The Danger of Erroneous Teachings and False Prophesies!

How truly sad the story below is. A brother who is physically there had this to say - "the police and military police slaughtered many of them at gunpoint beheading two pastors. Others were arrested. I am told by Hmong pastors that so many were shot dead that they were buried in mass graves."

My goodness, how heartbreaking, those of us here in the West can barely imagine such an atrocity! I think it's important to bear in mind that these believers were not simply being "undiscerning" when they listened to and followed this foolish man, since they had no Bibles to determine the difference between true and false teaching. In my view this makes the situation all the more horrific.

That said, although this is certainly an extreme example of what can happen because of false prophecies and teachings, I think it speaks volumes as to WHY we must earnestly contend for the faith and the truth of God's Word. We must stand strong in a day when so few are standing without compromise for the true gospel. Due only to a desire and hope for a better existence, these poor believers were insidiously snared by the LIE of the enemy and in consequence lost their physical lives. However, those in countries who don't have to face such physical threats, (YET) , are in danger of losing something much more valuable if they choose to believe and follow LIES...their eternal souls!

In light of this awful situation we must all realize how extremely important it is that we STAND UP, STAND-FAST, and BOLDLY SPEAK the TRUTH of God's Word in love. In the day that we live there are so many that need to HEAR the uncompromised, unadulterated true Word of God. Clearly, this is surely not a time to be timid or complacent...God is counting on us to be true and brave soldiers of the cross. He is counting on us to shine His light and truth in these last days that are getting increasingly darker and more wicked by the moment!

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1Cor. 15:58)

Please remember our persecuted Hmong brothers and sisters that are left in the wake of this tragedy in prayer. May the Lord be with them in a special way, helping and comforting them through this most difficult time of suffering and despair.

Come soon Lord Jesus!!!

Harold Camping and the Christian Hmong of Vietnam

We are not supposed to be here today. At least that is what Harold Camping, an 89-year old radio preacher, had told the world. Camping had predicted the end of the world would commence on Saturday, May 21, 2011 with the return of Christ to earth and the rapture of Christians to heaven. He had originally predicted the apocalypse to take place in 1994, but when that day came and went, Camping claimed he had miscalculated and readjusted his prediction to 2011. But Saturday came and went, and no Christians were reported missing.

To most, Christians and non-Christians alike, the entire situation turned out to be nothing more than a passing comment, snide remark, or simple joke. To the majority of Camping’s followers, it was a disappointing and devastating let-down – especially to those who had given away their life savings, had said their final goodbyes, and who expectedly awaited a life free of worries and hurt. But even for them, life goes on.

That is how Camping will likely be remembered – as a cult leader with two failed and false prophesies. A man who led thousands astray. But most of the world will not remember him as a man who contributed to the deaths of Vietnamese Hmong.

Peaceful Gathering of 10,000 Hmong Incites Attacks from Police

For the past month, reports have been pouring out of Vietnam that an unknown number of Hmong Christians have been killed, attacked, or arrested by military forces. The Vietnamese government has closed off outside access to the Muong Nhe District in Dien Bien, where an estimated 10,000 Hmong Christians from the Central Highlands and Dien Bien have been congregating since late April. Insiders who are able to leak information past government forces and media controls have reported that as many as 70 Hmong have been killed so far, though exact numbers cannot be confirmed. These Hmong have also been brutally attacked and arrested by the Vietnamese government, while most are fleeing into hiding to spare their lives. Meanwhile the outside world is unable to send in help.

But why did this even take place? What led 10,000 Hmong Christians to come together in peace yet face such a brutal and violent end? Answer: Harold Camping. Worldwide media have reported on the gathering of Hmong in this region, and ICC sources have confirmed the underlying premise of these gatherings to be primarily due to Mr. Camping’s influence.

Mr. Camping’s prophesies had reached as far as the small and poor mountain villages of the Hmong in Vietnam, and his false teachings had sparked a flame of hope of a better life free of persecution for their faith and poverty for their ethnicity. The Hmong are one of the poorest and most persecuted people groups within Vietnam. The government does not even allow them to have a Bible translated into their native tongue, as most Hmong do not read Vietnamese – thus leaving them in the dark on matters of faith and susceptible to false teachers and doctrine.

They congregated because they believed that the world was coming to an end and that their long-awaited Messiah was coming for them. As they waited, the Vietnamese government grew anxious of such a large congregation of citizens coming together – citizens who they systematically deny their inherent human rights to religious freedom, and to economic and social equality. Murmurs of protests and the birthing of a political separatist movement within the congregated Hmong led the government to quickly take violent action on May 5.

Today, thousands of people are displaced and fearing for their lives, and numerous men, women, and children have been murdered.

We cannot allow the persecution of Hmong Christians to go on. The Vietnamese government must recognize the growing spread of Christianity among the Hmong, allow the printing of the Hmong Bible and other Christian education materials, and allow Christian denominations to provide sound theological education and leadership training to Hmong communities. The world cannot sit idly by as such persecution takes place. Sadly enough, Harold Camping will likely not be the last false prophet to lead astray those who will desperately cling to any small promise of hope because of the horrific reality they face each day in the here and now.

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