LTKC: Our Identity
LTKC: Our Identity
This conversation leads us to our current moment in time.
What is the identity of the Korean American Church?
As Koreans in ethnicity with both a unique heritage that stems both from our motherland and now our history in the United States, how does one examine their own unique identity?
It is for the purpose of these letters to the Korean Church that I simply point us to our unique story.
Our History is truly HIS STORY.
Identity is not created, but it is bestowed and given.
There is no doubt that we share the same identity of every born again believer in the world. We are sons and daughters and the people of God.
But now we examine further. Although we share this universal identity, why is it that many Korean American believers still struggle to find their unique identity in the landscape of America?
It is for this reason that I present to you the idea that we are unique in both our cultural and spiritual heritage that has been forged over time. There is a much needed re-excavation of this for the current moment that we find ourselves in. For if we do not fully understand our story, then we cannot fully grasp our unique identity. And if we cannot grasp and embrace our identity, then it will be impossible for us to discover where we are going.
If History is HIS STORY, then we must also recognize that the story is not over. We are most literally living in the midst of it. History is still being written. But the question that is being presented to you today is how will the future pages of history be written? Will we settle into a fatalistic and unbiblical view of history that passively waits and says that all that God has ordained will simply come to pass?
Or will we respond as Daniel once responded in the Bible.
Daniel was living in the midst of Babylon (this is not a reference to America). Daniel was a Jew who was living in a land that was not his own. However he took on, to an extent, the Babylonian identity for he knew that it was God’s purpose for him to be there. Daniel did not passively live his life in the midst of this new land, but quite the opposite. He knew his history. He knew the prophecies of Jeremiah. He knew that He was in Babylon for a reason. He did not conform to the “idols” of Babylon but rather prayed to His God three times a day. Daniel was excellent and was given understanding.
It is my point here to simply try and narrate what I see as God’s perspective over the Korean American people.
We have come to this nation. We have built houses, established businesses, gone through the educational system, planted churches, and in many regards have been blessed in this nation.
As Korean Americans, we have most literally forged a third identity out of the two that we carry. This has come at the cost of much pain, heartache, church splits, disillusionment and the rest. But could it be that in the midst of this all, that God is trying to “restore the hearts of the fathers back to their children, and the hearts of the children back to their fathers?” Could this actually be what the Lord is truly after in this time?
But the real question now is…. why?
Could it be that God would use primarily American missionaries in the wake of the 1900’s as the major missionary thrust into the land Korea. And could it be that as these seeds of the gospel were planted with the sovereign hand of the Lord, that God would raise up the most secluded and overlooked nation in the eastern hemisphere for his honor and glory. Could it be that God poured forth his spirit in Pyongyang 1907, to see one of the greatest revival movements of the 20th century? That as the church of Korea would begin to flourish that God would open the doors in 1965 for wave after wave of Koreans to immigrate to the United States? Could it be that we are living in this nation for a purpose greater than the American dream? Could we possibly be here for God’s dream? And if we are, what is God’s dream for this time?
I tell you today, I know that I know that we are not here to simply eat, drink, and be merry. Yes God has blessed us here in this land. But why?
Why is it that many Korean American churches find themselves failing in many regards, losing our young people, and trying to make sense of our mission once again? Could it be that the church has become an end to herself, rather than being the bride of Christ in full partnership with the Lord to see His desire to see His kingdom come and His will be done? Is it too crazy to think, that we are here full circle to see a Third Great Awakening for such a time as this? Could we be inherently carrying the DNA of revival within our spiritual bones? Is God trying to revive these dry bones once again?