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| title = Cult Watch: The World Mission Society Church of God
| title = Cult Watch: The World Mission Society Church of God
| publisher = Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
| publisher = Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada
| url = http://ahnsahnghong.tripod.com/
| url = http://ahnsanghong.tripod.com/
| accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> The Christian Council of Korea, which represents Protestant churches in the country, has declared the Church of God "[[heretical|heresy]]".<ref name="Veil"/> The chuch argues that this allegation is groundless, with a court case going as far as the Korean Supreme Court clearing their name of the specific charges.<ref>http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html</ref> Other Christian denominations in Korea allege the Church "worships a man," mistreats minors, and destroys families.<ref name="Veil"/><ref>http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html</ref> The Church has been accused of breaking up families when women followers have left home and settled in Church of God buildings to await the "coming of Christ". <ref name="Veil"/> Shortly after these accusations, the church began its widespread community service activities, which have earned them the commendation of the government of Korea.
| accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> The Christian Council of Korea, which represents Protestant churches in the country, has declared the Church of God "[[heretical|heresy]]".<ref name="Veil"/> The chuch argues that this allegation is groundless, with a court case going as far as the Korean Supreme Court clearing their name of the specific charges.<ref>http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html</ref> Other Christian denominations in Korea allege the Church "worships a man," mistreats minors, and destroys families.<ref name="Veil"/><ref>http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html</ref> The Church has been accused of breaking up families when women followers have left home and settled in Church of God buildings to await the "coming of Christ". <ref name="Veil"/> Shortly after these accusations, the church began its widespread community service activities, which have earned them the commendation of the government of Korea.


Revision as of 21:40, 3 March 2008

World Mission Society Church of God
Hangul
하나님의교회 세계복음선교협회
Revised RomanizationHananimeui Gyohoe: Segyebokeumseon Gyohyeobhoe
McCune–ReischauerHananimŭi Kyohoe: Sekyebokŭmsŏn Kyohyŏbhoe
For other uses, see Church of God.

The World Mission Society Church of God (in Korean, 하나님의교회 세계복음선교협회) was founded by Ahnsahnghong in 1964, when he left the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The church believes that he (referred to by his followers as Christ Ahnsahnghong) is the second coming of Jesus. Ahnsahnghong died in 1985, three years before his prediction of the second coming of Christ. Today the leader of the church is Zahng Gil Jah, known to followers as the Heavenly Mother, and the General Pastor is Kim Joo-cheol. Zahng Gil Jah usually appears in public wearing a traditional Korean hanbok. Over 70 percent of followers are women and Korean Americans are increasingly found among the new adherents. Its headquarters are located in Bundang, Sungnam City, Kyunggi Province, roughly an hour away from Seoul.[1]

Within South Korea, and elsewhere proselytizers introduce themselves (to foreigners) by asking whether the individual has heard of the Mother's love, or of the Heavenly Mother.[2] The church believes that Korean resident Gil-Jah Zahng is "God the Mother" (who they believe is referred to in the Bible as the New Jerusalem Mother) as well as that Ahnsahnghong is God the Father. The church regards that the earthly family system is a copy and shadow of the heavenly family system, consisting of a Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, and the spiritual brothers and sisters (humans). These unorthodox beliefs have led some to consider the church a cult.[1][2]

Core Beliefs

The two fundamental beliefs held by the church are their claim that Ahnsahnghong was the second coming of Jesus, and that only those who keep the Passover will be saved. The church believes that Ahnsahnghong restored the new covenant in accordance with the prophecies in the Bible. Other core beliefs include:

Sabbath

The church believes that the Sabbath day was established by God to be Saturday and that it is a day set apart to commemorate God as Creator. They argue that Jesus kept the sabbath and established "the Sabbath of Jesus" (Matt. 12:8; Luke 6:5) as the completion of "the Sabbath of Jehovah" (Ex. 31:13; Ezek. 20:12) and that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday by the emperor Constantine and the influence of Roman sun-god worshipers.[3]

Soul

Ahnsahnghong taught that "all men are angels who have come to the earth after sinning in heaven."[4] The Church believes that the Spirit was revealed through the creation of human beings. They draw these beliefs from their interpretation of Genesis 2:7, and Ecclesiastes 12:7. They believe that the body is the temporal home of the Spirit, or the soul.[4]

Baptism

The World Mission Society Church of God holds that baptism is the first step toward salvation. They believe that baptism is a law of the new covenant and that it cleanses the soul and atones for the believer's sin. Followers are baptized in the name of Ahnsanghong, and the church believes that salvation cannot be obtained without baptism. According to the church, wisdom to recognize God cannot be given without the forgiveness of sin preceding it. Therefore, they believe that a person should be baptized before beginning religious study.[5]

Veil

The church requires all women to wear veils (or Christian Headcoverings) according to their interpretation of one of the Apostle Paul's epistel. The church quotes 1 Corinthians 11:1-16 as a regulation mandating the use of headcoverings. Men are not to have their heads covered.[1]

Other beliefs

The church holds "the three 'R' movements": “Restore the Faith of the Early Church”, “Restore the Truth of the Early Church”, and “Redeem the Whole World”, as stated by the Chief Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim. The members pray in the name of Ahnsahnghong, whom they believe was the Second Coming of Christ. The church celebrates the seven appointed feasts of God (Leviticus 23); Passover, Unleavened Bread, First fruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Feast of Tabernacles. The church keeps the seventh Sabbath Day each Saturday by holding worship services at the appointed times of 9 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. During worship services the brothers keep their hair uncovered and sisters cover their hair with a thin tailored garment believing this to be the practice handed down to Apostle Paul from Jesus of Nazareth as written in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.

Activities

The Church claims to have established approximately 400 branch churches in Korea and 120 churches in other countries totaling 820,000 members as of 2007.[6][verification needed] However, a UCLA professor of Korean Christianity noted that information provided by the Church of God concerning the number of followers and congregations is "unreliable".[1] The Church is also active in many volunteer services and welfare activities throughout the world.[citation needed]

Criticism

The World Mission Society Church of God is widely believed to be a cult, by those outside of the organization due its deviation from mainstream Christian beliefs.[2][7] The Christian Council of Korea, which represents Protestant churches in the country, has declared the Church of God "heresy".[1] The chuch argues that this allegation is groundless, with a court case going as far as the Korean Supreme Court clearing their name of the specific charges.[8] Other Christian denominations in Korea allege the Church "worships a man," mistreats minors, and destroys families.[1][9] The Church has been accused of breaking up families when women followers have left home and settled in Church of God buildings to await the "coming of Christ". [1] Shortly after these accusations, the church began its widespread community service activities, which have earned them the commendation of the government of Korea.

Deviations from the Seventh-day Adventist Church

The World Mission Society Church of God retained some characteristics of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, such as meeting on Saturdays and not celebrating Christmas. Conversely, many of the church's claims deviate from the Seventh-day church, such as their proclamation of Ahnsahnghong as Jesus, their belief in a Holy Mother as equal to God the Father, and their view that the Christian cross and the Virgin Mary are a symbols of idolatry.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Korea: The Church of God". Korea: The Church of God. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Retrieved 2007-08-17. Cite error: The named reference "Veil" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Lifshin, Inna (2008-02-01). "Korean church seeks recruits on campus". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Retrieved 2008-02-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Sabbath". Fundamental Truths. World Mission Society Church of God. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  4. ^ a b "Soul". Fundamental Truths. World Mission Society Church of God. Retrieved 2007-08-12. Cite error: The named reference "Soul" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Baptism". Fundamental Truths. World Mission Society Church of God. Retrieved 2007-08-12.
  6. ^ Poi-dong, Gangnam-gu (2007-February). "World Mission Society Church of God". Business Korea. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Cult Watch: The World Mission Society Church of God". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
  8. ^ http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html
  9. ^ http://english.watv.org/news/news174.html
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