u/Legitimate-Cat-1823

I am a female college student. While on campus, a girl approached me and asked if I would like to join her Bible study, and I said yes. Her first lesson was that we existed in heaven before earth, sinned against god, and we were put on earth as punishment. She kept flipping around the Bible and using unrelated verses to justify this, and it felt like she missed the context of each section. Page flipping was my first red flag. However, I was impressed by her knowledge of the Bible and how she remembered where every verse was.

The next lesson was about the Passover. She basically said you can only be saved by following it. I understand that our calendar and the biblical calendar are different so I asked about how they know which day is actually passover and what happens if you get it wrong. Does that mean you're not saved? I also told her I disagreed. Accepting the gift of Jesus dying for your sins is what saves you, not following a holiday. I felt that this lesson contradicted what I know about Christianity. It felt like she was adding conditions. I don't think you'd be sent to heck because you missed one day of Passover.

During this lesson, I had a gut feeling that what she was teaching me was wrong because I felt that it contradicted the message of the Bible. However, I appreciated being able to discuss Christianity with someone who seemed very knowledgeable. My thought process is that I should be open to what she has to say because it's important to listen to people you disagree with.

Her third lesson was the weirdest. She introduced the concept of a female mother god, and this is where I completely zoned out. I was literally thinking to myself, "Am I imagining this. Is she being serious?" She flipped through passages again to prove her point. She started saying god's creations mirror him, so having a father and a mother on earth means there's a father and mother in heaven. She used a passage talking about Hagar and Sarah, and then something about the city of Israel. I understood the logic, but completely disagreed.

I feel like she started with the least strange belief, then gradually pushed more and more outrageous stuff so I wouldn't immediately run away lol.

Every week, she would text me to invite me to Bible study and come to her church. Even after saying "Sorry, I'm busy this week," she would persistently ask each time. I didn't have a problem with this. I just felt bad for consistently saying no.

She invited me to her church, and before I visited, I saw a Reddit post about someone saying the church forced/pressured them to get baptized. (Not her specific church, but another WMSCOG location).

I visited her church, and everyone was so nice and well-dressed. However, someone got baptized, and everyone yelled "We love you" while doing hand motions. And I just sat there like what just happened, and it freaked me out because suddenly everyone in the room was chanting it like it was a normal occurance. I kept seeing the same korean lady in all the photos, so I asked her, and she said she was mother god and we'd talk about it later.

Then she showed me an intro video talking about all the community service they do and the awards they have. She could tell I felt aprehensive so she told me that the queen elizabeth gave them an award, but people implied there was something sketchy about their church, so Queen Elizabeth sent spies who confirmed there was nothing weird. If you have to defend your church by saying that, then I feel like there's definitely something wrong with it.

I've done a lot of research when it comes to Christian "cults." (Using the term liberally. I'm not trying to insult other religions/sects of Christianity. I'm using it to describe unwavering or unquestioned devotion to a leader or deity, and getting shamed by your community for disagreeing. Also, getting disowned/banished by your family or community for leaving the religion).

Years ago, I dated a Mormon and considered joining, so I researched Joseph Smith. I don't like churches that have a council who decide what millions of members should believe and make excuses for their racist history, so seeing that WSMCOG had a similar structure freaked me out (I'm talking about the Mormon church not acknowledging past racism towards African Americans by not allowing them to hold the priesthood for the longest time. I'm not implying WMSCOG is racist). Christianity is about your relationship with god and interpretation of the Bible, not what some "higher authority" tells you to believe.

I've also heard WMSCOG steals your time, makes you pay tithing, and pulls you away from your support system to manipulate you (past members have said this in YouTube videos and Reddit posts). The only one I want to worship is Jesus, not a lady who claims to be god.

Is it worth continuing a friendship with her? Shes a great person, I have a lot of respect for her and her determination, and how she's open to criticism. However, I don't want to be gradually pushed to get baptized or join something I don't believe in. I feel like her main goal is to convert me slowly rather than building a true friendship. I also see her teaching others on campus, and I heard that converting people is part of what they have to do. I'm grateful to have someone who challenges my ability to defend my truth.

Tell me your thoughts and experiences with the World Mission Society Church of God. I just want to know about people's experiences or if I should be cautious. Also, if you could point out the tactics that she used. All opinions are appreciated!!! Thankyou!!

I am a female college student. While on campus, a girl approached me and asked if I would like to join her Bible study, and I said yes. Her first lesson was that we existed in heaven before earth, sinned against god, and we were put on earth as punishment. She kept flipping around the Bible and using unrelated verses to justify this, and it felt like she missed the context of each section. Page flipping was my first red flag. However, I was impressed by her knowledge of the Bible and how she remembered where every verse was.

The next lesson was about the Passover. She basically said you can only be saved by following it. I understand that our calendar and the biblical calendar are different so I asked about how they know which day is actually passover and what happens if you get it wrong. Does that mean you're not saved? I also told her I disagreed. Accepting the gift of Jesus dying for your sins is what saves you, not following a holiday. I felt that this lesson contradicted what I know about Christianity. It felt like she was adding conditions. I don't think you'd be sent to heck because you missed one day of Passover.

During this lesson, I had a gut feeling that what she was teaching me was wrong because I felt that it contradicted the message of the Bible. However, I appreciated being able to discuss Christianity with someone who seemed very knowledgeable. My thought process is that I should be open to what she has to say because it's important to listen to people you disagree with.

Her third lesson was the weirdest. She introduced the concept of a female mother god, and this is where I completely zoned out. I was literally thinking to myself, "Am I imagining this. Is she being serious?" She flipped through passages again to prove her point. She started saying god's creations mirror him, so having a father and a mother on earth means there's a father and mother in heaven. She used a passage talking about Hagar and Sarah, and then something about the city of Israel. I understood the logic, but completely disagreed.

I feel like she started with the least strange belief, then gradually pushed more and more outrageous stuff so I wouldn't immediately run away lol.

Every week, she would text me to invite me to Bible study and come to her church. Even after saying "Sorry, I'm busy this week," she would persistently ask each time. I didn't have a problem with this. I just felt bad for consistently saying no.

She invited me to her church, and before I visited, I saw a Reddit post about someone saying the church forced/pressured them to get baptized. (Not her specific church, but another WMSCOG location).

I visited her church, and everyone was so nice and well-dressed. However, someone got baptized, and everyone yelled "We love you" while doing hand motions. And I just sat there like what just happened, and it freaked me out because suddenly everyone in the room was chanting it like it was a normal occurance. I kept seeing the same korean lady in all the photos, so I asked her, and she said she was mother god and we'd talk about it later.

Then she showed me an intro video talking about all the community service they do and the awards they have. She could tell I felt aprehensive so she told me that the queen elizabeth gave them an award, but people implied there was something sketchy about their church, so Queen Elizabeth sent spies who confirmed there was nothing weird. If you have to defend your church by saying that, then I feel like there's definitely something wrong with it.

I've done a lot of research when it comes to Christian "cults." (Using the term liberally. I'm not trying to insult other religions/sects of Christianity. I'm using it to describe unwavering or unquestioned devotion to a leader or deity, and getting shamed by your community for disagreeing. Also, getting disowned/banished by your family or community for leaving the religion).

Years ago, I dated a Mormon and considered joining, so I researched Joseph Smith. I don't like churches that have a council who decide what millions of members should believe and make excuses for their racist history, so seeing that WSMCOG had a similar structure freaked me out (I'm talking about the Mormon church not acknowledging past racism towards African Americans by not allowing them to hold the priesthood for the longest time. I'm not implying WMSCOG is racist). Christianity is about your relationship with god and interpretation of the Bible, not what some "higher authority" tells you to believe.

I've also heard WMSCOG steals your time, makes you pay tithing, and pulls you away from your support system to manipulate you (past members have said this in YouTube videos and Reddit posts). The only one I want to worship is Jesus, not a lady who claims to be god.

Is it worth continuing a friendship with her? Shes a great person, I have a lot of respect for her and her determination, and how she's open to criticism. However, I don't want to be gradually pushed to get baptized or join something I don't believe in. I feel like her main goal is to convert me slowly rather than building a true friendship. I also see her teaching others on campus, and I heard that converting people is part of what they have to do. I'm grateful to have someone who challenges my ability to defend my truth.

Tell me your thoughts and experiences with the World Mission Society Church of God. Just to clarify, I'm not making fun of her church or trying to spread hate. I just want to know about people's experiences or if I should be cautious. Feel free to disagree with me. All opinions are appreciated!!! Thankyou!!