한국교회의 위기 극복과 대사회적 신뢰성 회복방안으로서의 디아코니아 활용에 관한 소고

Abstract

The Korean church has had a firm attitude of Diakonia which allowed it to sincerely participate with affirmation in the agony of the Korean people from the early days of the church. This in turn established rapid growth and public confidence that is almost unparalleled in history up to now. It is very unfortunate, however, that the Korean church, which should be the salt and light of the world, has now become a target of accusation and criticism from society as she neglected the mission of serving and sharing with society and focused solely on church growth. As a result, a call for self-examination toward the Korean church is rapidly increasing, and other voices are also being raised in various ways from different parts of society. The symptoms of the crisis of the Korean church are being found elsewhere. Firstly, the reason we define the Korean church as in crisis is due to the seriousness of the rapid decrease of the number of church members. It is almost a certainty that the number of Korean churches will reach an all time low within a few decades without special and innovative plans to solve this problem. The second reason we define the Korean church as in crisis is the collapse of the Korean church’s Sunday school. It is shocking that about 50% of Sunday schools disappeared in the process of decrease. Without the next generation, the church is going to die out naturally before long. Thirdly, another evidence of the crisis of the Korean church is the damage on the public confidence that the Korean church heaped up for more than 100 years of church history with unspeakable endurance and endeavor. Loss of public confidence is the most dangerous and threatening factor among the three factors driving the Korean church into crisis. Unless the Korean church restores this fallen public confidence by putting in a great deal of effort, the fruits of missions of churches cannot be expected, no matter how diligently the church spreads the Gospel. If so, how can the Korean church restore the public confidence that has hit rock bottom? To answer this question plainly, it is necessary to carefully examine the wholistic mission of the early Korean church and missions which combined the Gospel and social sharing, and a guideline as to how the early Korean church served society and what kind of attitude the Korean church had toward society needs to be provided. Needless to say, the Korean church sustained an attitude of social orientation from the beginning, which automatically established firm public confidence, gaining the heart of the people. In this way, the only way to restore the fallen public confidence of the Korean church is by shifting the paradigm into serving the church and the society as a servant of Jesus Christ. In short, the church should not ignore the problem of the society in which the church is located, and have a desire to solve its problems to gain the heart of the community. Then, there is no doubt that the society that turned its back toward the church will warmly welcome church again, and the Korean church will stand firm.