Koreans are known for their early morning prayer meetings at the crack of dawn before going to work. It is not a bad habit... IF it was done with the right heart, but many times people just attend because they are in a way "forced" to attend. I remember once hearing that I (being a part-time youth pastor) should attend the early morning prayer because if I didn't then the people at church would feel as if they didn't have to attend neither. My first thought was "what in the world?! So people are going because other are going instead of to pray to God?!" and my reaction was "then they shouldn't go!" but of course I held my peace.
How did this start? In 1907 there was this great Revival in Korea (unified Korea at the time) aptly named Pyonyang Revival (pyongyang was the capital of Korea, and current capital of North Korea). During that time one pastor, felt by God that he should wake up early in the morning and pray, decided to go early in the church to pray by HIMSELF. Other people in the church started to hear that the pastor was praying before the crack of dawn and started to join in prayer and soon everybody joined in fervent prayer.
Now this act has become a tradition where most Korean churches have a morning prayer, and leaders/members of the church are in a way "forced" to come to church. In 1907 it worked because it was an agrarian culture. People who went to the same church usually lived in the vicinity and they would be working by the time the sun was up until the sun was down (not having electricity and all). However, in modern 2008... wait... 2009 (how time flies) people drive 5-30 minutes to go to church THEN drive again who knows how many miles to go to work.
I'm sorry, I'd rather spend that time praying at HOME and saving some time, and stress. Yes, gathering together to pray is good and should not be ignored, but to tell you the truth it's not for me. There are morning people and there are night people. If you agree, then agree BUT do not use it as an excuse to not pray!!! If you can't pray by yourself, then I say force yourself to go to a prayer meeting so you at least get some training in that matter. Therein lies the problem, it has become a tradition and not something you do because you sense a strong urge from the Spirit for you to do.
Anyhow... enough venting... I hope I haven't offended anyone... well.. I probably have. haha.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Early Morning Prayer (The History)
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2 comments:
I've heard about this revival before but didn't know it started the early morning prayer, I always thought that the Confucianist and Buddhism culture shifted over into the Christian churches. I mean, if you look at the content of the prayers, it hasn't changed much within the Korean American church. (it's been awhile since I've attended morning service, maybe it has changed). But just as long as we are not 'begging' about the well being of our families, our business, etc just as the monks 'begged' in their prayers, I think early morning prayers are awesome.
Yeah, there is a lot of Buddhist "language" mixed in the Korean Christian culture. "I'll beg for forgiveness" is one of them, it's not begging but just repenting.
Yeah, any type of prayer, is an awesome thing, if done in spirit and truth, and not as hypocrites. =)
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