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By Josh Paczok
Would you be able to spot a fraud if you saw one? How would you go about doing that? How can we as Christians discern between who is telling the truth and who is lying? Spiritual fraud is rampant in our world today. Many Christians have even been led astray by the various false teachers. You and I, however; do not have to fall victim to such schemes.
Jesus said that there would be false Christ’s who would rise up and deceive people in the last days. I believe that the man Ahnsahnghong was one such deceiver. Ahnsahnghong was a man who declared himself to be Jesus Christ. He said that he was the fulfillment of Christ’s promised return. He also taught a new method of salvation, which involves works and rituals. Not only did Ahnsahnghong proclaim himself to be a messenger of God, his followers declare that he himself was divine, and that he was the second coming of Christ.
There are three reasons that I believe that Ahnsahnghong was a deceiver. The first reason that I believe that Ahnsahnghong was a deceiver is that his teachings directly contradict the teachings of God’s Word. According to Ahnsahnghong’s teachings there are many necessary rituals and beliefs which merit salvation. According to this teaching, in order to be saved a person must keep the Jewish passover as long as they live. Although the next requirement contradicts the first, it is still necessary for salvation according to Ahnsahnghong’s teaching. He said that in order for a person to be saved, a person must follow all the teachings of the Bible. Another requirement for salvation that Ahnsahnghong taught was that a person must believe in “Mother God.” They do not believe that God the Father is in fact female, rather the belief is that “Mother God” is another person of the Godhead. A fourth requirement of salvation according to Ahnsahnghong is that a person must keep the Jewish Sabbath day all of their life. Standing in intimidating opposition to the teachings of Ahnsahnghong are the words of almighty God! According to God, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose from the dead. According to the Bible, there is nothing that a person could do to earn his salvation. Even if we were capable of doing good on our own, we could not earn salvation because God in His perfection must deal justly with our sinfulness. This truth is described in Romans chapter three. Thus says the Lord:
“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it–the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” (Romans 3:19-28)
First of all notice, that the purpose of the Law was never to save anyone. Instead the Law proves that everyone is in need of a savior. Secondly notice that Jesus Christ is that savior. Thirdly notice that the reason that God has done all of this is to demonstrate His righteousness. Our salvation is not about us, or about what we can do. Salvation has always been about God’s righteousness and His love. Therefore any system that denies this truth by adding works as a means of salvation, is blasphemy because it usurps the honor and glory that belong to God.
Another belief that Ahnsahnghong’s followers hold is that there is a female member of the Godhead, who they call “Mother God.” This belief either originates from a preconceived notion which led to the misinterpretation of Scripture, or it could have originated from a careless handling of the text. Ahnsahnghong’s followers cite Galatians 4:26 as their proof text for this doctrine. This verse says: “But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.” A simple reading of the context in which this verse occurs is more than sufficient to demonstrate that Paul is not declaring that there is a female member of the Godhead. Instead, Paul is using an allegory to contrast the difference between those who attempt to attain salvation by the law, and those who successfully receive salvation by grace. Don’t take my word for it! Read Galatians chapter four for yourself! A third belief of the followers of Ahnsahnghong is that only Ahnsahnghong was able to understand the Scriptures. In their belief system the Scriptures are meaningless without Ahnsahnghong’s interpretation. In opposition to this lie, stands the Word of God. The Bible says:
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”– these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)
Here there are several truths, which contradict Ahnsahnghong’s lie. The Apostle Paul begins this passage with a practical illustration of the truth that he is about to share. The only person who can really comprehend you is you. Thus, we are only able to comprehend God’s truth because we have God’s Spirit indwelling us. We as believers in Jesus Christ are able to comprehend the truths of God’s Word, not because we are intellectually capable, but because God Himself does the comprehending for us. Obviously, the person who does not have the Spirit of God cannot understand the Scriptures. So actually the followers of Ahnsahnghong are correct in saying that they cannot understand the Scriptures, but then, neither could Ahnsahnghong.
The second reason that I believe that Ahnsahnghong was a deceiver is that his coming was not anything like the prophesied return of Christ. Ahnsahnghong was born in South Korea. He was baptized in a cultic church in 1948 and began his ministry soon after. Unlike Ahnsahnghong’s experience God’s Word indicates that Jesus will return in the same body He left with, in the same manner in which He left. Luke reports in his account of Christ’s ascension:
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11)
Jesus is not only going to return in the same manner in which He left, He is also going to return to the same place from where He left. The prophet Zechariah prophesied regarding Christ’s second coming that He will literally stand on the mount of Olives. It is written: “On that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.” (Zechariah 14:4)
Notice how the prophet says “His feet shall stand.” The emphasis is on the fact that He will literally stand on the mount of Olives. Ahnsahnghong has not done any of the things that Christ said He would do upon His return.
The third reason that I believe that Ahnsahnghong was a fraud is that he is dead! If Ahnsahnghong was really the return of Christ, he would not have died. As it is written: “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9)
There are many false teachers who have come to deceive people. In order to not find ourselves falling victim to their wicked schemes, we must rely totally on the Word of God. It is through meditation and careful study of the Word of God that the Lord will equip us to stand against these evil liars. There are many counterfeits but there is only one truth. How well do you know the Truth?
Josh Paczok is a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, NY and has a BA in Bible/Theology from Appalachian Bible College in Beckley, WV.
I’ve read it numerous times its fairly inaccurate and ignores the id theft issue
Interesting. The comments too.
This looks like a well written peace ..he actually nailed it.
What would be:
A member's excuse to not even visit the site/read the article?
Next, what would be their excuses for the evidence suggested in the article?
Sarah2013 wrote:
Simon, what is inaccurate about it?
I only read one sentence. My eyes went straight to "Ahnsahnghong declared himself to God" or something like that which isn't true.. He said he wasn't the Christ and even said the Christ will come. That's odd that the only sentence I read was faulty. Lol.
king34 wrote:
This looks like a well written peace ..he actually nailed it.
I beg to differ. Please, Please!! MAY I DIFFER! Pretty please?!? Lol…
But really.. This guy is annoyingly repetitive. He needs a thesaraus. I would like to know where he got his information from saying that the Ash taught to keep the Jewish PO. He taught to keep what most call communion [but in a different way] which isn't the Jewish PO. He also said that Ash taught to believe in God the Mother. Has he heard about the book Ash wrote against that very claim?? This article is garbage. Ash may be a deceiver but not for these reasons.
I gotta side with Simon and Renita. The author doesn't seem to know much about ASH. I personally really doubt that ASH believed himself to be divine, and we already know what he thought about the idea of "God the Mother". Deceiver? Maybe, but only unintentionally. It's the people who came after him, stole his works, and chopped and screwed them to fit their agenda that are the real deceivers. Joo Kim and "mother". Those two, and at least the pastors are the ones who know in their hearts and minds that what they're selling people is a load of hot garbage. That's deception. That's evil.
in light of recent posts, I recind my RFI.
Questioninginla wrote:
in light of recent posts, I recind my RFI.
What's RFI?
Questioninginla wrote:
What would be:
A member's excuse to not even visit the site/read the article?
Next, what would be their excuses for the evidence suggested in the article?
I hope they don't read this article because it would be PERFECT for them to use against us because it's so flawed.
"See.. these people are blinded and tell lies. Father never said He was God. Father taught this not that. Blah Blah Blah.." I can hear them now..
after re-reading it I see the mistakes I take my comments back lol
LOL! You know.. This sheds a lot of light of how the members stay members even afte reading faulty books and having flawed bible studies. For a moment I thought, "How did you guys miss these obvious mistakes?? We have a whole site which you guys frequent talking about these very subjects and yet you didn't see the mistakes.." I immediately felt bad because I was judging y'all. I'm sorry.. But I was once there. Reading chapters in GP's books but not realizing that what I'm reading is obviously wrong.
Why do you think that is? What do you think is the reason you didn't see the flaws despite already knowing the truth? I think it's because you wanted the article to be true so badly that you subconsciously* ignored the faults. You KNOW Ash never claimed to be God and yet when you read that he did claim to be God you applauded the author. Could our distaste for the WMSCOG have gotten so strong that our thought process was temporarily tampered to believe anything someone negatively said about Ash and this church? I think so.. I know my love for F&M did that to me..
Wow.. The brain is a crazy piece of work!
its funny my best friend and I touched on that subject the other day, about how powerfull the mind is. and I think your right some times you dislike something or like somehting so much that tend to by pass the ovbious. The mind can play tricks on you and make you see what you want to see. But in my defence I was at work and I read it really fast lol but for the most part the author pull some scriptures and I beleived at that time that they applied pretty well to the cog . I guess I have to pay attention more so I wont fall again in the traps of the wmscog
Yes I too had seen such problems with the article and hence only commented that it is interesting and so are the comments. Yet it may not be right to reject the whole thing outright. Look at it another way.
What is the source of the author's information? Is he getting it from the writings of ASH? As a non-member, I do not have access to his books. My only access is to some wmscog members. Now if I talk to most existing wmscog members, I believe the information I get from them would probably match what the author has written. The members will tell me that ASH claimed to be God. They will tell me that he pointed to Mother. In fact, most even deny that he wrote the anti-mother book. Ultimately what the author has written could be based on information he gleaned from existing members.
We who are not members or who are former members, know all about the fact that ASH did not claim to be God and he also categorically denounced the idea of mother god. But tell me honestly what did you guys think when you were members? I am not supporting the inaccuracy of the author, just trying to understand the circumstances.
Sarah2013 wrote:
When I was a member I assumed him to have claimed to be God based on their teaching. Not until recently have I seen through many posts here that he never claimed to be God. I doubt he would have such mass followers if they knew he never claimed to be God. I mean, these people pray in his name for crying out loud. Great point, Emil. I agree with nothing, and I mean nothing, that WMSCOG says.
You are rare in that respect. A lot of former members say that some of their teaching is good and so we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. But I don't subscribe to that view. The moment we know that the heart of their doctrine is corrupt, we must reject it totally.
So what if they say pray x times a day? It sounds good. But then again, try and understand who we are expected to pray to.
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