“If you want to gather more than 5 people, go to church”?… ‘Anger’ at the prolonged pain

“If more than 5 people want to gather in private, they can go to church.”

This is a reaction from a netizen over the recent government prolonged ban on private gatherings with more than 5 people.

It was pointed out that the church does not block even if more than 5 people gather.

Although the number of cases of COVID-19 infection through church facilities is increasing, the government is criticizing it for not taking strong measures.

Recently, group infections have occurred in the BTJ World Center operated by the mission organization Intercorp, and international schools operated by IM Mission.

A number of confirmed cases have also occurred in Gwangju Antioch Church.

Eight students were confirmed in a high school with this church as an infection link, and serial infections also continued.

■”Why does the church not restrict” citizens’ anger

Given this situation, citizens’ anger toward the church is also growing.

As the number of confirmed cases increased due to the church group infection, the current distance was also extended.

There are also loud voices protesting that the government does not put strong restrictions on churches, such as prohibiting face-to-face worship.

Various articles related to this are posted in the online space.

“The church spreads and the citizens avoid it”, “Why can’t the church be blocked even if more than 5 people gather”, “Can’t the church be closed for two weeks?”

One netizen, who is self-employed, said, “Even if we do not operate after 9 pm and thoroughly quarantine, what is the use of a group infection from the church?”

There was also an opinion that criticism should not be focused on the entire church, saying that it is unfair to the churches that adhere to the quarantine rules well due to some organizations.

The Blue House national petition was also posted, asking,’All churches should ban face-to-face worship.

Petitioner said, “By the end of the people’s endurance and sacrifice, we are facing a large number of confirmed cases in the church by the time we bear the fruit of’reduction of confirmed cases’.”

Currently, the church is able to worship face-to-face with a limited number of people.

■”No more confirmed cases”

Even within Protestantism, a magnetic voice comes out.

There is an atmosphere of refraining from saying that there should be no more confirmed cases in the church.

Pastor Kang-Seok So, president of the Korean Federation of Churches, said on Facebook, “When the church tried to exist only as our own inner circle and our own cartel, there were many cases of confirmed cases.” I said.

He added, “Rather than having an irrational number in order to get only what is in front of you, we have to think a little bit of restraint and endurance.” It.

Representative associations of Protestant churches such as YMCA and YWCA also bowed their heads.

They said, “I feel a deep sense of responsibility in front of the public sentiment in the coronavirus situation that’I’m sick of just being a church’.”

They put the importance of face-to-face worship and asked the denomination not to resist quarantine.