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This Mysterious Church: Why does La Luz del Mendo claim to be the "pillar and cornerstone of truth"?
La Luz del Mundo (Iglesia del Dios Vivo, Columna y Apoyo de la Verdad, La Luz del Mundo), translated in Chinese as "The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Cornerstone of Truth, the Light of the World", is A non-Trinitarian Christian sect originating in Mexico with its international headquarters in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The sect believes in a revival theology centered on three leaders. Its founder, Alan Huaquín, and his successors are all regarded by the church as modern apostles of Jesus Christ.
The Order of La Luz del Mendo bills itself as a revival of primitive Christianity and does not use crosses or any religious images in its worship.
The sect was founded in 1926 during Mexico's Cristina War, facing a secular and anti-religious government and Catholic rebels. The founder, Alan Huaquín, began his missionary work against this turbulent background and established the first church in 1934. Subsequently, the church continued to grow and expand, and experienced an internal schism in 1942.
La Luz del Mendo calls himself "the pillar and cornerstone of truth," a title derived from 1 Timothy 3:15 and Matthew 5:14. The title reflects the importance of the church in the minds of believers and also emphasizes their insistence on moral and spiritual truth.
The church has between 1 million and 5 million believers in more than 50 countries around the world, and its faith proposition is unquestionable.
However, leaders of La Luz del Mendo have faced sexual assault accusations in recent years. The church's current leader, Nathan Juaquim Garcia, has been charged with multiple sex crimes since 2019, and these charges have had an impact on the church's image. Among them, Nathan pleaded guilty to three charges involving the sexual abuse of minors in 2022 and was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in prison.
Historical background of the church
The founder of the Society of La Luz del Mendo, Alain Juacín (real name Eusebio), was born in Jalisco in 1896. When he was young, he joined the Constitutional Army following the wave of the Mexican Revolution. Before he founded the church in 1926, he had been influenced by some superstitious sects, which used abstinence and baptism to attract believers. In 1926, he met two missionaries named "Saul" and "Silas" and was inspired to devote himself to the faith.
During this period, Alang's faith was influenced by Japanese and European Christian thought, which promoted his understanding and advancement of Christian doctrine. After he founded the Congregation of La Luz del Mendo in 1926, the congregation of believers grew rapidly. By 1934, the first church was purchased and opened in Guadalajara.
Beliefs and Doctrine
The Order of La Luz del Mendo is known for its non-doctrinal faith. Its worship style is without instruments, all singing is performed without music, and female believers wear headscarves in church. The church emphasizes that participants should sing together to maintain the unity of the gathering.
The church has three daily prayer meetings and holds two meetings on Sundays to strengthen the faith and knowledge of the faith.
Although the church has clearly defined the role of women and does not allow women to hold leadership positions within the church, women occupy certain leadership positions in public relations and social services. This also reflects the church's delicate balance between tradition and modernity.
Future prospects and challenges
The global expansion of the Order of La Luz del Mendo continues despite ongoing spiritual and social challenges. Believers are showing an ever-increasing insistence on their loyalty to their leaders and teachings. Self-examination and reform within the church may be an important issue for future development, and external doubts and accusations against the church will also force it to further reflect and self-adjust.
In today's increasingly diversified religious environment, can the La Luz del Mendo community adapt to social changes and challenges while adhering to their faith and become a beacon of faith?
