The Second Coming Christ Controversy: More Leaders Speak Out
StillStanding removed her blog shortly after it went live. She explained to CT that "a few of the senior members including Tracy Davis and the two missionaries who originally evangelized to me, along with one or two others (I can't remember), flew from San Francisco to Houston and showed up unannounced at my door and threatened me with legal action and intimidation."
Similarly, a lawsuit from Christian Today Japan against Yamaya Makoto, a blogger who has repeatedly criticized Jang, is in its fourth year. An independent journalist from Canada, Ann Brocklehurst, as well as two Christian newspapers serving the Korean American community, Christian Today US (no relation to either Christianity Today or to the Jang-affiliated Christian Today newspaper) and News-N-Joy US, have also reported receiving legal threats from Jang's community for publishing critical articles.
On August 30, after finding that they could no longer upload articles to The Christian Post - Singapore Edition website (it's hosted on the same servers as the U.S. edition of The Christian Post), the Chuas decided to walk away. "It is with a heavy heart and yet mingled with the peace of the Lord that transcends all understanding that we have decided to bring our involvement in online Christian journalism to a close," they said in an email to friends, business associates, and others. But Edmond said he plans to continue to tell the truth about his experience in Jang's community and what it teaches.
Ted Olsen is CT's managing editor, news and online journalism. Ken Smith is an independent journalist based in Washington State.
Star Trek Into Darkness
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D Samuel
3) CT has tried to portray Jang as a dictator who applies secretive communicative methods. Doesnt organisations have their own board meeting? Churches having their own leaders assembly? And is using Facebook, Twitter or password-protected sites unconventional or outlawed? What crime in that? It appears to me Edmond has had a fall out and seeks a shoulder to cry on. There are always two sides of the story. Focusing on just the one, would distort the true picture. Probably, CT must contact more sane people of the church to bring out fair and flawless opinions.
D Samuel
2) Secondly, both CT's articles have been on the controversy of Jang as second coming. Agree, you have theologically trained people to delve into the veracity and fairness of that assessment. While I leave that to you, am impelled to clarify the simple fact that would drill in some logical sense. Rev Jang, contrary to what is being rumored, has never preached or proclaimed he is Christ. His Korean roots sadly give more credence to rumormongers who would like to link him with Moon and other cult leaders who unashamedly preach fallacies outside the realm of Bible. CT would thoroughly fail to provide as much as a single shred of evidence on Jang making admissions on this subject. All that is available is evidences from few ex-members who have garnered hate and bias due to minor scuffles or feeling of unjustness.
D Samuel
Alright, CT appears to have done its homework getting more tacky statements on Rev Jang for this article. However, am compelled to leave my comment as a person who has been part of the church in a non-Christian world. If CT believes in good journalistic ethics and standards, am confident this comment would not be sneered at. Some of the clarifications I would like to make, unbiasedly and uninfluenced, is in response to Edmond's statements to CT. 1) It is false and not in accordance with reality that Rev Jang's followers pray in his name. In fact one would only be surprised at the zeal and enthusiasm the members possess in praying and preaching Jesus Christ. As a commoner, having known the people closely, I can vouch that the centrality of the ministry and sermons has always been Christ and the Cross. One would wonder why Edmond would pray in Jang's name? Should we conclude he was misled by his own ignorance and stupidity?