아래 사진은 사랑침례교회에서 지지난 주일 8월 18일 예배시간 앞에 나가 노래한 고등학생들인데 보시면 이 교회 분위기는 올바르게 경건하며 보수적이라는 것을 자녀들의 복장만 보면 알 수 있음. 남자는 세미 정장 (어른들은 가능하면 넥타이 착용함) 여자는 무릅 밑으로 내려오는 치마 입음 (바지는 삼가다).

제가 관찰한 대표적인 것 몇가지만 나누고자하면:

1) 신앙에 기반이되는 성경책은 원문에 제일 가까운 King James Version 킹제임스 흠정역을 사용함. 단어 하나로 교리가 바뀔 수 있는 위험성도 있을뿐만 아닌 말씀으로 성도들의 행동과 삶이 좌우되니까.

예) '간음하면 지옥에 간다'를 '건전한 성생활 하지 않으면 좋지 않다'와의 차이는 하늘과 땅.

그래선지 오늘 교회 다니는 대부분이 특히 청년들이 평생 교회다니며 설교 듣고 자라와도 세상 사람들과 다른점 하나도 없음. 똑같이 혼전 성관계하고, 동거하고, 교회 복장도 부적절하고, 등등.

(방문한 첫 주일 교회에서 구입한 KJV와 성경사전)

2) 각 교인마다 주일날 집에서 개인의 성경책 들고 교회에 나와 예배드림. 예배시간 말씀 읽을때나 찬송 할때 앞에 큰 스크린에 글이 나타나지 않아 책이 필요함. 그래서 성경책은 본인의 책을 집에서 챙겨야하고 찬송가는 교회에서 제공해 각 자리에 배치됨.

오늘 우리가 흔히 보이며 쉽게 접근 할 수 있는 성경책이란 옛날 수백년전 말씀을 교회 지도자들만 아닌 일반 국민들도 읽을 수 있도록 우리 신앙의 선배들이 원문을 번역하다 들켜서 고문당하고 순교까지 했던 그런분들의 역사. 성경책을 손에 들고 교회 나가는 순간 은혜를 받지 않을 수 없음.

(8월 25일 설교시간 밑줄친 그날의 성경구절)

3) 신약의 초대교회 정신을 지키려고 구약시대 유대교, 천주교, 또는 한국 샤머니즘 풍습 따르지 않음:

   A. 사도신경, 주기도문, 축도, 새벽기도, 통성기도, 등 없음.

   B. 성가대 따로 없음. 찬양하는 그룹은 있어도 규칙적으로 매주 부르지 않음. 그리고 성가대 가운 없음.

   C. 설교 끝나고 찬송가 한장 부르고 예배는 마침.

4) 음악 악기는 오직 클래식 어쿠스틱 (예: piano, strings and winds). 일렉트로닉 또는 드럼이나 기타는 사용하지 않음. 음악 장르는 클랙식 또는 전통 찬송가만. 록이나 뉴에이지 음악 금지 (*너무 좋음^^).

5) 복장은 앞서 언급했듯이 단정하고 검소하게. 즉 남자는 반바지, 여자는 바지 또는 무릅 위로된 치마 삼가다.

6) 헌금 시간 따로 없음. 예배실 밖에 뒤에 헌금함 있음.

7) 점심과 저녁은 식당에서 무료로 비빔밥 제공.

8) 목사님과 성도들 모두가 기독교인으로써 상식적으로 우파인 애국자고 말만 아닌 행동으로 실천함. 그 비왔던 광복절에 목사님과 교인들 300여명이 광화문 시위에 나갔고 지난주 토요일 사모님과 교인들 또 서울역 태극기 운동 시위에 참석함.

이 부분이 내 마음에 큰 감동을 준 것이었고 그래서 사랑침례교회를 나가게 된 큰 이유중 하나임.

(8.15 광화문에서 '건국날' 시위에 참여한 사랑침례교회)

기존에 다니던 교회는 그날 광화문 시위 참여 모집 광고에 대해 아무 이야기가 없어 너무나도 열받아 그날 아직도 오른발에 반깁스한 상태에 목발 대신 우산들고 나 혼자서 일찍 시위에 뛰쳐나가 무대 앞에 가까이 자리 잡고 하루종일 열심히 응원함.

사람 자체가 완벽하지 않은듯 어느 교회든 어느 교단이든 다 장단점이 있기에 한쪽에만 빠지지 않고 대신 기독교인으로써 성경에 한가지만이 아닌 말씀 전체를 따르며 교회 안에서만 아닌 세상 삶에서도 빛과 소금이 되려고 특히 애국심을 가지고 노력하며 실천하려는 공동체를 선호함.

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Re: my first impression of Charity Baptist Church

Attached below is a picture of a group of high school students who sang during the worship service two Sundays ago. As you can tell by the modest style of clothing worn by these students, the pervasive character of this church is appropriately conservative - boys wear business casual (men often don neckties), and girls skirts that fall below their knees (wearing pants are discouraged).

To illustrate a few key observations made about the culture of this church:

1) With regard to which that serves as the anchor and foundation for the Christian faith (the Bible), this church ("She") uses the King Jame Version, which, arguably, is the closest thing to the original text.

This I find critically important, since each word/utterance conveys a specific thought, and the slightest mistranslation (usually softening the language) not only runs the risk of misleading one's doctrinal belief, but also can affect people's actions and way of life.

For example, there is a monumental difference between, say, "committing adultery can send you to a burning hell" and "sexual immorality is discouraged". Since most churches often use diluted language, it's no wonder why most churchgoers, notably the youths and adolescents, however deep and long in their faith, fare no better than the non-believers. They both engage in premarital sex, cohabit, wear provocative clothing, and etc.

2) She doesn't display the words of the scriptures or hymns on the big screen in front of the room, but, instead, encourages the congregation to bring his/her own Bible to church. The hymnals, however, are provided on each seat by courtesy of the church.

This simple act I also find highly meaningful. The Bible that we hold in our hands and keep in our possession signifies the history and martyrdom of our Christian faith, notably that of those who have been persecuted, tortured, and even put to excruciating death not only for translating the Bible but also for simply owning one. In this respect, just the mere act of bring one's Bible to church in and of itself is a testament of one's faith and blessing.

3) She tries to stay true to the ethos of the founding church members of the New Testament, and to resist the practices of the Judaic Old Testament, Catholicism, and Korean Shamanism:

   A. No recitation of the Apostle's Creed and The Lord's Prayer; pastoral benediction; engagement of morning prayer service, concerted prayer, and etc.

   B. No formal church choir. Choral groups do exist, but are not required to perform every Sunday or with a set schedule. No choir dress.

   C. After the sermon, the congregation sings a hymn and the service ends.

4) She adheres to the acoustical music accompaniments endemic to that of the classical/sacred genre - piano, strings, and winds. They don't use amplified electronic devices (e.g., electric guitars) or rather loud and often distracting instruments (e.g., drums). Rock and New Age genre are prohibited.

5) She encourages members to dress in modesty and with grace. Men do not wear shorts, and women short skirts or pants.

6) There are no offertory proceedings. Offerings are done voluntarily away from the sight of fellow church members, and are placed in a box placed outside of the rear entrance of the worship room.

7) Lunch and dinner (Bibim-bop) are provided free of charge in the church cafeteria.

8) Following the logic and common sense as Bible-believing Christians, the pastor and all church members not only lean toward the pro-free market conservative end of the political spectrum, but also openly profess and practice their pro-Christian patriotic duties.

The pastor and over 300 members recently attended the 8.15 Independence rally on a pouring rainy day, and the pastor's wife and several church women attended another outdoor political rally this past weekend.

My home church, on the other hand, made no announcement about the rally, so out of frustration, I decided to go to the rally by myself in the rain, even though I was still on crutches and had a cast on my right foot. I simply traded my crutches for an umbrella that day.

The rally part was definitely one of the biggest reasons that motivated me to at least visit and check out this church.

* I am well aware of the fact that no church or denomination is perfect and that each has its pros and cons, as no human being can claim himself to be perfect as well.

Nevertheless, it is imperative that we, as Christians, must not pick and choose just one favorable verse here and there to fit our agenda, however seemingly noble, but follow and live out the entire scripture in the Bible not only inside of the church but also outside in the real world among the non-believers, so that we may become the "light and salt" of the world.

In conclusion, I endorse this church and the like because I believe that our religious fervor must be accompanied by a healthy dose of socio-political consciousness and activism, which are vital for the preservation of the very dear principle in a free society that allows its citizens to practice their religious freedom, even if it means allowing others the freedom not to believe in God, as we were all once sinners (but many thereafter saved) in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ.