Category Archives: Thoughts on East and West

Leaving Behind a Lasting Legacy

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Now that I am a grandfather twice over, I’ve been thinking more about the Christian legacy I will leave behind when my life is finally over. Who will carry the torch of Christ’s salvation to the generations that follow? What will the children of my children’s children care about and contribute to society? What kind of people will they be? Will they come to know, love, and serve the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Sadly, many people in our world today question the value of children. Perhaps they are only consumers who will produce a larger carbon footprint, an inconvenient and expensive drain upon the earth and our personal time and resources; or maybe they are just the unfortunate and unintended “product” of an erotic sexual act. In beautiful contrast, Solomon rightly calls children a precious gift and a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3).

Against the growing contemporary resistance in some parts of the world to having children, the push for progeny in many parts of Asia is so strong it can even overshadow the significance of God’s greater purpose for our lives. Part of this push is the ancient social security system ensuring that parents are cared for in their old age. But it is much deeper than mere pragmatics. The passion to pass on one’s bloodline and family name suggests that I can somehow live forever vicariously through my physical progeny. This assumption and drive can eclipse other much more important factors for determining whether or not one’s life is well-spent.

I’m grateful that my parents gave me physical life, but infinitely more grateful that they imparted spiritual and eternal life by sharing and living out before me the gospel of Jesus Christ. And as grateful and delighted as I am that God blessed us with children and now grandchildren, they did not come into the world to justify my significance or pass on my DNA and family name. Nor did they arrive to ensure I am cared for when I’m old. In fact, their purpose is far greater.

Like my parents before me, my highest hope and prayer is to leave behind a legacy that runs deeper and longer than mere flesh and blood, a legacy recognizing that the family of God transcends material genetics and has an unbreakable bond that holds fast for all eternity. Our adoption into God’s family demonstrates that spiritual offspring are infinitely more important than merely physical ones.

The lasting legacy I want to leave behind is one where people come to know, love, and serve God well because I knew, loved, and served Him well. Thus, while physical progeny are glorious gifts from God, leaving behind an everlasting heritage of passionate followers of Jesus Christ is by far the greater privilege, higher calling, and deeper desire. May He use us powerfully for this much loftier and lasting legacy.

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Are all religions alike? Responding to Religious Pluralism

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I heard it again the other day.  Someone confidently stated that all religions are basically the same and that all roads ultimately lead to God.

On the face of it, the statement has contemporary plausibility, if for no other reason that it’s been said so frequently in popular culture, it no longer sounds strange or untrue.  The basic claim is that all religions are roughly equal in terms of their truth content (metaphysics), moral ideals (ethics), and overall purposes and goals (teleology).

What does sound wrong and offensive to contemporary western ears is this statement: “I believe that my religion is the only true and accurate one, and that all others are false and misleading in critically important ways.”  How can we evaluate the claim of religious pluralism that all religions are roughly equal?  Can we still cling to the conviction that our religion is actually correct and that some religions are closer to the truth and exhibit greater moral goodness than others, or is this hopelessly naïve and out-of-date?

There are a number of ways to proceed from this point.  Any fair and comprehensive defense of a specific religious viewpoint is a massive undertaking and one that cannot be provided in a simple blog post like this. What can be done, however, is a simple comparative look at some of the central claims of five major world religions.  This will help us see more clearly how similar—and dissimilar—they really are.  This is necessary because many religious pluralists are happy to state and hold to their ideology but have seldom taken an honest and accurate look at the actual claims and tenets of the major world religions.

ReligionFounderGodJesusProblemSolution
HinduismN/A
3,000 B.C.		Brahman
Many gods		Just a ManSamsara
Ignorance		Good Works
Knowledge
Devotion
BuddhismSidhartha
Guatama
583 B.C.		Irrelevant
Nirvana		Just a ManSamsara
Ego-centered
Desire		8-fold path
to Nirvana
Good Works
JudaismAbraham
Moses
2,000 B.C.		MonotheisticJust a Man or
Even a False
Prophet		Impurity
Alienation
from God		Repentance
Observe the
Divine Law
(Good Works)
ChristianityJesus ChristMonotheisticThe God-ManRebellion
Sin
Separation		Trust in the Life
and Death of
Jesus Christ
Free Gift/Grace
IsalmMuhammad
AD 570		MonotheisticA ProphetDisobedienceSubmission
5 Pillars
Good Works
Comparing Five Major World Religions

I could pursue several other lines of interest including moral, teleological, and eschatological claims, but the aforementioned aspects are sufficient to show that while there are some similarities, the major religions are, at their root, fundamentally at odds with one another, especially with respect to Jesus and the meaning and way of salvation.  All attempts to reconcile them either fail to represent them faithfully or tend to ignore or paste over these essential disparities.  In short, all religions definitely do not teach the same things.  They are frequently and fundamentally at odds with one another at numerous foundational points. We may try to become an advocate for the truth and goodness of this or that religion on the basis of evidence, life-change, historical significance, personal preference, or some other set of rationales.  We may even deny the efficacy and truth of all religions, looking to some other source and means for our hope and well-being.  But one thing we cannot sensibly continue to claim is that all religions are roughly equal and generally teach the same things.  They decidedly do not!

COVID-19: Some Semi-factual Reflections

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With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there are a lot of unanswered questions and incorrect information swirling around on the internet.  I am neither a medical doctor nor a virologist, but I’ve seen so much that is misleading and inaccurate, I couldn’t help adding a few semi-factual reflections to the confusing cacophony.  I do so with the hope that at least for some, it might provide a bit more sanity and clarity.

First of all, as much as no one wants to hear it, the main goal at this point is mitigation, not eradication.  I’ve heard many make the claim that the vast majority of cases (80-85%) are relatively mild and most will readily recover.  So far, so good.  The real problem is the 15% (using the more conservative figure), as well as the wildly disparate death rates from country to country.  It would appear the reasons for the disparity are many, but it’s not my purpose here to get lost in the numbers.  Others have already put out valuable and accurate articles along those lines to help explain the reasons for these disparities.

Because this disease is very contagious—almost twice that of the flu—so-called “social distancing” is the main way to slow the spread.  This ultimately achieves not eradication, but mitigation, and mitigation is necessary to keep those who will get very sick from the virus manageable in terms of numbers.

Italy (as well as China and Iran) is a good test case for this problem.  Italy failed to put serious restrictions in place until many people had already died.  When the numbers of sick shot up exponentially, medical resources were almost immediately stretched to the breaking point.  There were not nearly enough medical personnel, beds, medications, ventilators, etc. to meet the burgeoning demand.  If they had put restrictions in place earlier, they would at least have slowed the exponential spread of the virus and given the medical community a smaller and steadier stream of patients to be treated and released, making room for others to come in on their heels.

As it is now, Italian hospitals are deciding who lives and who dies based on factors like being a parent, being young and healthy, having no pre-existing medical conditions, etc.  This is triage of the most macabre and dreadful kind, but wholly necessary given the situation they are in.  Sad to say, all of that is now water under the bridge.  If, however, the USA can learn anything from all of this, it’s that they need to put widespread draconian restrictions in place sooner and not later.

While no one wants to hear or face it, quarantines, shortages, travel bans, online-only education, and the cancelation of large-scale social events (regular church services included) are likely to be the new normal for quite some time—likely months and not just weeks.  If we have learned anything from the lockdown in China, it’s that this virus is not going to be eliminated on a large scale for a long, long time.  On January 23 in Wuhan, China closed down virtually everything that did not pertain to vital services for a city of 11 million people.  The rest of China soon followed.  While cases of the virus have finally fallen to nearly zero, it has taken almost two full months to get to this point and the Chinese lockdown has been enforced in draconian absolutist communist style, literally locking and sealing people into their respective homes and communities.  Even so, it is still unclear when the restrictions will be lifted and to what extent.  One thing is for sure, China will not be allowing people from other parts of the world back in to re-infect them anytime soon.

I am deeply concerned for the situation in the US for many reasons.  First and foremost, Americans love their freedom way too much.  They also tend to distrust and disrespect their leaders and those in authority over them.  It’s difficult for most Americans to be told what to do.  It’s even harder for them to actually do what they are told.

Most Asians, on the other hand, have a much more communal mindset and clearly understand the value of making hard personal choices for the sake of the overall societal wellbeing.  Their Confucian roots also make them much more trusting of those in authority over them.  This combination makes it more likely that people will do what they are asked (not even required) to do by the authorities for the sake of the greater good of all.  We have seen the happy results of that here in Singapore where the virus spread continues to be kept from blowing out and overwhelming the medical system.

Beyond all of this, it’s still very hard to say what effect warmer and more humid days will have on COVID-19.  We can only hope that similar to other coronaviruses like the flu and the common cold, warmer summer months will help slow the speed of transmission.  We simply do not know yet, but very warm and tropic places in Asia (like Singapore) show that this virus is not easily contained in any climate.  We also hope for a vaccine to be developed sooner and not later.  But in the meantime, people everywhere need to be patient and take the governmental restrictions put in place very seriously so that hospitals and medical workers will not be overwhelmed and forced to make dreadful decisions about who will live and die.

So far, these are relatively factual (although admittedly debatable) reflections.  In the post that follows, I will reflect more on issues of faith and fear as we increasingly come face-to-face with the realities of a post-COVID-19 world.

The Reconciling Power of the Gospel

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Glancing around my theology class, I was struck by the mix of cultures present in the room.  Outside of the fact that I am from the USA, students hail from places like East Asia, India, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar (Burma), Suriname, and Singapore.

There is more significance to this list than might be appreciated at first glance.

Not only do the USA and Japan have a contentious past, Asian nations also have a long and bitter history of conflict and war with each other.  During World War II, for example, the Japanese not only bombed pearl harbor, they conquered the Philippines, Korea, as well as much of China and Southeast Asia.  As they advanced, they brutally killed and imprisoned many of the inhabitants.  Those allowed to live were sometimes raped, beaten, and treated like slaves and animals.

I mention this not to shame the Japanese.  All sides committed great atrocities against one another.  And Americans should not forget the countless innocent civilians indiscriminately killed in Japan when atomic warheads were dropped on two of their major cities.  I only share these examples to illustrate how deep the hatred and animosities still run between these countries up until the present.  For many, the pain and anger are still very fresh and very personal.

I also mention this to show the transforming power of the gospel.  Here at our seminary, these students are all sitting together peacefully, worshiping God, loving each other, praying, learning, and sharing together as devoted brothers and sisters in Christ.  In view of human history, only God could orchestrate this kind of unlikely fellowship of saints.

This is the radically profound power of the gospel.  It takes all the wrongs and atrocities of the past, all the shame, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, and searing loss, and brings it to the cross.  Here in Christ alone, the nations of the world find genuine healing and permanent reconciliation with God and one another.  It’s one more reason I am not ashamed of the gospel because it truly is the reconciling power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes, whether they were previously fast friends or even mortal enemies.

Why are we returning to Singapore?

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In my last couple of posts, I might have given the impression that the primary feeling I am experiencing when I think about returning to Singapore is grief, but that would not be entirely accurate.  My emotions on this issue are multilayered and range from sadness to excitement.

Lately, as the time of return draws near, the sense of excitement is growing and makes me want to say more about the reasons for it.  I already mentioned in a previous post that God has clearly called us and we want to obey Him, but there are some very practical and strategic reasons as well.

First, after living eight years in Singapore, we have lots of valuable experience and will have fewer cultural adjustments when we return.  We’ve already been through a lot of the bumps and bruises that come with learning to live well in a foreign country and will likely have an easier transition back.

Second, what we at EAST do is meeting one of the primary needs of the church in Asia, namely the intentional development of biblically-minded, godly, indigenous servant leaders.  Christianity is exploding in Asia, but without adequate training and discipleship, immature leadership can create all kind of problems for the long-term health and impact of the church.  We help provide the firm foundation upon which church leaders can build and grow.

Third, this need for leaders is so great, Asians are seeking further training in droves, but they often do so in seminaries far removed from their Asian roots.  They attend schools in Europe and North America that sometimes confuse and squelch their spiritual passion, or lure them away from Asia with prospects for ministry in places where there is already a surplus of qualified and effective Christian leaders.  Such opportunities draw many gifted leaders away from returning to Asia where they are needed the most.  For those who do return, they sometimes bring unbiblical teachings and contextually insensitive methodologies that can cause further conflict and confusion in Asian church communities.  By training Asian leaders in Asia, we keep them engaged in their local ministries and help them return to the needy mission fields where they are needed most and can be highly effective.

Fourth, and closely related, I am reminded of the quote: “Do not do what others can and will do.  Rather, do what others cannot or will not do.”  The fact is, America is abundantly supplied with qualified, gifted, and godly seminary professors, so much so, that many cannot even find teaching jobs in their field.  In contrast, seminaries in Asia like EAST are sorely understaffed and pleading for qualified teachers to come and meet the growing need for advanced Christian leadership development.  Barbara and I are uniquely called and suited to help meet this growing need in Asia.

Finally, and most importantly, I think of the godly and amazing students we’ve had the privilege of teaching and mentoring at the EAST.

I think of Tunji, a humble pastor from Nigeria, who came to EAST after miraculously surviving a Muslim riot that took the lives of some of his congregation.  He is now a leader of leaders, developing pastors in the sometimes dangerous and spiritually challenging countries of northeastern Africa.

There’s Jackie and Cindy, Singaporeans faithfully working among a spiritually resistant and unreached Muslim people group in East Asia.  There’s Moses, a Korean, who is reaching out to North Korean refugees in both South Korea and East Asia.  Bataa, a Mongolian, is now the country director for a growing Christian ministry in his home country, and Singaporean Bessie is regularly teaching courses on spiritual warfare in East Asia, a subject where biblically sound and practical information is desperately needed.

I also think of Shirley who came from East Asia to our school as a relatively young Christian.  Through the process of her time at EAST, she significantly matured in her faith and discerned God was calling her to minister as a missionary in Cambodia where she currently serves and regularly helps coordinate ministry internships for EAST students.

Honestly, the list could go on and on.  There are many more graduates I cannot mention due to security concerns and space limitations, but the privilege of working with high-level faithful Christian leaders like these is one of the most humbling and exciting aspects of what we do at EAST.  And I would not trade the chance for anything.

Why are we returning to Singapore?  We are called, equipped, needed, willing, and privileged to be a part of what God is doing there at such a time as this.

Do I love Singapore?

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When we tell people we are returning to Singapore, they often respond by saying, “You must love it there!”  Well, yes and no.  I love many things about Singapore, but there are also many things I don’t.

I don’t love the pace of life and the crowds of the city.  I love wide open spaces and wild places.  I don’t love the year-round humidity and heat of the tropics.  I love the seasons; the beauty of changing leaves in fall, the crispness of snow in winter, and the bursting forth of new life in spring.  I don’t love the challenges of living as a foreigner in a foreign land, far from friends and family, constantly struggling with the feeling of being displaced and unsettled.  I love being close to long-time friends and family, rooted and grounded in one place without the fear and frustration of having to uproot and move again and again.

On the other hand, I love living in a clean, safe city where everything works and there is minimal corruption.  I love being a part of what God is doing in Asia.  I love watching the church there grow exponentially and see churches catch a vision to take the gospel to the world.  I love being part of the ministry of the East Asia School of Theology, training current and future world Christian leaders.  I love hearing the incredible stories of God’s faithfulness in the students’ lives and all the wonderful ways He has used and is using them for His glory.

During our assignment back in the US, I wrestled hard with these somewhat polarizing loves, especially as the wait to return became extended.  Was I waiting for some other call?  Was I hoping for a new (and presumably easier) assignment?

I think if I am honest, although I never sent out any resumes and made no inquiries, I secretly hoped God would put it on someone’s heart to offer me a teaching position somewhere—anywhere—in the US.  But the offer never came.  There was not even a hint or possibility raised by anyone.  The heavens and earth were both deafeningly silent with regard to this hidden desire to stay and enjoy all the loves I associated with American life.

In the end it was very, very clear—not as a matter of default, but as a matter of divine calling—that God wanted me back in Singapore.  And with that calling came a renewed sense of excitement for all the things He wanted to do in and through me there.

Do I love Singapore or the USA?  Well, much more than either, and above all else, I love God and want to obey and follow Him, wherever He leads.  Right here and right now, that means continuing to serve and seek Him in Singapore—and anywhere else He might take me on this marvelous journey of faith.

The Aged: Wisdom and Honor or Weakness and Decay?

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“Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.  I am the Lord.” —Leviticus 19:32

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In reflecting on the way in which the elderly are treated in the east versus the west, I am struck by the way in which elderly people in the east are rarely shut away from their families, are often involved in the regular care for children and grand children, and are treated with great care and respect by not only family in particular, but also society in general.  In contrast, people in the west often place the elderly in homes where there are lots of other elderly around, but few inter-generational friends, family members, children, and grandchildren.

In the west there is a corresponding social impoverishment by consigning the elderly to be with one another, rather than integrating them into a society and a family structure which desperately needs their wisdom, time, and expertise.

In thinking about all of this I cannot help but wonder if there is something of a circular, reinforcing process that creates more of this kind of honor and appreciation for the elderly in the east and a tragic tendency to ignore and overlook the elderly in the west.  Is it any wonder that elderly in the east often grow old graciously with dignity and grace, not seeking the kind of surgical beauty treatments so common in the west?  By conferring this kind of dignity upon the elderly from an early age, they become what they have appreciated and looked up to all their lives: wise, gentle, kind, and nurturing individuals with a wealth of knowledge and skills to bequeath to society in their old age.

In the west, we tend to worship and elevate youth and vigor far more than we do experience and wisdom.  When youth are energetically foolish and waste their time and efforts on the pursuit of trivial ends, we think it newsworthy, “sowing wild oats,” and just going through an adolescent “stage.”  Is it any wonder, then, that the aged often feel displaced, unnoticed, and unappreciated?  In the same way, the cantankerousness of the elderly, the desperate attempts to hide the process of aging, the cloistering (quarantining?) of them, all contribute to a process of dishonor and lack of appreciation that is reinforced throughout the lives of people as they grow from youth to old age.  Is it any wonder old people often become so unpleasant in ungracious and difficult to be with?  Their entire lives they have believed and been told that old age is to be fought against, avoided, denied, and hidden at all costs.  When it eventually overtakes them and they can no longer stem the tide of the inevitable, they become the very people they have not wanted to become.  And so they live out and reinforce the stereotype they have continually feared and abhorred, a tragic self-fulfilling and self-perpetuating prophecy.

As Leviticus 19:32 suggests, honoring the aged is not an eastern value pitted against a western one.  It is a biblical value and our attitudes toward the old reveal much about ourselves the societies we live in.  Lewis Smedes said it well on page 96 of his book, Mere Morality, when he noted this: “The people that loses its will to honor its aged eventually loses its humanity.”  May we honor our aged, not only because it humanizes them, but because it humanizes us as well.