Did these Korean Christians do the correct thing in the eyes of other Christians?

Question

Let's suppose they DID preach the Gospel in Afganistan. Then, it seems that they did the right thing according to the Bible, because the Lord Himself commended His followers to spread the word of the Gospel. But later the situation turned sour - they were taken hostages. It seems that if they had been killed by Talibans, they would've become martyrs, which is a kind of correct thing according to the Bible, but the Government of their country began negotiating with Talibans about their release and finally they got released.
Now, let's suppose that the Government DID pay a huge ransom to the Talibans - well, even without that a huge some of money WAS spent on their release anyway. Finally, they are coming back home and the whole country, including the Government, are angry at them. One could say at this point that in this way they are suffering for the spreading of the Gospel - bearing the reproach and being mocked and accused by this world, which is also a

kind of correct thing according to the Bible, but here they are appologizing! Which means that they admit that their act of preaching the Gospel in Afganistan was a wrong thing. So, the question is was it a right or wrong thing, their preaching the Gospel in Afganistan?

(One could say that they were brave to go to Afganistan, but they were not brave enough not to appologize on thier coming back. They didn't look glorious as they were appologizing, on the other hand, they looked quite forlorn).

Answer 1

Only God knows if they did the right thing, did He tell them to go? or did they go for selfish reasons without thinking and praying about it.

Even Jesus and the Apostles left the area where someone was trying to kill them.

As a Christian Pastor when I go some where in the Name of Jesus, I go without expecting my government to "bail me out".

I do not expect the government to pay to get me out if I am taken hostage.

They were wrong if they went there expecting their government to bail them out if they got into trouble.

And their government had no obligation to pay (if they did) to get them out.

Answer 2

I couldn't get to the rest of your story, so this is based on the first part.

I didn't catch this story on the news, but I do know that our government's policy doesn't give Afghanistan or Talibans cash for anything. We don't deal with terrorists. It would have had to have been a private deal.

As to the Christians, it was stupid to go there, especially being Americans. There's lots of places where Christians or Americans are not arrested, and allowed to spread the gospel freely.

I'm not sure martyrdom would have applied to them because it was a stupid move, unless, of course, they had a deep leading and God actually sent them there.

And now they're being mocked? In our country? I doubt that, because most of us are attached to some sort of spirituality we'd be willing to die for. So we understand the spirit in which they went, but wish they'd used common sense.

The second coming of Jesus is said to be when the Gospel has been spread to the uttermost parts of the earth. Uttermost includes a lot of places other than Afghanistan. Go somewhere (to the uttermost parts) which respects the citizenship of Americans.

TX Mom
Not an expert

P.S. Did they manage to save any souls, establish churches, or pass out Bibles before they were seized? Was there any profit gained at all?

Answer 3

Hello,

No they did not. The American, Canadian and British forces are there, trying to get rid of the Taliban and establish a new government there. The Taliban and many citizens will try show that this is a new "crusade" from the west to Christianize the country and many will believe this and side with the Taliban and Al Quaeda. Christian missionaries should stay the hell out of there since they are further fueling the fire and endangering the lives of NATO troops.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly

Answer 4

they may have thought they were doing the right thing, however proselytizing a people who need physical help more than spiritual is always questionable. for example was their aid dependent on the recipients accepting their(the missionaries) system of belief? Gifts or aid should be freely giving as an example of christian strength, not offered as price or fee for salvation. While these Korean Christians may not have followed this practice many missionaries do.Many find this practice exploitative. Also practice forbids the deliberate seeking out of martyrdom. So if one is martyred while helping mankind that is one thing, but to deliberately seek out the most dangerous situation and adopt the most adversarial stance does not serve god or church. The Korean Christians have made it more difficult for Christians and their friends in Afghanistan by their actions. Christians are now perceived as legitimate targets instead of aid workers. it seems that instead of spreading the gospel they have made it much more difficult for others to do so while giving themselves the illusion of being effective practicing Christians

Answer 5

I'm a woman and i think it is repulsive to see two or women men kiss. But i think that that if you love someone who ever they may be, man and man, woman and woman, that you have a right to be with who ever you want. I am very Straight but I think its okay. I really think people who are truly homosexual are born that way. I have a cousin who always dressed like a boy when she was growing up, even when she was 10 years old and she never once had a boyfriend, then one day she came out and shes been happily "married" to another woman for many many years. Dont hate them or judge them even if its not right in your book. There will always be someone judging them because of people who just dont try and give them a chance or walk in there shoes.

Answer 6

Some people are so overwhelmed by the influence of the Bible that they forgot the real dangers that befall them.

Do you know how irritating these Christians can be when they can stop you in the street so as to spread the word of God? And to what ends? Spreading the Word no one wants to know. Inconveniencing others by stopping them in the street? Creating anxiety to their family when something happens to them?

Wake up to the real world. The world is not the least like the biblical world they live in. Let this incident be a baptism of fire to them.

Answer 7

I'm not angry at them. The Lord said go into all the world and preach the gospel. They've planted a seed and a seed grows into a plant with more seeds. The government should realize that the earth belongs to the Lord and everything in it belongs to the Lord. Spending money to protect the Lord's people is a good thing.

I'm a Christian and that is my point of view.

Answer 8

They did the right thing before God and will be rewarded for that. I think a powerful truth came out, they did not fly in and blow anything up in the name of their God. They went peacefully to proclaim the gospel of peace and were arrested. I think the only reason they were released is to give us all the impression there is nothing to fear. I think that right there is a deception and time will tell.

Answer 9

I certainly don't see how they have anything to apologize about and I don't think I would. But it really is a concern rather or not it is correct in God's eyes. Mine means nothing and it is said in the bible that God's ways are not mans so we will not understand the whole picture until judgement day.

I praise God thought for their release. And I will pray for them.

Answer 10

in doing the right thing they are being persecuted...Jesus was persecuted in his own home town,He said we would be persecuted too...the love of money is the root of all evil...the world is to wrapped up in the thought of money