260920 주일예배 "찬장에 잠든 그릇들" 박은성 담임목사

Dear everyone, I wonder if you have heard these names before: Kim Nam-joon, Kim Seok-jin, Min Yoon-gi, Jung Ho-seok, Park Ji-min, Kim Tae-hyung, Jeon Jung-kook. These are the real names of the seven members of BTS, Bangtan Sonyeondan. Those who can memorize these names are certainly what we call ARMY, or true fans. In fact, these names are not just called out; the fans have specific cheering methods that they shout along to the music. We all know BTS, right? They debuted in 2013 and after all members completed their military service, they returned as a full group and are now more active than ever in promoting Korea and Koreans worldwide. Recently, they have been on a world tour, scheduled to continue through 2026 and 2027. The name of the world tour is "Arirang." Yes, isn't it amazing that Arirang is resonating around the world? Last September, they performed at the Sofi Stadium, which is actually the home of the Rams. When full, it can hold over 70,000 people. Over four days, more than 280,000 people gathered there. Since you don't seem surprised, I wonder if you are either completely uninterested or perhaps a true fan who is just not showing it.

Typically, it is said that idol groups face a seven-year jinx. The seven-year jinx suggests that many groups disband after about seven years. Moreover, they often face a crisis around the three-year mark. However, BTS has maintained its popularity for 13 years, standing at the forefront of the Korean Wave, K-pop. I didn't come here today to introduce BTS, but I wonder how they have been able to sustain such success over time. There are various reasons, of course. First, they have exceptional talent, good looks, and they work hard. Their technical skills are also outstanding, and their fandom is strong. But what is the core reason? I think it lies in their unchanging purity. No matter how popular BTS becomes or how high their status rises, they do not act arrogantly. They do not look down on other artists or fans. Instead, they have a pure heart that does not solely attribute their success to themselves but acknowledges the contributions of others. For example, if we say that we have 100% of the success, at least 50% of that is attributed to the fans. Among the seven members, 35% belongs to each of us, and 15% belongs to the agency. So, they believe that they account for about 5% of the total success. They say that the remaining 95% is created by the fans. What the public demands seems to be this: the unchanged initial intention, that pure heart that continues from beginning to end. Those who maintain that purity from start to finish seem to ultimately succeed. This is true in the world as well.

In a similar vein, I ponder what it means to be a long-loved and respected servant of the Lord, and I find that the commonality lies in purity. It is about how much one can maintain their initial intention from beginning to end. There are those who once drew popularity and support from many people, but as greed and desire creep in, they eventually fall into the trap of avarice. We see many who, after reaching their peak, gradually lose their positive influence and disappear. Therefore, it is crucial to consider how we can maintain our initial heart, our purity.