I'm stoked as a well-tended fireplace to have my long-time partner-in-crime, Sonet, aka Sunny visiting in South Korea for a month. She's substitute-teaching at a hagwon and working for Yonsei Baptist Church in Seoul.
So I was happy to show Sunny around Seoul on Tuesday. This was easy, since I have extensive knowledge of Seoul geography and I never ask for directions. Instead I listen for the suburbs to call to me and then follow where they lead. Luckily Sunny wasn't standing for any of it. We did some shopping in Itaewon "the epicentre of sleaze in Korea" (much beloved by me) and I was able to visit the hallowed "What the book?" English bookshop on Hooker Hill. After that we had time for a quick visit to the nearby War Memorial and then Korean dinner.
So Jenni has always felt uncomfortable about the mega-churches in Korea (and elsewhere). Where the cost of the latest technology and most impressive sanctuary could feed a small African country. Where the church takes (and demands) so much time from its members, that they have almost no time to spend with other people, or with God, for that matter.
But Sunny loves Yonsei Baptist (with its +10 000 members, with its 100 Billion won new buildings) and she has found it both supportive and spiritual. Perhaps this is another area where I need to leave behind culturally-critical lenses and look beyond this church's gleaming gloss. Perhaps they are being blessed by God for doing something very right? It could be.
Philippians 1. 18 "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached."
2 comments:
As amazed as I was by Jenni's ability to navigate her way from Cheonan to Seoul in a country that struggles to even pronounce the word "English"; (despite her getting lost in Vincent, where she'd lived, uh, ALL HER LIFE!!) when I saw the dreamy "the suburbs are calling me" look in her eye, as we were looking for the Electronics Market, I knew it was time for me to stop and ask for directions. Having lived in London where only about 2% of its population can speak a semblance of proper English, I was able to accomplish this task relatively painlessly (the fact that I incidentally asked someone who happened to speak English fluently is entirely irrelevant!!).
Haha!!! Jenni, you got lost in Vincent?? La oooo ser!!
That is so weird, Sannie in korea. Sheesh kebabs!
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