Intro
He once loved the Bride of Christ with burning sincerity, yet that same devotion quietly twisted into betrayal as cultish certainty poisoned his sight, turning her imperfections into unforgivable sins. In the grip of self-righteous delusion, he longed for her violent death — bloodied, broken, and replaced — so a new bride, sculpted in the image of his own pride and deception, could rise instead. What he defended so fiercely all those years was never her true form, but a false version that mirrored his growing arrogance and hidden need for control. The deepest wound revealed in these lines is the terrifying realization that the war he waged against the Bride was never truly external; it was an internal civil war, a projection of his own fractured soul. In the end, he stands exposed: the greatest threat to the Bride of Christ was not the world, but the zealous lover who once claimed to cherish her most, until his love became idolatry and his truth became a lie.
Outro
I once stood on the edge of fully accepting Shincheonji’s teaching that the traditional Church was the “parable church” — nothing more than Babylon, the fallen harlot. Convinced by their doctrine, I wanted the Bride of Christ to be slain, covered in blood and suffering, so she could be replaced by what they called the new true bride. I was ready to call the Church what Jesus never did.But as critical thinking returned, I saw the blasphemy clearly. Scripture declares, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle” (Ephesians 5:25-27). By labeling His Bride as Babylon and claiming her identity for themselves, Shincheonji directly contradicted the Word. I had defended pride and deception while attacking the one Christ calls His own.Today I have renounced their lies. With humbled eyes, I now cherish the true Bride of Christ — imperfect yet deeply loved — with truth and quiet delight.
Spiritual Takeaway
The greatest revelation of this journey is that the Bride of Christ cannot be replaced.
She is not an institution to be destroyed and rebuilt by human hands, nor a prize to be claimed by any single group. Jesus Himself is the One who sanctifies and presents her as His own (Ephesians 5:25-27). Shincheonji’s deception — calling the Church Babylon while claiming to be the only true Bride — is ultimately an attack on the love and authority of Christ. The deepest spiritual lesson I learned is this: when we exalt ourselves as the perfect bride, we stop being part of her. True belonging to the Bride comes not through exclusive knowledge or a new leader, but through humility, love for Jesus, and simple devotion to the Groom.I left the chains of false doctrine and returned to the wounded but beloved Bride.
She is still His. And in returning to her, I finally found freedom.
Poem Fragment
Joseph Le Artist













