What to do with Ferguson

Ferguson is a topic that has been heavy on my heart as of late. It's been brought up by many black activists, white mega-church pastors, and is the center of conversation in one of my classes. So, what's the big deal?

As Christians, we believe in the worth of every individual. Yes, EVERY individual. We say that all men are created in the image of God, but truthfully, we do not treat them as such. As an Asian American, I can say that I have experienced oppression and discrimination. However, I can say that as an Asian American, I am also privileged. I guess you could say that I am caught in the "in-between." I have privilege in some areas of American society in that Asians are put on a pedestal for academics and their work ethic. Nonetheless, I am discriminated against because White people still pack up and go (white flight) when there is a mass migration of Asians into a concentrated area (just look at Chinatown) and in that very few people to understand my culture (I'm not Chinese). 

So, as a person of the yellow color caught in between the spectrum of white and black, what am I to do? I believe that my experiences are powerful.I understand the racial discrimination and prejudice that plagues my black brothers and sisters. But also, I have been placed in a position of privilege because Asians have been called the model race for our academic and occupational successes. So, in this time of racial tension, maybe God put the "in-betweens" in America to be a mediator, bringing both our experiences of privilege and discrimination to establish common ground and unity. Being in the "in-between" allows us to be the mediator between the two extremes as long as we remember that we are not mutually exclusive from either side. It should not be us against the whites or us against the blacks. Instead, we are supposed to be an integrated unit, and as such, we have been given the opportunity to help create peace between our white and black brothers and sisters. 

I'll end with this. The Ferguson case is not only a governmental and societal problem, but it is also a God-problem because God cares for ALL of humanity. God did not intend for racial segregation and discrimination, but through Jesus, we can see that God is a breaker of walls and boundaries accepting of ALL people. Whenever we discriminate against whites and blacks, our comments mock God's glorious creation. Whenever we say that we speak truth and fact about the negative aspects of the "majority" of a race, may we repent because our hope is in Christ Jesus and in Him is hope for everyone. Although society may discriminate me less as an Asian American, I must remember that it is not God that has not given me that privilege, but it is a man-made privilege. Therefore, I have nothing to boast about as a person of the yellow color, but I have everything to boast about as a follower of Christ. 

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Practical ways to end racial discrimination as Asian-American Christians:

1. Stop the generalizing. Stereotyping leads to false perceptions and unfair judgement. If we don't stop the generalizations in our own lives, it will pass down to our children and grandchildren.

2. Listen to stories. We can learn a lot just by listening to the stories of diverse people. My white friends never would have known about "Driving while black" and my black friends would have never known about white guilt if they didn't listen to each other's stories. Stories put a face to social issues and preserves the humanity of the group being judged. 

3. Pray for peace. There is so much unrest in our nation today because of the death of Michael Brown and we must pray to God for peace. We cannot change a nation ourselves and fortunately, God wants to partner with us in ending the hate crimes and discrimination of our day. 

4. Remember dignity and worth. Every person has dignity and worth no matter their actions because they possess the image of God. Remembering this during times of confrontation and anger can put the value of the person into perspective. 

With Love,

Kevin Pranoto

Home.

A house is so important for people of all cultures. It defines a person's socio-economic status, style, culture, etc. Whenever you go to someone's house, you are immediately able to judge a person. If the person has a mansion, you can probably tell that he/she is rich. If there's a plethora of furniture and trinkets inside of the house, you can probably tell that he/she is a hoarder. If trash accumulates and there's dust all around, you can probably tell that he/she is a lazy bum.

The house is so important in Asian culture, and this is evidenced by the emphasis on something called feng-shui. Even though my parents were not big into this Asian superstition, it was still in the back of their minds when they were shopping for houses. First of all, the house had to have an open feel so that air can circulate. Then, the stairs could not be directly in front of the front door, unless we wanted our blessings to run out the door. Next, the master bedroom had to be downstairs so that they don't have to climb up the stairs once they were old. All of these requirements were just the tip of the iceberg. Some might say that Asians are picky, and to that I would say, "yes they are."

Now, upon reading Haggai, I understand God's frustration with Judah. God wanted a house and he wasn't getting it. Everyone was neglecting the temple and instead was focusing on their own housing projects. Not only was God mad that his temple was not being built, but he was picky about it too. If the temple was supposed to resemble anything like the temple in Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel 41-47, no wonder the Jewish people were not quick to start building the temple. God was demanding a very difficult task. But still, the house is what people look at. A house is a reflection of who you are. Your personality and your status is determined by your house. People revere a person by the kind of house they have. In the same way, God deserved a magnificent house because he is a rich and extravagant God. He deserves the best because no one else compares to him. The grand temple would also show the whole world how magnificent YHWH is. If God wants to show off, he should. He deserves a temple that shows people how important he is. 

"Don't Dare Dishonor the Family"

When I was a child, if I asked to borrow some money from my friends at school and my parents found out about it, it would be the end of me. This simple act of borrowing lunch money was seen by my parents as me shouting to the whole world that my parents were unable to provide. Even though this was not the case at all, and the reason I didn't have lunch money because I forgot it at home, the act of borrowing money was one that shamed the entire family. 

To generalize, I'll put it this way. My actions cannot be separated from my family and my family's actions cannot be separated from me. My personal failure meant that my whole family experienced that failure.  No matter what I do, it would always have an effect on my family. My failures equaled bad parenting. 

Similarly, Israel's negative actions are a negative portrayal of God in the book of Isaiah. Every negative action that Israel did implied that God was a bad God. They claimed the family name of God, but lived rebellious lives, which might have caused foreigners to question if their god was the real god. This is why God urged Israel to repent and walk in the path of righteousness. Their failure to love each other and obey God is a negative reflection of God, and in turn, God should be ashamed of them because they have dishonored him by living careless lives. The Israelites weren't meant to live for themselves, but to honor God. Everything they did was a reflection of their greater family, which was God and his people. 

"See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you." (Isaiah 55:5, NRSV)

Israel was supposed to cause nations to praise the LORD. Their works were supposed to impress nations to want to be like them. Instead, their actions dishonored the entire family. They acted in a way that brought shame to their "house" and caused foreigners to have a negative image of God. But like the Asian parent, God will not allow his name to be shamed, and therefore urges Israel to keep the covenant. 

"Shame Shame..."

As an Asian American, I know all about shame. If you didn't grow up with tiger parents, let me give you the rundown. As an Asian American, I was held to the impossibly high standard of making straight A's in school, performing flawless solos at recitals, holding an office position in my extracurricular activities, and was raised with the expectation of making a six-figure salary. Clearly, I fell short of all these standards, and because of that I often felt like I was an embarrassment to my family. My parents would blame my mistakes and failures on my inconsistent practice and/or failure to take things seriously. Sometimes, they would yell at me or ground me, but it was all so that I could become better.

As I read Isaiah, I sympathize with the Israelite's shame. They failed, so the only natural response is shame. It's the natural order of life. However, one thing that I don't understand is why they didn't change or repent. From the beginning of Isaiah, the prophet asked Judah "Why do you continue to rebel?" (Isaiah 1:5) This question is followed by promises of restoration and protection if the people would only obey. I learned from an early age that the only way to get rid of my shame is to do everything I can to please my parents. If my parents are happy, then I'll be happy. I know that they don't want me to fail, and they surely don't want me to live an unsuccessful life. That's exactly why they were hard on me and pushed me towards perfection. I think that that is exactly what God is doing here too. God wants the best for his people. Isaiah 55:9 says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Just like my parents, I won't always understand why God is pushing me towards perfection and disciplining me along the way. Even though I might not always agree with what God is doing, I know that God will only lead me in the right direction for my good.