이방인에 대한 성경적인 태도 고찰 – 국내 체류 외국인 선교의 성경적 배경에 관한 연구 -

Abstract

The foreign population in South Korea has increased rapidly over the past decade. In 2016, the number of foreigner estimated more than two million. Christians in Korea gradually realize that they are in front line of mission. Huge influx of foreign workers makes the sentence “mission start at home” as a literal truth. However both of Korean Society and Korean churches are not sufficiently prepared for the imminent coming of multicultural society. Therefore, it is necessary to find out how to reach the foreigners who reside with us. And study on the attitude to resident alien, which appears in Bible, will provide us a legitimate reason concerning mission for resident alien. Moreover, it will be helpful to lay the foundation for further missionary work with resident alien. A resident alien(ger) in the Old Testament is one who leaves his own blood relatives and his own home country then lives among the others. In ancient Israel, ger is considered as one of the most vulnerable members of the society. God commanded Israel to give a special care and protection to the distinct social class. Especially, Israel should sympathize with ger, for Israel also was aliens before God led them into the promised land. The resident alien also observed some law in order not to pollute the promised land and Israelite community. Ger did not have equal status and privilege with Israel. Ger was excluded from most of religious practice. However, Isaiah prophesied that If foreigners hold God’s covenant and keep His Sabbath, they will be able to join the covenant community. In the Second Temple period, there were many gentiles who were attracted to Jewish religion. They were called as God-fearer. Both Jews and Christians had positive view on them. Christians lessened the burden of the Mosaic Law and claim that it is unnecessary for gentiles to circumcise in order to become Christian. As a result, Christianity flourished beyond the ethnic boundary. On the contrary, in Jewish community, circumcision was a standard requirement for proselyte. Jews did not pressure the God-fearers to convert, but if one converted, a full observation of Mosaic law was required. Unfortunately, it seems that there were still distinctions between the proselyte and the native born Jew. The resident aliens among us are not our burden. Their existence is God-given opportunity to keep God’s commandment to care and love them. Korean churches must sympathize with them, should stands with them for the improvement of their treatment and have to spread God’s words among them. Those acts are the cornerstone of good relationship with resident aliens. Moreover, we should learn from Jewish reaction to God-fearer in time of the Mishna and the Second Temple. Misplaced exclusiveness and twisted pride should be thrown aside. And with inclusiveness and humility we should approach to resident alien and treat them as potential missionary of tomorrow.