(Cheonji Daily) Four criticisms of 'Shincheonji Doctrine' brought to light… If you only believe in external sources, that’s a 'disgrace'

Chairman Man Hee Lee at Shincheonji’s (Shincheon-shinji) Press Conference responds to reporters’ questions at a news conference on the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) held outside the Peace Institute in Gapyeong on the afternoon of the 2nd.

Controversy over ‘144,000 Saved, Second Coming of Jesus Christ, eternal life'
'Fake News' from Christian circles, not Shincheonji’s doctrine
Media needs triangulation for fair reporting

With the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19), the eyes of all people were focused on the Media Press Conference (Shincheonji Church). As public interest in Shincheonji Church grows, so does interest in Shincheonji Church’s doctrine, but information pollution has become a serious issue to the extent that entirely contrasting content becomes accepted as Shincheonji Church’s doctrine. The practice of citing only critics' claims without verifying with Shincheonji Church is, in fact, not only deceptive but also causing disgrace to the media because of 'fake news'.

Doctrines related to Shincheonji Church, which the media are largely critical of, are ▲ 144,000 saved on Judgment Day ▲ Deification of Chairman Man Hee Lee as Second Coming of Christ ▲ Eternal life. This news report confirms the true meaning of the doctrines related directly to Shincheonji Church.

◆Only 144,000 people will be saved

Does Shincheonji Church teach that only 144,000 will be saved on the Day of Judgment? In brief, Shincheonji does not teach that only 144,000 are saved.

The doctrines taught in Shincheonji Church appear in 'False Doctrines of Ki-Chong Han Theology (False Evidence about the 144,000 and True Evidence about Shincheonji)' registered on the 'Shincheonji Misunderstanding and Truth' bulletin board published on Shincheonji’s website.

According to this, Shincheonji teaches that '144,000 people and a countless great multitude dressed in white' all receive salvation, based on Revelation 7. This is divided into 144,000 people - who are leaders in the position of teaching the Word of God - and the great multitude in white garments who are citizens. The public’s opinion of Shincheonji Church advocating 'salvation for 144,000 people alone' is not only a lie, but also a manifold expression of the manipulative intention to brand Shincheonji Church a heresy and cult.

◆ Chairman Man Hee Lee is deified as the Second Coming of Christ

This is an allegation that the Chairman is worshiped as the Second Coming of Christ.

Although this is a representative argument made by those who were dismissed from Shincheonji Church, in reality all those who tried to worship Chairman Lee as the Second Coming of Christ were expelled from Shincheonji Church. A typical example is Mr. Shin, who appears in the media as a self-proclaimed expert in Shincheonji Church. He was given the duty and position of a lecturer within Shincheonji Church by Chairman Man Hee Lee but began insisting that one should pray in the name of Chairman Man Hee Lee. Inside Shincheonji Church, there is a strict policy against equating Chairman Lee with Jesus.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus refers to Chairman Man Hee Lee as the 'promised pastor' and prophet of Jesus whom Jesus will send when the book of Revelation is fulfilled. How would Jesus send himself as a prophet? Even so, public opinion that Chairman Man Hee Lee is worshiped as the Second Coming of Christ is also a claim made by the established denomination to isolate Shincheonji Church as a cult organization. 

◆ Chairman Man Hee Lee leads a religious sect

Even though Chairman Man Hee Lee holds the official title of ‘chairman’, Chairman Man Hee Lee is referred to as a religious sect leader by the press, which requires careful attention. The expression ‘kyoju (sect leader)’ is a malicious one used by established denominations to denounce certain denominations as heretical or cult-like. Shincheonji Church argues that labelling someone leader of a sect is rooted in malice and ignorance. It's an expression used that the press, which must report everything objectively, must avoid. 

On the introductory section of Shincheonji Church’s homepage, it clearly states that “Jesusgyo (Jesus)” is the Lord of Shincheonji, as indicated in the name “Jesusgyo” in “Shincheonji Church of Jesus, The Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony”. 

◆ Shincheonji Church claims to possess eternal life? 

Eternal life is a Biblical doctrine. What is often mentioned to criticize Shincheonji Church is that it claims to possess 'eternal life'. The conclusion of the Bible - which is the Bible of Christianity - proves eternal life as its core doctrine, and is not a doctrine created by Shincheonji Church.

In Shincheonji Church, congregation members only teach and believe the promises of eternal life that are recorded in the Bible. Eternal life here does not mean that people live eternally as they are. Regarding such controversy surrounding ‘eternal life’, Chairman Man Hee Lee said, “I have listened to all the sermons I have given, but I have never said that I am eternal. In 1 Corinthians 15, it is recorded there will come a time when our bodies (although they will rot) will change and inherit eternal life.” In other words, it is teaching that it is possible to be changed into a body that can live eternally according to the Bible, though not possible in our current bodies.

The words ‘eternal life’ appear 53 times in the Bible, and Jesus' disciple John revealed the purpose of the Bible, saying, 'Writing this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God will make you know that you have eternal life.'

In chapter 5 of the Gospel of John, there is a detailed record of Jesus expressing regret over the Jews not going to him because he had the answer to eternal life, for which they themselves were diligently studying the Bible to gain an understanding of.

◆ Academic denomination: “I believe in life everlasting”. The Apostles' Creed recited weekly

Protestant denominations, which slander Shincheonji Church for its belief in eternal life, actually confess their belief in eternal life and resurrection when they recite the Apostles’ Creed every week during worship. The Apostles' Creed was compiled by theologians following Jesus’ death. Its main content reads, "I believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting (eternal life)."

Their concept of eternal life is one in the belief of eternal life of the body; a literal belief that the decaying body will resurrect after death.

In fact, such belief prevented Christians from being cremated for many years. Although they profess it weekly, they condemn Shincheonji Church of Jesus' belief in eternal life as if Shincheonji Church of Jesus have made up an unbiblical doctrine. It means Christians don't know what they are talking about at all. 

As confirmed by this news report, most of the information known in the public domain about the doctrine of Shincheonji is fake news. When writing articles without applying a triangular check on Shincheonji, including its doctrine, attention to detail is required by each reporter to prevent the publication of fake news. 

To read the original article as published in Cheonji Daily/Ilbo, please click here⇨https://bit.ly/2wGAslq