Re-Imaginging a Global Gospel

I saw familiar stories of the gospel last week with a whole new perspective. This semester I assigned my students a story from a gospel to memorize. They had the whole semester to learn and practice their passages. It is a difficult task, I know. Their task was first to memorize and second to present in class with creativity. Most students presented drawings, some used body language, some acted, and some wore costumes.

It was their drawings that continue to leave me reevaluating how I read the word. You mean Jesus isn't white? Again I'm reminded by how my story, even God's story which I find myself in, still finds shape by my western and very white culture. When I read and visualize scripture, I see white people. Yes, I know Jesus was from the Middle East so he wasn't white. Yet when I'm honest, in my minds eye, he is white. Yet it goes further, not only is Jesus white, but those he ministers to are also white. In my minds eye, Jesus closest friends are white, his mom and dad are white and if you push me further I even picture God the Gather as a "white God". Why would it be any different! I can let myself of the hook to some degree. However, I realize that this profoundly influences how I participate in and live out of God's story. I've lived out of my home country for more than two years. Yet, my home culture still remains a powerful force. It shapes my imagination and shapes my participation in life.

So the non-white portrayals of Jesus were surprising to me at first. Jesus was Korean in their pictures. (he wasn't even Middle Eastern) The people that Jesus comes into contact with, even his disciples, were not white people in their drawings! They are Korean! I was surprised because their worldview is so differnt from mine. Now that I think about it, I shouldn't be surprised. Of course Jesus is Korean. I am aware, however, that they have the same "problem" that I have. Their worldview is hyper-Korean as mine is hyper-"white". I wonder what would happen if when we read scripture we began to see people of all races as the "blindman", "the woman with a bleeding problem", the "demon possessed" or even "Paul".

I've been thinking this week that there is need for the church to re-imagine a global gospel. No, don't change scripture. Yet, let's look at how limited our understanding of God's participation in the world is when our imagination of scripture is dominated by our own culture. I'm more aware today than ever how important our Christians sisters and brothers around the world are to my own gospel imagination. I need them, those in Asia, Africa, S. America, Europe, to help me imagine the gospel.

What if our Sunday curriculim in the west had a mixture of races represented? What if when we read passages together we talked about who was included in Jesus' ministry? What if when we presented texts to be read in our worship we helped our people re-imagine who the people of today's story are? My students gifted me last week with a challenge. They have unknowingly challenged me to re-imagine a global gospel. Thank you students! Your hard work has paid off more than you'll ever know.