Chinese-Canadian-Christian priorities
Again, my comment has grown long enough to warrant a new entry in itself.
Here's a point that I've brought up before (in my courses, for one): the assumptions that our churches are living in (our worldview, if you will) are grounded in the "American dream". Our centre is not really in Christ, but in the pursuit of life as dictated by society/culture (the pursuit of happiness, middle-class existence). We have been brought up to value and live out "the plan": getting an education, getting work, finding a wife/husband, breeding kids, ie "settling down", and tithing and "contributing to ministry" - something about "giving back to God" - as an afterthought. But in this worldview, we haven't really sought out God as First. We give God (well the church) 10% in money (if we give at all). What about our life, our ambition (big one for us Asian-Canadians)? We have a plan (aformentioned) and we pray for "God's will", which is more-or-less asking him to fill in the details of that template, not really praying for him to open our eyes and heart to His template, so that we can join in bringing his Kingdom here on here, as it is in heaven. That we pray and seek him in the midst of this is good. That we have churches and people seeking God in the middle of this is good...
But some of us understand that that isn't God's best for us. We're not critical of what drives our society - sure some might blame Hollywood and blacklist certain immoral things, but it's not getting at the heart of system - it's not radical enough. We have been subverted by capitalism and consumerism in our spirituality (well, religiousity at least).
For example: about Willow people driving Geo's (or say just taking public transit - assuming it is possible/feasible), they free up their financial resources for putting it into other causes (more noble, religious, or whatnot). That's just one of several things. But let's not get focused on Willow, I'm really talking about the western church-at-large - "us" for an example.
I'm very much saddened that our church (at large) operates in a bubble grounded in a western context. God's vision is global - about shalom on all levels. What we, as rich westerners, or even the church, "give to those in need" is a pittance. Our system of living (as middle-upper class) is off of the backs of those in the 2/3rds world. Tom Sine in Mustard Seed versus McWorld does a wonderful job in stepping through these linkages, as do scholars like Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon (director of UT's Peace and Conflict studies, author of The Ingenuity Gap) among others. Research, theory, and practical work in international development recognizes these linkages (check out Prof. Jeffrey Sachs' articles in the Economist among other publications). The Perspectives course will identify with these arguments, as have many theologians, writers, international development workers, in addition to those I just stated.
What we do next is the question we all must ask, once we've been given this revelation - and not everyone has been. It demands a radical change in our priorities, worldview, spirituality, and response (in terms of our living) - individually and corporately. I argue that this is towards Kingdom theology.
I'm not sure I'm writing this in the spirit of Eph 4:15, as much as I desire it. I have to admit that I had a bit of my heart broken a little more two nights ago. I went to a presentation at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand for the opening of this photographer's exhibit. Nicolas Lainez presented heart wrenching photos of human trafficking, forced prostitution, and conditions in Poipet - one of the border crossings between Thailand and Cambodia. His mini CD has more photos from the SE Asia region. From the knowledge, theories, stories, travels, etc. I've built up - those images indicted my consumeristic lifestyle choices and the ripple effects it has caused. There are faces to suffering - and it's 13-year old girls pushed into prostitution in border towns, for $1 a "service", 22-year olds dying from AIDS, mothers taking home $10/month - on a good month, if she's not beaten up by her pimp. God's heart is most certainly broken for these people, mine should be too, and so should the church's.
I think God is saying - almost shouting - at us about these injustices and brokeness in the world, but the church (in the west, at least) is not really listening (read Scott's entry). We're content with doing patch-work, when we've been gifted with the potential to much more - perhaps even to change our system (it is slowly being reformed, at least). God is also calling out to us to "live into my story" of shalom. Out of this brokeness God is very much alive - he is very much at work in this world, I know so. He's invited us to be change-agents for shalom (reconciliation, redemption, restoration, wholeness). It'll involve a lot of sacrifice and changing our models (worldview, beliefs, attitudes) because it is about transformation of ourselves, not conforming to the world - so that He is worshipped and glorified in the process and as the destination.
Comments
I know Dan linked it, but I'm going to be explicit: Next Perspectives class in downtown Toronto starts March 18, every Thursday evening for 15 weeks. Location: Chinese Gospel Church (Dundas/Spadina).
You can email me for more information, I'm more than willing to show you around.
More Toronto info: http://www.perspectivescanada.org/toronto.htm
Posted by: Alan | February 7, 2004 2:38 PM
i wonder if we knew what to do all along.. all these books, all these courses, all these blogs, all these thots.. i think we're all starting to hear God clearly.
guts. guts and guts.
hybels talks about it. my mentor talks about it. i'm constantly reading and hearing about it. prof peter frick @renison college asks the rhetorical:
'how do you feed a million starving children?'
'one @ a time'
lots of kingdom work to do boys.
Posted by: dr rumble | February 7, 2004 4:41 PM
dan - i LOVED this last blog entry. i wish you were in my LLL class - your experiences and insight is missed here in cold cold toronto.
Posted by: melanie | February 9, 2004 4:12 AM
Thanks Mel!
Matt - absolutely! Isn't that how Jesus modeled it to us?
Posted by: Dan | February 9, 2004 10:34 PM
*mouth drops to floor*.
Dan Tshin. You beast. Have you read a book by something Yohannen called "Revolution in World Missions"? That is like... an extensive version of what you just blogged...
Wow. Can I send you something?
And hey are you still in... uh... Malaysia/Thailand/Asian country? How ARE you doing?
Posted by: Joeie! | February 17, 2004 2:04 PM
Oh forgot to mention - I love your usage of big words. :) Mmmmh-hmm good!
My favourite? "...subverted by capitalism" Niice!
Hm, right maybe I should mention - the thing I wanted to send you? A glossified, happy, bubbly, naive version of this. :) A kid's work.
Posted by: Joeie | February 17, 2004 2:06 PM
Joeie, what's up!
I haven't read that exact book (by Yohannen), but a bunch of those ideas are being used all over the world, and I've been catching wind of them from various people.
Yeah, you can send stuff up - I'm still in Bangkok, Thailand. You can prolly send it up with my parents - they should be visiting.
Well, I'd be happy to hear/read what you've got. Good to hear it's not just us old fogies talking about this stuff. It's people like you that keep it real, you know? And it's more reason for me to keep it real, and avoid only using substantive verbiage (oops, I meant big words).
Ha ha. keep tuned in.. I've got pics coming in, it'll be a little break from my theologically and philosophical waxing... er "thoughts".
Posted by: Dan | February 17, 2004 2:21 PM
cool, pix. btw, bp mentioned being able to leave comments on my site now.. does it work for you?
Posted by: dr rumble | February 17, 2004 4:30 PM
Hey Dan,
Bravo, touche and d'accord! My spirit resounds with gusto-like agreement to your great reminders here. As we've often dialogued, this is certainly a landmine for us Asian-N.American-Christians with a humanitarian soul. Oh what to do when God and conscience beckon while our earthly providers are strongly suggesting otherwise?! Arrrgghhh!!!
And it's excellent of you to tie everything back to "God's shalom" which is truly the focal point of life and existence. John 17 through and through! Unity amongst us as believers yet sooo much more than that! Since unity equals peace and harmony, synergy, etc. etc. Hmmm...another one of those famous "dialectic" tensions of living and juggling our spiritual and physical sides.
Just this past weekend, I certainly lived the truth of what you mentioned in your blog. For the sake of family unity, I attended one of the huge, televised, 10,000+ mega churches here in the Houston area and left completely benumbed and disappointed. Mostly in myself for allowing myself to freeze my heart, soul and brain for nearly two hours of very, nicely performed music by the over-smiley choir and polished music director. And put to sleep by the warm and fuzzy, self-help, make-me-feel-great-as-a-victor-vs.-victim-of-life sermon. I kept asking silently, would Jesus even be allowed to drip His blood here??? Would anyone be able to crack open and reveal our true selves?
But I am not here to judge this church or its attendees...just to cry deeply within and feel my heart broken, as you pointed, by the unjust irony of thousands buttered up in here on the "West Side" while millions are being butchered, blown up, raped or starved everywhere else. This weighs even more on my heart since I've relocated to this land of SUV-abundance and mega-consumer clones (e.g. Super Wal-mart open 24 hours, 7 days a week!) and where I'm sure having a heck of a time finding a international agency to even volunteer with!!! Where people truly are capable of capturing and milking out the "American Dream". Where I feel more and more drained every day I remain.
Again, I don't mean to dump on the good of the land or its inhabitants...just "noting the echo that each thing produces as it strikes my soul" to borrow the words of Stendhal. For now, I am going to continue to do what I can to avoid throwing my life away on the "American Dream" and keep trying to fight for the "American Nightmare".... I couldn't live with myself otherwise and that, in the end would be hell itself (...To thine own self be true)!!!
Just some of my thoughts...look forward to catching up more with you soon! Oh, check out this site if you haven't found it already sometime: www.idealist.org.
Shalom!
CaT-DaN
Posted by: cat-dan | March 23, 2004 10:01 PM
I really enjoyed reading this entry. It's really unfortunate that those that have seen some of the things in poorer societies that we eventually lose it or forget what we've seen and learned - speaking for myself I suppose. We are so into the culture of today's society and just diving into more and more evil, wanting more and more when God the All Mighty keeps asking us to drop everything that we have and TRULY follow. I believe the only way for us to really walk with God, is to give up all our possessions, leave our church when ready and share the gospel and help those who really need help.
Posted by: Andre | March 29, 2004 1:26 AM