I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “Clinging to Shame is a permanent fixture in East Asian sin and Biblical values take a back seat to culture.” About once a year people patronize me with this same “profound revelation” [nonsense] as though they invented it themselves. In a word: Cowardice.
You know how when you were five years old and you did something mean to your friend, mom made you apologize, your friend forgave you, and everyone felt better? Most Asian Christians have never done that. They “solve” problems by “running away” and clinging to their Shame as if their lives depend on it. This explains the fact that China and Taiwan still haven’t figured out that Taiwan no longer occupies the Mainland and that China, for all their pomp and huff, never could take the isle of Formosa. It’s why North and South Korea are “North and South”.
Someone decides he doesn’t like the other guy and they both silently agree never to ever, ever talk again. Who knows, parting of company could be based on a lie. But you’d better not try to clear-up that lie because Shame is more valued than gold or even friendship. “Pressing through to the breakthrough in reconciliation” is a “Western interpretation” of Matthew 18:15. They act as if, “..talk to him alone.. you’ve won your brother,” should rightly mean, “..gossip and loose your brother,” because Scriptural truth is relative. Well, I have a different opinion and so does God.
To every Asian-American and every English speaker in Hong Kong: Do we compromise our way to truth? Does dumbing-down the grading scale improve learning? Does God on the Throne allow a “little” sin so that we’ll eventually leave that sin? Does letting the little girl cry her way into “having it HER way” help her when she’s older? Do Moderate politicians DO anything other than just keep everyone happy while the radicals force their agenda anyhow? Will Satan stop seeking souls to devour if God would just sit across the table and negotiate? If you are Asian raised in an English-speaking culture you know what I mean: Where do we stop pussy-footing around and draw the line? “Running away” from the Shame-culture of “running away” won’t stop people from running away.
It’s from fear. Apologizing to a friend can be scary. Maybe he won’t forgive you. But it’s better to take the “risks” associated with being forgiven than to guarantee the weight of Shame. Christ’s burden is light. This problem is common human sin. It’s not culture that makes the West different, it’s Courage.
Each year I’m confronted with the idea that this ”imposes Western” values. If Europe hadn’t the Bible ”imposed” on it for two thousand years, Westerners would run away from each other like in Asia. Many, in fact, still do. Think of Jesus who barges in, scoops us up, and, though our hearts flee daily, He still “imposes” love. Friends are too valuable NOT to have Reconciliation “imposed”.
