North Korean Christians sit out dictator's birthday celebrations
by Allie Martin
February 21, 2007
(OneNewsNow.com) - - Last week, North Korea held a lavish celebration for dictator Kim Jong-il, whose birthday is seen as one of the top three national holidays in that communist nation; however, many North Korean Christians opted not to celebrate. A spokesman for an international ministry to the persecuted church says the North Korean believers' decision could prove dangerous.Kim Jong-il is seen as a deity in North Korea, where thousands of people danced in the streets as part of the annual celebration of his birth. Lavish parades and banquets are held to honor the dictator; however, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, a writer-at-large for Open Doors International, says tens of thousands of Christians did not take part in the festivities.
"The essence of North Korea is that you have to worship Kim Jong-il; he's not just a leader, he's a god," Boyd-MacMillan explains. He says the North Korean people are compelled to say grace to the dictator and bow to his statue; and, according to what they are taught, "he's supposed to be responsible for the peace of the world."
The ministry spokesman says the North Koreans are "taught this huge mythology" about Kim and instructed to revere him as a god. "And that's the age-old problem," the Christian writer asserts -- that "there's no room for any other gods, and everybody is coerced into worshipping him."
Christians who do not participate in these celebrations are taking a big risk, Boyd-MacMillan points out. And another big problem for North Korean believers is figuring out how to hide their faith from those who love them most, he says, "because you could get betrayed if people find out about you."
Similarly, the Open Doors International representative says Christians also must answer the question of how to practice their faith and have fellowship with other believers without being betrayed. "So these are the dilemmas that are an everyday occurrence," he says.
It is estimated that North Korean prisons hold some 50,000 to 70,000 Christians Christians who are in behind bars today because of their faith in Christ. Open Doors is sponsoring a three-year prayer campaign for the persecuted Church in North Korea.
