Page 177 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

CONCLUSION

It is impossible do deny that the current methodology of Korean preaching contributed to

the phenomenal growth of the Korean church up until the last decade. Nevertheless, Korean

culture has changed. Since 1993, the contemporary Korean church has been experiencing serious

stagnation and a decrease of its membership. Sadly, this was not a temporary phenomenon, but is

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one that currently persists. It is not only a crisis of Korean Christianity, but also a crisis of the
Korean preaching also.

Church historian Edwin Dargan, who studied preaching throughout church history

between A. D. 70- A. D. 1900, correctly explains the relationship between preaching and church,

saying: “Decline of spiritual life and activity in the churches is commonly accompanied by a

lifeless, formal, unfruitful preaching, and this partly as cause, partly as effect. On the other hand,

the great revivals of Christian history can most usually be traced to the work of the pulpit, and in

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their progress they have developed and rendered possible a high order of preaching. It is
essential to reconsider the methodology of Korean preaching in order to revive the already ailing

1 Gallup Korea, Hanguk Kaisinkyohoe-eui Kyohoe Hwaldong Mit Sinang Euisik Bokoseo
(Research report on the church activities and religious consciousness of Korea Protestants),
Seoul, 1998. According to a Gallup survey that was done in 1998, a considerable withdrawal of
believers from the Protestant church is still happening. It reports that of the 46.1 percent who
deserted the Protestant church, 9 percent turned to Buddhism and 35.1 percent ceased professing
any religion. It also publishes a shocking result that Protestantism was the least attractive
religious option to the non-Christian younger generation.

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Dargan Vol.1, p.13.