My Korean nationalism

[profnachos]

As most of you know, I am of Korean descent. From my childhood, a very strong sense of nationalism was instilled in me not so much by my family (my family was not at all nationalistic, but that is another story), but school teachers and the national media. We were to be proud, and that we were to see ourselves as the best.

But from spending time with people of various backgrounds after moving to the States, among the valuable lessons I learned are:.

* Nobody outside my Korean circles shared the wonderful feelings about my race. We were the only ones who described ourselves in such glowing terms, but nobody else did.

* Non-Koreans, including blacks and Hispanics whom we looked down were humans with shortcomings just like me.

* Even if the positives about my nationality were true, what did it have to do with me? I didn't to anything to earn it, so what was the point of beating my chest over it? I happened to be born into a Korean family. Big Boinking Deal.

I concluded that my nationalistic zeal was just plain silly and stupid for the aforementioned reasons.

What does that have to do with fundamentalism? When I was a fundamentalist, I bought the notion that my church was "the best" in the region, if not the best in the country, and possibly in the world. We had a well-known teacher in John MacArthur who was certain to join the league of Wesley, Knox, Luther, Spurgeon and other historic luminaries of the Christian faith.

Los Angeles certainly had its share of problems, but we had that church and we had that teacher, so TAKE THAT, Mid-Westerners and Southerners and Yankees and etc.

After leaving the church not because I wanted to, but because of a job and interacting with people outside the little fundamentalist system I was in, I learned three things.

* Nobody shared the wonderful feelings about the church that I had come from. When I was shopping for church, I proudly announced my church background and nobody flinched. In fact, every church had their own legendary teacher who was to join the league of Wesley, Knox, Luther, Spurgeon and other historic luminaries of the Christian faith.

* Others were just like me – sinners with lots of issues.

* And even if the glowing reports about my church were true, what is the point of beating my chest over it? After all, only by grace, I was saved, and I didn't do anything to “earn” my place in the Body of Christ.


Do you see similarities?

And is it a pure coincidence that most fundamentalists are nationalistic zealots? Hmmmm.....

[Jerry]

Dear Prof,,,
Very good post,,,I agree ,,,,,,,I think it is always a problem when anyone is "too" anything ;)
Love Jerry

[Theodora]

It really helps to have this perspective from you right now, particularly as I struggle with on-going "upheaval" in my own denomination.

(If interested in some of the information I've found on this and some of my thoughts,
see
1) Wed. June 21, 2006 -- a last critical session at Convention....
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4600

and previously--

2)
Tues. June 20, 2006 "How do we understand the Gospel"...
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4590

3) Tues. 6-20-06-- Some other perspectives on the Convention
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4591 )


As always....I'll be thinking more about what you have shared here. (For starters, it occurs to me that my denomination too seems to be caught up in perhaps too MUCH concern for its role in "history"--and within it, warring "factions" who are so convinced that THEY have the "truth"---ALL of the "truth"-- and that, outside of our branch, life goes on just fine, thank you!) May God have mercy on us ALL---wherever our loyalties in the church may lie (or NOT!)--as well as for those who struggle to find a true church "home."

Thanks so much for your honesty and for taking the time to post. You're doing some really good work!

Grace and peace--

Theodora

--


As most of you know, I am of Korean descent. From my childhood, a very strong sense of nationalism was instilled in me not so much by my family (my family was not at all nationalistic, but that is another story), but school teachers and the national media. We were to be proud, and that we were to see ourselves as the best.

But from spending time with people of various backgrounds after moving to the States, among the valuable lessons I learned are:.

* Nobody outside my Korean circles shared the wonderful feelings about my race. We were the only ones who described ourselves in such glowing terms, but nobody else did.

* Non-Koreans, including blacks and Hispanics whom we looked down were humans with shortcomings just like me.

* Even if the positives about my nationality were true, what did it have to do with me? I didn't to anything to earn it, so what was the point of beating my chest over it? I happened to be born into a Korean family. Big Boinking Deal.

I concluded that my nationalistic zeal was just plain silly and stupid for the aforementioned reasons.

What does that have to do with fundamentalism? When I was a fundamentalist, I bought the notion that my church was "the best" in the region, if not the best in the country, and possibly in the world. We had a well-known teacher in John MacArthur who was certain to join the league of Wesley, Knox, Luther, Spurgeon and other historic luminaries of the Christian faith.

Los Angeles certainly had its share of problems, but we had that church and we had that teacher, so TAKE THAT, Mid-Westerners and Southerners and Yankees and etc.

After leaving the church not because I wanted to, but because of a job and interacting with people outside the little fundamentalist system I was in, I learned three things.

* Nobody shared the wonderful feelings about the church that I had come from. When I was shopping for church, I proudly announced my church background and nobody flinched. In fact, every church had their own legendary teacher who was to join the league of Wesley, Knox, Luther, Spurgeon and other historic luminaries of the Christian faith.

* Others were just like me – sinners with lots of issues.

* And even if the glowing reports about my church were true, what is the point of beating my chest over it? After all, only by grace, I was saved, and I didn't do anything to “earn” my place in the Body of Christ.


Do you see similarities?

And is it a pure coincidence that most fundamentalists are nationalistic zealots? Hmmmm.....

[jane]

oh nachos,

clearly your teachers were just attempting to give you a solid positive self esteem because they knew one day that you would wake up and realize that you weren't- well, ME !

I am clearly from the superior race, we are better looking, more intelligent, have better social skills, make better babies, raise better children......

;) :p

(I am english and irish in case you care.......yup, blond hair, blue eyes, dimpled smile.............. and in case it doesnt come across as such- I WAS JOKING)

[profnachos]

Nobody is you.

Even Nicole Kidman should be distressed to know that she is not you.

oh nachos,

clearly your teachers were just attempting to give you a solid positive self esteem because they knew one day that you would wake up and realize that you weren't- well, ME !

I am clearly from the superior race, we are better looking, more intelligent, have better social skills, make better babies, raise better children......

;) :p

(I am english and irish in case you care.......yup, blond hair, blue eyes, dimpled smile.............. and in case it doesnt come across as such- I WAS JOKING)

[Jerry]

Genesis 1/31 ;)

[profnachos]

It really helps to have this perspective from you right now, particularly as I struggle with on-going "upheaval" in my own denomination.

(If interested in some of the information I've found on this and some of my thoughts,
see
1) Wed. June 21, 2006 -- a last critical session at Convention....
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4600

and previously--

2)
Tues. June 20, 2006 "How do we understand the Gospel"...
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4590

3) Tues. 6-20-06-- Some other perspectives on the Convention
http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4591 )


As always....I'll be thinking more about what you have shared here. (For starters, it occurs to me that my denomination too seems to be caught up in perhaps too MUCH concern for its role in "history"--and within it, warring "factions" who are so convinced that THEY have the "truth"---ALL of the "truth"-- and that, outside of our branch, life goes on just fine, thank you!) May God have mercy on us ALL---wherever our loyalties in the church may lie (or NOT!)--as well as for those who struggle to find a true church "home."

Thanks so much for your honesty and for taking the time to post. You're doing some really good work!

Grace and peace--

Theodora

--

You really ought to blog! Seriously.

This whole Anglican controversy has me thinking for awhile, and you helped me crystalize my thoughts. Now if you start a blog, we can exchange ideas. :)

[Theodora]

You really ought to blog! Seriously.

This whole Anglican controversy has me thinking for awhile, and you helped me crystalize my thoughts. Now if you start a blog, we can exchange ideas. :)

Thanks again for your encouragement re blogging, etc.! I may yet get at that, but things are more than a little complicated for me right now. It HELPS however, to feel right now that others are "listening" to me too and to have your affirmation. Amazing to think that a parallel, but different experience, is helping you to "crystalize your thoughts!" God DOES move in "mysterious ways!"

SOoooooooooo very tired this a.m., however---and that was just, in part, due to trying to follow the on-line information over the past several days without really "engaging" it!

Will be checking in on your blog to see the latest when I can, however! Again...keep up the good work!

Theodora

--

[profnachos]

Well, you are blogging here after all :).

I would like to discuss the controversy and may even blog about it. But it is off-topic here, but in some sense, maybe not.

Thanks again for your encouragement re blogging, etc.! I may yet get at that, but things are more than a little complicated for me right now. It HELPS however, to feel right now that others are "listening" to me too and to have your affirmation. Amazing to think that a parallel, but different experience, is helping you to "crystalize your thoughts!" God DOES move in "mysterious ways!"

SOoooooooooo very tired this a.m., however---and that was just, in part, due to trying to follow the on-line information over the past several days without really "engaging" it!

Will be checking in on your blog to see the latest when I can, however! Again...keep up the good work!

Theodora

--

[Willow]

Heya Prof... I just wanted you to know. As an anglo... I consider Koreans to be some of the most hard-working, intelligent and aspiring people I've ever met. Other asians I know have similar traits. Their children are very advanced... way beyond what I ever acheived at their tender age. I am astounded at the giftings and work ethic among koreans and asian peoples in general.

[profnachos]

Heya Prof... I just wanted you to know. As an anglo... I consider Koreans to be some of the most hard-working, intelligent and aspiring people I've ever met. Other asians I know have similar traits. Their children are very advanced... way beyond what I ever acheived at their tender age. I am astounded at the giftings and work ethic among koreans and asian peoples in general.

Oh thanks :). Now what do you think of fundamentalists?:D

[Willow]

Oh thanks :). Now what do you think of fundamentalists?:D

LOL! I think they're people that I have less and less in common with these days!
How was that for diplomatic??

[Doug64]

Hi prof.

I think the realization that so many other groups feel and teach much of the same things our former group felt and taught was one of the biggest eye-openers for me. They said their founder would go into the history books as well.

So many things place all of us pretty much in the same "boat." They transcend race, color social standing and location. In the end, we are just people. We all put our jeans on one leg at a time and we all need the grace of Christ.

It really is a small world.

Doug

[profnachos]

Yeah, what I find incredibly amazing is that the elevation of "teachers" is the most prevalent in the "Biblical inerrancy" circles. The Bible alone should be the final authority (Sola Scriptura) and it alone is "sufficient," they tell us.

Walk into one of those circles and tell them that you have never heard of John MacArthur or not read any of his books. Or RC Sproul. Or John Piper. Or (fill the blank). They will be stunned at your "ignorance." So much for the sufficiency of Scripture.

As to putting on jeans, I can do both legs at the same time :D

Hi prof.

I think the realization that so many other groups feel and teach much of the same things our former group felt and taught was one of the biggest eye-openers for me. They said their founder would go into the history books as well.

So many things place all of us pretty much in the same "boat." They transcend race, color social standing and location. In the end, we are just people. We all put our jeans on one leg at a time and we all need the grace of Christ.

It really is a small world.

Doug

[Doug64]

Standing up? :)