Not long ago, I read a news article that deeply shocked me as a fellow Christian. It reported that a church member had destroyed Buddhist statues “to turn a temple into a church,” cutting off the heads of 750 granite Buddhas at Wonmyeong Seonwon in Jeju Island. Though the person may have acted out of personal conviction, I could not help but think that such behavior ignored the most basic courtesy and common sense that should precede faith itself. When Buddhists or people of other religions see such actions, how will they respond when the opportunity comes to meet Christ?

A few years ago, during the Gangneung Dano Festival—Korea’s 13th Intangible Cultural Heritage—Christian believers in the area rushed into a shaman ritual shouting, “Satan, depart!” and overturned the ceremony. Fortunately, the shamans did not retaliate or disturb church services afterward, and the incident ended quietly.

Reading such stories makes me wonder: must evangelism or mission always take such aggressive forms—shouting “Satan, depart!” or destroying idols to build churches? Though these are isolated cases, they reveal a deeper question: do we, perhaps unconsciously, carry a sense of superiority toward other religions or cultures?

Having lived mostly within the Christian community, I rarely attended social gatherings. When I did, I often found them dull and empty—people exchanging awards without prayer or worship. I would return home thinking, I’ll never go again, and feel tempted to avoid non‑believers altogether. Then my conscience would whisper, “Did not the Lord seek you when you were a sinner?” I realized that within me was a desire for others to be like me—and if they were not, I closed my heart.

To believe in Christ means to honor others above ourselves, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to live out the servant‑hearted love of Christ. Yet we sometimes shut our hearts to those who differ from us, acting in pride or exclusion, and in doing so, cause others to stumble. When evangelism becomes emotional and disrespectful rather than persuasive through life and love, it brings harm rather than blessing. Especially when meeting people of other faiths—or when faith differs within marriage—we must ask what attitude truly reflects Christ.

When someone in a non‑Christian family begins to believe in Jesus, conflict often arises between traditional Korean customs and Christian faith—especially regarding ancestral rites. In the early days of Korean Christianity, this tension was even more severe.

In the 1920s, a woman named Park Sung‑Nyeo took her own life after her husband, a Christian, forbade ancestral offerings for his late mother and destroyed the family shrine. She died defending Confucian values and family duty. At that time, the scholar Lee Sang‑Jae wrote in The Dong‑A Ilbo:

“To call the ancestral tablet an idol and to condemn bowing before one’s parents’ spirits as idolatry cannot be considered right. Koreans honor their deceased parents out of filial devotion, not idolatry. This practice accords with God’s command, ‘Honor your father and mother.’” A few days later, theologian Yang Ju‑Sam responded: “To say that ancestral rites preserve the Korean spirit is a misunderstanding. It is merely a superstitious custom from an immature moral age.”

Even among Christians, the debate continues, unresolved in many families.

One devout Christian woman married into a family that strictly followed Confucian traditions. On the day of the ancestral rite, she rose early, singing hymns as she cleaned and prepared food with joy. Following her mother‑in‑law’s instructions, she set the table exactly as desired. When relatives gathered, she welcomed them warmly. Before the ceremony began, her mother‑in‑law said gently, “Thank you, my dear. You, a believer in Jesus, prepared this meal so sincerely—our ancestors must be pleased. Stay nearby while we offer our respects, and afterward, please eat with us.” The daughter‑in‑law cheerfully agreed.

The mother‑in‑law proudly told everyone that her Christian daughter‑in‑law had prepared the table. Relatives who once thought Christians were disrespectful toward ancestors tasted the food and said, “So this is what a believer can be like.” Their hearts began to open.

In the years that followed, harmony deepened between the mother‑in‑law and daughter‑in‑law. Later, when the daughter‑in‑law’s own family held a Christian funeral, the mother‑in‑law attended for the first time. Expecting loud wailing, she instead saw people singing hymns and worshiping reverently. She was moved by the peace and unity and thought, When I die, I want a service like this. Returning home, she went to church and declared, “I want to believe in the Jesus my daughter‑in‑law believes.” She removed all ancestral tablets and became a faithful Christian, attending dawn prayer daily and leading many relatives to Christ. Though it took time, love and reconciliation brought salvation to the whole family.

Even today, many struggle to reconcile Korean tradition, other religions, and Christianity. When non‑believing relatives invite us to ancestral rites, we wonder whether to attend or not, whether to prepare food or refuse. I am not a theologian, but I believe our culture and traditions are precious gifts God has given uniquely to our people. Like Israel, which preserved its faith and heritage through centuries of exile, we too can honor our traditions while living faithfully. When we meet non‑believing relatives, let us prepare generously, show love and harmony, and open our hearts—trusting that in God’s time, they too may receive Christ.

Our impatience often makes us rush even in saving souls. Instead of speaking the gospel in ways others can understand, we sometimes try to persuade only within our own reasoning.

Mahatma Gandhi, who lived as a servant of his people, resembled Jesus in many ways. He was deeply moved by Christ’s teachings and nearly converted to Christianity—but the arrogance of some Christians closed that door forever.

It is a privilege to know Jesus and be saved. But that privilege must never become a license to attack or dominate others. Before being religious, Christians must be reasonable, courteous, and gracious—recognizing others as they are. When we honor others, we too are honored.

Jesus opened His heart to everyone—Roman soldiers, prostitutes, tax collectors, the sick, even foreigners. He spoke with them and showed compassion. Sharing Christ with people of other faiths and cultures is not about power or conquest; it is about love, service, reconciliation, and peace.

— Yoon Wan‑Hee, September 20, 1998