이충경 목사
Zoom을 통하여 엘리야 새벽기도회 강단 초청에 참여하신 분들을 보면서 그 새벽에 컴퓨터 웹캠 앞에 넥타이와 정장을 단정히 차려입고 앉으신 노(老) 장로님의 모습에서, 열악한 선교지에서 예배에 참석하기 위해 인터넷 신호가 강한 곳을 찾아 장시간 운전 후 차 안에 앉아 기도하시는 선교사님 모습 속에서, 주님을 향한 우리의 태도를 다시 한번 깊이 생각해 봅니다. 이 시대 신앙의 문제, 다음 세대의 문제, 한국교회와 미주 교회의 문제, 마지막 때의 영적 민감함의 문제 해결을 위한 처방은 무엇입니까? 심플합니다. 그것은 지금 나의 태도를 바꾸는 것입니다. 영적 태도가 바뀌면 영적 문제가 해결됩니다.
Simple Remedy – Attitude
Rev. Choong Kyung Lee
Korean Churches have shown to the world as unprecedented church growth model. It is said that Church Growth Studies field even stemmed from Korean Churches. However, what about now? There are increased number of so-called Canaan Saints who do not attend church but call themselves Christians. Increased number of people are leaving the churches. In 2014, when looking at statistics of each presbyterian denominations such as Integrated Presbyterian(Tong-hap), Joint Presbyterian(Hap-dong), Presbyterian Church in Korea(Go-shin), Korean Presbyterian Church(Hap-shin), Presbyterian Church in the Republic Korea(Gi-jang-chong-heu), number of churches increased but actual number of members showed decreasing pattern. The reason for the deterioration of Korean churches in U.S. and in Korea is in ‘Loss of God’s Image’. Jesus Christ restored the lost image of God by dying on the cross. The reason that many people are leaving the church is ‘Absence of God’s Image’. There is a great disappointment in churches and church members because beauty of God’s image is not found in them. This past week, we had Elijah Early Morning Prayer. We heard Senior Pastor Kim’s messages on the theme ‘Attitude of Faith Determines Altitude of Faith’. Absence of God’s image is none other than a problem of our attitude toward God. As believers, I wonder if we had deep reflections in our attitude toward Bible, attitude of life as a believer, and our attitude toward church community and neighbors. I would like to ask a question from that context. What is your attitude of worship on this Lord’s Day when we should be thrilled and remember God’s grace of being saved from eternal condemnation? Do you think being a pastor or serving in worship prevents you from problems of spiritual attitude? Do you think you don’t have problems of spiritual attitude because you hold an important position in church? Perhaps the problem of spiritual attitude exists, but it has become calloused like heel of your foot.
I reflected deeply about attitude toward God as I watched on Zoom of those who were invited to pulpit prayer: the elders dressed in suit and tie sitting in front of web cam so early in the morning and the missionaries driving in search of stronger internet connection to tune-in and pray sitting in a car. What would be the remedy for problems of faith in this current era, problem of next generation, problems of Korean and U.S. Churches, and problem of spiritual sensitivity in the last days? It’s simple. It is to change my attitude. Spiritual problems will be solved when there is a change in spiritual attitude.