당신은 진정으로 동물들이 천국에 간다고 의미하는 것입니까?

당신은 진정으로 동물들이 천국에 간다고 의미하는 것입니까?

 

Dr. 김명도   
튤립신학위원회   
www.tulipministries.com

 

 몇 년전에, 어떤 저명한 신학자가 크리스천들이 이해하기 어려운 발언을 하여서, 모든 기독교계를 놀라움으로 휘저어 놓은 일이 었었다. 음, R.C. 스프로울의 "이제는 그것이 좋은 질문!"이라고 이름 붙여진 600페이지 분량의 연구결과물이 가장 좋은 사례인 것 같다. 이 책은 1996년 Tyndale House Publishers에 의해 출간되었으며, 많은 판매고를 올렸다.

 

 우리들이 좀 더 멀리가기 전에, 우리들은 R.C.가 그의 마음에 어떤 생각을 하고 있는지 살펴보기로 하자. 그 일을 할 수 있는 가장 좋은 방법은 그의 저작물을 살펴보고, 조금의 편집도 거치지 않고 그대로 옮겨오는 것이다. 이것이 그가 한 말이다.

 

 "천국에 대해 묘사될 때는 언제든지, 그것이 상당히 상상적인 언어로 기술된다 하여도, 동물들이 현존하는 것처럼 보이는 장소이다. 이런 동물들이 새 하늘과 새 땅에서 새롭게 창조되었던지 아니던지, 혹은 그들이, "이미 멸망한 우리 애완동물들의 구속받은 영혼들"인지 우리들은 확실하게 알 수가 없다. 이 모든 것들은 순전히 추측이지만, 나는 그리스도께서 인류를 위해 성취하신 구속의 유익에 그들도 참여한 바가 되어, 우리들의 사랑했던 애완동물들을 언젠가 다시 볼 수 있을 것으로 생각하고 싶다." (p.291).(강조는 필자가 한 것이다.) - 근데 강조는 표시가 안 되어 있네요. 

 

 그의 다른 탁월한 사역중 이 부분이 의미있는 신학적인 문제를 만들어내었다. 우리들은 우리 시대의 유익한 작가이자 위대한 신학자를 경멸할 어떤 의도도 가지고 있지 않다. 우리들이 하기를 원하는 것은 이 진술이 성경적인 철저한 검사를 버텨낼 수 있는 지를 보려는 것이다. 

 

 우리들은 하나님께서 당신의 형상을 따라, 아담을 인류의 대표이자 머리로 지으셨다는 것을 너무도 잘 알고 있다. (창 2:7) 하나님의 형상이라는 것은 에베소서 4장 24절과 골로새서 3장 10절에서 읽을 수 있는 것과 같이, 그가 지식과, 의와 거룩함으로 지음받았다는 의미이다. 그러나, 우리들은 성경 어디에서도 동물들이 하나님의 형상을 따라 지음 받았다는 말이나, 동물들의 영혼이 구속 받았다는 말을 읽지 못한다. 사람, 그가 하나님의 형상을 전달하는 존재이기 때문에, 살아있을 때 한 모든 행동에 대해 하나님 앞에서 책임이 있는 반면에, 동물들은 하나님의 형상을 전달하는 존재가 아니기 때문에, 그 사실 때문에, 하나님께 책임이 없다. 이것은 논쟁의 여지가 없는 문제이다. 

 

 아담은 하나님의 지식을 따라 지음 받았다. 따라서 그는 선지자로서 역할을 했다. 그는 하나님의 말씀을 들었다. 그는 거룩하신 하나님의 형상을 나타내었다. 그러므로 그는 그 스스로가 하나님께 성직자로서 봉사하는 셈이었다. 그는 의로우신 하나님의 형상으로 지음 받았다. 그러므로 그는 왕으로서 책임을 수행하며, 그의 의무는 하나님께 지음 받은대로, 또, 명령을 받은 대로 자연을 정복하는 것이었다. 물론, 우리는 아담이 타락했으며, 그의 죄는 그의 후손에게 전가된 것을 안다. 그러나 한 가지 질문이 생긴다. 하나님께서 어느 때든지 어떤 동물에게 이 권한을 수여하신 일이 있었는가? 대답은 "절대로 아니다"이다. 동물이 사람을 섬기기 위해 지음을 받았기 때문에, 그 어떤 동물도 이런 기능들을 수여받은 일이 없다. 그렇다면 구속은 죄에 빠진 인류 혼자를 위한 것이지, 동물을 위한 것이 아니란 것이 명백한 것이 아닌가? 예수 그리스도, 우리들의 구세주께서는, 세상의 기초가 놓이기 전에 그분 자신의 기쁘신 대로 택하신 사람들을 구속하시기 위해, 십자가에서 대속의 죽음을 당하셨던 것이다. 그분께서 "동물들"을 구속하기시 위해 고난 받으시고 죽으셨다고 생각하지 마라.

 

 우리들은 우리 시대의 많은 다른 보수적인 신학자들의 몇몇 괴상한 가르침들에 대해 관심을 기울이기 시작하는 중이다. 우리들은 최근에, "사람이 하나님의 형상으로 지음받았고, 참으로 고귀한 존재이고 영예와 존경을 받을 만하기 때문에, 교회는 죄에 대해 이야기하기를 중단해야만 한다"는 이야기를 듣게 되지 않는가? 게다가, 우리들은 종종 목사들이 만약 교회가 죄와 회개에 대해 이야기하기를 계속 한다면, 성도 수는 줄어들 것이라고 말하는 것을 듣는다. 아니면, 우리들은 어떤 이들이 모든 길은 결국 로마로 통하기 때문에, 어떤 종교를 가지고 있는 지는 중요하지 않다고, 다른 말로 하면, 모든 종교는 우리들을 완전히 똑같은 목적지로 이끈다는 이야기를 듣게 되지 않는가? 지옥이 없다고 주장하는 가장 가증스러운 이단사설은 어떤가? 우리들은 완전히 영적인 혼돈 속에서 살고 있다. 

 

 기독교계에서 무슨 일이 일어나고 있는 것인가? 누가 우리의 적군인가? 그들의 취향에 따라 예수 그리스도의 복음을 비틀고 왜곡하는 이들은 우리들의 적군이다. 복음은 바꿀 수 없다. 이것은 초대교회에서 사실이었으며, 오늘 날에도 여전히 사실이며, 장차 오는 날에도 사실로 남아있을 것이다. 그가 평판이 좋은 사람이라고 해도, 사람은 성경의 어떤 부분도 왜곡할 수 없다. 왜냐하면 그렇게 하는 것은 범죄이기 때문이다. 우리가 잘 아는 디모데후서 3장 16절에서 읽을 수 있는 것과 같이, 하나님께서 기록된 말씀에 숨을 불어 넣으셨다. 예수님께서 믿지 않는 유대인들에게 말씀하신 것처럼, 성경은 파기될 수 없다.

 

 사랑하는 친구들이며, 우리들이 깨어있고 경성하지 않는다면, 우리들은 잘못된 가르침의 덫에 걸려 넘어질 가능성이 매우 높다. 네가 가진 성경에 찰싹 달라붙어 있으라. 성실하게 그것을 읽고, 신중하게 공부하며, 기억하고, 무엇보다도 그 가르침을 실천하라. 오늘날 우리들의 문제는 몇몇 사람들만이 성경에 관심이 있다는 것이다. 그들이 가장 관심있는 것은 연예오락이다. 다른 말로 하면, 그들은 그들의 귀를 즐겁게 해 줄 무엇에 관심이 있는 것이다. 굉장히 소수만이 성경의 교리들에 대해 주의를 기울이며, 얼마 안 되는 이들만이 쉽게 종교적 그룹에 녹아드는 것에 대해 궁금해한다.(이 부분은 좀 어렵네요. 원문을 참고해주세요.) 이것은 심각한 문제이며, 누구도 그냥 웃어 넘겨서는 안 된다. 우리들이 주위를 둘러보기만 하면, 우리들의 소중한 형제들이 진리로부터 이탈해 가는 것을 볼 수 있다. 성경 그 자체를 제외하고는 다른 진리란 없다. "진리"라는 단어는 신약에서 오직 단수형으로 발견되며 복수형은 전혀 발견되지 않는다. 단어의 가장 정확한 의미를 보면, 오직 하나의, "ALETHEIA=진리에 해당하는 그리스 단어"가 있을 뿐이다. 그리고 그 "ALETHEIA"는 예수 그리스도 그분 자신이다.

 

 현재의 이 불운한 환경에서 깨어나기 위해서, 우리들은 당신이 이 작품들을 읽기를 강력하게 권하는 바이다.

 

1. 웨스트민스터 신앙고백 (33장) 
도르트 신조와 함께, 웨스트민스터 신앙고백은 표준적인 개혁신학의 신앙체계이다. 당신이 웨스트민스터 대소요리 문답을 읽는데 시간을 사용한다면, 참 잘하는 것이다. 그렇게 함으로, 당신은 모든 위험으로부터 보호를 받게 될 것이다.

 

2. 소요리 문답(107 질문들) 
이 요리문답서는 본래 웨스트민스터 위원회에서 교육받지 못한 성인과 10살 이전의 어린이들을 위해 성경의 필수적인 교리들에 대해 만든 것이다. 그러므로 당신이 기독교가 말하는 것이 무엇인지를 알기에 관심이 있다면, 그 일을 시작하기 아주 좋은 요리문답서이다.

 

3. 하이델베르크 요리문답(1563)은 개혁신학에 대해 관심이 있는 이들 누구에게라도 훌륭한 작품이다. 오래된 만큼, 이 문답서는 널리 사용되고 있으며, 많은 개혁교회에서 널리 연구되고 있다. 129개의 질문으로 구성되어 있으며, 교회 성도들이 2개나 3개의 질문을 매주일에 배울 수 있게 구성되어 있다. 목사들은 이 요리문답서를 가지고 성도들을 성경 진리의 진수로 좀 더 쉽게 이끌 수 있을 것이다.

 

4. 고든 클락 : 장로교인들은 무엇을 믿는가?(P&R)은 앞서 언급한 웨스트민스터 신앙고백에 대한 강해내용을 담고 있다. 주님과 함께 있기 위해 떠나간 클락 박사는 "Trinity Foundation"으로 알려진 그만의 위원회를 시작하기 전에 몇 년간 웨스트민스터 신학교에서 가르쳤었다.

 

5. B.B. 워필드. 구원의 계획 (P&R)

워필드 박사는 구 프린스턴 신학교에서 찰스 핫지 박사와 아키발드 알렉산더와 함께 했었던 저명한 성경학자였다. 그의 작품들은 완전히 개혁주의적이고, 어떤 값을 주고서라도 구입할 만한 가치가 있다. 그의 대부분의 작품들은 시간이 많이 지나서, 고서 취급서점에서 볼 수 있을 지 모른다. 만약 그런 기회가 온다면, 수단을 가리지 말고 그것을 사라. 가격은 묻지도 따지지도 말고 그냥 무조건 사라. 이 작은 책자는 당신의 호주머니에 쉽게 들어갈 정도이지만, 그 책은 구원의 기독교 교리에 대한 진주 같이 귀한 내용을 담고 있다. 많은 책으로 구성된 워필드 전집을 살 수 있다면 훨씬 더 좋을 것이다. 이 전집 세트는 대략 200달러 정도의 돈을 들여야할 것이지만, 당신은 아마 그 책들을 서재에 들여놓은 일에 대해 후회하지 않게 될 것이다.

 

6. 루이스 벌코프. 기독교리 편람

젊은(미성숙한) 기독교인들에게 필수적이다. 기독교인이 된지 얼마나 되었는가? 그리고 필수적인 기독교리에 대해 정말로 얼마나 알고 있는가? 만약, 자신이 없다면, 이 책은 당신을 위한 책이다. 어서 사서 당신이 믿는 바를 알게 될 때까지, 밤이 깊도록 읽고 또 읽으라. (이 책은 종이표지 만들어져, 가격이 합리적이다.) 청년층 리더들은 그들의 성경 공부 시간에 아마 이 책을 가장 적합한 교재로 사용하기를 원할지 모른다. 유일한 교재까지는 아닐지 몰라도 말이다.

 

7. E.J. Young. They Word is Truth. (찾아보니, Thy Word네요. 즉, "당신의 말씀은 진리입니다."라는 뜻입니다.)

아마 절판 되었을 지도 모른다. 만약 구할 수 있다면, 무슨 수를 써서라도 사서 끝까지 다 읽으라. 이 책은 성경의 권위에 대한 책이다. 이 책은 넓은 영역에 걸쳐 무오성과 불오성에 대한 주제를 다룬다. 나는 성경의 무오성에 대해 다른 저서 중에 이보다 더 좋은 책을 본 적이 없다. 이 책은 너무도 귀중한 진리의 보물들을 마치 가방이 터질 듯이 가득 담고 있다.

 

8. Modern Reformation (격월로 나오는 학술지이다.)

당신의 교육함양과 전 세계 기독교계에서 벌어지고 있는 일들에 대해 뒤떨어지지 않게 하기 위해서, 우리들은 당신이 이 격월로 발간되는 개혁주의 잡지를 구독하기를 권하는 바이다. 이 잡지는 많은 개혁교계의 저명한 신학자들에 의해 작성된 정보와 감화를 주는 기사들로 가득하다. 일년 정기구독료는 22달러로 평신도와 학생은 약간의 할인이 있다. 만약 당신이 이 유일한 잡지에 대해 관심이 있다면, 내게 구독정보를 담은 메일을 보내달라. rvkim@yahoo.com으로 보내면 된다. 만약, 실제 우편으로 보내고 싶으면, 아래 주소로 보내면 된다. (우리는 어렵겠군요...)

 

TTM  (Tulip Teaching Ministries)

P.O.Box 162 
Gardena, CA 90248-0162

우리의 왕 하나님께서 찬송받으시며, 홀로 영광받으실 지어다.

Dr. M. Kim
Executive Director
Tulip Teaching Ministries 
www.tulipministries.com 

 

==============================================================================================

원문입니다.

 

Do You Really Mean Animals Go to Heaven? (English)

                                                                                                            Dr.Myung Doh Kim
                                                                                                  Tulip Theological Institute
                                                                                                   www.tulipministries.com

Years ago some prominent theologian shook the whole of the Christendom by surprise as he uttered something hard for Christians to understand.  Well, R.C. Sproul's 600-page-long work titled Now That's a Good Question! is the case in point.   The book was published in 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers and was sold a handsome number of copies.

Before we go on any further, let us listen to R.C to see what is on his mind.  The best way to do so is to go to his own work, and we quote him verbatim with no editing. Here is what he said:

"Whenever heaven is described, though it may be in highly imaginative language, it is a place where animals seem to be present. Whether these are animals newly created for the new heavens and the new earth, or they are the "redeemed souls of our pets that have perished" we can't know for sure. All of this is sheer speculation, but I would like to think that we will see our beloved pets again someday as they participate in the benefits of the redemption that Christ has achieved for the human race." (p 291). (emphasis mine)

Now, this portion of his otherwise excellent work creates a significant theological problem. We do not have any intention to do anything derogatory to the great theologian and a prolific writer of our time. What we do want to do is to put this statement of his under biblical scrutiny to see if it can stand.

We know this much that God created Adam, the representative and federal head of human race, was made in the image of God (Gen. 2;7), which is to say that he was created in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness as we read in Eph. 4:24 and Col. 3:10.  However, we do not read anywhere in the Scripture that animals have been created in the image of God nor do we read anywhere that animals' souls may be redeemed.   Man, because he is God's image bearer, is accountable before God for what he has done on this side of the grave, while animals because they are not God's image bearers, are, ipso facto, not accountable to God. This is an indisputable argument.

Adam was  created in the knowledge of God. Therefore he functioned as a prophet. He listened  to God. He bore God's image in holiness. Therefore, he served as a priest to subject himself to God. He was made in God's image in righteousness. Therefore, he carried out his responsibility as a king,  whose duty was to conquer the nature as created and ordained by God himself.  We know, of course, that Adam fell and his sin has been imputed to his posterity. But one question is in order. Did God at any time ordain any animal with this privilege?  The answer is  a big "No."  No animal whatsoever was granted these functions because animals are created to serve men.  Is it not clear, then, redemption is for sinful humanity alone, not for animals?  Jesus Christ our Saviour died his vicarious death on the cross
to redeem the human beings God elected from before the foundation of the world  according to His own good pleasure.  Away with the idea that He suffered and died
to redeem "animals."

We are beginning to be concerned about some of the weird teachings of many otherwise conservative theologians in our day.  Have we not heard recently that "churches must stop talking about sin, because man is created in the image of God and is indeed a decent being and deserves some honor and respect?  Furthermore, we often hear pastors say that if churches keep talking about sin and repentance, then the membership is likely to dwindle.  Or have we not heard some say that it does not matter what religion you have since all roads lead eventually to Rome, in other words, all religions lead us to the very same destination?   What about the most heinous heretical statement to assert that there is no hell?  We live in a total
spiritual chaos.  

What in the world is going on in Christendom?   Who is our adversary?  Those who twist and pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ to their liking are our adversaries.  The Gospel is immutable. It was true for the Early Church, and still is true today and it will remain true for the days to come.  No human being, however reputable he may be, is allowed to distort any portion of the Bible simply because to do so is a sin. God Himself breathed it into writing as we read in the well-known passage of II Tim.3:16.  Scripture CANNOT BE BROKEN, as  Jesus said to unbelieving Jews in His day.

Dear friends, unless we are awake and stay alert, we are very much prone to fall into a snare of a false teaching.  Stick around with your Bible. Read it diligently, study it carefully, commit it to your memory, and above all, live up to its teaching.  Our problem today is that few people are interested in the Bible.  What they are most interested in is entertainment, in other words, they are interested  in something that would tickle their ears.  Very few take heed to biblical doctrines and little wonder that they are easily carried away into a cultic group.  This is a serious matter and one must not laugh it away, for we do see around us so many of our dear ones falling away from the  truth.  Their is no other truth than the Bible itself.  The word "truth," in the New Testament occurs in a singular form only never in a plural form.  There is only one "ALETHEIA=Greek word for truth" in the truest sense of the word. And the "ALETHEIA" is Jesus Christ Himself.

In the wake of current unfortunate circumstances, we strongly suggest that you read the following works:
    
   1.Westminster Confession of Faith (33 chapters)
     Along with Canons of Dort, Westminster Confession of Faith(WCF) is standard
belief system of Reformed Theology.  You will do well if you could have some time to read the Larger and Shorter Catechisms of WCF.  Then, you will be safe and
secure from all alarms.  

   2. Shorter Catechism (107 questions):  This Catechism was originally prepared by the Westminster divines in an attempt to educate the ignorant adults pre-teens in the essential doctrines of the Bible.  Therefore, this is a very good place to start with if you are interested to know what Christian religion is about.

   3. Heidelberg Catechism (1563) is an excellent work for any one who is interested in Reformed theology.  Old as it is, it is still in a wide circulation and widely studies in many churches of Reformed persuasion.  Has 129 questions and is so arranged that church members can learn two or three questions each Lord's Day.  Pastors will be quite comfortable with this catechism as they lead their flock into hard core of the biblical truth.

   4. Gordon Clark: What Do the Presbyterians Believe? (P&R) is an exposition of the above-mentioned Westminster Confession of Faith.  Dr. Clark, who went to be with the Lord, used to teach in Westminster Theological Seminary for some years before he started his own ministry known as "Trinity Foundation," in Unicoi, Tenn.  Many good sould theological books may be purchased from the Foundation.

   5. B.B. Warfield. Plan of Salvation (P&R)
      Dr. Warfield was an eminent biblical scholar in old Princeton Theological Seminary along with Dr. Charles Hodge, and Dr. Archibald Alexander.  His works are thoroughly Reformed and worth purchasing at any price.  Most of his writings are obsolete, but you may find some  in antequarian bookstores.  Should you find any, grab it by all means. Forget the cost. Just grab it.  This is a small book which would easily fit in your pocket, but it has pearls of information on Christian doctrine of salvation.  Still better, make a generous purchase of Warfield's Complete Works in a multi-volume set. The set would cost you around 200 bucks but you will not be sorry to put them on your book shelf.

   6. Louis Berkhof. Manual of Christian Doctrine
      A sine qua non of young Christians.  How long have you been a Christian?  And how much do you really know about essential Christian doctrines?  If you are not sure, why, this is for you. Grab it (it is a paperback and reasonably priced) and read it over and over again far into the night until you know what you believe.   Youth leaders might want to use the book as one of the most suitable textbooks, if not THE textbook, for their Bible Study class.

   7. E.J.Young.  They Word is Truth
      May well be out of print.  If you can find a copy, by all means buy it and read it through. It is about the authority of the Scripture. It deals with a broad scope of topic with regard to the inerrancy and infallibility.  I have not seen a better work in the area of biblical inerrancy than this paperback jampacked with gems of invaluable truths.

   8. Modern Reformation ( a bimonthly periodical)
      For your own edification and just to keep you abreast with what is taking place in the whole of Christendom, we recommend that you subscribe to this bi-monthly Reformed magazine, full of informative and inspirational articles by many notable theologians of Reformed persuasion. Annual subscription rate is $22 for the public and students get some discount. Should you be interested in this magazine unique in its kind, drop me a line for subscription info.  Correspondence may be directed to:  rvkim@yahoo.com.  If you would rather use surface mail, our mailing address is as following:
                  TTM  (Tulip Teaching Ministries)
                  P.O.Box 162
                 Gardena, CA 90248-0162

May our sovereign God be praised and He alone be glorified.

Dr. M. Kim
Executive Director
Tulip Teaching Ministries
www.tulipministries.com 

[출처] 당신은 진정으로 동물들이 천국에 간다고 의미하는 것입니까? -김명도 박사님 (SDG 개혁신앙연구회) |작성자 김재호