Long before the whole incident of the Deadly Viper/Zondervan use of Asian culture to promote a book arose, there was a lengthy dialog from the Next Gener.Asian Church blog about how white evangelicals were using Francis Chan because he was a safe spokesperson from the Asian-American ministerial community that would relate to a broad audience. It was titled: Is Francis Chan a sell-out? At the time of this writing, there are 162 comments in reply to that post and more are added each week. It’s a polarizing issue and one that is totally misunderstood. Due to some recent events, it seems that this conversation has taken on a new life and either people are voicing their opinions or left on the sidelines scratching there heads in confusion. If Francis Chan is an Asian-American pastor and his messages don’t have much relevance to his being Asian, how can that be bad? Should there be a Chinese gospel along side a Caucasian/Anglo one? Weren’t we all called to be part of one church anyway? Some people are looking upon the Asian-American Christian community as one that wants to be segregated and appearing to be somewhat elitist.
I’m kind of in the middle on the whole issue–I understand both sides, yet I’m not quite sure I have the answer to build unity on the matter. However, maybe my perspective will help some gain more understanding the heart of the matter.
If you are a white evangelical, a lot of this will probably resonate with you:
- It’s not about what we want, but it’s about who God sends to our church. God builds the church, not us.
- While we may be white, we are open to people of all races coming in to worship together with us. Not only are we open, but we encourage people of other cultures to join us!
- There should be no Black church, White church, Asian church, Latino church–there should just be one church as we are all one in Christ.
In actuality, there are some in the Asian-American evangelical church that would agree with all three of the above-points as well. However, there is a bit of a different perspective that is predominant within Asian-American Christians. Unfortunately, many within the Asian-American community can’t quite place their finger on it or even understand there is an issue.
The perspective from the Asian-American evangelical is like this:
- I grew up in a (Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese, etc) church that had services for my parents in (Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese, etc.) and services for me in English. Often times the English services were presided over by a Caucasian pastor who spoke English well, but didn’t really understand the (Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese, etc.) culture I was raised in. My friends aren’t Asian, my neighbors aren’t Asian and I want to go to church with them somewhere that isn’t (Chinese/Korean/Vietnamese, etc.)
- When in a predominantly Caucasian church service, I feel like I don’t fit in. I’m not connecting beyond a surface level with others in the church.
- I don’t embrace all of the culture forced upon at my parent’s church, yet I don’t feel like I get any culture from the predominantly-Caucasian church.
On an even deeper level, some Asian-American Christians struggle with their identity. They don’t quite know how to feel about being Asian. Are they to look past their cultural heritage and integrate with everyone else disregarding why God birthed them as Asians or is there some relevance they should appreciate by being birthed by God as Asians?
When someone says, “I don’t see color, I just see people. When I look at you Dave, I don’t see someone who is Asian. I just see you as Dave.” I think that’s great. However, what you fail to realize is that you just discredited my cultural heritage. I’m not just like you. Even though we may think and speak in a similar manner, we don’t have similar stories. If you are white growing up in America, you can never really know what it’s like being Asian growing up in America. Racism aside, imagine what it’s like growing up with the pressure to be smarter than the average student. There is a stereotype that Asians are smart and they become accountants and engineers. Not only is there pressure from Asian parents to excel in school, but there is pressure to stay in school and at least obtain a master’s degree. I can understand how some non-Asian people will tell me how they had similar pressure to excel in school, but it’s just not the same. I can’t tell you how many times I have been introduced to people that aren’t Asian and the first thing they ask me is what I do for a living, then they ask me what school I went to. When I tell them what I do (and it’s not being an accountant or engineer) and when they ask me where I went to school and I tell them I did 2 years part-time at a community college and went to seminary when I was 38, they usually walk away from the conversation confused. They spent time trying to quickly assess me before asking the questions, yet my answers were unexpected. At the heart of the matter is whether they would ask me what I do and where I went to school if I weren’t Asian.
So, being deemed too smart and a geek by white students, yet not smart enough for the Asian students is not a very comforting place to be. It leads to conflict and some resentment over who we are.
Another problem is in how we as Asian-Americans represent ourselves. Why should non-Asians really be cautious over what they say or what they find humorous if Asians say and laugh at the same things? Isn’t that hypocritical? In short, yes it is. When there are people like Bobby Lee of MadTv mocking Asians for the sake of getting a laugh, it absolutely sends a confusing message to non-Asians. Unfortunately, for some that aspire to be actors or comedians, perpetuating stereotypes is the only way they can get work. Some Asians don’t even understand how wrong it is to perpetuate the stereotypes and connotations of playing up being Oriental.
As an Asian-American, does Francis Chan have a responsibility to be some super-Asian and season every statement he makes with an Asian perspective? Not at all! From Francis’ perspective, he is doing what is right for him and his messages connect with lots of people. However, at the same time, should Francis Chan operate in circles of influence that only care about his Asian appearance rather than his Asian cultural perspective? No, I don’t think he should. As an Asian-American Christian, I think he does have some responsibility to other Asians. He may speak the language of white evangelicals, but at the same time he obviously doesn’t look like a white evangelical. There is a reason for that. Chan is Asian-American and is gaining respect in the white evangelical church, yet he isn’t white. This has to have some meaning and can’t be equated as just some random thing. It’s similar to Obama’s presidency. We all pat each other on the back and the world stands and applauds us for voting in a black president. However, our expectation is that he is black in appearance only, not in a cultural context. President Clinton went to McDonald’s and was criticized and stereotyped as a result. Imagine if President Obama went to KFC on a regular basis. Even though you may explain to me how you aren’t prejudice or racist and that you see Obama as just another president, I know that your mind wandered into a place of stereotype as you envisioned Obama eating at KFC. It’s the same reason why if Obama plays basketball you’re okay with it, but if he played basketball poorly you’d question it. Stereotypes are difficult to overcome. They wreak havoc on our perceptions even on subconscious levels. As much as we as non-black Americans see in these stereotypes, how do you think black Americans feel? They see Obama as a sign of hope and change. That a black person can be elected president and ultimately bring some respect to African-Americans. They expect that he will represent them in some way that someone like myself couldn’t. In the same way, there is some expectation that Francis Chan will use his opportunities to lend a voice for the voiceless Asian-Americans who deal with conflict and self-esteem issues and feel out of place in the church. In an extreme sense, just as pop culture and Hollywood exploit people like Bobby Lee on MadTv to show some diversity on the set, the white evangelical church can exploit Francis Chan for the sake of claiming some diversity in the pulpit.
In the end, those of us that are Asian-Americans don’t have a unified philosophy on racism, prejudice, stereotypes or exploitation. Some of us (Asian-Americans) laugh at skits that remind us of the days of being an Oriental in a white land because we never lived through that pain and accepted environment oppression. Some of us Asian-Americans use our Chinese voice and squint our eyes and make fun of parents to our white friends because they don’t know what it’s like to be physically threatened because we as Asians were caught talking to a white girl on campus. Yes, some of us Asian-Americans can be insensitive to those that have walked before us because we feel we are above the racism so much so that we can laugh at stuff just like our white friends. In the end, it’s this passive perpetuation of stereotypes that fuels non-Asians to make the same jokes, pull at their eye lids and make the buck teeth while putting on thick coke bottle glasses, say things like “Heh-rro!” in a room full of Asians and expect to get a laugh.
Just so you know, I am an American first. I love my country and am willing to defend her. However, God created me for a reason and I am called to live my journey as a guy born in Japan and brought to California to live amongst a diverse group of people and find my own identity in Christ. It must have some perspective of my culture otherwise my story which begins with being born in Japan is insignificant and irrelevant. If that were to be true, then why are there so many nations of varying cultures on Earth? Why not just be one continent with one people? Even in the Bible we see people of different nations all playing a role. Some positive, some not so positive, but they all are important in the context of entire story. Even Moses was created by God to be extracted from his land and placed into the culture of Egypt, only to be reunited with the people of Israel and lead them to the promised land. His culture was of great importance in the greater context. Mine isn’t to be considered on the same magnitude, but it is still significant in some small way. I am a child of God with a Japanese perspective and heritage living in America. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Related posts:
Dave, this is very long and well though out. When I say, I don’t see you for your color – what I mean is this – I do not make any false presumptions of assumptions. I Love You for you and that includes your culture, heritage, and uniqueness. Like MLK I do not and will not judge you by your the color of your skin; but will take you for the content of your character and your spirit. In your case – that is something I genuinely love!
That is just my initial thought on what I perused very quickly. I’ll read the rest later.
IHL,
Richie
Rich, looking at someone with preconceived notions based on their appearance is prejudice. Assuming we are all brothers in Christ and ignore our cultures is passive disrespect. Even without racial differences, there are cultural differences based on socio-economics and even based on where we grew up or live now. My culture from California is different from that of someone from the east coast. Someone from back east calling me “oriental” would be received much differently from someone here in California calling me that. If I’m not aware of the cultural differences, I could be sensitive to something that I misunderstood. Also knowing you were in the military in-itself creates another aspect of your cultural makeup. If I love you for you and that includes your culture, heritage, and uniqueness I lend respect to my words when I try to be sensitive and understanding of those aspects of you as well as being open to learn more about you through those elements and not just looking at you as just like everyone else I know. I’m speaking critically in an area that I’m not being critical with you about and it is one of those things that I probably am not being very eloquent about. It’s from something deep inside that I haven’t really verbalized most of my life, so please forgive me if I’m stumbling a bit in my explanation.
hey dave,
good article and well thought out.
i wished you could have mentioned more cultural captivity of the gospel and church as part of the complex dialogue in race and power, but this is a helpful discussion.
no one thinks FC is a sellout to the gospel of Jesus Christ. but i think AA’s (and probably only AA’s could) have the right to call him out on the carpet as to whether or not he will or can speak for us. i think MLK went through similar phase in his formation where he was trained in white seminaries in the north, but had to become reacquainted with his roots in Atlanta before he become the tour de force he was. but i agree with you, i’m not suggesting that FC owes the AA community anything, but i do think it’s fair for the AA community to ask.
now, this is where it gets touchy. some people think that this kind of discussion is divisive, but i believe that it is holistic and descriptive.
let’s put this in mathematical terms (even though I was horrible at math):
if God created different peoples to be unique and beautiful in and of ourselves through the redeeming power of Christ, that there is a purpose to such distinction, we could perhaps represent these as different variables: x = white; y=asian; z=black, etc.
God then is most glorified when x + y + z = the sum of these different values.
But when we assimilate too quickly, or decide that the intrinsic value (calling) placed on us is not what we want, or through colonialism, another value is placed on us, then what happens is that y = f(x), where to be asian is to be derivative of white somehow. which means the equation has been distorted somewhat:
x + f(x) + f(x) < x+y+z
if that makes any sense.
in other words, something is lost particularly in multi-ethnic scenarios because each value has not been upheld. now, while i believe that ultimately God’s vision in revelation (where all tongues, tribes and nations are preserved) will win out, i believe that the Godgiven faculties of memory and imagination should be used to begin to show that richness now, to enact a profound reconciliation now, and instill a sense of ownership of ourselves as part of God’s artistic calculus.
I always feel as if I should go hide in a corner somewhere when I read your thoughts because it intimidates me to know I can’t express my feelings in a similar way as you do. I’m so glad you replied to the post with your thoughts!
The original post was just typewritten thought–basically I started typing and when I was done, I posted it. It’s years of emotion and thought bubbling up to the surface and even I don’t quite understand all of it yet. The cultural captivity of the gospel is an issue I don’t quite comprehend, therefore I dare not initiate a post on it. I understand its relevance and am recognizing it has some emotional pull on my senses, but still trying to maneuver through its implication in my story and whether that aspect of my story should be revealed to the masses.
Being completely honest here, I feel as I have been a captive and a derivative of white culture. It’s like the whole Harold & Kumar Twinkie reference of being yellow on the outside, white on the inside. Assimilation into the world of white America was somehow like a big prize for me. It was a sign that I had made it because I was no different from them. It has led to much conflict in my life, but it’s always resided under the surface. I know I’m not alone in this, and maybe that is what I will ultimately lend my voice to.
Hey Dave! Loved reading this post. Good stuff. I agree that “those of us that are Asian-Americans don’t have a unified philosophy on racism, prejudice, stereotypes or exploitation.” I personally wonder about laughing/joking about some stereotypes that are genuinely humorous. Have you heard of Russell Peters? One of his most famous jokes is about how Indians and Chinese folks can’t do business together because both are too cheap. (Check youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO_Fc-OT1Pg) I think there is definitely some truth to it, which makes it funny! But how do you draw the line of what is funny and what is offensive?
Glennis, when I was involved in youth ministry with a local Korean church, I heard Russell Peters mentioned all the time. I never heard his comedy first-hand until now. Thanks for sharing the link.
I have to admit to you that my position on this has changed drastically within the last year. I’ve started looking outside of myself and what I see as funny and putting the person being joked about into the scenario. Based on the Russell Peters joke about Chinese merchants and Indian consumers, there are actually several issues I have with it:
It stereotypes all Chinese and Indian people.. Even though the context of the joke was about being in a market and buying & selling, it will carry over to *any* Chinese or Indian person. That perpetuates the stereotype is unfair to others. Even as a Japanese person, I have been confused as falling within this stereotpe of being unreasonable and always wanting an impossible bargain.
The people Russell makes jokes about in-essence could be my parents. Culturally, first-generation immigrants will bring their culture with them here to the United States. Since it’s foreign to us, it’s easy to make fun of it. Then, stigma gets associated with the stereotype and then we Americans begin embracing terms like “Indian Giver” to denote something negative. Simply put, it’s just wrong. America was founded on the backs of African & Chinese laborers, yet they are often shown to be second class citizens.
It’s not really about the truth you see in the joke but it’s in the way the joke was delivered. It’s the mockery of the people in the joke you laugh at, not the joke itself. Replay the dialog in your mind, but this time do it in a clear, American English voice. Instead of saying “tur-tee doll-ahs, enunciate it and say it as “Thirty dollars.” Is it still funny? In reality, if you look at the moments you’ve laughed at ethnic humor, you’ll find the person delivering the joke always does so mimicking the broken English of the person being joked about. Whether it be Asian, Hispanic, or African-American ghetto gangster rapper. Without the dialect, the joke just isn’t funny anymore. Therefore, I argue it’s not the joke, but the humor in exploiting the ethnicity of someone that is funny. It is an expression of racism and we try to justify it as an excuse to poke fun at people different than us, but then saying things like, “There is some truth in it.” I’m a Japanese-American, but I don’t eat, say, dress, etc like every other Japanese-American. So, what you see as “some truth” in a funny joke, I may not agree with and use myself as an example of how it’s not true. Additionally, having seen the pain of racism and prejudice my Japanese mom went through living here in the US, when I see other people do the stereotypical chinky eyes and using r’s in place of l’s and saying words like lollipop or hello, it reminds me of those instances and it really makes me sad and angry because it’s just so insensitive. Kind of like making jokes about genocide in the presence of a Jewish kid. We would know that was inappropriate, yet we say heh-ro in front of Asians and expect they will find it funny.
If Russell Peters wants to tell those jokes and people want to laugh at them and repeat them to others, that is their right to do so. However, as I mentioned above, really consider if you’re laughing because it’s funny or if you’re laughing because it makes fun of people that are different than you. And, if you’re laughing and poking fun at people just because they are different than you, what does that really say about you as a person? That’s my challenge.
Hey Dave,
I have been following your blog and the topic or discussion of American Asian is of great interest to me. I am a Chinese Canadian, albeit first generation. There are some good discussion about how should Asian Churches share the gospel in a non Asian context. My church is working through that as well.
When it comes to different diversity, in regards of ethnicity, this is nothing new in the Bible. I mean, the first churches, from Acts on, there were Jews worshiping with Gentiles (Greeks). This is a whole new concept of worship compare to OT.
The example I am reminded is of Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot. They might not be different because of race but in regards to social and political status, they are as distinct as you can get. One prof said that you would expect Matthew and Simon to knife each other in the street. Yet because, (and ONLY because) of Jesus Christ, they are able to have fellowship, share a meal with one another. It is so radical that it is like today a US soldier have lunch with a terrorist. It just doesn’t happen nor does it make sense. BUT it does because of the work of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ as the focus.
I am trying to emphasis, not our difference but our commonality that unite Christians together. The obvious answer is Jesus Christ. Can’t say better than Paul in 1 Corinthians when he talk about a church body, each has a function. Each body have different purpose. Through it all, the body works together.
Lastly, for me, it is the understanding that it is only through the Holy Spirit which we can come together and dwell together despite our differences (culture, race, social, political etc.) Acts 2 and Acts 4 are some of the beautiful picture of what happens when the Holy Spirit is alive and people come together regardless of who they are and shared lives. Simply beautiful!
Cliff, the challenge of seeing unity in the church is difficult even before we bring ethnic cultures and diversity into the mix. We have a long way to go in the church towards understanding each other and being unified, but as you noted, there is still hope :)
I agree that we in the church should seek to find commonalities rather than be separatists, yet at the same time I am beginning to feel like the white American church doesn’t care about what they have in common with me as an Asian-American–they are only concerned about me shedding my culture and joining hand in hand with them as the white American church shrouded under the false impression of being multi-cultural. The white church desperately wants me to connect with them, yet only if I can do so just as any other white congregant.
You pointed out that there were Jews and Gentiles worshiping together in the early church. However, it was Paul that clearly stated that if someone wanted to recognize some food as unclean, we should not cause them to stumble. If they wanted to embrace their Jewish culture, even though the Gentile church thought all food to be clean, they were encouraged to keep the traditions. We as the Gentile church today don’t look upon different cultures in the same way. It only recognizes the white American Gentile culture. Until there is an openness to learning and understanding the distinctives that in reality do make us different, we can never hope to be reconciled to unity under Christ.
David, THANK YOU SO MUCH for speaking up. You echo my heart. White privilege, I tell you, exists, even in Korea.
Yes, I have seen it in Korea first-hand myself. Unfortunately, the westernization of Korea is prevalent because with it comes power & privilege. As strange as this will sound to some people, for some Korean companies to do business with me here in the USA is like a big trophy. They can show off to other companies in their industry that they have American contracts and are exporting their products to the American market. They gain a higher status than those companies that do not do so.
Dave — Love and appreciate how you have poured out what’s going on in your heart and mind into this post with such genuine honesty.
Having *just* read this for the first time, I will want to reserve a response to your thoughts and statements. But immediately, some texts come to might which might help further the dialogue:
1) Gary Y. Okihiro’s http://bit.ly/marginsandmainstreamsbook
2) Fumitaka Matsuoka’s http://bit.ly/outofsilencebook
Have you read any of these books? They seem very relevant to some of the issues you bring up.