It’s been just one of those weeks for me – a little more busy, intense, and unexpected than what I expected. And while I was hoping to write one more substantive post today to gather some thoughts, I just don’t have the energy to put together a coherent post.
I’ve got a backlog of stuff and will try to piece the following posts together in the couple weeks:
- Why No One Likes an Angry Asian Man
- Why I Support Women in Leadership
- Why Preaching Still Matters
- Heart to Heart with Asian American Leaders
- Why Church Attendance is Overrated
And this one I promised couple weeks ago:
And I also hope to share more information about the humanitarian organization we are launching this summer. We are still waiting for the final documents before we reveal the name and vision. Honestly, this is probably the most prominent thing on our hearts in this season and we seriously covet your prayers.
An earlier post about “my [pseudo] conversation about Rob Bell” apparently disappointed and hurt some readers. It has incited some intense conversation but what I did not intend was for the conversation to go all over the place. And wow, it has gone all over the place. So, let me clarify couple basic things and then call it a night.
[1] The post was not about Rob Bell because well, it wasn’t about Rob Bell. He’s a good guy; I’m a growing fan; Really enjoyed his chat on Tuesday; Don’t think we should be isolating issues about ”small things” like what cars people drive, if we walk to work or blah blah blah. My post was not intended to diss Rob Bell the dude…he just happened to be there and the subject of the issue of women in leadership came up which for me must then include the conversation of men in leadership.
Why do I want to clarify that I’m not dissing Rob Bell? Because I don’t want Mars Hillians from both Seattle and G-Rap [Grand Rapids] to be on my case because well, that would be like 4 million people angry at me. Rob Bell is my homeboy.
Ok. Enough. Let’s move on.
[2] Last night, our church hosted another quarterly discussion on the issues of Faith and Race. We discuss these issues because we are Christians. Follow Christ = Love Mercy, Seek Justice, and Walk Humbly. Simple, huh?
We still suck but we are trying to regularly have these conversations because if our faith can’t engage the difficult and complex issues of our context and culture, then our Christ has been deduced to a nice, hip, self-help therapist. And that really sucks.
Each year, the church holds a 5-6 week class on Faith & Race and then attempts to hold quarterly discussions. Last night, we focused the discussion on Barack Obama’s “historic” speech on race. And before someone wails on the church leadership for indirectly endorsing Obama by talking about this speech, let’s not go there. I have received enough emails on that issue.
But here’s the simple point: We need to have these conversations – as uncomfortable as they may be. And if they happen to be on the blogosphere, so be it.
And by conversations, I mean both talking and listening.
Filed under: religion, barack obama, rob bell
Sweet. Looking forward to these posts.
Sounds like you’ve had a tough week. Hang in there.
Love mercy, seek justice, walk humbly. Brilliant. Did you make that up?
I am very excited by and interested about your emphasis on Faith and Race. What have you seen grow out of those discussions?
Blessings.
I took the Faith and Race class last year and I learned and grew a lot and I continue to wrestle with how to deal with some of the issues that were raised. I came away with much more empathy for all people or all races. I also gained a desire to read and learn and think (and write more about the problems surrounding race in America.
I’m sure my experience is not atypical for those who attend Quest’s Faith and Race events.
I think it’s important to note that the class is not a hate-fest. Despite the challenging topic and the difficult ideas that go along with them, there’s ample time for open and honest discussion. I felt free and safe to ask questions that exposed my ignorance and naivete. I also felt safe enough to admit that I had grown up with privileges because of both where I was born and raised (Hawaii) and because of my race (Asian).
Eugene, thanks for continuing on with real posts addressing real issues even when you are inevitably misunderstood and attacked. Pastors have some thick skin!
Kacie
Russ, Micah 6:8 (you were joking about that first line, right?)
and i wanted to chime in with Randall – i took the class in ’06 and it is still transforming the way i think, the way i see the world, the way i order my priorities; that conversation has impacted me immensely
chad: the blog has a pretty broad base of readers. those who are familiar with scripture ad those who don’t. those who are christians and those who are not. those at quest and mostly outside of quest.
so, i’m pretty sure russ wasn’t joke and i know it wasn’t your intent to sound condescending.
you and randall’s words have great encouraged me; it’s good to know that it is impacting our worldview and lives – even in small ways.
I love the list of potential posts – very interesting. I was thinking of you, Eugene, and your good leadership. I think you should write something on why leadership is needed (and not a 4 letter word!) and what a healthy expression of that can be in this day and age. I’ve been aware of this with the way you and Minhee have started this humanitarian org. I know some have critiqued that public way you’ve gone about it (I had a twinge of that thought at first). But then I began to see it as great leadership – it’s risky to invite people to follow you into something that bold but a good example.
Let me say you have a good sense of humor. Four MarsHillians…super.
Pastor Eugene, I wanted to come out to the Faith and Race event last night. However, I had to give a talk at IV large group last night ironically about race. I wish I could have gone and I hope it was a constructive dialogue. Even though I don’t support Barack Obama in the primary, I think his speech is definitely a necessary and relevant topic in the context of the discussion about race. I’m excited that Quest has taken the initiative to engage in this issue, even if it may elicit some resistance.
Randall: thanks for sharing your experience. That was exactly what I was curious about. I recently facilitated a discussion on war and peace, and I wrestled with the response – or lack there of. You’ve given me hope to try again.
Chad: totally kidding. I thought about making one of those semi-colon and parenthesis, winking smiley faces but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I wasn’t kidding about it being brilliant.
Eugene: thanks for giving the grace in case I hadn’t been kidding. And thank you twice over for sharing your journey here – your sharing has made my way better.
Russ: oh good, i really didn’t want to sound condescending – didn’t even cross my mind until PE mentioned it