Many of you would have heard about the Australian missionary detained in North Korea, facing the very real possibility that he will die there for his “crime” of leaving Christian literature behind. The story is just another example of what a miserable hellhole of a country North Korea is.
Indeed, just this week the UN finally seems to have woken up to what a horrific place this is. In a 372-page report released this week, the UN said Kim Jong-un should face the International Criminal Court for ordering the systematic torture, starvation and killing of his own people, comparable to Nazi-era atrocities.
As one news report said, “The independent investigators’ report cited crimes including murder, torture, rape, abductions, starvation and executions. ‘The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a state that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world,’ it said.”
While I am glad the UN is finally catching on here, it would be interesting to see what the secular body would say about this case. Persecution of Christians is of course widespread there, and the arrest of the Australian missionary is not the first such incident.
His story goes as follows: “An Australian missionary being detained in North Korea left Christian pamphlets in a Buddhist temple, his travel companion says. John Short, 75, who has been arrested previously in China for evangelising, is now facing a potential prison term in the reclusive state. ‘There’s risk involved,’ his wife Karen said in Hong Kong. ‘He knew that too, but when you know what you must do, you do it.’
“Mr Short, who has lived in Hong Kong for 50 years, arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday and was taken from his hotel the next night. His companion Wang Chong told the ABC Mr Short left pamphlets promoting Christianity at the Buddhist temple during a tour. . . . Last year, American missionary Kenneth Bae was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour after being accused of committing hostile acts in North Korea.”
Karen Short said, “I know he’s courageous and he’s in God’s hands”. She also said, “My husband does what he believes is what God wants him to do. Without sounding strange, that’s him, he’s a man of faith. We’re faith missionaries and he believed that we should care and not just talk but do something.”
There are of course not just spiritual considerations which crop up here. There are political considerations as well. And on a political level, Prime Minister Abbott said this, “I do have this message for Australians abroad: you do have to be careful to obey the laws of the country you’re in.”
All this raises questions of what Christians should do, both at home and abroad, in terms of Christian ministry and witness. I already had one person say elsewhere that Mr Short was unnecessarily taking “stupid risks”. There is no question that he was taking risks, but whether they were stupid or not all depends.
If he was doing what he did by what he perceived to be the express direction of the Lord, then it of course was not stupid. While I cannot say whether this was the case or not for sure – and clearly the Short’s believe it was indeed God’s will for them – it must be pointed out that the history of the expansion of the Christian church is one of risks, maybe even “stupid risks”.
Christians have always risked life and limb to share the good news of Jesus Christ to those who desperately need to hear it. Thus we have Christian missionaries today for example, sharing the gospel in Muslim-majority countries at great risk. All throughout church history believers have taken enormous risks to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the early church was full of such actions. Just read the book of Acts, and see all the courageous – or what some might call foolish and foolhearted – deeds being done by Paul, Peter and others. They bravely defied the authorities, the enraged mobs, and hostile environments to proclaim the gospel message.
Indeed, Jesus himself could have been accused of taking “stupid risks”. He deliberately did things and said things which he knew would get him into big trouble. Others might have advised him to calm down, moderate his words and actions, and try to be more conciliatory.
But Jesus was on a mission, a risky mission, and he knew he would have to pay the ultimate price for it. And so it is today. Obviously in places like North Korea one takes one’s life in one’s hands any time an attempt is made to proclaim biblical truth.
This is also quite true in most Muslim nations. And increasingly in a secular West, it is getting very risky to speak biblical truth in the public arena as well. More and more people are being jailed, fined and losing their jobs for doing this very thing.
So without knowing very much about the Shorts, I can say this much with confidence: I applaud their boldness and their zeal to serve Christ, regardless of the costs. And we of course must pray for John and his family. This is not just a political struggle but ultimately a very real spiritual battle.
And we all can learn some lessons here. We all can be greatly challenged by this couple. John Short knew the risks of sharing the gospel in this demonic and darkened nation. Not bad for a 75-year-old. So the question is: what risks are we taking for Christ and the Kingdom? What brave feats are we performing for the sake of the gospel?
Or have we made it our custom never to take risks, never to rock the boat, and never to defy the system and stand for Christ, regardless of the consequences? Sooner than we realise, we all may have to start making courageous decisions as John Short did. Will you be ready for that?
11 Replies to “Christian Mission, North Korea and Counting the Cost”
What a great exhortation Bill.
This is a very compelling read a sober reminder of what we are here for and what we must be willing to do for the lost to come to Christ. If a 75 year old man in North Korea can do it what excuse do we in Australia have for NOT speaking the truth that people need to hear!!
Well done to him!
JOHN AND KAREN SHORT We have no excuse for forgetting their names.
David Skinner UK
Dear Bill, The people of North Korea need our prayers. The communist regime running that country have shut their ears from the Gospel.
Regards, Franklin
Some years ago I went with my father to some conference meetings where Mr Short was the keynote speaker. I am not surprised he found his way into North Korea with gospel literature in his luggage.
John Short’s arrest has coincided with the UN’s report, which has again reminded us of the plight of Christians in North Korea. John requires our prayers for deliverance. I also pray that his arrest will not be in vain and that more North Koreans will come to know God through his witness. May Kim Jong-un and his wicked government be removed and be replaced with leaders who will honour God by giving freedom to their people.
One must respect the govt of a country despite its evil because govt are put in authority by God. I think it is also disrepectful to call a country a ‘hellhole’. The West itself has its own problems with legalisation of gay marriage, abortion etc.
Thanks Jan. No I don’t have one iota of respect for a demonic thug and monster like Kim Jong-un, and the way he has turned his country into a genuine hellhole, killing masses of his own people – especially Christians – and engaging in every diabolical work of evil. Government is established by God (Romans 13, eg), but it can lose its legitimacy to rule. This is clearly the case here. And of course the Bible is quite clear that when human laws contravene God’s laws, then we are called to disobey those laws. But I discuss this more fully here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2008/11/02/christians-and-civil-disobedience/
And sure the West has plenty of problems under evil rulers like Obama, but to try to make some sort of moral equivalence between the free and democratic West, and the communist tyranny of North Korea is foolish in the extreme, and I am not buying it for a moment. Millions of people in North Korea are starving to death, forced to eat bark off trees just to stay alive, with government torture, murder, and a mass gulag the norm for most people. I don’t know what country you are from, but if you think it is the same as North Korea, you are completely lacking in moral and mental discernment, sorry.
The fact that this man took a missions trip at 75 years of age, speaks volumes to all of us in the church. Would that all Christians have this kind of devotion and commitment! I want to be doing radical things for Christ at 75 too! Here I am Lord…send me.
>>One must respect the govt of a country despite its evil because govt are put in authority by God.<<
Wow. By that logic we would have no right to condemn Hitler's regime or actions during WWII.
One thing that really concerns me is that some people are quick to condemn the actions of a tyrant who is long dead, but completely indifferent to the plight of people who are currently living in hell on earth.
In regards to Jan’s comment made on 22.2.14
Jan I hope you read this or perhaps Bill can forward it to you.
Yes our western nations have many problems, mostly because people have become a law unto themselves and have rejected God’s laws and ultimately reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I would strongly recommend to you as a brother in Christ that you begin to read some wonderful books like – Nothing to envy by Barbara Demick, This book describes:
What if you had to live in a country where radio dials were fixed to a single government station? Where the surroundings were entirely black-and-white except for the red lettering of the propaganda signs? Where you were required to keep a large portrait of the president on your living room wall and bow to it on national holidays? Where sexuality was repressed except for purposes of reproduction? Where spies like Orwell’s Thought Police studied your facial expressions during political rallies to make sure you were sincere not only in your speech but your thoughts?
This is a real place – the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea or North Korea. The Communist regime that has controlled the northern half of the Korean peninsula since 1945 might be the most totalitarian of modern world history.
North Koreans are beaten, tortured and starved by their own Government.
If this does not persuade you then like Thomas you must see to believe:
you tube – North Korea Through the Eyes of Witnesses
Karen Short said, “I know he’s courageous and he’s in God’s hands”. She also said, “My husband does what he believes is what God wants him to do. Without sounding strange, that’s him, he’s a man of faith. We’re faith missionaries and he believed that we should care and not just talk but do something.”
What a great exhortation Bill.
This is a very compelling read a sober reminder of what we are here for and what we must be willing to do for the lost to come to Christ. If a 75 year old man in North Korea can do it what excuse do we in Australia have for NOT speaking the truth that people need to hear!!
Well done to him!
JOHN AND KAREN SHORT We have no excuse for forgetting their names.
David Skinner UK
Dear Bill, The people of North Korea need our prayers. The communist regime running that country have shut their ears from the Gospel.
Regards, Franklin
Some years ago I went with my father to some conference meetings where Mr Short was the keynote speaker. I am not surprised he found his way into North Korea with gospel literature in his luggage.
John Short’s arrest has coincided with the UN’s report, which has again reminded us of the plight of Christians in North Korea. John requires our prayers for deliverance. I also pray that his arrest will not be in vain and that more North Koreans will come to know God through his witness. May Kim Jong-un and his wicked government be removed and be replaced with leaders who will honour God by giving freedom to their people.
One must respect the govt of a country despite its evil because govt are put in authority by God. I think it is also disrepectful to call a country a ‘hellhole’. The West itself has its own problems with legalisation of gay marriage, abortion etc.
Thanks Jan. No I don’t have one iota of respect for a demonic thug and monster like Kim Jong-un, and the way he has turned his country into a genuine hellhole, killing masses of his own people – especially Christians – and engaging in every diabolical work of evil. Government is established by God (Romans 13, eg), but it can lose its legitimacy to rule. This is clearly the case here. And of course the Bible is quite clear that when human laws contravene God’s laws, then we are called to disobey those laws. But I discuss this more fully here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2008/11/02/christians-and-civil-disobedience/
And sure the West has plenty of problems under evil rulers like Obama, but to try to make some sort of moral equivalence between the free and democratic West, and the communist tyranny of North Korea is foolish in the extreme, and I am not buying it for a moment. Millions of people in North Korea are starving to death, forced to eat bark off trees just to stay alive, with government torture, murder, and a mass gulag the norm for most people. I don’t know what country you are from, but if you think it is the same as North Korea, you are completely lacking in moral and mental discernment, sorry.
The fact that this man took a missions trip at 75 years of age, speaks volumes to all of us in the church. Would that all Christians have this kind of devotion and commitment! I want to be doing radical things for Christ at 75 too! Here I am Lord…send me.
>>One must respect the govt of a country despite its evil because govt are put in authority by God.<<
Wow. By that logic we would have no right to condemn Hitler's regime or actions during WWII.
One thing that really concerns me is that some people are quick to condemn the actions of a tyrant who is long dead, but completely indifferent to the plight of people who are currently living in hell on earth.
In regards to Jan’s comment made on 22.2.14
Jan I hope you read this or perhaps Bill can forward it to you.
Yes our western nations have many problems, mostly because people have become a law unto themselves and have rejected God’s laws and ultimately reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I would strongly recommend to you as a brother in Christ that you begin to read some wonderful books like – Nothing to envy by Barbara Demick, This book describes:
What if you had to live in a country where radio dials were fixed to a single government station? Where the surroundings were entirely black-and-white except for the red lettering of the propaganda signs? Where you were required to keep a large portrait of the president on your living room wall and bow to it on national holidays? Where sexuality was repressed except for purposes of reproduction? Where spies like Orwell’s Thought Police studied your facial expressions during political rallies to make sure you were sincere not only in your speech but your thoughts?
This is a real place – the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea or North Korea. The Communist regime that has controlled the northern half of the Korean peninsula since 1945 might be the most totalitarian of modern world history.
North Koreans are beaten, tortured and starved by their own Government.
If this does not persuade you then like Thomas you must see to believe:
you tube – North Korea Through the Eyes of Witnesses
For Our Lords Glory and not Kim Jong- Un’s