A Theological Assessment of Reconciliation for Missiology in the Korean Context

Book excerpt: In the discourse of mission as reconciliation, in spite of existing consensus about God as the author of reconciliation, and the inseparableness of the dimensions of reconciliation, there is a disagreement on the issue of to what extent the vertical dimension of reconciliation should be addressed and sought in pursuing the horizontal dimension of reconciliation. After engaging the theologies of four Christian thinkers and practitioners of reconciliation, Karl Barth, Miroslav Volf, Son Yang-won, and Desmond Tutu, this dissertation argues that the vertical and horizontal dimensions of reconciliation are in mutually promoting relationship, direct and indirect promotion respectively. This study evaluates that the vertical dimension of reconciliation should be reinforced in Robert Schreiter’s theology of reconciliation. Schreiter notes that the church has traditionally tended to focus on the vertical dimension, overlooking its responsibility in the horizontal dimension. The indivisible dimensions of reconciliation have mistakenly been separated. However, as a reflective reaction, if the church concentrates on the horizontal reconciliation, merely assuming the vertical reconciliation, the church runs the risk of making the same mistake conversely. The vertical reconciliation should be the foundation on which the horizontal reconciliation is based and should continuously guide all the aspects of the church’s work of reconciliation. The vertical reconciliation enables horizontal reconciliation. Also, the alpha and omega of the Christian understanding of reconciliation is the vertical reconciliation between God and humanity. Grounding South Korean churches’ missiology in reconciliation regarding the North Korea mission is an urgently needed job. A more wholesome and robust theology of reconciliation should be presented for the missiology in the Korean context. The national division between South and North Korea has resulted in the South-South conflicts and the issue of North Korean refugees. South Korean churches should exert themselves in the ministry of reconciliation, concentrating on justice, hospitality, and renewed spirituality.