José Luis de Jesús

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José Luis de Jesús Miranda (b. 1946) is the founder and leader of Creciendo en Gracia (Growing In Grace International Ministry, Inc.), a movement that teaches the "doctrine of Grace." It is based in Miami, Florida. Miranda's followers believe that he is the reincarnation of God and the one chosen by Jesus Christ to be "integrated" with. His organization is considered a cult by cult experts. [1] He refers to himself as the Antichrist and exhibits a "666" tattoo on his forearm.[1] He has referred to himself as "Jesus Christ in the flesh".[2][3]

Current movement

In 2007, the Dallas Morning News reported that Miranda "preaches to followers in some 35 nations, mostly in Latin America, and has 287 radio programs and a 24-hour Spanish-language TV network. "[4] Creciendo en Gracia has been described as a cult by cult expert Rick Ross, and others.[5] [6]

Miranda has gained attention in Puerto Rico in particular, where his denomination has opened centers in Guaynabo, Arecibo, Yabucoa, Ponce and Hormigueros.

In early 2007, he acknowledged others' claims that he was the Antichrist and explained that the term is true. It applies because people are no longer to follow the "Jewish teachings" of Jesus of Nazareth, but rather to follow the Apostle Paul's teachings through Miranda. According to Miranda, "Antichrist" means "no longer following Jesus of Nazareth as he lived in the days of his flesh". Naturally, controversy has surrounded this.[1][7]

Most recently, followers have shown their support by getting "666" tattoos on their bodies.[2] "666", Miranda explains, is not a sign of the devil (he preaches that the devil was destroyed), but the number of the Antichrist.

Controversy

Much controversy began to rise after Miranda made comments about the Roman Catholic Church. According to Miranda, the "Catholic Church is evil" and he has told his followers to burn pictures of the pope and protest outside of churches.[3] Also, Miranda claims "there is no sin." He has stated that murder and theft are only wrong because "society has made them wrong."[4]

Miranda has been labeled as a "con man" by both Christian and non-Christian groups due to his comments about children in his ministry. He claims the youth in his church are the "super raza" or "super race" because they have been brought up "pure with no stain of religion." He also went on to say Miami was the center of his faith because "that is where Hispanics are." "Miami is the bridge for all nations," said Miranda, "That's where Hispanics are, and then eventually I'm going to find a lot of beautiful English-speaking people who will want to believe in me and I'm going to have millions of them." [5] Creciendo en Gracia has also stirred controversy with its noisy protest demonstrations directed at Christian gatherings.

Early life

Miranda grew up in poverty in Puerto Rico. He was arrested for doing drugs at one point in his life. Miranda has said that during this period he served stints in prison for petty theft[8]. Miranda is a former heroin addict who claims to have been delivered by the power of God. He became a Pentecostal minister and then a member of the Southern Baptist Church.[6]

According to ABC Primetime, Miranda was arrested in 1997 for a DUI. Miranda claims to have never been drunk since he was "integrated." [7]

References

  1. ^ a b "He Calls Himself God". MSNBC. February 5 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "'Scarborough Country' for August 25". MSNBC. August 28 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "The Man Who Claims To Be Jesus". CBS 4. September 12 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Miami-based 'Antichrist' banned from Guatemala". DMN. 22 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ ""Creciendo en Gracia"". "Rick A. Ross Institute". 2005. Retrieved 2007-04-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=037HvQ1TyGM
  7. ^ "Miami Church Brands Members With '666' Tattoos". FOX News. February 24 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-04. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "Crowd Packs Amphitheater For Man Claiming He's Jesus Christ Reincarnated". local6.com. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)

External links

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