A Refutation Using “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

Analysis of SCJ Bible Study Lesson 1: “Now, is the Time for Harvest”

Introduction: The Seed That Grows Into Something Else

Imagine you’re a gardener excited to grow tomatoes. A friendly neighbor stops by with a packet of seeds. “These are special heirloom tomato seeds,” he explains enthusiastically. “They’re not like the ordinary seeds most people plant. These will produce the best tomatoes you’ve ever tasted—but only if you follow my specific growing instructions.”

The packet looks professional. The neighbor seems knowledgeable, quoting gardening principles and explaining soil composition. He tells you about the importance of good seed versus bad seed, about how weeds can choke out good plants, about the harvest that awaits if you’re patient and diligent.

“Most gardeners don’t understand seeds properly,” he explains. “They plant without really knowing what they’re planting. But you’re different. You’re learning the truth about seeds from someone who really understands.”

You plant the seeds carefully, following his detailed instructions. At first, the seedlings look like tomato plants—green leaves, sturdy stems, promising growth. Your neighbor visits regularly, encouraging you, answering questions, explaining that the unique characteristics you’re noticing are signs of the special heirloom variety.

Months pass. You’ve invested time, energy, and resources. The plants have grown tall and strong. But when harvest time comes, you discover the truth: these aren’t tomatoes at all. Your neighbor’s “special heirloom seeds” have grown into something completely different—something you never intended to plant. And now your entire garden is full of these plants, crowding out space where you could have grown real tomatoes.

When you confront your neighbor, he smiles. “I never said they were ordinary tomatoes. These are spiritual tomatoes—much better than what other gardeners grow. You just need to understand the deeper meaning of ‘tomato.’ Most gardeners are too literal in their thinking.”

This is what happens in SCJ Lesson 1.

The lesson appears to be a straightforward Bible study about the Parable of the Weeds from Matthew 13. Instructor Nate walks students through Jesus’ parable about wheat and weeds growing together until harvest, explains the symbolism using Scripture itself, and encourages students to be like the Bereans who examined everything against God’s Word. Everything seems biblically sound, hermeneutically responsible, and spiritually enriching.

But beneath the surface, something else is happening. The lesson is planting seeds—not just teaching biblical concepts, but installing an interpretive framework that will later produce something very different from what students expect. By the time students realize what’s growing, they’ve already invested significant time and emotional energy, and the framework has taken root: that parables contain “prophetic meaning” requiring special interpretation, that being “born of the Word” means something specific that will later be defined by SCJ, that the “harvest” is happening now through SCJ’s work, and that understanding these “deeper meanings” distinguishes true believers from false ones.

Lesson 1 is particularly strategic because it’s the entry point—the first seed planted in students’ minds. They don’t yet know they’re in Shincheonji. They don’t yet know that terms like “seed,” “word,” “harvest,” and “born again” are being subtly redefined in ways that will later support heretical teachings about Lee Man-hee being the fulfillment of biblical prophecy. They’re planting what they think are biblical seeds, unaware that the harvest will be something entirely different.

Let’s examine how this lesson operates on multiple levels simultaneously, using the analytical tools from “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story.”

Part 1: What’s Biblical vs. What’s SCJ—Distinguishing the Layers

The Surface Layer: Legitimate Biblical Teaching

At first glance, Lesson 1 contains solid biblical content:

1. Jesus Spoke in Parables The lesson correctly notes that Jesus taught using parables (Matthew 13) and that these parables contain important spiritual truths.

2. The Parable of the Weeds Is Explained by Jesus

“The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matthew 13:37-39)

This is accurate biblical interpretation—Jesus Himself explains the parable.

3. The Seed Represents God’s Word

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11)

This is biblically correct—Scripture interprets Scripture.

4. We Should Be Like the Bereans

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

This is excellent advice—we should test all teaching against Scripture.

5. We Are Born Again Through God’s Word

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” (James 1:18)

This is biblical—God’s Word plays a role in our spiritual birth.

This is why the lesson is effective. As Chapter 2 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explains, Shincheonji operates by presenting “Two Realities, Same Story.” The biblical content is real and accurate, but it’s being used to construct a framework that will later support heretical teachings.

The Hidden Layer: SCJ’s Interpretive Framework

Beneath the biblical teaching, the lesson is laying several foundations that are uniquely SCJ:

1. The “Parables Contain Prophecy” Framework

The lesson establishes that parables are not just moral lessons but contain prophetic meaning:

“This parable contains more than just a moral lesson – it also has prophetic meaning. Many of Jesus’ parables contain prophecy.”

“The harvest refers to the end times or the second coming – that is when the harvest takes place.”

What’s Biblical: Some parables do have eschatological (end-times) elements. The Parable of the Weeds explicitly mentions “the end of the age” (Matthew 13:39).

What’s SCJ: The lesson is creating a framework where:

• Parables are primarily prophetic, not primarily moral/spiritual lessons
• These prophecies are being fulfilled now (in SCJ’s timeline)
• Understanding these “prophetic meanings” is essential
• The “harvest” is happening through SCJ’s work

This will later be used to claim that:

• Lee Man-hee is the one harvesting the “wheat” (true believers)
• SCJ is the “barn” where wheat is gathered
• The “harvest” prophecy is being fulfilled through SCJ’s recruitment
• Those who don’t join SCJ are “weeds” destined for destruction

Biblical Response:

While the Parable of the Weeds does have eschatological elements, we must be careful about how we interpret and apply it:

1. The parable’s primary context is the kingdom of heaven:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.” (Matthew 13:24)

Jesus is teaching about the nature of the kingdom—that good and evil coexist until God’s final judgment. This is primarily a teaching about patience, God’s sovereignty, and final judgment, not a detailed prophecy about specific end-times events.

2. Jesus emphasizes God’s patience and final judgment:

The key point of the parable is that:

• God allows good and evil to coexist temporarily
• Premature judgment might harm the righteous (“you may uproot the wheat with them”)
• God will judge perfectly at the right time
• The final separation is God’s work, not ours

3. The “harvest” is God’s final judgment, not a human organization’s recruitment:

“The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matthew 13:39)

The harvesters are angels, not human recruiters. The harvest is the end of the age—God’s final judgment—not an ongoing recruitment process by any organization.

4. We should be cautious about claiming to be in the “harvest” period:

“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:23-24)

Jesus warned against those who claim that the end-times events are happening in specific ways through specific people or organizations.

The Manipulation:

By establishing that parables contain “prophetic meaning” that is being fulfilled now, the lesson prepares students to accept that:

• SCJ is fulfilling biblical prophecy
• Lee Man-hee is the “harvester” gathering wheat
• Joining SCJ is being gathered into the “barn”
• The parable is about them, right now

This shifts the parable from a teaching about God’s patience and final judgment to a recruitment tool for SCJ.

2. The “Born of the Word” Framework

The lesson emphasizes being “born of the Word” in ways that will later be defined specifically by SCJ:

“If we want to be a particular plant that gets harvested, we must first be born of the right seed.”

“What does the seed symbolize? The Word.”

“Those who are born of the word of truth become the wheat – the good seed.”

“To be gathered with the righteous ‘wheat’, one must be born again of the imperishable seed, which is the living and enduring word of God.”

What’s Biblical: We are indeed born again through God’s Word (1 Peter 1:23, James 1:18). The Word of God plays a role in regeneration.

What’s SCJ: The lesson is creating a framework where:

• Being “born of the Word” will later be defined as accepting SCJ’s interpretation of Scripture
• The “right seed” will be identified as SCJ’s teaching
• Being “born again” will be connected to understanding SCJ’s “revealed” truths
• Those not “born of the Word” (SCJ’s way) are “weeds”

This will later be used to claim that:

• True rebirth requires accepting Lee Man-hee’s testimony
• Christians in other churches aren’t truly “born of the Word” because they don’t have SCJ’s understanding
• Being “born again” means being spiritually reborn through SCJ’s teaching
• Salvation requires this specific “birth” through SCJ’s “word”

Biblical Response:

Let’s examine what the Bible actually teaches about being born again:

1. We are born again through faith in Jesus Christ:

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Being born again comes through receiving Jesus and believing in His name—not through accepting a specific organization’s interpretation of Scripture.

2. The Holy Spirit regenerates us:

“Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'” (John 3:5-6)

We are born again by the Spirit, not by intellectual understanding of parables or prophecies.

3. The Word of God is involved in regeneration, but it’s the gospel message:

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

The context of 1 Peter 1 shows that the “word” that brings new birth is the gospel:

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

The “word” is the message about Christ’s redemptive work, not a specific organization’s interpretive system.

4. The gospel is simple:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

The “word” that saves is the simple gospel message about Christ’s death and resurrection, not complex interpretations of parables.

The Manipulation:

By emphasizing being “born of the Word” without clearly defining it as the gospel message about Christ, the lesson creates ambiguity that will later be filled with SCJ’s specific content. Students will eventually be taught that being truly “born of the Word” requires:

• Accepting Lee Man-hee’s testimony
• Understanding SCJ’s interpretations
• Being “sealed” in SCJ
• Recognizing Lee Man-hee as the fulfillment of prophecy

This subtly shifts “born again” from a biblical concept (regeneration through faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit) to an SCJ concept (spiritual rebirth through accepting their teaching).

3. The “Wheat vs. Weeds” Framework

The lesson establishes a binary distinction between wheat (good) and weeds (bad) that will later be used to categorize people:

“Clearly, we don’t want to be like the weeds that get burned. The wheat represents the desirable outcome in this parable.”

“Our goal should be to be counted among God’s children, represented as wheat in this parable, who are gathered into the barn at the end.”

“Those who are born of the word of truth become the wheat – the good seed.”

What’s Biblical: Jesus does distinguish between wheat and weeds in the parable, representing the righteous and the wicked.

What’s SCJ: The lesson is creating a framework where:

• People can be categorized as “wheat” or “weeds”
• Being “wheat” requires specific understanding/actions (to be defined later by SCJ)
• The “barn” is a specific place/organization (later identified as SCJ)
• Those outside this framework are “weeds” destined for destruction

This will later be used to claim that:

• SCJ members are the “wheat”
• Christians in other churches are “weeds” (or at best, potential wheat that needs to be harvested into SCJ)
• The “barn” is SCJ’s organization
• Leaving SCJ means becoming a “weed”

Biblical Response:

While Jesus does distinguish between the righteous and the wicked in this parable, we must be careful about how we apply this:

1. God alone judges who is wheat and who are weeds:

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest.'” (Matthew 13:28-30)

The point of the parable is that we cannot reliably distinguish wheat from weeds during this age. Only God can make that judgment at the final harvest. Any organization that claims to be able to identify who is wheat and who are weeds is contradicting the parable’s main point.

2. The separation happens at the end of the age, not now:

“The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matthew 13:39)

The separation is a future event at God’s final judgment, not an ongoing process of people joining or leaving organizations.

3. The parable warns against premature judgment:

The farmer specifically tells his servants not to try to separate wheat from weeds before harvest time. This is a warning against:

• Claiming to know who is saved and who isn’t
• Trying to “purify” the church by removing all perceived “weeds”
• Judging people’s eternal destiny based on external criteria

4. We should focus on the gospel, not on categorizing people:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

Our focus should be on proclaiming the gospel and trusting God to do the work of judgment, not on categorizing people as wheat or weeds.

The Manipulation:

By creating a “wheat vs. weeds” framework, the lesson prepares students to:

• See themselves as potentially “wheat” if they follow SCJ’s teaching
• View others (especially Christians in other churches) as potentially “weeds”
• Feel urgency to be gathered into the “barn” (SCJ)
• Fear being identified as a “weed” if they question or leave

This creates an us-vs-them mentality and makes students dependent on SCJ for their identity as “wheat.”

4. The “Physical Characteristics Reveal Spiritual Truth” Framework

The lesson emphasizes using physical characteristics to understand spiritual realities:

“As we continue to study, we’ll understand the importance of physical characteristics and natural logic. According to Romans 1:20, God uses what He has made to explain Himself.”

“So what are the physical characteristics of wheat? … Wheat tends to grow tall and develop heavy seed heads that begin to bow, very humble plants. However, weeds are quite different, aren’t they?”

What’s Biblical: Romans 1:20 does say that God’s invisible qualities are understood through what has been made. Jesus did use physical examples (seeds, sheep, bread) to teach spiritual truths.

What’s SCJ: The lesson is creating a framework where:

• Physical characteristics of created things directly correspond to spiritual realities
• These correspondences can be used to interpret Scripture allegorically
• Understanding these “natural logic” connections is key to understanding the Bible
• SCJ has special insight into these connections

This will later be used to support SCJ’s elaborate allegorical interpretation system where:

• Every physical detail in Scripture has a specific spiritual meaning
• Understanding these meanings requires SCJ’s interpretive key
• The Bible is written in a code that must be deciphered
• Literal interpretation misses the “true” meaning

Biblical Response:

While Jesus did use physical examples to teach spiritual truths, we must be careful about how we interpret these:

1. Romans 1:20 is about general revelation, not biblical interpretation:

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

Paul is talking about how creation reveals God’s existence and attributes (general revelation), not about how to interpret parables or develop an allegorical system for understanding Scripture.

2. Jesus explained His parables:

When Jesus used physical examples, He often explained what they meant:

• The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:18-23)
• The Parable of the Weeds (Matthew 13:36-43)
• The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:49-50)

We should follow Jesus’ interpretations, not create elaborate allegorical systems based on physical characteristics.

3. Not every physical detail has a specific spiritual meaning:

While some parables use physical details symbolically, not every detail is meant to be allegorized. Sound hermeneutics recognizes that:

• Some details are just part of the story
• The main point of the parable is what matters
• We shouldn’t press every detail for hidden meaning

4. Allegorical interpretation can lead to eisegesis:

When we start assigning spiritual meanings to every physical characteristic, we risk reading our own ideas into Scripture (eisegesis) rather than drawing out what’s actually there (exegesis).

The Manipulation:

By establishing that physical characteristics reveal spiritual truths, the lesson prepares students to accept SCJ’s elaborate allegorical interpretation system where:

• Every detail in Scripture has a hidden meaning
• Understanding requires SCJ’s interpretive key
• The Bible is a code that must be deciphered
• Literal interpretation is superficial

This makes students dependent on SCJ’s interpretations and undermines confidence in straightforward biblical reading.

Part 2: The Psychological Mechanisms at Work

How the Lesson Functions as Indoctrination

As Chapter 5 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” explores, we can examine this lesson through two lenses: “Investigating Shincheonji’s Divine Blueprint vs. The Cult Playbook.” Let’s look at how Lesson 1 employs sophisticated psychological techniques:

1. Creating Positive First Impressions

The Technique:

The lesson creates a positive first impression by:

• Using extensive Scripture
• Encouraging students to be like the Bereans
• Teaching sound hermeneutical principles (Scripture interprets Scripture)
• Avoiding controversial or obviously heretical content
• Being enthusiastic and welcoming

The Psychological Function:

This positive first impression:

• Builds trust in the instructors
• Makes students feel they’ve found quality biblical teaching
• Lowers defenses against later problematic content
• Creates emotional investment in continuing

The Problem:

The positive first impression masks the fact that foundational frameworks are being installed that will later support heretical teachings.

Biblical Response:

While positive first impressions aren’t inherently wrong, we should remember:

“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)

We should test teaching throughout the process, not just accept it because it starts well.

2. Installing Ambiguous Terminology

The Technique:

The lesson uses biblical terms but leaves them ambiguous:

• “Born of the Word” (not clearly defined as the gospel)
• “Harvest” (presented as prophetic but not clearly explained)
• “Wheat” and “weeds” (categories that will later be defined by SCJ)
• “Barn” (destination that will later be identified as SCJ)

The Psychological Function:

This ambiguity:

• Allows students to fill in meanings with their own understanding initially
• Creates space for SCJ to later define these terms their way
• Prevents students from recognizing departures from orthodoxy
• Makes later teachings seem like natural clarifications

The Problem:

Students think they understand what’s being taught (using their orthodox understanding of these terms), but SCJ is actually laying groundwork for different definitions.

Biblical Response:

Clear communication is important:

“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37)

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Teaching should be clear, not deliberately ambiguous to allow for later redefinition.

3. Creating Binary Categories

The Technique:

The lesson creates binary categories:

• Wheat vs. weeds
• Good seed vs. bad seed
• Barn vs. burning
• Born of the Word vs. not born of the Word

The Psychological Function:

Binary thinking:

• Simplifies complex realities
• Creates in-group/out-group mentality
• Makes students want to be in the “good” category
• Prepares for later us-vs-them thinking (SCJ vs. everyone else)

The Problem:

This binary thinking will later be used to categorize:

• SCJ members as “wheat”
• Non-SCJ Christians as “weeds”
• SCJ as the “barn”
• Other churches as the “field” where weeds grow

Biblical Response:

While the Bible does distinguish between believers and unbelievers, it also recognizes:

• Believers at different stages of maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-2)
• The complexity of human hearts (only God knows who truly believes)
• The danger of judging others (Matthew 7:1-5)
• The unity of all believers in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

4. Building on Small Commitments

The Technique:

The lesson asks for small commitments:

• Attend the next class
• Memorize the “home blessing” verse
• Be like the Bereans (study diligently)
• “Become a Bible nerd who just loves eating the Word of God every day”

The Psychological Function:

Small commitments:

• Create momentum toward larger commitments
• Build identity as a “serious student”
• Increase investment (time, energy, emotion)
• Make it harder to quit later (sunk cost fallacy)

The Problem:

These small commitments seem harmless but create a pattern of compliance that will later extend to larger commitments (more classes, more time, eventually full involvement in SCJ).

Biblical Response:

While commitment to studying God’s Word is good, we should be aware of manipulation:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)

We should commit to Christ and His Word, not to an organization’s program.

Part 3: The Progression of Indoctrination

Where Lesson 1 Fits in the Recruitment Process

Understanding where this lesson appears in SCJ’s curriculum helps us see its strategic function:

Introductory Level (Parables) – Lesson 1:

• This is the entry point—students’ first exposure to SCJ’s teaching
• Students don’t yet know they’re in Shincheonji
• The lesson appears completely orthodox and biblical
• Foundational frameworks are being installed subtly

The Strategic Function of Lesson 1:

This lesson serves as the foundation for everything that follows:

What students learn at Lesson 1:

1. Parables contain prophetic meaning (preparing for SCJ’s prophetic claims)
2. Being “born of the Word” is essential (will be defined as accepting SCJ’s teaching)
3. Wheat vs. weeds distinction (will become SCJ vs. non-SCJ)
4. Physical characteristics reveal spiritual truth (preparing for allegorical interpretation)
5. The harvest is happening (will be identified as SCJ’s recruitment)

How this prepares for later teaching:

By Lesson 10, students will learn:

• More elaborate allegorical interpretations
• That understanding parables is essential for salvation
• That most Christians don’t understand the Bible properly

By Lesson 20, students will learn:

• That the Bible has been “sealed” for 2,000 years
• That only special revelation can “unseal” it
• That Lee Man-hee has this special revelation

By Intermediate Level (Lesson 65+), students will learn:

• That Lee Man-hee is the “promised pastor” of Revelation
• That SCJ is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy
• That salvation requires being “sealed” in SCJ
• That all other churches are “Babylon”

By Advanced Level (Lesson 98+), students will learn:

• That Lee Man-hee witnessed the events of Revelation
• That his testimony is essential for salvation
• That rejecting him equals rejecting God
• That they must recruit others (become “harvesters”)

The framework from Lesson 1 makes these later teachings seem like the logical conclusion rather than the radical departure from Christianity they actually are.

Part 4: Red Flags in This Lesson

Warning Signs That Should Prompt Investigation

Even without knowing this is Shincheonji, several elements of this lesson should raise concerns:

1. Emphasis on Parables as Primarily Prophetic

“This parable contains more than just a moral lesson – it also has prophetic meaning. Many of Jesus’ parables contain prophecy.”

Red Flag: While some parables have eschatological elements, emphasizing that they are primarily prophetic can be a setup for claiming that they’re being fulfilled in specific ways right now.

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Recognizes that parables teach spiritual and moral truths
• Acknowledges eschatological elements where present
• Doesn’t claim that parables are being fulfilled through specific organizations
• Focuses on the main point Jesus was making

2. Ambiguous Use of Biblical Terms

Terms like “born of the Word,” “harvest,” “wheat,” and “barn” are used without clear definition.

Red Flag: Why are these terms left ambiguous? Will they be defined more specifically later in ways that support the organization’s agenda?

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Defines terms clearly using Scripture
• Explains what “born again” means (regeneration through faith in Christ)
• Clarifies that the “harvest” is God’s final judgment
• Doesn’t leave room for later redefinition

3. Emphasis on Physical Characteristics Revealing Spiritual Truth

“As we continue to study, we’ll understand the importance of physical characteristics and natural logic.”

Red Flag: This can be a setup for elaborate allegorical interpretation systems where every detail has a hidden meaning.

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Uses sound hermeneutical principles
• Recognizes when Jesus explains His parables
• Doesn’t create elaborate allegorical systems
• Focuses on the main point of passages

4. Creating Binary Categories

The lesson emphasizes wheat vs. weeds, good seed vs. bad seed, barn vs. burning.

Red Flag: This binary thinking can be used to create us-vs-them mentality where the organization is “wheat” and everyone else is “weeds.”

Healthy Christian Teaching:

• Recognizes that only God can judge hearts
• Acknowledges believers at different stages of maturity
• Doesn’t claim to know who is “wheat” and who are “weeds”
• Focuses on proclaiming the gospel, not categorizing people

Part 5: For Students Currently in This Study

Questions to Ask Yourself

If you’re currently taking this Bible study, here are some questions to consider:

About the Teaching:

1. What does “born of the Word” mean?
   • Is it clearly defined as regeneration through faith in Christ?
   • Or is it left ambiguous to be defined later?
2. What is the “harvest”?
   • Is it clearly identified as God’s final judgment at the end of the age?
   • Or is it suggested that it’s happening now through this organization?
3. Who are the “wheat” and “weeds”?
   • Is the lesson emphasizing that only God can judge?
   • Or is it creating categories that might later be used to identify the organization as “wheat”?

About the Organization:

4. Do I know what organization is teaching this?
   • Have they clearly identified themselves?
   • Or is the organization’s identity being hidden?
5. Why would an organization hide its identity?
   • If the teaching is biblical and the organization is legitimate, why not be transparent?

About Interpretation:

6. Is this teaching encouraging me to interpret Scripture myself?
   • Or is it creating dependency on the organization’s interpretations?
7. Are terms being defined clearly?
   • Or are they left ambiguous to be filled in later?

About Investigation:

8. Am I free to investigate concerns?
   • Can I research this organization online?
   • Can I discuss what I’m learning with my pastor?
   • Or am I being discouraged from doing so?
9. What does my pastor think?
   • Have I shown my pastor the materials from this Bible study?
   • Am I willing to hear my pastor’s concerns?
10. Am I being encouraged to test everything?
    • Or am I being subtly discouraged from questioning?

Biblical Principle:

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

If this teaching is true, testing it will confirm that truth. If it’s false, testing it will set you free.

Part 6: For Family and Friends of Students

How to Help Someone in This Study

If someone you love is taking this Bible study, here’s how to help:

1. Understand What’s Happening

Your loved one is in the first lesson of a multi-level program that:

• Appears completely biblical at first
• Installs foundational frameworks subtly
• Will later build on these frameworks to support heretical teachings
• Doesn’t reveal the organization’s identity initially

2. Ask Strategic Questions

Rather than attacking the teaching, ask questions that promote critical thinking:

About the organization:

• “What organization is teaching this Bible study?”
• “Why don’t they identify themselves clearly?”
• “Can you find information about them online?”

About the teaching:

• “What does ‘born of the Word’ mean in this lesson?”
• “What is the ‘harvest’ referring to?”
• “How do we know who is ‘wheat’ and who are ‘weeds’?”

About interpretation:

• “How do they interpret parables?”
• “Do they encourage you to study Scripture yourself?”
• “What does your pastor think about this teaching?”

3. Provide Resources Gently

Share resources without pressure:

• “I found this article about how to interpret parables. Would you be willing to read it?”
• “There’s a website (closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination) that examines these teachings. Can we look at it together?”
• “I’d love to hear what your pastor thinks about this teaching. Can we talk to them together?”

4. Maintain Relationship

The most important thing is staying connected. By maintaining relationship, you provide a lifeline when they’re ready to leave.

Part 7: The Real Biblical Teaching

What the Bible Actually Teaches About the Parable of the Weeds

Let’s examine what Jesus actually taught in this parable:

1. The parable is about the kingdom of heaven:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.” (Matthew 13:24)

Jesus is teaching about the nature of God’s kingdom, not giving a detailed prophecy about end-times events.

2. The main point is God’s patience and final judgment:

The parable teaches that:

• Good and evil coexist in this age
• We cannot reliably distinguish between them
• God will judge perfectly at the right time
• Premature judgment might harm the righteous

3. The harvest is God’s final judgment:

“The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matthew 13:39)

This is a future event, not an ongoing process through any organization.

4. We should focus on the gospel, not on categorizing people:

Our job is to proclaim the gospel and trust God to do the work of judgment:

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)

5. Being born again is through faith in Christ:

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

We are born again by receiving Jesus and believing in His name, not by accepting any organization’s interpretation of Scripture.

Conclusion: The Seed That Grows Into Something Else

Lesson 1 appears to be solid biblical teaching about the Parable of the Weeds. But upon examination, it’s actually planting seeds—foundational frameworks—that will later grow into something very different from orthodox Christianity.

SCJ’s Seeds:

• Parables are primarily prophetic (preparing for claims of fulfillment)
• “Born of the Word” (will be defined as accepting SCJ’s teaching)
• Wheat vs. weeds (will become SCJ vs. everyone else)
• Physical characteristics reveal spiritual truth (preparing for allegorical system)
• The harvest is now (will be identified as SCJ’s recruitment)

Biblical Seeds:

• Parables teach spiritual truths about God’s kingdom
• Born again means regeneration through faith in Christ
• Only God can judge who is wheat and who are weeds
• The harvest is God’s final judgment at the end of the age
• We should proclaim the gospel and trust God to judge

The Question:

What seeds are being planted in your mind? Are they biblical seeds that will grow into mature faith in Christ? Or are they SCJ’s seeds that will grow into something else entirely?

The Choice:

You can continue with this study, allowing these frameworks to take root.

Or you can examine what’s being planted, test it against Scripture, and ensure you’re building on the solid foundation of Christ and His gospel.

The Real Seed:

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

The true seed is Jesus Christ and the gospel message about Him. Any teaching that subtly shifts focus from Christ to an organization, from the gospel to an interpretive system, from faith to knowledge, is planting the wrong seed.

Truth grows into Christ-likeness. Deception grows into something else.

Resources for Further Investigation

For detailed examination of Shincheonji’s teachings:

• Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination

For understanding how to interpret parables:

• Review Chapters 3, 10, and 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

For understanding how SCJ builds its interpretive system:

• Review Chapters 2, 5, and 8 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

For understanding salvation and being born again:

• Review Chapters 1, 6, and 16 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story”

For help leaving or supporting someone who’s leaving:

• See Chapter 28: “Hope and Help—Guidance for Members, Families, Christians, and Seekers”

Remember: The first lesson is the foundation. If the foundation contains flaws—even subtle ones—everything built on it will be unstable. Test the foundation carefully before building on it.

“Test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)