South Korean Megachurches Open Their Doors While Shincheonji Church Remains Shut (COVID-19)
Although South Korea has enforced a social distancing policy until May 5th 2020 to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, the government has permitted religious institutions some “relief” from regulations. As a result, megachurches are now reopening their doors with social distancing restrictions in place.
With dozens of church leaders worldwide having contracted and died from COVID-19, such a move seems like an unnecessary gamble that could needlessly cost many more lives. In the US, some 30 bishops and pastors within the nation's largest Pentecostal denomination have died from the virus. Church leaders worldwide have repeatedly refused to call off services despite social distancing orders; some have asserted that fear of the pandemic constitutes a sin and some have criticised fellow church leaders who have suspended in-person services for online streaming.
In contrast to this apparent move by churches in South Korea and out of respect for human life, Shincheonji Church of Jesus (hereafter Shincheonji Church) has willingly and independently decided to restrain from holding any worship service, evangelistic work or gatherings of any kind in person until the COVID-19 pandemic ends. All 73 Shincheonji branch churches in Korea will remain shut, as will its branch churches worldwide, and it/ will continue to conduct worship services online, teaching about the prophecies and fulfilment of Revelation that is taking place today as Jesus' promised church recorded in Revelation - the New Heaven New Earth in Revelation 21.
I believe that God expects us to be attentive to the laws of nature He created instead of assuming He will override them all for us. My prayer is for God's protection over church leaders throughout Korea, who should act as shepherds of their flock.
Main Reference
South Korean megachurches reopening with social distancing restrictions
Official COVID-19 Response by Shincheonji Church of Jesus
•0307 Chairman Man Hee Lee asks "all congregants to fully cooperate for disease control" in a special announcement
•0302 Statement at Press Conference of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19
•0302 Regarding COVID-19 Testing of Chairman Lee, Man-hee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus
•0301 Letter of Appeal to Political Leaders
•0228 Letter of Appeal from Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Regards to COVID-19
•0226 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Provided a List of All Members to Public Health Authorities
•0223 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19
•0222 Over 1000 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Locations Disinfected and Closed Down in Korea
•0221 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Closed Down Its Churches and Affiliated Buildings from 18 Feb
•0220 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19 Countermeasures and Fake News
•0219 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
•0218 Notice on the Worship Service of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Regards to COVID-19
COVID-19/Fact Checker: Q&A on Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Personal Blog
News Publications
Broadcasting Centres Raise Audience Ratings through 'Shincheonji Hatred'…“Enormous and Malicious Influence on National Progress” (Cheonji Daily 18/03/2020)
Controversy over Gyeonggi Provincial Government’s Response to COVID-19 as number of infected members from the established church is 2.4 times higher (Cheonji Daily 18/03/2020)
"Coronavirus and Shincheonji: Stopping the Witch Hunt" (02/03/2020) ▶https://www.cesnur.org/2020/shincheonji_appeal.htm
Coronavirus: USCIRF decries South Korea for blaming Shincheonji Church (Muslim Community Report 10/03/2020)▶http://bit.ly/2Qhpmdz
Four criticisms of 'Shincheonji Doctrine' brought to light… If you only believe in external sources, that’s a 'disgrace' (Cheonji Daily 04/03/2020) ▶https://bit.ly/2wGAslq
IndependentFromBeliefs (March 2020)
International NGOs Warned the South Korean Human Rights Crisis in the Coronavirus Outbreaks (NAWE 16/03/2020)▶https://www.nawe.bi/International-NGOs-Warned-the-South-Korean-Human-Rights-Crisis-in-the.html
Lies regarding the Coronavirus about Shincheonji 신천지 (03/03/2020)
Prohibition of 'Hateful, Speculative and Distorted' Reporting Proposed under Natural Disasters Act (EDaily 17/03/2020)
Prosecution investigates membership list provided by Shincheonji Church Headquarters: “No hidden members; they reported a true list” (Newsis News Agency 17/03/2020)
Quarantine Official: "Confirmed case of COVID-19 in Daegu had existed before ‘patient 31’" (Daum News 22/03/2020)
Quarantine Official: "Confirmed case of COVID-19 in Daegu had existed before ‘patient 31’" (Naver 22/03/2020)
"Shincheonji didn't lie about membership figures." (The Korea Herald 17/03/2020)
White Paper on Shincheonji and Coronavirus
Massimo Introvigne, Founder of Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR) (17/03/2020)
Rosita Šorytė International Observatory of Human Rights of Refugees (IOHR) ▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8IqLUegjT4
Alessandro Amicarelli, Attorney, European Federation for Freedom of Belief (FOB) ▶https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py9NlpXQC9E
Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF)
5 comments
The real fact is that Shincheonji keeps the policy of the Korean government
ReplyDeleteThank you Shincheonji for following the governments orders - we are safer this way...
ReplyDelete"In the US, some 30 bishops and pastors within the nation's largest Pentecostal denomination have died from the virus." I heard about this! How much worse is it to know about a deadly virus and still disobey orders of social distancing. The situation with Shincheonji was so different. No one knew the deadliness of the virus when they had contracted it in the church. I hope people realize that, they did the best with the information hey had during the time. And media and persecutors instead sensationalized misinformation. May God forgive us for hasty words sometimes.
ReplyDeleteAccording to this article, i think shincheonji is more conscientious.
ReplyDeleteThough I don't agree with any gatherings during a pandemic, the churches are using social distancing regulations and South Korea's infection rate is really low.
DeleteI was under the impression that Shincheonji closed its doors due to persecution. Even if they reopen, how would they conduct service under social distancing regulations if the halls are already full and people sit on floors? It's not practical for them.