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Deadly Viper Backlash: Doing the Right Thing is Only the First Step

by Edward Gilbreath 11-20-2009 | 4:50pm
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In case you hadn't heard, Zondervan made a major announcement yesterday regarding the Deadly Viper Character Assassins book that was the source of so much anger and controversy recently. Effective immediately, Zondervan undertook the courageous step of permanently removing all the books from stores and discontinuing all related curriculum and products. Quite a bold gesture, and a remarkable example of repentance. Hopefully, the pain and high emotion of the past few weeks can now give way to true healing and reconciliation. This is a wonderful start, but it will not be easy.

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The Deadly Viper Web site and blog were shut down today shortly after Zondervan's announcement. This is the message that now greets its visitors.

A search for the words "Deadly Viper" on Twitter brings a variety of revealing Tweets. Very common are messages like this one: "Irritated about the whole Deadly Viper thing. irritated. really? ya had to shut them down?" And this one: "The Deadly Viper issue makes my stomach turn. I need to think about something else because I'm getting ticked off."

There likely will be some backlash against Zondervan's decision and against the movement of folks, led by our very brave sisters and brothers in the Asian American community, who took a firm stand against the negative stereotypes connected with the DV book and promo video. Many will view this whole episode as the epitome of political correctness and as an unfair attack on two devoted Christian brothers. We need to show patience and grace to those who don't understand the point of this outcome.

This has especially been a difficult time for Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite, the authors of Deadly Viper. They need our prayers and compassion.

And finally, we need to remember our Asian and Asian American brothers and sisters who have been at the forefront of this conflict. I think of Soong-Chan Rah, Kathy Khang, Eugene Cho, and Ken Fong in particular, but there have been many others who have led the way through their blog posts and comments, Tweets, Facebook updates, and letters of complaint to Zondervan. These women and men have felt the strain and sadness of this epic event.

Though I supported the protest from the beginning, I admittedly was a bit concerned about the overwhelming force of the initial admonishment of the authors. I always felt that Zondervan should be the target of the strongest protest. But blog posts like this one from my dear friend Helen Lee and this one from Soong-Chan helped me understand why the Asian community needed to act so decisively. They were tired of this mess. I needed to be tired of it, too.

Thank God for this good conclusion. I think He makes the church better through conflicts like this one. Let's pray that it becomes the start of something greater -- something profoundly redemptive.

portrait-edward-gilbreathEdward Gilbreath is director of editorial for Urban Ministries Inc., editor of UrbanFaith.com, and the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical's Inside View of White Christianity. He blogs at Reconciliation Blog.

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by: Danny Bixby

11-20-2009 @ 4:01pm

I understand the offense that many have taken at this...I really do. If the subject matter was repackaged with black stereotypes and caricatures instead of Asian it never would have gotten published.

That's a double standard, that's unethical.

However, I read a tweet last night that I thought put another perspective on it: "I'm Hispanic,my son is Asian, @MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.DeadlyViper chnged MyLife"

Sometimes I wonder what types of offenses are acceptable to allow so that lives can be powerfully changed.

I don't know if this is one of them, but some would say it is.

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by: Chris "Jesdisciple"

11-20-2009 @ 6:38pm

MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.

That sounds familiar...

by: Danny Bixby

11-20-2009 @ 4:01pm

I understand the offense that many have taken at this...I really do. If the subject matter was repackaged with black stereotypes and caricatures instead of Asian it never would have gotten published.

That's a double standard, that's unethical.

However, I read a tweet last night that I thought put another perspective on it: "I'm Hispanic,my son is Asian, @MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.DeadlyViper chnged MyLife"

Sometimes I wonder what types of offenses are acceptable to allow so that lives can be powerfully changed.

I don't know if this is one of them, but some would say it is.

by: hanadul83

11-21-2009 @ 2:02am

Dear Danny,

I wonder if there are different kinds of offenses, particularly when it comes to the Gospel message. I appreciate that you understand the situation that both parties of the DV controversy were/are in, but please allow me to process here as I think about your question of what kind of offenses are allowable, especially when allowing something controversial to exist is hurting or offending some people? (i.e. XXXchurch! Great idea, obviously more socially conservative folks don't feel so comfortable w/it. Some are even offended and think of it as a moral outrage. But...that's good. And many people's lives are being changed thru xxxchurch's ministry.)

What comes to mind for me (staying in the cultural/racial context DV was in) are examples from American history. How many First Nations people (aka Native Americans or Indian Americans) and after them, African slaves (many of whose descendants are our African American brothers and sisters today) were offended and deeply hurt by the way the gospel was presented to them? Not just in words, but in deed, since our actions speak louder than our words...?

Did you know that in the past it was a normal practice for Christian missionaries and teachers (from European countries) to beat, whip, starve, humiliate and punish indigenous, non-European children who spoke their mother tongue in classrooms, where the Bible was being taught? Their native cultural heritages were seen as pagan, ungodly, backwards, uncivilized and heathen simply because they were not what the European missionaries of that time recognized as Christian, godly, developed, and civilized. While being culturally sensitive and appreciative of diversity doesn't mean we have to tolerate or accept other religions (as truth), it does mean that believers have a responsibility to be wise and discerning about how to approach things we do not understand...and so for missionaries in crosscultural work, we must do the hard work of contextualizing our message so that we are not beating children for being who God created them to be, while helping them see what is of the Fall and what is of Heaven. Practically speaking, we have to pick and choose carefully which battles to fight. Sometimes it is worth risking the offense, but other times it is not. So then, how do we know? Going to the Word always starts us off in the right place :)

I think that the Gospel and the message of the Cross cannot but offend those who do not believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-23, Galatians 5:15). We know that is good and necessary because it needs to happen as it reveals the deep sinfulness and rebellion of people that needs to be addressed (only solution being Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers). So this is a life-giving offense that reveals something corrupt that must be redeemed by Christ. Furthermore, there is fruit that comes from the offense, especially when in the context of relationship because an offense demands that a root issue be addressed. When we accept the Lordship of Christ, the offense of the Cross is removed, and we are recipients of eternal life.

Cross = good offense.

However, I believe this kind of life-giving offense from the Cross and Gospel message is completely different from telling people (in this case, a whole racial group) that their hurt feelings (from real or perceived discrimination), their experience of being marginalized, and their compromised sense of cultural, ethnic, or racial identity aren't important...especially when there is a prospect of people's lives being changed because they weren't stumbled by being offended first (since they weren't a part of one particular group). In Romans 14:13, Paul is addressing the issue of food that was dividing the church in Rome, and he says "not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." In the DV case, the use of stereotypical Asian symbols to market a Christian teaching on living a life of integrity was a serious stumbling block for a whole group of believers because of their God-given cultural heritage. (I am distinguishing race from ethnicity and culture because race is a social construct.) As a result, this became an offense that was not life-giving and though it did reveal the character of many who became voices in this conversation, it did not serve anyone to reveal something inherently wrong and broken about people being Asian or Asian American that needed to be redeemed from its core. (I'm sure some wonder sarcastically, "Or was it? Do you think we're all ungodly, pagan ninja assassins just waiting to cut you up with our high SAT scores?) One of the major areas of offense was that many Asians/Asian Americans felt the implied message was that Asian culture is something that can be used meaninglessly, and in the backlash, that even speaking up about that being a problem (oh, how uncharacteristic of Asians who usually keep quiet & calm!). This became an issue of judgment - people who spoke up were accused of being unforgiving, angry, and judgmental...and thus "not very godly or Christ-like." (Granted, many heated comments could have been more gracious.) But what hurt and even angered many sincere Asian/Asian American believers the most was that the initial requests to address the issue were brushed off as if it was unimportant and inconsequential, and people were attacked for having feelings (the ones not identified as "positive" or "nice" in our American culture).

Clearly, there are positive offenses and negative offenses. Perhaps we can know the offense by its fruit. If positive change comes out of something like this in the long run and people are brought closer to Christ (not just the form of Christ-likeness) and love for one another...then perhaps the offense was indeed worth it. Clearly, in this DV case it was not; everyone recognized it and to their great credit, made the necessary motions and changes to address the offense. Fortunately, many saw that this act of repentance and humility spoke VOLUMES about the character and integrity of the people who had unintentionally caused the offense.

Something interesting for me to watch has been the raised social (racial) consciousness of believers who engaged in this issue...we are seeing that race is an issue that quickly divides people, and everyone is quick to attack or defend, forgetting the biblical principle of listening...it's something almost everyone is emotional about, and it shows the broken state of race relations in America (and abroad) today.

We also see that people speak to these larger issues from only their personal experiences, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is often unhelpful to engage in these kind of conversations with only raw, unprocessed emotions that cause us to make sarcastic remarks, judgements about people's character/intentions, sweeping generalizations about whole groups of people, and the state of American racial dynamics without having a clear awareness of what is and has been happening in our country from its very foundations. Maybe what believers in US need is just a really good history lesson :) Or more specifically, history lessons about each other. It is so much easier not to be offended when we know where the other person is coming from. And, it is easier not to be intimidated or attacked by someone else's offense if we are aware of where we ourselves have come from...in our perspective and theirs. History always looks VERY different from the eyes of the marginalized.

Thanks for engaging and thank you even more for allowing others to speak to your listening self. I also am learning so much from hearing everyone's thoughts and reflections on this matter...and asking tough questions, dealing with my own hurt, cynicism, discouragement, hope, and dreams for a better future for my own children.

May God bring us closer to His heart for reconciliation. We're called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, given the honor of carrying out His ministry of reconciliation :) Perhaps something incredibly and fearfully beautiful, wonderful, and powerful has begun here through this trial in our Christian community.

by: Chris "Jesdisciple"

11-20-2009 @ 6:38pm

MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.

That sounds familiar...

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by: hanadul83

11-21-2009 @ 2:02am

Dear Danny,

I wonder if there are different kinds of offenses, particularly when it comes to the Gospel message. I appreciate that you understand the situation that both parties of the DV controversy were/are in, but please allow me to process here as I think about your question of what kind of offenses are allowable, especially when allowing something controversial to exist is hurting or offending some people? (i.e. XXXchurch! Great idea, obviously more socially conservative folks don't feel so comfortable w/it. Some are even offended and think of it as a moral outrage. But...that's good. And many people's lives are being changed thru xxxchurch's ministry.)

What comes to mind for me (staying in the cultural/racial context DV was in) are examples from American history. How many First Nations people (aka Native Americans or Indian Americans) and after them, African slaves (many of whose descendants are our African American brothers and sisters today) were offended and deeply hurt by the way the gospel was presented to them? Not just in words, but in deed, since our actions speak louder than our words...?

Did you know that in the past it was a normal practice for Christian missionaries and teachers (from European countries) to beat, whip, starve, humiliate and punish indigenous, non-European children who spoke their mother tongue in classrooms, where the Bible was being taught? Their native cultural heritages were seen as pagan, ungodly, backwards, uncivilized and heathen simply because they were not what the European missionaries of that time recognized as Christian, godly, developed, and civilized. While being culturally sensitive and appreciative of diversity doesn't mean we have to tolerate or accept other religions (as truth), it does mean that believers have a responsibility to be wise and discerning about how to approach things we do not understand...and so for missionaries in crosscultural work, we must do the hard work of contextualizing our message so that we are not beating children for being who God created them to be, while helping them see what is of the Fall and what is of Heaven. Practically speaking, we have to pick and choose carefully which battles to fight. Sometimes it is worth risking the offense, but other times it is not. So then, how do we know? Going to the Word always starts us off in the right place :)

I think that the Gospel and the message of the Cross cannot but offend those who do not believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-23, Galatians 5:15). We know that is good and necessary because it needs to happen as it reveals the deep sinfulness and rebellion of people that needs to be addressed (only solution being Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers). So this is a life-giving offense that reveals something corrupt that must be redeemed by Christ. Furthermore, there is fruit that comes from the offense, especially when in the context of relationship because an offense demands that a root issue be addressed. When we accept the Lordship of Christ, the offense of the Cross is removed, and we are recipients of eternal life.

Cross = good offense.

However, I believe this kind of life-giving offense from the Cross and Gospel message is completely different from telling people (in this case, a whole racial group) that their hurt feelings (from real or perceived discrimination), their experience of being marginalized, and their compromised sense of cultural, ethnic, or racial identity aren't important...especially when there is a prospect of people's lives being changed because they weren't stumbled by being offended first (since they weren't a part of one particular group). In Romans 14:13, Paul is addressing the issue of food that was dividing the church in Rome, and he says "not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." In the DV case, the use of stereotypical Asian symbols to market a Christian teaching on living a life of integrity was a serious stumbling block for a whole group of believers because of their God-given cultural heritage. (I am distinguishing race from ethnicity and culture because race is a social construct.) As a result, this became an offense that was not life-giving and though it did reveal the character of many who became voices in this conversation, it did not serve anyone to reveal something inherently wrong and broken about people being Asian or Asian American that needed to be redeemed from its core. (I'm sure some wonder sarcastically, "Or was it? Do you think we're all ungodly, pagan ninja assassins just waiting to cut you up with our high SAT scores?) One of the major areas of offense was that many Asians/Asian Americans felt the implied message was that Asian culture is something that can be used meaninglessly, and in the backlash, that even speaking up about that being a problem (oh, how uncharacteristic of Asians who usually keep quiet & calm!). This became an issue of judgment - people who spoke up were accused of being unforgiving, angry, and judgmental...and thus "not very godly or Christ-like." (Granted, many heated comments could have been more gracious.) But what hurt and even angered many sincere Asian/Asian American believers the most was that the initial requests to address the issue were brushed off as if it was unimportant and inconsequential, and people were attacked for having feelings (the ones not identified as "positive" or "nice" in our American culture).

Clearly, there are positive offenses and negative offenses. Perhaps we can know the offense by its fruit. If positive change comes out of something like this in the long run and people are brought closer to Christ (not just the form of Christ-likeness) and love for one another...then perhaps the offense was indeed worth it. Clearly, in this DV case it was not; everyone recognized it and to their great credit, made the necessary motions and changes to address the offense. Fortunately, many saw that this act of repentance and humility spoke VOLUMES about the character and integrity of the people who had unintentionally caused the offense.

Something interesting for me to watch has been the raised social (racial) consciousness of believers who engaged in this issue...we are seeing that race is an issue that quickly divides people, and everyone is quick to attack or defend, forgetting the biblical principle of listening...it's something almost everyone is emotional about, and it shows the broken state of race relations in America (and abroad) today.

We also see that people speak to these larger issues from only their personal experiences, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is often unhelpful to engage in these kind of conversations with only raw, unprocessed emotions that cause us to make sarcastic remarks, judgements about people's character/intentions, sweeping generalizations about whole groups of people, and the state of American racial dynamics without having a clear awareness of what is and has been happening in our country from its very foundations. Maybe what believers in US need is just a really good history lesson :) Or more specifically, history lessons about each other. It is so much easier not to be offended when we know where the other person is coming from. And, it is easier not to be intimidated or attacked by someone else's offense if we are aware of where we ourselves have come from...in our perspective and theirs. History always looks VERY different from the eyes of the marginalized.

Thanks for engaging and thank you even more for allowing others to speak to your listening self. I also am learning so much from hearing everyone's thoughts and reflections on this matter...and asking tough questions, dealing with my own hurt, cynicism, discouragement, hope, and dreams for a better future for my own children.

May God bring us closer to His heart for reconciliation. We're called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, given the honor of carrying out His ministry of reconciliation :) Perhaps something incredibly and fearfully beautiful, wonderful, and powerful has begun here through this trial in our Christian community.

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by: Danny Bixby

11-20-2009 @ 4:01pm

I understand the offense that many have taken at this...I really do. If the subject matter was repackaged with black stereotypes and caricatures instead of Asian it never would have gotten published.

That's a double standard, that's unethical.

However, I read a tweet last night that I thought put another perspective on it: "I'm Hispanic,my son is Asian, @MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.DeadlyViper chnged MyLife"

Sometimes I wonder what types of offenses are acceptable to allow so that lives can be powerfully changed.

I don't know if this is one of them, but some would say it is.

by: Danny Bixby

11-20-2009 @ 4:01pm

I understand the offense that many have taken at this...I really do. If the subject matter was repackaged with black stereotypes and caricatures instead of Asian it never would have gotten published.

That's a double standard, that's unethical.

However, I read a tweet last night that I thought put another perspective on it: "I'm Hispanic,my son is Asian, @MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.DeadlyViper chnged MyLife"

Sometimes I wonder what types of offenses are acceptable to allow so that lives can be powerfully changed.

I don't know if this is one of them, but some would say it is.

by: Chris "Jesdisciple"

11-20-2009 @ 6:38pm

MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.

That sounds familiar...

by: Chris "Jesdisciple"

11-20-2009 @ 6:38pm

MikeFoster cn wear a sombrero & hold maracas 4 all I care.

That sounds familiar...

by: hanadul83

11-21-2009 @ 2:02am

Dear Danny,

I wonder if there are different kinds of offenses, particularly when it comes to the Gospel message. I appreciate that you understand the situation that both parties of the DV controversy were/are in, but please allow me to process here as I think about your question of what kind of offenses are allowable, especially when allowing something controversial to exist is hurting or offending some people? (i.e. XXXchurch! Great idea, obviously more socially conservative folks don't feel so comfortable w/it. Some are even offended and think of it as a moral outrage. But...that's good. And many people's lives are being changed thru xxxchurch's ministry.)

What comes to mind for me (staying in the cultural/racial context DV was in) are examples from American history. How many First Nations people (aka Native Americans or Indian Americans) and after them, African slaves (many of whose descendants are our African American brothers and sisters today) were offended and deeply hurt by the way the gospel was presented to them? Not just in words, but in deed, since our actions speak louder than our words...?

Did you know that in the past it was a normal practice for Christian missionaries and teachers (from European countries) to beat, whip, starve, humiliate and punish indigenous, non-European children who spoke their mother tongue in classrooms, where the Bible was being taught? Their native cultural heritages were seen as pagan, ungodly, backwards, uncivilized and heathen simply because they were not what the European missionaries of that time recognized as Christian, godly, developed, and civilized. While being culturally sensitive and appreciative of diversity doesn't mean we have to tolerate or accept other religions (as truth), it does mean that believers have a responsibility to be wise and discerning about how to approach things we do not understand...and so for missionaries in crosscultural work, we must do the hard work of contextualizing our message so that we are not beating children for being who God created them to be, while helping them see what is of the Fall and what is of Heaven. Practically speaking, we have to pick and choose carefully which battles to fight. Sometimes it is worth risking the offense, but other times it is not. So then, how do we know? Going to the Word always starts us off in the right place :)

I think that the Gospel and the message of the Cross cannot but offend those who do not believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-23, Galatians 5:15). We know that is good and necessary because it needs to happen as it reveals the deep sinfulness and rebellion of people that needs to be addressed (only solution being Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers). So this is a life-giving offense that reveals something corrupt that must be redeemed by Christ. Furthermore, there is fruit that comes from the offense, especially when in the context of relationship because an offense demands that a root issue be addressed. When we accept the Lordship of Christ, the offense of the Cross is removed, and we are recipients of eternal life.

Cross = good offense.

However, I believe this kind of life-giving offense from the Cross and Gospel message is completely different from telling people (in this case, a whole racial group) that their hurt feelings (from real or perceived discrimination), their experience of being marginalized, and their compromised sense of cultural, ethnic, or racial identity aren't important...especially when there is a prospect of people's lives being changed because they weren't stumbled by being offended first (since they weren't a part of one particular group). In Romans 14:13, Paul is addressing the issue of food that was dividing the church in Rome, and he says "not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." In the DV case, the use of stereotypical Asian symbols to market a Christian teaching on living a life of integrity was a serious stumbling block for a whole group of believers because of their God-given cultural heritage. (I am distinguishing race from ethnicity and culture because race is a social construct.) As a result, this became an offense that was not life-giving and though it did reveal the character of many who became voices in this conversation, it did not serve anyone to reveal something inherently wrong and broken about people being Asian or Asian American that needed to be redeemed from its core. (I'm sure some wonder sarcastically, "Or was it? Do you think we're all ungodly, pagan ninja assassins just waiting to cut you up with our high SAT scores?) One of the major areas of offense was that many Asians/Asian Americans felt the implied message was that Asian culture is something that can be used meaninglessly, and in the backlash, that even speaking up about that being a problem (oh, how uncharacteristic of Asians who usually keep quiet & calm!). This became an issue of judgment - people who spoke up were accused of being unforgiving, angry, and judgmental...and thus "not very godly or Christ-like." (Granted, many heated comments could have been more gracious.) But what hurt and even angered many sincere Asian/Asian American believers the most was that the initial requests to address the issue were brushed off as if it was unimportant and inconsequential, and people were attacked for having feelings (the ones not identified as "positive" or "nice" in our American culture).

Clearly, there are positive offenses and negative offenses. Perhaps we can know the offense by its fruit. If positive change comes out of something like this in the long run and people are brought closer to Christ (not just the form of Christ-likeness) and love for one another...then perhaps the offense was indeed worth it. Clearly, in this DV case it was not; everyone recognized it and to their great credit, made the necessary motions and changes to address the offense. Fortunately, many saw that this act of repentance and humility spoke VOLUMES about the character and integrity of the people who had unintentionally caused the offense.

Something interesting for me to watch has been the raised social (racial) consciousness of believers who engaged in this issue...we are seeing that race is an issue that quickly divides people, and everyone is quick to attack or defend, forgetting the biblical principle of listening...it's something almost everyone is emotional about, and it shows the broken state of race relations in America (and abroad) today.

We also see that people speak to these larger issues from only their personal experiences, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is often unhelpful to engage in these kind of conversations with only raw, unprocessed emotions that cause us to make sarcastic remarks, judgements about people's character/intentions, sweeping generalizations about whole groups of people, and the state of American racial dynamics without having a clear awareness of what is and has been happening in our country from its very foundations. Maybe what believers in US need is just a really good history lesson :) Or more specifically, history lessons about each other. It is so much easier not to be offended when we know where the other person is coming from. And, it is easier not to be intimidated or attacked by someone else's offense if we are aware of where we ourselves have come from...in our perspective and theirs. History always looks VERY different from the eyes of the marginalized.

Thanks for engaging and thank you even more for allowing others to speak to your listening self. I also am learning so much from hearing everyone's thoughts and reflections on this matter...and asking tough questions, dealing with my own hurt, cynicism, discouragement, hope, and dreams for a better future for my own children.

May God bring us closer to His heart for reconciliation. We're called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, given the honor of carrying out His ministry of reconciliation :) Perhaps something incredibly and fearfully beautiful, wonderful, and powerful has begun here through this trial in our Christian community.

by: hanadul83

11-21-2009 @ 2:02am

Dear Danny,

I wonder if there are different kinds of offenses, particularly when it comes to the Gospel message. I appreciate that you understand the situation that both parties of the DV controversy were/are in, but please allow me to process here as I think about your question of what kind of offenses are allowable, especially when allowing something controversial to exist is hurting or offending some people? (i.e. XXXchurch! Great idea, obviously more socially conservative folks don't feel so comfortable w/it. Some are even offended and think of it as a moral outrage. But...that's good. And many people's lives are being changed thru xxxchurch's ministry.)

What comes to mind for me (staying in the cultural/racial context DV was in) are examples from American history. How many First Nations people (aka Native Americans or Indian Americans) and after them, African slaves (many of whose descendants are our African American brothers and sisters today) were offended and deeply hurt by the way the gospel was presented to them? Not just in words, but in deed, since our actions speak louder than our words...?

Did you know that in the past it was a normal practice for Christian missionaries and teachers (from European countries) to beat, whip, starve, humiliate and punish indigenous, non-European children who spoke their mother tongue in classrooms, where the Bible was being taught? Their native cultural heritages were seen as pagan, ungodly, backwards, uncivilized and heathen simply because they were not what the European missionaries of that time recognized as Christian, godly, developed, and civilized. While being culturally sensitive and appreciative of diversity doesn't mean we have to tolerate or accept other religions (as truth), it does mean that believers have a responsibility to be wise and discerning about how to approach things we do not understand...and so for missionaries in crosscultural work, we must do the hard work of contextualizing our message so that we are not beating children for being who God created them to be, while helping them see what is of the Fall and what is of Heaven. Practically speaking, we have to pick and choose carefully which battles to fight. Sometimes it is worth risking the offense, but other times it is not. So then, how do we know? Going to the Word always starts us off in the right place :)

I think that the Gospel and the message of the Cross cannot but offend those who do not believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:18-23, Galatians 5:15). We know that is good and necessary because it needs to happen as it reveals the deep sinfulness and rebellion of people that needs to be addressed (only solution being Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers). So this is a life-giving offense that reveals something corrupt that must be redeemed by Christ. Furthermore, there is fruit that comes from the offense, especially when in the context of relationship because an offense demands that a root issue be addressed. When we accept the Lordship of Christ, the offense of the Cross is removed, and we are recipients of eternal life.

Cross = good offense.

However, I believe this kind of life-giving offense from the Cross and Gospel message is completely different from telling people (in this case, a whole racial group) that their hurt feelings (from real or perceived discrimination), their experience of being marginalized, and their compromised sense of cultural, ethnic, or racial identity aren't important...especially when there is a prospect of people's lives being changed because they weren't stumbled by being offended first (since they weren't a part of one particular group). In Romans 14:13, Paul is addressing the issue of food that was dividing the church in Rome, and he says "not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." In the DV case, the use of stereotypical Asian symbols to market a Christian teaching on living a life of integrity was a serious stumbling block for a whole group of believers because of their God-given cultural heritage. (I am distinguishing race from ethnicity and culture because race is a social construct.) As a result, this became an offense that was not life-giving and though it did reveal the character of many who became voices in this conversation, it did not serve anyone to reveal something inherently wrong and broken about people being Asian or Asian American that needed to be redeemed from its core. (I'm sure some wonder sarcastically, "Or was it? Do you think we're all ungodly, pagan ninja assassins just waiting to cut you up with our high SAT scores?) One of the major areas of offense was that many Asians/Asian Americans felt the implied message was that Asian culture is something that can be used meaninglessly, and in the backlash, that even speaking up about that being a problem (oh, how uncharacteristic of Asians who usually keep quiet & calm!). This became an issue of judgment - people who spoke up were accused of being unforgiving, angry, and judgmental...and thus "not very godly or Christ-like." (Granted, many heated comments could have been more gracious.) But what hurt and even angered many sincere Asian/Asian American believers the most was that the initial requests to address the issue were brushed off as if it was unimportant and inconsequential, and people were attacked for having feelings (the ones not identified as "positive" or "nice" in our American culture).

Clearly, there are positive offenses and negative offenses. Perhaps we can know the offense by its fruit. If positive change comes out of something like this in the long run and people are brought closer to Christ (not just the form of Christ-likeness) and love for one another...then perhaps the offense was indeed worth it. Clearly, in this DV case it was not; everyone recognized it and to their great credit, made the necessary motions and changes to address the offense. Fortunately, many saw that this act of repentance and humility spoke VOLUMES about the character and integrity of the people who had unintentionally caused the offense.

Something interesting for me to watch has been the raised social (racial) consciousness of believers who engaged in this issue...we are seeing that race is an issue that quickly divides people, and everyone is quick to attack or defend, forgetting the biblical principle of listening...it's something almost everyone is emotional about, and it shows the broken state of race relations in America (and abroad) today.

We also see that people speak to these larger issues from only their personal experiences, and while there is nothing wrong with that, it is often unhelpful to engage in these kind of conversations with only raw, unprocessed emotions that cause us to make sarcastic remarks, judgements about people's character/intentions, sweeping generalizations about whole groups of people, and the state of American racial dynamics without having a clear awareness of what is and has been happening in our country from its very foundations. Maybe what believers in US need is just a really good history lesson :) Or more specifically, history lessons about each other. It is so much easier not to be offended when we know where the other person is coming from. And, it is easier not to be intimidated or attacked by someone else's offense if we are aware of where we ourselves have come from...in our perspective and theirs. History always looks VERY different from the eyes of the marginalized.

Thanks for engaging and thank you even more for allowing others to speak to your listening self. I also am learning so much from hearing everyone's thoughts and reflections on this matter...and asking tough questions, dealing with my own hurt, cynicism, discouragement, hope, and dreams for a better future for my own children.

May God bring us closer to His heart for reconciliation. We're called to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, given the honor of carrying out His ministry of reconciliation :) Perhaps something incredibly and fearfully beautiful, wonderful, and powerful has begun here through this trial in our Christian community.

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