I used to study with a campus ministry that I later learned was affiliated with Shincheonji for four months back in 2020, although I never became a member of SCJ, and after leaving the group and researching on that cult, I found out that the ministry was in fact affiliated with Shincheonji. I will list off a few red flags that I saw but did not initially think of them as red flags. I have heard and experienced all these red flags myself:
Claims that only the campus ministry itself had the Holy Spirit and the truth and that no other ministry, Bible study group, or even any church outside of SCJ has the Holy Spirit and the truth
Discouragement and prohibition on looking at non-SCJ sources on Scripture and theological matters, etc. and only looking at the Bible, even when one doesn't know all the concepts found throughout Scripture
SCJ accuses all non-SCJ churches and denominations, preachers, missionaries, clergy, ministries, groups, etc. of having man-made teachings (in other words, false teachings)
Claims about mysteries of Scripture being finally revealed at the Second Coming, and talked about hidden knowledge, but I wasn't in the small group for long enough to hear everything they said or taught, but I learned later on after I left the SCJ-affiliated group that SCJ teaches that only the leader and founder of the cult could reveal the "hidden knowledge"
Everyone is expected and required to agree with everything the campus ministry taught. SCJ members will most likely not be very helpful or supportive if one expresses doubts or confusions about various doctrines or beliefs, or if one finds unbiblical teachings within SCJ and tries to teach the truth from Scripture to SCJ members
Requirement to attend Bible study classes at all times (even when they conflict with one's work or class schedule or with other things such as doctor's appointments). SCJ members will contact students if they are running late or active, and will tell them to get to class on time next time
Recording lessons to listen to them later or taking pictures of whatever the teachers drew and wrote on a board or anywhere else, in case if one forgets the lessons or cannot speak with any teacher or leader about the lessons, is not allowed even if the lessons are done through Zoom. Typing notes is also not allowed, and everyone has to use a physical Bible
The SCJ members never tell the name of their Bible study group in the beginning of the indoctrination process, and they also initially say their group is nondenominational and is not affiliated with any church at the beginning, especially if one asks an SCJ member what church they're affiliated with or what the name of their campus ministry or other group is
I remember watching a video and noticed Mr. Lee Man Hee was traveling in a private jet or in first class cabin. Some may argue that it was donated to him. But I just thought... what would Jesus do if he was offered the same. They keep saying they are very financial transparent and we are welcome to review their finances by request. But seeing how they have spent money in the videos just doesn't feel right.
Also, they follow the 1/10 offering very straightly. There was a time I mixed up the date and didn't put enough offering in the envelope. My teacher later messaged me asking if I had any financial problems.
Lastly, their recruitment criteria is so strategic that it seems like they only want to recruit healthy people young, naive and with a stable income to join. For example:Personality: obedient, honest, empathetic, doesn't give up easily, determined... etc.
Spiritually: eager to learn more about God and the truth, interested in end time or prophesy, insensitive to cults, unhappy about current church life...etc.
Environment: no serious sickness, no debt (except mortgage) and self sufficient, no big plans for the next 8 months... etc.
I was a member for long time and saw many red- flags but I pushed them out of my mind because I was told these were thoughts of satan who was making me doubt. The biggest red-flag was when I started to go through difficulty because of the high demand of work in SCJ. The leadership was very uncompassionate. I was constantly given what they call "mindset training" using the scripture out of context to manipulate me and tell me that it did not matter that I was a mother or wife my duty was to SCJ. Also, the way that the leadership did everything in their power for members not to socialize among each other unless it was reported. They would say things like if we meet without an leader present we are trying to create our own sect. Too when I was put in a leadership position I became aware of all the different chats there were to control the member. I was really scared but told myself it was to help them. Another, thing is the way they blatantly lied about things. When I was a new member I was constantly getting in trouble for not "being shrewd or guarding my mouth" as they called it because I was very uncomfortable with lying. Another, was during "the voyage" what they say is the work of peace. When Man Hee Lee would go to New York and visit the UN. I saw so much staging happening. Most of the people in these events were members sitting in as political leaders, diplomates, religious leader and the audience. Additionally, very recently my father-in law passed away and I was told he was old and meant to die. That I should focus on how I can evangelize my husband instead of my sadness. Lastly, I saw the way they got students to commit more and more of their time and make it difficult for them by giving "mindset training" and manipulating them to choose the study over everything else. Even the "homeblessing buddies" in these bible classes are SCJ members. So they report everything to the chat that was created for each student every time they meet with them and right after class. Unfortunately, for me I participated in so much of this and I hope my experience can help others be aware.
Thinking back i was always a bit suspicious about the community that I later learned was SCJ.
At the beginning they said the bible study class is simply based on the bible, no man made interpretations. But with the time they started to talk about the "New John" who is the person who developed the topics of the bible study class.
The more I learned, the more I realised how much they deceived me just to recruit me for their community. This "New John", namely Lee Man-Hee, became the center of the whole bible study class. When I found out this community is part of Shincheonji, a name I never heard before, I was really concerned in what I got into.
Everything boils down to a cult of personality.
They warned me about the news and media, about talking to my friends and family. They did not want me to inform myself about SCJ and justified it with telling me Satan would control the whole world and therefore only SCJ is trustworthy.
This was the point when I came to the conclusion, a place where lying and deceiving is the foundation of their cult is not the right for me.
I used to study with a campus ministry that I later learned was affiliated with Shincheonji for four months back in 2020, although I never became a member of SCJ, and after leaving the group and researching on that cult, I found out that the ministry was in fact affiliated with Shincheonji. I will list off a few red flags that I saw but did not initially think of them as red flags. I have heard and experienced all these red flags myself:
Claims that only the campus ministry itself had the Holy Spirit and the truth and that no other ministry, Bible study group, or even any church outside of SCJ has the Holy Spirit and the truth
Discouragement and prohibition on looking at non-SCJ sources on Scripture and theological matters, etc. and only looking at the Bible, even when one doesn't know all the concepts found throughout Scripture
SCJ accuses all non-SCJ churches and denominations, preachers, missionaries, clergy, ministries, groups, etc. of having man-made teachings (in other words, false teachings)
Claims about mysteries of Scripture being finally revealed at the Second Coming, and talked about hidden knowledge, but I wasn't in the small group for long enough to hear everything they said or taught, but I learned later on after I left the SCJ-affiliated group that SCJ teaches that only the leader and founder of the cult could reveal the "hidden knowledge"
Everyone is expected and required to agree with everything the campus ministry taught. SCJ members will most likely not be very helpful or supportive if one expresses doubts or confusions about various doctrines or beliefs, or if one finds unbiblical teachings within SCJ and tries to teach the truth from Scripture to SCJ members
Requirement to attend Bible study classes at all times (even when they conflict with one's work or class schedule or with other things such as doctor's appointments). SCJ members will contact students if they are running late or active, and will tell them to get to class on time next time
Recording lessons to listen to them later or taking pictures of whatever the teachers drew and wrote on a board or anywhere else, in case if one forgets the lessons or cannot speak with any teacher or leader about the lessons, is not allowed even if the lessons are done through Zoom. Typing notes is also not allowed, and everyone has to use a physical Bible
The SCJ members never tell the name of their Bible study group in the beginning of the indoctrination process, and they also initially say their group is nondenominational and is not affiliated with any church at the beginning, especially if one asks an SCJ member what church they're affiliated with or what the name of their campus ministry or other group is
I remember watching a video and noticed Mr. Lee Man Hee was traveling in a private jet or in first class cabin. Some may argue that it was donated to him. But I just thought... what would Jesus do if he was offered the same. They keep saying they are very financial transparent and we are welcome to review their finances by request. But seeing how they have spent money in the videos just doesn't feel right.
Also, they follow the 1/10 offering very straightly. There was a time I mixed up the date and didn't put enough offering in the envelope. My teacher later messaged me asking if I had any financial problems.
Lastly, their recruitment criteria is so strategic that it seems like they only want to recruit healthy people young, naive and with a stable income to join. For example: Personality: obedient, honest, empathetic, doesn't give up easily, determined... etc.
Spiritually: eager to learn more about God and the truth, interested in end time or prophesy, insensitive to cults, unhappy about current church life...etc.
Environment: no serious sickness, no debt (except mortgage) and self sufficient, no big plans for the next 8 months... etc.
I was a member for long time and saw many red- flags but I pushed them out of my mind because I was told these were thoughts of satan who was making me doubt. The biggest red-flag was when I started to go through difficulty because of the high demand of work in SCJ. The leadership was very uncompassionate. I was constantly given what they call "mindset training" using the scripture out of context to manipulate me and tell me that it did not matter that I was a mother or wife my duty was to SCJ. Also, the way that the leadership did everything in their power for members not to socialize among each other unless it was reported. They would say things like if we meet without an leader present we are trying to create our own sect. Too when I was put in a leadership position I became aware of all the different chats there were to control the member. I was really scared but told myself it was to help them. Another, thing is the way they blatantly lied about things. When I was a new member I was constantly getting in trouble for not "being shrewd or guarding my mouth" as they called it because I was very uncomfortable with lying. Another, was during "the voyage" what they say is the work of peace. When Man Hee Lee would go to New York and visit the UN. I saw so much staging happening. Most of the people in these events were members sitting in as political leaders, diplomates, religious leader and the audience. Additionally, very recently my father-in law passed away and I was told he was old and meant to die. That I should focus on how I can evangelize my husband instead of my sadness. Lastly, I saw the way they got students to commit more and more of their time and make it difficult for them by giving "mindset training" and manipulating them to choose the study over everything else. Even the "homeblessing buddies" in these bible classes are SCJ members. So they report everything to the chat that was created for each student every time they meet with them and right after class. Unfortunately, for me I participated in so much of this and I hope my experience can help others be aware.
Thinking back i was always a bit suspicious about the community that I later learned was SCJ.
At the beginning they said the bible study class is simply based on the bible, no man made interpretations. But with the time they started to talk about the "New John" who is the person who developed the topics of the bible study class.
The more I learned, the more I realised how much they deceived me just to recruit me for their community. This "New John", namely Lee Man-Hee, became the center of the whole bible study class. When I found out this community is part of Shincheonji, a name I never heard before, I was really concerned in what I got into.
Everything boils down to a cult of personality.
They warned me about the news and media, about talking to my friends and family. They did not want me to inform myself about SCJ and justified it with telling me Satan would control the whole world and therefore only SCJ is trustworthy.
This was the point when I came to the conclusion, a place where lying and deceiving is the foundation of their cult is not the right for me.