[CBS 뉴스] '극우' 목소리에 고민하는 교인들..."건강한 토론 필요"

[CBS News] Churchgoers Concerned by 'Extreme Right' Voices: "Healthy Debate Needed" [Anchor] Following the December 3rd civil war, far-right Protestantism is overrepresented in Korean churches, raising concerns about the damage to the Gospel and the distortion of Christian faith. With the majority of churches remaining silent or indifferent, there are growing calls for churches to not simply avoid political issues, but to create a safe forum for public discussion and voice healthy opinions in the public sphere. This is Joseph Oh. [Reporter] While extreme politically charged messages resonate in the public squares, in the name of the church and Christianity, the majority of Korean churches remain silent. Non-Christians now see the church as a single entity, regardless of denomination or sect. There are growing concerns that this will not only tarnish Christianity's image and diminish its credibility, but also completely close the door to evangelism. Because of this, church members' concerns about the social responsibility and role of Christians are deepening. Deacon Eun-ju Park says she left the church community she had served steadfastly for the past 30 years, despite many difficulties and twists and turns, amid the recent impeachment situation. This is because she grew skeptical of the church community, seeing those who spread fake news and conspiracy theories in public worship services and small gatherings, without any sense of the seriousness of the destruction of the democratic constitution. [Deacon Eun-ju Park] There was not a single prayer for the urgent situation in this country caused by civil war. Instead, they believed in the fake news that we must all be wary of, and they prayed for it in the representative prayer. And people agreed. I thought this was a phenomenon in which the laity of our church were unconsciously indulging in a certain hatred or exclusion. I often felt that their (political) beliefs took precedence over faith and the essence of God's kingdom. To avoid division and conflict within the community, many people avoid discussing political issues. This makes healthy discussion difficult and deepens the concerns of those considering the relationship between the church and the world. [Deacon Eun-ju Park] There has been absolutely no discussion about what stance Christians should take in this situation, how we should participate, or whether we should not participate. Sharing prayers and thoughts has become extremely limited and brief, driven by concerns like, "Is that person a far-right member?" or "Is that person a fellow church member with similar views?" Pastors and theologians have stressed, "If this situation persists, the church's extreme rightward shift and political instrumentalization will intensify, and members will leave the church." "We must begin to shape the discourse on Christian political ethics now." Rather than supporting a particular political party or individual, we need to create a healthy forum for public discussion within the church, and set standards for the political actions the church should avoid and the direction it should pursue. [Director Park Seong-cheol] Even now, if Christians are to engage in public activities, there needs to be a public debate on what constitutes a proper form of faith. We've discussed democratic diversity in Korean society in 2025, and then diakonia (service). So, what does service in the public sphere mean? What should the church do to address the problem of political clericalism? [Rev. Kim Hyung-tae] I believe we need mechanisms to adequately check pastors when they make wrong decisions. And congregations need to be awakened, so they can cultivate discernment, not just unintelligent, anti-intellectual Christians who blindly follow their pastor's every word. Therefore, we need to provide effective education on this within the church. There is growing consensus that church communities must now recognize differing political positions and foster a culture of calm discussion to resolve the intense conflict. This is Joseph Oh of CBS News. #Far-Right #KoreanChurch #Politics