Park Jin Young Directly Addresses ‘Cult’ Controversy: “We Even Have Former Shincheonji Members”
Park Jin Young addresses questions surrounding First Fruits, saying its members come from various religious backgrounds, including Shincheonji.
On September 19, the YouTube channel First Fruits released a video titled “What Denomination Is Park Jin Young’s Church?” The video showed Park Jin Young standing at a podium and explaining his views on religious doctrine.
Park Jin Young began by saying, “I imagine there aren’t many people here today who came feeling completely at ease. Before coming here, most of you—especially those who already attend church—were probably discouraged from coming.”
He continued, “The thing you’ve probably heard most often is, ‘What denomination is it?’ When people ask what denomination we belong to, I think they’re ultimately asking one of two things: Are we connected to some other organization, or do we share the same doctrine as a particular group?”
Addressing the question, Park Jin Young said that First Fruits “actually has clear roots and a clear lineage,” while arguing that the key standard for distinguishing between doctrines and denominations should be their teachings about eternal life. He cited Chapters 5, 6, and 12 of the Gospel of John in support of his explanation.
He then said, “Our church has people who came from Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Baptist churches, and even Shincheonji.” He went on to explain that, in his view, the nature of a denomination should be determined by its doctrine rather than the religious backgrounds of its members.
Park Jin Young further explained, “This is what our First Fruits church teaches: ‘Eternal life is obtained through a mysterious and complete faith that is received as a gift by those who have repented.’”
Meanwhile, Park Jin Young previously became embroiled in controversy in 2018 over allegations that he was affiliated with the Salvation Sect. The controversy intensified after a media outlet reported that he was a member of the group and had led one of its gatherings.
Park Jin Young denied being a member of the Salvation Sect, but public questions surrounding his religious activities continued afterward.
He addressed the controversy again during an appearance on MBC’s Radio Star in 2020. At the time, he explained that he had begun seriously studying the Bible after returning from Jerusalem.
Park Jin Young said that what began as a small study group gradually grew into what would later become First Fruits. When the hosts asked which denomination he belonged to, he drew a line between his activities and established denominations, saying, “There is no denomination,” and describing it as a “religious study group.”
Sources: Daum