Don Ng
May 22, 1999
Biblically based
As Baptists, the Bible is the primary source book that we use to derive insights on how we may “do church” today. Utilizing biblical scholarship, we understand as best as we can the situations that Scriptures were originally written for and the value of how texts have been passed down to today’s Christians. In humility and trust in God’s continuing revelation, we interpret Scripture for today’s situations and begin to act and live out our discipleship faithfully. The future of the church must be solidly based on the Bible and our interaction with the Word of God instead on what may be in vogue at the time. This means that a congregation needs to be educated and literate of the biblical tradition in order to be able to encounter the Bible and to understand God’s plan for it in the world.
Contextual
We come into this world first as human beings. But quickly we are Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, White, Black, etc. and because we happen to live in the U.S., we become Americans. There is no such person as “just an American.” At least not now and perhaps not even within our life times. Our world is “color-specific” which we need to become aware about socially and politically.
Although we seem to be bounded by our racial and cultural particulars, we have also seen and experienced how our “oneness in Christ” breaks down barriers and discrimination. We live in the “in between times” when Christ has revealed to us how God’s children should live and when the full realm of God is made known. In the meantime, we are the sign and foretaste of what God’s realm will be.
Journey
The future of Asian American churches is a journey of faith. The journey is two-folded:
1. The practice of faith is moving and changing to value the richness of traditions and heritage and at the same time, continuously open to remaining relevant to new hearers and seekers of the Word. We arrive at some point on the journey where we find joy and happiness, only to discover that we must move on again because God is calling.
2. Our personal and corporate faith is also on a journey. Reflecting God’s image, we hold truths and insights that should not be coveted for individual benefits. These gifts of the Spirit were given to us to share in community. When a church helps persons to know their gifts and to empower them to work together for ministry, miracles happen.
Association
While God has self-disclosed in particular settings and through a variety of people and languages, God is bigger than any one church experience. As human beings, we tend to think and believe that all answers can be found within our four walls. If this is true, why do we like to eat different kinds of food? Since each congregation is gifted with its own rich understanding of God’s plan in the world, it is merely one small part of a bigger plan. And the only way, we in our limited ability to possess all the answers to receive the blessings of God’s plan for the world, is to work together. Our churches need to work in association with each other where we can bring the varieties of gifts from the same Spirit to the task of ministry in the world.
Final Note
The future of the church is ultimately God’s work in the world. As partners, we do everything we can to live out our faith biblically and justly, but there comes a point in our efforts that we must say, “Lord, it is now up to you.” When that happens, our relationship with God become “righted” with God.