What challenges do churches face today? One significant challenge is the "infestation of heresies." This article aims to outline common methods heretics use to lure followers and how churches can respond effectively.
Offering small favors
A pastor from a deaf church mentioned that the church had been severely impacted by the heretical group "Jehovah's Witnesses" and had lost one-third of its members. The staff of the heresy established relationships with the deaf believers, offering small favors to win them over. The deaf believers invited to their gatherings felt better cared for and decided to stay.
Providing loving care
A pastor from Northwest China recounted how some heretics helped grassroots church members harvest crops in the busy farming season and lured some believers.
A retired intellectual living alone in Hunan experienced the caring attention of the heretical group "Mentuhui" (or Three-Redemptive Christ sect). Although he eventually cut ties with the group, the help the group provided during his difficult times left him with a lasting impression. For instance, when he was struggling, several female members of the group came to help him, cooked for him and regularly cleaned his house.
Deceptive invitations to preach
Heretics often use familiar relationships to invite pastors to offer pastoral care. One pastor, who was deceived, was held captive by the "Eastern Lightning" in a remote area for nearly 20 days. After escaping, it took him two to three years to recover from the ordeal. His enthusiasm for service diminished, and the local church split. Some believers continued to accept his pastoral care, while others lost respect for him, believing he had surrendered to the heretics.
Seduction
A single pastor, once very capable in pastoral care, was exploited by "Eastern Lightning," which targeted his vulnerability. Initially, they invited him to preach, tricking him into their organization. Once inside, a female person established a relationship with him. After being rescued, he continued to keep in touch with her and wanted to return to the heresy. With the help and supervision of his family, he gradually severed ties with her.
Inviting believers to Bible study
This is a common tactic used by heretics. Some approach Christians directly, near or even inside churches. After services, they strike up conversations and invite people to their study sessions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when believers couldn't attend in-person gatherings, the Korean cult "Shincheonji" persistently invited people to study the Bible online. Once they had a believer’s contact information, they would keep in touch for a long time, trying to get him to join their study. Even if a member left the city, they would inform him about their gatherings in the new city. It is challenging to resist continuous contact if one's resolve is weak.
Nowadays, their online activities include attractive posters and enticing topics, which make it hard to recognize them at first glance. According to some pastors, many believers were recruited by heretics through online meetings during the pandemic.
Churches' respond to heretical disruptions to protect believers
The most common methods include informing believers how to identify heresies through bulletin boards, Sunday sermons, lectures, and small group activities. Some churches have installed facial recognition equipment to alert them to suspicious individuals entering their premises.
In a northeastern church where many believers were recruited by a core church member who was induced by heresy, the pastor continually sought to reclaim those who had been led astray. Whenever suspicious gatherings appeared, whether in person or online, this pastor would investigate to determine if they were heretical, thereby protecting believers.
Reviewing the heretical recruitment methods mentioned above, it is evident that some address areas that traditional churches might overlook, such as caring for believers in distress and providing opportunities for Bible study. Therefore, churches need to help believers build their foundation of truth and faith, protecting them from heretical cults through effective pastoral care and attention.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
当下教会面临的挑战是什么？“异端侵扰”必定是其中之一。异端常用的拉人手法有哪些，教会可以采用什么样的应对方法。笔者在此就所了解到的情况做一梳理。
施与小恩小惠
一间聋人教会的牧者说，他们教会曾遭遇过异端“耶和华见证人”的重创，有三分之一的信徒被拉走。耶和华见证人中工作人员，先跟聋人信徒建立关系，然后施与小恩小惠来拉拢人。受邀参加他们聚会的聋人信徒感觉得到了更好的关怀，就留在了那里。
给予爱心关怀
西北一位牧者说，有的异端抓住了农忙时节，去帮助一些基层教会的信徒收割庄家，因此掳走了部分信徒。
湖南一位退休的独居的知识分子亲身经历了异端“三赎基督”的关怀，后来他跟那个组织断了来往，但她们曾经给予的帮助依然令他感动。比如，在他艰难的时刻，几位姐妹主动过来帮忙，给他做吃的，定期帮助他收拾屋子。
以邀请讲道为由骗热心的传道人
异端通过一些熟人关系，邀请传道人过去帮助牧养。一位曾上当的传道人，被东方闪电囚禁在人迹罕见之处将近20天，逃出后用了两三年才逐渐从那个阴影中走出。然而，他服侍的热情减弱了。当地教会也分裂了，一些人愿意继续接受他的牧养；还有些人觉得他向异端投降过，不再尊敬他了。
色诱
一位单身传道人曾经在牧会上大有能力，“东方闪电”抓住了他这一弱点。起初，他们用邀请讲道的方式将该传道人骗进他们的组织。进去后，一位姐妹跟这位传道人保持交往的关系。被解救出来后，这位传道人还跟那个姐妹保持联系，并且想要再次过去。在亲人的帮助与看管下，他才慢慢跟那边断了关系。
邀请学习圣经
这是异端经常使用的一个方式。有的是直接到教堂附近、甚至是进入教堂，当聚会结束后，他们就主动跟人搭话，邀请人们参加他们的学习。
疫情期间，趁着信徒们无法参加实地聚会的空当，“新天地”大批量、“执着”地在网络邀请人学习圣经。一旦把联系方式给了他们，他们会想方设法、长时间地跟你保持联系，希望你能加入到他们的学习中。即便你离开了当初接触他们的城市，他们会告诉你，就在你现在的城市，也可以参加他们的聚会。如果意志不坚定，很难抵抗他们不间断的联系。
如今他们在网络上的活动，有精美的海报，题目也比较吸引人，单从他们的邀请信息比较难识别出他们。听一些牧者反馈，疫情期间不少信徒因为在网络上参加聚会，被异端掳走了。
面对异端各种方式的搅扰，正规教会是如何应对、来保护羊群的呢？
最常见的方式是教会会通过公告栏、主日证道后的家事分享、讲座、小组牧养告知信徒如何辨别异端。有的教会还安装了人脸识别设备，这样，有可疑人员进入时，教会就可以及时防备。
东北一间教会里好多信徒都被一个误入异端的教会骨干给拉走了，牧者不断地去找回被拉走的人。当周边出现实地或者网络的可疑聚会时，这位牧师都想法设法查清他们的底细，看看他们是否是异端，以此来保护自己的群羊。
回看上面提到的异端拉人的一些手段，实际上有些恰恰是传统教会忽略的方面，比如，关心困境信徒、为信徒提供学习圣经的机会等，因此，教会需要切实考虑信徒在真理根基和信仰生活中地切实需要，通过有效的牧养和关怀防范异端邪教的侵扰。
异端拉人的常见手法以及教会的应对举措
What challenges do churches face today? One significant challenge is the "infestation of heresies." This article aims to outline common methods heretics use to lure followers and how churches can respond effectively.
Offering small favors
A pastor from a deaf church mentioned that the church had been severely impacted by the heretical group "Jehovah's Witnesses" and had lost one-third of its members. The staff of the heresy established relationships with the deaf believers, offering small favors to win them over. The deaf believers invited to their gatherings felt better cared for and decided to stay.
Providing loving care
A pastor from Northwest China recounted how some heretics helped grassroots church members harvest crops in the busy farming season and lured some believers.
A retired intellectual living alone in Hunan experienced the caring attention of the heretical group "Mentuhui" (or Three-Redemptive Christ sect). Although he eventually cut ties with the group, the help the group provided during his difficult times left him with a lasting impression. For instance, when he was struggling, several female members of the group came to help him, cooked for him and regularly cleaned his house.
Deceptive invitations to preach
Heretics often use familiar relationships to invite pastors to offer pastoral care. One pastor, who was deceived, was held captive by the "Eastern Lightning" in a remote area for nearly 20 days. After escaping, it took him two to three years to recover from the ordeal. His enthusiasm for service diminished, and the local church split. Some believers continued to accept his pastoral care, while others lost respect for him, believing he had surrendered to the heretics.
Seduction
A single pastor, once very capable in pastoral care, was exploited by "Eastern Lightning," which targeted his vulnerability. Initially, they invited him to preach, tricking him into their organization. Once inside, a female person established a relationship with him. After being rescued, he continued to keep in touch with her and wanted to return to the heresy. With the help and supervision of his family, he gradually severed ties with her.
Inviting believers to Bible study
This is a common tactic used by heretics. Some approach Christians directly, near or even inside churches. After services, they strike up conversations and invite people to their study sessions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when believers couldn't attend in-person gatherings, the Korean cult "Shincheonji" persistently invited people to study the Bible online. Once they had a believer’s contact information, they would keep in touch for a long time, trying to get him to join their study. Even if a member left the city, they would inform him about their gatherings in the new city. It is challenging to resist continuous contact if one's resolve is weak.
Nowadays, their online activities include attractive posters and enticing topics, which make it hard to recognize them at first glance. According to some pastors, many believers were recruited by heretics through online meetings during the pandemic.
Churches' respond to heretical disruptions to protect believers
The most common methods include informing believers how to identify heresies through bulletin boards, Sunday sermons, lectures, and small group activities. Some churches have installed facial recognition equipment to alert them to suspicious individuals entering their premises.
In a northeastern church where many believers were recruited by a core church member who was induced by heresy, the pastor continually sought to reclaim those who had been led astray. Whenever suspicious gatherings appeared, whether in person or online, this pastor would investigate to determine if they were heretical, thereby protecting believers.
Reviewing the heretical recruitment methods mentioned above, it is evident that some address areas that traditional churches might overlook, such as caring for believers in distress and providing opportunities for Bible study. Therefore, churches need to help believers build their foundation of truth and faith, protecting them from heretical cults through effective pastoral care and attention.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Inducing Believers: The Influence of Heresy and the Church's Countermeasures
