w. kyoo, you left this comment on a blog i just read:
Why is it that "African Americans" make such a big deal about their race? Why does it matters so much that "Never in the history of the USA has a "BLACK" president been elected into the oval office!" We do not live in the 1960s anymore. It is not like it used to be. If we, as evangelicals are all so passionate about the glory of God and exaltation of Christ, why is this post so concerned with race? An Asian has never been elected into the oval office and yet we are not all "waiting for that historic day in American history."
(I noticed that you have some posts about Mark Driscoll. I actually go to mars hill church in seattle. I'm taiwanese-american. Born and raised in the US. Hello.)
I would like to tell you, w. kyoo, as a sister in Christ: i AM waiting for that historic day in american history where an Asian is elected president. And it really is a big deal that we finally have a black man for president. Your comment was disheartening to me.
First of all, racial diversity is a beautiful thing. God made it in his divine sovereignty, creativity, and wisdom. He crafted different cultures, languages, and skin tones.
God made me taiwanese; and he has made you whatever race you are. Our differences should not be overlooked or ignored.
Some people like to say we should all be "colorblind" and that race should not be a "big deal", but doing so is like scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created.
Second, the reason why it is a big deal that Obama is our first black president is because the majority of our country has voted for him... meaning that the majority of our country has gotten over the negative stereotypes of black men and black people in order to trust him with governing our country.
and that IS a big deal.
So, as i said before. I AM waiting for the day when the majority of America can get over the ridiculously ignorant stereotypes of Asians, or any other race for that matter, to entrust him or her with the presidency.
For those of you just joining you can pick up on this discussion here:http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/11/eric-redmond-living-soli-deo-gloria.html
Shara, I thank you for your response, and my heart is grieved that my comments "disheartened" you. Let me assure you that was not my intention. I wholeheartedly agree with you that "racial diversity is a beautiful thing." God made us all different, and as Rev. Redmond stated: it is for His glory! I am proud to call you "a sister in Christ."
I am Korean. Born in Seoul, raised mostly in the US. I too am proud of my heritage! Therefore, here is my humble attempt to explain myself.
Redmond is a dear brother in Christ. I do not doubt that. He is concerned with the Glory of God, as am I. He loves the preciousness of the Gospel, as do I. However, in Redmond's post he has at least in my mind some glaring inconsistencies. He states that he is all about the Gospel and the glory of God (as in his title), but methodologically, there are obvious undertones of "America still owes the African Americans for all the past wrongs." They say it's not about skin color, but to them it is really all about race....it really is. Shara, if you look closely at Redmond's post he constantly refers to "an African American candidate to reach the White House," "of an African American finally making it to the Oval Office,"a traitor to the African American cause for victory," "I hope to live long enough to witness another African American become a candidate for President of the United States of America," etc. And this baffles me. If we are so concerned with the value human life (ie. abortion, which we should be), and we want a president who upholds righteousness and values human life, then why are we so concerned with whether our new president of this great nation is white, black, asian, indian, etc? Should we not be more concerned with the internal of the man, rather than the external? As I stated in my earlier post that Redmond's comment, "How I wish that the first time there was a probable opportunity for an African American candidate to reach the White House I could have cast my vote for such a candidate without any reservation" seems to contradict his "attempt to be Christocentric rather than Afrocentric..." when he states, "I hope to live long enough to witness another African American become a candidate for President of the United States of America—a candidate who is pro-life and pro-righteousness." Why can we not all hope to live long enough for ANY righteous and pro-life candidate to take the Oval Office? Why does he have to be black? It is sad that our evangelical brothers still hold this in their hearts.
I agree with your statement, "Our [racial] differences should not be overlooked or ignored" to a certain degree. It is to be not be overlooked or ignored SO LONG as the principles of Scripture are not ignored or overlooked! I believe abortion violates Scripture. Therefore, if an Asian candidate ran for the Oval Office and had a track record similar to that of Obama, I could not out of my Biblical convictions vote for him. (Redmond himself could not bring himself to vote for him.) Shara, I believe that the text of Scripture trump any feelings, heritage, or racial pride. God is more concerned with human life, His own glory, His Gospel, and the magnification of His Son rather than the color of our skin and the diverseness of any given culture. When I read the Bible, God talks about those three more than he does race. And therefore I stand with the Text.
I would say your statement "Some people like to say we should all be "colorblind" and that race should not be a "big deal", but doing so is like scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created." is true based on "perspective" ONLY. If from your perspective "race" is more important the "human life/abortion" then yes, your statement is true. However, I believe that Biblically that human life is a big deal "more so" than race (notice that I do not deny that race is a big deal). On the "continuum of Biblical importance" human life is FAR greater. Therefore, I am not "scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created" because I VALUE the "beauty and complexity of what God has created" (i.e. human life) and thus I am not scoffing.
One last thought: I agree "that the majority of our country has gotten over the negative stereotypes of black men and black people in order to trust him with governing our country" is a BIG deal. I do not deny that. However, let me say it again, when race is placed over specific Biblical violations (Obama's stance on abortion) and we as Christians are content to overlook and ignore those clear violations, then that becomes a BIGGER deal.
So Shara, I hope you have captured my heart and my honest and humble attempt to be Biblical throughout this post. Some of the comments were blunt and direct, and I'm sure they could be taken in a wrong or negative way. I assure that is not my attempt. I just want to be Biblical. I too look forward to the day of an Asian President. However, as long as there is clear Biblical violations, I will not vote for him/her regardless of race. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and struggles as we both pursue and encourage each other to become more like our Savior and Lord Jesus!
2 comments:
w. kyoo, you left this comment on a blog i just read:
Why is it that "African Americans" make such a big deal about their race? Why does it matters so much that "Never in the history of the USA has a "BLACK" president been elected into the oval office!" We do not live in the 1960s anymore. It is not like it used to be. If we, as evangelicals are all so passionate about the glory of God and exaltation of Christ, why is this post so concerned with race? An Asian has never been elected into the oval office and yet we are not all "waiting for that historic day in American history."
(I noticed that you have some posts about Mark Driscoll. I actually go to mars hill church in seattle. I'm taiwanese-american. Born and raised in the US. Hello.)
I would like to tell you, w. kyoo, as a sister in Christ: i AM waiting for that historic day in american history where an Asian is elected president. And it really is a big deal that we finally have a black man for president. Your comment was disheartening to me.
First of all, racial diversity is a beautiful thing. God made it in his divine sovereignty, creativity, and wisdom. He crafted different cultures, languages, and skin tones.
God made me taiwanese; and he has made you whatever race you are. Our differences should not be overlooked or ignored.
Some people like to say we should all be "colorblind" and that race should not be a "big deal", but doing so is like scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created.
Second, the reason why it is a big deal that Obama is our first black president is because the majority of our country has voted for him... meaning that the majority of our country has gotten over the negative stereotypes of black men and black people in order to trust him with governing our country.
and that IS a big deal.
So, as i said before. I AM waiting for the day when the majority of America can get over the ridiculously ignorant stereotypes of Asians, or any other race for that matter, to entrust him or her with the presidency.
For those of you just joining you can pick up on this discussion here:http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/11/eric-redmond-living-soli-deo-gloria.html
Shara, I thank you for your response, and my heart is grieved that my comments "disheartened" you. Let me assure you that was not my intention. I wholeheartedly agree with you that "racial diversity is a beautiful thing." God made us all different, and as Rev. Redmond stated: it is for His glory! I am proud to call you "a sister in Christ."
I am Korean. Born in Seoul, raised mostly in the US. I too am proud of my heritage! Therefore, here is my humble attempt to explain myself.
Redmond is a dear brother in Christ. I do not doubt that. He is concerned with the Glory of God, as am I. He loves the preciousness of the Gospel, as do I.
However, in Redmond's post he has at least in my mind some glaring inconsistencies. He states that he is all about the Gospel and the glory of God (as in his title), but methodologically, there are obvious undertones of "America still owes the African Americans for all the past wrongs." They say it's not about skin color, but to them it is really all about race....it really is. Shara, if you look closely at Redmond's post he constantly refers to "an African American candidate to reach the White House," "of an African American finally making it to the Oval Office,"a traitor to the African American cause for victory," "I hope to live long enough to witness another African American become a candidate for President of the United States of America," etc. And this baffles me. If we are so concerned with the value human life (ie. abortion, which we should be), and we want a president who upholds righteousness and values human life, then why are we so concerned with whether our new president of this great nation is white, black, asian, indian, etc? Should we not be more concerned with the internal of the man, rather than the external? As I stated in my earlier post that Redmond's comment, "How I wish that the first time there was a probable opportunity for an African American candidate to reach the White House I could have cast my vote for such a candidate without any reservation" seems to contradict his "attempt to be Christocentric rather than Afrocentric..." when he states, "I hope to live long enough to witness another African American become a candidate for President of the United States of America—a candidate who is pro-life and pro-righteousness." Why can we not all hope to live long enough for ANY righteous and pro-life candidate to take the Oval Office? Why does he have to be black?
It is sad that our evangelical brothers still hold this in their hearts.
I agree with your statement, "Our [racial] differences should not be overlooked or ignored" to a certain degree. It is to be not be overlooked or ignored SO LONG as the principles of Scripture are not ignored or overlooked! I believe abortion violates Scripture. Therefore, if an Asian candidate ran for the Oval Office and had a track record similar to that of Obama, I could not out of my Biblical convictions vote for him. (Redmond himself could not bring himself to vote for him.) Shara, I believe that the text of Scripture trump any feelings, heritage, or racial pride. God is more concerned with human life, His own glory, His Gospel, and the magnification of His Son rather than the color of our skin and the diverseness of any given culture. When I read the Bible, God talks about those three more than he does race. And therefore I stand with the Text.
I would say your statement
"Some people like to say we should all be "colorblind" and that race should not be a "big deal", but doing so is like scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created."
is true based on "perspective" ONLY. If from your perspective "race" is more important the "human life/abortion" then yes, your statement is true. However, I believe that Biblically that human life is a big deal "more so" than race (notice that I do not deny that race is a big deal). On the "continuum of Biblical importance" human life is FAR greater. Therefore, I am not "scoffing at the beauty and complexity of what God has created" because I VALUE the "beauty and complexity of what God has created" (i.e. human life) and thus I am not scoffing.
One last thought: I agree "that the majority of our country has gotten over the negative stereotypes of black men and black people in order to trust him with governing our country" is a BIG deal. I do not deny that. However, let me say it again, when race is placed over specific Biblical violations (Obama's stance on abortion) and we as Christians are content to overlook and ignore those clear violations, then that becomes a BIGGER deal.
So Shara, I hope you have captured my heart and my honest and humble attempt to be Biblical throughout this post. Some of the comments were blunt and direct, and I'm sure they could be taken in a wrong or negative way. I assure that is not my attempt. I just want to be Biblical.
I too look forward to the day of an Asian President. However, as long as there is clear Biblical violations, I will not vote for him/her regardless of race.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and struggles as we both pursue and encourage each other to become more like our Savior and Lord Jesus!
W. Kyoo
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