Mission life: THE KUKMIN DAILY

“The sin of idolatry and the sins we commit today”… Great Repentance Movement Grows

2018-08-13 15:51

This year marks the 80th year since the Joseon Jesus Presbyterian Church (조선예수교장로회) passed its resolution to worship at the Shinto shrine. The Joseon Presbyterian Church made the decision on September 10, 1938, during its 27th General Assembly held at Seomunbak Church in Pyongyang. Previously, the Methodist Church and the Holiness Church had made the same decision to kneel down before an idol.

Following this resolution, up until National Liberation, Protestant church leaders collaborated proactively with the Japanese Empire, leaving a great stain on the history of the Korean church. Immediately after Liberation, a large number of pastors who had been pro-Japan were brought before the Special Investigation Committee on Anti-National Behavior, but most of them were later released with their indictments suspended. Some pastors were imprisoned, but nonetheless, upon their release they returned to the church and lived as leaders of their denominations without making any particular public confession of their sin.

In 1992, when the late Rev. Han Kyung-chik was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, he confessed publicly, saying, “During the Japanese colonial period I worshipped at the Shinto shrine. That I’ve not properly repented of this sin has greatly burdened me throughout my life, and now I confess and repent of my sin of idolatry.” He had tears in his eyes at the thanksgiving service for the award. Sparked by Rev. Han’s confession, many other leading pastors and denominations have expressed their repentance publicly.

It looks as if the wave of repentance will mark its highest point this year, as juniors in the faith have agreed to carry out a movement of repentance for their seniors who worshipped the idol.

On July 13, the Korean Christian Revival Council (representative moderator: Rev. Yun Bo-hwan) invited the staff of major denominations and ecumenical organizations to Sheraton Seoul Palace Gangnam Hotel, and held a prayer gathering for a mass repentance meeting on the 80th anniversary of Shinto shrine worship, which the council is planning for this coming October.

Moderators of major church denominations also agreed to repent of this disgraceful history and to use it as an opportunity for a second takeoff of the Korean church.

*Photo: In April 1943, Korean church leaders garbed in outfits resembling military uniforms visited Kashihara Shrine in Nara, Japan. They posed for a commemorative photo after worshipping the Japanese Emperor. Kukmin Daily DB

Reporter Jang Chang-Il (jangci@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)

Original Article in Korean:
[신사참배 80년, 이젠 회개다] “우상숭배의 죄, 지금 우리의 죄”… 대대적 회개운동 편다

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