J.Y. Park has directly addressed questions and allegations surrounding the religious group Firstfruits, including claims that it is connected to a particular sect or should be considered heretical or a cult.
On September 19, the Firstfruits YouTube channel uploaded a roughly one-hour-and-12-minute video titled “What Denomination Is Mr. Park Jin-young’s Church?” In the video, Park explained how the group began and responded to questions about its religious identity.
Park said many people attending the gathering had likely heard warnings from others telling them not to go, describing Firstfruits as “strange,” “heretical,” or a “cult.” He said one of the questions people most frequently hear is, “What sect are they?”
According to Park, that question is essentially asking whether Firstfruits is connected to another organization or shares its doctrine, and whose interpretation of the Bible influenced its teachings.
Park rejected the idea that Firstfruits has no religious roots, saying the church has what he described as a clear foundation and lineage. He argued that two important criteria for distinguishing denominations are how they teach that eternal life is obtained and whether it can be lost after it is received.
He also emphasized that members come from a variety of religious backgrounds.
“In our church, there are people who came from Catholicism, Presbyterianism, Baptists, and Shincheonji,” Park said. “Just because someone who came from Shincheonji is in our church doesn’t mean our church is Shincheonji.”
He added that consuming a product associated with a religious organization does not make someone a member of that religion, citing his own past enjoyment of a drink connected to the Unification Church as an example.
Park also described Firstfruits’ teaching on eternal life, saying the church teaches that those who repent receive eternal life as a gift through what he called a “mysterious and complete faith.”
Park previously faced controversy in 2018 after a media report said he had attended a gathering associated with the Salvation Sect. At the time, Park strongly denied being a member of the group.
In 2020, Park explained during appearances including MBC’s Radio Star that he began studying the Bible more deeply after visiting Jerusalem, and that the study group eventually grew into what became Firstfruits. At the time, he described it as having no specific denomination and referred to it as a religious study group.
Netizen Reactions
The sampled Nate News comments were largely skeptical or critical, with users questioning Park’s independent religious teachings and debating what should qualify as heresy or a cult.
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