Korea's national flower is the Rose of Sharon, a flower that usually blooms
in isolated places and lingers for long periods of time through rain or storms.
Korea, with its long history of more than 4,000 years, is one of the most ransacked
countries, but has been standing firm in maintaining its independence.
The
Korean church is one of the most persecuted churches in history. It is also
the fastest growing church in the world. The first Bible was smuggled into Korea
about l50 years ago and the first Protestant church was planted a mere 100 years
ago. Yet, there are now ten million Christians (all denominations) in Korea
with approximately 30,000 churches.
The largest evangelistic campaign ever was held in Korea with over two million
in attendance, and the world's largest congregation is in Korea, along with
the largest Presbyterian and Methodist churches in the world. According to a
recent mission survey, about l,360 Korean missionaries through 17 sending agencies
are working in 37 countries. There are approximately 400 Christian churches/churches
of Christ and two Bible Colleges in Korea.
Politically speaking, Korea is divided by two contradictory ideologies. South
Korea is about 300 miles long and 180 miles wide, a very mountainous country
with 44,500,000 people (1995 census). North Korea has a larger area and a more
rigorous climate with a population of 20,082,000 people. In North Korea, all
religions have been repressed, but Christians are the most harshly persecuted.
Many thousands of Christians were murdered during and after the Korean War.
The estimated figures of the religious affiliations of the North Koreans are:
non-religion 60%, Korean religions (Buddhism, Confucianism, Animism, etc.) 39%,
and Christians 0.1%. To my knowledge, there are two government licensed inter-faith
churches in North Korea but also reported are about 1,000 underground churches.
THE ELEMENTS OF CHURCH GROWTH
There are many reasons why the Korean churches have grown. The fact that Korea
has only one language is one important reason. The high literacy rate and the
Koran people's zeal to learn cannot be ignored, either. However, I feel the
following reasons must also be pointed out and studied:
(1)THE MESSAGE CAME FIRST. From its first introduction to Korea, the message
came first. Korea was a strong Confucianistic Kingdom despising and forbidding
all foreign religions except Buddhism, which has already taken root before Confucianism
became a national religion during Ee-dynasty.
About 150 years ago Bibles and Christian books were smuggled into Korea and
churches started long before the first Chinese priest entered. The persecution
started and thousands were beheaded because of their faith. The history of the
Protestant church was similar. Before the first American missionaries, Allen,
Underwood (Presbyterians), and Appenzeller (Methodist) landed in Korea in 1885,
men like Gutzlaff (Netherlands) and Ross (Scotland), and many other Korean Christians
in China and Japan tried to smuggle the Chinese Gospel into Korea. An English
minister, Robert Thomas, was murdered the moment he landed in Korea in l865,
but he handed the Gospel to the murderer and said, "Read this, It's God's
Gift for you."
The message of the Restoration Movement also came by way of Korean preachers
who were touched by its message, either in America or in Japan. Bro. Sung Nak
So returned from Japan with the message and started a New Testament Christian
Church in Seoul. Bro. Dong, Suk Kee returned from America and started a church
of Christ in Hamkyung Province.
Bro. John T. Chase came from Japan in 1936 and, with converts like Bro. Chae,
Sang Hyun, started a Bible college. Bro. Chase, as well as Bro. John J. Hill,
who arrived in 1939, were expelled by the Japanese occupying force during the
second World War, and again by the communist invading forces during the Korean
War. (They returned again after the war along with Bro. Harold P. Taylor.) The
church suffered indescribable persecution. Most church buildings were destroyed
and many ministers murdered, including Bro. Chae, but the church steadily grew.
(2)The second element of Korean church growth can be attributed to THE INDIGENOUS
ELEMENTS OF THE KOREAN CHURCH. Korean churches grew up mostly self-supporting,
self-governing, and self-propagating. This was motivated by a former missionary
to China, Dr. John L. Nevius, who visited Korea in 1890 and held a conference
for the missionaries. It came to be known as the "Nevius Method."
Several of these principals were:
(a)Personal evangelism to be stressed and carried on through extensive itineration.
(b)The church to be self-propagating. Every believer to be a teacher of someone
else and a learner from someone better fitted than he.
(c)Self-government to be the rule in the church. Each group to be under
its own chosen leaders who would later yield to regular pastors.
(d)Self-support to be expected, with all chapels provided by the believers and
each group beginning to pay toward the support of the circuit helper from the
start.
(e)Systematic Bible study for even believer under his group leader and circuit
helper to be stressed.
The emphasis on Bible study became a distinctive feature of Korean Christianity.
Most of the Korean churches have smaller Bible study groups and they meet at
least once a week in homes. The great gatherings for Bible study at a time of
the year when the farmers could leave their fields are felt by many to be the
very heart of the marvelous progress missions have made in Korea.
The three "selfs" were not original in Korean work. Today, they are
at least talked about in practically every field as the very embodiment of indigenous
church principles. But the implementation of these ideals was more spelled out
and more consistently carried out in Korea than in most other places.
The Nevius method has its weak points, of course, such as the failure to produce
capable and qualified leaders, lower quality of theological education, etc.
It certainly didn't contribute to the unity of the churches. However, there
is no doubt that this indigenous principle was a decisive factor in the growth
of the Korean church. Actually, the important aspect of the indigenous principle
applies not so much to methods as to attitudes; in mutual respect between the
missionaries and nationals.
The greatest source of friction is found in a lack respect. The missionaries
are to be respected for their wisdom, knowledge, and ability, but the national
churches also want similar respect. They realize their short-comings, but they
want to stand on their own feet. They want to make their own way, to form their
own decisions.
(3)THE KOREAN CHURCH HAS SUFFERED GREATLY. A Korean proverb says, "He
that is born in the fire will not faint in the sun." certainly this has
been the experience of the church in Korea. Professor Kane, a missions professor
at Trinity Evangelical School, wrote, "No church in the 20th Century, not
even the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia, nor the Christian church in Communist
China, has suffered so much oppression, persecution and devastation as the church
in Korea." First, under the old Confucian Kingdom and then under the Japanese
rulers during World War ¥± and again at the hands of the communists, the Korean
church has been tortured almost beyond endurance.
When the communists retreated over the 38th parallel, they took with them
several hundred Christian pastors. None ever returned; they are presumed dead.
I, myself, dedicated my life to Christ while searching for my father's body
among hundreds of murdered and burned corpses of Christian ministers.
Even now, not only is South Korea under the constant threat of a North
Koran invasion, but also the North Korean government is still openly persecuting
Christians, forbidding Christian worship services (except the two churches which
were licensed by the government and ministered to by the communist Christians.
However, no one under 20 is permitted to enter the church building).
Those who refuse to labor for the government during the Sunday worship hour
are liquidated and exiled to an isolated island. It is believed that some l3,000
people are imprisoned on that island because of their faith. Thus, Christian
faith became a matter of life and death to these Christians.
PROBLEMS:
The rapid growth of the church also created problems. These are relatively minor
problems compared to massive growth and side effects that can be expected in
any movement.
(1)One problem may be the materialistic emphasis. Emphasis on the external
- size of the church, amount of offering, statistical church growth and theological
qualifications - can often lead to a materialistic view of the church.
(2)Also, formality, legalism, and authoritarian leadership have developed,
and emphasis on a personal relationship to the Lord and His Word has often been
neglected.
(3)Divisions have afflicted every major denomination. Nearly 60% of all Protestants
are of one or another Presbyterian group, but there are over 30 such groups.
The causes have been ecumenicism, doctrine, power struggle and personality clashes.
Unfortunately, the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in Korea were not
without the problem of division. Division and strife between the missionaries,
division between the missionaries and the national leaders, division between
the national leaders, etc. The causes of division, I feel, were mainly mutual
mistrust and misunderstanding - lack of willingness to understand.
The motto of the Restoration Movement is very appropriate in the solution
of the problem of division: "Unity in Essentials, Liberty in Non-essentials
and Charity in Everything!" On the mission field where a variety of customs,
languages, histories, and philosophies exist, this spirit is crucial.
There are some Biblical elements such as expressed by Thomas Campbell, "A
'thus said the Lord,' either in expressed terms, or by approved precedent, for
every article of faith and items of practice¡±are absolute and cannot be changed.
If Christianity is to remain true to its own genius, it must be exclusive. However,
some elements are relative and may be changed. So, when it comes to non-essentials,
there should be liberty to contextualize the Christian faith: modes of worship,
methods of evangelism, styles of architecture and so on.
All cultures have both good and bad element. The early (denominational) missionaries
tended to reject everything: that was strange to them. Thus, Christianity was
equated with civilization. Fortunately, today's missionaries are less authoritative.
It is now generally agreed that all that is inherently good should be retained.
Only that which is contrary to the clear teaching of scripture is to be rejected.
However, everything must be done in the spirit of love.
PRESENT STATUS: There have been many efforts to unite various factions of
the movement in Korea and they have been at least partially successful. Korea
Christian Seminary and Seoul Bible Seminary were united in 1981. In l984, Christian
churches and a majority of non-instrumental churches of Christ decided to have
one annual convention. Korean Christian churches have been working in cooperation
with many denominational leaders of fundamental theological positions in evangelism
through Christian leaders' Conferences, Church and Police Federations, Evangelistic
Associations and many nation-wide crusades.
At present there are about 400 Christian Churches/Churches of Christ in Korea.
There are two Bible colleges (Korea Christian Seminary in Seoul and Hansung
Bible Seminary in Taejon), one Christian college of non-instrumental brethren,
one affiliated technical Junior college and University, one high school, three
children's homes, and a number of nursery schools. There are also two publishing
houses, two correspondence schools and one Braille Bible School. In addition,
Christian church ministers and missionaries have been active in military evangelism
and radio ministries. Thirteen missionaries have been sent out from Korean christian
churches to Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Africa, Turkey, Chile,
etc. And the number is growing!
CHALLENGES:
(1)The first and utmost challenge is WORLD EVANGELISM. Korea received and now
Korea must give. We received freely and we must now give freely. This spiritual
awakening and revival has been sweeping Korea and many hundreds of young people
are responding to the call for missionaries. One night, during the World Evangelization
Crusade, 900 young people came forward dedicating their lives for full-time
mission work. Many missionary training centers have been established where hundreds
of missionaries can learn the language faster and adjust to the jungle life
better and they do not need much money to go. Korea feels that the evangelization
of Asia is their responsibility.
(2)Another challenge comes from North Korea. Korea has been one nation for
thousands of years (until 1945 when Korea was divided by the 38th parallel).
Korean people never thought of it as a different country. The language is the
same, the customs are the same, and the history is the same. Actually, North
Korea was the place where the greatest revivals took place in the past. Some
of the bigger churches in South Korea were originally formed by the refugees
from North Korea.
North Korea, under the longest ruling dictator, Kim, Il Sung, and his son, Kim,
Jung Il, has been extremely anti-Christian. But now, as the rest of the communistic
world is crumbling down by the people's hunger and yearning for freedom and
democracy, North Korea also seems to be changing slowly in its attitude toward
the Christian faith.
Under an organization called "Christian League" (or federation),
which is a part of the communist party, two church buildings were built recently,
and some Christian personnel has been permitted to enter the country. Also North
Korea recently printed their version of the Bible and hymn book, and even permitted
the opening of a theological school. So far, we have been sending the Gospel
message through Gospel broadcasting or by means of Gospel tracts. But now, we
are ready to send evangelists, missionaries and martyrs to that part of our
land as soon as the gate is open.
(3)Of course, there are challenges from THE OTHER RELIGIONS, TOO. Buddhism,
which claims m be the largest religion in Korea, entered Korea in 372 A.D. and
has learned much from Christian growth. Buddhists are now sending missionaries
to many parts of the world.
Confucianism, which is not, strictly speaking, a religion but a system of
political and social ethics, entered Korea from China in the first century B.C.
As a state religion of Ee-dynasty for 500 years, it competed with Buddhism for
dominance until its final victory in 1392. Though fewer than five percent of
the people name Confucianism as their religion, the teaching of Confucius has
had enormous influence on Korean culture.
Large numbers of Koreans also practice Shamanism, a form of animism which
is indigenous to Korea and dates back to the dawn of Korean history. In addition,
there are a number of new religions and cults in Korea, including Chun-do Kyo(Heavenly
Way Religion), the Unification Church and the Olive Tree Church.
Most of the denominations that exist in the world also have been brought
into Korea by foreign missionaries, adding to the already devastating phenomenon
of divisions.
For these reasons, THE RESTORATION MOVEMENT IS NEEDED IN KOREA MORE THAN
EVER BEFORE AND PRAYERS AND SUPPORT FOR EVANGELISM AND CHURCH PLANTING ARE URGENTLY
NEEDED.
Of course, the most powerful cult we face is that of communism and premier-Kim
worship of North Korea, and their continuous challenge and ideological invasion
into the young minds of the South Korean students.
This is a serious threat as Seoul (capitol of Korea) is only 20 miles from
North Korea about 150 miles from China, and 200 miles from Russia. At this time,
the doors are closed to North Korea for missionaries, but we believe and pray
that God will open doors for us before long.
In South Korea, the Republic of Korea is a democratic country. There are
many Christians in the Cabinet and in the National Council (Congress) and missionaries
are welcomed. Korean Christian churches need Christian missionaries, especially
in the field of Christian Education: teachers for Bible colleges, preferably
with a Master's degree or higher; benevolence work - doctors and nurses who
are willing to work with orphans, widows, and the poor; or in the field of mass-media,
especially TV and radio ministry to North Korea and China, or publications.
In whatever field missionaries may specialize, language study is strongly recommended.
Korea is an interesting place to work and one of the most challenging areas
of the world. The light of the Gospel shone into the land not too long ago,
bore abundant fruit, and now the light is shining out to the darkness of atheism,
communism, and materialism. The prayers of Korean Christians are for boldness,
wisdom, and strength to obey the Royal order of our Risen Lord, "Make disciples
of all nations."
Korea's goal is the training of 10,000 Asian missionaries by the year 2,000.
We believe that the only hope of the world is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have seen and experienced the Power of the Gospel. The enemies of Christ
may be able to destroy freedom and democracy, BUT GOD THEY CANNOT DESTROY. So,
if persecution is the way Christ comes, let it come! We will be preaching this
Gospel to the height of our voices and to the last breath of our lives!
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