The Church of Almighty God, also known as Eastern Lightning, is a new Christian religious movement that originated in China in the 1990s. The group believes that Jesus Christ has returned as Almighty God, a Chinese woman named Yang Xiangbin. Here’s an overview of their key beliefs and practices according to the Bible:
Origins and History
The Church of Almighty God was founded in China in 1991 by Zhao Weishan. He claims he had a vision of the Second Coming of Christ as a Chinese woman named Yang Xiangbin. The church believes she is the incarnation of Almighty God and the Christ of the last days. The group spread covertly in China throughout the 1990s and has faced intense persecution from the Chinese Communist Party which brands it as a cult. Estimates suggest there may be several million members in China, with more in overseas Chinese communities.
Belief in Almighty God
The Church of Almighty God believes that Jesus Christ has returned as Almighty God, a Chinese woman named Yang Xiangbin born in northwestern China around 1973. Members accept Almighty God’s proclamations that she is the second coming of Jesus Christ. This fulfills biblical prophecy according to the church (Revelation 1:7, Matthew 24:27). Her words and teachings carry divine authority and are considered God’s new revelations.
The Bible warns about false Christs and deception in the last days (Matthew 24:23-24, Mark 13:5-6). However, the church says Almighty God’s identity can be confirmed by the truth expressed in her words and that she has brought newer divine revelations beyond the Bible. They believe the Bible itself points to God’s new work and revelations in the last days (Revelation 2:17, John 16:12-13).
View of the Bible
The Church of Almighty God believes the Bible is divinely inspired but that God’s revelations did not stop after the Bible. They believe the Bible itself prophesies that God will do new work in the last days (Revelation 2:17, John 16:12-13). They regard Almighty God’s words as the little scroll mentioned in Revelation 10 and teach that her writings are the standard for judging right and wrong in the last days.
The church uses the Bible to support that God will carry out judgment work in the last days (Jude 1:14-15). However, they believe the truth Almighty God proclaims goes beyond the Bible. Members must also read Almighty God’s writings like The Word Appears in the Flesh to understand God’s new revelations. So they do not solely rely on the Bible.
Teachings and Practices
The Church of Almighty God has distinctive teachings and practices centered around readings of Almighty God’s writings:
- Gatherings involve singing hymns, dancing, and reciting Almighty God’s words. There is no set liturgy or sacraments.
- The church has a strict set of commandments members must follow regarding behavior, dress, marriage, and family planning.
- Evangelism and preaching the gospel are forbidden in China, so members keep their faith secret.
- Rejection of the Chinese Communist Party as the great red dragon of the book of Revelation.
- A millenarian urgency and focus on the “great disaster” about to unfold that will destroy the old world and usher in God’s kingdom on earth.
Some of their beliefs align with Christianity, like salvation by grace rather than works (Ephesians 2:8-9). But teachings like new scripture and God being a Chinese woman clearly diverge from orthodox Christian doctrine.
Persecution in China
Because the Church of Almighty God is not sanctioned by the Chinese government, the church has faced intense persecution. Chinese authorities aggressively suppress the group, imprisoning and torturing thousands of members.
In 2014, members were blamed for a murder after a woman beat a man to death at a McDonald’s restaurant. The church denies its members were involved. This accusation led to further crackdowns. There are consistent reports of members being arrested, tortured, subjected to forced conversion, and having property seized by the government.
The severe persecution in China has led many members to seek asylum overseas. But even abroad, members often still face harassment from agents of the Chinese Communist Party according to the church and human rights groups.
Controversies and Criticisms
Several controversies and criticisms have been leveled against the Church of Almighty God:
- It is seen as a cult in China and believers are subject to intense persecution and discrimination.
- Claims of members violently resisting arrest and even committing murder, though these are disputed by the church.
- Allegations of aggressive and deceitful evangelism tactics in Chinese communities overseas.
- Their websites have been accused of launching cyberattacks against groups that criticize them.
- Experts warn their eschatology is radical and members have broken from families.
- Their fundraising methods and opaque finances have drawn criticism.
The Church of Almighty God is undoubtedly controversial. Supporters see them as new Christian movement facing brutal repression. Critics brand them a heretical personality cult engaged in dangerous deception. The Chinese government in particular sees them as a major threat.
Comparison to Orthodox Christian Teachings
There are several key differences between the teachings of The Church of Almighty God and orthodox Christian doctrine according to the Bible:
- Belief God has returned as a Chinese woman named Yang Xiangbin differs from Christian teachings that Christ will visibly return on the clouds (Acts 1:11, Revelation 1:7).
- Their new scriptures go beyond the Bible which most Christians believe is the complete word of God (Revelation 22:18-19).
- Salvation in Christianity is through faith in Christ alone, not joining the Church of Almighty God (Acts 4:12).
- Christians see the Chinese Communist Party as needing repentance, not as the embodiment of Satan (Luke 23:34).
- Christian teachings emphasize love, grace and peace. The church has been accused of intolerance, deception, secrecy, and extremism.
In conclusion, while the Church of Almighty God has roots in Christianity, most orthodox Christians would consider their divergent teachings to be unbiblical and heretical.
Response from Christian Groups
The Church of Almighty God is generally viewed as a heretical group by Christians worldwide and Christian organizations that have studied them:
- The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization: “Tells its followers to hide their real identity from nonbelievers, and uses front organizations to try to recruit Christians into their group.”
- ChinaAid: “Believes and spreads a heretical interpretation of the Bible.”
- World Evangelical Alliance: “An example of ‘Scriptural twisting’ by cults…It constitutes an attack on the fundamentals of the Christian faith.”
Most Christian churches and organizations reject the group’s teachings as unbiblical and warn its recruiting methods can be deceitful and dangerous. However, some call for religious freedom for the group and deplore the persecution members face in China.
Conclusion
In summary, the Church of Almighty God is a Chinese Christian new religious movement that began in the 1990s based on the claimed revelations of a woman named Yang Xiangbin. While the group considers itself Christian and uses portions of the Bible, orthodox Christian churches overwhelmingly reject its teachings as heretical and unbiblical. The group faces intense persecution in China but has spread to many overseas Chinese communities leading to controversies and concerns about its practices. The Chinese government in particular sees it as a dangerous cult and major threat. Further research and caution are advised for those investigating the beliefs and activities of this movement.