김교신의 무교회운동 재고: 그 목표와 한계

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to reappraise the non-church[無敎會]movement of Kim Kyo-Shin. What did it mean to study the Bible for Kim?And how did he practice the result of the study in his life? In pursuit of the answers of these questions, the goals of the non-church movement and its limitations will be investigated. Kim’s non-church movement had two goals. The first one was to establish the true biblical Christianity in Chosun, and the other was to pioneer the national destiny by educating the faithful Christian believers. The true Christianity for Kim Kyo-Shin was to realize “total[全的] Christianity” or “Chosunsan(朝鮮産) Christianity” and he pursued these goals by criticizing formalistic and authoritarian Chosun Christianity of his days. In general, the characteristics of this movement have been evaluated from three aspects. First, it was against the existing church’s authoritarianism. He rejected traditionism and creedalism in the institutionalized churches. Second, it was an anti-missionary movement, which sought to establish the Chosunsan Christianity. Third, it was the people’s movement through his “Seodang(書堂) Bible Study” and publication of [Sungseo Chosun](聖書朝鮮)Kim Kyo-Shin was a devout Christian who deeply loved his country,and tried to establish Chosunsan Christianity. One can easily credit his faith-movement called Chosunsan Christianity as the alternative Christianity in Korea. However, there are some problems in practice: First, the movement was to read the bible in a selective way. Second, the method of the faith-movement depended largely on Kim’s personal experience and biblical interpretation. Third, his Bible study was not oriented for common people but for the intellectual. Fourth, he focused too much on the intellectual aspect of the movement, and thereupon tended to be passive in participating in physical matters of the people during the Japanese regime.