In our blogs we've been discussing about what the missionaries are doing with their faith and the influence they have on the cultures they work in, but I thought it'd be interesting to see if what God tells us -His followers- to do for other cultures and faiths.
(I will be assuming that Christians believe that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16))
Followers of Christ support missionaries financially and spiritually, go to LASA trips and sometimes work as missionaries themselves in a culture where Christianity isn't well known to follow Jesus's last commandment, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15~16). It is clear that God expects those who follow Him to go and preach the good news to all cultures and faiths.
However while obeying the last commandment of Jesus, one must obey the very first and second commandment of His, as well. It's recorded in the Bible that someone asks Jesus, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" and Jesus replies " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-39). Since 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." according to 1Corinthians 13:4-7, all Christians should be patient, kind, not envy, not boast, not be proud, not be rude, not be self-seeking, not get easily angered, keep no record of wrongs, rejoice with the truth, and always protect, trust, hope and preserve.
So what does God expect His 'Christian missionaries' to do for other cultures and faiths?
He did not call His missionaries to barge into South America or Africa or any other part of the world with a gun in their hands and a hunger for glory and gold in their hearts.
God called His followers and people who want to call themselves 'Christian missionaries' to go and share God's love.
Forcing people to accept salvation directly contradicts the whole purpose and meaning of salvation, which is a person's choice to believe in and follow Jesus.
Simply for the purpose of integrity in our logic and arguments, people who disobeyed God's first and second greatest commandment in the name of God should be discarded from being used as examples of Christian missionaries.
God told those who have chosen to hear and accept God's bleeding love for us to:
accept and love the people around you, for who they are, as He has
and since now you know what the best thing in life is,
teach by showing and giving by action
this indescribable love to those who never even heard about it.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Sunday, 30 November 2008
#3 What do mission organisations do for these people?
A. I will assume that 'these people' talked about in this question are the Sawi people of New Guinea. From what I know by reading Peace Child and the article written by Don Richardson, the mission organizations seem to be doing many positive things for the Sawi people, or at least meaning and trying to, to the best of their abilities.
From the book and also from the article, we know that the mission organizations come into the Sawi people with what we would call 'modern' medical help. The people around the world have discovered, developed and shared cures to diseases while the Sawi people have remained isolated with only their own traditional herbal cures to diseases.
The mission organizations also bring in new and different or more developed technologies than those of the Sawi people’s time. By being open to each other’s discoveries, the rest of the world have been able to share and enjoy many nations’ achievements in the scientific field while the Sawi people haven’t. Airplanes, metal tools, different style of clothing, and radio transmitters are just a few examples.
The third thing which the mission organizations are doing for these people is subjective. Also, this varies on each of the different mission organizations in number, speed, and extent. But as an organization with a ‘mission’ as the name would suggest, the mission organizations are bringing in the message of Truth, Life, Love and a new hope and beginning. To a people who have turned their backs away from God, lost, wondering and searching for their Father in things which only sinks them in and pulls them even further away from what they’re looking for, the mission organizations are sharing news that has reached billions of people around the world and have changed millions of people’s lives, opening their eyes to see the real, living and one true God, His perfect loving plan for His children and the love which He lavishes down to those who will simply open their arms, lives and hearts to it. (wow that was a run-on sentence… I hope that wasn’t too confusing;)
In my opinion, these are the things which the mission organizations are doing for these people. There must be a lot more things, but there were too many that I had to summarize, condense and group into these three things-sharing medical, technological, and spiritual help.
From the book and also from the article, we know that the mission organizations come into the Sawi people with what we would call 'modern' medical help. The people around the world have discovered, developed and shared cures to diseases while the Sawi people have remained isolated with only their own traditional herbal cures to diseases.
The mission organizations also bring in new and different or more developed technologies than those of the Sawi people’s time. By being open to each other’s discoveries, the rest of the world have been able to share and enjoy many nations’ achievements in the scientific field while the Sawi people haven’t. Airplanes, metal tools, different style of clothing, and radio transmitters are just a few examples.
The third thing which the mission organizations are doing for these people is subjective. Also, this varies on each of the different mission organizations in number, speed, and extent. But as an organization with a ‘mission’ as the name would suggest, the mission organizations are bringing in the message of Truth, Life, Love and a new hope and beginning. To a people who have turned their backs away from God, lost, wondering and searching for their Father in things which only sinks them in and pulls them even further away from what they’re looking for, the mission organizations are sharing news that has reached billions of people around the world and have changed millions of people’s lives, opening their eyes to see the real, living and one true God, His perfect loving plan for His children and the love which He lavishes down to those who will simply open their arms, lives and hearts to it. (wow that was a run-on sentence… I hope that wasn’t too confusing;)
In my opinion, these are the things which the mission organizations are doing for these people. There must be a lot more things, but there were too many that I had to summarize, condense and group into these three things-sharing medical, technological, and spiritual help.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
#2 What should we do when we are confronted with other cultures?
This questions seems like such an easy one to anwer, since there is one obvious and simple 'correct' answer to it. Any other attitude than a respecful one when confronting with foreign cultures seems almost taboo in the current modern world of globalization.
But because the answer is so simple-it is also vague to act upon. It's one thing to talk about it on a blog entry and another to actually be forced to decide and act accordingly while confront it face to face as an international in a foreign country.
From my experiences living and growing up abroad, I've learned that it's essential to distinguish between a person's habits and the whole nation's tradition. Somtimes we interpret an aspect of one person, family, school, or town as a representation of the whole country's culture-and confront it as such, even when it's not. I'm not saying that a person isn't a representation of their culture. In most cases they are-but only to some extent. It's impossible to get a full glimpse of a culture from one person, visit, family or town. It may take decades to truly understand the culture of a nation. In another words, Bob may be 100% American, but not 100% of Americans are like Bob. To confront other cultures than our own native one, you must carefully judge if what you are thinking is truly a culture of the foreign nation or not, before confronting it as one.
Also keep in mind that "other cultures" may not mean the national cultural differences found in the international community. There can be differences found even between each of the after-school activities at our school.
As mentioned in the previous blog, I am a Christian with a Christian world view. I look at other cultures through the lense of the Bible and confront the new cultures according to what I interpret the Bible to mean.
The two biggest commandment Jesus gives us is, love God and love others. Everything in life, -and after life, as well- can be answered according to these two simple rules.
When confronting with other cultures, I would first question myself if there is any sinful traditions or aspects of the culture. No culture on earth can be perfect, so there must be some flaw in any culture.
I will try to look at the new culture I came to contact with through the eyes of what my Father would see, and seperate myself from what He would displease in. If it goes against the commandments my God laid down, I won't follow or practice that particular aspect of the culture. As long as the culture does not defy God or the Bible, I'll find them very interesting and something pleasing, as God would feel toward them.
But even though I may completely disagree with what some of the new culture includes, I must still keep the second commandment in mind. As a sinner myself, I have no authority to condemn or try to force the people of the new culture I face to stop their ways I disagree with. Continuously living my own life the way I want to live,-as my God would please in- loving others, teaching not my words but by my actions, and praying for the people who are practicing a culture that draws them farther away from God is how I would confront a new culture.
This is what I expect out of myself and try to do when I am confronted with other cultures, but this is not what I expect from all of us when we're confronted with other cultures.
Everyone must make their own choices in their lives, including the manner and attitude by which they confront a new foreign culture.
But there is a wrong and a right way of confronting other cultures, and the right way is with respect, patience and love toward the people of the new culture confronted, no matter what bizarre culture it may seem to us.
But because the answer is so simple-it is also vague to act upon. It's one thing to talk about it on a blog entry and another to actually be forced to decide and act accordingly while confront it face to face as an international in a foreign country.
From my experiences living and growing up abroad, I've learned that it's essential to distinguish between a person's habits and the whole nation's tradition. Somtimes we interpret an aspect of one person, family, school, or town as a representation of the whole country's culture-and confront it as such, even when it's not. I'm not saying that a person isn't a representation of their culture. In most cases they are-but only to some extent. It's impossible to get a full glimpse of a culture from one person, visit, family or town. It may take decades to truly understand the culture of a nation. In another words, Bob may be 100% American, but not 100% of Americans are like Bob. To confront other cultures than our own native one, you must carefully judge if what you are thinking is truly a culture of the foreign nation or not, before confronting it as one.
Also keep in mind that "other cultures" may not mean the national cultural differences found in the international community. There can be differences found even between each of the after-school activities at our school.
As mentioned in the previous blog, I am a Christian with a Christian world view. I look at other cultures through the lense of the Bible and confront the new cultures according to what I interpret the Bible to mean.
The two biggest commandment Jesus gives us is, love God and love others. Everything in life, -and after life, as well- can be answered according to these two simple rules.
When confronting with other cultures, I would first question myself if there is any sinful traditions or aspects of the culture. No culture on earth can be perfect, so there must be some flaw in any culture.
I will try to look at the new culture I came to contact with through the eyes of what my Father would see, and seperate myself from what He would displease in. If it goes against the commandments my God laid down, I won't follow or practice that particular aspect of the culture. As long as the culture does not defy God or the Bible, I'll find them very interesting and something pleasing, as God would feel toward them.
But even though I may completely disagree with what some of the new culture includes, I must still keep the second commandment in mind. As a sinner myself, I have no authority to condemn or try to force the people of the new culture I face to stop their ways I disagree with. Continuously living my own life the way I want to live,-as my God would please in- loving others, teaching not my words but by my actions, and praying for the people who are practicing a culture that draws them farther away from God is how I would confront a new culture.
This is what I expect out of myself and try to do when I am confronted with other cultures, but this is not what I expect from all of us when we're confronted with other cultures.
Everyone must make their own choices in their lives, including the manner and attitude by which they confront a new foreign culture.
But there is a wrong and a right way of confronting other cultures, and the right way is with respect, patience and love toward the people of the new culture confronted, no matter what bizarre culture it may seem to us.
Sunday, 23 November 2008
#1 What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view?
[WARNING: The next few paragraphs may contain contents having to do with the writer's beliefs. If you are drunk, pregnant, have a history of heart attacks or get offended by hearing about what other people believe and how they try to live their life, please
do not read on. Thank you, and welcome to my blog!]
Q. What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.
do not read on. Thank you, and welcome to my blog!]
Q. What factors of your native culture have informed your religious world view? Explain the impact of these factors.
A. Uum to answer this question I'll first need to identify what my native culture is... My parents are both Korean, so I believe myself to be a pure-bred Korean~... (no racism intended) I don't think I'm a banana (as the 1.5 generation Korean-Canadians would be called) or a twinkie (as the 1.5 generation Korean-Americans tend to be named). But I'm certainly not a FOB (Fresh Off Board -Korean-Koreans in the States.) either. I'm just... MinJi!*^^
To summurize my life: I was born in Korea and grew up here until second grade, when I moved to Canada following my parents. I stayed in Canada for about three years then moved to the States to live there for four years. I came back to my homeland a year ago.
When I was living abroad, I hardly had any contact with other Koreans, espcially Koreans my age. But my parents made it a rule at home, as soon as we landed in Canada, that the language spoken at home will be Korean. My parents homeschooled Korean to me all through elementry school-thanks to her I still read, write and can speak Korean fluently. My mom cooked Korean food for dinner 97.6% of the time, so I my cuisine was still 1/3 Korean.
But like I said, I hardly had any contact with other Koreans, espcially Koreans my age. I didn't know any Korean slang, Korean jokes, Korean songs or Korean celebrities. At school, I was one of the few Asians. And save for a year, I didn't even go a Korean immigrant church in the seven years I've been abroad.
But don't take me wrong-just because my family didn't go to a Korean church doesn't mean that they weren't regular church-goers. My parents have been taking me to church with them every single Sunday (sometimes Wednesdays or Fridays as well) of my life, even before I as born.
I come from a fourth generation of a Christian family. I think even my dog is a Protestant. Yes, I am a PK but I don't think that's what made me become a Christian.
I am a Christian. I believe the Bible as the living Word of God. I think that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirits exists and are alive, fully at work in my life, and I like Him a lot. God creating the universe, Adam and Eve, and a Korean girl named MinJi Kim is the truth to me. Jesus having died on the cross for all of my sins even though He's the Son of God and resurrecting to be in Heaven right now to come back down to earth one day is the best news I've ever heard in my short life so far, and the focus of what I've been trying to live my life everyday by since when I was eight, when I was reborn as a Christian.
I have a long way to go, as every Christian has, and am learning more and more about God, life and myself every day. Currently I am questioning whether I should believe in predestination, free will, or both. I am also questioning what it means to be a naturalist or a fundamentalist, and am trying to figure out where I am on the spectrum.
Now to finally answer the question-how my culture of Korean/American/Canadian informed my religious world view and which factors of it had an impact, I say it didn't have much of an impact.
The culture that did teach me about what I now know to be true and helped me to grow as a Christian is the culture of my family. It's kind of tricky for me to answer the question because my 'native culture' is national, while the culture that has to do with my religion is domestic.
I met Jesus like I met my mom and my dad. I don't remember the first time I met them, and I don't know who introduced (?) me to them. But my parents are the ones who introduced me to sunday school teachers who taught me about the truths and secrets revealed in the Bible and the cool Bible figures. My mother taught me the Lord's Prayer, and helped me to memorize it as the first thing I ever memorized in my life. I grew up with my father praying for my family and over the food before every meal.
My parents being sincere people of God: people who never smoke, get drunk, or abuse me in any way like some other parents do but always love me and sometimes discipline me, people who bring strange poor old women home to stay over night, always thank God for every good and bad thing that happened, showed me through their words and life what being a Christian means. Living with two Christians under the same roof as my mentors, friends and parents had a profound impact on my religious world view which will last eternally.
But even when my parents will pass away oneday, or when they're not near me to live with me, I am still firm in my beliefs.
To fully answer a question asking my religious world view, all the time in the world wouldn't be sufficient, but this was a general glimpse of it, and I hope you enjoyed your first reading on da MinJinator's blog. leave a comment! thanks*^^
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