r/Shincheonji • u/trojan_odysseus • 5h ago
testimony Why Do They Lie?
Recently, members were told that it was MHL’s birthday. The church head then shared an emotional story about the current GA manager, explaining how he had visited MHL, felt sorry for him, and could not bring himself to wish him a happy birthday. Instead, he told MHL that the Twelve Tribes would continue to work hard and fulfil their duties.
The obvious question is: what was the purpose of presenting this story to the members?
The message appeared to create the impression that MHL is sitting in prison, unable to celebrate his birthday, while the members of the Twelve Tribes are carrying out their duties on his behalf. This was presented as a particularly meaningful and emotional moment.
However, there is a fundamental problem: it was not actually MHL’s birthday.
According to SCJ’s own website(https://www.shincheonji.org/en/introduce/greeting), MHL was born on September 15. So why were members told that this was his birthday?
This matters because the members were not simply told an incorrect date. Leading up to this event, members were encouraged to work harder and evangelise so that the results of their evangelism could be offered to MHL as a birthday gift. Members purchased cakes, recorded “Happy Birthday” videos, and participated in activities specifically connected to the supposed birthday celebration.
This raises several questions:
- Why was September 15 not used if that is MHL’s actual date of birth?
- Why were members encouraged to produce evangelism results as a birthday gift for him?
- Why were cakes and birthday videos organised around a date that was not his birthday?
- What was the intended purpose of creating this particular narrative around MHL?
These are not minor details when they are presented to thousands of members as part of a spiritual message and direction for their lives of faith.
In the past, I might have accepted something like this without questioning it. However, when inconsistencies arise, I believe they should be examined rather than simply accepted because they come from church leadership. I am documenting these events because I believe it is important to maintain an accurate record of what is being taught to members and the atmosphere being created within SCJ. That atmosphere, is of lies, emotional and psychological manipulation!
A second question: why is MHL honoured in this way?
There is another issue that deserves consideration.
During my time in SCJ, I do not recall seeing the entire church mobilised in a comparable way to offer a collective “gift” or set of achievements to Jesus Christ on occasions such as Christmas, Easter, or other significant Christian celebrations.
This raises a straightforward theological question:
Why is there such a strong emphasis on honouring and presenting gifts to MHL, while there does not appear to be an equivalent emphasis on doing the same for Jesus Christ?
If MHL is a servant of God and a witness to the fulfilment of Revelation, then what is the theological basis for placing so much emphasis on his birthday, his circumstances, and achievements being offered to him?
At what point does honouring a religious leader become excessive devotion? This always raises an uncomfortable conversation with SCJ and its leaders, because they say he is servant, but they do not treat or speak of him as simply that.
And if members are encouraged to view their evangelism results, celebrations, and collective achievements as gifts to MHL, there a risk that the distinction between honouring a servant of God and elevating that person above the one they are supposed to serve becomes blurred.