The opening ceremony of the 2024 theological training course "Identifying and Avoiding Heresies" was held in Guangzhou.
A total of 70 believers across the city participated in the course conducted at the Zhaoshi (Diligently Serving) Academy branch in Guangxiao Church on June 1, reported the church.
This course was given by Rev. Chi Jianqing, secretary general of Guangzhou TSPM, senior pastor of Guangxiao Church, who holds a Master of Theology degree from Nanjing Union Theological Seminary.
After the lecture, a woman believer surnamed Xu mentioned that she had encountered several groups of strangers in her fellowship. Each time, they would talk extensively about the Bible, going beyond the discussion topics, which made them feel uneasy. She questioned how to judge if they were heretics, expressing the need to attend the course and pass on the knowledge of discerning and resisting heresies to fellow believers. Pastor Chi reminded them that some cult members might appear to possess strong spiritual lives with love and be well-versed in the Bible, which could often be the most misleading. He advised attendees to read the Bible, which is the foundation of faith. Xu added that she had already benefited greatly, although it was only the first class.
A man surnamed Yang mentioned that Pastor Chi clarified what orthodoxy was before analyzing heresies. He compared this approach to medical school teaching methods, where one must first understand the normal structure of the human body before studying diseases. He looked forward to future classes where Pastor Chi would provide more examples to help believers discern the dangers around them.
Another female Christian surnamed Li stated that, seeming harmless, heresies often lurked around believers but gradually led them away from the truth and the right path.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
