The Next Generation

As Jenna just started 10th grade today at Torrey Pines, it caused me to think a little bit about the future as I realized that she is only 3 years away from college. Kara is now in 7th grade, Alyssa is in 3rd grade (both are homeschooled by Angela), and even Olivia is now on a schedule with room time, coloring time (she really enjoys drawing), and of course nap time. The years seem to be just shooting by and before you know it, they will be getting married and then having children of their own. As my own parents get older and face the challenges that come with the latter stages of life, it has challenged me to think about what I am doing to prepare the next generation that follows my own.

My big complaint while working in the Korean American church scene was that it seemed like the first generation did not do much to really disciple and mentor the second generation in the Christian life. They seemed to put a lot of time and energy into making a lot of money and building large church buildings but not a lot of time seemed to go into raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. As a result, I look at the second generation (which is my own) really having become a product of this worldly culture, pursuing worldly success and prosperity, but at the cost of their spiritual lives. It's no surprise that many are finding that with all the success and prosperity comes the realization that something is missing. So many are coming back to church, bringing their children in hopes that they will receive some kind of spiritual upbringing that they themselve missed growing up.

The reason I share this is that even though I am a pastor, it still is a challenge to invest even in my own kids when it comes to spiritual things. It's easy to discuss their academics, their athletic participation, their extra-curricular activities, and even their church involvement, but when it comes to interacting over their individual spiritual development, it does seem easier to leave it to other people. It should not be so. While other people can definitely help in a secondary manner, the primary responsibility of spiritual development lies on the shoulders of the parents. We cannot afford to allow the early years of their childhood to slip by and realize later that we should have spent more time with them. This is a regret that too many parents make too late in life and there is no way to rewind or start over.

But we can start now. As parents, we can take each day as an opportunity to invest in our children. It doesn't have to be anything too big. Even if it's a short conversation, a brief devotional with the family, a time of singing, or even to just share what you learned at church, every little bit counts.

If you don't have children yet, whether as singles or even as married couples, you can prepare now by being spiritually disciplined so that when God does grant you children, you have a foundation to build on. Don't underestimate the preparation you invest in your own life. You will only be able to offer what you have and if you don't have much when the time calls for it, it will be difficult to catch up. So your own personal spiritual growth is really not just for your own sake, but it is for the sake of the next generation.

Even if God does not grant you biological children of your own, you can invest your life into others spiritually so that they would be like spiritual children that you would disciple so that they can be equipped to grow. This is why the Titus 2 principle of older men/women training the younger men/women is so crucial, especially in the life of the church. There are many who don't have Christian parents and so they have never received spiritual teaching from home. So the church becomes their "family" and the older saints need to really invest in them as the next generation to follow.

Lighthouse is steadily growing and I hope that the numerical growth is not all that we care for. Spiritual growth in growing deeper in our understanding and application of God's word is what we really need to see increase in all our lives and I would like to really challenge you all to have a view toward the future as you seek to grow today.

Contributing to the Needs of the Saints

This past weekend was a rollercoaster ride! I can't help but be affected by collisions with the Korean culture that really cause me to wonder, "Why?" Why must culture come in front of people? When did culture become god? I understand the reality of culture and that there are distinctives between each culture but when you come to know Christ, there is no longer Jew or Gentile (or Korean or American for that matter). It is Christ that we identify with, not that Christ identifies with our cultural identity. For those who know me, you will understand that after a couple of decades of frustration, I have become quite pessimistic now about any kind of redeeming value to be found in Korean churches.

I know that that is too much of a categorical statement but I have found the number of sound, God-honoring, biblical churches to be miniscule, especially when you consider the inordinate amount of churches for such a small immigrant community. Don't get me wrong. I love my heritage. I love Korean food. I love the fact that I have some unique history in my background that I can appreciate and share with others. But these things are all superseded by the Kingdom of God. I am no longer a citizen of this world but an alien, a stranger. The family of God, the church, those who have been called to be saints, these are the ones that I now identify with in identifying with Christ.

Romans 12:13 has been lived out by a generation that many in the first generation have called "selfish, stingy, spoiled, self-serving, unappreciative, and disrespectful." I have found those who make up Lighthouse to be selfless, generous, giving servants who have shown tremendous love and care through their kindness and mercy through prayers, notes, and food. They even offer to help drive the kids, take care of the kids, and be helpful in any way possible. I cannot help but think how ironic it is that a generation that has been accused of giving so little is now starting to respond to the call to be not only receivers but contributers to the needs of the saints.

Thank you! I just have to say thanks to the many who have brought tremendous encouragement through your thoughtfulness, your willingness to serve, your hearts of compassion, and your continued faithfulness to display the love of Christ in such visible ways. Angela and I are so blessed, as are our children, who are overwhelmingly loved by you.

I praise God that you are simply obeying Him out of a genuine love for Him. This is revealed in your love for the saints. By this the world can see that you are followers of Jesus, that you are disciples of the One who lived and died and rose again, so that we might no longer live for ourselves but for Him.

May your contributions continue to flow generously to all!!

What Is Wrong With This Picture?

I can't help but have to vent a bit here in response to what should be seen as a time to not only grieve in the passing away of my father-in-law but an opportunity to minister to my mother-in-law, my wife and her siblings, the grandchildren, and for those who truly loved and appreciated my father-in-law. But Korean church protocol is more concerned about pleasing some hierarchical structure, having to maintain the "honor" of those who are supposedly deserving of the responsibility of presiding over the funeral ceremonies, forgetting that a funeral is not about them!! Even when someone has died, people will twist it into an opportunity for their own self-gain and it just sickens me to think that someone would take advantage of a time where there is grieving and mourning to take place and all they can think of is to promote themselves and just observe ceremonial protocol. I am all for having order and structure but this is ridiculous.

God's glory is at stake both in life and in death and the church should always and only be about the work of bringing God's glory to the forefront. It should be about ministering to the bereaved widow and finding ways to share the love of Christ with one who is suffered a tremendous loss. It should be about encouraging and supporting the family members who will feel the loss most keenly. Instead, there are "requests" for a restaurant reservation to be made to feed those who are going to the funeral, I suppose to "thank" them for their coming. I can't see anywhere in Scripture where the bereaved is to be more concerned about feeding the guests - this isn't a wedding! If anything, the church should be feeding the bereaved!! They are the ones who have suffered the loss and are busy going about the business of having to take care of funeral arrangements and covering costs related to the funeral. But I can't help but see those who are more concerned with form and have absolutely no care for the reality of the situation.

Protocol is not what is most important - people's genuine needs are!! Romans 12:13 calls us to be "contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality." You don't insist other to do this - you do this!! To me, a pastor who makes a "request", especially on the day of the actual death, to make sure that the guests are fed, is a pastor who is not fit for the work of caring for the flock. The Scriptures call the church to suffer when a member suffers, to celebrate when one has reason to celebrate. It doesn't bilk them and take advantage of them, especially during a time of need. The pastor, of all people in the church, needs to be giving ministry, not asking for it. God help us!

I know there might not be malicious intent involved (at least I would hope not), but ignorance is not an excuse for irresponsible behavior on the part of those who say they shepherd the flock. Please pray for me, pray that I would exercise humility and wisdom and not just be angry. Pray that as we have the funeral services for my father-in-law that the greatest priority would be to point all the attention and all the glory to the Savior. Pray that I would also have the boldness to speak the truth of the gospel to those who really need to hear it. Pray that I would walk in the Spirit and honor the memory of my father-in-law, encourage my mother-in-law, and support Angela and my brothers-in-law and sister-in-law during this time of loss.

Jesus, help me.

The Importance of Your Weltanschauung

What does it mean to have a Christian worldview? The German word "weltanschauung" stands for the idea of a "worldview" and many of the noted philosophers are known for very strong worldviews that influenced many to live in such a way that reflected a particular worldview. Adolf Hitler, for one, was tremendously influenced by Nietzche, and World War 2 was a result.

I think many of us underestimate the importance of having a God-centered worldview as we consider the various aspects of life. For many, the issue of education, vocation, marriage, parenting, and even the role of church in life is governed by what a person's worldview is.

For many who grow up in an Asian culture, there is a very strong undercurrent of Confucian ideology that governs the mindset of how one values the importance of various things in life and it is especially seen in the parent/child relationship. Though some parents would claim to be Christians, even as leaders in a church, there is a strange absence of a high view of God and often there is a manipulating of Scripture to serve a man-centered goal, whether it be related to the pursuit of a particular major in college or the pursuit of a specific vocation, namely those of the "doctor, lawyer, engineer" variety. Not that those roles are inherently wrong in themselves, but it is the motivation and intention behind the pursuit of such roles that often reveal the greed and the self-serving mindset that pursues the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life as warned in 1 John 2. There are even times when some might appeal to the glory of God being served by pursuing such ends. But down the road we often see what is revealed to be the true heart and intention behind the pursuit of success. It is not the glory of God. It is the pursuit of self-glory and self-fulfillment at the expense of the glory of God.

I would see this happen many times working with college students who would enter their first year idealistic and would even go as far as to admit that they were not balanced in how they handled their spiritual priorities but would always reassure me that they would take care of them later after they graduated, got settled in their jobs, and became successful. They would often add that they would give a lot of money to God, assuming that they would make a lot of money. But this is sadly not the case. I have seen what success does to people and it more often draws them away from God rather than toward God. And this is due to their worldview ultimately being about themselves in the center.

It is also seen in addressing the issue of marriage, where instead of seeking to honor God by reflecting the love relationship between Christ and His church, marriage is seen as a self-seeking opportunity for social-economic advancement. There is little preparation and education given regarding the biblical purpose for marriage and it is no wonder that many marriages suffer immediately with much trauma, often leading to stale relationships that teeter on the brink of divorce, often tipping over when the differences become "irreconcilable."

What really draws some ire from my perspective is when I see so-called Christian parents, who in the name of "thinking of their child's best" would show absolutely no concept of God's glory being at stake. Rather there is some "practical" advice about a certain criteria having to be upheld to "protect" their child when in fact it is all about their own pride.

It is not wrong for someone to go to a good school. It is not wrong for someone to choose a particular vocational path. Neither it is wrong to marry within your own ethnicity or age range. But to insist that certain things are "God's will" when they really are not, I believe, is a travesty that many parents are imposing on their children, often with a subtle (or even not so subtle) threat of disownment. It is portrayed as an issue of "honoring" parents, even "obeying." Now I am not suggesting that there should be a full-scale rebellion just thrown back. But I think there must be a line clearly drawn when a worldview is being revealed for what it is, a man-centered pursuit of worldly success and approval as opposed to God's kingdom and righteousness.

More about this later. Our Single Life retreat this weekend will be on "My Father's World - Building a Biblical Worldview" so I'll have a lot more to say about this in the days to come.

Three entries in one day!! I'm starting to feel like Al Mohler =) But no way can I keep up with his pace. I'll stay at being John Kim, one of many.