This blog is for people who have doubts about a religious movement in South Korea called Shincheonji (SCJ), a church that conducts many Bible studies online. We are Christians who believe we must be careful about leaders who claim to be final prophets with secret knowledge of Jesus´ return to earth (Mt. 7:15, Mt. 24:4,5, I Jn. 4:1, I Tim. 4:1). Our purpose is not to unkindly attack SCJ (or sincere SCJ members), but help others carefully test their fruit.
Three family members took the time to create the podcasts below (please scroll down). Here are a few comments to add to what they point out.
1. Podcasts: The Doctrine Devoid of Repentance/God´s Holiness and Justice.
They mention how end-time groups focus heavily on prophetic knowledge and de-emphasize repentance and the solution humans need - Jesus' remedy for sins in our place. This is the focus in the New Testament revelation - the importance of being ¨united to Christ¨ and ¨having the Son¨. Although Manhee Lee's two books in English acknowledge that Jesus died for our sins, the real emphasis is on the ¨revealed knowledge/word¨ as the final requirement for salvation (See pages 328-333 in ¨Creation of Heaven and Earth¨).
¨Those who receive the word of revelation from the new Apostle John, believe it, and obey are freed from their sins¨ (The Truth Regarding Revelation's Fulfillment, p. 5). ¨No one attains salvation simply by claiming to have been saved or to be orthodox....Only those who believe in and keep the revelation of the New Testament will go to heaven¨ (The Truth Regarding Revelation´s Fulfillment, pp. 57, 94).
2. Podcast: Shincheonji's Fruit of Deception.
They mention how Shinchonji uses and justifies deception. Most followers of Christ (and even non-Christians) see this as a bad testimony.
3. Podcast: A Different Jesus.
Throughout the history of Christianity, revelations from the spirit world have been giving end-time prophets a different definition of Jesus Christ, God, or the Holy Spirit. Instead of letting the written word correct spirit-guided revelations, end-time leaders use spirit-guided revelations to correct what Christians throughout the centuries have seen in the written word.
One of the earliest spiritual movements against Christianity was Gnosticism. In its simplest and reduced form, various Gnostic leaders and schools claimed to know more about Christ than the early Christians. They taught they had hidden knowledge (gnosis) about who Jesus was, what the universe was about, and how to be saved from the evil world/physical matter.
In response to Gnosticism, early Christians wrote the first creed in Christian history. From Gnosticism and other subsequent movements, Christian thinkers have noted a common theme - dark movements present a different Christ who is supposedly more real than the Christ of Christianity.
The apostles warned about erroneous ideas concerning Jesus. John wrote that any spirit that denied Jesus coming in the flesh was a spirit of the antichrist (I Jn. 4:2,3), which is what many of the early Gnostic leaders denied. Paul warned about philosophies that did not accept God´s fullness in Jesus' physical body (Col. 2:8,9). He said that no Christian worker could ¨lay any other foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ¨ (I Cor. 3:11). Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8).
One Christian researcher stated that the same Gnostic pattern is observed today in end-time movements. Revelations to prophets from alleged angels, Jesus, or God teach a Jesus who is different in some aspect (and supposedly more accurate than the one in Christian circles).
What is one of the most common errors about Jesus Christ?
It is common for Christian cults to reveal a spirit-Christ who is resurrected as a spirit or becomes a spirit after he ascends into heaven. Since Jesus is a spirit being, he then returns invisibly to earth to indwell the leader of an end-time group or invisibly chooses and guides their movement.
Manhee Lee states that Jesus returns invisibly and unites with the flesh/body of the SCJ pastor (Manhee Lee). ¨Jesus promised that when the gospel of heaven is spread to the ends of the earth, he will return in spirit to unite with his promised pastor¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 143). One Shinchonji instructor said that Jesus was transfigured after his death and became a spirit (citing the vision of Jesus in Rev. 1).
Interestingly enough, Christian leaders and thinkers realize this is not the complete picture.
First, the information in the Scriptures is that the post-resurrection Jesus is not just a spirit. Something happened to his human side. He was the first human to be glorified (Col. 1:19, I Cor. 15:20). Christ is the first man of a new, human existence. When confronted by the religious leaders, Jesus predicted something would happen to his physical body (Jn. 2:19-21). His body, not the temple in Jerusalem, would be rebuilt.
When Christ rose from the dead, he proved he was not just a spirit (Lk. 24:39). He challenged his disciples to touch his hands and feet. His body was the same in some aspects, but totally different in another sense (i.e. glorified). The body that suffered death was raised to life and never saw decay or destruction again (Ac. 2:31, 13:34). Acts 13:34 says, ¨As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption.¨
It was a new human body in glory. In Philippians 3:21, while mentioning God´s plan to glorify mortal bodies, Paul refers to Christ´s present body in glory. ¨And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodiesso that they will be like his glorious body (or body of his glory in some translations)¨ (Phil. 3:21).
The disciples also believed that Jesus never lost his human side. Years after his ascension, they continued to refer to Christ as a man. ¨For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus¨ (I Tim. 2:5). ¨He has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed¨ (Ac. 17:30). In Hebrews 2, the Bible states that Jesus became humanity's high priest forever, a unique mediator who shares our human nature.
Secondly, if Jesus became a spirit after his ascension, then his human resurrection was not real. It would be a contradiction of terms. According to the definition of the resurrection, God powerfully infuses into a human body a new and higher glorified form with an indestructible nature (See I Cor. 15:42-44). In other words, a resurrected human body is designed to exist forever. This is what Jesus experienced when he rose from the dead. His body was glorified, not disintegrated or transfigured into a spirit.
When the Corinthians asked about the future resurrection body, Paul explains that it's a higher body, imperishable, greater in power and glory (I Corinthians 15:42-44). It is a body that is indestructible, which means nothing can destroy it. It´s a body that puts on ¨immortality¨ (I Cor. 15:53). Further, the word ¨body¨ in I Cor. 15 in the original language is used of a physical, material body, not an immaterial spirit-body.
End-time groups mistake ¨spiritual body¨ in 1 Cor. 15:44 for ¨spirit body,¨ which denies the physical side of the resurrection body. ¨Spiritual body¨ refers to a human body infused with new, supernatural life.
How do final leaders justify their teachings of Jesus being a spirit?
First, leaders condition members by claiming that Christianity is in spiritual darkness. They are the chosen prophets to reveal the real meaning of biblical definitions and passages. Thus, even when the written words appear to communicate something different, only the leader's revealed meaning is the correct one.
Second, instead of harmonizing all the texts about Jesus, leaders use selected verses that speak of the Spirit of Jesus. Yet, God´s voice in the Scriptures reveals two concepts regarding Jesus - his God-like nature and his glorified human side. Both are true, not just one. This is what Christian churches everywhere see - Christ is the first human of a new kind of existence, the first to rise from the dead in glory (Col. 1:19, Rev. 1:5).
These points are relevant when a leader talks about Jesus returning to earth as a spirit in a secretive way. In contrast, Jesus says he will return as a king ¨in power and great glory¨ and all the nations will see him and mourn (Mt. 24:30). According to the angels in Acts 1:11, the same Jesus who left (in a glorified body) is the same one coming back, not a different Jesus. Jesus, the Messiah, is not just a spirit. He is much more.
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Addtional Points/Questions.
What about Shinchonji´s teaching that Jesus is a spirit based on the vision of Jesus in Revelation 1? Could not Jesus have been transfigured like in Matthew 17 (i.e. transfigured into a spirit)?
First, the image in Revelation 1 is an image of a glorified Jesus, but it is not a literal description. It reflects Old Testament images of God in glory (Dan. 7:9). Second, when Jesus was transfigured in Mt. 17, he did not become a spirit. He did not lose his physical humanity. Rather, his glory was shown through his humanity. Even Manhee Lee mentions that Jesus was still flesh. ¨On the mountain of transfiguration Jesus and his disciples were still flesh, but Moses Elijah, and God were spirits¨ (p. 425, Creation of Heaven and Earth). Third, the Bible teaches that even after the ascension, Jesus still possesses his human (and new glorified) body. The Apostle Paul makes this point at the end of Phil. 3:21.
From these points, we see that the Bible shows that God did not destroy Jesus' humanity. On the contrary, he glorified it. I Peter 1:21 reads, ¨Through him (Christ) you believe in God, who raised him from the dead, and glorified him.¨ God gave him an imperishable resurrection body in glory, unlike our frail, sin-infested, and mortal bodies. Christ Jesus is the first human to put on incorruption (I Cor. 15:20).
How could a normal physical body (¨flesh and blood¨) enter heaven, a spiritual place? Regarding the phrase ¨flesh and bones¨ in I Cor. 15:50, it is a synonym for a corruptible, sin-tarnished body. This is a phrase for mortal bodies, but not immortal, resurrection bodies. The Apostle Paul is saying that a weak, dying body (i.e. flesh and blood) cannot enter heaven because it needs to put on ¨immortality¨ first (i.e. be glorified). Since Jesus´s body put on immortality, it wasn't a problem. His new body was no longer mortal. It was a supernatural body made for glory (i.e. a place of glory). As mentioned above, it was both the same and different as his physical body before. It was now superior in that it could defy normal limitations. This is why it is not a mortal human body. The Scriptures reveal that the Messiah´s humanity was glorified and physically taken up to heaven (Acts 1:9-11, Heb. 1:3). How do you explain that Paul says that there is a spiritual body in I Cor. 15:44? As mentioned above, the meaning of the ¨resurrection¨ involves a new human body (See Is. 26:19). So, keep this in mind when thinking about a resurrected ¨spiritual body¨. It is not people becoming resurrected spirits. The phrase ¨spiritual body¨ in I Cor. 15:44 refers to a higher human body in contrast to mortal bodies, which are frail, corruptible, and sinful. Further, the word ¨body¨ in Greek refers to a physical body, not an immaterial body. When Jesus was raised, his body was not a spirit (Lk. 24:39). A resurrection body with no human body would be like a wedding without a bride. By spiritual body, Paul is affirming that the resurrection body is not natural or normal. It is superior to the sinful body. The verses before and after v. 44 indicate that he is talking about a different kind of human body. It is ¨spiritual¨ in the sense that it is a higher make up than the natural body. In Romans 8:11,23, the Bible says our mortal bodies will experience a change like Jesus' did. (1) See Shinchonji's first article on the Trinity on their website where they say that Jesus is a spirit after his ascension.
Shincheonji/Shinchonji teaches that Jesus' words, Jesus' spirit (and, by extension, Jesus' intelligence) is uniquely tied to their human pastor, Manhee Lee. He is the Lord Jesus´ representative in the last days - the flesh/body Jesus Christ uses on earth to fulfill his promises in Revelation. This is why Mr. Lee's voice is considered the voice of Christ.
If you were a spiritual detective, what would make you or other thinking Christians doubt this claim? What mistakes, contradictions, problems, practices, or lack of information would lead you to a different conclusion? If a movement is from God, it should be sound in all areas, not just in Revelation.
Christian intellectuals who study characteristics of Christian cults (end-time movements) in history notice a common feature from the kingdom of darkness. Visions from spirit beings (angels, Jesus, or God) will inaccurately represent Christianity or exaggerate claims to make it seem like they are the only ones who are spiritual and in the light. Everyone else is in darkness.
For example, in Manhee Lee's book, Creation of Heaven and Earth, he considers pastors and evangelists in Christian circles to be unspiritual and care only about money. Yet, I have met many missionaries and ministers in poor areas of Latin America who have a genuine love for the Lord Jesus and no interest in materialism or weath. These claims by Mr. Lee are exaggerated and make it seem that he alone is reliable.
What other cases of exaggeration or misrepresentation do we see in Shincheonji?
Shincheonji, like other Christian cults/end-time groups introduce new concepts about God´s nature, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. In doing so, they mock Christians who believe in the Trinity, the special relationship between God the Father, the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit. They all represent God´s nature but are distinct. Christian cults deceptively define this relationship incorrectly or they argue that no one really knows how to define it. The point is that they are the new revealers of God´s nature. Yet, a misdefinition constitutes a red flag.
As one Christian pointed out, ¨Since Jesus Christ is the head of Christianity and supremely intelligent, he knows the definition Christians have been using for the last 1,500 years.¨ He is not going to use an erroneous definition to convince Christians that it is erroneous. This would only hurt his cause. On the contrary, such deception and misrepresentation is a spiritual tactic from the kingdom of darkness.
Imagine you met someone who claimed that American football was an illogical sport, but they re-defined the game to make it look illogical (e.g. that teams have five down or touchdowns count as 10 points). Most people would not give them much credibility.
Once a leader of a Christian cult in Latin America met up with me to explain their group's teachings. When he mentioned the Trinity was an unbiblical doctrine, I asked him to define it first. When he did, he used an inaccurate concept of what Christians believe. To me, this was a clear sign of a spiritual error.
What about Shincheonji's position of the Trinity?
When I first started reading articles on Shincheonji´s website, I noticed two publications showing that the Trinity was not a biblical belief. Naturally, they misdefined what Christians believe and have believed to make the Trinity seem false. (See the article on this blog about the Trinity.)
I brought this point up to two different SCJ instructors independently, who were not sensitive to this point at all. Rather, their answers were defensive. They replied that there are so many confusing definitions of the Trinity in Christianity. (This is actually false.) Furthermore, in SCJ´s articles, they did not claim that there were so many definitions. As a matter of fact, they just used one oversimplified concept to disprove it.
Although some Christians do not perfectly explain (like other teachings), Christian denominations across the board hold the same belief - a belief that comes from serious study of all the passages about Jesus' human and divine nature, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father. It is really one of the most fundamental teachings in Christian history. Yet, Shincheonji's two articles use a definition that no Christian community adheres to.
One Christian confessed, ¨If Shincheonji cannot define the Trinity correctly, why would I trust them on other matters, like prophecy.¨ This is the same red flag found in other groups that have spirit-revelations from the invisible world, revelations which re-define Jesus´ identity and make salvation a matter of belief in their teachigns instead of being united to the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Another example of misrepresentation in SCJ deals with the Apostles' Creed. Shinchonji makes several harsh comments about anyone who uses the Apostles' Creed.
¨Furthermore, because the Apostles' Creed is not found in the Bible and because it is full of lies, no one should recite it. It should be clear from the following passages why no one should recite the Apostles’ Creed.¨(1) ¨Many cite the Apostles' Creed, which is not according to the Bible.¨(2) ¨Is this not the same as the situation regarding the Apostles' Creed? The apostles never wrote the Apostles' Creed. Others created it on their own and forced all Christians to confess it¨ (3). ¨They should stop reciting the Apostle’s Creed because it contains several false doctrines¨(4)
These statements are ironic because it means that the Jesus presence inside Manhee Lee despises the Apostles' Creed. Yet, the first Christians who wrote this creed (or statements of belief) did so to refute bizarre ideas from Gnosticism about Christ and the universe. Every line debunks misconceptions about Jesus, God, and the world. The real Jesus would know the historical context behind this creed.
One SCJ instructor wrote back and said that the creed is false for two reasons. First, it mentions Jesus being crucified under Pontius Pilate (when it was really the Jewish authorities). Second, he also stated that the reference to the ¨catholic church¨ is misleading. However, both points are easily understood within the historical context (5).
To Christian thinkers, Shincheonji's remarks of the creed being ¨full of lies¨ are exaggerated and have the same tone found in other apocalyptic movements. Contrary to what SCJ affirms, the creed is based on elementary ideas in the Christian faith (i.e. God made this universe; Jesus is God's Son, born of a real woman, died a real death in history, resurrected, and will come again to judge the living and the dead).
These points show that the spirit entities behind Manhee Lee are not accurate. To thinking Christians, SCJ is misrepresenting or exaggerating these issues, signs that the real Jesus would not give.
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(1) ¨Mrs. Kim: Martyr of Shinchonji¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed June 3rd, 2010.http://han.shinchonji.kr/zh-hans/content/mrs-kim-martyr-shinchonji
(2) ¨Is Shinchonji Church of Jesus really a cult,¨ Website Articles. Accessed June 3rd, 2010.http://han.shinchonji.kr/nl/node/381
(3) ¨Eternal life in the spirit¨ Shinchonji Website Articles. Accessed July 15th, 2010.http://scjpeter.blogspot.com/2009/07/scj-eternal-life-in-spirit-and-in-flesh.html
(4) ¨Stop your evil deeds and repent¨ Audio File. Accessed July 15th, 2010.http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/jasminsh_scj/folder/11.html
(5) Christian leaders affirmed in the creed that Jesus truly died under the Roman ruler, Pontius Pilate. This was because the Gnostics denied that Jesus died. Christian leaders were giving historical reasons to believe that he died. Furthermore, Jn. 19:16 makes this same point about Pontius Pilate. Lastly, about the catholic church, early Christians were referring to one body of Christ, the catholic/universal church of Christ, as opposed to the Gnostic churches.
Do you believe any missionary, minister, or Bible teacher could be a divine incarnation just like the Messiah in the first coming?
In Christian thinking, a final prophet who announces that that they are incarnated/indwelled by God or Jesus is a red flag. A leader who claims to be the flesh (or human body) that Jesus uses to return to the planet would turn Christians off.
It sounds strange, but this is what Shinchonji's promised pastor teaches about himself. Even though SCJ explains that Manhee Lee is not Jesus or God, when we read Mr. Lee's descriptions about himself, he is considered to be a unique and divine incarnation of Jesus' spirit.
After reading through Shinchonji's blog, one Christian commented that Shinchonji makes Manhee Lee the incarnated Jesus/the body of Jesus' spirit return. What made him think this?
Let's look at what Shinchonji teaches about Manhee Lee's body. What kind of spiritual indwelling does he have, according to SCJ sources? In one website article, Shinchonji reveals that God has entered Mr. Lee just like God entered Jesus in the first coming.
¨Just as the spirit of Godentered and dwelt within Jesus (Jn 14:9-11), who overcame at the time of the first coming (Jn 16:33), the holy Spirit of Truth will come and dwell within one chosen person (i.e. the one who overcomes).¨(1)
¨The one who overcomes preaches the revealed word after uniting with the spirit of the counselor, who comes in the name of the Lord (Jn 14:16-17; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:13-14). This is similar to the time of the first coming when God came to Jesus (Matt 3:16; Jn 1:32) and united with him¨ (Jn 10:30). (2) According to Shinchonji's descriptions, the Shinchonji pastor has Jesus' spirit and the Spirit of Truth, just like when God came to Jesus. This makes Manhee Lee the second flesh of Jesus' spirit. It means that seeing Mr. Lee is seeing the physical embodiment of Jesus' return.
Of course, Shinchonji does not claim that Manhee Lee is God or Jesus himself. But, Mr. Lee is described as having a series of incarnations by spiritual beings (the Spirit of the Counselor, Jesus' spirit, and God). The presence of God is inside the Shinchonji pastor in an exclusive way. In an article on Rev. 1:7, SCJ teaches that when believers see Mr. Lee, they see the Lord.
¨The fact that every eye will see him means, as discussed above, that people will see the person with whom the spirit of the Advocate has united. Seeing that person is the same as seeing the Lord.¨(3)
When I asked one Shinchonji member if Manhee Lee was the physical-Messianic coming that most Christians were waiting for, he became silent. In the quote below, Mr. Lee is the physical body that we should expect. According to this quote, the promise of Jesus' return is fulfilled by a spirit return that comes to Mr. Lee's body, who is the chosen one.
¨Jesus, during the time of his first coming, promised that he would return (Jn 14:1-3). He said in Matt 23:39, “For I say to you, from now on you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Who, then, is this one who comes in the name of the Lord? He is the holy Spirit of Truth, the Counselor (Jn 14:16-17, Jn 14:26). The holy Spirit of Truth, who comes in the name of the Lord, will come to dwell within one person.¨(4)
¨Jesus promised that when the gospel of heaven is spread to the ends of the earth, he will return in spirit to unite with his promised pastor (Mt. 24:47)¨ (Creation of Heaven and Earth, p. 143).
In the written word, the authority in Christian thought, we find a voice that communicates very powerfully that the Messiah will be seen by others when he returns to the planet in power and glory (Lk. 21:27, Mk. 13:26, Mt. 16:27, Mt. 24:27-30, Rev. 1:7, Ac. 1-9-11).
This is probably one of Jesus' promises that is most overlooked by the media at Christmas and Easter. But, it is a statement the Messiah wants his followers to remember. It is not a hidden promise. Let's look again at one of the well-known texts for this in Acts 1:9-11.
¨When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven'¨ (Ac. 1-9-11, NRSV).
In the spirit world, heavenly entities (angels, Jesus, and God) have been giving secret revelations to final prophets in end-time groups to re-explain this text. They teach a figurative meaning to ¨clouds¨ and use spiritual reasoning or hidden meanings in other verses to show that ¨clouds¨ hide things. In these movements, Christians are taught that the clouds make it clear that Jesus' return will be hidden/invisible or as a spirit.
In Shiinchonji's article on Rev. 1:7, they write, ¨Clouds are capable of hiding things from view. The fact that Jesus returns with the clouds means that he is coming in spirit. In Acts 1:9-11, Jesus’ disciples were staring into the sky after Jesus’ ascension, and a cloud hid Jesus from their sight¨ (1). How can we know who has the right meaning?
The surest and most reliable method to test a spirit revelation to a final prophet is to let the voice in God's written word reveal the right idea. The written word should correct a revelation, not the other way around. In the written record, one phrase sheds light on this question. God's voice makes it known that ¨this same Jesus¨ or ¨this Jesus¨ is the one who returns to earth.
¨This Jesus, who has been taken up from you in heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.¨ (NRSV).
¨Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner¨ (21st C. KJV).
According to the voice in the written word, the same Messiah/Jesus is coming back. This means that, regardless of any secretive or figurative meaning to clouds, the same Jesus is returning, not a different Jesus. This is an important voice in the written word because the Jesus who left was not a glorified spirit.
God raised Christ's humanity to a new glorified state, which is why the tomb was empty (Lk. 24:2-5). Jesus is the firsfruits of a new race of humans (I Cor. 15:20, Col. 1:19). The Messiah was not transfigured into a spirit (Lk. 24:39). Rather, his body never saw decay (Ac. 2:29-31, Ac. 13:35-37). Christ was the first human to be raised with a body prepared for glory. The written word shows that he still has this body (Phil. 3:21). See other articles on the resurrection for more information on this topic.
In summary, even though final leaders reveal figurative meanings to the clouds in Acts 1:11 - meanings that the written word does not teach independently - one phrase indicates that the same Jesus is coming back, not a spirit Jesus (Ac. 1:11). This harmonizes with Jesus' statement that he would be seen (Mt. 24:30).
Many testimonies on Shinchonji's website explain why people join Shinchonji (see SCJ's website for testimonies). However, it is also important to consider why some leave Shinchonji.
After talking to a former member of the Shinchonji Church, who was involved in SCJ for almost a decade, this person sent a written response to different themes related to Shinchonji's movement. The response is published here below.
What are some important things about Manhee Lee (MHL) and being a member of SCJ?
Members are told on an almost daily basis that their SSN (Man Hee Lee) loves them and works very hard for them and sacrificed his life to give them the precious words of truth but there are some puzzling contradictions.
1. He is unwilling to prove to anyone for any reason by miracles of any kind that he has Jesus' spirit on him and is the only voice of biblical truth left on the planet, which is unprecedented. If you look in Scripture, even Christ himself started his ministry with the miracle of the water and the wine. 2. During all major events the members are required to come and be there early with smiling faces and welcoming clapping. When he is at a temple, ¨amens¨ ring so loud it's hard to hear any English translations. 3. During my own graduation, it took well over two hours of moving people mere centimeters to get the picture perfect. MHL was called in for the last 5 minutes and left 2 minutes after the picture was taken. 4. I also learned of another graduation held during a colder season where the lovely young ladies in the hambok's were made to wait outside in the cold and the wind to get the graduation picture perfect, which they were glad to do because one must be willing to sacrifice for A PICTURE?? 5. MHL is 82 years old now and has had some health issues. I was told that he had actually been physically declared dead but was brought back to life. This was never spoken of from the pulpit, so a rumour it remains, but the only miracle heard of and conveniently unsubstantiated.
What is the church structure like and how are members supervised?
1. There is no Trinity. The Father and the Son are one but the holy spirit is under the condition of holy spirits as in angels not “The Holy Spirit” as understood by most. Jesus is the Holy Spirit that is on MHL after his revelation on the hill top.
2. A percentage of all tithes are sent to the headquarters as part of their contribution to the church body as a whole. Members are told the books are open and anyone can see at anytime where their money is going. 3. To keep people going and working hard, members are told the 144,000 is getting so close and if they work QUOTE “just a little harder” then the fulfillment will happen and the spirit of the martyrs will come on them and they will live forever. The rest of the world is covered under the great white multitude, as spoken of in Revelations 7. The thing is the number is now over 100,000 and there are quiet rumours being spoken of that it has to be “the SEALED” not just 144,000 members of SCJ and NO ONE knows if they are part of the sealed. So, in effect, this could go forever...there could be a billion members. But, if there aren't 144,000 sealed, well, it's not going to happen. Each member is part of a tribe and many of the tribes are close to completing the 12,000 they need to complete their tribe. Whether or not those members are truly sealed or not is another matter. 4. Along with the 144,000 catch is the idea that if you just work a little harder you will be one of the sealed. So people sacrifice ALL their time, energy, money, family and health to do the work. And at the end of the day there is no guarantee of any kind that the sacrifice means you will get to be part of the 144,000. Paranoia and anxiety are some of the feelings people have inside but hidden under the smile of being in the right place for the right reasons. I felt miserable all the time about not doing enough. Sleep deprived and poor mental health. No member would EVER admit to this as that would mean they were less than God wants them to be. Be glad you are part of the truth and NEVER NEVER complain about ANYTHING or you will be considered a betrayer of the truth. MHL tells wives to take care of their husbands and children to obey their parents but...at the level of their cell leaders are told that they need to work harder and in order to follow the COMMANDS of MHL which are considered the words of Jesus from GOD then something has to give and mostly it is family and school that are sacrificed. I wanted to protect individuals but have seen many heart breaking examples of people doing things to work for the church that are clearly unwise and in some cases not scriptural. 5. I was always frustrated by the lack of written material. People were expected to take notes and listen to sermons online at the members' only website. The COMMAND was 3 times for each sermons along with the mandatory Sunday and Wednesday meetings, which are monitored with a fingerprint scanner at every temple, cell group meetings, studying with potential new people and Mannam events. The schedule was packed and members are asked to hand in their personal schedules so that the leaders know what the people under them are doing most of the time. 6. Members are told what materials they cannot look at. There are websites, and books, actually all books about the Bible are regarded as lies and theology books are banned because they are not the correct interpretation of the Bible and will corrupt the member and the pure Word as received from MHL. 7. Saying anything to a leader in a meeting about ideas that may be better or asking why members are, in effect, expected to dig a ditch in the morning and fill it in in the afternoon are seen as going against MHL and, therefore, makes your thought something from the evil one and you have betrayers thoughts which must be repented of. 8. There are also conflicts about Mannam. I was told by another member that many people are unhappy about Kim Nam Lee's role in the church at the moment. It has always been strictly observed that if someone is in Mannam that an SCJ member may not recruit them into SCJ.
Describe what it is like coming into the church and how members are recruited?
1. A potential member is considered “a fruit” and each person must work as hard as they can to gather as many fruit as possible. Although many would never confess to this, fruit are fought over as to who exactly brought that person in. It takes as long as a year before a person actually is sitting in the regular services. First, one person works on someone to study. This is done by most cults so it is difficult to get this started. The Jehovah Witnesses and Mormon's both use the study technique and, because people are suspicious of this, so many lies are used. I used to use the line that they were doing a seminar course and needed to do a study with 10 people to graduate from the course. Others use many different angles, but it all amounts to lying to get people to start studying. 2. “A fruit” must study three times a week at the gospel room level to be registered by the member as an actual fruit and the studies must be reported (what lesson are they on and how did each lesson go). The fruit will be unaware of this but then other things will start to happen. The fruit will meet other people called 'maintainers' who will say or do things that confirm they are indeed doing the right thing. 3. Members are pressured to evangelize and bring their fruit to a kangsanim (a certified teacher by SCJ standards) to continue studying. The goal is to have them study four days a week for six months one to two hours a day. The member and 'maintainers' must work very very hard to make this happen on top of all the other burdens placed on their backs. All so they can make the “fruit” like them. A fruit is also required to bring someone in so that they may graduate and so the cycle continues. The pressure is incredible but with faith all things are possible, so the expectation is always there.
4. Compare this busyness in SCJ and its burden on members to Jesus' words in Matthew 11:30 about his yoke being easy.
Talk about Mannam and its connection to Shinchonji.
1. I had to watch a video on Mannam to find out it was started in 2003. The aim is to do good and bring all people together. Many Mannam members in SCJ are ignorant of many things that outsiders know about the group like the mote of “When light meets light there is victory” is an anagram and the Mannam logo is the combination of all 12 tribe colours and that Man Hee Lee, who is the “honorary chairman” and the combination of Kim Nam Lee's names give Man+Nam= Mannam. 2. All the upper level planning meetings of Mannam are done in the SCJ temple buildings and only Mannam members who are SCJ may attend those meetings. These meeting always have in attendance the high profile Mannam members who I found denied their association with SCJ if asked. 3. Funding for events comes from SCJ. The upper level members of the organization are SCJ the organizers of groups such as Korean classes, Tai Kwan Do classes, photography classes, basketball, running club and cooking club are all headed by SCJ/Mannam members. They may be two different organizations but the direction of Mannam is clearly directed by SCJ.
What was expected to happen at the September 16th event at the Olympic stadium in Seoul?
There are videos on youtube regarding the event and you are encouraged to look at both the official and critical views of the event and make up your own mind.
1.The event was something that already busy members were told was the most important thing and they should not give up what they were doing but add to the plate by actively seeking foreigners and telling them about this great amazing event where there would be a free ride to and from the event, free lunches, and a free t-shirt. 2. The lunch was not very good and many people were herded to dark gloomy corners to scarf down a lunch with no place to sit. There were many more people than expected, so lots of people did not get their t-shirts and the ride was free...but the price was all day at an event designed to distract and look confusing. 3. Many people did not even get into the stadium. Soccer teams that were asked to come at 6 a.m. never even got the chance to play. In fact, only one game was played and that was SCJ's team against the Mannam team from Seoul. Guess who won. 4. There were too many people in the stadium and the chaos was created on purpose. Most of the stands were taken up but SCJ people who chanted and did the wave almost continuously throughout the day, in sports uniforms matching the colours of their different tribes. If people didn't get the idea that SCJ was a cult before, this certainly helped make the decision. CULT...the tribe members never mingled with the foreigners at all and there was an abundance of security all over the place. 5. Even though the stands were crowded beyond capacity, there was room where all the dignitaries were seated. The event began at 10 am but I suspect - from having attended two other events similar to this - that most SCJ members had been there since well be for 8 or even 7 am. Man Hee Lee arrived just a little before 10am in a nice car with a driver and walked on a red carpet to a seat with a silk cushion, surrounded by the dignitaries who had been invited for the biggest photo/video opt ever undertaken. Given refreshments and lovely young ladies smiling in beautiful gowns, with media watching and reporting from above. 6. The mask games were like being in North Korea and I know one foreigner that was in the mask games and said that he hoped God was pleased with his effort that he sat for almost 12 hours flipping cards. 7. I had been told on many occasions before the event that the truth about Mannam and SCJ would be explained at the event and that the lying would end. It didn't and for reasons of conscience felt this was very wrong. 8. It was also rumoured that something great would happen at the event. Many military personal that were there heard the rumour that a famous music group would be playing at the end of the night. And SCJ members were looking for the sign that perhaps MHL would do something truly miraculous. But, looking at it, having that many people together basically to worship the ego of one man is a miracle, just not the miracle most were looking for. 9. After the event it was expected that everyone who attended the event would have someone from the church maintaining them and bringing them to the truth. A surge, if you will, of new converts that just needed to be taught. The opposite was true. Many people were very angry with what happened. 10. I stood by the entrance to the stadium with a group of military who were supposed to be participating in the sports events. They were to do a parade past the dignitaries and MHL. It was a wait of almost 3 hours. In that group of military was a family who had twin boys around 8 years old. They waited and asked if they could leave as they needed to get their children home and to bed for school the next day. They were cajoled and tricked into standing there until the 5 min walk by the grand stands and were asked to release red and white balloons. It was something to have a 100,000 people cheer as you walked in, but not worth lying to a family desperate to get home. 11. A video on youtube made by a man by the name of Michael drew some conclusions from the event that a) SCJ seemed to be very much a cult and b) Mannam was indeed, as suspected, a creation of SCJ. He was fair in his observations and never disrespectful in any way, but I was told that Michael and others who made any kind of negative report about the event to be in league with Satan and pushing the destroyers' agenda. SCJ members are not supposed to watch the lies that they produce. 12. The event ended with a grotesque dance between MHL and Kim Nam Lee, which was explained to me, when enquires were made, that it symbolized the marriage between Christ and his bride or Mannam's new partnership with SCJ. I found this in poor taste as MHL has a lovely wife who has stood by him all this time. And I felt nothing but shame and humiliation that her husband would parade around with a younger, richer and more socially influential member of SCJ as the actor of this little drama. 13. In talking from the pulpit the following Sunday, MHL said he wished that every Sunday could be like September 16. That was it. Shortly after, I let the leader of the cell group know it was time to leave for reasons of conscience.
Did the vision to Mr. Lee in Shinchonji give him a new Jesus? Is the anointing in Mr. Lee accurate about the central figure of Christianity?
This is an important question because Satan´s revelations to final leaders have three unique characteristics - 1. Clear answers to Bible prophecies about the end-times and Jesus´ return, 2. Based on this information, they add new teachings about Jesus (i.e. distort his identity), and 3. Make the clear answers to their leader necessary for salvation (i.e. distort salvation).
Regarding the second point, Christian investigators commonly study a final movement to see how they treat the nature of the Lord Jesus. Satan´s revelations and visions to final leaders give new teachings that oppose the nature of Jesus Christ that Christians see in the Bible.
This phenomenon can be seen in many movements that oppose Christianity. An example of this is the Jesus in the New Age movement, the Jesus of the Jehovah´s Witnesses, the Jesus in the liberal movement, the Jesus of the Gnostics, the Jesus in the Luz del Mundo movement, etc.
In these groups, Jesus of Nazareth is said to be the Holy Spirit, an angel, only a man, a separate God, a spirit that possesses a final leader, Jesus not existing as the Son of God before coming to earth, and much more.
The early followers of Jesus wrote against new teachings about Jesus (I and 2 John) and recognized the spirit of the anti-christ in the early gnostic teachers. The gnostic leaders had three errors about Jesus. They said that he did not exist before coming to earth, that Jesus first united to God (i.e. was indwelled by a divine spirit) at his baptism, and that Jesus was not the Son of God (i.e. the same nature as God).
What about Shinchonji? What do they teach about Jesus? Shinchonji teaches the same three points. First, it is taught that Jesus was first possessed by God´s Spirit at his baptism. Notice that the verses quoted about God coming to Jesus relate to his baptism. ¨The one who overcomes preaches the revealed word after uniting with the spirit of the counselor, who comes in the name of the Lord (Jn 14:16-17; Jn 14:26; Jn 16:13-14). This is similar to the time of the first coming when God came to Jesus (Matt 3:16; Jn 1:32) and united with him¨ (Jn 10:30). (1) ¨Jesus united with God when God came to dwell within him¨ (Jn 10:30). (2)
This belief is the same thing the Gnostics taught. It conveys the idea that God united to Jesus at his baptism instead of being anointed by the Spirit of God at his baptism.
Shinchonji also teaches that the Son of God did not exist before coming to earth. But, the Scriptures teach that the Son was already united to God before entering this world. Philippians 2:5,6 teach that the Son was equal to God before coming as a servant to earth. In John 8:58, Jesus said that he existed before Abraham.
After studying many passages, Christians define Jesus as being both the Son of God (of the same nature as God) and the Son of Man (the same nature as a human, without sin). But, Shinchonji allows a revelation to Mr. Lee to alter these truths with new information and new Bible explanations.
One Shinchonji teacher said that Jn. 17:5 does not mean what the Son of God said about his pre-existence. Yet, several Old Testament passages reveal that the Messiah would be both man and God. Isaiah calls the Messiah child, Mighty God (Is. 9). Psalms 45, in the descrption that goes beyond the description of the human kings in Israel, calls the Messiah king, God.
What we observe is that Mr. Lee´s anointing removes teachings about Jesus that God has allowed Christians to see for centuries. Shinchonji also teaches that the special relationship between the Son of God, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit (called the Trinity) is a false doctrine, even though the SCJ website misdefines the Trinity. (See articles on this point.)
In the end, when spirit visions appear and offer new revelations about final prophecies (making everything seem extraordinary and logical), we must be careful to see how they treat the nature of Jesus. When Jesus´ nature is changed and salvation is changed, it is a red flag to the Christian world.
