion, and look at the issue from a rational standpoint.

No one likes to be told they are in a cult.  It could be true, or it could be a misunderstanding.  Since it is a word used by professionals to describe the World Mission Society Church of God, it is worth investigating.  (As a side note, one of the organizations I have a good opinion of is also on the list of cults at the Freedom of Mind resource center.  Is it true or a misunderstanding or what?  If I were considering joining, it would be worth investigating.)

Let me ask you this.  Do you celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, New Year on January 1, Independence Day (July 4), Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.  Where does the Bible teach you to celebrate those days?

The Bible does have something to say about Sunday.  Here is a place you can go for resources about Sunday and the Sabbath. 

Sunday meetings were introduced by the apostles, who remembered Jesus' resurrection every time a Sunday came around.  If you don't like that, then perhaps you should tell God that He should have picked a different day for the Resurrection so the apostles wouldn't have use the "Day of the Sun."  Maybe He should have worked it all out for a Monday?  Oh, no, then you would probably accuse Christians of "Moon worship" for meeting on Mondays...

That's all I have time for right now.  It's been a very busy summer for me, but I have lots to write about and more comments to address, so I hope to get back here again soon.

Studying, Family, and Lies -- Responding to WMSCOG comments

I'm continuing to answer comments sent in recently from World Mission Society Church of God members.  This one wanted me to study more and to know that they aren't a cult...

(I have only removed the location from this original comment--no other words--but I have fixed any spelling errors to help those needing to use the online translator.)

January 19, 2012, 1:07 AM, Wendi said...

I am a mother in Canada. Nearly all my family attends the Church of God. There are so so many misrepresentations in this blog. I understand that in the freedom to speak freely people can say some very vile and hurtful things. Many evil things have been done in the name of Christianity. History teaches us this.

Hello, Wendi.  I'm glad you wrote.  Yes, freedom of speech does include the freedom to speak harshly.  I've seen rude language come from all sides.  I myself have endured many horrible, insulting comments from WMSCOG members.  That is too bad.  We should all be respectful even if we disagree, and that's what I try to do.

About "misrepresentations"-- if you believe I have misrepresented scientific or historical facts, you should know that I do painstaking research for all my articles and document my sources so you can check these things for yourself.

If you believe I have misrepresented WMSCOG doctrine, you should know that what I write about has been explained to me through personal discussions with members and through official church documents.  If you believe the WMSCOG teaches something different, then I'm left to wonder why they would be so inconsistent in their doctrine.

If you believe I have misrepresented the behavior of the members, you should know that I write about the personal experiences of myself and my friends and family.  Perhaps your experience has been different.  I have noticed that, in general, members are much nicer to people who agree with them than they are with those who disagree or ask serious questions.

It would be more helpful if you would please give specific examples of the misrepresentations you are talking about.  I would be glad to clear them up or make corrections as needed.

This is a good church. But you need to hear more than a couple of lessons to fully make up your mind. Do you go to school and take one or two courses to become a doctor or teacher? No. If you truly want to know the truth, you must seek it - and the Church of God can give you those answers if you have an open heart and mind enough to give them a fair chance to do so. 

How many lessons would make for a "fair chance"?
No matter how much my friends or I have studied, we are continually told that we haven't studied enough, that if we only studied more then we would see.

What would you say to a Scientologist (for example), who kept telling you, "If you would only study more with us, it would make sense and you'd see we are teaching the truth"?

If something is false, no amount of studying can make it true.
My mind is open but not so open that my brains fall out (as the saying goes).

We are not a cult. Cults try to take you away from your family. Our church WANTS you to stay in your family, and love them to show Gods love to them, but people always have their own agendas. 

From the experiences of myself and my friends, the WMSCOG only wants you to stay close with your family if they do not object to their teachings.  We've seen our family members distance themselves, sometimes speaking mean and hateful words to us who are only trying to help, and sometimes to the point of removing themselves from the family.

How are we supposed to believe that the church wants the members to stay in their family when we see our loved ones refuse to join us for even the most important family events of weddings and funerals?  Or when we see a member threaten to divorce a questioning spouse, or a son/daughter stop communicating with their unbelieving parents?

I don't know whose agenda you are talking about, but if you'd really like me to believe that the WMSCOG does not break up families, then I will need to stop seeing and hearing bad examples like those I've mentioned, and start hearing (and seeing) more real life examples that what you say is true.

(Do you hear that, WMSCOG leaders?  Why don't you encourage your members to restore and maintain good relationships with their families, and to thoughtfully answer their concerns instead of avoiding them?)

Don't you know that what is in your heart will eventually come out your mouth (or in this case through your fingers in print)? Pray for truth to God! But then have the grace to hear it without prejudging first. Truth will remain, lies will always come out. Wendi, [location removed]

I hope you also will have the grace to read my articles here without prejudging first.

It's funny you mention "truth will remain, lies will come out." 
The WMSCOG believes lying for a 'good' cause is ok.  They call it a 'righteous lie.'  The thing is, who decides which situations are ok for lies and which are not?  Have you ever found anywhere in the Bible where Jesus said lying was acceptable?

Do you know, the WMSCOG taught that Ahnsahnghong and Zahng Gil-Jah did not have earthly spouses or natural children of their own.  What do they say about that now?

You are correct.  The truth will stand, and lies will eventually come out.

You seem like a sincerely nice person, Wendi.  I pray that you will be able to see the truth and understand that my intentions here are good.

Mother God -- Responding to WMSCOG comments

I've received several comments lately from members of the World Mission Society Church of God.  This one mainly has to do with the existence of "Mother God."  I'll respond to it in parts...

(I have not removed any words from the original comment, but I have fixed spelling errors to help anyone needing to use the online translator.)

December 14, 2011, 5:17 AM, Follower of Christ said...

God bless brothers and sisters =D! I attend The Church of God. At first I was a hard devoted Catholic... Just went to Sunday worship for one hour a week.... 

Thank you, Follower of Christ, for taking the time to write to me.  I must say, I'm surprised that you describe yourself as being a "hard, devoted Catholic" but only went to church for "one hour a week."  Seems like you were missing something in your walk of faith, and I'm sorry for you about that.

Then...Well after a Family member Told me about MOTHER GOD I couldn't help but just hear him out, So later after hearing his "nonsense" at the time I would gladly introduce him to my Catholic Church... Well the opposite happened.. When I went I asked about Mother God and I brought my own bible so I would know if they changed something. Anyway Long story short all of the teachings from the church are in the bible. I told myself many times and prayed to GOD that if this was a false church I would leave, with just finding one thing changed in the bible... That was 7 months ago.. To this day I still have the same mentality. If I find one thing different I will leave, Because from what I know, The BIBLE is the word of GOD nothing else. 

You are right that the Bible is the word of God.  However, the WMSCOG does change things in the Bible, though not necessarily the words on the page.  They change the meanings (especially by removing them from their contexts), they miss the finer meanings that you can see by looking at the original language, and they add things not written in the Bible--assumptions that contradict the full message of the Bible.

Many say there is no where that mother GOD is mentioned.. Well allow me to Leave you all with some verses of the bible.. Not my words just GODS lol New King James Version

I'm glad you wrote this.  It shows the chain of verses the WMSCOG uses.  Unfortunately, these verses are taken out of context and don't mean what the WMSCOG tells you they mean.  It's dangerous to try to match up verses like this without considering the context and the full message of the Bible.  (I'll talk more on that later.)

Who is Jerusalem? 
Galatians 4:26 = but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Well that tells me she is in heaven and is my, your, our mother... But I still want to know who she is to GOD.

Galatians 4:26 is not talking about a particular woman in heaven.  Click here for a study on what Galatians 4:26 is talking about and how the WMSCOG misinterprets this verse.

Who is she to GOD? 
Revelation 21:2 and 21:10 = Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. / And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from GOD. )
So I understand so far that Jerusalem is our mother and she is a bride.... 

You've already started out with an incorrect assumption from Gal. 4:26, and now you are trying to pair it with Revelation 21:2,10.  Ahnsahnghong himself wrote that the New Jerusalem was a place, not a person.  The New Jerusalem here represents the Church, just as it does in Gal. 4:26.  I know the WMSCOG objects to the Bride in Revelation being the Church, but I will address that in more detail in the future.

But who is she the bride to? 
Revelation 21: 9 = Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
Oh wow so before you learn that she is our mother and she is a bride, a bride to the lamb. 

Now this one is in the correct context.  Rev. 21:9 does belong with Rev. 21:2,10.  Yes, the Bride is the wife of the Lamb.  The Church is also described as the Bride of Christ in other verses.

Who is this lamb?
John 1:29 = The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world!"
Oh wow well we all know Jesus took away the sins of the world and only he did that so he must be that lamb he speaks of right? 

Yes, correct.  The Lamb referred to in Revelation is Jesus.

Well is there more to Jerusalem? Answer Sure is... =D
Isaiah 62:7 = And give HIM no rest till He establishes and He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
So we know now that Jerusalem is our mother, Gods Bride, and the earth will praise her... but wait I thought you only give praise and honor and glory to only GOD?
1 Timothy 1:17 = Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to GOD who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Wow so if God said he will make Jerusalem the praise of the earth and we can only give praise to GOD, then she must be GOD......

Here you've matched two verses incorrectly again and made assumptions that don't fit.  The Bible does say that God will not allow His glory or praise to be given to another (Isaiah 42:8).  But does that mean that nothing and no one else can get any kind of praise?  Check these verses (using NKJV):
Genesis 49:8; 2 Samuel 14:25; 1 Kings 10:1-9; Proverbs 27:2; Proverbs 31:28-31; Ecclesiastes 4:2; Song of Solomon 6:9

You also need to see the context of Is. 62:7.  Keep reading.  Here's Isaiah 62:9,
"But those who have gathered it shall eat it [Jerusalem's grain],
And praise the Lord;
Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts."
It's not that Jerusalem is receiving God's praise and therefore must be God.
It's that Jerusalem is causing people to praise God.

By the way, did you notice the verse you referenced, 1 Timothy 1:17 says that there is only one God (singular) who alone is wise?  The only way this reconciles with the WMSCOG's insistence of two gods is if the second "Mother God" is not wise, because only one is wise.

My brothers and sisters all the verses were from the bible. The bible isn't about stories... Its a book of prophecy. As you can see it speaks of Jerusalem, How she is God and how she is our mother and She is God's wife... We are all God's children. Please open up your eyes.. none of this is a CULT.. all teachings are from Christ Ahnsahnghong.

I know it doesn't feel nice to have your beloved church called a 'cult.'  But if you want other Christians to consider the idea that they have been following the deceptions of Satan, then you must also be willing to consider the possibility for yourself.

If Ahnsahnghong was God, he (and the WMSCOG) wouldn't have so many flaws in his teachings, Bible references, and historical facts.  He wouldn't have ANY flaws, but he does.  Therefore Ahnsahnghong was NOT God.

I know it first sounds really insane and you have every right in the world to doubt.. I sure did at first... But Hey if it's in the bible I'm not arguing with it.. As of Ahnsahnghong , there is so much evidence and proof of him being the HOLY SPIRIT. =D Go to THE WORLD MISSION SOCIETY CHURCH OF GOD to learn more... all in the bible.. God bless brothers and sisters. =) http://english.watv.org/ 

There is so much evidence and proof of Ahnsahnghong NOT being the Holy Spirit.  Please look deeper into the Bible besides just the verses and explanations the WMSCOG gives you.

Thanks again for writing.  I do see that you sincerely want to follow God, and I hope that you seriously consider the material presented here.  I'm also sorry I was unable to answer your comment sooner.  I hope you'll be back to respond.

More WMSCOG comments and responses to come...

Complete Trust and Devotion

Whenever my friends or I try to share our concerns with WMSCOG members (such as these contradictions or behaviors) we are met with the following responses.  Are any of them familiar to you?

• "The problem is that you're putting your own mind to it." (In other words, "We must be told what to think and not think for ourselves.")
• "God's words can't be judged by man's common sense." (In other words, "Even though God gave you the Bible and a sound mind, you are not capable of using them by yourself.")
• "You can't understand the Bible by reading it by yourself."  (In other words, "Only our leader can interpret the Bible for us.")
• "Do you believe the Bible?"  (In other words, "If you believed the Bible, you would believe our interpretation.  Never mind that many (ok, most) reputable Bible scholars disagree.")
• "God's sheep hear His voice."  (From John chapter 10.  In other words, "If you don't believe this it's not because it's wrong, it's because you are not one of God's people.  And if you are not one of God's chosen people, then I'm not going to waste my time with you.")
• "The secrets of the kingdom have not been given to everyone."  (From Matthew 13:11.  In other words, "God has not entrusted you with these secrets, and that's why you don't understand.")
• "The problem is that you don't understand God's administration."  (In other words, "It doesn't make sense because you don't understand it...and I'm not going to explain it.")
• "You refuse to accept the truth of God."  (In other words, "I won't consider problems with the teaching, the problem is with you.")
• "You haven't studied enough.  If you completed more of the WMSCOG's studies then it would make sense."  (In other words, "Again, the problem is not with the doctrine, it's with you, and I can use this line no matter how much you have studied with us.")
• "Satan is using you to attack me and try to take me away from the truth."  (In other words, "What you say makes some sense, and now I'm confused.  But I must not doubt!  I will trust in this 'truth' even if it doesn't make sense.")

All of these responses mean one thing--a refusal to consider any thoughts that don't line up with the "truth" as taught by the WMSCOG.  The following is a direct quote from a conversation between "Carly" and "Lizet" (two WMSCOG members) on Jamie's Blog illustrating this.  (The bold emphasis is mine.  The typos are from the original posters.)

Lizet: "...If you really believe in Father and Mother, these things [that 'Father' and 'Mother' had been married to other people and had children] should not change your faith...."
Carly: "...I had no idea about this matter [Carly had previously said that it's a false rumor that 'Mother' has physical children that came from her own body.]...are you 100% sure??  Of course they are Elohim no matter what but that doesn't make any sense, I don't understand...."
Lizet: "Yes, I am 100% sure, unless I was lied to when I first came to the truth, but I refuse to believe that was the case....  Pls let me know if i am the one who is wrong, althoug that would mean i was lied to.  In any case let's not allow these things to shake our faith."

Here's the main problem... and I'm speaking now to our WMSCOG friends:

Has the WMSCOG earned your unconditional trust and devotion?  How will you know if they are worthy of your complete trust unless you thoroughly test them?

Please watch these videos of other people who give their complete and unconditional trust and devotion to their leaders.  Would you agree that these other churches are not worthy of that trust?  And yet, they have convinced these followers of just that, so much so that they will use any and all of the above responses to avoid testing their leaders and finding them false.

How can you know that you are not deceived just as much as they are?  Don't just say, "Well, I know I'm not!"  A deceived person doesn't know they are deceived--that's the definition of deception.

The only way is to put the WMSCOG to the test, with an open mind, being willing to accept the results even if it proves the World Mission Society Church of God as false.  The people in the following videos have obviously not done that with their "churches."  I pray that you will.

(Please notice that the members of these groups are all very happy and sincere in their faith.  Happiness and sincerity are not the primary indicators of truth.)

Wayne Bent
A Russian Messiah
Brian Leonard Golightly Marshall
Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda
Harold Camping (yes, he still has followers)
Westboro Baptist Church

Now for something inspiring...
You may have heard of the Worldwide Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong.  After Armstrong's death, the church's new leadership realized the doctrines they had held dearly were actually false.  They were brave enough to stand up for the truth, despite resistance and splintering within their church.  And what emerged was Grace Communion International church.
Here's their uplifting story.  It's a long video, but well worth the watch:
"Called to Be Free"

Staying in the World Mission Society Church of God

Last time, I shared 5 main reasons why ex-members have left the World Mission Society Church of God.  Now the question is, when these problems are so clear to ex-members (or non-members), why do so many continue to stay in the WMSCOG?  Why don't they see these problems?  And if they see the problems, why do they stay anyway?

To answer that, it helps to see an ex-members perspective.  Here's an article that explains it well: Why is it difficult for some WMSCOG members to leave?

I recall talking to several different members and hearing the same thing...
"I know this church is not right, but they seem right about some things, so how can I leave?  Where else would I go?  What if they're right, and I don't make it to heaven?  But I know they are not! I'm so torn.  I don't know what to do."

If that sounds at all familiar, if that's you, maybe you wonder how you could ever survive and live a fulfilling life without the World Mission Society Church of God.  Please, read the stories of others who have left, and see that you are not alone!  You can find some stories here and also scattered throughout the comments of my blog and this website.

Then read that article again about why it's so difficult to leave.  If you can realize what it is that's holding you there, it might help you to be strong enough to leave.  And if you still don't feel confident enough to leave, pray.  God, the real God, can help you to sort out the truth and lead you to freedom.

Galatians 5:1
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

In fact, I recommend you read the whole book of Galatians.  It's just 6 short chapters.  It won't take long, and it will help you to know the freedom you ought to feel with Christ.  Here's a good place to start: Galatians 1.

Leaving the World Mission Society Church of God

Since I started this blog (and even before) many people have written to me, and I always ask if they will share their story.  How did you (or your loved one) get involved in the World Mission Society Church of God, and what finally prompted you to leave?

Even though personal details vary, ex-members of the World Mission Society Church of God have many similarities in their stories.  I've found 5 main reasons former members have shared with me in their stories.  Here they are, in no particular order:

• The teachings of the WMSCOG contradict the teachings of the Bible.  For example, they take verses out of context and distort their meaning, and misinterpret other verses whose meaning is clear.  Here are a few specific examples.
• The behavior of the people (especially leaders) in the WMSCOG contradicts the teachings of the Bible.  For example, even though the church claims do what the Bible says, they find their leaders promoting lying, divorce, gossip, and such.
• The teachings and practices of the WMSCOG contradict themselves.  (I call this "internal evidence.")  For example, they keep the feasts of God incorrectly according to their own requirements, and they deny some teachings of Ahnsahnghong himself.
• They realize the church's behavior lines up with destructive mind control tactics.  For example, they weren't told about Ahnsahnghong or Zang Gil-Jah until after joining, and there was a heavy demand on their time and money, to the exclusion of their other God-given responsibilities.  Check out more stories of personal experiences in the WMSCOG.
• Lastly, some were pushed out (or kicked out).  For example, they couldn't live up to the expectations of the WMSCOG, either in behavior or giving (tithing).  These seem to have had the hardest time, feeling condemned for failing, until they realize one or more of the other, above reasons.  Then they feel blessed to have been "rescued" despite themselves.

Here is another list that shows more specific reasons, Top 10 Reasons People Cease to Believe in the WMSCOG, which you can find on the website Examining the WMSCOG.  It's well worth your time to explore that website, especially since it has the perspective of an ex-member (who writes many of the articles).

No matter which was the main reason for leaving, members who leave continue to share similarities in what happens next in their stories.  They must go through a healing and recovery process.  And the longer they've been in the cult, the more difficult the process is.

If you are going through that currently, please know that there is help out there.  There are cult counselors who can help you in person.  There are also pastors at your local churches who can connect you with the help you need.  There are books that can help you in your healing (such as "Releasing the Bonds" by Steven Hassan).  And there are places like our facebook group, where you can talk to other former members and help each other.  You don't have to do it alone.

News and a Challenge

Ahnsahnghong was the founder and pastor of a church while he was alive.  I've often wondered what happened to his church after he died in 1985, especially since the World Mission Society Church of God's doctrine does not quite match the teachings in Ahnsahnghong's books.  Thanks to a recent commenter, now I know, and I've got to share it with you all.

There is another church in Korea, called the New Covenant Passover Church of God, which also claims to be founded by Ahnsahnghong.  Except, the New Covenant Passover Church of God (NCPCOG) prays in the name of Jesus (not Ahnsahnghong) and does not believe in a "Heavenly Mother Jerusalem."  Neither do they accept Zahng Gil Jah as "Mother God."

It turns out that there was some turmoil in Ahnsahnghong's church after he died, and it split.  The NCPCOG kept to the teachings of their founder, while the WMSCOG developed the ideas of a "Jerusalem Mother," male and female gods, and the deity Zahng Gil Jah.

The website for the NCPCOG has lots of information, but it's all in Korean.  Some friends and I are working on translating it, and I'll keep you all posted on new developments.  For one thing, it would greatly improve my opinion of Ahnsahnghong if he were merely a misguided Bible scholar instead of a self-proclaimed Christ.

This brings me to another point...

In all my reading of Ahnsahnghong's writings, there are two things I've never come across: 1) Ahnsahnghong claiming to be God, the second coming of Christ, and 2) Ahnsahnghong mentioning a "Mother God."

I challenge WMSCOG members to show me where Ahnsahnghong said either of those things.  I'm not asking for the verses and prophecies and explanations that your church uses.  Show me where Ahnsahnghong himself teaches these two things.  Which book?  Which chapter or page number?

There haven't been any WMSCOG members commenting here in a while (since February, I think).  I really do want to hear what you have to say.  I know WMSCOG members support their church by commenting on other sites.  Why not this one lately?
--Is it because you've been told to avoid my website?  Why?  Are your leaders worried about what you'll find?
--Is it because you don't have any good response for the issues I've raised here?  Doesn't that make you concerned that something is wrong with the WMSCOG?
--Is it because you don't think I'll listen to you?  I can't post every comment because I can't edit personal information or rude words in them very well.  But I do read and consider them all, and you can always send me a message by email.

The WMSCOG said what? On an official form?

Did you know that when an organization applies for tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), those forms become available to the public?  All you have to do is request them from the IRS (and wait for them to come in the mail).

That's what "Hailey" has done and recently posted about on the Rick Ross Cult Education Forum, and I've been able to examine the forms as well.  What I find shocking is that the statements made by the World Mission Society Church of God on these official forms do not line up with the doctrine they preach!
In the forum, Hailey points this out.  I'm going to write about some inconsistencies here, but you should definitely read her posts too.  I'll include pictures for your convenience, but remember--copies of these documents are freely available for the asking from the IRS.

This set of forms was filed with a California address in 1999.
I won't change any spelling, punctuation or capitalization, but I will bold the words that stand out to me.

Here's an excerpt of what the WMSCOG said on page 2 about their church activities:
"1. (a) Prayer services to strengthen the faith of the members in the works of the saviour Jesus Christ."
"2. (a) Baptismal Services, to set the devoted members into holy communion with their LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ."
"3. (a) Funeral Services, to escort those members of the church who have been called upon by the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to join him on high."
"4. (a) Bible readings, to enhance commitment of the spirit to ways of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

On Schedule A, page 11, in regards to other religious services, besides worship services, the WMSCOG stated:
"The church will perform BAPTISM in the name of Jesus christ, baptism, and a host holy feasts for the lord."


And concerning requirements and qualifications needed to be a minister, they said on page 12:

"Must be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST.  Must study the bible for 6 months intensely.  Must experience Gospel Ministry for 3 years and attended worship for at least 1 year."

I've searched the entire form and there is NO mention of Ahn Sahng-Hong or Zahng Gil-Jah ("Mother Jerusalem")--not even in their statement of the history of their organization!
Here's their brief history from page 11:

"The World Mission Society Church of God, was founded by the founding father, Pastor Joo Cheol Kim in or about 1998 as a result of divine revealation from God.."


Knowing how very important the new name of Ahnsahnghong is to the WMSCOG, and how they believe Ahnsahnghong is the savior of this new age and the age of Jesus Christ has passed away, and how they insist that those who cling to the name of Jesus will not be able to be saved...

Why do they continually use only the name of Jesus in this document?!  Why NO mention of the "saviors" they preach about--"The Spirit and the Bride," "Father Ahnsahnghong and Mother Jerusalem"?  Why not write the true story about their founding?
Why?!  That's my question.
Here's a possible answer... Secrecy is one characteristic of a cult.

(A big thank you goes to Hailey for all her work in tracking down these forms!) 

UPDATE!
Another website has written about these forms with more details.  Check it out:
World Mission Society Church of God IRS Tax Exempt Application Los Angeles, CA

If World Mission Society Church of God is a cult, then Christianity is a cult?

The World Mission Society Church of God doesn't seem to mind terribly much being called a cult.  Here's why they do ...

A new or potential member is told by the WMSCOG something to this effect:
"When you tell your family and friends about your new church they are going to get upset and tell you that the World Mission Society is a cult.  They won't understand because they have not received the truth of the WMSCOG.  They will accuse the WMSCOG of being a cult and try everything they can do to take you away from the truth you have found."

What happens then?  When the new or potential member talks to their family about this new church, sure enough, their loved ones get extremely concerned that they have joined a cult.  It happens just as the WMSCOG told them it would.  It happened that way with my sister.  It happened that way with many others I have talked to.

Unfortunately, this often reinforces the WMSCOG claim to have the 'truth' since, after all, what they said would happen did come about.  So calling this group a 'cult' supposedly proves to them that it is not a cult?  How does that sound to you?  The WMSCOG likes to use persecution and unbelief as proof that they are the true church.

WMSCOG members will then go on to say that if the World Mission Society Church of God is a cult, then Christianity itself is a cult, like this website here (be forewarned, it is a pro-WMSCOG website).  This is not a new thought.  I've heard atheists (and others) say that all religions are cults.  But there are various definitions of "cult," as you can see in this online dictionary.  We need to make a distinction between the definition of "a specific system of religious worship" and the definition of a group "using devious psychological techniques to gain and control adherents."

This article, "When Does a Religion Become a Cult?" from the Wall Street Journal puts it very well.  The author, Mitch Horowitz, writes:

"Yet every coercive religious group harbors one telltale trait: untoward secrecy. As opposed to a cult, a religious culture ought to be as simple to enter or exit, for members or observers, as any free nation. Members should experience no impediment to relationships, ideas or travel, and the group's finances should be reasonably transparent. Its doctrine need not be conventional—but it should be knowable to outsiders."

When I read that, I ask myself about the WMSCOG:

• Is it "as simple to enter or exit, for members or observers, as any free nation"?
• Do members "experience no impediment to relationships, ideas or travel"?
• Are the church's finances "reasonably transparent"?
• Do they want their doctrine "knowable to outsiders"?

The answers to all these questions regarding the WMSCOG, from the experiences of myself and many others, are each a resounding NO.
When I ask myself the same questions regarding all the Christian churches I'm familiar with, the answers are each YES.
The WMSCOG's assertion that "If the WMSCOG is a cult, then Christianity itself is a cult" is FALSE.

One more thing for today about the workings of a cult.  Please check out this article, "How the WMSCOG Indoctrinates and Changes a Person's Life."  It was written by an ex-member of the WMSCOG who shares how their personal experiences match up to the "Twenty Steps of Indoctrination in Destructive Cults" (from Douglas Rushkoff's book Coercion: Why We Listen to What "They" Say).  I hope you'll read through the entire article.