Monday, November 11, 2013

North Korea Gets a Bible Filled Surprise- Meg Mickelsen

The Christian group Seoul USA, based in Colorado, is air-dropping Bibles in North Korea.  They have released an impressive 50,000 40-foot Bible- filled bright orange balloons over just the past year. These balloons are cleverly outfitted with GPS systems that target rural areas, where they can more safely reach oppressed Christians.  Owning a bible is a crime in North Korea punishable by death.  This group estimates 100,000 oppressed christians living in North Korea and is desperate to get bibles to each one of them.  I find this whole idea somewhat bizarre.  Firstly, if there are 100,000 Christians in North Korea and Seoul USA has sent 50,000 Bible-filled balloons than each oppressed Christian would get multiple Bibles.  Furthermore, even if these balloons target rural areas they are hardly inconspicuous.  How could anyone access these bright orange balloons without being noticed?  Lastly, I firmly believe that throwing Bibles at problems is a dangerous game.  I am not a supporter of religious oppression, but this practice seems utterly ineffectual.  If hope that Christians in North Korea are able to access Bibles and I believe that Seoul USA is attempting to fulfill the brave task of spreading religious freedom, but in my opinion, this cannot be the way.  Read the article here http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/09/bibles-north-korea-christian-group_n_4246624.html

1 comment:

  1. Byron Otis- I agree. That does not solve any problem. I think it's less about helping oppressed Christians than about converting people. And in the most basic way, this does not help anything. They are risking the lives of anyone who picks up their airborne gifts.

    ReplyDelete