Redeeming a Faceless Generation

Here's a little blurb I wrote the other day about how the Jabbawockeez serve as somewhat of a prophetic parable of what God wants to do in the Asian American community and beyond by raising up a nameless, faceless generation. All glory to God!

The past week I have been thinking about a possible concept we could run with in planning for a workshop at ASU this spring. As I was thinking through this process, I really wanted to find a way we could use this workshop as an opportunity to share the gospel with the campus. As I was thinking about ideas for the concept, my mind began thinking about creative forms of art and media that we could use to engage the campus especially the Asian American community and share the gospel with them through these creative means. As I was pondering on these things, my mind began to think about the concept of the “Faceless Generation.” I began to think about how God was raising up a “Faceless Generation” of young people around the world who would be faithful witnesses in proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth. I pondered on the idea that our generation would not be defined by one evangelist like Billy Graham, D.L. Moody, Charles Finney, or any other great evangelist. Instead, I was reminded of how God is going to race up an entire generation who is not concerned about individual accolades or success, but rather a faceless generation consumed by a passion to know Christ and to make Him known. Even recently, I began to think in terms of what this would look like for the Asian community and seeing the way in which God is raising up a faceless army in East Asia to bring the gospel back to Jerusalem. No one will know who these fearless messengers are, but collectively, they represent the faceless generation who is radically pursuing the cause of Christ to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission!

As I was thinking about this emerging “Faceless Generation,” I then began to think about the ways in which Asian Americans are often “faceless” in a negative context. Asian Americans are often amongst the most highly educated and qualified individuals in applying for work; however, if you look at the top sectors of the corporate world in America today, you will have to search hard to find an Asian American face. If you begin to take notice of any sphere of society, you will begin to realize that there is lack of Asian American presence in light of their credentials and experience. You see this in the ways in which Asian Americans are deemed as the “model minority.” The “model minority” myth is the assertion that Asians are the model minority group for the ways they have overcome adversity and achieved the “American Dream.” However, this myth fails to take into account the large diversity of what the term Asian American comes to embody. Statistics fail to show the diverse populations of Asian immigrant groups who are living below the poverty level, struggling to assimilate as refugees from war-torn nations, or struggling to culturally adapt to a society that values individualism over family and community. History books fail to tell their stories. Statistics only give a false-sense of hope and a misperception of their experiences. For every successful Asian American business man, there are countless others who are impoverished, lacking resources, and trying to make ends meet. The point here is that just like any other minority group such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Latino Americans, likewise, Asian Americans have unheard stories and experiences that tell a story of pain and brokenness. They have been overlooked and disregarded in our American society. In other words, they have been “faceless.”

As I continued to think about these issues, I realized that God wants to redeem the negative aspects of the Asian American community being “faceless” in order to raise up an entire generation who passionately seeks Him whole-heartedly without concern for individual success. While I was pondering on this idea, I feel like God gave me a clear picture of what this redemptive process will look like. In thinking about a faceless generation of Asian Americans, the dance group called Jabbawockeez came to mind. At that point, everything began to come together. The Jabbawockeez are a dance crew that appeared on the first season of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. What got my attention is that this dance crew was made up of primarily Asian Americans, and they ended up winning the hearts of America and winning the overall competition.

What is amazing about the Jabbawockeez is that each member of their crew wears a mask when they perform. They each wear white masks for the sake of taking attention off the individuals and allowing the audience to focus on the overall quality and precision of their dance moves. In an article in Asian Week, one of the members stated that “the idea of the mask is to remove all ethnic and social barriers when [they] perform.” In reference to the masks, another member mentioned that “those who watch us will see us for the dance moves and the style we put out there.” In essence, when the Jabbawockeez perform, they are “faceless.” It then occurred to me that the Jabbawockeez are a clear picture of what God wants to do within the Asian American community and not only that, but an entire generation of young people as a whole. What God was speaking to me was that He values the sense of community and commitment to family that the Asian heritage values. In the midst of an individualistic society, God wants to honor an Asian American community who has held on to these values.

But what is even more beautiful is the way in which God was showing me that the Jabbawockeez represents what he wants to do in the body of Christ as a whole. He is showing us that when the body of Christ begins to understand their unique roles and embrace their unique identities as a body rather than as merely individuals, they will capture the hearts of a generation and win them for Christ. When the foot begins to operate as a foot and the hand as the hand, we will see the beauty and the harmony of what God created the church to be. It’s crazy to think of the parallels because the Jabawockeez represent a revolutionary dance style that reflects unique precision and creativity that is amplified by their unified choreography. Likewise, God is showing us what He wants to do with the body of Christ. What is mind-boggling to me is the ways I feel God wants to use the Asian American community to help paint this picture for American society as a whole. As I see what God is doing in empowering the Asian American community, which is evidenced through what He is doing in Epic Movement, I am overwhelmed by what this could look like as others begin to catch on to this vision. It is already beginning to happen in the ways we see our Epic community consisting of not only Asian Americans, but Latinos, Native Americans, and Caucasians as well. Looking once again to the unique and shocking similar parallels to the Jabbawockeez, we see their unique diversity. The article in Asian Week states that, “masks aside, the crew embraces their ethnic backgrounds (seven members are Asian American, including Filipino American, Korean American and Vietnamese American; one is African American and two are Mexican American.” So even here, we see the diversity that is represented which reminds me of the racial reconciliation that God wants to do in the midst of our communities as well.

Here's a video of the Jabbawockeez in action. Check out this article in Asian Week as well if you have time. It's good stuff: Behind the Masks.

Reflections on my journey... PART 2

Part 2:
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I realized that I had been pursuing a radical Christianity for the sake of being spiritually gifted. I wanted to have words of knowledge, prophesy, and heal the sick. Many times, I had not been content knowing that I was the beloved son of God and that He has loved me before the beginning of time. Now there certainly is a cost in receiving the anointing of God, one must deny themselves. But when denying oneself becomes a priority over loving God and loving others, I believe that it can become an idol as well. Where this really stuck out to me was the part that had to do with loving others.

I went back to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Before we can do the Great Commission, we have to do the Great Commandment. We have to love God and to love others as ourselves. I realized that I was loving God hardcore. I wanted more and more and more of Him. But I realized that my loving others part was seriously lacking. I really wasn't taking time to love others because I was so consumed with myself. Then I realized that I don’t really love myself that much because my actions were saying that I needed to do things to please God rather than being good enough as I was.

The biggest eye-opening experience to lacking love for others came through talking to Sara. I realized that in the midst of everything I was going through I was pushing away an amazing girl who had stuck by me even when things were hard. She liked for who I was and not for my giftings or actions in and of themselves. She had seen me at my best and at my worst, and she still was there for me. Even after I had separated from her for five months to pursue God whole-heartedly, she had still waited for me and cared for me. She allowed me to pursue God whole-heartedly and she wanted me to have God as my lone satisfaction. But it had never dawned on me that being in relationship was a way to see God's love from a whole new level.

As I wrestled with these thoughts, I remember having a crazy conversation with my uncle one night. We talked about how in this past year, I was so up in the clouds spiritually that I didn't really understand the actual needs of the people. I had understood theory, doctrine, and theology, but I didn't know the actual needs of the people. I was climbing at to the top, but I was alienating everyone at the bottom who didn't know how to get there. My Christianity was only half way being fulfilled, I loved God with all my heart, but I wasn't loving others. So basically, my whole world was wrecked after winter break, and I am in the midst of another paradigm shift in which God is healing my heart and setting me free to see His true heart for the ones He loves.

With all these things on my mind and heart, I realized that God wants to see His love through others. God put relationships in our lives that we may see a glimpse of who He really is. We are not meant to do this life alone. We are not meant to pursue God on solely and individual basis. God wants us to love Him in community. He wants us to see the power and imagery of His character through relationships. This was all so new to me, and I never realized how isolated I had caused myself to be. It's still a struggle I have now. I am still trying to pop out of my Christian bubble and love those who Jesus loved. I have realized that intimacy with Christ means knowing Him and being with him. But it doesn't mean isolating yourself from the world. Jesus is hanging out with those who don't know Him, and part of having intimacy with Him means going to the sinners and tax collectors Jesus hung out with.

With all that said, it's been a crazy journey in the past few months. I have been working on my relationship with my brother and we were able to reconcile many things. I have gone closer wiht my family, and even my friends in Epic. Most of all, I have learned what it means to be a man in a relationship and the role that I have as an initiator and a protector. It has been a joy being in a relationship with Sara. It's been one month now, and it has been one awesome journy and learning experience. We definitely have had our ups and downs in terms of learning how to communicate with one another and working out this long distance thing. But it is so amazing to see the love of God through her. It is so encouraging to see her amazing, beautiful heart. I am blown away by her child-like faith and her compassion. I am challenged by her honesty and straight-forwardness. I smile every time she texts me or sends me a message. I am filled with joy every time she laughs. I see her as the most beautiful princess and beloved daughter of the King, and I vow to treat her as royalty of the King of Kings. And 0n top of all that, I can't help but mention that she is really really cute!

Most importantly, her heart and compassion point me back to a greater revelation of who Jesus is in my life. He loves me and sees me for who I am. He is not concerned with the things I do in the past or even the things that I do to try to please Him. He loves me just as I am. He blesses me and offers me gifts even when I don’t have anything to give back. Sara exemplifies this characteristics and I see a glimpse of Jesus through her in these ways. She isn't perfect and neither am I. But that's why we need Jesus even more than one another. As we pursue God together, I see the beauty of Christ in relationships. I see the amazing qualities of being able to care for Sara by just being who I am, and Sara being able to care for me by just being who she is. There is no need for us to go out of our way or force things to happen. We see the love of Christ through the way that he has made us.

So on this Valentine’s Day, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have experienced love in a way that I never would have realized or expected had it not been for recognizing the my own depravity and selfishness and realizing my need to truly learn how to be loved and how to love and serve others. I have a long way to go, but by the grace and love of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have learned to be content where I am at this point of the journey. The breakthroughs will happen as we wait on God and allow ourselves to be loved. Let's not strive to be loved or made known, the God of the universe already loves us and there are no actions we must do to receive this. It's easier said than done. But I have learned that in the midst of frustration and disillusionment the best thing we can do is not to retreat or get away, but to obey what God has called us to. Love. Go out and love. We can have all the theoretical knowledge in the world, but when it comes down to it, all we have to do is obey. Love.

Thank you God that you have loved me and have shown your love through those around me. Thank you that your love is what satisfies me and sets me free. I long to know your love and make it known. May we move from knowledge to obedience as we go out and share your love with others. More of you in our lives Jesus! On this Valentine’s Day, I pray that you would shower lonely and broken hearts with your love. May we have open eyes and sensitive hearts to love those who are in need of you those most. Thank you that your love has set us free to step into our unique identities. We love you Jesus. In your name. Amen

Reflections on my journey... PART 1

So I know I have a lot to catch up on, and I haven't blogged in a while. But I wanted to take some time to reflect on my journey in this past couple of months. Since it's Valentine's Day today, I thought it would be a great time to reflect on this crazy paradigm shift I am currently experiencing, and this new understanding of love. I will try to finish my winter break stories as soon as I can, but for now, here is a two part reflection on my past couple of months...

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So it's Valentine's Day today! For the first time in my life I can actually say I have a Valentine even though she is thousands of miles away from me. It really is a good feeling to know that you have someone you can talk to, share your life with, and grow with. It has been a big shift in my life, and as I sit here on Valentines Day thinking about my special Valentine, my thoughts bring me back to remember how I even got to this part of my journey.

For the past year, I have been radically pursuing Christ and desiring to have a greater revelation of His love. I gave away my best clothes, I helped pioneer simple churches, I went on an extended fast, I prayed everyday, I went on a mission trip and saw people come to Christ, I have been to the most spirit-filled conferences.... It has been an amazing experience. I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything. They really have helped open my eyes to the things of God. But something wasn't quite right. I got to a point where I was completely disillusioned with the church. I had been frustrated with the conservative church for a while because I was longing to see the power of God made known there, but then over winter break, I got increasingly frustrated with the charismatic church as well because I always felt like I had to have a spiritual experience their. I got so frustrated and bitter towards the church, and I was pretty angry at a lot of things.

But in the midst of all those frustrations, God was doing something in my heart. I had got to a point in my walk with God that I was developing this deep intimacy. I was willing to do whatever it took to know more of God. If it meant being celibate and single my entire life, I was willing to do it. I wanted to set my life completely before God and have him set me a part to do His will. Like I said, I was fasting, praying, and denying myself. I really wanted Jesus! In those times, I experienced the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in ways like I never have before. I sought to delight in God with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind. I saw the things of this world as temporary and fleeting, so why would I waste my time on them. I was so radically on fire for Jesus. And don't get me wrong, I am still passionately on fire with the love of Christ, but my eyes have been opened to a new realization that I didn't fully comprehend before.

The biggest shift came after I came back from a big Christian conference this past winter. We talked about the book of Revelation, and God's end time battle plan for the church. While I was at this conference, there were some powerful moments, but I was honestly kind of worn out and tired of hearing a message that I had been hearing for a while. It was interesting and powerful, but for some reason, it wasn't transforming. I came home from this conference, and my mom and aunt asked me what I had learned. Thinking that I was now knowledgeable and spiritually equipped, I went on to describe their teachings on the book of Revelation. They respectfully listened to what I had learned, but they disagreed on several main points. When we got back to the house, the whole family got involved in the discussion and we engaged in some really good conversations.

Basically, what it summed up to was that I was getting schooled by my family. My family had grown up reading and studying the book of Revelation. They knew their background information and their interpretations well. They didn't need one conference to tell them how to interpret it. Then here, I was having really read and studied the book of Revelation for basically the first time. I came into my home thinking I was smart and spiritually inclined, and I found myself being knocked to the ground. It was such a humbling experience. I had just gone to one of the most influential Christian conferences for young adults, and instead of feeling empowered, I was completely humbled. My family began to question everything that I was learning, and I felt like everything I had experienced in the last year was put to question. It was a really difficult time. I felt like my whole last year of radically pursuing God was up in the air, and I wasn't sure about anything anymore.

To make things even worse, that same night, I totally got humbled once again after talking to Sara on the phone. To put this a little bit in context, Sara and I had just started again after not talking for about 5 months. As we were talking on the phone, Sara mentioned that she had been thinking and praying a lot lately. She was telling me how it was getting really hard for her to continue waiting for me to decide what I wanted to in our friendship. I told her about how I was just pursuing God right now, and I wanted Him more than anything else. She responded by saying that she already knew that about me, and she always knew that. But she couldn't wait for me and that by the time I figured it out, it would probably be too late.

I was so devastated and humbled. I didn't know how to respond. Honestly, I was angry. I couldn't understand how pursuing God had gotten me into blatant conflict with my family and now with this girl that I really liked. This was New Years Eve. So I had a lot on my mind going into the New Year. But as I prayed about it and wrestled with it, God began to show me a lot of the wounds I had experienced growing up and how that was affecting my current relationship with God and with others. I realized that since a very young age I have always been bitter and upset at my brother. I was angry at him when he was born because he took the attention off of him. I realized that as a result of this I never really was able to connect with him and love him at a deeper level because I was always trying to distance myself from him. Ahh, so there again, I realized another wound in my life.

I realized how in my pursuit of perfection and recognition as a child, I had desired affection from others based on my performance and actions. As a result of these things, I had in turn tried to receive affection from God based on my merit and the things that I did for him. Like I said, I did every extreme thing one could do so that I could please God. And don't get me wrong, most of the time I did those things, my heart was in the right place. But I was looking at the overall picture of where my heart was at and I realized that at times I was deceiving myself.