김한요 목사
우리가 믿는 진리를 복음이라 부릅니다. 말 그대로 ‘좋은 소식’입니다. 정말 좋은 소식입니다. 절박한 코로나 상황에 개발되는 백신이나 치료제보다 더 절실한 것이 복음입니다. 뉴스나 신문에서 코로나처럼 확진자 수나 사망자 수를 확인할 수 없어서 그렇지, 이보다 훨씬 많은 숫자가 복음을 듣지 못한 채 사망의 문턱을 넘어갑니다. 인류 역사상 죄라는 팬데믹이 편만할 때, 예수 그리스도는 죄의 삯인 사망으로부터 승리하는 복음의 소식을 들고 오셨습니다. 이것보다 더 확실한 백신도, 더 좋은 치료제도 없습니다. 여전히 우리에게 유용한 백신이며, 아멘으로 먹는 즉시 효과가 있는 치료제입니다. 우리는 이 소식을 예배로 모일 때마다 전했으며, 죄로 인한 팬데믹 증상이 있는 사람들에게 전파했습니다. 왜냐하면 이것만이 유일한 소망인 것을 알기 때문입니다.
저는 확실히 믿습니다. 복음만이 살 길입니다. 복음만이 희망입니다. 코로나 속에 백신을 구하듯, 복음이 여전히 우리를 사망에서 건져낼 백신인 것을 믿습니다. 코로나 백신을 기다림보다 더할 것이며, 치료제를 사모함보다 승할 것입니다. 이 확신이 없으면 저는 오늘도 말씀의 강단 위에 설 수 없습니다. 오늘도 외쳐져야 할 메시지가 ‘좋은 소식’이라는 자신이 없으면, 저는 뻔뻔하게 마이크에 대고 소리를 울릴 수 없습니다. 현장에서든, 온라인에서든, 베델의 브랜드는 복음이어야 합니다. 왜냐하면 그것만이 죄로 물든 팬데믹 세상을 구원해낼 유일한 백신이기 때문입니다.
Good News
Rev. Bryan Kim
‘Good News’ for us now would be to have this Coronavirus situation dealt with vaccine that can be safely administered to all people. With over 200,000 deaths in U.S., I have seen a news article that compares the current death rate close to being 70 times that of the 9/11 incident. I vividly remember 9/11 of 2001 even now. I had to cancel my trip to New York to attend a seminar, the day twin towers of World Trade Center fell… my heart still aches, recalling losing a precious deacon that day. The thought that this kind of incident would have to occur 70 times continuously to match what we are experiencing with Coronavirus makes my skin crawl. I look forward to learning that vaccines and cures to eradicate this infectious disease that has spread worldwide are being manufactured. There is opinion that development of vaccine is being used for political purpose, but no matter what, I believe vaccine must be made. I look forward to that day I can walk into a pharmacy and buy medication for this just like for flu. I pray daily for researchers and medical professionals.
We call gospel truth that we believe in. The word itself means ‘good news’. It is truly good news. Gospel is what we are desperate for, even more than development of vaccine or cure for the urgent Coronavirus situation. We are not able to confirm numbers of non-believers in news or newspaper like those infected and died due to Coronavirus, but many have gone over the threshold of death without hearing the gospel. Jesus Christ came with gospel message of victory over death from sin when things were filled with pandemic called sin in human history. Besides, there is no better definite vaccine or cure than that. It is a very effective vaccine and instant cure that we receive with Amen. We have shared this news at every worship and evangelized to those with symptoms of sin pandemic. That is because this is the only hope.
I definitely believe that. Gospel is the only way to survive. Gospel is the only hope. Like seeking to find vaccine for Coronavirus, I believe gospel is the vaccine that will save us from death. It is more of a win than waiting for a vaccine and longing for a cure for Coronavirus. Without this kind of conviction, I cannot stand on the pulpit to preach. Without confidence that the message that I preached today is ‘good news’, I cannot shamelessly speak through a microphone. Whether it is in person or online, Bethel brand must be made of gospel. Because only this is the vaccine that can save the world that is under pandemic of sin.