There was a world shaman festival held by a gathering of about 1,000 shamans from around the world in Buyeo, Chung-nam, South Korea. Those shamans made a huge stage in Gudeurae Square around Baengmagang and prayed for their gods to come down. Then, they had a great service for the repose of souls of 3,000 court ladies. Meanwhile, the Christian council of Buyeo thought Buyeo might be a haunt of evil spirits if they overlooked that event. So they asked me to lead a Christian spiritual conference there. During the event, I preached while around 10,000 people gathered on the opposite side. About 100 pastors and their wives, and 300 of our church members watched the event by praying so that their gods cannot respond.
The Shamans greatly performed an exorcism and called out their gods while hitting drums. However, even though they shouted anxiously until they sweat a lot and tears ran down, there was no response from their gods at all. No wonder because we had a Christian spiritual conference on the opposite site and prayed with all our heart to God that their gods didn’t answer.
2,900 years ago, Elijah, the Lord’s prophet had a confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19~24). The prophet Elijah said God who answers with fire is true God. The eighty hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and Asherah called on name of their gods form morning till evening but there was no response from their gods by shouting. They shouted loudly and slashed themselves with swords and spears until their blood flowed. But their gods didn’t answer.
After that, the prophet Elijah dug a trench around the altar and poured water on the offering and on the wood and filled the trench with water and prayed. He did it on purpose so it would not catch fire. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil and also licked up the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18:38) Who is the true God, the Lord who Elijah serves or the gods who prophets of Baal and Aherah serve? When we really hope God to work for us, God does His work without limitation for our hopes.
Pastor Seok-Jeon Yoon
Extracted from Yonsei Newspaper #639
