The Powerful Vaccine Against Shinchonji’s Virus
12/16/2013
This blog provides advice for those who have been infected by the Shinchonji cult and misled by their bible studies and how to prevent other potential victims from falling into the same trap.
Just
as there are physical viruses (SARS, Ebola, HIV, etc) that incessantly plague
mankind, Shinchonji’s spiritual 'virus' has spread rapidly in South Korean
churches in recent years. Allegedly, there are currently over 100,000 the
infected patients. However, many lack awareness of the dangerous 'virus' as the
patients increase by 2,000 people per month and the 'victims' are left with the
pain of their damaged souls.
Although
there are awareness programs to prevent and care for the converts of
Shinchonji, such efforts tend to be superficial and vague, and ultimately, not
make much of an impact. In order to protect people and prevent them from
converting, I will introduce a new awareness program called “Anti-Shinchonji”
or “Shinchonji Vaccine”. We desperately pray that "Shinchonji Vaccine" will spread throughout all churches and damage from the cult will be wiped
out in this year.
The
Sheikh of Shinchonji – Man Hee Lee - is nothing but an “Antichrist”. He
self-proclaims that he is the Comforter/Counselor of Earth, possesses
immortality, and that he is the Savior of this generation because the Holy
Spirit resides within him. Man Hee Lee claims that people can be saved if they
believe in only him, not in Jesus Christ.
In other words, Shinchonji is a cult that assumes the guise of being a
church of Jesus Christ when it is in truth, Man Hee Lee’s church. Basically,
the cult is nothing but an organized fraud group that is non-Biblical,
anti-Christian. They claim that the Catholic and Protestant churches are the
"Babylon" – Satan – and that salvation comes only from the cult.
The
Shinchonji can be considered as a doomsday cult which set the date
conditionally. They claim that once the cult reaches 144,000 members, the
martyr's spirit will join with every member's physical body and thrive. Once
this occurs, this apocalypse will occur and every member will achieve eternal
life. Furthermore, Shinchonji is also an anti-social and anti-government criminal enterprise; many strange incidents occur with its associated members
which include running away from home, quitting work and school, divorce, assault, acts of
terror, suicide, murder, arson, stalking, surveillance, sex crime, sex for a recruitment tool, family feud, sue, and so on.
The Recruitment Process
Completely
hiding their identity, members of Shinchoji approach potential victims. They
pretend they are "lovely angels" who hold good faith of God by
telling elaborate lies and performing a well-trained act. Mannam is a volunteer organization that they use as a front and the general steps of
deceit are as follows:
1. Potential
converts and members appear to meet by chance. However, their meeting is
actually planned beforehand in a variety of ways: introduction by
acquaintances, casual introductions in sports or hobby groups, cultural
classes, school, service organizations, missions, shops, and charity events.
2. The
relationship between them builds
3. The
member counsels the potential convert using various subjects (e.g. religion, college, future, mate, vision, health, etc), centers (e.g. healing, vision, mission, drawing cure, musical cure, mental cure/treatment, etc), and analysis (e.g. psychology, MBTI, DISC, animation, blood test, and shape analyze).
4. The
member conducts bible studies in small groups called "Room for the
Gospel" (“bok-um-bang” in Korean) or various fake
churches. Members never reveal the real name of their church “Shinchonji” and
frequently change names.
* Skype or ooVoo are open used in other countries instead of Bokumbang
5. Member
leads convert to a secret center as known as the "Free Theological
Seminary"
6. New
convert eventually graduates from the center and receives a certificate
7. Convert
registers as a member using their fingerprint and receives a membership card
8. Finally,
the convert is a member and worships in the Shinchonji church.
Characteristics of the Secret Bible
Study
1. There are no outdoor signs in order to
disguise the Church of Shinchonji's identity and real purpose. In the entrance,
a sign might say any of the following: healing center, healing school,
readership center, disciple training center, cultural center, global center,
bible academic, heaven’s garden, rest stream, mission community, happiness
institute, or hope room.
2. Usually there is also a sign that says
“Authorized Personnel Only”. Alternatively, churches in the east area of Seoul
may have signs that say “Prohibited Reclusive Group”.
3. Potential 'victims' are taken to the
center after the "Room for the Gospel" bible study meetings which
consist of 3 or 4 people.
4. In order to register, a processing fee
is required to produce picture documentation. An interview is then conducted,
in which members and new converts set a bible study schedule. The course is
about 6 to 8 months and converts have a choice of weekday classes (Monday thru
Friday) and weekend classes (Saturday and Sunday). Converts can also choose
between the morning (10:30 A.M) or evening (7:30 P.M.).
5. There are no materials for the class
and students are instructed to not tell others that they are participating in
these bible studies.
6. Students are prohibited from using the
internet because it is "the fruit of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil". They are lead to believe
that they "will die once they see the internet”. This is to prevent new
converts from researching online and realizing that the bible study is being
conducted by the Shinchonji cult.
7. Students are required to leave all notes in the
center of the classroom as to not reveal it to anyone outside.
8.As a gift, the Shinchonji church gives
the 1961 Korean Hangul Version of the bible to new students so that they will
only read that particular version.
9. Instructors do not read The Apostles’
Creed at the beginning or at the end of class.
10. The instructor only uses a blackboard and chalk to
teach. They try to refute any controversies or arguments from the students by
boasting that they are experts on the orthodox theology and that they are
members of an interdenominational church.
11. Every class, the student takes a quiz
on the previous class. They also take a test for every chapter/subject.
12. Instructors record classes on tape (not
on CD) and sell it to their students for 1,000 Won (about $1) or give it away
for free.
13. During the course, there are planned
outdoor excursions to explore other churches. This is called "Kettle
Exploration".
14. Exchange of information and talking
between students are not allowed.
15. Classmates of new students are actually
members of Shinchonji who are acting as decoys.
Main
Verses for the Beginner
△ John 1:1 The word is God △ Hos. 4:6 My people are destroyed from
lack of knowledge △ John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ △ Matt. 11:27 No one knows the Father except the Son and
those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him .
△
1Cor. 2:10 The Spirit searched all things, even the deep things of God. △ Ex. 3:14 I am who I am △ 1 John 4:1 Do not believe every spirit
△ Isa.
14:12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! △ Mat. 7:21 Not everyone who says to me
‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven △ Isa. 46:10 I make known the end from
the beginning △
John 19:30 It is finished △ John 14:29 I have told you now before
it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. △ Rev. 21:6 It is done, I am the Alpha
and Omega △
Mark 4:10-12 The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to
those on the outside everything is said in 12 parables so that, “‘they may be
ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!" △ Mat. 13:11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.”△ Rom. 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God △ Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether
those things were so. △ Jer. 31:31 “The
days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with
the people of Judah. △ Luke 22:20 This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you △ Jer. 31:27 “The days are coming,” declares
the Lord,
“when I will plant the kingdoms
of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals" △ Mat.24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of
the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?"
△ 2 Thess. Don’t
let anyone deceive you in any
way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. △ 2 Thess. 2:3 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you
like a thief.
Questions Asked to Provoke Curiosity and Contemplation
During Bible Study
△ Gen. 1 Why was there day and night on the first day
even though the sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day? △ Gen. 2 Are the tree, the fruit, and the rib really
physical things? △ Gen. 3 How does the serpent talk? When God said “eat dust”, why does not
the serpent eat it? △ Gen. 4. Cain was afraid of that
anyone would kill him after killing Abel. Were there other living people before
Adam? △ What is
the sealed scroll? △ Mark 4:10 Why does Jesus tell the secret of kingdom of God using
parable? △ Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your
pearls to pigs. △ Mat 7:21 Can all who believe in Jesus go to heaven? △ Mat 13 The Seven
Parables of Heaven: The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of
the Weeds, The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the
Yeast, The Parable of the Weeds, The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, The Parable of
the Net, and A Prophet Without Honor. △ Mat. 22 In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, what
does the cattle and fattened animals represent? △ Mat. 24 "When you see standing in holy place
‘the abomination that causes desolation’, then let those who are in Judea flee
to the mountains... How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women
and nursing mothers!" And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn
when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and
great glory. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put
in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the
proper time? △ Mat 25
Who is the one who sells oil? Who does the oil and lamp refer to? Mat 24 △ John 14:16 Who does the advocate and counselor
refer to? △ 1 Thess
5. Is Jesus coming again like a thief?
Plan for Prevention Against the 'Virus'
▲ Do not engage in bible studies without letting your
church, your pastor/priest, and your family know.
▲ Report suspicious activity. For example, if someone
approaches to you with words of the Bible that you are not familiar with, if
someone who critiques your church or pastor without reasonable cause, and if
someone strongly persuades you to join a bible study.
▲ Maintain an attitude of obedience and humbleness,
focus on the word that your church pastor teaches you, and have confidence that
only Jesus is the source of salvation.
▲ Be spiritually armed with proper knowledge of Catechism as a sincere disciple.
▲ If you suspect that an acquaintance is a member of the
cult, do not directly accuse them, but rather report them to your church. If you
feel like you have been led astray by this person, you must seek help from a
professional counselor or pastor.
▲ Churches should perform background checks to confirm
the identity of new comers, asking for information like phone number, ID, name
of previous church, etc.
* We want everyone be fully aware of the Shinchonji
cult and the steps to take in order to prevent its growth. We strongly
recommend that the information in this report is shared during Sunday worship
programs, on notice boards, in fliers, and in educational classes. Please note
that the cult especially targets the naive and vulnerable, particularly young
people like high school students, college students, and the recently graduated.
Author, Shin Hyun-Wook is
Gongdosa (who works as an acting pastor and is ready for a pastor
certificate), the President of National Association of Countermeasure for
Shinchonji, and Chief Counselor of Guri Heresy Office.
The Cult Countermeasure Association of the Christian
of Korea (
www.jesus114.net) Tel 0502-838-1452
National Association of Countermeasure for Shinchonji (
www.antiscj.net) Tel. 0505-823-2580
