The Faith of Reverend Yonggi Cho: Examined by James Fowler’s Stages of Faith

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한세대학교 영산신학연구소
· 수록지 정보 : 영산신학저널 / 53권 / 139 ~ 169페이지
· 저자명 : 최성훈

초록

The faith development theory of James Fowler tries to make sense of the Christian life and explains the dynamics of faith. His theory has contributed to finding meaning in human faith experience but many scholars criticized its faith definition and its focus on the structure of faith rather than on the nature of faith.
The criticism also indicated that little research had been conducted to examine faith development in a cross-cultural context because Fowler’s interview sample only included 359 Caucasian interview participants. When describing a person’s faith in Jesus Christ, it is critical to understand his or her personal background as well as his or her testimony along with unique spiritual experiences.
Reverend Yonggi Cho suggested the doctrines of the Fivefold Gospel and the Threefold Blessing as the core of Christian faith, through which he emphasized the importance of believing in God, salvific faith in Christ, and walking along with the Holy Spirit. Thus, the faith of Cho follows the traditional Trinitarian doctrine of Christianity. Although Cho has confronted diverse difficulties, pressures, and stresses, he consistently responds by utilizing the traditional doctrine to produce greater faith, trust, and dependence on the grace of God. Cho took the cross as hope because he looked at the cross in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, especially during the Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War. Cho also emphasized that the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in our hearts and minds so that gives the assurance of being adopted children of God.
In emphasizing the practice of love, Cho’s faith could be in the fifth stage that Fowler claims as the goal of normal people. Cho’s partnership with the Holy Spirit is similar to the perspective of the sixth stage, which calls for people to extend the center of their faith from themselves to many others and all creation. It is a process from himself to universal faith stage, where his faith elevates to a new quality of participation based on solid foundation in God. It is difficult for the time being to measure his faith stage since his theology has been only contextualized in Korean society though he clearly displays his focus out of himself. Besides, it is not adequate to describe Cho’s contemporary faith stage considering the current influence of Cho and potential biases. The crucial issue is not to designate to where Cho’s faith belongs, but to remind that faith is real relating in specific ways to our daily lives. Thus, the next task for Youngsan theology is to enlarge its practice to the salvation of society.

참고자료

· 없음