Analysis of Shincheonji Bible Study Lesson 30: “Special Lesson: Holding Onto God’s Word”

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

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Introduction: The Word That Binds—Or Controls?

Lesson 30, titled “Special Lesson: Holding Onto God’s Word,” presents itself as a passionate call to take Scripture seriously—to treat God’s Word with reverence, to memorize it, to let it transform our lives. On the surface, this appears to be sound biblical teaching that any faithful Christian would affirm. Who could argue against holding tightly to God’s Word?

However, as “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, Shincheonji (SCJ) consistently operates on multiple levels. The visible teaching sounds biblical and passionate, but beneath it lies a carefully constructed framework designed to prepare students to accept SCJ’s exclusive claims and to create psychological dependency on the organization.

By Lesson 30, students in the Introductory Level (“Parables”) are being prepared for a crucial transition. This lesson serves as a bridge—taking biblical truths about the importance of Scripture and subtly redirecting them toward SCJ’s exclusive authority. The lesson introduces concepts that will be fully developed in later levels:

1. The Word redefinition – “God and His Word are one” will later become “SCJ’s interpretation is God’s Word”
2. The covenant-keeping requirement – “Keep God’s covenant” will later mean “accept SCJ’s teaching”
3. The kingdom transfer – “God gives the kingdom to those who keep His Word” will later mean “only SCJ has the kingdom”
4. The maturity test – “Are you eating solid food or milk?” will later mean “have you accepted SCJ’s advanced teaching?”
5. The urgency creation – “Satan knows his time is short” creates pressure to commit quickly to SCJ

The lesson’s stated hope—”to know and keep God’s word”—sounds like a call to biblical faithfulness, but it’s actually preparing students to believe that only through SCJ can they truly “know and keep” God’s Word.

Let’s examine this lesson through the Reflective Lens (understanding the psychological manipulation) and the Discernment Lens (testing against Scripture), as modeled in “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story.”

For comprehensive refutation of SCJ teachings, readers are encouraged to visit the Shincheonji Examination page at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination.

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Part 1: The Opening Frame—”Yeast of Heaven” and Urgency Creation

What SCJ Teaches:

The “Yeast of Heaven” section states:

“Let us breathe with the Lord. If we do not hold on tightly to the Lord’s hand and word at this time and let it go, we will be blown away by the severe winds. Let us never let go. The armies of heaven are always protecting us. Let us pray earnestly. Victory!”

The Reflective Lens: Creating Crisis and Dependency

This brief opening section is packed with psychological manipulation techniques designed to create urgency and dependency:

1. The Crisis Language

“If we do not hold on tightly… we will be blown away by the severe winds.” This creates an immediate sense of crisis: You’re in danger. If you don’t hold on tightly (to what? To SCJ’s teaching), you’ll be destroyed.

This is fear-based motivation—not the biblical call to trust God’s faithfulness, but anxiety about your own grip.

2. The “At This Time” Urgency

“At this time” suggests that this moment is uniquely critical. This is a common cult tactic—creating a sense that you’re living in a special, urgent time that requires immediate action.

While Christians do believe we’re living in the “last days” (as the New Testament teaches), SCJ uses this to create artificial urgency: “You must commit to us now, or you’ll miss your opportunity.”

3. The Military Language

“The armies of heaven are always protecting us… Victory!” This creates an us-versus-them mentality: We’re in a war, and we need to fight together for victory.

This military framing prepares students to see themselves as part of an exclusive army fighting against the rest of Christianity (which will later be identified as “Babylon”).

4. The Dependency Creation

“Let us breathe with the Lord.” This intimate language creates emotional dependency. By the end of the course, students will feel that they can only “breathe with the Lord” through SCJ—that leaving SCJ would mean spiritual suffocation.

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Isolation Strategy: When Progressive Revelation Becomes Progressive Control,” addresses how SCJ uses crisis language and urgency to create psychological dependency.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Teach About Our Security?

Biblical Truth #1: Our Security Is in Christ, Not Our Grip

The “Yeast of Heaven” statement creates anxiety: “If we do not hold on tightly… we will be blown away.” But Scripture teaches that our security is in Christ’s grip, not our own:

John 10:27-29 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Jesus says His sheep “shall never perish” and “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Our security is in His grip, not our ability to hold on tightly.

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate us from God’s love—not even our own weakness or failure to “hold on tightly.”

Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God will complete the work He began—it doesn’t depend solely on our grip.

Biblical Truth #2: Yes, We Should Persevere—But From Love, Not Fear

Scripture does call believers to persevere and hold fast to their faith. But the motivation is love and gratitude, not fear of being “blown away”:

Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

We hold fast because “he who promised is faithful”—not because we’re afraid of being destroyed if we let go.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

We stand firm because our labor “is not in vain”—positive motivation, not fear.

Jude 1:24-25 – “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

God is “able to keep you from stumbling”—He’s the one doing the keeping, not just us.

The Danger of SCJ’s Fear-Based Motivation:

By creating anxiety about being “blown away,” SCJ:

• Undermines assurance – Makes salvation feel precarious and dependent on your grip
• Creates dependency – You need SCJ to help you “hold on tightly”
• Produces anxiety – Constant fear of letting go and being destroyed
• Contradicts the gospel – Shifts focus from Christ’s faithfulness to your performance

Chapter 21 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Heart of God: When Love Refuses to Let Go,” contrasts SCJ’s fear-based system with the biblical gospel of God’s faithful love.

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Part 2: The Blindness Teaching—Setting Up Exclusive Understanding

What SCJ Teaches:

Using John 9:39-41, the instructor teaches:

“Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’ Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, ‘What? Are we blind too?’ Jesus said, ‘If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.’… The issue is one’s mindset before the truth. Those claiming blindness, saying ‘I don’t understand, explain this to me,’ will be enabled to see. It’s about the heart condition. But those claiming perfect vision will be shown as blind, and their guilt remains.”

The instructor then applies this:

“What is our attitude toward God’s word? ‘Oh I’ve heard this before’ or ‘Thank you God for showing me this now.’ If the former, you’re in trouble. If the latter, God gives you more. Let’s approach Scripture humbly so God can give us sight.”

The Reflective Lens: The Humility Trap

This teaching appears to be about having a humble, teachable attitude toward Scripture. However, it’s setting up a sophisticated psychological trap:

1. The False Dichotomy

The instructor creates two categories:

• The humble – “I don’t understand, explain this to me” → Will receive sight
• The proud – “I’ve heard this before” → Will remain blind

This creates a false dichotomy. There’s a difference between:

• Legitimate understanding – “I’ve studied this passage and understand its meaning in context”
• Arrogant dismissal – “I already know everything; I don’t need to learn”

SCJ conflates these two, making any claim to understand Scripture seem like pride.

2. The Thought-Stopping Technique

By teaching that saying “I’ve heard this before” means “you’re in trouble,” SCJ creates a thought-stopping technique. Students are trained to suppress their existing biblical knowledge and accept whatever SCJ teaches as new revelation.

This prevents critical thinking: “I thought this passage meant X based on my previous study, but SCJ says it means Y. I shouldn’t trust my previous understanding—that would be pride. I should humbly accept SCJ’s interpretation.”

3. The Dependency Creation

“Those claiming blindness… will be enabled to see.” The implicit message: You need someone (SCJ) to give you sight. You can’t understand Scripture on your own—you need SCJ’s interpretation.

This creates dependency on SCJ as the exclusive source of biblical understanding.

4. The Pharisee Comparison

By comparing those who “claim they can see” to the Pharisees, SCJ creates a powerful emotional association: If you think you understand Scripture (based on your church’s teaching), you’re like the Pharisees who rejected Jesus.

This undermines confidence in students’ previous biblical understanding and prepares them to reject their churches’ teaching.

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Narrative Becomes More Important Than Truth: How SCJ Creates Compelling But False Stories,” addresses how SCJ uses biblical narratives to create false comparisons that undermine critical thinking.

The Discernment Lens: What Does John 9:39-41 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in its proper context:

John 9:1-41 – The entire chapter tells the story of Jesus healing a man born blind. The Pharisees interrogated the man and his parents, refusing to believe Jesus healed him. They claimed to be Moses’ disciples and said Jesus was a sinner.

The Context of Verses 39-41:

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Who are “the blind” who will see?

• The man born blind—physically and spiritually blind, but now given sight by Jesus
• Those who recognize their spiritual need and come to Jesus

Who are “those who see” who will become blind?

• The Pharisees—who claimed to see (understand God’s law) but rejected Jesus
• Those who trust in their own righteousness and refuse to acknowledge their need

The Pharisees’ Question:

“What? Are we blind too?” They were offended, thinking Jesus was calling them spiritually ignorant.

Jesus’ Response:

“If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Jesus was saying: “If you genuinely didn’t know, you wouldn’t be guilty. But you claim to know God’s will (through the law), yet you reject Me—the fulfillment of the law. Your guilt remains because you reject the light.”

What Was the Pharisees’ Problem?

The Pharisees’ problem was not that they “claimed to understand Scripture.” Their problem was:

1. They rejected Jesus – Despite seeing His miracles and hearing His teaching, they refused to believe He was the Messiah
2. They trusted in their own righteousness – They thought their law-keeping made them righteous
3. They were spiritually proud – They looked down on others and refused to acknowledge their own need
4. They rejected the light – Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” (John 9:5), but they preferred darkness

The Difference Between the Pharisees and Faithful Bible Students:

The Pharisees:

• Rejected Jesus despite clear evidence
• Trusted in their own righteousness
• Refused to acknowledge their spiritual need
• Used Scripture to justify rejecting the Messiah

Faithful Bible students:

• Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
• Trust in His righteousness, not their own
• Acknowledge their need for grace
• Use Scripture to know Christ better

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By applying Jesus’ words to anyone who claims to understand Scripture (based on their church’s teaching), SCJ:

• Creates false guilt – Makes faithful Christians feel like proud Pharisees
• Undermines biblical literacy – Discourages confidence in previous biblical understanding
• Positions SCJ as the solution – Only through SCJ can you move from “blindness” to “sight”
• Misuses Scripture – Applies a passage about rejecting Jesus to those who have accepted Jesus

Biblical Truth: Believers Can Understand Scripture

While we should always remain humble and teachable, Scripture teaches that believers can understand God’s Word:

1 John 2:20 – “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”

Believers have “an anointing” (the Holy Spirit) and can “know the truth.”

1 John 2:27 – “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

The Holy Spirit teaches believers—we don’t need an exclusive human organization to mediate Scripture for us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Scripture itself is “useful for teaching”—it’s not so obscure that only one organization can interpret it.

Acts 17:11 – “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.”

The Bereans were commended for examining Scripture themselves to verify Paul’s teaching. They didn’t just humbly accept everything without testing it.

The Balance: Humility and Discernment

Yes, we should approach Scripture with humility, recognizing we don’t know everything. But humility doesn’t mean:

• Abandoning all previous biblical understanding
• Accepting any interpretation without testing it
• Believing we can’t understand Scripture without one organization’s help

True humility means:

• Acknowledging our dependence on the Holy Spirit
• Being willing to learn and grow
• Testing teachings against Scripture
• Remaining open to correction when we’re wrong

Proverbs 3:5-7 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”

We shouldn’t “lean on our own understanding”—but notice, we’re to trust in the LORD, not in a human organization.

Chapter 18 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Real Test of Authority: Distinguishing Genuine from Counterfeit Authority,” provides criteria for testing claims of exclusive spiritual authority.

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Part 3: The Word Equation—”God = His Word”

What SCJ Teaches:

Using John 1:1-5 and 1 John 1:1-2, the instructor teaches:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. God equates Himself with His Word – they are one and the same, there is no distinction. Why? Because God’s words come from Him, from His Spirit. They are one and the same… So when you come before God’s word, you come before God Himself and should show the respect they deserve.”

The instructor then applies this practically:

“So when you come here on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you’re not coming just to hear me (instructor Paul). Who am I? A man who has only lived a few decades. You’re not coming just to hear our other teachers (evangelists) either. We are not the point. You are here for God and His Word. So what is your posture and presence before God? Are you laying in bed? Sitting on your couch? Are you also watching TV? How are you dressed before the Word of God?”

The Reflective Lens: The Bait-and-Switch

This teaching appears to be about reverence for Scripture and taking Bible study seriously. However, it’s setting up a crucial bait-and-switch that will happen gradually:

1. The Initial Truth

SCJ starts with a biblical truth: God and His Word are inseparable. John 1:1 does teach that “the Word was God”—referring to Jesus, the eternal Word who became flesh.

By starting with truth, SCJ gains students’ agreement and appears orthodox.

2. The Subtle Equation

“When you come before God’s word, you come before God Himself.” This is true in the sense that Scripture is God’s revelation of Himself.

But notice the subtle shift: “When you come here on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays… You are here for God and His Word.”

The equation is being made: Coming to SCJ’s Bible study = Coming before God and His Word.

3. The Coming Redefinition

Once students accept that:

• God = His Word
• Coming to SCJ’s study = Coming before God’s Word

Then SCJ will gradually redefine what “God’s Word” means:

Stage 1: God’s Word = Scripture (Biblical) Stage 2: God’s Word = The “opened word” (SCJ’s interpretation) Stage 3: God’s Word = Chairman Lee Man-hee’s testimony (SCJ’s exclusive claim)

By the Advanced Level, students will believe that rejecting SCJ’s teaching = rejecting God’s Word = rejecting God Himself.

4. The Guilt Induction

“What is your posture and presence before God? Are you laying in bed? Sitting on your couch? Are you also watching TV? How are you dressed before the Word of God?”

This creates guilt about how students attend the online classes. The implicit message: If you’re not fully attentive, properly dressed, and completely focused, you’re disrespecting God Himself.

This guilt will be used to increase commitment and prevent students from multitasking or attending casually.

5. The Authority Transfer

“When two or three gather in His name, Jesus said, ‘There am I with them’ (Matthew 18:20). What is God’s name? His Word, because He is His Word.”

This is a misuse of Matthew 18:20. Jesus was saying that when believers gather in His name (for prayer, worship, discipline), He is present. He wasn’t saying that any Bible study automatically has His presence.

But SCJ uses this to claim: “When you come to our Bible study, Jesus is present. Therefore, you must treat our teaching with ultimate reverence.”

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Wisdom of Hiding: Deceive, Deny, Revise,” addresses how SCJ gradually redefines terms to shift students from biblical truth to SCJ’s exclusive claims.

The Discernment Lens: What Does “The Word” Actually Mean?

Biblical Truth #1: Jesus Is “The Word”

John 1:1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“The Word” (Greek: Logos) refers to Jesus—the eternal Son of God who became incarnate. This is not primarily about Scripture, but about Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation.

1 John 1:1-2 – “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

John is talking about Jesus—”which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have touched.” This is the incarnate Christ, not Scripture.

Biblical Truth #2: Yes, Scripture Is God’s Word

While “the Word” in John 1 refers to Jesus, Scripture is also called “God’s Word”:

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Scripture is “God-breathed”—it comes from God and carries His authority.

Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

God’s Word (Scripture) is “alive and active”—it has power to transform.

But notice the distinction:

• Jesus is the Word incarnate – God’s ultimate, personal revelation
• Scripture is God’s written Word – God’s inspired, authoritative revelation

Both are “God’s Word,” but in different senses.

Biblical Truth #3: Don’t Confuse Scripture with One Organization’s Interpretation

SCJ’s equation creates a dangerous conflation:

God = His Word = Scripture = SCJ’s interpretation

But this is false. There’s a difference between:

• Scripture itself – God’s inspired, authoritative Word
• Interpretation of Scripture – Human understanding of what Scripture means

All Christians agree that Scripture is God’s Word. But we don’t all agree on every interpretation. And that’s okay—Scripture itself teaches that believers can disagree on secondary matters while maintaining unity on the gospel (Romans 14:1-5, Philippians 3:15-16).

The danger comes when one organization claims:

• Only we have the correct interpretation
• Our interpretation = God’s Word
• Therefore, rejecting our interpretation = rejecting God

This is the claim of every cult—exclusive access to God’s truth.

Biblical Truth #4: Jesus Is Present Where Believers Gather in His Name

Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Jesus promises to be present where believers gather in His name. But this doesn’t mean:

• Only one organization has His presence
• Every Bible study automatically has His special presence
• You must attend a specific organization’s study to encounter Jesus

Jesus is present wherever believers genuinely gather to worship, pray, study Scripture, and seek Him. This includes:

• Churches worldwide that faithfully preach the gospel
• Small group Bible studies
• Individual believers reading Scripture
• Christian families worshiping together

SCJ doesn’t have exclusive access to Jesus’ presence.

The Danger of SCJ’s “God = Word” Equation:

By equating God with His Word and then equating “God’s Word” with SCJ’s interpretation, they:

• Create false authority – Make their interpretation unquestionable
• Produce guilt – Make casual attendance seem like disrespecting God
• Prepare for the bait-and-switch – Will later redefine “Word” as SCJ’s exclusive teaching
• Undermine other churches – Imply that only SCJ’s study brings you before God’s Word

Chapter 17 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Logical Contradiction in Shincheonji’s Claims,” addresses how SCJ’s exclusive claims contradict biblical teaching about God’s accessibility.

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Part 4: Rejecting God’s Word—The Covenant Framework

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Deuteronomy 31:19-22 and 32:44-47, the instructor teaches:

“God warned them that a time would come when they would turn to other gods and break His covenant. He instructed them to write down this song as a testimony, to teach it to the people, as a reminder of the covenant they would eventually break… The intention behind this prophecy is to instill a sense of fear and motivation in the hearts of those who sing this song. It aims to inspire a commitment to prove the prophecy wrong, to ensure that they and their generation will not fall into this predicted failure… To break the covenant, as noted in verse 20, means to turn to other gods, it is described as equivalent to rejecting God. These actions are synonymous with turning away from Him.”

The instructor then emphasizes:

“Moses emphasized, ‘These words are your life,’ as vital as the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink… Moses and Joshua were urging the people to embed these words deeply within their hearts, to teach them diligently to their families and descendants. Adherence to these words is not optional; it is not merely a luxury or an intermittent obligation. It is a necessity.”

The Reflective Lens: The Covenant Redefinition Setup

This teaching appears to be a straightforward exposition of Deuteronomy’s call to covenant faithfulness. However, it’s setting up a crucial framework that will be used to control students:

1. The Covenant = Word Equation

“To break the covenant… means to turn to other gods… is equivalent to rejecting God… These actions are synonymous with turning away from Him.”

SCJ establishes the equation:

• Breaking covenant = Rejecting God’s Word = Rejecting God = Turning to other gods

This is biblically accurate in the Old Testament context. But SCJ will later apply this to their own situation:

The Coming Application:

• God’s covenant today = The New Covenant = Revelation (SCJ’s interpretation)
• Breaking covenant = Rejecting SCJ’s teaching
• Rejecting SCJ’s teaching = Rejecting God’s Word = Rejecting God
• Therefore, if you reject SCJ’s teaching, you’re turning to “other gods” (your church’s teaching)

2. The “Not Optional” Emphasis

“Adherence to these words is not optional; it is not merely a luxury or an intermittent obligation. It is a necessity.”

This creates absolute, non-negotiable commitment. Once students accept that “God’s Word” = SCJ’s teaching, then rejecting any part of SCJ’s teaching becomes “breaking God’s covenant.”

This eliminates the possibility of disagreeing with SCJ on secondary matters while maintaining faith in Christ. It’s all-or-nothing.

3. The Life-or-Death Stakes

“These words are your life, as vital as the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.”

This creates ultimate urgency: Without SCJ’s teaching (which will be identified as “God’s Word”), you cannot have spiritual life. You’ll die spiritually.

This prepares students to prioritize SCJ above everything else—family, career, church, personal time—because “these words are your life.”

4. The Generational Obligation

“Teach them diligently to their families and descendants.” This prepares students for the eventual expectation to evangelize (recruit) family members and friends into SCJ.

If you truly believe SCJ’s teaching is “life itself,” you’ll feel obligated to bring others in—even if it damages relationships.

Chapter 15 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “What Pastors and Counselors Discovered,” includes testimonies from former members who describe how the “covenant-keeping” framework was used to demand total commitment and justify separating from family and church.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Deuteronomy Actually Teach?

The Old Covenant Context:

Deuteronomy 31-32 records Moses’ final words to Israel before his death. He’s reminding them of God’s covenant—the law given at Sinai—and warning them about the consequences of breaking it.

The Covenant Elements:

1. The parties: God and Israel
2. The content: The law (Ten Commandments and all the statutes)
3. The conditions: Obey and be blessed; disobey and be cursed
4. The warning: Israel will break the covenant and face judgment

Why Did God Predict Their Failure?

Moses says God predicted Israel would break the covenant. Why? Not to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, but to:

1. Demonstrate His foreknowledge – God knows the human heart
2. Prepare for the New Covenant – The Old Covenant’s failure would show the need for a better covenant
3. Provide a witness – When judgment came, the song would testify that God had warned them

Did Israel Break the Covenant?

Yes. The entire Old Testament is the story of Israel’s repeated covenant-breaking, leading to exile and judgment.

Romans 3:19-20 – “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.”

The law (Old Covenant) was never meant to be the final solution. It was meant to show us our need for a Savior.

The New Covenant Changes Everything:

Hebrews 8:6-13 – “But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another… By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”

The New Covenant is “superior” and “established on better promises.” What are these better promises?

Jeremiah 31:31-34 – “‘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. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,’ declares the LORD. ‘This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'”

The New Covenant promises:

1. Internal transformation – God’s law written on hearts, not just external obedience
2. Direct relationship – All will know the Lord personally
3. Complete forgiveness – Sins remembered no more
4. God’s initiative – “I will put… I will be… I will forgive”

The Key Difference:

• Old Covenant: “If you obey, you’ll be blessed” (conditional on human performance)
• New Covenant: “I will transform you, forgive you, and be your God” (based on God’s promise and Christ’s work)

What Is the New Covenant?

Luke 22:19-20 – “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'”

The New Covenant is established through Christ’s blood—His sacrificial death on the cross. It’s not a new set of laws to keep, but a relationship based on His finished work.

What Does It Mean to “Keep” the New Covenant?

Under the Old Covenant, keeping the covenant meant obeying the law. But under the New Covenant, “keeping” the covenant means:

1. Believing in Jesus:

John 6:28-29 – “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'”

2. Remaining in Christ:

John 15:4-5 – “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

3. Walking in the Spirit:

Galatians 5:16 – “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

4. Loving one another:

John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By applying Old Covenant language (“keep the covenant or face judgment”) to the New Covenant era without acknowledging the fundamental change Christ brought, SCJ:

• Reverses the gospel – Makes salvation dependent on covenant-keeping (performance) rather than Christ’s work
• Creates fear – “If you don’t keep the covenant (accept SCJ’s teaching), you’ll face judgment”
• Undermines grace – Shifts focus from what Christ has done to what you must do
• Prepares for control – Once “covenant” is redefined as “SCJ’s teaching,” rejecting any part becomes “breaking God’s covenant”

Biblical Truth: We Keep the Covenant by Faith in Christ

Romans 3:21-22 – “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

We receive righteousness “through faith in Jesus Christ”—not by keeping a new set of laws.

Galatians 3:2-3 – “I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?”

Paul rebukes the Galatians for trying to add law-keeping to faith. We begin by the Spirit (faith), and we continue by the Spirit (faith)—not by returning to law-keeping.

Colossians 2:6-7 – “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

We received Christ by faith, and we continue in Him by faith—not by adding new requirements.

Chapter 22 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Satan Tried to Hijack God’s Plan (And Failed Every Time),” addresses how SCJ’s covenant-keeping emphasis undermines the New Covenant gospel of grace.

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Part 5: The Lost Book of the Law—Creating Crisis

What SCJ Teaches:

Using 2 Kings 22:8-13, the instructor teaches:

“Wow, it’s astounding that the Book of the Law was rediscovered! What does that mean? It’s as if it’s a scene straight out of ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom movie.’ The Book had been lost; they weren’t even aware of its existence. Imagine that!… They were already facing punishment for breaking the covenant… Consider how villains are portrayed in movies—the truly frightening ones are those who always keep their word. When they say they’ll do something, they follow through, which is quite intimidating. God is like that in His faithfulness, though He is certainly not a villain. He warns that judgment will come, and it will indeed come.”

The Reflective Lens: The Lost-and-Found Crisis

This section uses a dramatic Old Testament story to create several psychological effects:

1. The Shocking Discovery

“The Book had been lost; they weren’t even aware of its existence. Imagine that!” This creates shock: How could God’s people lose the Book of the Law?

The implicit message: This could happen to you. You could lose touch with God’s Word without even realizing it.

2. The “Already Facing Punishment” Warning

“They were already facing punishment for breaking the covenant.” This creates fear: Judgment had already begun, even though they didn’t know they’d lost the Book.

The implicit message: You might already be under judgment without realizing it. You need to make sure you have the true “Book” (which will later be identified as SCJ’s “opened word”).

3. The Villain Comparison

“Consider how villains are portrayed in movies—the truly frightening ones are those who always keep their word… God is like that in His faithfulness, though He is certainly not a villain.”

This is a disturbing comparison. By comparing God to movie villains who “always keep their word” about doing harm, the instructor creates fear: God will definitely judge you if you break His covenant.

While it’s true that God is faithful to His promises (including warnings of judgment), this framing emphasizes fear rather than trust in God’s faithfulness to save.

4. The Coming Application

This story will be used to suggest:

• Most Christians have “lost” the true Book (don’t understand Scripture correctly)
• They don’t even realize they’ve lost it (are spiritually blind)
• They’re already facing judgment (are in spiritual danger)
• They need to “rediscover” the Book (accept SCJ’s teaching)

Chapter 14 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Testimony Vault: Voices From Inside the System,” includes testimonies from former members who describe how SCJ uses fear of judgment to motivate commitment.

The Discernment Lens: What Does 2 Kings 22 Actually Teach?

The Historical Context:

2 Kings 22 takes place during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC). For decades, Judah had been ruled by wicked kings (Manasseh and Amon) who promoted idolatry and ignored God’s law.

During temple repairs, the high priest Hilkiah found “the Book of the Law” (likely Deuteronomy or the entire Pentateuch). When it was read to King Josiah, he tore his robes in distress, realizing how far Judah had strayed from God’s commands.

Josiah’s Response:

2 Kings 23:1-3 – “Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the LORD with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”

Josiah led a national revival—destroying idols, removing false priests, and renewing the covenant.

What Can We Learn From This Story?

1. God’s Word Can Be Neglected:

Yes, it’s possible for God’s people to neglect Scripture. This is a warning to take God’s Word seriously.

2. Rediscovery Leads to Revival:

When God’s Word is rediscovered and taken seriously, it leads to repentance and renewal.

3. God’s Faithfulness Includes Warnings:

God is faithful to His promises—both blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience.

But notice what the story does NOT teach:

• It doesn’t teach that most Christians have “lost” Scripture (we have the complete Bible widely available)
• It doesn’t teach that you need one organization to “rediscover” God’s Word for you
• It doesn’t teach that judgment is inevitable regardless of repentance (Josiah’s reforms delayed judgment)

The Difference Between Josiah’s Time and Today:

Josiah’s Time:

• The Book of the Law was physically lost during decades of idolatry
• Most people had no access to Scripture
• When it was found, it led to national repentance

Today:

• Scripture is widely available in hundreds of languages
• Most Christians have multiple Bibles
• The issue is not access to Scripture, but interpretation and application

The Real Question: Do We Have God’s Word Today?

Yes, we have God’s complete, inspired Word:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We have “all Scripture”—the complete canon of Old and New Testaments.

2 Peter 1:20-21 – “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Scripture came from God through the Holy Spirit—it’s reliable and authoritative.

Jude 1:3 – “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.”

The faith was “once for all entrusted”—we have the complete revelation. We’re not waiting for new revelation or a “rediscovered” book.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By using the 2 Kings 22 story to suggest that Christians have “lost” God’s Word, SCJ:

• Creates false crisis – Makes Christians doubt they have access to God’s truth
• Positions SCJ as the solution – Only they can help you “rediscover” God’s Word
• Undermines Scripture’s accessibility – Suggests you can’t understand the Bible you already have
• Prepares for the “opened word” claim – Sets up the idea that you need SCJ’s special revelation

Biblical Truth: We Have God’s Complete Word

We don’t need to “rediscover” God’s Word—we have it. What we need is:

• The Holy Spirit’s illumination to understand it
• Faithful teaching that respects context and the whole counsel of Scripture
• A community of believers to study and apply it together
• Humility and diligence to study it carefully

Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

God’s Word is available to guide us—we don’t need one organization to “rediscover” it for us.

Chapter 24 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Scarlet Thread – Part 1,” demonstrates how Scripture has a unified narrative centered on Christ that doesn’t require special “rediscovery” through one organization.

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Part 6: The Kingdom Transfer—”God Will Give It to Another”

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Genesis 2:16-17, Hosea 6:7, and Matthew 21:42-44, the instructor teaches:

“Like Adam, the Israelites have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to God… So when Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they died, just as God had warned. But there were other consequences as well from breaking that covenant… There has been 6000 years of mourning, crying and pain in human history, separated from God’s Spirit… This pattern of God establishing a covenant and humanity breaking it repeats throughout history.”

Then, using Matthew 21:42-44:

“Such a key phrase Jesus mentioned here: ‘God will take the kingdom away from those who break the covenant.’ God will remove the kingdom from those who violate the word and what will he do? He will give it to another, to others who will actually keep it… We’re often taught you get unlimited chances. That’s not biblical. God progresses His plan. God advances to someone else… From Adam to Noah, Noah to Abraham, Abraham to Moses, to David, God has been moving from group to group, just to locate those who will collaborate with Him on His mission of returning.”

The Reflective Lens: The Exclusive Claim Setup

This teaching appears to be about God’s faithfulness to His plan despite human failure. However, it’s setting up SCJ’s most crucial exclusive claim:

1. The Pattern Establishment

“God has been moving from group to group, just to locate those who will collaborate with Him on His mission of returning.”

This establishes a pattern: Throughout history, God has moved from one group to another when they failed to keep His covenant.

The implicit message: God is doing this again today. He’s moving from one group (traditional Christianity) to another (SCJ).

2. The “No Unlimited Chances” Warning

“We’re often taught you get unlimited chances. That’s not biblical. God progresses His plan. God advances to someone else.”

This creates urgency and fear: You don’t have unlimited time to decide. If you reject SCJ’s teaching, God will move on without you.

This contradicts the biblical teaching about God’s patience and desire for all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9).

3. The Coming Application

This framework will be used to claim:

• Traditional Christianity has failed – Like Israel, the church has broken God’s covenant
• God is transferring the kingdom – From the church to SCJ
• SCJ is the new chosen people – The group God has found who will “keep the covenant”
• You must join SCJ – Or you’ll be left behind when God moves on

This is the foundation of SCJ’s exclusive claim: Only they have the kingdom; all other Christians are outside God’s plan.

4. The 6000-Year Timeline

“There has been 6000 years of mourning, crying and pain in human history, separated from God’s Spirit.”

SCJ teaches a specific timeline: 6000 years from Adam to the present, and now we’re entering the 7th millennium (the millennium reign). This creates urgency: We’re at the end of the 6000 years; God is about to return; you must be part of the right group (SCJ) now.

Chapter 16 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Messiahs Multiply: The Pattern of Korean Messianic Movements,” addresses how multiple Korean groups use similar “kingdom transfer” claims to establish exclusive authority.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Matthew 21:42-44 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in context:

Matthew 21:33-46 – This is the Parable of the Tenants. Jesus tells a story about a landowner who planted a vineyard, rented it to tenants, and went away. When he sent servants to collect the fruit, the tenants beat and killed them. Finally, he sent his son, and they killed him too.

The Interpretation:

• The landowner = God the Father
• The vineyard = Israel / God’s kingdom
• The tenants = Israel’s religious leaders
• The servants = The prophets
• The son = Jesus
• The killing of the son = The crucifixion

Matthew 21:42-44 – “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.'”

Who Is Jesus Addressing?

Matthew 21:45 – “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.”

Jesus was addressing the chief priests and Pharisees—the religious leaders who would soon crucify Him.

What Does “The Kingdom Will Be Taken Away” Mean?

Jesus was warning that because Israel’s leaders rejected Him (the Messiah), the kingdom would be opened to the Gentiles. This is fulfilled in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament:

Acts 13:46 – “Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.'”

Romans 11:11-12 – “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!”

The kingdom was “taken away” from Israel’s unbelieving leaders and “given to” the Gentiles (and believing Jews) who would accept Jesus.

Who Are “A People Who Will Produce Its Fruit”?

1 Peter 2:9-10 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Peter (writing to Gentile believers) applies Old Testament language about Israel to the church—all believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile.

The “people who will produce fruit” is the church—the body of Christ worldwide, not one exclusive organization.

Does God Keep Transferring the Kingdom?

SCJ teaches that God keeps moving from group to group throughout history, and now He’s moving from the church to SCJ. But is this biblical?

The Church Is Christ’s Body:

Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

The church is Christ’s body—He is the head, and we are the members. Christ doesn’t abandon His body.

Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Jesus promised that the gates of Hades would “not overcome” His church. The church will endure until Christ returns—it won’t be replaced by another group.

Ephesians 5:25-27 – “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Christ loves the church and is sanctifying her. He’s not abandoning her for a new group.

The Pattern Is Not “Group to Group” But “Promise to Fulfillment”:

SCJ claims God has been moving “from group to group” (Adam → Noah → Abraham → Moses → David → Church → SCJ). But this misunderstands biblical history.

The Biblical Pattern:

God has been working out one plan of redemption through progressive revelation:

• Adam – The promise of a seed who would crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15)
• Noah – The preservation of humanity through judgment
• Abraham – The promise of blessing to all nations through his seed (Genesis 12:1-3)
• Moses – The law revealing sin and pointing to the need for a Savior
• David – The promise of an eternal king from his line (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
• Christ – The fulfillment of all promises (2 Corinthians 1:20)
• The Church – The body of Christ, continuing His mission until He returns

This is not God abandoning one group for another. This is God progressively revealing and fulfilling His one plan of redemption through Christ.

Galatians 3:16 – “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.”

All of God’s promises find their fulfillment in Christ—not in a succession of groups.

The Danger of SCJ’s “Kingdom Transfer” Teaching:

By claiming God is transferring the kingdom from the church to SCJ, they:

• Contradict Christ’s promise – That the church will endure (Matthew 16:18)
• Create false exclusivity – Only SCJ has the kingdom; all other Christians are outside
• Misuse Scripture – Apply a passage about Israel’s rejection of Christ to the church
• Produce division – Separate believers from the body of Christ

Biblical Truth: The Kingdom Belongs to All Who Believe in Christ

Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The kingdom is not about organizational membership, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Luke 17:20-21 – “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'”

The kingdom is not a physical location or organization you can point to. It’s wherever Christ reigns in people’s hearts.

Colossians 1:13 – “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”

If you’re in Christ, you’re already in the kingdom—you don’t need to join SCJ to enter it.

Chapter 20 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Community of Faith: How the Church Actually Works,” defends the biblical doctrine of the church against SCJ’s “kingdom transfer” claim.

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Part 7: Milk vs. Solid Food—The Maturity Test

What SCJ Teaches:

Using Hebrews 5:12-14 and 6:1-3, the instructor teaches:

“The writer of Hebrews mentioned that the people who should be able to teach are not yet spiritually mature enough to teach. In fact, they are so immature that they need to relearn the foundations all over again. They still need spiritual milk… But the people the writer of Hebrews is mentioning still live on spiritual milk alone. So they remain spiritual infants… But for their bodies to continue growing, they must transition from milk to solid food. We cannot only survive on milk today – our mature bodies need solid food. Milk alone is no longer adequately nourishing for us physically. But the people the writer of Hebrews is mentioning still live on spiritual milk alone. So they remain spiritual infants.”

The Reflective Lens: The Maturity Manipulation

This teaching appears to be about spiritual growth and maturity. However, it’s setting up a sophisticated manipulation:

1. The Maturity Test

By introducing the milk vs. solid food metaphor, SCJ creates a test: Are you spiritually mature or immature?

The implicit message: If you’re still at your church, learning basic Christian doctrine, you’re drinking “milk.” But if you accept SCJ’s advanced teaching (the “opened word”), you’re eating “solid food.”

This creates a desire to prove your maturity by accepting SCJ’s teaching.

2. The Shame Creation

“They are so immature that they need to relearn the foundations all over again.” This creates shame about being spiritually immature.

Students don’t want to be seen as “spiritual infants” who need milk. They want to be mature, eating solid food.

3. The Coming Definition

Later lessons will define what “solid food” means:

• Milk = Basic Christian doctrine (what your church teaches)
• Solid food = Advanced revelation (SCJ’s interpretation of Revelation)

This creates a hierarchy:

• Immature Christians = Those who stay in their churches, learning basic doctrine
• Mature Christians = Those who accept SCJ’s advanced teaching

4. The Elementary Teachings Dismissal

The lesson mentions “elementary teachings” that people need to move beyond. What are these teachings?

Hebrews 6:1-2 lists them: “Repentance from acts that lead to death, faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

SCJ will use this to suggest that your church’s teaching is “elementary” and you need to move on to SCJ’s “advanced” teaching.

Chapter 12 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “When Narrative Becomes More Important Than Truth,” addresses how SCJ creates false hierarchies of spiritual maturity to manipulate students.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Hebrews 5:12-14 Actually Teach?

Let’s examine the passage in context:

Hebrews 5:11-14 – “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

What Was the Problem?

The writer of Hebrews was addressing Jewish Christians who were:

1. Slow to learn – “You no longer try to understand”
2. Stagnant in growth – “By this time you ought to be teachers”
3. Needing remedial teaching – “You need someone to teach you the elementary truths… all over again”
4. Immature – “You need milk, not solid food”

What Is “Milk” vs. “Solid Food”?

Milk (Elementary Truths):

Hebrews 6:1-2 – “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.”

The “elementary teachings” include:

• Repentance from sin
• Faith in God
• Baptism and ritual washings
• Laying on of hands
• Resurrection
• Eternal judgment

These are foundational Christian doctrines—essential, but basic.

Solid Food (Mature Teaching):

The “solid food” the writer wants to give them is deeper understanding of Christ’s high priesthood (which he develops in Hebrews 7-10).

Hebrews 5:10 – “And was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

The writer wants to explain how Jesus is a high priest like Melchizedek—a deep, theological topic that requires maturity to understand.

What Does “Maturity” Mean?

Hebrews 5:14 – “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Maturity means being able to “distinguish good from evil”—having discernment to apply Scripture to life situations.

The Characteristics of Maturity:

1. Able to teach others: “By this time you ought to be teachers” (Hebrews 5:12)

2. Acquainted with the teaching about righteousness: “Anyone who lives on milk… is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness” (Hebrews 5:13)

3. Trained by practice: “Who by constant use have trained themselves” (Hebrews 5:14)

4. Able to discern: “To distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14)

What Maturity Is NOT:

Maturity is not:

• Accepting one organization’s exclusive interpretation
• Learning secret or hidden meanings
• Moving beyond the gospel to something “more advanced”
• Dismissing “elementary” doctrines as unimportant

The “elementary teachings” (repentance, faith, resurrection, judgment) are not things we outgrow. They’re the foundation we build on. Mature believers don’t abandon these truths—they understand them more deeply and apply them more consistently.

The Danger of SCJ’s Application:

By using the milk vs. solid food metaphor to suggest that your church’s teaching is “milk” and SCJ’s teaching is “solid food,” they:

• Create false hierarchy – Make church teaching seem elementary and SCJ’s teaching advanced
• Produce shame – Make students feel immature for staying in their churches
• Misuse Scripture – Apply a passage about slow spiritual growth to organizational membership
• Undermine the gospel – Suggest there’s something “more advanced” than the gospel of Christ

Biblical Truth: The Gospel Is Both Milk and Solid Food

1 Corinthians 2:2 – “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

Paul, writing to mature believers, focused on “Jesus Christ and him crucified”—the gospel. This is not “elementary” in the sense of being outgrown. It’s the foundation we continually build on.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 – “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”

Paul’s concern was not that the Corinthians needed to move beyond the gospel to something more advanced. His concern was that their worldliness (jealousy, quarreling) showed they were still immature.

Maturity is not about moving beyond the gospel, but about understanding it more deeply and living it more consistently.

Ephesians 4:13-15 – “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Maturity means:

• Unity in the faith
• Knowledge of the Son of God
• Attaining to the fullness of Christ
• Not being tossed by every wind of teaching
• Speaking the truth in love
• Growing into Christ

Maturity is about knowing Christ more deeply and becoming more like Him—not about accepting one organization’s exclusive interpretation.

Chapter 25 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Scarlet Thread – Part 2: God’s Fulfillment in the New Testament,” demonstrates how all of Scripture points to Christ—the gospel is not “elementary” but the center of all biblical teaching.

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Part 8: Satan’s Schemes—The Urgency and Enemy Creation

What SCJ Teaches:

The instructor creates a dramatic narrative of Satan’s schemes:

“Imagine God’s perspective: He continues to plead ‘Memorize my word, internalize it, be lured by it!’ But Satan orchestrates ways to disrupt God’s plan – ‘Oh how can I disrupt God’s plan for these people so they cannot keep their covenant? I know, I’ll send hoards of Gentiles into their nation. The men won’t be able to resist intermarrying and bringing in outside gods. I’ll infiltrate them with culture after culture… Perfect, I can influence the king too… These people adhere so closely to God’s law. I’ll give that prophet over there a confusing dream… Now this Jesus fellow claims to be God’s son. What a joke. I’ll have some fun with this one. We’ll get the Pharisees to ask tricky questions and tell lies… I’ll send the Sadducees too to keep attacking God’s plan. I’ll just keep throwing wrenches into this at every turn so these people can’t possibly keep the covenant.'”

The Reflective Lens: The Enemy Narrative

This dramatic narrative serves several psychological purposes:

1. The Cosmic Battle Framework

By creating a vivid narrative of Satan’s schemes against God’s people, SCJ establishes a cosmic battle framework: You’re in a war, and Satan is actively working to prevent you from keeping God’s covenant.

This creates urgency and fear: “Satan is scheming against me. I need to be vigilant and committed to resist his attacks.”

2. The External Enemy Identification

The narrative identifies Satan’s tactics:

• Sending “hoards of Gentiles” (outsiders)
• Influencing leaders
• Giving “confusing dreams” to prophets
• Getting religious leaders to ask “tricky questions and tell lies”

This prepares students to see opposition as satanic:

• When family members express concerns → Satan is using them
• When pastors warn about SCJ → Satan is influencing them
• When friends ask difficult questions → Satan is attacking through them

3. The Coming Application

This framework will be used to dismiss all criticism of SCJ:

• Your pastor’s concerns → Satan is using him to prevent you from keeping the covenant
• Your family’s worries → Satan is attacking through them
• Your own doubts → Satan is giving you “confusing” thoughts
• Critical articles or testimonies → Satan’s lies to disrupt God’s plan

This creates an impenetrable bubble where all criticism is dismissed as satanic attack.

4. The Urgency Creation

“Satan is actively scheming to prevent you from keeping the covenant” creates urgency: You must commit to SCJ now, before Satan succeeds in disrupting your spiritual growth.

Chapter 13 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Church Under Attack: How SCJ Undermines Your Faith Community,” addresses how SCJ uses enemy narratives to isolate students from family, friends, and church.

The Discernment Lens: What Does Scripture Teach About Satan’s Schemes?

Biblical Truth #1: Yes, Satan Is Real and Active

Scripture does teach that Satan is real and actively opposes God’s people:

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

2 Corinthians 11:14 – “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

So yes, we should be aware of Satan’s schemes and resist him.

Biblical Truth #2: Satan’s Primary Tactic Is Deception

John 8:44 – “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Satan’s primary weapon is lies—deception about who God is, what He requires, and who we are.

2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

Satan’s goal is to lead us away from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ”—not through obvious evil, but through subtle deception.

Biblical Truth #3: Not All Opposition Is Satanic

While Satan does oppose God’s people, not all opposition or criticism is satanic. Sometimes opposition comes from:

1. Legitimate Concern:

Acts 20:28-31 – “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard!”

Paul warned the Ephesian elders to watch for false teachers. When pastors warn their members about groups that “distort the truth,” this is not satanic attack—it’s faithful shepherding.

2. Loving Family:

Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Sometimes those who love us most will “wound” us with hard truths. This is not satanic attack—it’s love.

3. The Holy Spirit’s Conviction:

John 16:8 – “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. When you feel convicted about something in SCJ’s teaching or practice, that might be the Holy Spirit, not Satan.

Biblical Truth #4: Test the Spirits

1 John 4:1 – “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.”

We’re commanded to “test the spirits”—not to dismiss all criticism as satanic, but to carefully evaluate whether it’s true.

How to Test:

1. Does it align with Scripture? “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn” (Isaiah 8:20)

2. Does it point to Christ? “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (1 John 4:2)

3. Does it produce good fruit? “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:16)

4. Does it promote love and unity? “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35)

The Danger of SCJ’s Enemy Narrative:

By creating a narrative where all opposition is satanic attack, SCJ:

• Prevents critical thinking – Students dismiss legitimate concerns without evaluation
• Isolates students – From family, friends, and pastors who express concerns
• Creates paranoia – Students see Satan’s schemes everywhere
• Justifies deception – “We must hide our involvement from family because Satan will use them to attack us”

Biblical Truth: Discern, Don’t Dismiss

Yes, Satan is real and active. But the solution is not to dismiss all criticism as satanic. The solution is discernment:

Philippians 1:9-10 – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

We need “knowledge and depth of insight” to “discern what is best”—not a simplistic framework that labels all criticism as satanic.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “Test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

“Test everything”—including SCJ’s teachings and claims. Don’t just dismiss criticism; test it against Scripture.

Chapter 29 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “How Do We Know Which Voice We’re Hearing?” provides a framework for discerning between God’s voice, Satan’s deception, and human wisdom.

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Part 9: The Progression of Indoctrination—Where Lesson 30 Fits

By Lesson 30, students in the Introductory Level (“Parables”) have been systematically prepared through a carefully designed progression. Let’s map how this lesson advances the indoctrination process:

Introductory Level (Parables) – Lessons 1-30:

Early Lessons (1-10):

• Goal: Establish that the Bible requires special interpretation
• Method: Teaching that parables have hidden meanings only revealed to the chosen
• Effect: Students learn dependency on SCJ’s interpretive method
• Key Concepts: Two seeds, harvest, figurative meanings

Middle Lessons (11-20):

• Goal: Build the figurative framework
• Method: Teaching that physical things represent spiritual realities (light, tree, seed, field, etc.)
• Effect: Students accept that everything in Scripture has hidden meanings that require SCJ’s interpretation
• Key Concepts: Figurative interpretation, allegorical method

Later Lessons (21-30):

• Goal: Prepare for transition to Intermediate Level
• Method: Introducing concepts that will be fully developed later (covenant-keeping, kingdom transfer, maturity test)
• Effect: Students are primed to accept SCJ’s exclusive claims
• Key Concepts: Holding God’s Word, covenant-keeping, kingdom transfer, spiritual maturity

Lesson 30 Specifically:

Goal: Create urgency, establish exclusive authority framework, prepare for church separation

Method: Teaching that:

• God’s Word = Life itself (you’ll die without it)
• Breaking covenant = Rejecting God (no middle ground)
• God transfers the kingdom from group to group (SCJ is next)
• Spiritual maturity = Accepting advanced teaching (SCJ’s “solid food”)
• Satan schemes to prevent covenant-keeping (all opposition is satanic)

Effect: Students feel:

• Urgency – “I must hold tightly or I’ll be blown away”
• Dependency – “I need SCJ to understand God’s Word”
• Fear – “God will move on without me if I don’t commit”
• Superiority – “I’m eating solid food while my church is still on milk”
• Paranoia – “Satan is using people around me to attack”

Intermediate Level (Bible Logic) – Coming Next:

Goal: Complete the framework for exclusive authority and justify leaving one’s church

Method: Teaching that:

• Clothes = Heart + Actions + Doctrines (Lesson 31)
• Treasure = The Word (Lesson 32)
• Water = Word; SCJ is the “spring”; churches are the “sea” (Lessons 33-35)
• Only the “opened word” gives true understanding (Lessons 36-39)

Effect: Students see their churches as spiritually dead and SCJ as the only source of truth

Advanced Level (Revelation) – Final Stage:

Goal: Reveal Chairman Lee Man-hee’s exclusive claims

Method: Teaching that:

• Lee is the “one who overcomes” (Revelation 2-3)
• Lee is the “promised pastor” who received the “opened word”
• Only those sealed by SCJ (144,000) will be saved
• All other Christians are “Babylon” and must be fled from

Effect: Students accept SCJ’s complete authority and Lee’s unique position, leave their churches, and commit full-time to SCJ

The Strategic Function of Lesson 30:

Lesson 30 serves as a crucial bridge between the Introductory and Intermediate Levels. It:

1. Escalates Commitment:

• From casual interest (“Let me learn about the Bible”) to urgent necessity (“These words are my life”)

2. Establishes Exclusive Authority:

• From “SCJ has helpful insights” to “Only SCJ has God’s Word”

3. Prepares for Church Separation:

• From “My church is good but incomplete” to “God is transferring the kingdom from my church to SCJ”

4. Creates Isolation:

• From “I’ll share what I’m learning with family” to “Satan will use family to attack me”

5. Increases Time Commitment:

• From “I’ll attend when convenient” to “I must be fully present and attentive or I’m disrespecting God”

Chapter 11 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” maps this entire progression, explaining how each level builds psychological dependence while gradually revealing more controversial claims.

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Part 10: The Subtext—What Lesson 30 Is Really Teaching

Let’s identify the hidden messages beneath the surface teaching:

Surface Message:

“God’s Word is precious and life-giving. We must hold tightly to it, memorize it, and let it transform us. Throughout history, God has moved from group to group when they failed to keep His covenant. We must be spiritually mature, eating solid food, not remaining on milk.”

Hidden Subtext:

1. You’re in Spiritual Danger

“If we do not hold on tightly… we will be blown away by the severe winds.” You’re in crisis. You need to grip tightly (to SCJ’s teaching) or you’ll be destroyed.

2. Your Church Has “Lost” God’s Word

Like the people in 2 Kings 22 who lost the Book of the Law, your church has lost the true understanding of Scripture. You need SCJ to help you “rediscover” it.

3. God Is Transferring the Kingdom

“God will take the kingdom away from those who break the covenant and give it to another.” God is moving from the church (which has failed) to SCJ (which is faithful).

4. You Must Prove Your Maturity

“Are you still drinking milk or eating solid food?” If you stay in your church, you’re spiritually immature. If you accept SCJ’s teaching, you’re mature.

5. All Opposition Is Satanic

Satan schemes to prevent you from keeping the covenant. When family, friends, or pastors express concerns, Satan is using them to attack you.

6. You Don’t Have Unlimited Time

“We’re often taught you get unlimited chances. That’s not biblical. God progresses His plan.” You must commit to SCJ now, or God will move on without you.

7. SCJ’s Teaching = God’s Word

“God and His Word are one.” When you come to SCJ’s Bible study, you’re coming before God Himself. To reject SCJ’s teaching is to reject God.

8. You Must Attend Diligently

“What is your posture and presence before God? Are you laying in bed? Sitting on your couch?” You must be fully present, properly dressed, and completely attentive, or you’re disrespecting God.

Chapter 14 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “The Testimony Vault: Voices From Inside the System,” includes testimonies from former members who describe how these hidden messages became clear only after leaving. One former member stated: “I didn’t realize I was being taught that my church had ‘lost’ God’s Word and that God was transferring the kingdom to SCJ. The teaching was so gradual and subtle that I accepted it without questioning.”

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Part 11: Critical Questions for Discernment

If you’re studying with SCJ or considering their teachings, here are essential questions to ask:

About the “Hold Tightly” Urgency:

1. Does Scripture teach that your security depends on your grip? Or does it teach that your security is in Christ’s grip? (John 10:28-29, Romans 8:38-39)
2. Is SCJ creating artificial urgency? Why the constant emphasis on “at this time” and “severe winds”? Is this biblical urgency or manipulation?
3. Does this teaching produce peace or anxiety? Jesus said, “My peace I give you” (John 14:27). Does SCJ’s teaching give you peace or constant anxiety about holding on tightly enough?

About the “Lost Book” Claim:

1. Have Christians really “lost” God’s Word? We have the complete Bible widely available. What have we “lost” that SCJ claims to have “rediscovered”?
2. Does your church faithfully teach Scripture? Or is SCJ creating a false crisis by claiming your church has “lost” the Book?
3. Why does SCJ need to gradually reveal their teaching? If they have the “rediscovered” Book, why not share it openly from the beginning?

About the “Kingdom Transfer” Claim:

1. Did Jesus promise the church would endure? What about Matthew 16:18: “The gates of Hades will not overcome it”?
2. Is SCJ claiming to replace the church? If so, how does this align with Scripture’s teaching about the church as Christ’s body?
3. What are the fruits of SCJ’s teaching? Does it produce love, unity, and transformation? Or division, secrecy, and control?

About the “Milk vs. Solid Food” Claim:

1. What is “solid food” according to Hebrews? Is it secret interpretations, or deeper understanding of Christ?
2. Does SCJ’s teaching deepen your understanding of Christ? Or does it focus on organizational claims and end-times charts?
3. Are you being made to feel ashamed? Is SCJ using the “milk” label to shame you for staying in your church?

About the Satan Narrative:

1. Is all criticism satanic? Or should you test concerns against Scripture? (1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21)
2. Are your family and pastor really being used by Satan? Or do they have legitimate concerns based on love?
3. Is SCJ using the Satan narrative to isolate you? Why would they want you to dismiss all outside input?

About Your Experience:

1. How do you feel after studying with SCJ? Do you feel peace, joy, and freedom? Or anxiety, guilt, and pressure?
2. Are you becoming more loving? Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Is SCJ’s teaching producing love?
3. Can you talk openly with family and friends? Or do you feel the need to hide your involvement? Why?
4. Are you being asked to increase commitment? How much time are you spending on SCJ activities? Is this sustainable and healthy?

Chapter 27 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “Your Investigation Begins: The Detective’s Report,” provides a comprehensive framework for investigating spiritual claims through careful questioning and multiple sources.

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Part 12: The Way Forward—Responding to Lesson 30

For Those Currently Studying with SCJ:

1. Evaluate the Urgency

Take an honest look at the urgency SCJ is creating:

• Do you feel constant anxiety about “holding on tightly”?
• Are you afraid that God will “move on” without you?
• Do you feel pressure to commit quickly?

Remember: Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). If SCJ’s teaching is producing burden and anxiety rather than rest, that’s a warning sign.

2. Test the “Lost Book” Claim

Honestly evaluate whether your church has “lost” God’s Word:

• Does your church teach the Bible?
• Does your church preach the gospel of salvation by grace through faith?
• Does your church produce good fruit (love, service, transformed lives)?

If your church faithfully teaches Scripture and preaches the gospel, don’t let SCJ’s “lost Book” narrative undermine your confidence.

3. Examine the “Kingdom Transfer” Claim

Compare SCJ’s claim with Scripture:

SCJ’s claim: “God is transferring the kingdom from the church to SCJ.”

Scripture: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

Which is true? Did Jesus promise the church would endure, or that He would replace it with another organization?

4. Test the “Maturity” Claim

Don’t let SCJ shame you with the “milk vs. solid food” metaphor:

• Maturity is not about accepting one organization’s exclusive interpretation
• Maturity is about knowing Christ more deeply and becoming more like Him
• The gospel is not “elementary” in the sense of being outgrown—it’s the foundation we continually build on

5. Evaluate the Satan Narrative

When family, friends, or pastors express concerns, don’t automatically dismiss them as satanic attack:

• Listen to their concerns
• Test their concerns against Scripture
• Ask yourself: “Do they have legitimate reasons to be worried?”
• Consider: “Am I being isolated from everyone who loves me?”

6. Talk to Your Pastor

Show your pastor SCJ’s materials and ask:

• What do you think of their teaching that God is “transferring the kingdom” from the church to another group?
• Does this align with Scripture?
• What concerns do you have about this teaching?

If SCJ discourages you from talking to your pastor, ask yourself why. Truth can withstand scrutiny.

7. Research Independently

Visit https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive refutation of SCJ’s teachings.

Read testimonies from former members. Listen to their stories. Ask yourself: Do their experiences sound like what you’re experiencing?

For Those Who Have Left SCJ:

1. Recover From Urgency Anxiety

You may be struggling with anxiety from SCJ’s urgency messages: “Hold on tightly or you’ll be blown away,” “God will move on without you.”

Rediscover the gospel:

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If you’re in Christ, nothing can separate you from God’s love. Your security is in His grip, not your performance.

2. Unlearn the “Kingdom Transfer” Lie

SCJ taught you that God was transferring the kingdom from the church to SCJ. This may have created cynicism toward the church.

Rediscover the church:

Ephesians 5:25 – “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

Christ loves the church. While individual churches are imperfect, the church universal is Christ’s bride, loved and cherished by Him.

3. Process the “Maturity” Manipulation

Recognize that SCJ’s “milk vs. solid food” teaching was manipulation designed to make you feel ashamed for staying in your church.

The truth: Maturity is not about organizational membership or accepting exclusive interpretations. Maturity is about knowing Christ and becoming like Him.

4. Rebuild Trust

SCJ taught you that all opposition was satanic attack. This may have damaged your trust in family, friends, and pastors.

Recognize: Those who expressed concerns loved you and were trying to protect you. Their concerns were legitimate, not satanic.

Rebuild: Reach out to those you dismissed. Apologize where appropriate. Rebuild trust over time.

5. Find a Healthy Church

Look for a church that:

• Faithfully teaches Scripture in context
• Preaches the gospel of grace
• Produces good fruit (love, service, transformed lives)
• Welcomes questions and encourages discernment
• Operates with transparency and accountability

Chapter 28 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “Hope and Help: Guidance for Members, Families, Christians, and Seekers,” provides detailed guidance for those recovering from involvement in SCJ.

For Pastors and Christian Leaders:

1. Teach the Gospel Clearly

Many people join SCJ because they’ve never clearly understood the gospel of grace. Make sure your congregation understands:

• Salvation is by grace through faith, not by covenant-keeping performance
• Our security is in Christ’s grip, not our ability to “hold on tightly”
• The church is Christ’s body, which He will never abandon
• Maturity is about knowing Christ, not accepting exclusive interpretations

2. Address Urgency Manipulation

When groups create artificial urgency (“God is moving on; you must commit now”), teach:

• God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9)
• We should test teachings carefully, not make hasty decisions (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
• Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)

3. Affirm the Church’s Value

SCJ teaches that God is transferring the kingdom from the church to them. Counter this by teaching:

• Christ promised the church would endure (Matthew 16:18)
• The church is Christ’s body, which He loves and sanctifies (Ephesians 5:25-27)
• While churches are imperfect, they’re not abandoned by Christ

4. Teach Discernment

Help your congregation develop discernment skills:

• Test teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11)
• Beware of groups that claim exclusive authority
• Watch for gradual revelation of controversial teachings
• Be cautious of groups that discourage questions
• Look for good fruit (Matthew 7:15-20)

5. Provide Resources

Direct people to resources like https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination for comprehensive information about SCJ’s teachings and tactics.

Chapter 30 of “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story,” titled “How Does God Actually Speak to You?” provides guidance for church leaders in helping members discern God’s voice from manipulative teachings.

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Conclusion: The Word That Truly Gives Life

Lesson 30 asks: “What is God’s Word?” SCJ’s answer: God’s Word = Scripture = SCJ’s interpretation = Life itself.

But the Bible’s answer is different and far more beautiful: Jesus Himself is the Word that gives life.

John 1:1, 14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is “the Word”—not a book, not an interpretation, not an organization’s teaching, but a Person. The eternal Son of God who became flesh to reveal the Father and redeem humanity.

John 6:35 – “Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'”

Jesus is the bread of life—not information about Him, not understanding doctrines about Him, but Him personally. We need Jesus Himself, not just knowledge about Him.

John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus came to give life—abundant, full, overflowing life. This life comes through relationship with Him, not through membership in an organization or acceptance of exclusive interpretations.

John 14:6 – “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—not a pathway to be discovered through special teaching, but a Person to be known and loved.

The True Covenant

Lesson 30 emphasizes covenant-keeping: “These words are your life… Adherence to these words is not optional.” But what is the New Covenant, and how do we keep it?

Jeremiah 31:33-34 – “‘This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, “Know the LORD,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the LORD. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'”

The New Covenant is not a new set of laws to keep through human effort. It’s God’s promise to:

• Transform us internally – “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts”
• Be our God – “I will be their God, and they will be my people”
• Give us direct relationship – “They will all know me”
• Forgive completely – “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more”

How do we “keep” this covenant?

Not by gripping tightly in our own strength, but by trusting in Christ’s finished work:

Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

Christ’s one sacrifice has “made perfect forever” those who believe. Our perfection is not achieved through covenant-keeping performance, but received through faith in His sacrifice.

Hebrews 13:20-21 – “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

God will “equip you” and “work in us what is pleasing to him.” The New Covenant is not about what we must do for God, but about what God does in us through Christ.

The True Kingdom

Lesson 30 teaches that God transfers the kingdom from group to group throughout history, and now He’s transferring it from the church to SCJ. But what does Scripture teach?

Colossians 1:13-14 – “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

If you’re in Christ, you’re already “in the kingdom.” You don’t need to join SCJ to enter it.

Luke 17:20-21 – “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'”

The kingdom is not a physical location or organization you can point to. It’s wherever Christ reigns.

Romans 14:17 – “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

The kingdom is not about organizational membership or doctrinal understanding. It’s about “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”—the fruit of relationship with Christ.

Matthew 16:18 – “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Jesus promised to build His church and that it would endure. He’s not abandoning the church for a new organization. The church—the body of Christ worldwide—is His kingdom people.

The True Maturity

Lesson 30 uses the milk vs. solid food metaphor to suggest that staying in your church means remaining spiritually immature, while accepting SCJ’s teaching means becoming mature. But what is true spiritual maturity?

Ephesians 4:13-15 – “Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Maturity means:

• Unity in the faith – Not division and separation from other believers
• Knowledge of the Son of God – Not knowledge of organizational claims or end-times charts
• Attaining to the fullness of Christ – Not attaining to understanding of secret interpretations
• Not tossed by every wind of teaching – Not being manipulated by groups that claim exclusive authority
• Speaking truth in love – Not deception and hiding
• Growing into Christ – Not growing into an organization

Colossians 1:28 – “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”

The goal of Christian teaching is to present people “fully mature in Christ”—not fully committed to an organization, but fully formed in Christ’s image.

Hebrews 5:14 – “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Maturity is the ability to “distinguish good from evil”—to have discernment. Ironically, SCJ’s teaching undermines discernment by teaching students to dismiss all criticism as satanic attack and to accept SCJ’s interpretations without testing them.

True maturity means:

• Testing teachings against Scripture (Acts 17:11)
• Distinguishing truth from error (1 John 4:1)
• Growing in Christ-likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18)
• Producing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

The True Security

Lesson 30 creates anxiety: “If we do not hold on tightly… we will be blown away by the severe winds.” But what does Scripture teach about our security?

John 10:27-29 – “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”

Jesus’ sheep “shall never perish” and “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Our security is in His grip, not our ability to hold on.

Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate us from God’s love—not our weakness, not our failures, not even our inability to “hold on tightly” in our own strength.

Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God will complete the work He began. Our salvation doesn’t depend solely on our grip—it depends on His faithfulness.

Jude 1:24-25 – “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”

God is “able to keep you from stumbling.” He’s the one doing the keeping.

This doesn’t mean we’re passive. Scripture does call us to persevere, to hold fast to our faith, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. But the foundation of our security is not our grip, but God’s faithfulness:

2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Even when we’re faithless, He remains faithful. Our hope is in His character, not our performance.

The True Battle

Lesson 30 creates a dramatic narrative of Satan’s schemes to prevent covenant-keeping. Yes, we are in a spiritual battle. But what is the battle really about?

Ephesians 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

The battle is spiritual—but notice, it’s “not against flesh and blood.” Your family, friends, and pastor are not the enemy, even if they express concerns about SCJ.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 – “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

The battle is about “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.” We fight with truth, not with isolation and dismissal of all criticism.

What are Satan’s real schemes?

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 – “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”

Satan’s scheme is to lead us away from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” by introducing:

• A different Jesus – Not the Jesus of Scripture, but a Jesus redefined by human teaching
• A different spirit – Not the Holy Spirit, but a spirit of fear, control, and exclusivity
• A different gospel – Not salvation by grace through faith, but salvation by covenant-keeping performance

How do we resist?

James 4:7 – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We resist by submitting to God—not to an organization, but to God Himself through His Word and Spirit.

1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

We resist by “standing firm in the faith”—the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), not a new revelation from one organization.

The True Word

Lesson 30 asks: “What is God’s Word?” The lesson starts with the biblical truth that God and His Word are one, but then subtly shifts to equate “God’s Word” with SCJ’s teaching.

The truth: God’s Word is:

1. Jesus Christ Himself: John 1:1, 14 – The eternal Word who became flesh

2. Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed”

3. The Gospel: Romans 1:16 – “The gospel… is the power of God that brings salvation”

But God’s Word is not:

• One organization’s exclusive interpretation
• Secret knowledge revealed only to a chosen few
• Teaching that requires you to leave the church
• Doctrine that produces fear, anxiety, and control

How do we know if teaching is truly “God’s Word”?

Test it:

1. Does it align with Scripture? Isaiah 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”

2. Does it point to Christ? Luke 24:27 – “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

All Scripture points to Christ. Teaching that focuses on organizational claims rather than Christ is suspect.

3. Does it produce good fruit? Matthew 7:16-20 – “By their fruit you will recognize them.”

Does the teaching produce:

• Love or division?
• Freedom or control?
• Peace or anxiety?
• Unity or separation?
• Transparency or deception?

4. Does it proclaim the gospel of grace? Galatians 1:8-9 – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”

Any teaching that adds to or subtracts from the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone is false.

The Invitation

Lesson 30 creates urgency: “Hold on tightly or you’ll be blown away. God is moving on; you must commit now.”

But Jesus’ invitation is different:

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. His yoke is easy and His burden is light—not heavy with fear, urgency, and performance demands.

John 6:37 – “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

Jesus promises: “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” You don’t need to prove yourself worthy, understand everything perfectly, or join the right organization. You just need to come to Jesus by faith.

Revelation 22:17 – “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

The invitation is open: “Come!” The gift is free: “the free gift of the water of life.” You don’t need to earn it through covenant-keeping performance or organizational membership.

If you’re studying with SCJ and feeling increasing pressure, fear, and anxiety, that pressure is not from God. The gospel is about what Christ has done, not what you must do. It’s about His grip on you, not your grip on Him. It’s about His faithfulness, not your performance.

If you’ve left SCJ and are recovering from the fear and anxiety they created, know this: Your security is in Christ. Nothing can separate you from His love. He is faithful even when you’re faithless. Rest in His finished work.

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

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A Final Word

Lesson 30 uses powerful biblical language about the importance of God’s Word. And yes, God’s Word is precious, life-giving, and essential. But we must be careful not to let human organizations hijack biblical language to establish their own authority.

The questions to ask:

1. Does this teaching point me to Christ or to an organization?
2. Does it produce freedom or control?
3. Does it create peace or anxiety?
4. Does it encourage discernment or discourage questions?
5. Does it unite believers or separate them?
6. Does it proclaim grace or demand performance?

As “Testing Shincheonji’s Claims: Two Lenses, One Story” demonstrates throughout its 30 chapters, freedom comes through seeing both the psychological tactics (Reflective Lens) and the biblical truth (Discernment Lens). Use both lenses. Test everything. Hold fast to what is good.

And above all, hold fast to Jesus Christ—the eternal Word who became flesh, the one who gives life, the one who holds you securely in His hand, the one whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.

For comprehensive refutation of Shincheonji teachings and support for those investigating or leaving the group, please visit the Shincheonji Examination page at https://closerlookinitiative.com/shincheonji-examination.