제자훈련 네트워크 목사님들과 종교개혁 500주년을 기념하여 유럽을 다녀왔습니다.우리가 이젠 나이가 좀 되다 보니 젊은 분들과 어울려 어딜 간다는 것이 그리 내키지 않는 일이지만 꽤 오랫동안 교제해 오던 사이기도 하고 사역의 공감대로 인해 좋은 친구들이어서 함께 하기로 했었지요. 아닌 게 아니라 만나서 서로들 참 반가워하는 모습이며 서로를 아껴주는 모습이 아름다웠습니다.
실은 남편이 몇 주 전에 허리 근육을 조금 다치는 바람에 다리가 아프다 하고, 나는 나대로 족저근막염이 다 낫질 않아서 힘들었는데 예약을 취소하기도 힘들어, 등산용 스틱을 챙겨들고 나섰습니다. 아예 노친네 티를 팍팍 내기로 작정을 했지요. 물론 민폐를 끼치면 안 된다는 생각으로 열심히 따라 걸었는데 모두들 저희를 잘 챙겨주셨습니다.
우리와는 달리 유럽 관광버스들은 두 시간을 달리면 이삼십 분을 꼭 쉬어야 하는 규칙이 있었습니다. 버스와 기사를 위해서 그렇게 한다는 것이 잘 적응이 안 되기도 했지만 부럽기도 했습니다. 숫자가 많아 큰 버스 두 대에 나누어 타고 다니다 보니 도중에 쉬는 시간에 서로 만나면 일 년 만에 만났다고 농담을 하며 반가워하기도 했습니다. 버스가 쉬게 되면 우리도 커피를 마시며 삼삼오오 얘기꽃을 피웠습니다.
목사님 사모님들의 고생하신 얘기를 듣노라면 울보인 나는 눈에 눈물이 마를 날이 없었습니다. 어린 아이들이 밥을 굶은 이야기, 사모님이 이웃의 밭을 메어주며 힘들었던 이야기, 목사님이 열악한 환경에서 폐결핵을 앓는다든지 과로로 쓰러지신 이야기들을 들으면서 말입니다. 그래도 포기하지 않고 복음을 위해, 한 영혼을 위해 제자훈련에 헌신하면서 지금껏 쉬지 않고 달려오다 보니 어느새 머리가 희끗희끗 희어지기도 했고 고생하던 아이들도 다 자라 독립하게 되었습니다.
그렇게 한영혼 한 영혼을 살피다 보니 어느덧 아름다운 공동체를 이루어 이제는 지역까지 잘 섬기는 모범적인 교회들로 성장했습니다. 좀 먼 거리를 이동할 때면 목사님들이 앞에 나와서 간증 겸 목회 이야기를 들려주셨습니다. 주님의 나라를 위해 우리 모두가 함께 동역한다는 생각이 들어서 더욱 감사했습니다.
500년 전 아니 그보다 훨씬 일찍부터 화형의 위험을 무릅쓰고 종교개혁에 앞장섰던 분들의 흔적들을 돌아보며, 우리 모두를 위해 십자가를 지시고 인류의 죄를 담당하셨던 예수님, 그 분을 본받아 진리를 위해 목숨을 아끼지 않고 오직 복음, 오직 말씀을 부르짖도록 하셨던, 그 분의 강권하심이 그 때나 지금이나 불의를 몰아내고 진리 가운데로 우리를 인도하고 계심에 감사합니다.
뿐만 아니라 마틴 루터 혼자가 아니라 언어에 탁월한 멜랑히톤, 루터를 열심히 도왔던 작센의 선제후 프레드리히 3세 등 여러 분들이 함께 힘을 모아 서로 도왔다는 것도 감동적이었습니다. 또한 세대를 이어가면서 진리를 위해 주님께서 사용하셨던 귀한 분들의 발자취를 살펴볼 수 있어서 감사했습니다.
500년 전 뿐만 아니라, 지금도 교회 개혁은 필요하고, 나의 삶 역시 말씀을 따라 매일 개혁되어야 하기 때문에 그 분의 강권하심이 여전히 우리 가운데 함께하시고 동역자들의 사역에 함께 하셔서 날마다 거룩한 교회로 새롭게 될 수 있기를 바랍니다.
To commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we traveled to Europe with fellow pastors from our discipleship training network. As we are getting older, joining younger colleagues on such an extensive journey was not something we embraced lightly. However, since we have shared fellowship for many years and were dear friends bound by a shared heart for ministry, we decided to come along. Indeed, seeing everyone greet each other with such warmth and tender care was truly beautiful.
To be honest, my husband had strained his back muscles a few weeks earlier and complained of pain running down his leg, and I, too, was struggling as my plantar fasciitis had not fully healed. Yet, it was difficult to cancel our reservations, so we packed our trekking poles and set off. We made up our minds just to act our age—openly looking like an elderly couple. Of course, determined not to become a burden to others, we walked briskly to keep pace, and everyone looked after us with exceptional thoughtfulness.
Unlike in Korea, tour buses in Europe strictly followed a regulation requiring a twenty-to-thirty-minute break after every two hours of driving. Although adjusting to this rule—meant to safeguard both the bus and the driver—took some getting used to, it was also something we came to admire. Because our group was so large, we traveled divided into two tour buses; whenever we met during the rest stops, we would jokingly greet one another as if a whole year had passed. While the buses rested, we too enjoyed cups of coffee and engaged in lively conversations in small groups.
Listening to the hardships endured by the pastors and their wives, tears continually welled up in my eyes, softhearted as I am. There were stories of their young children going hungry, wives weeding neighboring farm fields through sheer physical labor, and pastors suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis or collapsing from exhaustion under harsh conditions. Yet, without giving up, they remained dedicated to the gospel and to discipleship for the sake of each precious soul. As they ran this tireless race until now, their hair had grown speckled with gray, and the children who shared in those hardships had all grown up and become independent.
Through nurturing souls one by one in that manner, these churches have grown into exemplary communities that now serve their local regions gracefully. Whenever we traveled long distances, pastors would take turns at the front of the bus to share their testimonies and pastoral journeys. Feeling that we were all laboring together as co-workers for the Kingdom of our Lord filled our hearts with even deeper gratitude.
Tracing the footprints of those who championed the Reformation 500 years ago—and even long before that—braving the perils of the stake, I reflected on Jesus, who bore the cross and took upon Himself the sins of all humanity. Modeling their lives after Him, they did not spare their very lives for the sake of truth, proclaiming 'sola scriptura' and 'sola fide.' I am profoundly grateful that His sovereign grace, both then and now, drives out injustice and guides us into the fullness of truth.
Moreover, it was deeply moving to see that Martin Luther was never alone; Philip Melanchthon, with his extraordinary gift for languages, Frederick III, the Elector of Saxony who steadfastly shielded Luther, and many others joined hands to support one another. It was also a grace to trace the footsteps of these precious servants whom the Lord used across generations for the cause of truth.
Not only 500 years ago, but even today, church reformation remains essential, and our own lives must be reformed daily according to the Word of God. I earnestly pray that His compelling grace will continually abide among us and accompany the ministries of our fellow workers, so that day by day, the church may be continually renewed in holiness.
Ter herdenking van die 500ste herdenking van die Reformasie het ons saam met predikante van die dissipelskap-opleidingsnetwerk na Europa gereis. Aangesien ons al 'n bietjie ouer word, was dit nie 'n besluit wat ons sonder huiwering geneem het om saam met jonger kollegas op reis te gaan nie. Nietemin ken ons mekaar al lank en is ons goeie vriende met 'n gedeelde passie vir die bediening, en daarom het ons besluit om saam te gaan. En waarlik, dit was pragtig om te aanskou hoe almal mekaar met soveel opregte blydskap ontmoet en met deernis versorg het.
Eintlik het my man 'n paar weke tevore sy rugspiere effens beseer en gekla oor pyn in sy been, terwyl ek self gesukkel het omdat my hielspoor nog nie heeltemal genees was nie. Dit was egter moeilik om die bespreking te kanselleer, en daarom het ons ons stapstokke ingepak en vertrek. Ons het sommer besluit om sonder skaamte soos 'n bejaarde egpaar te lyk. Natuurlik het ons hard probeer om vinnig by te bly sodat ons niemand tot las sou wees nie, maar almal het ons met die grootste sorg bygestaan.
Anders as by ons, het Europese toerbusse 'n streng reël dat hulle na elke twee uur se ry vir twintig tot dertig minute moet rus. Hoewel dit 'n bietjie aanpassing geverg het om gewoond te raak aan hierdie reël—wat ingestel is ter wille van die bus en die bestuurder—het ons dit ook bewonder. Omdat ons 'n groot groep was, het ons in twee groot busse gereis; wanneer ons mekaar dan tydens die pouses raakgeloop het, het ons skertsend mekaar gegroet asof 'n hele jaar verbygegaan het. Terwyl die busse gerus het, het ons ook heerlik koffie gedrink en in groepies hartlik gekuier.
Terwyl ek geluister het na die verhale van swaarkry wat die predikante en hul eggenotes deurgemaak het, kon ek, saggeaard en vinnig tot trane, my oë skaars droog hou. Daar was stories van klein kindertjies wat honger moes ly, predikantsvroue wat met swaar hande op bure se landerye moes onkruid skoffel, en predikante wat onder haglike omstandighede aan tuberkulose gely het of weens uitputting ineengestort het. Tog het hulle nie moed opgegee nie; hulle het hulself ter wille van die evangelie en elke kosbare siel aan dissipelskap gewy en onverpoos voortgebeur. Vandag is hul hare al grys gespikkel, en die kinders wat saam swaargekry het, is almal groot en staan op hul eie bene.
Deur so omsien na elke individuele siel, het hierdie gemeentes ontwikkel tot pragtige gemeenskappe wat vandag as voorbeeldige kerke hul plaaslike omgewing met liefde dien. Wanneer ons langer afstande afgelê het, het die leraars beurte gemaak om voor in die bus hul getuienisse en bedieningservarings te deel. Die besef dat ons almal medearbeiders in diens van die Here se koninkryk is, het my hart met nog groter dankbaarheid gevul.
Terwyl ons teruggedink het aan die voetspore van hulle wat 500 jaar gelede—en selfs lank tevore—die gevaar van die brandstapel trotseer het om die Reformasie te lei, het my gedagtes gegaan na Jesus, wat die kruis vir ons almal gedra en die sonde van die mensdom op Hom geneem het. In navolging van Hom het hulle hul lewens nie ontsien ter wille van die waarheid nie en met oortuiging uitgeroep: alleen die evangelie, alleen die Woord. Ek is innig dankbaar dat Sy dringende genade destyds soos vandag die ongeregtigheid verdryf en ons in die waarheid inlei.
Daarbenewens was dit diep roerend om te besef dat Martin Luther nie alleen gestaan het nie; manne soos Melanchthon met sy buitengewone taalbegawing, keurvors Frederik III van Sakse wat Luther getrou beskerm het, en talle ander het hande gevat en mekaar ondersteun. Dit was 'n besondere voorreg om die spore na te speur van hierdie kosbare mense wat die Here deur opeenvolgende geslagte heen vir Sy waarheid gebruik het.
Nie net 500 jaar gelede nie, maar ook vandag bly kerkhervorming noodsaaklik, en my eie lewe moet eweneens daagliks volgens die Woord hervorm word. Mag Sy kragtige leiding steeds in ons midde bly en die bediening van ons medearbeiders vergesel, sodat die kerk dag vir dag as 'n heilige gemeenskap vernuwe mag word.