Dear reader,
The notes below (in English) come from a Korean documentary put out by a Christian Broadcasting station in South Korea. According to one source in the documentary, these videos have been used in churches in South Korea to educate Christians about SCJ.
The notes summarize some of the main problems discussed in counseling clinics about Shinchonji/Shincheonji. For the complete version in Korean, see the links below. For Shincheonji's counter perspective, consult Shincheonji's website and sources online.
Episode
1: Revelation
In Korea, there are counseling centers, specifically
for people who are in cults, have been in cults, or have family members who are
in cults
o
90% of clients in these centers are members of SCJ
-
This 8-episode documentary will observe and follow
families for 6 months
-
The first episode opens up with the story of a young
woman (Hyo Eun) who comes to the counseling center with her mom
o
she was persuaded by her parents to attend these
sessions
o
they made a deal- daughter will go to the counseling
sessions as long as the parents go to the SCJ bible studies
o
the mom says that her daughter began changing, in
appearance and in personality when she got into SCJ (darkened skin tone,
neglect of her responsibilities, secretive, defensive, almost acting like a
crazy person)
o
Hyo Eun begins session by declaring she will not
change her beliefs and that SCJ is heaven. She makes it clear that these
sessions will not change anything for her
o
(These counseling sessions in Korea focus on
challenging SCJ beliefs and showing Scripture to prove that SCJ teaching is
incorrect. The counselors are highly trained in SCJ doctrine and know every
bible verse SCJ uses to prove their point)
o
even after 4 sessions of counseling, the daughter
cries and begs her parents to let her go back to SCJ. she attempts to escape
several times.
-
The Hyo
Eun's (SCJ's) beliefs:
o
Lee Man Hee is the savior because the
"spirit" of Jesus dwells in him since Lee Man Hee received the open
scrolls of Revelation and ate it
o
She will not die physically nor will Lee Man Hee die
(so those who have a fear of death fall into this trap)
o
The spirit of Jesus goes in and out of Lee Man Hee
o
lying is okay if it brings glory to God and wins souls
o
Jesus used parables to talk about the things of heaven
-
Countering
SCJ's beliefs:
o
2 Thes. 2:1-3 - "
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered
together to him, we ask you, brothers,[a] 2 not to be quickly
shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day
of the Lord has come.3 Let no
one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless
the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[b] is
revealed, the son of destruction"
§ There's
no way the "spirit of Jesus" dwells in Lee Man Hee
o
Other cults in Korea also say similar things like SCJ,
such as claiming that their leader is the savior, the teacher of this
generation, God, etc.
o
SCJ says the spirit of Jesus goes "in and
out" of Lee Man Hee because if they say the spirit dwells permanently,
then that means that the end and the second coming has already come.
§ Rev.
1:7 -
Behold, he is
coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him,
and all tribes of the earth will wail[c] on
account of him. Even so. Amen.
·
Not EVERYONE saw that the spirit of Jesus came into
Lee Man Hee. His encounter of "eating the scroll" was an individual,
isolated experience
o
Luke 24:36-43
§ Jesus
will come back just as he went to heaven- in the same way
o
Rev. 22:15
§ speaks
against falsehood and lying. SCJ teaches that it is okay to lie in order to win
souls; but that goes against the Bible.
o
Rom. 3 7-8
§ lying
is not okay even when it is done to "bring glory to God"
-
SCJ prohibits members to go to counseling sessions
o
SCJ lies about what happens during counseling sessions
o
SCJ teaches that members will get beaten, drugged, and
locked up if they go to counseling sessions
o
SCJ even shows videos of hired actors who pretend to
have gone to counseling centers and were "beaten, drugged, and
abused"
o
counseling center does not even provide water in case
SCJ members falsely accuse that they've been drugged
o
SCJ also teaches members how to "fake it"
and lie in case they do end up at a counseling session. They teach their
members to lie to make their family members and the counselor believe that
they're "getting it" so that they can be sent home and go back to SCJ
o
SCJ teaches that the moment members go into the
counseling center, their spirits die and they are entering hell
-
History of SCJ
o
began in 1984 with few members and now, 2015, there
are more than 150,000 members.
-
Family members of SCJ should never give up even though
it might seem like there is no hope. Giving up is not the answer.
Episode
2: Youth
Seventh day of Hyo Eun's counseling session
o
begins to see that SCJ is a lie and their doctrines
are false
o
she promises never to go back to SCJ
-
Hyo
Eun's confession
o
she was first introduced to SCJ by a friend. her
friend approached her by getting her attention by showing her psychological and
personality tests. she then was invited to go to bible studies.
o
they did not disclose they were SCJ at the beginning
o
approached her first by talking about "looking
into one's self", being "humble", "reflecting on areas of
weakness", prohibiting her to listen to other pastors because they have
"evil spirits" and are "proud"
o
had the wrong idea of counseling centers due to SCJ's
false teachings
o
she felt like a robot for the 8 months she was in SCJ.
she was not allowed to think for herself, bring people into SCJ, slowly lost
herself and her identity
o
SCJ constantly showed videos of their doctrines and
history- brainwashing
o
then she learned how to approach people and evangelize
them deceitfully
o
lied to her family that she went to "bethel
church" (gave a false name to not disclose SCJ)
o
she was taught to lie to her family members, and they
pressured her to quit her job in order to go "all in" into SCJ
o
SCJ even told her specifically what to say, how to say
things to employers and family members
o
Hyo Eun attempted to commit suicide before going to
the counseling center because she thought it was better to die physically than
to die spiritually by going to the center
- Now, Hyo Eun has left SCJ, is restoring her
relationship with her family, restoring her faith and relationship with God and
is getting plugged in back into society
-
College students and young adults highly desired by
SCJ
o
because young people can work more and be used
o
can learn teachings faster and have less
responsibilities
o
those who are hungry to learn about the Word are most
vulnerable since SCJ pretends to answer all questions
o
students drop out of school and quit their jobs
because SCJ pressures them to do so in order to be more effective
o
their main focus is to get all the 144,000 so school
and career is not priority
o
students can live in the SCJ dorms if needed
o
family members who oppose SCJ are seen as the
"Devil", or "evil people that are preventing them to go to
heaven"
o
young adults are also vulnerable and desired because:
§ identity
still forming
§ unemployed
and beginning to get plugged into the real world
§ want to
belong to something greater
§ being
part of SCJ brings security and satisfaction
-
Da Hae's story
o
her parents drag her into the counseling center
o
Da Hae claims that she has been kidnapped and forced
to come
o
tells her parents she doesn't love them anymore
o
calls her mom "ahjuma" (korean for Mrs. or
maam) instead of "mom"
o
Da Hae calls the cops on her parents claiming that she
was forcefully brought into SCJ
o
her parents are arrested
Episode
3: Addiction
-
SCJ's Methods and tactics to deceive
o
it can happen to anyone
-
Pastor
Shin Hyun Woo
o
was a leader in SCJ for decades
o
was the main leader who educated all SCJ teachers and
leaders
o
he was Lee Man Hee's right-hand man
o
he first was introduced to SCJ in 1986 by his pastor
who was learning the Bible from Lee Man Hee
o
at first, he did not know the doctrine was from SCJ
o
he was the only college student back then (age 21) so
he quickly became one of the main leaders
o
currently, Pastor Shin is an active advocate to help
bring awareness, help family members,
and help get current SCJ members out
o
now that Pastor Shin left SCJ, Lee Man Hee calls him
the "traitor", the "betrayer", the "serpent" or
"satan"
o
after reading the Bible in English, Pastor Shin began
noticing discrepancies between Lee Man Hee's teaching and what the Bible was
saying
o
he did a lot of research on Lee Man Hee for a month
and realized that this was all a religious fraud
o
he learned that Lee Man Hee had been under other cult
leaders for 24 years, and had made his own cult
o
before he left SCJ, he read one of Lee Man Hee's book
that quoted that people must eat and drink Lee Man Hee's blood and flesh in
order to be saved. That was the determining factor that made Pastor Shin
realize that SCJ is a cult. He told everyone that his teachings were wrong.
After Pastor Shin left, Lee Man Hee began denying that he had ever said or
written that people must eat and drink of his blood and flesh. Now, even though
his old books still say this, he denies it and claims that Pastor Shin is lying
in order to make him look bad. Now, Lee Man Hee teaches that people are not to
eat and drink of his flesh and blood.
-
How do
people get into SCJ?
o
through teachings and bible studies
o
people get addicted to the study of parables and
matching verses, making it seem like they're finally getting questions answered
o
two months is enough to learn their teachings, get
addicted to them, and get brainwashed
o
after the study of parables, SCJ discloses that their
church is actually SCJ. it is safe to disclose that after the two months
because by then, they have already become addicted and brainwashed. however, if
students find out that the teachings are from SCJ during or prior the 2 months,
then they can reject the teachings and leave SCJ
o
most people who fall into SCJ admit that SCJ was
attractive because they always had questions about the bible and SCJ answered
them all (not knowing it is false doctrine)
o
those who are most vulnerable are not new believers
but people who have been Christians for many years
-
SCJ
trainings:
o
after completing the 2 month bible studies, members are told that they are
part of SCJ and begin the following trainings:
§ New
member's training
§ Recruiting
new members training
·
they are given different manuals on how to recruit
different types of people such as, those who are dependent on pastors, those
who are highly educated, those who are stronger in personality, etc.
·
recruiters are called "harvesters"
·
they do plenty of research on potential members prior
to approaching them
·
they find out all about them like personal information
such as, family background, educational background, personality type, level of
spiritual maturity, etc.
·
they observe potential members for weeks and plan out
a strategic method to approach them
·
they pretend to randomly meet, when in fact, they have
been observing potential members for weeks
·
Christians who have been hurt by the church are also
vulnerable to being recruited
-
SCJ beliefs:
o
Lee Man Hee is the promised pastor/teacher and
salvation is received only through him
o
understanding and learning parables brings salvation
o
Lee Man Hee received and ate the scrolls. He claims
that the scrolls he ate (Rev. 4) is the entire book of Revelation. Therefore,
only Lee Man Hee has the correct teachings of the Bible
§ However,
this is false and does not make sense. The sealed scrolls in Rev. 4 is not the
book of Revelation because there is no way John was done writing the entire
book, since he is barely on chapter 5. He still had many visions to see and
record. By chapter 5, John wasn't even half way through with writing the book.
Therefore, the sealed scrolls are God's laws that were written in the Old
Testament. If you look at Rev. 6, you can clearly see what those sealed scrolls
are.
-
Parables of SCJ
o
According to SCJ, Gen. 1 is about a spiritual
Creation, not a real, physical one
§ Heavens
and the Earth (the people/the church)-
§ everything
is symbolic and not literal for them
§ Adam
and Eve were not the first humans on earth- they believe there were people
already on earth prior to Adam and Eve
o
The second coming of Jesus
§ Matt.
24 and Rev 1 says that Jesus will return on the clouds, so that all can see
him. however, SCJ claims that "heaven" and "clouds" have
spiritual meanings. for them, "heaven" symbolizes the spiritual
world, and "clouds" symbolize "spirit". Therefore,
according to SCJ, they believe that Jesus will return not physically but
spiritually, using the body of Lee Man Hee. Those who went to SCJ were first attracted because of
their teachings. Therefore, they can come out of SCJ by correct, truthful
teachings.
Episode 4: Lies
-
SCJ members used to be normal people, who were simply
hungry to learn the Bible.
- Then how does SCJ get these people? By lying and
strategically deceiving
-
Annual
“World Peace” Festival
o
Each September, SCJ has a “World Peace” festival
in Korea for 4 consecutive days
o
Religious leaders from all over the world are
invited to attend (Catholics, Buddhists, Muslims, etc.)
o
SCJ members from all over the world also unite that
day in Korea
o
Letters are sent out all over the world using a
non-profit organization name such as (IPYG) and Lee Man Hee is introduced as a man
who travels worldwide to achieve world peace, after having fought in the Korean
War.
o
The purpose of this festival is to “unite” all
religions to become one under SCJ
o
However, the religious leaders that attend are
not aware that this even is hosted by SCJ
o
SCJ makes it seem as if these leaders accept SCJ
teachings and pledge to go back to their countries to teach the teachings.
However, this is not true. SCJ hires fake actors to pose as people who love and
accept SCJ teachings
o
Everything in the festival points out to Lee Man Hee.
He is introduced as the "prince of peace", "the king of
kings". Lee Man Hee teaches his doctrine at the festival.
o
victims and family members stand outside of the
festival, protesting.
o
only SCJ members and foreign religious leaders who
have been invited are allowed inside. news reporters and others are not allowed
inside
-
Kim Nam
Hee
o
Kim Nam Hee is the head of a religious
non-profit organization called “Mannam”
o
She partners up with Lee Man Hee
o
At the 2012 "World Peace" Festival,
Kim Nam Hee and Lee Man Hee got married “spiritually” and even had a ceremony
in the “World Peace Festival”
o
They suspect that Kim Nam Hee will become Lee
Man Hee successor after Lee Man Hee dies (Lee Man Hee is almost 90 and is
physically becoming weaker so they are preparing for a successor)
o
she is called, "The mother of the nations"
-
“SCJ
Centers”
o
In Seoul alone, there are more than 70 “SCJ
Centers” where they teach SCJ bible studies.
o
These centers are not registered neither as a
church nor a school- they are illegally operating. In Korea, by law, places that teach
10 or more students for more than 30 days are considered "academies"
and must be registered under the "Educational System"
o
These “SCJ centers” use a fake name, pretending
to be a “normal church” from a Christian denomination
o
Even students that go to these “SCJ centers” do
not know they are SCJ centers. They were just invited to attend, and think they
are simply attending a small church, or a small group
-
Evangelism
o
SCJ members are pressured and manipulated to
“evangelize” and “bear fruit”
o
By the end of each month, SCJ puts up charts to
compare productivity and “encourage” members to bring more people into SCJ
o
Their goal is to fill all the”144,000”
Episode 5: Wounds
-
Episode begins with the story of a mother of two
children, both children are in scj. The mother committed suicide. Prior to
committing suicide, the mother visited the anti-scj counseling center in Korea.
-
Stories of people whose family members are
involved in scj
o
SCJ members quit schools, their jobs, run away
from their homes, and disconnect with family members all because of SCJ
o
SCJ members change 180 degrees (neglect family
members, become defensive and attacking, calling parents “demons”) and lie
o
Some SCJ members wrote suicide letters to family
members, saying “the only way non-SCJ family members can receive eternal life “
is for them to kill themselves and lie
-
The reason why people fall into SCJ is because
they don’t know the reality and the truth of SCJ.
-
People who have family members in SCJ protest,
demanding their family members back.
o
SCJ prevents them from protesting, persecuting
them and even bullying family members
o
But family members do not stop protesting
because they feel like that’s the only thing they can do
-
Episode begins with a scene of a father
protesting with signs for his son who is in SCJ. The son sees his father and
begins attacking his own dad both physically and verbally.
-
SCJ members evangelize their family members and
others for selfish reasons
o
In order for their names to be recorded on the
“book of life”, they must evangelize at least 2 people
o
Evangelizing is not for the sake of “lost souls”
but for their own salvation
-
Episode shows many stories of people who have
lost their members into SCJ.
-
SCJ affects the family and breaks relationships.
-
Religion that breaks families is not true
religion.
-
Story of a high school student
o
She got into SCJ through the fake surveys SCJ
hands out (another evangelizing tactic SCJ uses)
o
Mom brings her daughter into the Anti-cult
Counseling Center. Makes a promise to go to the SCJ studies if the daughter
goes to counseling
o
The daughter weeps and cries asking her parents
to take her back home
o
She attends counseling with her parents for a
week. Then lies to her parents and counselor saying that she now sees why SCJ
is a cult and how their teachings are false. She lies in order to discontinue
counseling. Her parents believe her and they agree to discontinue counseling
until she finishes her college entry exam. However, after she leaves
counseling, she never comes back and later admits that she had lied and played
the game just so that she doesn’t have to continue counseling and can go back to
SCJ.
-
A man takes his wife (Kyung Hae) to the
counseling center
o
Kyung Hae appears irritated and defensive
o
Kyung Hae claims that she is not “Stupid” and
that she “tested” the teachings for herself and found them to be “true”
o
For four hours, Kyung Hae and the counselor go
back and forth, attacking each other’s beliefs. Kyung Hae is very aggressive
towards the counselor and gets into a heated argument.
o
They stop the counseling session. The husband
asks everyone else to leave the room and has a conversation with his wife.
Kyung Hae calms down and agrees to come back the next day to resume counseling.
o
The next day, counseling resumes. Kyung Hae
begins to listen and be more open to learning biblical explanation
-
SCJ’s teachings vs biblical teachings (that are
discussed during Kyung Hae’s biblical counseling session)
o
Lee Man Hee is the Savior (SCJ’s belief) vs. Lee Man Hee is human, like any one of us,
unable to save because he himself is a sinner (human) (biblical belief)
§
for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom. 3:26)
§
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ
Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)
§
Someone, other than a human, needs to save all
of us
o
Each generation has a different Savior (SCJ’s
belief)
§
Noah was the savior of his generation by telling
people to get into ark to rescue them from the flood
§
Moses was the savior of his generation,
delivering the people out of Egypt
§
Jesus was the savior of his generation, by dying
on the cross
§
However, biblically speaking, Noah and Moses
were NOT saviors- they were simply God’s messengers, and God’s prophets, used
by God. God himself saved the people in the Old Testament, not the
prophets/servants/messengers
o
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether
they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1
John 4:1)
-
After
9 days of consecutive counseling, Kyung Hae finally realizes she’s been
deceived and confesses what SCJ has taught her
o
She
realized that she held onto SCJ’s teachings for her own sake- to receive
salvation, to live eternally, to be part of the 144,000, rather than believing
in Jesus Christ for the sake of believing in Him.
-
What helped Kyung Hae turn away from SCJ was her
husband’s love- her husband never gave up on her and walked through it with her
until the end.
Episode 8: The Word (Final Episode)
-
Kyung Hae confessed that every single day she
was at SCJ she was fearful. Fear compelled her to go out and bring more people
into SCJ and learn their teachings in order to secure her salvation
-
Kyung Hae’s husband shares that he hopes
churches will receive SCJ members and their families into their churches to
restore them, rather than pushing them out in order to protect their church
-
What must the church do to help?
o
Churches must teach their members SCJ tactics to
prevent falling into SCJ
o
Churches must teach their members the Word
correctly so that they won’t seek to fill their spiritual hunger elsewhere
o
Churches must have compassion towards victims
and not judge them
o
Churches must preach about salvation and the
gospel more often, and correctly.
-
Christian churches in Korea are not blameless
o
Can’t just point finger at cults, but churches
must also examine themselves
o
Prideful
-
1980’s, South Korea began developing drastically
economically
o
Churches began expanding and preaching
humanistic sermons, such as, “if you believe in Jesus, you will succeed and be
rich” rather than teaching biblically that “believing in Christ” leads to
eternal life, and that we are in the process of sanctification, to become more
like Christ
o
Churches began focusing on tithing to grow the
churches
-
CBS (Christian Broadcasting Station) started a
campaign called, “SCJ OUT” to bring awareness, and equip churches by teaching
about SCJ’s incorrect teachings.
-
Churches must teach and live out the Word, in
order to withstand the attacks of cults.
