Obeying Man Rather Than God?

After the release of the 19 remaining South Korean Christian hostages, the discussion turned toward the wisdom of doing missions in dangerous countries like Afghanistan. The Christians and churches involved were criticized severely—from the outside and the inside—for disregarding warnings from the government. They were blamed for the whole situation and seem to be taking full responsibility for all that unfolded.

According to the Christian Post, “Some 100 pastors gathered in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday for a penitence prayer meeting in response to worldwide criticism of Korean churches’ aggressive overseas missionary work.”

Perhaps these Christians made some poor decisions and didn’t take the necessary precautions for traveling into such a dangerous area. But should they really be asking for forgiveness and repenting for their aggressive missionary zeal? Would the apostles?

The South Korean government agreed to put a stop to foreign missionary endeavors in Afghanistan and to pull their soldiers out of the country by the end of the year. (The Taliban is claiming that South Korea also paid $20 million dollars to free the hostages, but South Korea is denying this.)

I can’t help but think about Acts 5 and Acts 21 and be a bit perplexed. I don’t have all the answers to how foreign missions should proceed, but certainly these two passages need to be factored into the discussion.

Acts 5:12–42

12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

. . . 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. . . . 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 21:1–14

1 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

What are your thoughts? What can we learn from this situation? Should the churches be repenting for what they did? Should they now submit to restrictions placed on them by the government not to do missionary work in dangerous areas? How do these passages relate to the discussion?

For more, see these two articles in The Christian Post:

• “Korean Pastors Repent for Aggressive Overseas Mission”
• “Criticisms Mount Against ‘Rash’ Korean Evangelism”

See also our previous articles:

• Remaining 19 South Korean Hostages Now Free
• Bullet Points 08/28/07
• Taliban to Release Remaining 19 Korean Hostages
• Jack Bauer, Paul, and the Rescuing of Hostages
• Second South Korean Hostage Killed
• 1 Korean Christian Hostage Killed
• Korean Christian Hostages Still Alive

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