Ethical preaching in contemporary Korean Protestantism : a critical reflection

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was not merely to recount the ethical problems of the Korean ProtestantChurch and its members, but to suggest a new ethical preaching mode for resolving theseproblems. Thus, in order to research the subject of our study, we used two methodologies:Dingemans's practical theological methodology and the Heidelberg method of sermonanalysis.In chapter one, we stated the question why the Korean Protestant Church's growth isdeclining, and described the current social situation in which the Korean people are startingto turn their backs on the Korean Protestant Church, and also mistrusting the morality of thisChurch as its members do not seem to act in accordance with their stated beliefs. Their ethicalbehaviour does not correspond with the content of their confession. In order to show exactlythe practical and problematic phenomenon of the Korean Protestant Church and its members,we used the results of six surveys conducted recently by several institutes. Furthermore, inorder to expose exactly the Korean Protestant Christian's ethical problems in terms ofhomiletics, we suggested that our study focuses on the following three issues: political,triumphal and narrative, as these three sermon patterns flow like rivers into the KoreanProtestant Church and its American theological connection. By doing so, our study hoped tocontribute ultimately towards the rediscovery and revalidation of ethical preaching incontemporary Korea.From chapter two to chapter seven, we thus strived to explain the content of, and relationshipbetween, the three preaching modes as described above (political, triumphal, andexperiential), and we analysed the sermons of three representative Korean Protestantpreachers in detail, by using the framework of the Heidelberg method.In chapter eight, we evaluated the ethical situation of the Korean Protestant Church and itsmembers in contemporary Korea as follows: 'Consequently, in contemporary Korea, theKoreans no longer believe and trust the Korean Protestant Church. Thus, since the 1990s, thepresent Korean Protestant Church is experiencing a decline in the attendance of its membersbecause the present Korean Protestant Church has lost its dignity due to its ethical problems.In our opinion, it is true that the Korean Protestant Church needs to discover Christian ethics;thus, the Church must especially focus on its lack of social ethics and political responsibilityin the Reformed theological views. In order to promote the public's trust in the KoreanProtestant Church and its members, it is inevitable that Korean Protestant ministers mustfocus more on Christian ethics than on the outward development of the Church incontemporary Korea. Thus, in order to establish Christian ethics in Korea, the KoreanProtestant preachers must consider ethical preaching, through which naturally, Christians willtry to follow Jesus' life and teachings before God by faith in the world.In chapter nine, we explained in detail what ethical preaching is, i.e. we introduced thenecessity for ethical preaching, and defined it as well as components thereof. In particular, weemphasized that the world's position and function are unique, as evil controls the world interms of ethical preaching because human beings have been captured by the multiplicity ofthe powers or related them to contemporary social realities, and they cannot but produceChristian ethical problems in the world. Furthermore, we suggested the following: 'Weobviously need the harmony of Campbell and Long's homiletical views in order to create thebest framework for ethical preaching for contemporary Korea.In chapter ten, we critically compared and reflected on the homiletical views of Campbell andLong in terms of ethical preaching. Furthermore, we created a new ethical preaching modefor contemporary Korea.In chapter eleven, we introduced some suggestions as regards the way ethical preaching couldbe done in contemporary Korea, i.e. we strived to compose a sermon's synopsis of ethicalpreaching with the newly formed framework. Thus, with Luke 8:22-39, we dealt with 'thedivision of Korea into North and South and, with Luke 10:25-37, 'racial prejudice towardcoloured foreign workers by using the newly formed ethical preaching mode.In chapter twelve, we summarized and concluded our dissertation. As regards the homileticalfield of Korea, we introduced four benefits our study can offer. On the other hand, we pointedout the shortcomings of our study as follows: 'Jesus Christ and ethical issues from the OldTestament and 'the relationship between our ethical preaching mode and Christian worship, especially liturgy. In this chapter, thus, we emphasized the abovementioned points assuggestions for future research.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University