본 논문은 한국에 와서 활동했던 수많은 외국 선교사 중 한 명인 로버트 하디 선교사 연구를 통해서 한국교회 선교의 방향을 모색하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 하디는 부모로부터 물려받은 경건한 신앙의 유산 을 기반으로 인류에 봉사하고자 기독교인 의사가 되려고 의과대학에 입학했고, 바로 그때 SVM의 영향을 받아 선교적 소명을 깨닫고 선교사 가 되었다. 처음에 그는 독립선교사로 활동했지만, 하나님의 선교 (missio Dei)를 위해 다른 선교사들과 함께 협력했고, 경제적인 어려움 과 가족의 질병으로 인한 어려움 등을 자립선교와 신앙의 힘으로 극복하 기도 하였다. 그리고 무엇보다도 1903년 원산에서 시작되어 1907년 평양에서 절정을 이룬 원산대부흥의 주역으로 쓰임 받았지만, 그 이후 에 어떠한 부작용도 없이 한국교회의 발전을 위해 신학교육과 문서선교 사역 등에 기여하였다는 점도 매우 중요한데, 이는 웨슬리 신학의 사변형(성경, 전통, 체험, 이성)에 근거한 균형 잡힌 선교사역을 감당했 기 때문이라고 볼 수 있다.

Many scholars and church leaders, both Korean and Western, have usually considered Hardie’s repentance as the main reason for the Wonsan great revival from 1903. Therefore, during the centennial anniversary of the Pyongyang great revival in 2007 ‘revival by repentance’ was a popular formular for a resurgence of the great revival among Korean churches. However, Hardie’s repentance was not the cause but the effect of the Wonsan great revival. After experiencing baptism of the Holy Spirit or revival, Hardie confessed his sins. Thus, his repentance was not the main cause of the Korean revival. If it was not contingent on Hardie’s personal repentance, it could be asked why God allowed the great revival to occur in Korea and chose to use Hardie for that work. There may be four possible explanations that can be posed: (1) Hardie’s knowledge of revival, (2) his prayer for revival with devotional Bible study, (3) his pursuit of a high ideal, and (4) his lofty motivation. In other words, Hardie regarded baptism of the Holy Spirit as revival and he had been praying for Spirit baptism with Bible study along with his Canadian supporters and some missionary colleagues. Also, like most early Methodist missionaries in Korea, Hardie tried to gain real Christians instead of nominal or professing Christians, which was defined as ‘a high idea’ by a Presbyterian missionary (Robert E. Speer, 18671947). The main purpose of Hardie's life and missionary work was Jesus Christ. In order to maintain loving Jesus Christ, Hardie remained sincere toward people, and followed not money but God’s will. In short, because Hardie understood the true meaning of revival or Spirit baptism, he prayed for revival with sincere Bible study, pursued a high ideal making real Christians, and kept lofty motivation based on loving Jesus Christ. Thus, God not only allowed the early Korean great revival, but also utilized Hardie to do it. In this writing, the writer mainly deals with whether ‘revival by repentance’ is a biblical idea or not, and why God chose Dr. Hardie as one of the main figures for the early Korean great revival.