[prtyeyes]

Hi I am new here! I have a question? I have a friend who is currently a member of the WMSCOG in North Jersey. He tried to get me to join, I went to one of their churches here in MD. I didn't know much about the church but was willing to give it a chance because I am in search of  a church and getting closer to god. Once I found out their beliefs I didn't continue to go. I just recently started reading the bible throughly. My question is as I am learning I notice many contradictions in their teachings but cant seem to get my friend(apart of the church 6 years) to even look at this page let alone research the things I point out that are false. He's such a good person but I feel is completly misguided on what he has learned. He seems to know the bible very well(but then again I don't). How have any former members on this forum gotten away from this church, and does anyone have any reccomendations on how I can some how little by little start to open his eyes. Or should I just pray on it,I'm so lost and just want to help him. Thanks for any suggestions and advice. So glad I found this forum!

[Joshua]

[Joshua]

Be very gentle with your friend. Anything that you say against this group he will view as a personal attack. I think that I would start with god the mother. Again gently bring up things like New Jerusalem has dementions of more than 1,400 square miles according to the Bible. How big is mother? Really pay attention to what he has to say. It may even take a few days for him to respond to you as usually the members will have to go to the group for some kind of explaination before they will address your question. You might want to follow this up with, " Why does the angle bring someone to a city when he says I will show you the bride?" There is a lot of information for your use on this website and you will also want to check out the links that are here. I hope this helps at least get you started. Let us know how it goes.

[prtyeyes]

Thank! I will start there and see how it goes. I’ll keep you posted!

[ttr]

keep the lines of communication open.  start with the top ten reasons.

[prtyeyes]

UPDATE: I e-mailed my friend and started off asking about the "heavenly mother". I asked him simply to look at this site because it'a very informative but he wasn't interested. I explained the many contradictions of their teachings, but he seemed to not want to hear what someone who is not a part of the chuurch had to say. He stated that he can prove through the bible that it speaks of the "heavenly mother"many times. He also stated that he feels his church is persecuted because of their belief in mother. He is suppose to call me later but something tells me he's trying to talk to other members to try and come up with the right answers. Much of what he said seemed very programmed in defending the church. We'll see…..

[genny]

That all sounds familiar, prtyeyes.  They aren't going to look at anything online that is critical of the group.  They are told it's all lies and rumors from Satan (even though all the articles at http://www.examiningthewmscog.com and at encountering-ahnsahnghong.blogspot.com are fully documented).

I suggest just focusing on one contradiction at a time,  and learn it well or make yourself notes, because I've found it very hard to think clearly with all the pressure they put on you during one of their 'study sessions.'  When they want to change topic, gently bring them back to the one thing.  Next time you can focus on a different 'one thing.'  And try your best to be calm and firm.  I found from experience it's easy to get into a heated argument, but if you've got facts, there's nothing to argue–they are facts.

[prtyeyes]

Thanks Genny! Slowly but surely I will continue to point out one contradiction at a time. I myself am vey knew to studying the bible and am not always confident with getting into debates with him, because he seems to know the bible much better than I. But as I am learning I just noticed things he says to me sometimes about his church that seem so off. He told me lately the church has been preaching a lot about "mother" and I think it's because of the whole 2012 thing. So the next time he brings it up or we get into a discussion about god, I pray I can be calm and firm with the facts. He's been apart of the church for 7 years now and he really feels it's the "true church" and that they are causing no harm. He's a really good person with a big heart and I feel so bad that he's in so deep. This site has truly helped me with my own personal relationship with god and I'm praying I can get him to see the truth. The rest I leave to god. Thanks for all the help!

[Joshua]

This group spends a lot of time saying they follow the whole bible. You might want to point out that there are over 500 verses that talk directly or indirectly about there being one God. One of these verses is the first commandment. I’m sure that your friend wants to do what’s right and is really seeking the truth but if he only follows their teachings he’s not going to get the truth he’s seeking.

[prtyeyes]

Does anyone have any suggestions on a prayer I can send to him, letting him know I care?

[prtyeyes]

Still going back and forth with my friend. He seems to be getting very defensive, especially when I point out facctual contradictions. Can someone explain to me what prophecy Ahnsahnghong supposedly fullfilled and where I can go to point out he didn't?

[ttr]

they're probably talking about the 37 years thing.  here's what you're looking for:

https://www.examiningthewmscog.com/archives/ahnsahnghong-did-not-preach-for-37-years/

You should also familiarize yourself with Herbert Armstrong and the "Worldwide Church of God":

https://www.examiningthewmscog.com/archives/the-worldwide-church-of-god-restored-the-passover-before-ahnsahnghong/

Hope these two help.

[genny]

ttr's links will help you, prtyeyes.  There are more examinations of their so-called prophecies here:

http://encountering-ahnsahnghong.blogspot.com/p/index.html

Scroll down to the prophecy section.

He's defensive because he really believes he has the truth of God and if you are trying to convince him otherwise then you must be a servant of Satan trying to take him away from God.  (This is what they are taught.)  If you understand what's behind his behavior, it might help you to be gentle and compassionate (but still firm, of course!).

[prtyeyes]

I'm going to continue to be gentle and compasionate because I don't want to push him away, and I am being firm. I understand because he's been a part of the WMSCOG for so long he is deeply brainwashed. He feels the WMSCOG has done nothing but good for him and he says he's seen many souls get saved, so why would he want to question being in the wrong place. For him the "church" has been nothing but good and has done good works with cleaning up communities. Again thank you because all the facts you have brought to light are very helpful.

[KF]

prtyeyes wrote:

Still going back and forth with my friend. He seems to be getting very defensive, especially when I point out facctual contradictions. Can someone explain to me what prophecy Ahnsahnghong supposedly fullfilled and where I can go to point out he didn't?

 HI prtyeyes have you had a chance to proof anything to your friend, does he also believe the world ends in 2012, if you got him to see the truth please let me know, I have a friend I need to help too.