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God’s Politics and Political Responsibility of Korean Church from the Perspective of Justice and Righteousness

  • Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
  • Abbr : KJOTS
  • 2021, 27(1), pp.308-341
  • DOI : 10.24333/jkots.2021.27.1.308
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : January 15, 2021
  • Accepted : February 9, 2021

Yoo,YoonJong 1

1평택대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to demonstrate how ‘justice and righteousness’ of the Old and the New Testament play role of God’s political ideology. In the Old Testament, justice and righteousness occurs in Genesis 18:17-19 where they are referred as both a God’s purpose of choosing Abraham and an obligation of Abraham and his descendants to keep. In Torah, justice and righteousness are proclaimed by Moses as the law to keep in Deuteronomy. In period of Davidic dynasty, there were strong political tensions between prophets and contemporary political power groups such as kings, priests, and nobles on the issues of justice and righteousness. Prophets urged political power groups to implement justice and righteousness on behalf of God. Against Assyrian and Babylonian threats, political power groups of Israel and Judah tried to solve the matters by military and diplomatic ways, whereas prophets proclaimed to accomplish justice and righteousness for the poor and weak people of the society. It is notable that the fulfillment of justice and righteousness as God’s political ideology was the criterion of judgment and salvation. In the New Testament, Jesus proclaimed ‘righteousness’ as key element of Kingdom of God especially in the gospel of Matthew where Jesus’ ministry is declared as the fulfillment of God’s righteousness(Matt 3:15). Jesus asked his people to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness”(Matt 6:33a). Jesus suggests righteousness as a criterion for the entrance of kingdom of heaven(Matt 5:20). Among eight beatitudes of sermon on the mount, two beatitudes are concerned with righteousness(Matt 5:6, 10). Paul interpreted Jesus as God’s new righteousness testified by the Law and Prophets (Rom 3:21). Paul portrayed Jesus as manifestation of God’s righteousness for condemned sinners. In the 21st century, good influence of Korean Church to the society has been declining rapidly especially among youths. It is proved that Korean Church failed to get public goodness from the society because of immoral behaviors such as sexual scandals and hereditary pastorship. In contemporary covid-19 pandemic crisis, Korean Church have been blamed for improper handling of the covid-19. By insisting the right of improper meetings including worship, church became hotbeds of pandemic. This paper maintains that justice and righteousness as God’s political ideology should be emphasized as the crucial message for restoration of Korean Church in pandemic period of Korea.

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