Should i be worried about being part of this church?

Hi.
Right now I've been going on an emotional rollercoaster with something serious. I know it's going to be a long story, but please bare with me.

Really it's about religion. I guess with every church I go to : Catholic, Christian, it's always been the same thing. You know worship God, sing songs to him, pray and have the unleavened bread and wine. That's it. And of course listen to the pastor.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that when. I wanted to truly know God, I wanted to be able to study about him and learn about his life and get to know him properly. However, that Never happened because All I knew was in the Bible itself but never understand much and how Jesus spoke in parables.

Yes, we did know some things, but I feel like ever since I've joined a church called the Church of God (the world mission society church of god) I don't even know what to think anymore. It's like I've been Reborn on this Earth again and have to relearn everything from the top.

However if you're wondering: this church of god, is not like any other church. What I mean is that they teach about how we not only have a god the father, just a god the mother which is apparently here on this Earth as a Korean woman. They also teach that the second coming of Christ came already as a Korean man named Ahnsahnghong and he was born in 1918 and died in 1985.

At first I thought this was strange, because I've never heard such a thing in my life. Especially being baptized in the name of the father, son and the holy Spirit (Christ Ahnsahnghong).

They do teachings, actual Bible teachings and say the Passover is the only way to eternal life in the (last days). I slowly believed it and then I truly believed every word they preached.

But last week, as me and another member was preaching (it was my first time), I was expecting to just go up to a random person and preach to them only to find out that we were going to preach to youths (young adults). I was confused and asked myself, why not the elderly? Or families. But then again, if we loved our lost brother's and sisters that were casted down from heaven to earth after sinning against god as an angel, why not save the elders too?.

I'm still very confused. And what's making me more confused is the NIV VERSION of the Bible. Members from this church from what I know only use the NIV version even though I heard that it has some missing verses and meanings of the original version and now I'm starting to think I made a mistake of entering the church.

Because they have different belifs from other churches, but they still claim to be Christians, I don't know what to do.

It's all very too much for me to deal with. I NEED HELP

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Comments ( 11 )
  • barstool

    I'm not saying you should blindly trust wikipedia articles, but the first paragraph of the entry on WMSCOG doesn't paint it in a very flattering light.

    If it were me, I would run far away from them. But that's easy for me to say. So I'm not sure what to tell you.

    From two minutes googling - I'm not claiming to be an expert, so don't trust me - the problem is that there's genuine potential dangers with this particular sect. Things that you wouldn't have to worry about with a regular church. I could quote, but just read the part on "criticism and controversy" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mission_Society_Church_of_God

    That aside, it does seem a bit far-fetched that this ahn sahng-hong guy is god. I mean, if you think about it, which is more likely - that he's a guy who used to be a 7th day adventist who decided to branch off and create his own church? Or that he is God? THE God - [who may or may not even exist. Like, let's be honest, nobody could possibly know that] So he's probably just a guy.
    So that alone should really cast some doubt as to the validity of what they're saying.

    Why do they convert youth and not the elderly? Good question too. I'd think it's because youth are both mentally susceptible, pliable and at a point in their lives where they're figuring out who they are.
    I'd guess young people more than any other age group are liable to become converts. So, they get a better success rate by preying on the young.

    But ultimately, I think you already know the answer to the overall question. The fact that you're asking pretty much answers it. You're obviously getting a bad vibe. And more, there's specific things that are causing serious doubt.
    You wouldn't be having those feelings and questions if it were a church worth following.

    Maybe it would be a good thing to take a break, do some personal research and evaluate whether you even need to be part of any church at all? But at least take a break from this one. Definitely. A permanent break.

    Edit: Sorry for the long comment, wish I was more concise. But just one last thing - and this might sound really harsh. But I think it's a really good trait that you have - to be intellectually curious, even about spirituality.

    But I think you could visit with and learn about any number of far-out Christian/non-Christian sects and with each one, you might feel like your eyes are being opened to this whole other world. Or like you're finally learning the truth. And granted, that does feel pretty amazing.

    But they can't all be right. So at what point do you realise they're all bullshit? You know what I mean?
    I think if you spent time with every religious group on earth, that's the only reasonable conclusion you could come to. Even if you started out believing them.

    (Just my opinion) Good luck with everything.

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    • Excellent feedback. Thank you for being a voice of reason, and caring enough to share your insights. The world is in dire need of more of that.

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  • Fugazi,again

    It's a cult

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  • Boojum

    Cult is a pejorative term, but I think most secular and mainstream religious people would say that you've been sucked into one.

    The fact that they use the Bible to support their teachings doesn't mean that they have discovered some unique Truth. All it indicates is that the Bible has so much ambiguous rubbish in it that you can find a verse to support just about any whacko belief.

    Once you get pulled into any group, particularly a "new religious movement" (the polite term for a cult), it's very easy to succumb to the social pressure to conform and lose all objectivity. I don't know how this outfit works, but you mention how you have to try to sell the cult to others. That's a classic cult move, since by making you parrot the religion's particular line of BS and attempting to persuade strangers to buy their brand of KoolAide, you're also brainwashing yourself, and you're increasing your emotional investment in the movement. The more people you persuade to join the group, the harder it becomes for you to step back and say, "Wait a minute! This is all total crap!"

    Frankly, it sounds like you are prime cult material, since you say you've been to numerous churches in your search for some transcendent understanding of God. The people who pay a fortune to Scientology and hand over total control of their lives to the organisation, the people who were with Jim Jones in Guyana, the members of Heaven's Gate who committed suicide as the Hale-Bopp comet approached and the members of Aum Shinrikyo who released nerve gas in Tokyo's subway system weren't all idiotic nutjobs. They were inquisitive, (generally) intelligent people who were searching for some cosmic Truth to believe in just as you are. Each of them bumped into a cult whose teachings resonated with them for some reason, and they got sucked in deeper and deeper until they were in a very dark place.

    I don't know if the group you're with has the potential to turn into a violent or suicidal cult, but I do know that you're not going to find what you're looking for from any group. All religious groups are made up of people, and any time you get a group of people together, the psychopaths and manipulators end up running the show sooner or later. It's never for the benefit of the ordinary members or in the pure pursuit of some holy, spiritual goal.

    I'm sure it's a fool's errand, but if you want to experience and know God (and a particularly Christian brand of God at that), then I suggest you look into individual Christian mysticism. Christian churches tend to look on this with as much disdain as cults, but that's really about how those pursuing an individual relationship with God aren't part of their club and aren't putting money in their collection plate.

    However, if you feel a desperate need to belong to some sort of group which is in possession of some Great, Cosmic, Universal and Timeless Truth, then I'm afraid you're doomed - to disappointment at least, and possibly to something much worse.

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    • Well said and spot on! You have an admirable intellect and insightful worldview. My appreciation of well-spoken voices of reason cannot be overstated. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom.

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  • RoseIsabella

    I just woke up, and I gotta poop, but I don't wanna get out of bed.

    Oh, I almost forgot to mention. You just joined a cult! 😨😰😱

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  • TerriAngel

    As for me.
    I believe in god.
    Something bigger then me.
    But religion no matter how pure it's origin has become polluted by man's preferences.

    Do unto others, care for the earth, care for the animals, be good for your word.

    What religion would say you need more than this?
    All of them, which to me makes them all wrong, For me.

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  • I forgot to add:

    I've been in the chu since June last year.

    There's a lot of rumours going around saying that what I'm in is a cult and former members have said some things.

    Also I'm not here to slander but I'm just looking for some advice. Thanks.

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    • Ellenna

      It's a cult, run away, run away very fast. Believe the former members because they'll know what they're talking about.

      If you're actually looking for spirituality, you won't find it in any organised religion in my opinion: walk your own path and don't turn your brain off, it's there for a reason whether or not you believe some god created you.

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      • Great advice.

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  • IrishPotato

    I want Chinese food now.

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