At first, many students in the Bible study feel excited and connected. But later, some realize there’s more going on behind the scenes. In most cases, the name “Shincheonji” is not mentioned at the beginning. Instead, teachers often say they’re just Bible teachers or part of a “non-denominational” group. Some even pretend to come from other churches or made-up groups.

Former members say that the name “Shincheonji” usually doesn’t come up until months later—after the student has already built strong emotional connections and feels deeply committed to the class and the people in it. By the time the name is finally revealed, students are often emotionally invested and mentally prepared to accept Shincheonji’s teachings. Because of this, many say the whole thing felt staged or planned to slowly ease them into the group.

One ex-member named Laurie, who used to be a leader inside SCJ, said that in most classes, only about half of the people are actually new. The other half are long-time members pretending to be new students. These planted members are called “maintainers” or “leaves.” Their job is to observe the new students, build trust, ask personal questions, and report what they learn to the teachers.

That way, the teacher would later mention something personal about the student during class, making it feel like the teacher had divine insight—like they were getting information straight from God. This made the teaching feel more powerful and convinced many students that what they were hearing must be true. But really, it was all part of a carefully designed method to gain the student’s trust.

SCJ uses this method to connect to people’s deepest struggles, like feeling lost, dealing with grief, or searching for a stronger purpose. They tailor the message to speak directly to those emotional needs. That’s why it often feels like God Himself is talking to you through the lessons.

From Shincheonji’s own point of view, this way of slowly revealing their identity is not deception, but a teaching strategy. They believe it’s important to first build a strong foundation—to teach people how to understand the Bible’s parables and figurative language—before telling them where the teachings come from. Students are told to listen humbly, reflect deeply, and test everything against the Word, before they know the group’s name or that the teacher is connected to Schincheonji.

They say this method is like watching a movie or TV show. You don’t want the spoilers too early, because it ruins the anticipation. In the same way, SCJ builds up to the big reveal by using repetition, subtle clues, and “Easter eggs”—hidden hints dropped throughout the lessons.

Eventually, all of this leads to the big reveal, what they call the “testimony.” This is the moment when everything is “unveiled,” and students are told the full truth: that the “New John,” also known as the “promised pastor,” is Lee Man-hee, and that he is the only one who has received the open word directly from Jesus. They believe that when this testimony is shared, students will suddenly realize that all the puzzle pieces fit together and that Shincheonji is the truth.

But SCJ also knows that if they came out right away and said, “This is Lee Man-hee, and he is the Messiah you need for salvation,” most people would probably walk away. So, they wait—until students are more ready to hear it and more likely to accept it.

This strategic pacing is meant to keep people from being shocked and leaving too soon. But for many former members, this feels like a trick. They say it’s manipulative, not spiritual. Teachers often avoid answering certain questions—especially if the student already knows what to ask. That’s a red flag to many people. It shows that some information is deliberately hidden until the “proper time” in the class.

Another issue is consistency. Not every SCJ Bible class is the same. Different teachers may use different names for the course. Different tribes may use different strategies or teaching styles. Over time, this can lead to confusion—almost like a “telephone game,” where the message changes slightly as it gets passed on.

Now, it’s true that SCJ has many of their lessons available on YouTube, and Lee Man-hee has published books that are meant to track what the official teachings are. Many members and ex-members also take detailed notes during the classes. These materials can help keep a record of what is being taught and are important tools for watching doctrinal consistency over time.

But even with these public materials, many former members have witnessed doctrinal change—moments when the teachings had to shift because they didn’t match reality or the fulfillment SCJ expected. In other words, when a prophecy failed to come true, the doctrine was changed to explain it away.

This kind of shift isn’t just “spiritual growth.” Critics and ex-members say these changes are often done to protect the group’s image. Like many other high-control groups, Shincheonji tends to cover up doctrinal changes, sometimes rewriting history or avoiding open conversations about why the change happened. This is why having records—like class notes, official videos, and published materials—is so important. They help people see the development of the doctrine and detect gaslighting or manipulation.

A major example was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many members started noticing clear changes in the teaching. The fulfillment that SCJ had claimed would happen in real life did not match what was going on in the world. The leadership then began to shift the teachings to fit the new reality. As a result, many members left, feeling betrayed and confused.

This shows why it’s crucial to stay alert and watch for doctrinal change—especially when it’s used to justify failure or cover up unfulfilled prophecy. It also reminds us that no matter how spiritual or organized something looks, we need to ask: Is it still saying the same thing? And if not—why did it change?

Some ex-members, like Laurie, say they noticed what they call “irrational doctrine” or “manipulative tactics.” This supports the idea that SCJ may reinterpret their teachings when needed to stay relevant or avoid looking wrong.

There’s also a lot of pressure to evangelize. In SCJ, bringing in new students—called “fruit”—is seen as essential. Members are taught that “saving souls” is the most important thing in the world and that God’s will is to save lives by any means possible. This makes people believe that the ends justify the means; they even have a name for it: the “wisdom of hiding”. In other words, it’s okay to withhold information or be vague, because in their minds, they’re doing it for God.

Inside the group, there’s a strong system of internal monitoring. People are encouraged to report on each other. “Strong members” are supposed to help or guide “weak members”, especially if someone starts to doubt or question the teachings. There’s a lot of pressure—emotionally and spiritually—to stay in line.

This pressure comes in the form of fear and guilt: fear of the outside world, fear of losing salvation, fear of being punished, fear of leaving and being cut off from friends. These fears make it very hard to think clearly or walk away.

Many former members say they were told their life before SCJ was “really bad.” This message is repeated so often that people start to believe it. So even when things inside SCJ are difficult, members convince themselves that it’s still better than what they had before.

By the time someone learns the full truth about Shincheonji—about who they really are, what they really believe, and how deeply the structure is designed to control rather than simply teach—it often feels like waking up from a very well-produced story. For many, the emotional bond has already been formed, the tests passed, the sacrifices made. And that’s exactly why the reveal comes so late.

The delay isn’t accidental. It’s strategic. It’s about shaping someone’s understanding and loyalty before giving them the full picture. And when questions are finally asked, the answers often come too carefully, too vaguely—or not at all.

What started as a journey for truth, clarity, and purpose slowly becomes a world of hidden systems, staged relationships, controlled environments, and shifting doctrines. Doubts are labeled as weakness. Outside voices are dismissed as poison. Loyalty becomes tied to identity, and walking away starts to feel like betrayal—not just of the group, but of God Himself.

To really understand what the Bible is saying, it’s important to look at the full context—not just one verse here or there. That means we have to take time to learn how the Bible was written, who it was written to, and why it was written in the first place.

The Bible isn’t just one book—it’s actually a collection of many books, written over hundreds of years by different people in different places. Some parts are poetry, some are letters, others are prophecies, laws, or historical stories. Each section uses different writing styles or literary genres, and if we miss that, we might misunderstand what the Bible is actually trying to say.

A lot of the Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. These ancient languages are different from English or Korean today. They had different meanings, expressions, and culture behind the words. So something that made perfect sense to a first-century reader might not be obvious to us in the modern world with phones, movies, and social media shaping how we think.

For example, the Book of Revelation uses a complex literary style that’s very symbolic. Scholars have found things like chiastic structures in it—this is a writing pattern where ideas are repeated in reverse order like A-B-C-B’-A’. It’s used to highlight the central idea in the middle. Revelation also uses parallelism, which means saying similar ideas in slightly different ways right after each other. These patterns were very common in the ancient world, especially in Hebrew and Greek writing.

 

Read more about this topic: Closer Look Initiative – Christianity Bible.
Examine the chiastic structures of the book of Revelation.

Revelation also has parts that feel like a drama or stage play. There are heavenly scenes, characters speaking to each other, and dramatic lines that feel like messages being delivered in a theater. For example, the chorus of heavenly creatures in Revelation 4:6–8 and the huge crowd shouting praise in Revelation 7:9–10 create a dramatic, emotional experience. These parts make Revelation feel vivid and intense, almost like a cosmic play.

Some scholars believe that Revelation reflects the influence of Greek tragedy—not because John was copying Greek theater, but because he lived in a Hellenistic culture, where people were familiar with that kind of storytelling. So, the emotions, imagery, and dialogue might reflect that background. That’s important to know, because it helps us read Revelation the way the first readers would’ve understood it.

Now here’s something really fascinating: Revelation might actually be a retelling of the battle of Jericho from the book of Joshua chapter 6. This isn’t just a random comparison—it’s what’s called typology, where something in the Old Testament foreshadows something bigger in the New Testament. It shows that God has a pattern—a consistent way of working across time.

Here are some amazing examples:

• In Joshua 5:13, the commander of the Lord’s army shows up with a sword. In Revelation 1:16, Jesus appears to John with a double-edged sword coming from His mouth.
• Jericho was a wicked, rich city that stood against God (Joshua 6). In Revelation, Babylon the Great is also shown as a wealthy, evil city (Revelation 18:2).
• In Joshua, Rahab, a woman with a shameful past, was marked by scarlet and saved by faith (Joshua 2). In Revelation, there’s a woman in scarlet too (Revelation 17:3–5), but her story is tied to judgment and redemption.
• Before the battle at Jericho, Joshua told his people to purify themselves (Joshua 5). In Revelation, Jesus tells the seven churches to repent and be spiritually ready (Revelation 2–3).
• Joshua sent two spies who were saved after three days (Joshua 2). Revelation talks about two witnesses who are raised from the dead after three and a half days (Revelation 11).
• In Jericho, they blew seven trumpets on the seventh day, and the walls came crashing down (Joshua 6:4). In Revelation, seven trumpets lead to judgments, and the final trumpet announces the fall of Babylon (Revelation 11:15, 18:2).
• Joshua told Rahab’s family to “come out” before the city was destroyed (Joshua 6:22). In Revelation, a voice from heaven says, “Come out of her, my people” before Babylon falls (Revelation 18:4).
• Joshua led Israel across the Jordan River into the promised land (Joshua 3). In Revelation 22, Jesus leads His people across the river of the water of life into the New Jerusalem.

Watch more videos and discover Jesus in every story from Watermark Gospel.
Read more about this topic: Closer Look Initiative – Christianity Series.

When you look at all of this together, it’s clear that God has a pattern. He’s telling one big story, not just random separate events. It shows that when we understand literary structure, history, and the spiritual meaning behind the words, we can read the Bible the way it was meant to be read.

But here’s why this matters so much: if we don’t understand the full context, it becomes easier for someone to twist the meaning—even using the Bible to say things it never meant. That’s why it’s so important to compare scripture with scripture, look at the original purpose behind each book, and be careful of groups or teachers who only show one side of the story.

When people don’t have this kind of grounding, they can easily accept teachings that sound biblical—but are actually distorted. That’s why studying the Bible deeply and honestly is one of the best ways to know the real truth—and to tell the difference between God’s Word and someone else’s version of it.

In Shincheonji’s Bible study, there comes a point when they start talking about something called the “physical fulfillment of prophecy”. This is a very big idea in SCJ. They believe that the prophecies in Revelation have already been fulfilled—not just spiritually, but in real life, in a physical place, through real events that already happened.

They say that these events were fulfilled in a small town in South Korea called Gwacheon, and that it all took place through the life and ministry of Lee Man-hee, the leader of SCJ. This is where the “testimony” becomes central. According to SCJ, Lee Man-hee is the witness who saw everything happen. And because he saw it, they believe he is the only one who can explain what the prophecies mean.

The “evidence” they use to support this mostly comes in the form of narrative storytelling—connecting Bible verses to real people, specific dates, and events in SCJ’s history. They show photos of large gatherings, like the 1995 event where they say the 12 tribes were established at Suwon Public Stadium, or the 2019 100,000 graduation ceremony.

These visuals are shown as “proof” that the prophecy was fulfilled, and that Revelation has already come true “in reality.” For people who are emotionally connected to the teachings, this can feel like strong confirmation that SCJ’s message is real.

But here’s the issue: there’s no way to actually verify these claims using independent, outside evidence. Former members and critics point out that the “proof” is not objective. It wouldn’t hold up in a court or academic study. It relies almost completely on what SCJ calls “testimony”—basically, Lee Man-hee saying that he saw it happen, and the group believing it based on that.

So what makes this feel convincing?

It’s not really the evidence itself. It’s the fact that by the time students hear this part of the teaching, they’ve already been through months of Bible study. They’ve already spent a lot of time, energy, and emotions on learning SCJ’s interpretation. They’ve built friendships, passed tests, and maybe even been “love bombed” with care and attention. They’re emotionally invested.

They’ve also been told that the SCJ way of reading the Bible is the only true way, and that Lee Man-hee is the only person who can interpret it correctly. By this point, it’s very hard to question what’s being presented—because to doubt the teaching feels like doubting the Bible itself.

And if someone does have doubts, those are often dismissed as “the work of the devil” or a sign that they’re spiritually immature or “not ready.” This creates an environment where people feel pressure to agree, even if something doesn’t feel right deep down.

This is why the idea of “physical fulfillment” can be so powerful—not because it’s been proven, but because people have been primed to believe it through long-term teaching and emotional pressure.

And that’s dangerous. Because once someone believes that one man’s interpretation is the only valid one—and that it’s already been fulfilled in a place they can’t verify—it becomes almost impossible to question or investigate. It puts all the authority into the hands of one person’s “testimony,” without any real checks or outside witnesses.

It’s important to remember that real truth doesn’t fear examination. If something is truly from God, it should be able to stand up to questions, to fact-checking, and to testing. But when a group only offers internal “proof” and discourages outside research, it’s a sign that something might not be as solid as it seems.

This video provides a chilling guide on how to become a cult leader, detailing manipulative tactics such as deception, love bombing, control of behavior, thoughts, and information, and inducing fear and dependency in followers. It highlights the disturbing power dynamics and psychological manipulation used by cult leaders.

One of the things that sounds really good at the start of Shincheonji’s Bible study is the idea of discernment. Students are encouraged to think carefully, ask questions, and test what’s true or false. SCJ even says this is just like what the Bereans did in Acts 17:11—checking the Scriptures to see if what they were taught was right.

They also warn students not to add to or take away from Scripture (Revelation 22:18–19) or “do not go beyond what is written” and tell them to “test every spirit” (1 John 4:1). This sounds very biblical. It gives the impression that SCJ wants people to be serious about finding the truth—not just following feelings or opinions, but checking everything against God’s Word.

In the beginning, that message makes students feel like they’re part of something thoughtful and spiritually responsible. You’re told: “Don’t just believe your pastor or your church. Let the Bible interpret the Bible.”

But over time, something changes.

Once students are deep into the months-long SCJ study program—sometimes for six to nine months, including hard tests—the atmosphere shifts. The encouragement to ask questions and test the teachings starts to fade.

Instead, students are told that any outside teaching or opinion is poison. People who speak against SCJ are said to be working with Satan or part of Babylon, which they claim is full of false teachings. Even reading other perspectives or visiting Christian websites is said to be dangerous or a way to be “spiritually polluted.”

SCJ often uses dramatic language like “the maddening wine of adultery” from Revelation 17–18 to describe other teachings. It creates fear around learning from anyone outside their group.

And that’s the irony.

At the beginning, students are taught to test everything, to be humble, and to listen carefully to Scripture. But after they’ve accepted SCJ’s teachings, that same testing and humility is not encouraged anymore—especially if it leads them to ask hard questions about SCJ itself.

People are told: “You’ve already found the truth. Don’t let anyone take it away.” But that’s not the same attitude they had when someone was questioning their old church or pastor.

Here’s what makes it even harder: SCJ teaches that the Bible was sealed until one person—Lee Man-hee, the New John—received the open word. Students are told that no one else in history could understand the Bible properly until now. So once someone accepts that idea, it becomes almost impossible to think differently. It’s like every other explanation automatically becomes “wrong” or “from the devil.”

And when someone from the outside tries to explain the Bible differently, SCJ usually doesn’t want to listen. They say things like, “That’s just human interpretation,” or “They haven’t seen the fulfillment.” But that’s strange—because when SCJ was explaining their teachings in the beginning, they wanted people to listen and think deeply.

So now it becomes a one-way street. SCJ expects others to take months to understand their teaching. But they don’t give others that same patience or openness in return.

This is how the group creates an “us vs. them” mindset.

SCJ teaches that the rest of Christianity is Babylon, filled with man-made doctrine. Only SCJ, they say, has the seed of God and the true interpretation. Anyone outside is either misled or working against God—even if they love the Bible and follow Jesus.

But here’s a hard and honest question: What if SCJ is wrong? If they are adding to or taking away from the Bible, just like they say Babylon is doing, then by their own teaching, they would also be under the same curse and judgment (Revelation 22:18–19). If Lee Man-hee is not truly sent by God, then all the warnings SCJ gives about false teachers would apply to them.

That’s why we need to be careful.

When a group claims to be the only source of truth on earth, we should always ask: Can it be tested? Can it be questioned? Can it stand up to Scripture, history, and reality? Because if it can’t—then it’s not truth. It’s control.

This kind of shift—from open-minded learning to rigid loyalty—isn’t just a spiritual issue. It’s also psychological. A famous study by psychologist Solomon Asch showed how people will often go along with a group’s opinion, even when they know it’s clearly wrong, just to avoid standing out. This is called conformity—and it helps explain why even thoughtful, discerning people can end up silencing their doubts when they’re surrounded by a strong, confident group that insists it already has the truth.

The classic fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes tells the story of a ruler convinced by tricksters that he’s wearing magnificent garments—visible only to the wise and worthy. Fearing judgment, no one admits they see nothing. Ministers, advisors, and citizens all nod along, affirming what isn’t real. It’s not until a child—free from fear and flattery—shouts, “But he isn’t wearing anything at all!” that truth pierces the illusion.

This story perfectly mirrors how Shincheonji (SCJ) draws people into its belief system.

“If You Don’t See It, You’re Not Spiritual Enough”

At the heart of SCJ teaching is the idea that only one person—Lee Man-hee, also called the “Promised Pastor” or “New John”—has received the “open word” directly from Jesus and can explain the Bible’s true meaning. In fact, SCJ claims:

“The one who speaks on behalf of Jesus must be known in order to come to Jesus.”

And again:

“There is no salvation except through the pastor promised by Jesus.”

It goes further. On page 399 of The Creation of Heaven and Earth, Lee Man-hee claims:

“I am the savior… I am creating the kingdom of heaven and eternal life.”

Students are taught that rejecting this “one who is sent” is the same as rejecting Jesus Himself:

“When someone disobeys the one whom God has sent, he is in reality disobeying God and Jesus.”

This is where the illusion begins.

“Everyone Around Me Believes It… So It Must Be True”

Much like the emperor’s ministers who pretended to see invisible clothes to avoid seeming unworthy, SCJ members are surrounded by long-time believers (“maintainers”) pretending to be students. Their job is to build trust, ask personal questions, and mirror belief. This creates a room full of people nodding in agreement—even if some secretly have doubts.

But no one wants to be the one to question. Because if you don’t “see” the fulfillment, or if you’re confused by the interpretation, the problem isn’t with the doctrine—it’s you. You’re told you’re not “spiritual enough” or “humble enough” yet.

This is the illusion: The more you pretend to understand, the more you’re praised as chosen.

The “Child” Who Speaks Up

In Andersen’s story, the lie only breaks when someone outside the pressure—a child—points out what’s obvious. In SCJ, this “child” moment often comes from a friend, former member, or a moment of deep reflection, where someone finally says:

“Wait. This doesn’t sound like what Jesus taught in the Bible.”

Like the emperor, many SCJ students don’t lack intelligence—they’ve been caught in a system that punishes doubt and rewards conformity.

Biblical Warning

The Bible warns us about those who claim exclusive access to salvation:

“Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name…” (Matthew 24:4–5)
“If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.” (Matthew 24:23)
“Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” (1 John 4:1)

Truth doesn’t require fear, secrecy, or a single human gatekeeper. If someone claims that you must go through them to get to Jesus, that is a massive red flag.

Truth Doesn’t Need Illusions

In The Emperor’s New Clothes, the deception ended when one voice broke the silence. Likewise, former SCJ members are now stepping out and speaking up—not out of hate, but out of love for truth.

Because real faith doesn’t require pretending. Real truth doesn’t manipulate. And real salvation doesn’t wear a costume.

One of the biggest things to think about when it comes to Shincheonji is this question:

Why is their truth so secret?

SCJ teaches that only they understand the Bible correctly. They believe that their leader, Lee Man-hee, is the one sent by Jesus—New John—and that the true meaning of the Bible was only revealed through him. This includes the belief that only SCJ knows how to be saved.

But when we look at the Bible and the way Jesus taught, this idea doesn’t line up.

Jesus didn’t teach in secret. In John 18:20, Jesus says, “I have spoken openly to the world… I said nothing in secret.” He taught in public places like synagogues, hillsides, and people’s homes. His miracles were seen by crowds. After His resurrection, over 500 people saw Him alive (1 Corinthians 15:6). That’s a lot of witnesses—not just one person’s testimony.

And in the Bible, truth is not meant to be hidden or held by one man alone. In Deuteronomy 19:15 and 2 Corinthians 13:1, it says that truth should be confirmed by two or three witnesses. Even the apostles didn’t just believe each other without question—Paul publicly corrected Peter in Galatians 2 when Peter was acting hypocritically. That shows even church leaders were held accountable.

Jesus also warned us: “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it” (Matthew 24:23–24). That’s a strong warning. He knew that many would come later claiming to be sent by God. He told us to be careful.

If we’re to rely solely on God’s Word and let Him speak to our hearts, shouldn’t we also question whether any group, including SCJ, could be adding their own lens to the scriptures? After all, the Bible warns us to test every spirit in 1 John 4:1 to make sure that what we’re hearing is truly from God, not from a false prophet. But SCJ’s teaching doesn’t allow for that kind of open testing anymore.

How do you know it’s God’s voice and not an organization’s influence guiding your understanding?  They claim to encourage it at the beginning—but once you’re inside, questioning is seen as rebellion or slander.

And history shows us a pattern: many people have claimed to receive private messages from God, without any public confirmation. For example:

• Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, said he received golden plates from an angel. But no one else could see them.
• Muhammad, the founder of Islam, said he received messages from Allah through the angel Gabriel, but again—he was the only one who experienced it.
• Sun Myung Moon, from the Unification Church, claimed he had divine revelations that only he understood.

In all these cases, the message depended on believing just one person’s word.

That’s what’s happening in SCJ, too. They say their message is “too difficult for most people to accept,” and compare it to Jesus saying, “You must eat my flesh and drink my blood” (John 6:53–56)—which many people found hard to accept. But here’s the difference: Jesus said that in public, in front of a crowd, and He didn’t stop people from walking away. His teaching was open, not hidden.

SCJ says they hide their identity to avoid “persecution” or “enemies.” But this raises a serious question: If what they teach is true, why hide?

Many other religious groups—even controversial ones—make their teachings public. Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Unification Church publish their doctrines online and welcome public discussion. But SCJ is much more secretive, especially during recruitment. Why?

They say it’s to “protect the sheep from the wolves”—but others say it’s a way to control the message and prevent questions before students are emotionally committed.

This also brings up the topic of free will. If someone is being guided step by step, slowly brought into something without knowing where it’s going, can we really say they made a free and informed choice? If the teaching is only revealed after loyalty is formed, it becomes hard to leave. That’s not freedom—that’s manipulation.

The Bible shows us that God doesn’t work through one person only. In 1 Kings 19:14–18, Elijah thought he was the only prophet left. But God told him there were 7,000 others who hadn’t bowed to Baal. That reminds us: God always has a remnant, and His truth doesn’t rely on one man.

And there’s something else to consider. SCJ says that Christian churches are Babylon, and that they’re full of false doctrine. But if that’s true—why are Christians the most persecuted group in the world today?

If Satan controls Babylon, why would he be attacking it so hard?

In Mark 3:24, Jesus says, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” So if Christians are being attacked, maybe it’s not because they’re false—but because they’re a real threat to darkness. That’s something worth thinking about.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Light doesn’t hide. It shines where everyone can see it. That’s very different from secret Bible classes, hidden church names, or teachings that say “you’ll only understand after months of study.”

Real truth doesn’t need to be protected like a secret.

It’s meant to be shared—boldly, openly, and with love.

Membership, The “Fruit” of Recruitment

In Shincheonji (SCJ), salvation isn’t just about knowing God or believing in Jesus. It’s closely tied to completing their Bible study course, passing doctrinal tests, and joining a specific tribe within the church. Only then, they teach, can you be part of the 144,000 sealed—the group they believe is saved and eligible to enter heaven.

This is where the idea of “fruit” comes in.

When a student finishes the course and “passes over” (converts), they are considered the fruit of the SCJ member or tribe that invited them. Each tribe is given quotas, and members are told to keep producing fruit—that is, bringing in new people—to stay faithful and obedient to God’s will.

Recruiting others becomes a spiritual duty. Evangelism is no longer just sharing the good news—it’s a requirement tied directly to one’s own salvation. As they often say in SCJ, “The most precious work is saving a soul.” But in practice, that often means recruiting to meet goals, not necessarily helping someone walk with Jesus.

This raises an important question:

What happens to people who don’t—or can’t—go through this process?

There are many groups of people who, by SCJ’s standards, wouldn’t qualify:

• People with mental illness or intellectual disabilities who struggle to memorize doctrine or take written tests
• Elderly individuals who experience memory loss or can’t sit through long lessons
• Children under 18, who SCJ members are told not to evangelize
• People without reliable internet access or those with demanding jobs and family obligations
• Christians who are committed to other churches but love and follow Jesus sincerely
• People from other faiths or countries who will never hear about SCJ

Are all these people left out of God’s salvation plan?

If SCJ is correct, then salvation is no longer accessible to all—it’s only for the strong, available, and selected few. It becomes a performance-based reward, not a gift of grace. This idea directly contradicts the message of the Bible.

Let’s look at what Scripture says instead:

• Titus 2:11 — “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
• Romans 10:13 — “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
• 2 Peter 3:9 — “The Lord is patient… not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

These verses don’t mention Bible study courses, test scores, or monthly fruit quotas. They speak about a God who invites all people, regardless of their background, schedule, age, or mental capacity.

This brings us to a historical parallel:

In the 1500s, the Catholic Church sold indulgences—documents that claimed to reduce punishment for sins. People were told they could pay money to help themselves or their loved ones get out of purgatory. Salvation was no longer about grace—it became a transaction.

This led to the Protestant Reformation, where Martin Luther reminded the Church that salvation is by grace through faith, not by human effort or payment. He pointed to Ephesians 2:8–9, which says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

SCJ may not ask for money like indulgences, but they do place conditions that act like currency:
Attend the full course. Pass the doctrinal tests. Join a tribe. Evangelize to prove your worth. Don’t fall behind.

This conditional salvation feels more like a contract than a covenant. You sign it with effort and loyalty, not by receiving God’s grace freely through Christ.

But Jesus never made people work their way to Him.

He did the opposite.

• He touched lepers who were considered unclean (Luke 5:12–13)
• He ate with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:15–17)
• He defended a woman caught in adultery, when others wanted to kill her (John 8:1–11)
• He welcomed children, saying “the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14)

He never said, “Come to Me after you finish a nine-month class.”
He said:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

That’s the Jesus of the Bible.
Not a gatekeeper, but a shepherd.
Not a taskmaster, but a healer.
Not a recruiter, but a redeemer.

So if SCJ teaches that you need to complete their system to be saved—what does that say about free will? If the only way to be saved is through their group, then salvation becomes limited to those who conform, not those who respond to God with an open heart.

And what about the fruits of the Spirit—like love, joy, peace, kindness, and gentleness (Galatians 5:22–23)? These fruits grow naturally when someone walks with Jesus. But SCJ has redefined “fruit” to mean people you recruit. That’s a major shift from what the Bible actually says.

Former members say the intense Bible study and supportive community drew them in. But over time, they felt pressure to perform, to bring in new students, and to tie their salvation to obedience and success, not to grace.

That’s why many left feeling burned out, confused, or afraid—unsure whether God would still accept them now that they had “failed” the system.

But the truth is:
Jesus already paid the price.
There’s nothing left for us to earn—only to receive.

If salvation is not accessible to all, it’s not the gospel of Jesus.