C. Cho-o
A “missionary” on his own mission huh! Or man’s mission? A person on God’s real mission would never have used foreign currencies and heroine as tools of communicating the gospel. In fact, his “gospel” ministry is of a different kind, the good news for drug users or peddlers but certainly not for the people in need of salvation through Jesus Christ. But, in the first place, where did he get his theological degree and why? The conduct/activity of the arrested has insulted the theologically trained community in particular and Christian missionaries in general, and of course, a blow to the theological college from where he stole (not earned) his M. Div. degree. Above all, it’s a mockery to God’s divine mission. Therefore, the concerned theological institute may consider revocation of his degree. The reason is simple; if a person who is given a tool to prune an orchard is using the same tool for destroying the orchard, the tool must be removed from his hand. The student body or fellowship of the community of the accused could also initiate some measures to discipline the accused. Well, some might be of the view that, he needs to be helped than penalize which is a true Christian spirit; however, the fact is that, devils cannot be tamed or changed. A wolf is a wolf even if it is in a sheep’s skin. The writer of this article doesn’t mean to say that this so called “missionary” will never change, (his greatest joy would be to see the picture of the same person in the newspapers someday with the caption “A Truly Repented Convict”) but he needs to learn a lesson the hard way according to the seriousness of his crime. Restoration of his faith and spiritual life is a personal matter—it’s between him and God, but from ethical and institutional point of view he deserves to reap what he has sown. Yes, even the loving and gracious God uses chastisement as a means of disciplining His fallen children, not because He is angry at them but because he doesn’t want even the least to perish.
Today, “church discipline” has become a distorted terminology, because its practice is distorted so badly. In most churches, church discipline is applied to its members only on grounds of adultery and fornication. All other transgressors are free from church discipline. How can a person who is condemned by the law of the land or State not be disciplined by the church but allows him or her to remain a “good” member of the church? As hinted above, discipline is a not a punishment. Even if it is, it is for the benefit of the one disciplined and not so much benefit for the one who disciplines.
This is also an eye-opening incident for theological institutions. And what everybody needs to know is: Theological Institutions are not Rehabilitation Centers. A Rehabilitation Center is where unchanged persons are brought in an effort to change their lives, but a Theological Institute is where changed persons voluntarily come to be molded and equipped to fulfill the divine calling. There is no perfect institution in this world whether it is religious or secular. Therefore, no matter how much a theological institute screens its prospective students in the process of admission, some “rotten apples” will soon be discovered. But, as the old saying goes: “something is better than nothing.” Thorough screening of prospective students in any theological colleges or seminaries before providing admission is vital if the said institutions are to maintain their integrity. And for general public, it would be unwise to blame the college or seminary or church workers if one of its students/members is found messing around. In doing so, one would be “poisoning the well” than do any good for the welfare of the church and social harmony.
“God grant us the serenity to change what we can change; the courage to accept what we cannot change; and the wisdom to know the difference.” - Anon
