Asian-American Liberation Theology
Thoughts galvanized by David Park re: Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Granted, the need for liberation amongst Asian-Americans is not really a pressing concern – after all, what do we need liberating from? But I think David is spot-on with his assessment of the future of Asian-American religion. Do we remain the strong, silent, passive types or do we have it in us to be aggressively assertive when it comes to relevance in American society today? I quote:
I find this posture absent in the Asian American communities of faith – meaning that it seems that we care more about our citizenship in heaven and completely disregard any obligation or struggle that we should tend to here; or we seem to remain complicit to the authorities and play by their rules and somehow expect to “win” at this game by being good citizens as though that were to reflect the strength of our faith. And it is from our shallowness that we lament the fact that our youth are leaving the church in droves. But what do we expect, really? The language that we use about the gospel is more doctrinaire than challenging, it is more about application than inspiration.
The only thing I would contest is the last sentence that our perception of gospel is more application than inspiration. I would think it was the other way around – that we are deeply moved and inspired in our services, but don’t know how to apply that to society at large outside of our ethnic bounds. Nonetheless David is right in calling for a new generation of socially-conscious and relevant asian-American pastors and laity. Even as I am finishing up my mDiv I wonder what kind of minister I will be when I get out. God I hope I don’t disappear into the woodwork of passive, irrelevant, kowtowing asian-American religion.
Hey Wayne, cool post. I agree with your take on inspiration vs application. How do we apply the gospel message in our lives and to the world around us? I certainly would prefer that we do a better job of application than merely be inspired and not follow through with action. I’d have to get to know the whole context of what David is talking about to really understand, but based on what I see, I’m with you.
Hi Wayne, thanks for bringing this to light.
The Asian-American Christian’s approach should simply be to glorify God. Over and above our own relevance in American society, we must promote and protect the name of our King. Our priority should be for the kingdom (Matt 6:33).
Having said that, educating others on oppression and racism is indeed glorifying to God, if the chief end is to bring people to unity and to love each other. We do not have to remain kowtowing to anyone except the Lord.
Our telos should never be to glorify ourselves or our demographic group. Our goal is not to fulfill our own duty, nor even to make others happy. Let us be able to further God’s name by being more relevant and socially-conscious, so that more people may worship God.