In a previous chapter, the influence of Confucionism was discussed. I guess because this book is so wide in scope, I was under the impression that Asian American Churches were those who were removed from the ethnic church, where immigration, assimilation, and language are a big factor. I find that 2nd and later generation Asian Americans operate less from a Confucian culture and more American. I find that this is a big issue with first generation/immigrant/ethnic churches. I wonder if the big issue is language? From the example in the book, the church started a new congregation. That congregation didn’t last. I wonder if the “mother” church was too patronistic, in keeping this congregation under their roof, when they should’ve planted a new congregation?

I read this book about 10 year ago.”Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers: Ministry Anytime, Anywhere by Anyone (Paperback)” One of the illustrations from it involved the imagery of basketball. Easum proposed minsitry in which looked like a basketball team where different people were allowed to touch the ball and make plays. Of course who would give that much freedom with the budget? To be able to spend without having to go through all these steps.

In Chicago the pastor of the largest multiethnic church said that if you can stick as close to the bible as possible, that is the best way to go. So I ask that question of myself. Did DJ raise the question of where in the bible did we have a multicultural church? I guess Acts at Pentecost would be a prime example, as there were Jews from all sorts of areas from around the Roman world. Presumably others too, like Jewish converts or believers…The early church had those who came from a Jewish background, and there were also new Gentile believers, do the passages pertaining to their difficulties apply to us today?

Sometimes it would seem that old world values creep in, like fear of foreigners, etc. As a Chinese American, how Biblical, or Christlike is the idea that one should marry Chinese? On another level there are those who take over congregations and people don’t see them for who they are because they speak the language. And there are times where people make arbitrary decisions for the congregation based on the fact that they are older. The things coming out of their mouths are nonsensical but people listen anyway because of the whole “face” issue…