Posted by Joseph Pak
Last Saturday, three kids were found dead in a rural church in south western Korea. They were the children of the church’s pastor.
The pastor and his wife told police that the children – aged nine, seven and three – had been ill. They believed this was a sign they were invaded by evil spirits after eating too much at the Lunar New Year.
They then cut the children’s hair to chase the spirits out and starved them from January 24 until February 2, only allowing them to drink water. It’s reported that they beat the children numerous times “to purge the demons.”
The pastor, named only by his surname Park, and his wife, Cho, told police they tied the children’s arms and legs with stockings. All three died on February 2, the first around 2am, the second at 5am and the third at 7am.
Then the parents started to pray by their bodies “to revive their life.” That’s what they were doing when they were discovered by the children’s uncle.
Absolutely tragic. But it’s even more tragic that this atrocity was based, apparently, on the pastor’s literal interpretation of the Bible.
To justify their actions, he quoted on two Biblical passages:
“Withhold not chastisement from a boy; if you beat him with the rod, he will not die. Beat him with the rod, and you will save him from the nether world.” (Prv. 23:13-14)
“Five times at the hands of the Jews I received 40 lashes minus one.” (2Cor 11:24)
That, the pastor said, was why they issued rounds of 39 lashes to their children.
A fourth child, an eight-month-old girl, survived the ordeal and has been taken into care. A small mercy.
What do you think of this? Please share your opinion.
