UNDER PRESSURE â—½ YOU
Maybe it’s a funny title for a story in December, but nevertheless, these are different times and if we’re not very alert, we can miss it. Deception is so prevalent in our society – at every turn – and even in the church. We are often warned of false teachers, a different gospel, all misleading people to accept a false Jesus, not the Jesus of scripture.
​
False teachers deceive people by using lies and crafty arguments about doctrine, false philosophical reasoning and emotional appeals. And while I personally saw and recognized these things in society at large, they seemed far-fetched, and I never thought I would fall for such a thing.
​
We read in Romans 16 that we are to avoid those that cause division and create obstacles, using contrary doctrine to what we read in scripture. These people only serve their own appetites and use smooth talk and flattery, and we are to be wise and recognize what is good and what is evil. In Matthew 7 we are told there will be those that come in, wearing sheep’s clothing, but they’re really ravenous wolves, inside.
​
Here’s my recent experience:
​
​In our church, three young people visited and offered me to join their bible study and their theology classes, offered free to pastors. I was interested because of my own feelings of inadequacy so I asked them questions about their training and instructors, etc. But when I started pressing for these answers, about their funding and their beliefs, I got lies…polite lies. They answered with untruths, but I didn’t realize it at first.
I decided to join on line to see what they were about, they sang popular songs, but were completely joyless and spirit-less and dead. They had power points and testimonies and I received texts and emails. And I began to research their name. And then…they said I’d been chosen to attend their annual convention…and oh yeah…in Korea!
​
I soon found out that this group was a cult. A very aggressive cult that is dangerous, it preys on weak people, relationships that have failed, those financially insecure, and I had been too eager to take part in their training. The cult was totally based on deception, everything was hidden, and they told nothing but lies…then requiring separation from family, friends and churches. There are 250,000 known cult members in South Korea and 60% joined during the Covid shutdown! This cult has taken over churches, pastor, and finances and directed them for their own use.
​
Here is how deceptive cults work:
​
They reinterpret who Jesus is – NOT God – and there is no trinity
They deny Jesus’ bodily resurrection and say in 1966 Jesus revealed himself to seven men in Korea – one of whom was Jesus. That man died and the new John, aka Jesus, was one of the seven.
This cult walked directly into our church and presented itself as “light.” And I felt absolutely horrible for not immediately recognizing this, and for wanting to get involved for theology training.
But a sweet friend said this experience has now helped me to warn others, because it could happen anywhere. This cult had identified 400 churches in our area to visit!
​
Many Christians recoil when they hear negativity about another group, calling it gossip. But if it’s another gospel without Jesus, we are to avoid them. We have to be aware and research before following others.
​
I’m so thankful for being kept from deception. And I want to be prepared to recognize fruit, whether it’s good and pure, or not. And while I experienced this myself, I now realize it is serious business to know the Word of God, and not follow a false light.