There are laws that govern the material world, and even this world with all its unpredictable people is governed by general principles. Those who are successful enough to influence those around them in any field are those who have discovered principles that permeate both fields. This week, I attended a seminar for pastors and their spouses hosted by the Korean Church Association in England. While listening to the two pastors who came as speakers, I heard about how people change. It was the same core message that had been emphasized at the Discipleship Training Seminar that I had attended during my visit to Korea.
A few years ago, when I listened to a lecture on ‘Center Church’, the core textbook of the City to City organization started by the late Pastor Tim Keller, I had the conviction that if you minister according to principle, the church will definitely change and grow. The people who were scolded the most by Jesus were the Pharisees and scribes, and when the Apostle Paul preached the gospel and established the church, the biggest obstacles were the Judaizers. It is ironic that those who emphasize the fear of God and the word of God and are devoted to it can at times be the biggest obstacles to God’s work. Understanding the gospel becomes clearer when you overcome an overly legalistic interpretation of it.
While living a life of faith together with young people in London for 17 years, I thought a lot about the essence of faith and the core of the gospel, and as a result, it has been a time for me to learn a lot and grow. The days of youth are filled with uncertainty and anxiety, but at the same time, it is a time when one has the privilege of seeking many opportunities and changes. It is also a time when one can dream of a world better than the reality I see, and pursue a meaningful life rather than a life of complacency. That is why historically, all revolutions have been led by young people in their twenties.
While spending time with this generation, I constantly asked them to tell me how their existence creates a truly meaningful life and the most beautiful world, and this naturally led me to meditate on the true meaning of the gospel. Thanks to that, I was able to cultivate a clearer and sharper gospel message. In conclusion, I have a conviction that all the scriptures point to Jesus Christ, and that everything that the Son of God did when he came to this earth is the only answer to all the problems in our lives. Pastor Jun-gon Kim, who founded the Korean College Student Missionary Society, also has a famous 100 Questions and Answers that contain 100 questions about our lives, but the answer always points to Jesus Christ.
“Christ is All, the self-completeness of the gospel, the complete package of salvation, Jesus is enough” Although the sentences and words used to express them are different, the confident explanations of those who discovered the greatness of this gospel are the same. The great scholar Paul said to the Corinthian church members who pursued philosophy, which was arguably the pinnacle of knowledge of the time, that “I have decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” He said, “The knowledge of Christ is the most noble, and compared to it, all things in the world, no matter how beneficial are harmful and like excrement.”
The gospel, the good news, and the gospel of Jesus Christ that will be such news to all people in the world. Just like Paul’s confession, I cannot say that I know everything and have accomplished everything, so I try to learn about the gospel every day. I want to be a pastor who explains it better, applies it to my life, experiences its power, and delivers it with confidence.
