-JSH
On February 18 and 19, UNC and Duke are hosting a speaker presentation on North Korea that will largely be about human rights and politics. What’s troubling is that as a Christian, I know that there will never be a solution to social injustice as long as sin exists in the world. And because the world is fallen, North Korea is only one of the countless social injustices. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
One of the main components of this event is aiding the North Korea people. But if God is not at the center of our mission, helping them is meaningless in the scheme of eternity. We may affect their current living condition, but we will not affect the eternal condition of the human soul. If someone is eternally separated from a holy God after death, it will not matter how much his standard of living had been improved on earth, nor how long he had lived on earth. It will not matter how painfully or comfortably one has lived nor how long because in the end, “…there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 6:22-23). Knowing this paradigm of eternity, we should realize that something more has to be done besides futilely trying to tear down social injustice and trying to extend people’s earthly lives.
Jesus Christ offers the only solution to all problems. With Jesus Christ, helping people’s pains and afflictions suddenly have unconditional meaning, and the pain and affliction themselves have eternal significance. We’re empowered to help people in the same way that Jesus helped people – he was filled with compassion (Mark 1:41) – and to make Himself known (Mark 2:10). Pain and suffering have meaning because Christ has also suffered: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17).
North Korea is the worst persecutor of Christians, according to the Open Doors’ World Watch List. There is no religious freedom, and the entire country practices the Juche ideology, which deifies Kim Jong Il. I literally consider North Korea to be a part of the “ends of the earth” when Jesus says in Acts 1:8: “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Thus, in the Christian worldview, apart from social justice, North Korea is a part of the Great Commission. Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men; we are to be armored with the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and put our physical swords away (John 18:11), “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Christians’ objectives are not to make political gains, but spiritual ones. Jesus came not as a political ruler, but as a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned… For as in the say of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:2,4,6).
There are two obvious things Christians can do for our brothers and sisters in North Korea: one is to pray for them; and two is to financially support our missionaries (we will be giving to Pastor Buck). Although the event is disguised as a social justice event because it is sponsored by university organizations, I have been praying that God nevertheless uses the event for His glory because without God, this event is meaningless. There will be a room available after the UNC speaker presentation for people who want to get on their knees and pray together for our North Korean brothers and sisters. Ephesians 6:18 says to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” I have been praying that many Christian students and the church community attend so that they may learn about North Korea and be moved to pray for North Korea. And when we pray, we should mourn for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. But praise God – we can also be joyful in their affliction! Christians in places like North Korea and China are spiritually blessed in ways that we cannot imagine here in the United States (The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun). We know that God is a just God and “many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” (Matthew 19:30).
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:3-11). Though born lowly, North Korean Christians are in a place where they can truly demonstrate, live out, and experience the beatitudes of Christ, and they will be rewarded one day in heaven. In James it says, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (1:12). Christ can be the only solution. Christ provides justice for his children.
As the event draws closer, I ask that you pray for God to be glorified through this event. I invite you to come fill a part of the audience and join us for the prayer meeting afterwards. If we are to glorify God even when we eat and drink, then surely we can glorify God through a university event.
