When Zhang Yage was a child, her grandmother always said that opposite things coexisted, such as light and darkness, the Holy Spirit and evil spirits, orthodoxy and heresy, and Christianity and cults. Feeling that what her grandmother said had nothing to do with her, Zhang thought it was just fine if she could just do her duties well, attend church, read the Bible and pray.
Later, just like her grandmother, Zhang also became a pastor. When studying in the seminary, she began to know of the heretical cults in the history of the Church.
After graduation, she went to serve in a small chapel in a remote town. But life in a big city sometimes was overwhelming, so it would be better to move to the countryside. The same could apply to the Church where a church worker could concentrate on telling God’s words, being far away from the first-tier cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
It was a church with only 100 people or so, but when Zhang first arrived, there were merely about 30 believers. The increase of believers was a result of her doing the visitation ministry on foot and by praying to God through sleepless nights.
Zhang was very familiar with each member of her congregation, even their families. She even helped a female believer as her maternity matron, because her family based in the northwest was too far away to support her. She also tutored the children of some believers with writing calligraphy, Chinese, math, English, and even swimming. If anyone did not attend church on Sunday, the visitation group leader would immediately inform Zhang and call them.
She thought that their church was like a formidable fortress that would scare the enemies away.
Yet, during a training session, a pastor serving in the oldest church in the provincial capital discussed their church experience of "fighting wolves". There were 7,000 believers in this church which the Almighty God cult was drooling over and constantly sent over their members undercover, who pretended to be very spiritual, often with the Bible in hand, trying to communicate with believers. They even became rampant standing at the door of the church to distribute their flyers directly to believers who came out after gathering. The church tried to call the police, but they ran away, continuing the siege the next week.
The cult poached the followers openly, which triggered the setup of 40 wolf fighting teams by a group of angry volunteers to specifically fight against these wolves who tried to trick members of the congregation.
After returning from the training, Zhang immediately informed believers in the church, asking if they had encountered any of these cult members.
That night, two female believers told her that someone had approached them without success.
The first was a female believer surnamed Chen, a native of Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, who opened a hair salon on the street not far from the church. Once, a woman introduced herself to Chen during the Sunday worship and showed lots of interest in establishing a friendship. Knowing that Chen managed a hair salon, she then went to her shop every night after work to babysit her child so that Chen could focus on her work.
A few days later, this woman started brainwashing Chen, stating that times were changing, so that our knowledge and extent of mind should also change. She said when she was little, there were only black and white TV sets, later there were color TV. As a child, she used films for photography, but nowadays it was digital. Therefore, human beings should also evolve. At first, God created Adam, then Eve who made human beings perfect. In this way, after Jesus completed his work on earth, he was retired, returning to heaven to enjoy himself. However, we couldn’t live without a god, for which God sent another goddess for us. Now our faith is perfect...
Chen responded to her, saying: "I think there must be something wrong with your previous church. Instead of going there, you should just stay in our church."
That woman was very angry, asking, "Did you lie to me by saying that you didn't even finish elementary school?"
Chen said, "It was true that I only completed the second grade of elementary school. I would gain nothing from lying to you. Our pastor is afraid that we will be deceived so she often reminds us during worship services. You must have been tricked by your previous preacher, so please not contact them anymore in the future."
It was possible that person was not a senior cult member. Not being able to convince Chen in this way, she gave Chen a book called "Praise of the Kingdom", saying that since Chen didn't have time for reading, she could sing with this book when she had time. Seeing that Chen refused to accept the book decisively, that woman had to leave in a hurry. But she came again the next day, holding another book "Questions and Answers on the Testimony of the Gospel of the Kingdom", which was also rejected by Chen in the end. When leaving, she said in a tantrum that she would come again until Chen accepted new beliefs.
The next morning, Chen contacted an old male Christian friend who lived close to her shop. He was temporarily outside for the preaching ministry, but agreed to help onsite once receiving Chen’s DM if that person came again in the evening.
The woman showed up again in the evening with another book which looked very beautiful. As soon as she came in, she said, "Look, what we worship is the true God. In the future we will go to Heaven which is prettier than the picture in this book." Chen sent a message to her friend after pretending to go to the toilet. Coming over very soon, the male Christian asked the woman to leave immediately, warning her not to harass Chen anymore in the future. Unfortunately, she reacted very aggressively, saying that as long as Chen opened her salon, she would come in to chat with her at any time, and even the police wouldn’t be able to help.
Right at this time, two policemen walked in. She suddenly showed a frustrated look. It turned out that this male Christian discussed with his wife after Chen called in the morning. The couple decided that the husband was to go directly to Chen’s shop, whilst his wife went to the police station for help. If that woman could be persuaded to quit, he would just calmly let her go. If not, they would count on the police intervention. After that, the harasser never showed up again.
The second believer surnamed Liu was a feisty and lively lady, and a native of Hunan Province. A female approached Liu trying to chat with her after a worship service. She asked for Liu’s address for her to visit the next day. Thinking she was a Christian, Liu bought fruits and snacks to receive her.
After exchanging pleasantries, the woman was very straightforward, asking Liu if she thought she had been saved. Liu answered that of course she had been saved.
The woman said, “What is the proof of your salvation?” Liu replied, “The proof of salvation is that Jesus Christ shed his blood and laid down his life for me.”
That person said that the time of Jesus was over, and the proof of future salvation did not rely on Him. She continued to say: "I will take you to another place for a gathering, which will show you the proof of your salvation. I tell you: the end of the world is coming soon and God will judge us in China. You are so lucky to meet me that you can join the last batch to go straight to heaven in the future."
After Liu refused her invitation, the woman suddenly yelled at her, "You old woman, go to hell! You won't take the road to heaven shown to you..."
Liu, who had not lost her temper for ten years since she turned to Jesus, immediately took out the broom behind the door and hit her, shouting, "Get out! I will beat you whenever you come to my place." Thus, that woman never appeared again in Liu's church.
Recalling the church experiences over the years, Zhang once again reminded herself how to do the ministry. First, she would keep preaching the basic essentials of Christianity, and less on the testimony of heaven and earth. Second, she would visit diligently with no fear of hard work. It had been reported many times that some elderly people had been dead at home for six to twelve months before they were found. Similarly, the church might not be aware that the flock had been tricked by wolves from cults without frequent visitation. Third, believers should watch out and help each other. Take Chen as an example, being a gentle person who ran a business, she couldn’t swing a broom to kick people out like Liu, then Satan could find his stronghold in her.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
小时候，张雅歌的外婆总是说，有光明就有黑暗，有圣灵就有邪灵，有正统就有异端，有正教就有邪教。张雅歌觉得这一些离她好远，她只要好好做礼拜好好读经好好祷告就好。
后来，张雅歌孙承婆责，也做了传道人。在神学院读书的时候，开始接触到教会历史上那些大大小小的异端邪教。
毕业了，去了一间小礼拜堂服侍。城市套路深，最好回农村，教会也如此，远离北上广深，专心讲述上帝的话语。
这是一间只有一百多人的教会，当然，张来报道的时候，只有三十多人，这增长的一百多人是用脚印探访出来的，是一个一个不眠的祷告夜向上帝求来的。
教会的每一个信徒，张都非常熟悉，甚至他们的家人。她做过姐妹的月嫂，因为那个姐妹家在西北没人服侍；做过信徒孩子的家教，从毛笔字到语数英到游泳。每个主日有哪个没来聚会，探访组长就立刻告知并电话联系。
她以为，他们教会就像一个坚固堡垒，敌人是不敢来的。
那天，去省里学习，省城最古老的教堂牧师，介绍了他们教会的“打狼”经验。这间教会有七千信徒，所以全能神对此口水横流，不断派人进来卧底，假装很属灵的样子，常常拿着圣经要与信徒交通，最猖獗的时候，直接站在教堂门口，对着散会的信徒派他们的单张。教堂也试过报警，但警察来了他们就跑，下个礼拜继续围攻。
面对着这么嚣张的拉羊，一班愤怒的义工首先站出来，成立了打狼小组，专门打击这些偷羊抢羊的豺狼。一共成立了四十个。
张学习回来，马上把情况告知教会的弟兄姐妹，询问大家是否有遇到这些邪教的人。
当晚，有两个姐妹来告诉她，分别有人来找过她们，但是已经没事了。
第一个是陈姐妹，来自井冈山，在离教会不远的街上开一间理发店。有次在礼拜的时候见过一个女的，非常热情，打听到陈姐妹在街上开理发店，便每天晚上下了班后就到她店里，帮她抱抱孩子，让陈姐妹可以专心给人理发。
几天后，这个女的开始洗脑，说什么时代在变化，我们的认知和格局也要跟着变化。比如，小时候看电视，都是黑白的，后来是彩色的；小时候照相用胶卷，现在是数码；那么人也是如此，起先上帝造亚当，后来造夏娃，夏娃出来了，人类才会完美。所以，耶稣完成了世上的工作，退休回天庭享福了，但人类不能没有神，上帝又派了一位神，这一次是女的，这样，我们的信仰才完美……
陈姐妹继续说：“姐妹，我看你以前的教会肯定有问题，你以后不要回去了，就在我们教会好了。”
那个人咬牙切齿的问：”你说你小学没有毕业是骗人的吧？”
陈姐妹说：“我就小学二年级，骗你有什么好处吗？我们传道，经常在礼拜的时候提醒我们，深怕我们上当受骗。你一定是被你以前的传道给骗了，以后一定不要理她了哦。”
那个人或许不是个资深的，说不过她，便塞给陈姐妹一本书，名字叫《国度的赞美》，说陈姐妹没时间看书，拿着这本赞美诗有空就唱唱歌，陈姐妹坚决不要，那人只好泱泱离开。可是第二天又来了，拿着另外一本书《国度福音见证问答》，最后也被陈拒绝了。走的时候，她发脾气的说，她还会再来，一直到她接受为止。
第二天早上，陈姐妹联系她店里后面的一位老弟兄，因为传道出差去了。约好晚上那个人再来的时候，陈姐妹想办法给他发信息，他过来帮忙。
到了晚上，那个人果然又来了，这一回她拿的是另外一本书，非常精美的样子。一进来就说，你看看，我们所拜的才是真神，将来去了天堂，比这个还漂亮。陈姐妹假装上厕所，给那位老弟兄发了信息。那位老弟兄立刻就过来了，要那个人立刻离开，并且以后都不准来骚扰陈姐妹。那个人好嚣张的说，只要陈姐妹在这里开店一天，她就随时过来找她聊天，报警都没有用。
这个时候，走进来两个警察，那个人一下子脸色黑灰黑灰的。原来，老弟兄早上接到电话后，就和妻子商量，他直接到店里，妻子去派出所找这个片区的警察，如果这个人听劝，那就好说好散，如果她要来横的，那就只有请警察叔叔出面了。后来，这个人再没有出现。
第二个刘姐妹，是湖南人，性格热情如火泼辣如椒。另外一个女的，在一次礼拜之后，主动找刘姐妹聊天，拿到地址后约好第二天去探访她。刘姐妹买了水果糕点，准备接待来访的教会姐妹。
寒暄之后，那人直入主题，问刘姐妹觉得自己能够得救吗？刘姐妹说我当然能得救。
那人说，你得救的凭据是什么？刘姐妹说，得救的凭据就是耶稣基督为我流血为我死。
那人说，耶稣的时代已经过去了，以后得救的凭据不是靠耶稣了。继续说：“我带你去另外一个地方聚会，你就明白你得救的凭据是什么。我告诉你，世界末日马上就到，上帝要审判我们中国，你好彩遇到我，可以搭上最后一班车，将来直接进天堂。”
刘姐妹拒绝后，令她没有想到的是，那人突然的就咆哮起来，大骂刘姐妹，“你个下地狱的老太婆，给你上天堂的路你都不走……”
自从十年前信了耶稣已经十年没有发脾气的刘姐妹，当下就拿出门后的扫把，对着那个人打过去，一边打一边喊，“你给我出去！以后再到我这里，来一次打一次。” 就这样，这个人也没有在刘姐妹的教会再出现过。
张雅歌回想了教会这些年的经历，再次告诫自己，一是一定要坚持讲基本要道，少讲那些上天入地的见证。二是要勤快探访，不要怕辛苦。有许多报道说有些老人家在家死了一年半载才被发现，如果不经常探访教会的小绵羊都被大灰狼吃光了也不知道。三是信徒之间要守望相助，好像陈姐妹，那么温柔的一个人，又是开店做生意，不能像刘姐妹一样拿大扫把赶人，会被撒旦找到破口的。
抵御异端的两件事：当小绵羊遇见大灰狼
When Zhang Yage was a child, her grandmother always said that opposite things coexisted, such as light and darkness, the Holy Spirit and evil spirits, orthodoxy and heresy, and Christianity and cults. Feeling that what her grandmother said had nothing to do with her, Zhang thought it was just fine if she could just do her duties well, attend church, read the Bible and pray.
Later, just like her grandmother, Zhang also became a pastor. When studying in the seminary, she began to know of the heretical cults in the history of the Church.
After graduation, she went to serve in a small chapel in a remote town. But life in a big city sometimes was overwhelming, so it would be better to move to the countryside. The same could apply to the Church where a church worker could concentrate on telling God’s words, being far away from the first-tier cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
It was a church with only 100 people or so, but when Zhang first arrived, there were merely about 30 believers. The increase of believers was a result of her doing the visitation ministry on foot and by praying to God through sleepless nights.
Zhang was very familiar with each member of her congregation, even their families. She even helped a female believer as her maternity matron, because her family based in the northwest was too far away to support her. She also tutored the children of some believers with writing calligraphy, Chinese, math, English, and even swimming. If anyone did not attend church on Sunday, the visitation group leader would immediately inform Zhang and call them.
She thought that their church was like a formidable fortress that would scare the enemies away.
Yet, during a training session, a pastor serving in the oldest church in the provincial capital discussed their church experience of "fighting wolves". There were 7,000 believers in this church which the Almighty God cult was drooling over and constantly sent over their members undercover, who pretended to be very spiritual, often with the Bible in hand, trying to communicate with believers. They even became rampant standing at the door of the church to distribute their flyers directly to believers who came out after gathering. The church tried to call the police, but they ran away, continuing the siege the next week.
The cult poached the followers openly, which triggered the setup of 40 wolf fighting teams by a group of angry volunteers to specifically fight against these wolves who tried to trick members of the congregation.
After returning from the training, Zhang immediately informed believers in the church, asking if they had encountered any of these cult members.
That night, two female believers told her that someone had approached them without success.
The first was a female believer surnamed Chen, a native of Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, who opened a hair salon on the street not far from the church. Once, a woman introduced herself to Chen during the Sunday worship and showed lots of interest in establishing a friendship. Knowing that Chen managed a hair salon, she then went to her shop every night after work to babysit her child so that Chen could focus on her work.
A few days later, this woman started brainwashing Chen, stating that times were changing, so that our knowledge and extent of mind should also change. She said when she was little, there were only black and white TV sets, later there were color TV. As a child, she used films for photography, but nowadays it was digital. Therefore, human beings should also evolve. At first, God created Adam, then Eve who made human beings perfect. In this way, after Jesus completed his work on earth, he was retired, returning to heaven to enjoy himself. However, we couldn’t live without a god, for which God sent another goddess for us. Now our faith is perfect...
Chen responded to her, saying: "I think there must be something wrong with your previous church. Instead of going there, you should just stay in our church."
That woman was very angry, asking, "Did you lie to me by saying that you didn't even finish elementary school?"
Chen said, "It was true that I only completed the second grade of elementary school. I would gain nothing from lying to you. Our pastor is afraid that we will be deceived so she often reminds us during worship services. You must have been tricked by your previous preacher, so please not contact them anymore in the future."
It was possible that person was not a senior cult member. Not being able to convince Chen in this way, she gave Chen a book called "Praise of the Kingdom", saying that since Chen didn't have time for reading, she could sing with this book when she had time. Seeing that Chen refused to accept the book decisively, that woman had to leave in a hurry. But she came again the next day, holding another book "Questions and Answers on the Testimony of the Gospel of the Kingdom", which was also rejected by Chen in the end. When leaving, she said in a tantrum that she would come again until Chen accepted new beliefs.
The next morning, Chen contacted an old male Christian friend who lived close to her shop. He was temporarily outside for the preaching ministry, but agreed to help onsite once receiving Chen’s DM if that person came again in the evening.
The woman showed up again in the evening with another book which looked very beautiful. As soon as she came in, she said, "Look, what we worship is the true God. In the future we will go to Heaven which is prettier than the picture in this book." Chen sent a message to her friend after pretending to go to the toilet. Coming over very soon, the male Christian asked the woman to leave immediately, warning her not to harass Chen anymore in the future. Unfortunately, she reacted very aggressively, saying that as long as Chen opened her salon, she would come in to chat with her at any time, and even the police wouldn’t be able to help.
Right at this time, two policemen walked in. She suddenly showed a frustrated look. It turned out that this male Christian discussed with his wife after Chen called in the morning. The couple decided that the husband was to go directly to Chen’s shop, whilst his wife went to the police station for help. If that woman could be persuaded to quit, he would just calmly let her go. If not, they would count on the police intervention. After that, the harasser never showed up again.
The second believer surnamed Liu was a feisty and lively lady, and a native of Hunan Province. A female approached Liu trying to chat with her after a worship service. She asked for Liu’s address for her to visit the next day. Thinking she was a Christian, Liu bought fruits and snacks to receive her.
After exchanging pleasantries, the woman was very straightforward, asking Liu if she thought she had been saved. Liu answered that of course she had been saved.
The woman said, “What is the proof of your salvation?” Liu replied, “The proof of salvation is that Jesus Christ shed his blood and laid down his life for me.”
That person said that the time of Jesus was over, and the proof of future salvation did not rely on Him. She continued to say: "I will take you to another place for a gathering, which will show you the proof of your salvation. I tell you: the end of the world is coming soon and God will judge us in China. You are so lucky to meet me that you can join the last batch to go straight to heaven in the future."
After Liu refused her invitation, the woman suddenly yelled at her, "You old woman, go to hell! You won't take the road to heaven shown to you..."
Liu, who had not lost her temper for ten years since she turned to Jesus, immediately took out the broom behind the door and hit her, shouting, "Get out! I will beat you whenever you come to my place." Thus, that woman never appeared again in Liu's church.
Recalling the church experiences over the years, Zhang once again reminded herself how to do the ministry. First, she would keep preaching the basic essentials of Christianity, and less on the testimony of heaven and earth. Second, she would visit diligently with no fear of hard work. It had been reported many times that some elderly people had been dead at home for six to twelve months before they were found. Similarly, the church might not be aware that the flock had been tricked by wolves from cults without frequent visitation. Third, believers should watch out and help each other. Take Chen as an example, being a gentle person who ran a business, she couldn’t swing a broom to kick people out like Liu, then Satan could find his stronghold in her.
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Two Stories of Fighting Against Heresies
