Issue 33
August 9, 2020
Seoul, Korea
Greetings!
Here in Korea we’re experiencing a prolonged rainy season with severe downpours that have caused great damage and loss. Some local churches have become shelters for vacationers trapped by sudden floods; and other churches have themselves been hit with damage.
One issue that the Korean church is taking seriously nowadays is the comprehensive anti-discrimination bill, submitted by Justice Party to the 21st session of the National Assembly when it opened last month. While a circle of churches and their leaders have stated support for the bill, a much larger number of church leaders -as we report here- are voicing worry. We also introduce a new book with advice for the Korean churches on how to spend this summer in preparation for the expected second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic.
We pray that all our readers will stay well and experience God’s enduring love day by day.
Pastors oppose anti-discrimination law: “Homosexuality violates order of Creation”
Key clergy of the Korean church who up to now have avoided making political statements are speaking out strongly on the homosexuality issue, against the proposed comprehensive anti-discrimination law. Pointing out that homosexuality is a sin that violates the Biblical order of Creation, they express deep concern about the social conflict aroused by some National Assembly members’ introduction of a bill that could shake the existing family order.
Rev. Lee Sang-hak of Saemoonan Church, which belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK Tonghap), titled his sermon on Sunday, July 19, “Moving Toward the Divine Providence of Creation,” based on the text of Genesis 2:22~24, which describes how man and woman were created. He said that according to the divine providence of Creation, Christians cannot but oppose homosexuality, and that more than a human rights issue, this is a deeper problem of faith.
When Rev. Lee Jae-hun of Onnuri Church (also a member of PCK Tonghap) delivered his sermon on Sunday, July 5, he included a prayer for the nation and people, and pointed out problematic parts of the anti-discrimination law bill. “The terms ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ are very dangerous,” he said. “If a system is introduced allowing people to determine their gender outside of their biological nature, society will undergo extreme chaos.”
Rev. Lee Sang-hak said, “I have avoided talking about homosexuality because it is a divisive issue for the church, but the time has come for the Korean churches to raise their voices resolutely from a Biblical stance… It’s immediately important to block the legislation of the bill, but from a long-term perspective, we need careful but specific discussions on how homosexuality can shake the social structure and family relations.”
“Don’t take COVID-19 lightly… “Be ready for a second-phase epidemic”
In his recently published book “The Korean Church’s Bold Challenge” (Lifebook), Choi Hyeon-sik (photo below with his new book), director of Asia Future Institute, expresses dissatisfaction with the Korean churches’ response to the coronavirus epidemic. In light of the current discussions on how to live “with COVID-19,” based on the surmise that the epidemic may continue till the end of next year, what road should the churches take?
Pastor and futurist Choi sees three kinds of measures as necessary for the Korean church. First is improvement of its image. When wrong images accumulate, this causes distortion of the truth. Second is sermons that share prophetic insights. Sermons must become instruments conveying messages that are not just information. Third is unification of the “church window.” Only through a unified channel can countermeasures be conveyed quickly to the churches, and a consistent message relayed to society. Director Choi said, “Like our society, the Korean churches have taken COVID-19 too lightly. Looking at the situation of church closures in China, we should have been prepared… Even now, these three measures should be readied simultaneously.”
Bearing in mind that COVID-19 may cause a second epidemic this fall, he has proposed that the Korean church prepare a crisis-response scenario. The Spanish flu in the early 20th century and the 2009 swine flu each went through three epidemic phases before they ended. The greatest harm came during the second phase. If the second phase arrives while the epidemic is still going on worldwide, before medical cures are available, he thinks it will hit harder than the first phase.
Concretely, he advises that the churches carry out their main ministries for the second half of the year in July~September, and in October, when the 2nd-phase epidemic is predicted, quickly switch to an online system. These three months are a time to secure church budgets up to the end of next year, and to concentrate on preparations for non-face-to-face ministries. As the focus of development of these ministries, he recommends online Sunday school contents that help the next generation take the initiative in their faith life, and online worship and visitation contents. “Now is not the time to rest; on the contrary, it is the time to be most diligent,” he said.
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