Me: "Do you guys have any more questions on this passage?"
Student D: " I do. Are there Asians in the Bible?"
Me: (Thinking that this has nothing to do about the passage, but will answer anyways). "Well, I don't know if it is specific like, Jack, the Asian. but we do know that Paul and others went, to Asia minor and were heading east to plant churches."
Student D: "Yah, but are there Asians in the Bible?"
Me: "We know that God has a heart for all ethnicities, we see that woven throughout scripture. He has created us, and we can celebrate our different ethnicities...." Conversation goes on, and I am clearly not answering her question.
I decide that I really don't know if there is someplace in the Bible that says: "Jack the Asian." I promised that I will find out. And I found out nothing. Not sure actually.
A few weeks later in Bible Study......
Student D: "I think God is Asian."
Me: " I bet you are right. If we are created in God's image, and you are Asian, there must be some part of God that is Asian."
Student D: "Really, you believe that? Sweet. God is Asian."
Though I don't think God is fully one ethnicity, I do believe that He represents all people, and we are all created in his likeness. I know that he passionately cares for all people of ethnicity and culture and all of us have a place in the kingdom.
I love that I get to wrestle with issues of reconciliation, multi-ethnicity, and ethnic identity.
Just another reason why I loved my job this week.
2 comments:
Man, I think about the ministries that God has placed you and I in and how amazing it is to see Him work as we offer ourselves up as a vessel to love on others. It blows me away.
This is awesome. I love hearing about your job.
Kristin, I think your Student D would fit well in my class. We wrestle with big issues, too. ;) - Laura.
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