Cross Currents February 2012

Mining Asia Minor
Earthquakes are fearsome and tragic, but they may also produce unexpected benefits. The recent 7.2 earthquake in Turkey raised concern over what the earthquake may have done to archaeological ruins in the region once known as Asia Minor. The city of Van, at the epicenter of the quake, has an important excavation that did not suffer quake damage, according to early reports.
A surge of archaeological activity in Turkey has developed recently. The director of the Asia Minor Research Center states that more than 200 excavations existed last year, whereas in 1990 the number was only 38. In the ruins of Antioch of Pisidia, archaeologists found a 4th century church. Pisidia is the city where St. Paul delivered his longest sermon recorded in the New Testament. After speaking about Jesus’ death and resurrection, Paul added: “Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38–39). When the Jewish hearers rejected this message, the apostle declared, “Behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). The church ruins discovered at Antioch could well represent one of the first communities of Gentile Christians.
Another unexcavated site now drawing the archaeologists’ attention is the city of Colosse. At one time, it was a thriving community to which Paul wrote a letter. The hill of grass and flowers now awaits the ongoing process of mining the archaeological treasures of Asia Minor.
South Koreans Oppose the Red Cross
Why would South Koreans be opposed to the Red Cross agency? In reality, they are not. The “cross” they oppose is the red neon crosses which sit atop many of that nation’s Christian churches. The reports state, “tens of thousands of churches dot South Korea, most with their own red neon crosses.” The color is red to signify the blood of Christ. In the capital city of Seoul, several churches are often crowded into a single block and their red crosses have been compared to “a carnival come to town.”
The neon signs of Korean businesses also contribute to the glare, so new legislation limits the “excessive illumination from artificial light” (it also applies to church signs) by requiring that outdoor lights be shut off by 11:00 pm. This legislation addresses the complaint that “Churches are ignoring neighbors who struggle to sleep with the red neon lights shining through their bedroom windows.” Some feel that churches should be exempt and that dimming the crosses is an attack on religious freedom. A government spokesman replied that the ruling was not meant to be anti-Christian.
We can sympathize with those who find solace in the lighted crosses. As one South Korean put it, “Those crosses are a symbol of hope.” For the Christian, of course, the cross of Christ is always a symbol of hope, “the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7). No matter what may happen to the neon crosses of this world, the light of that true Cross can never be extinguished.
No Churches Left
The U.S. State Department reports that no Christian church buildings exist in Afghanistan. The last church was torn down in March 2010. This situation is due to Taliban influence and a lack of governmental protection. Christian groups must endure repression, negative societal opinion and suspicion; therefore, most Afghan Christians refuse to worship openly.
One anonymous informant states, “While the church may be disappearing, the Church is growing.” He explains, “It’s not easy, and there are no staggering numbers, but there are groups of believers meeting in houses, in parks, in secret. The Church is growing.” Thus, while no church buildings in Afghanistan exist, the holy Christian Church remains. Our Lord has said, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Paul Madson is a retired pastor living in North Mankato, Minnesota.