The rapid expansion of Christianity in China over the past century has been accompanied by the rise of various New Religious Movements (NRMs). These groups, often emerging from Protestant traditions, including the house church movement, pose a challenge to orthodox Christian theology and church planting movements by distorting biblical teachings and diverting potential converts. Thanks to the research of sociologists Massimo Introvigne and Emily Dunn, we understand more about these movements. Their research shines a light on why it is crucial for church leaders to be equipped to guard against theological aberrations while fostering a healthy and biblically sound movemental approach.

Defining New Religious Movements

New Religious Movements has been the academic nomenclature for religious groups that emerge as deviant from the norm of a society’s dominant religious expression. These movements are defined by three key characteristics:

They are new in that they generally appear after World War II.
They are religious in that they typically appeal to a divine authority.
They are movements in that they grow rapidly through evangelistic activities and demand obedience from their disciples.

In the Chinese context, NRMs are often classified under the term xiejiao, a term pejoratively translated as “evil cult.” Literally, xiejiao means “heterodox teachings,” and the Chinese government frequently uses this designation to justify suppressing unapproved religious groups. However, this term does not necessarily correspond with biblical discernment of orthodoxy versus heresy. Instead, it reflects the government’s concern over religious movements that challenge state authority.

Selected NRMs in China

Several Protestant-related NRMs have emerged in China, each with distinct theological deviations and leadership structures. These include:

The Shouters
The Established King
The Lord God’s Teachings
The Association of Disciples
New Testament Church
Efficacious Spirit Teachings
All Sphere Church
Three Grades of Servants
Eastern Lightning (The Church of Almighty God)

The Shouters

The Shouters, founded by Witness Lee, emerged as an influential and controversial movement in China. By 1983, they had an estimated 200,000 adherents, particularly in Henan province, and by 2004, their numbers had surged to 800,000. The movement is characterized by an aberrant Christology, where Jesus is described as “all in all,” encompassing the Father, Son, Spirit, and even the proper man.

One of their distinctive practices is the vocalization of prayers and praises, a method Witness Lee termed as “eating the Lord.” He taught that “calling loudly helps people to be saved in a richer and more thorough way… The more you shout, ‘O Lord Jesus, You are so good to me!’ the more you will be released from yourself and filled with the Lord.” This doctrine has led to accusations of emotional manipulation and excessive emphasis on ecstatic experiences.

The Established King

The Established King was founded in 1988 by Wu Yangming, a former member of The Shouters. Wu converted to Protestant Christianity in 1979, joined The Shouters in 1983, and quickly rose to prominence by organizing seven congregations with over 1,000 members. By 1992, the movement had expanded significantly, boasting 70 meeting points and 58 leaders. By 1995, they had grown to 500 meeting points and over 10,000 members.

What set The Established King apart was Wu’s claim to be the returned Christ. This radical assertion attracted significant attention. Accusations that he raped many female followers eventually led to government intervention. Wu was executed in 1995, causing many of his followers to disperse, with a significant portion joining The Lord God’s Teachings.

The Lord God’s Teachings

Founded by Liu Jiaguo in 1992 in Hunan province, The Lord God’s Teachings absorbed many disillusioned followers from The Established King after Wu’s execution. Liu, like his predecessor, claimed to be the returned Christ. By 1997, the movement had grown to over 10,000 followers.

The group developed a hierarchical leadership structure that included titles such as:

God the Lord
Lord on High
Elders
Four Living Creatures
Seven Angels
Provincial and County Authorities
Co-workers

This strict hierarchy functioned to reinforce Liu’s spiritual authority, ensuring complete allegiance from his followers.

The Association of Disciples

Founded in 1989 by Ji Sanbao in Xunyang County, this movement distinguished itself through its charismatic leadership and claims of miraculous abilities. Ji declared himself to be a prophet and “God’s stand-in,” a claim substantiated by reports of miraculous healings and exorcisms.

One of Ji’s defining moments came from his 32-day fast, during which he claimed to have received divine revelations, seen heaven and hell, and been given direct knowledge of God’s plans. The group promoted extreme ascetic practices, teaching that an adherent could live on only 100 grams of food per day.

The Association of Disciples also propagated a doctrine known as the Third Redemption suggesting a new phase in God’s salvation history. By 1995, they had an estimated 350,000 adherents and were active in 54 of the 128 counties in Yunnan province by 2010.

New Testament Church

Founded in Hong Kong in 1963 by Jian Duanyi, New Testament Church is an independent charismatic movement that claims exclusivity in the truth. It teaches that true Christians must embrace the full gospel, which consists of three elements:

The atoning death of Jesus on the cross
Baptism as an essential requirement
Manifestation of spiritual gifts, especially speaking in tongues

The movement has established a global network, with Mount Zion in Taiwan serving as its headquarters. They assert that Mount Zion, not Jerusalem, is the new holy city:

“Today, all nations and people must know that the Holy Land consecrated by God is no longer Jerusalem in the Middle East; it is Mount Zion in Taiwan, an isle in the East. This mountain is God’s chosen holy mount in these last days!”

By some estimates, the New Testament Church has as many as 2,500 congregations today.

Efficacious Spirit Teachings

The Efficacious Spirit Teachings was founded in the 1980s by Hua Xuehe in Hunan province. Hua was originally converted in a Protestant church, he became a member of the True Jesus Church before breaking away to form his own movement.

The group’s theology departs significantly from biblical Christianity, particularly regarding Christology. Hua taught that:

Jesus failed to save himself on the cross.
Christians should no longer pray in the name of Jesus.
Instead, they should pray in the name of the New Lord (Hua himself).

By 1990, the movement had an estimated 15,000 followers.

All Sphere Church

Founded in 1984 by Xu Yongze in Henan province, All Sphere Church is broadly Pentecostal in orientation but is particularly known for emphasizing crying as a genuine sign of conversion. The belief that genuine repentance must be accompanied by visible weeping and emotional distress has made this movement distinct from other Pentecostal groups.

Three Grades of Servants

Founded in the late 1980s or early 1990s by Xu Wenhu, this movement is structured around a hierarchical “triad” system, reflecting biblical examples of threes:

Old Testament: Moses, Aaron, Pashur
New Testament: Martha, Mary, Lazarus
Christian Leadership: Apostles, prophets, teachers

Xu, the group’s leader, positioned himself as the “Great Servant,” claiming to be an end-times prophet with direct access to God. He predicted the apocalypse in 2000, but when the prophecy failed, the movement continued to grow regardless. By 2006, it had an estimated 500,000 followers.

Eastern Lightning (The Church of Almighty God)

Founded in 1991, Eastern Lightning (also known as The Church of Almighty God) is one of the most controversial and fastest-growing NRMs in China. The group teaches that a woman named Yang Xiangbin is the female incarnation of God.

Originally emerging from a house church movement, Eastern Lightning has aggressively proselytized other Protestant Christians and absorbed members from several other NRMs. Massimo Introvigne notes:

“Entire local communities of denominations and movements joined the CAG; these included the Shouters, Sola Fide (Justification by Faith), the Born-Again Movement (also known as Full Scope or All Sphere Church), the Three Grades of Servants, the Association of Disciples (Mentuhui), the True Jesus Church, the Spirit Church (also known as Efficacious Spirit Teachings, Linglingjiao), and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In some large denominations and movements, half or more of the members accepted the message of CAG.” (Introvigne, 2020:37)

Their theology emphasizes:

Persecution as proof of God’s favor
Obedience to God
Evangelism at all costs
The work of the Holy Spirit in the world
New scripture called The Word Appears in Flesh
Use of hymns to memorize doctrine

By 2014, they claimed to have over 4 million members globally.

Common Markers of Chinese NRMs

Chinese NRMs share several defining characteristics with Western NRMs:

Exclusivity – They claim to be the only true way.
Aberrant Christologies – Some claim that their founder is Christ incarnate. Most clearly depart from historical Christology.
Additional Scriptures – Groups often supplement or replace the Bible with new revelations.
Apocalyptic or Millenarian Tendencies – They occasionally interpret China as the “red dragon” of Revelation 12:3.
Proselytizing Focus – NRMs aggressively evangelize Protestants.
Exorcism and Healing Practices – Many emphasize spiritual warfare and miraculous healings.

These movements also exhibit tensions with the majority culture, traditional churches, and the Chinese state, which sees them as threats to social stability. In her study of NRMs in China, Emily Dunn notes,

“The founder of Protestant-related new religious movements in contemporary China is typically male, middle-aged, and from rural north China. He has converted to Christianity early in the reform era, and thus is familiar with some Christian traditions and doctrine. None of the heresiarchs have been involved with the [Three-Self Patriotic Movement], but rather have been associated with unofficial, autochthonous groups that draw on millenarian Pentecostalism. The founder claims to have received divine revelation that he is Christ incarnate or a prophet specially anointed by God to undertake His work in these ‘end times.’ Holding out promises of access to the truth (or at least a superior version of it), everlasting salvation, and perhaps physical healing or material blessing, he attracts and leads a handful of followers from his former church who proceed to proselytize Protestants and establish organizational and doctrinal frameworks.” (Dunn, 2015:51-52)

Guarding Against NRMs

The rise of these movements underscores the importance of doctrinal clarity in church planting efforts. To safeguard against NRMs, church leaders should:

Have a strong theological and missiological foundation.
Teach new believers to know Jesus as revealed in the New Testament.
Equip Christians with basic Bible interpretation skills to recognize false doctrines.
Inform their disciples about NRMs and their deviations from historical Christianity.

As Paul admonished Timothy, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith” (1 Tim 6:20). NRMs in China demonstrate the veracity of Paul’s concern in Ephesus. Indeed, he warned the leaders there, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing your flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert . . . ” (Acts 20:29-30).

Conclusion

A study of NRMs in China reveals that they often emerge out of orthodox Christian churches and movements. While NRMs in China present challenges to the church, they also highlight the need for strong Christology, discipleship, and missiological clarity. By equipping believers with sound doctrine and an understanding of these movements, church planters can continue advancing the true gospel while protecting their flocks from theological distortions.

Resources for the Study of New Religious Movements

New Religious Movements and Western Spiritualities

Here’s a learning opportunity you will certainly enjoy. Filled with interviews with religious practitioners, you will learn directly from those who are on the inside of each of the new religions we study. This learning experience is designed for those who are interested in the religions in their neighborhoods. It is ideal for others living and working in religious pluralistic contexts.

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Addressing a Threat to Church Planting Movements