PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
Since the death of Kim Jong Il, the man North Koreans called the "Dear Leader", the world has held its breath, carefully watching every move of the rouge communist nation, hoping for the best. Analysts and experts have carefully scrutinized North Korean newscasts, and military units have been placed on alert throughout the Korean Peninsula as a precaution in the event the reclusive and unpredictable nation was to attempt some kind of provocative action during this sensitive period. Little is known about the heir apparent, Kim Jong Un. Young, inexperienced and educated in the West, many are hoping that his rise to power will signal a new period of openness for North Korea.
But while the world waits anxiously, keeping a careful eye on a Stalinist nation that possesses nuclear weapons, one group is concerning itself with what it says are "more pressing matters." A group of theological leaders from around the country recently gathered in Chicago and concluded that Kim Jong Un, the next leader of the communist dynasty, is "probably not a sabbatarian."
"By all accounts, Kim Jong Un is not a Sabbatarian," stated Peter Ford, one of the pastors present at the meeting. "We see evidence that he works on Sundays, and has even accompanied his late father on tours throughout North Korea to provide 'field guidance' also on Sundays. To us it seems pretty clear that he is not a man who believes in keeping the Sabbath."
Sabbatarianism, the belief that Christians should observe Sunday as the "Sabbath Day" much like it was observed in the Old Testament, is a position held by many in conservative Reformed churches. The issue has sometimes caused division among believers as to how it should be precisely addressed and practically applied. This is the first time, however, that a group has formally made such an accusation against the leader of a foreign nation.
Ford further commented, "It's important to know as much about the man as we can. He's going to be leading North Korea for what will probably be several decades. It's obvious that he, as a man who doesn't believe in keeping the Sabbath, could quite possibly launch a missile on a Sunday or, perhaps, make threats to turn Seoul into a 'fiery pit of ashes,' and that affects us all."
Also discussed at the meeting were the young dictator's views on six-day creationism and exclusive psalmody.
Since the death of Kim Jong Il, the man North Koreans called the "Dear Leader", the world has held its breath, carefully watching every move of the rouge communist nation, hoping for the best. Analysts and experts have carefully scrutinized North Korean newscasts, and military units have been placed on alert throughout the Korean Peninsula as a precaution in the event the reclusive and unpredictable nation was to attempt some kind of provocative action during this sensitive period. Little is known about the heir apparent, Kim Jong Un. Young, inexperienced and educated in the West, many are hoping that his rise to power will signal a new period of openness for North Korea. But while the world waits anxiously, keeping a careful eye on a Stalinist nation that possesses nuclear weapons, one group is concerning itself with what it says are "more pressing matters." A group of theological leaders from around the country recently gathered in Chicago and concluded that Kim Jong Un, the next leader of the communist dynasty, is "probably not a sabbatarian."
"By all accounts, Kim Jong Un is not a Sabbatarian," stated Peter Ford, one of the pastors present at the meeting. "We see evidence that he works on Sundays, and has even accompanied his late father on tours throughout North Korea to provide 'field guidance' also on Sundays. To us it seems pretty clear that he is not a man who believes in keeping the Sabbath."
Sabbatarianism, the belief that Christians should observe Sunday as the "Sabbath Day" much like it was observed in the Old Testament, is a position held by many in conservative Reformed churches. The issue has sometimes caused division among believers as to how it should be precisely addressed and practically applied. This is the first time, however, that a group has formally made such an accusation against the leader of a foreign nation.
Ford further commented, "It's important to know as much about the man as we can. He's going to be leading North Korea for what will probably be several decades. It's obvious that he, as a man who doesn't believe in keeping the Sabbath, could quite possibly launch a missile on a Sunday or, perhaps, make threats to turn Seoul into a 'fiery pit of ashes,' and that affects us all."
Also discussed at the meeting were the young dictator's views on six-day creationism and exclusive psalmody.
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