Hard Conversations: Recent Episodes
Acts Ministries International
Ryun Chang (PhD, Fuller) has been in ministry since 1982 during which time he had the privilege of serving the Lord as pastor, teacher and missionary (Mexico). For the past ten years, he has been serving as the Teaching Pastor of Acts Ministries International (AMI), a consortium of pan-Asian churches in several states and East Asia.
His published works are: "Manual de Misionología" (Editorial Continental, 2005); "Theologizing in the Radical Middle" (Wipf & Stock, 2018); contributor to "Reshaping of Mission in Latin America" (Regnum Books Int'l, 2015). Upon seeing how COVID is altering the mode through which people learn, he decided to record the many things the Lord has taught him over the years and share them with the larger audience. Thanks for tuning in. God bless.
This vlog briefly looks at evolutionary psychology and how its understanding of ethics and morality gives grounds for devastating human behavior.
Too many people simply assume that what science promulgates is the unvarnished truth. But there is something that precedes science that influences how scientists will choose to interpret the data. What's that?
Good Friday, Easter Sunday but what about the Saturday in between during which time Jesus was in the state of death for the entire day? Where did he go? What does this imply for a lot of us?
I respond to the question, "Why should I believe the Bible when there are other sacred books?"
While talking about sanctification, I briefly consider spiritual differences between in-person worship and online worship.
Several years ago, before I got up to speak at a conference, the hosting pastor introduced me as Dr. PowerPoint. Yes, I heavily rely on this tool to communicate God's message. So, is that all good? That depends. In this vlog I imagine what may happen to my PowerPoint slides on the Day of Judgment.
I share one unforgettable moment in my life when the Lord exposed the motives of my heart in ministry. Ouch!
The three typical ways in which we use the cross against the instruction that came with it.
The young man I speak to in this vlog is a brilliant tech geek. He is well-known in the coding world because of his significant contribution to the field as a core maintainer of Babel, which is widely used among some of the biggest companies in the world. He recently worked on a new app, and I had a chance to talk to him about it. He also attends one of the AMI churches.
I had to make this vlog about Pastor Eddie because it has become apparent to me that this man had impacted so many lives, particularly pastors, with genuine love wrapped around his insightful words of wisdom! I, too, want to tell my story of how this man contributed toward what I am actually doing right now. But, before you get to that, listen first to the heartfelt words shared by pastors Joe, Seong and Bryan about the impact Pastor Eddie made in their hearts!
AMI has called Pastor Joe Suh, a long-time associate pastor at the Church of Southland in Anaheim, California, to succeed Pastor Eddie, who recently went to be with the Lord, as the Lead Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia. This is my interview with him and his wife Betty that I conducted while I was at Southland to attend Pastor Eddie's memorial service on January 3rd. The following Sunday at Canvas, I shared a message largely to prepare the congregation for their new pastor who will make an initial visit to Canvas on January 17th.
The last couple Pastor Eddie married (twice!) shares what it all means to them. They also covered the most ground (or air space) to make it to the memorial service held in Anaheim, California this past Wednesday (1.3.24). Check out their unique and special story.
Tina and Anthony Pham, from Church of Southland in Anaheim, California, have only been in northern Vietnam for three months (as of November 23, 2023). While they were in Ho Chi Minh City to attend a leadership conference AMI was holding for church leaders and pastors there, I sat down with them to talk briefly about how things were going with their missions in its very early stage.
In June, while directing AMI Institute held at the Church of Southland in Anaheim, California, I met a couple—John and Yisho—in their mid-50s who sat through the entire two weeks of the Institute. They had just made major decisions that greatly affected their careers and lifestyle in order that they could serve as missionaries in Guatemala. Five months later, I ran into their son while visiting the Living Water Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. This vlog is about what this son really thinks about his parents who have kissed the American Dream goodbye so they can serve God as missionaries.
This was the first-time visiting Vietnam after COVID-19; prior to that I had made multiple visits to this beautiful country forever linked to America because of the infamous war. Anyway, of all the people I have met there, Phi and Mai stand out as the most genuine believers. I interviewed them so that you can get to know them as well.
I just came back from Seoul, South Korea, and during my time there with my AMI colleagues, I learned something about missionaries to Korea I never knew. It had the effect of deeply touching all our hearts in gratitude of their sacrifice to serve Koreans at behest of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Earlier this month (Nov. 2023), I visited the Living Water Church in Over-The-Rhines, Cincinnati, Ohio. The last time I visited this church was February of 2020, that is, a month or so before the Pandemic led to the shutting down of the country. While the sudden passing of Dr. Johann in 2019 was accompanied by many changes made to the Living Water ministry, some things have remained unchanged, such as former AMI interns deciding to stay in the OTR community to live and to serve the Lord; in my latest visit, I got to interview four of them. Listen to their stories and understand why some people are drawn to this city despite its penchant for violence.
I recently sat down with Pastor Mark and had a conversation about his battle with a serious physical ailment that led him to make a life-altering decision in January of this year. We talked about faith, life and second chance.
Some people are quite upset about the so-called replacement theology, particularly in light of the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict today. What is this theology? Is it a false teaching? And what does this theology have anything to do with Israel? In actuality, matters related to replacement theology are very fundamental to, among other things, our understanding of how God operates in our world, hermeneutics and end-times.
Should Israel matter to believers? If yes, then, how come some theologians and pastor say, "No"?
Recently, I had a chance to interview Pastor Joe, Lead Pastor of Remnant Church in Manhattan, and his wife Hanna, a licensed counselor, at his home. After a nice dinner P. Joe prepared, we reminisced about a very difficult decision they had to make to relocate from Philadelphia to New York City in 2015. What made it a bit easier for P. Joe was what his oldest son told him even as the young boy was heartbroken about having to leave the life that he loved in Philadelpha.
Not many people know about the background story of Pastor Yoon and his wife Becky, who became part of the AMI family in 2020. Because I felt that their story is quite unique, I was determined to interview them while visiting The Blessing Church for "Church and Culture" conference (Oct. 6-8, 2023) for which I was invited to speak.
I am reposting the vlog of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict made in 2021, with a new introduction. It was in response to Hamas' unprovoked attacks on Israel that pales in comparison to what they did to Israelis this past Saturday (Oct. 7). The Part A is entitled, "Christians at a Crossroads of the Israelis & Palestinian Conflict: What About, Not Hamas, But Palestinians?
The Remnant Westside Church (RWC) in Manhattan celebrated her 20th anniversary this past Sunday (September 24). Having been invited to share a message on this momentous occasion for RWC—for which I feel very grateful—I took the opportunity to interview Pastor Shan Gian, a young man who was installed as RWC's Lead Pastor two years ago. Shan will be first to admit that he didn't get here alone, for God placed two important men in his life, one in his 20s and the other in his 30s. May the Lord place able and faithful people in our path who can help us becoming able and faithful people ourselves to serve God better.
Not many people have heard of PUBLIC THEOLOGY. In the Post-COVID-19 world, THAT theology looms large because of two reasons. One, the current culture is moving rapidly away from shared values necessary to sustain a stable and secure society. Two, the Church, who took a lot of body blows during COVID, may have become wary of addressing important sociocultural issues that are very consequential to our world. This is no time for the Church to remain silent; she must discover public theology and equip herself to articulate it for the common good of everyone in society. Consider this vlog as a short introduction to public theology.
I recently spent ten entire days at home while studying theology with Dr. Won Kim, a man whom I first met in 1986, who flew in from California for that very purpose. All total, we spent some 80 hours talking about all kinds of theological matters. I interviewed this unique and very intelligent man who is getting ready to serve the Lord as a missionary in the Middle East.
This is Part 2 of "Ryun Does James So That No One Misses Out on Eddie":
In this vlog, I assumed the identity of the apostle James, an older brother of John the apostle, to tell his story. Many people know James from the gospel accounts, but not many are aware of what happened to him in the Early Church. After discussing his life, I relate the findings to what my colleague Eddie Kim is currently going through, being inflicted with late-stage cancer
In this vlog, I assume the identity of the apostle James, an older brother of John the apostle, to tell his story. Many people know James from the gospel accounts, but not many are aware of what happened to him in the Early Church. After discussing his life, I relate the findings to what my colleague Eddie Kim is currently going through, being inflicted with late-stage cancer.
Do Christians and Muslims worship the same God? There are some people who, seeing themselves as knowledgeable, would say yes. This is my short response to them.
For those of us who feel that teaching the Bible looks fun. . . Think again before you take a stab at it.
I returned home late last night (June 27) after spending a whole month on the road. Of all the cities I visited during this trip—Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Francisco, El Paso (TX) and Las Cruces (NM), the most significant place has to be Silver City—a small town in eastern New Mexico—that I first visited in 1981, that is, 42 years ago. So why is this city so personally significant to me? Well, that’s what this vlog is about. Enjoy.
AMI Institute is my organization's annual event (for 2 weeks) to expose those pastors and interns who are new to AMI to its spiritual and theological DNA. Since we just finished the first week of the Institute, consider this vlog as a progress report..
This is a compilation of videos and photos of my visit (along with my wife) to Montreal, Canada (May 18-21). Once there, we got to spend some quality time with Pastor Andrew and his wife, Jessie, and the Alive congregation.
Joe Suh is an assistant pastor at the Church of Southland in Anaheim, California. Michael Choi is Professor of Systematic Theology at Torch Trinity Graduate University in South Korea. They do not know each other because they have never met. Nevertheless, they have one thing in common: Pastor Eddie Kim. Through this connection, I am sharing two vital biblical messages these men embody: one, putting God first above all else, including our own families (Luke 14:26-27), and two, finishing well in our faith journey (2 Tim. 4:7-8).
After I got done teaching in Taiwan, I flew over to Seoul, S. Korea a day before the Easter Sunday to see Pastor Eddie Kim, literally my neighbor who is getting retreatment for his late-stage cancer there. Besides needing to deliver cards and gifts to him from his Canvas congregants, I wanted to pray for him as well as have a conversation about his thoughts on faith, life and death.
Before heading home from my trip to E. Asia, I stopped by Los Angeles to spend a week at Tapestry Church to film twelve teaching videos and also to preach on Sunday (4.16). And after the service, I was greeted by the most significant person in my life (not including my parents and wife); it was a great surprise and joy! I also spoke to Grace Choe, the better half of Pastor Charles as well several Tapestry staff whom I have gotten to know over the years. Here I share my brief conversations with some of them. Enjoy.
I have been annually visiting Journey Church of Atlanta since 2011 and have preached and taught there multiple times. In fact, I have many good and lasting memories with several people associated with this church—both past and present. Of course, being a church of young people, there is always an influx of people coming in and out; nevertheless, there are still a handful people in JCA whom I have known for a long time. Maybe that’s why I was yearning to come this time more so than in any of my previous visits. This vlog contains the live footages of Sunday service, interviews with Pastor Dandy and Jennifer his wife, respectively, and a segment from my Friday night presentation. Enjoy
Meet Pastor David Son and his wife Grace who came to Taipei four years ago to serve as missionaries. They are a couple who learned well from their mentors before coming here to serve. Their story goes to show that the best preparation to serve the Lord on the mission field is faithfully serving him on the home front. Check out their stories; they will warm your heart. Enjoy.
I have been visiting Remnant Church (AMI) in Manhattan (New York) since 2011 quite regularly. Except for a few occasions, I have always taken a bus to get there and then walk to the church upon arriving. This time was no different. Although I talked about the uniqueness of this church before (three services in three languages, every Sunday), this time I captured that in video. The vlog includes live footages and interviews that denote this Remnant uniqueness as well as brief excerpts from four messages I shared on March 18 and 19. Enjoy.
Pastor Mark is a colleague (AMI) and a good friend. He recently resigned as the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, a church the Lord allowed him to plant in 2011. The decision to leave was due in part to his health issues. This is a tribute video I prepared in response to the request made by the Radiance leadership. Thank you.
There is something just as bad as racism, if not worse, and has been around a lot longer than racism. How old, then, is racism? What is it that is as bad as racism if not worse?
This is the prayer and benediction by Pastor Eddie Kim of Canvas Church in Philadelphia at the end of yesterday's worship service. This morning he left for Korea to receive treatment for his advanced cancer. May the Lord keep and guard Eddie during this difficult journey that just began.
Do you have dogs? My family has had several dogs over the years, and we have enjoyed them immensely. Today, I am going to talk about two of those dogs because their paths crossed in such a manner that one led to life and the other, in all likelihood, to death. After sharing about important aspects of their lives, I am going to extract one very important spiritual principle from it and then apply it to the believers. Now, before you scoff at the idea of learning anything spiritual from animals, be reminded that God’s word tells us to learn hard work from ants (Prov. 6:6-8), imitate innocence and shrewdness, respectively, from doves and serpents, respectively (Matt. 10:16). Happy New Year 2023!
Should we cancel the Christmas service this Sunday since many people won’t be coming? You know, traveling and, maybe, too much partying the night before. A pastor in Boston did just that (not meeting this Sunday) and then wrote an article, which appears in the Gospel Coalition website, that defends his decision. This videoblog is my response to this pastor’s rationale which he believes is firmly rooted in Scripture. I think not.
If we are honest, and unless we read the Bible without ever mulling over implications of what we read, we must admit that there are accounts in Scripture that should really disturb us. One such story is God commanding Abraham to slaughter his son Isaac as a burnt offering to Him. That’s a problem! We can either gloss over it as if God didn’t really mean it or deal with it head-on, both biblically and philosophically. Recently, upon hearing a message given my pastor son Joshua, who just completed his PhD in philosophy, on this matter, my eyes lit up and my ears perked up. I think he offers a cogent and valid way to deal with this matter of God sanctioning atrocity, whether real or only in appearance. Listen to it and find out for yourself what I mean.
More than a week ago in Itaewon, South Korea, what is dubbed as Halloween stampede or crush took the lives of 156 young people. It is an incredibly sad moment and a catastrophic loss of lives, potentials, and possibilities. In this short video, I raise this question: Could it be that the Lord seeks to speak to churches in South Korea through this manmade tragedy? If so, then, what might be His message to them? Are there any spiritual ramifications to a body of churches like Acts Ministries International (of which I am its teaching pastor)? I bring this matter up because there is an uncanny similarity between those who perished in Itaewon and the kind of people who attend AMI churches. These are some of the questions I raise in this presentation in view of the tragedy that occurred on Halloween, a day of celebrating death, demons, and witches.
Did you have a nice Thanksgiving Day? Around this time of the year, the nine Israelis, who failed to thank Jesus for healing them of leprosy, get a lot of flak while the lone Samaritan, who did thank the Lord, gets a ton of praise. Do you really think that the nine didn’t have a thankful thought? Sure, they did, but it wasn’t enough to motivate them to return to Jesus to do what the Samaritan did: “He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” Why? What’s the difference between them? How would you have responded if you were one of them? This videoblog shows that unless we “move” to where Jesus stays, a place called, “outside the camp,” we will do exactly what the nine did.
It is one subject no one wants to talk about, in churches of all places! Death. Sure, it is a morbid topic, but never talking about it certainly does not make death go away, and it leaves us woefully ill-prepared to deal with it when it's our turn to die, sometimes a lot sooner than we had hoped. Not that I myself was interested in the topic but that all changed when I witnessed how my father handled the devasting news that he had only several months to live due to cancer. So it is from my father that I learned about dying well in Christ. Yes, he died very quickly after finding out about the disease, but the way he died gave me a vivid picture of how I would like to depart this world when it is my turn. I hope you enjoy this video about a matter we rather not talk about. Thank you.
Last Sunday I got to preach three sermons at Remnant Church in Manhattan: the first sermon in Korean, the second in English and the last one in Spanish. That was the first time that that ever happened to me. It was a very unique experience, especially because of surprise guests who came to the worship service in Spanish. And the Lord did something very special for these people who are facing great needs. This presentation done in three languages (with English translation) is entitled, "1 Sunday-3 Sermons in 3 Languages-About 1 Lord." God bless.
We spend most of our time in school or at work with people who do not share our faith and values rooted in the historic Christian faith. Yet, the truth of the matter is that many believers today will say, “So what?” Yes, there is hardly any tension felt by believers who have been co-opted by the mood of our culture that privileges inclusivity, plurality and zero-tolerance of anything resembling intolerance—whether real or imagined. This videoblog is about how we need to better understand our unbelieving coworkers and classmates, many of whom are atheists, agnostics and universalists, on the one hand, and foul-mouthed, party animals, on the other. To help us do that, I am going to share about my encounter with a UCLA professor who prompted me to rethink about my fundamental assumptions about the unregenerate unbelievers who are spiritually dead. Without seriously grappling with this matter, we will not evangelize (feeling no tension), and, when and if do so, we will greatly miss the mark.
Many critics and opponents of Christianity have insisted that the Christian Church, from its inception in the first century, has been anti-woman, now more than ever because of her anti-abortion stance. If this is true, then, no self-respecting woman should ever set foot inside a church; sadly, many people, particularly the young and the educated, have done just that. This videoblog examines, historically, some of the major arguments against the church on account of her being anti-woman. What you will find is that much of the argument is disinformation: an intentional twisting of obvious historical truth to warrant a false narrative that the Christian church from the very outset was anti-woman. The fact of the matter is that the church has historically been pro-woman, with unfortunate exceptions. You may still insist that the church’s opposition to abortion qualifies her as anti-woman. Well, that all depends on what is inside a mother’s womb. The church’s teaching on the matter is consistent with its historical teaching that values the life of women.
The winter of 1985 was arguably the most difficult season for me as a Christian thus far. Having become a believer about four years earlier, I was experiencing a very real crisis of faith. This happened while I was temporarily attending a liberal seminary in East Coast, part-time. What I was hearing from my professor in the classroom and the books I was reading, particularly regarding the book of Daniel, finally got to me. By the end of fall semester, I was questioning everything I had believed about the Bible, including the existence of God. This video is about how God led me, first, to rediscover the truth of His Word, and second, to find out the value of research in order to learn what really happened in the past. If you are going through doubts yourself, I hope this presentation will give you hope and some ideas as to how to go about finding answers.
No one wants to be hated, but Jesus said his followers will be hated by the world. Now, here is a message that tells you how you can avoid all that so that the unbelieving world will love you, not hate you. It is called the Church Growth Movement and it really works wonderfully if your endgame is getting the nod from those people around you who really find the Bible too offensive to their progressive taste. But I am suggesting that we don’t go, recognizing that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).
My organization, Acts Ministries International (AMI), just completed its Missions Conference with over 700 people in attendance, and I must say it was a rousing success, which was punctuated by many people responding to the call for missions. But not everyone is happy about some Bible affirming Christians going overseas to preach the gospel. In this video, I will explain why postmodern progressives and those Christians who have been drinking their Kool-Aid may not be too happy about what happened at AMI Missions Conference. They may even use labels like “terrorists” or “haters.” Really? Why would they think like that? Well, tune in and find out as well as how to answer them. The video ends with two questions: one, what is the objective of missions, and two, what is the goal of missions.
The most central question really is the origin of life. Our answer to that question does and can influence our responses to subset questions like what is it that is being aborted or can we make up as many genders as we see fit? Just because a person is a Christian doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she will get that question right. What are you? A Darwinian evolutionist? A theistic evolutionist? An advocate of Young Earth? Do you consider Genesis 1-3 to be historical or metaphorical? Your response has social, moral, and theological ramifications for you and the society in which you are a member. Check out this video and examine your outlook on this fundamental matter: How did life begin on earth?
This videoblog is mainly about drinking. It's my response to a conservative Presbyterian pastor who, in one of his sermons, said to his mostly Asian American congregants, "Sip bourbon and scotch, and puff away for the glory of God." Say what? Really?
Mass shootings have become weekly affairs, so have the calls for gun control. Who could blame those who are demanding it, particularly in light of the unthinkable violence done to the children in Uvalde, Texas on May 24th? While most of what is being said is valid, no one is talking about that which is obvious: Gun control doesn’t change the heart of very people who actually carry out these heinous acts. This videoblog is about what’s really lurking at the heart of those who kill others because they don’t want to live anymore; in short, they want to take others with them. Someone else cited in the Bible does the same. Who might that be? This videoblog is about who is influencing whom to do the unthinkable. May God have mercy on our country, particularly those who have been affected by recent mass shootings that are too many to even count.
All those pro-choicers who make countless arguments in favor of abortion—“My body, My Choice”—they never go there . . . Where? Well, I will take you there. It is an inconvenient truth about abortion that the abortion advocates in the mainstream media, government, academia, and Hollywood won’t tell you, but their collusive silence doesn't make it any less true. I discovered this truth many years ago through young people who were caught in the web of unexpected repercussions following an abortion. Folks, abortion in America is no longer about pro-choice; rather, it is in-your-face PRO-ABORTION ... or else!
Non-binary! It is a buzz word these days; many people are using it. Non-binary gender. Non-binary world. Non-binary worldview. Do you know what that term means? I am quite certain that most folks who use that word do not really understand what that term implies. How do I know that? Just like marriage bachelors or square triangles do not and cannot exist in real world, non-binary world is an impossibility unless those who seek to promote it make an exception for themselves, which they do (without realizing that they are doing that). And therein lies problems that, if not curbed, will greatly debilitate our cultural system to sustain life as we have known it. We are actually living through it right now; it will surely get worse. Sounds uninteresting? Give this video a try—it really does relate to your life, your culture, and your world.
There was a time when culture meant the culture of “White Anglo-Saxon-Protestants.” It occupied the center, demanding that the rest of the world submit and conform to it. Thankfully, those days are in the past, for we are now surrounded by diverse cultures with a level playing field and appreciating for our differences. Nevertheless, this, otherwise, wonderful development has produced a problem of different sort, one in which no truth is deemed binding everywhere and at all times. There is a name for this: cultural relativism, which has begotten moral, epistemological, and philosophical pluralisms. I am going to talk about what’s going in the Black community and, to some, I have no business doing so since I am an Asian, that is, someone who is outside of the culture of Black American. Well, check out the videoblog to consider this rather complex issue that, if handled improperly, will create an incredibly unsafe society in which people live in a constant state of fear.
Not many people see the importance of pastors until we are faced with life’s difficult circumstances. When faced with troubles, pastors are one of the first people we call to hear comforting words, seek advice, and receive prayers. And it is this group that has taken the brunt of the ongoing season of COVID and social unrest. Recently, a Baptist pastor shared a blog to let everyone know that the Great Resignation has befallen pastors as well.
While I know no one in my organization who is about to leave the ministry, nevertheless, in speaking to many of them, this season has taken its toll on them. One factor is that pastors, by the nature of their position as the leader of people who look to them for spiritual guidance, have, for that reason, experienced a high degree of vulnerability precisely because they no longer led during COVID and had no real answers when social unrest broke out. So, as we have been slowly coming out of this season while still licking our wounds, I present this videoblog to present how we can get our pastors back on track, by way of pointing to what the church ultimately is in a larger society and what pastors are called to be in view of that.
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock’s face; Democratic congressman Eric Swalwell floating the idea of kicking out every Russian student from America; students from America’s top universities rejecting free speech . . . So what do they have in common? Goldwaterism! What’s that? Goldwaterism is named after Barry Goldwater, the conservative Republican senator from Arizona in the latter 20th century, who famously said something that, ironically, is vigorously practiced by the people on the Left. So what did Goldwater say? Well, check our my videoblog and you will understand how Smith, Swalwell and many university students have become Goldwater’s unwitting disciples.
Putin and the three Russian figure skaters? Are they one and the same? Do they belong to a same category? No, of course not. Putin is in a [low] class all by himself. But there is something in these Russians that we, too, share. Certainly, Roger Clemens, Barry Bond, Vince Lombardy, and Tom Brady share it. What is it? Well, this “it” was poignantly described in a song in the 1960s sung by a sultry singer named Peggy Lee. And today, because of these Russians, we get to examine our own lives whether we are still chasing after the wind.
Actress Whoopi Goldberg, also a long-time member of “The View,” has been blasted in recent weeks by both Left and Right for saying that the Holocaust has nothing to do with racism. But what’s more telling about the Left’s public outrage against what Goldberg said, which, by the way, isn’t entirely wrong, is their silence on what Goldberg didn’t say. And that shows what the Left truly believes as the worst evil humans can commit, which, unfortunately has the effect of making us to blind to recognizing the real problem behind racism, ethnocentrism, and anti-Semitism.
Three issues addressed in the second part of, “A Candid Look at Transgenderism”: 1. Why the term “gender” should not be used as a synonym for “sex”? They are certainly related, but they are not the same thing; using those words indiscriminately confuses the real issue. 2. What is really behind the push for transgenderism? It is a reasonable demand that doesn’t require the tortured logic of biological sex is a social construct. 3. How can we help those who face transgender struggles?
Transgenderism. This is a sheer madness: Adults who should know better are coaxing our young people to question their sexual identity through transgenderism. Have you ever wondered how many of us truly struggle with real transgenderism? And too many culturally sensitive Christians are afraid to speak the plain truth. This has to stop, for much is at stake. This and the following videoblog on transgenderism delve into what the real issues are and where the science is behind transgenderism. There are important issues that the transgender advocates and sympathizers have brought up and I am going to argue that we can address some of those issues without the tortured logic of “biological sex is a social construct.” Especially if you are a parent, please check them out for your child’s sake.
Climate change, a.k.a., global warming. Have you given any thought to this wedge issue that has long been politicized? Is it fact or fiction? If indeed it’s a problem—to many, a huge crisis—then, is its cause anthropogenic or natural in origin? Is the Green New Deal solution to climate change or is it a raw deal? As a believer who firmly believes that “the present heaven and earth are reserved for fire” (2 Pet. 3:7)—that is, before the ushering of “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1)—what should be our response to the environment? Check out this videoblog and find out what’s really going on.
Hell is such an awful doctrine to uphold. No wonder many people in our society, particularly those who strive to be sophisticated and culturally sensitive, have rejected this teaching. So, can a gospel that omits hell altogether still save? What is the real reason even many Bible-believing churches would rather not talk about hell from the pulpit? What is our reason for wanting to avoid this topic that doesn't abode very well on us among our friends and colleagues?
Racism . . . critical race theory. What does that have to do with the Thanksgiving narrative (?) and the recent Waukesha mass killing and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in 2020? Can you trust the Mainstream Media to honestly report what is really going on? What is going on? In search of truth, this videoblog delves into this volatile issue by way of considering significant statements made by those on the Left.
The fact is that not everyone sitting in the pews is vaccinated, and most people, it seems, are not sympathetic to their choice no matter what their reasons are. This videoblog is an attempt to navigate through this volatile matter both biblically and scientifically, so that the unity of the church does not fall victim to a terrible witness before the world due to its harsh and divisive rhetoric slipping into the body of Christ.
Information overload is an understatement. Inundated by a glut of information coming from all sides, each claiming to be right and authoritative, we are quickly losing our ability to know which is true and which is false. Can the mainstream media help us to know which is which? I am making a case that this establishment has long been compromised to the point that they have become part of the problem of creating more confusion and uncertainty. So, should we give up on the mainstream media? Well, I am also making a case that there is a way in which we can still look to the mainstream media to tell the truth. Won’t you find out how?
This video begins with what happened in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015 when a self-proclaimed white supremacist, Dylann Roof, entered a historical Black church and then mowed down nine Black Christians studying the Bible. Shockingly, the families of the slain forgave the killer within days of the killing, even telling him that they loved him. While that was well-received nationally, including Isabel Wilkerson, author of New York Times Bestseller, “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” she also shared how she was troubled by the optics of the victimized Blacks forgiving an unrepentant white assailant. At first, I didn’t understand why she felt that way, until I learned about the long history behind how forgiveness played a key role in perceptualizing Black people as inferior to white people. The question then is why these Black Christians forgave this impenitent white killer? Was it a reactive vestige of the past when Black slaves were compelled to forgive those whites who wronged them? That’s what this video is about.
How do you feel about illegal immigration? It certainly isn't a simple matter for the believers who are caught between having compassion for the needy and the duty to uphold laws. In this video I share how I came to resolve this struggle, in tension, with Scripture, on the one hand, and three meaningful encounters with illegal immigrants, on the other.
White evangelical men are the root of all that is wrong in America, claims Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of a New York Times bestseller "Jesus and John Wayne." And she has no patience for "complementarianism," a doctrine that, she feels, promotes militant masculinity that has created a hostile environment for women, which resulted in abusing and mistreating them—sexually or otherwise. This video is an attempt to sift through her view and to understand the need to uphold the real Jesus, not the one who resembles a John Wayne.
With the arrival of thousands of Muslims from Afghanistan in the U.S. and the increasing possibility of terrorism both home ana abroad in the aftermath of the Afghan fiasco, the question of Islamophobia will likely be raised again—as it did a few years ago. Be prepared to respond in a discerning manner so that our proclamation of the gospel to the world may not be adversely affected by our poor response.
Tens of thousands of refugees are entering the U.S. from Afghanistan. I am sure, with a few exceptions, all are Muslims, which, to the delight of many on the Left, bolsters their case that America needs to be more pluralistic, cultural, philosophical and religiously. So how should churches respond to this humanitarian crisis that may contribute towards the increasingly diminishing status of the Christian faith in postmodern America?
On the one hand, the whole world hears about it whenever well-known Christian leaders fall; before long, they become the butt of late-night comics. Sadly, we have witnessed too many spiritual leaders falling from grace lately. But, on the other hand, it seems hardly anyone notice, even in the church, those among us whose faith journey reflects what the apostle Paul confessed shortly before his martyrdom: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). This videoblog is about a 98-year-old pastor whose recent passing assures us that it is still possible to finish strong in the Lord. To truly appreciate this servant’s faithful walk with the Lord, I, first, raise this question: Which Judean king (out of 20) is the only one who finished well, without any dark cloud hovering over him? Of course, this king wasn’t sinless, but Scripture itself does not mention any failing, small or large, on his part. And, may I add, the fact that most of us are unfamiliar with this king is quite telling about what we deem as success before God’s eyes.
No, this isn't a political analysis of the disturbing development taking place in Afghanistan right now. Rather, it is my attempt to understand the decision made by President Biden from the standpoint of parents whose children are serving in wars, and how one of them, who just returned from her stint in Afghanistan, is feeling upon seeing her Afghan friends and colleagues scrambling for life. Ultimately, this videoblog is about whether American Christians, many of whom are concerned about domestic injustice, should also lend themselves to care about what's happening to people, Christians or otherwise, several thousand miles away from the bubbles of America.
Multiple resurrections, judgments, deaths, and comings of Christ . . . Sounds like a heresy, right? (I say that in tongue in cheek.) Well, it is called the premillennial pre-tribulation view, and it's a popular eschatology held passionately by those who advocate it. Even if you don't agree with this view, you should get to know it since many in popular culture assume that that's the default eschatology of conservative Christians. In this brief presentation, the eschatology of premillennial pre-tribulation view is laid out chronologically, from the rapture to the new heaven and new earth. Thank you
Are we living in the last days? What do you think? In the first installment of this series, I will first address the theology of eschatology (i.e., the study of end things or days) that focuses on the key difference between the two major schools of eschatology: preterists and futurists. The crux of their difference really comes down whether the Church and Israel are two separate entities or one and the same. This matter will not be covered here since it was discussed in the video TIA II, “Why Are Some Christians So Passionate About Backing Israel While Some Are So-So About Her.” And if, indeed, we are living in the final days, how should we live?
The Miami condo collapse is eerily similar to the infamous collapse of Sampoon Department Store in 1995 that took the life of 502 people, as well as the collapse of a tower in Siloam in Israel 2,000 years ago that killed 18 people. In this brief presentation, we are looking at what Jesus said about the latter event and then weight its relevance in light of the recent tragedy that probably took life of close to 150 people. May the Lord comfort the grieving families and strengthen the resolves of first-responders.
Critical Race Theory is in the news almost everyday. While some people are passionately for it, wanting to see CRT taught in public schools, others are dead set against it. In many ways, this theory is tantamount to the 'One-Size-Fits-All' approach that makes sense only if significant historical developments, beginning with the genesis of slavery, are completely ignored. CRT can do some good to make our imperfect world better but, in the long run, I am afraid its benefit may not outweigh the damage it will erect. Thank you.
In this brief presentation I deal with three questions all at once: first, why are some Christians so passionate about backing Israel (mostly Dispensationists); second, why are some Christians so-so about her (mostly the Reformed); third, why are many in the Middle-East (Arabs and Iranians) so passionately against Israel? These questions are addressed through the theological lens of ecclesiology, eschatology and soteriology. Thank you
We are all witnessing how the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict is driving a wedge between the old-guard liberals and the Left (who have been remarkably symmetric up to this point on many social issues). While that’s interesting, what's alarming is the framing of this age-old conflict in terms of Critical Race Theory. We are quickly going there as several on the Left (including congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez) have called Israel an “apartheid state.” Is this fair to Israel? Is it fair to equate the past experiences of Black people of South Africa, who suffered enormously under apartheid, to the experiences of Palestinians?
Furthermore, what makes this matter even more complicating for the Bible affirming believers is the “Israel-can-do-no-wrong” outlook held by many evangelicals, particularly those who take end-time prophecies seriously. In such one-sided outlook there is hardly any room to be concerned about Palestinians in general and the Palestinian believers in particular.
This presentation is my meager attempt to sort out these matters to clarify what should be truly important to the followers of Christ.
What's the first thing that comes to your mind upon hearing the word "culture" as opposed to "pop culture"? The latter is about theaters, music, and arts; the former is about the way people in different environmental settings attempt to meet their basic needs (physical, psychological, social and spiritual). Do these ways look all the same? Of course not. "Connecting the Dots of Postmodernism" is about how these cultural differences have been leveraged by the opponents of biblical worldview (Platonic worldview as well) to justify moral, philosophical and epistemological relativism.
Furthermore, postmodernism is a reaction against modernism, the philosophical outcome of the cold calculation of the Enlightenment humanists of the 18th century. Just as the Enlightenment, with its emphasis on facts only (empirical or innate), was followed by the feeling-driven romanticism, postmodernism (i.e., the way it has evolved in America) is also a feeling driven romanticism of socialism and Marxism. It cares little about facts but, instead, is impelled by the feeling of moral outrage stemming from appraising society through metrics such as Critical Race theory/socialism/Marxism.
What makes these changes possible is the way postmodernists (a.k.a., deconstructionists) use language. After raising the specter of whether language is stable or instable, postmodernism wonders whether the fixed meaning of a text is waiting to be discovered or the meaning of a text is whatever the readers impose on it. Postmodernism opts for the outlook that language is instable and arbitrary, and the authors are hopelessly compromised by the power structure of their time; and since this is so, the "meaning" of a text depends on, in effect, whatever the readers say it is (a.k.a., reader-response theory).
Is Robert Long, the Atlanta killer, a believer? No doubt, that is not the most important question right now since the families of the victims are still grieving. But the killer being so closely tied to a Bible believing church and in light of his recent baptism, it does raise a lot of questions about salvation. How can we tell whether we are saved? Can someone commit a heinous crime like Long and still considers himself "saved"?
The recent massacres are stark in contrast: all-nonwhite victims (except for one), on the one hand, and all-white victims, on the other. Does that figure into whether we lament and grieve? This raises the issue of what makes an action so wrong that you would lament and grieve over it even though you are not directly involved: when it is done to certain people (i.e., those in my tribe) or because the action is bad in and of itself? This relates to the question of whether we are really that different?
In a span of a week, we have had two massacres, one in Atlanta and the other in Boulder, Colorado. Even as we express our condolences as well as outrage, it behooves us to note who or what is determining the dominant narratives for the rest of the society to follow. While we, as believers, need to be receptive to anything that has biblical merits, however tangential, we must reject those beliefs and values that fall outside of biblical parameters and follow that which is delineated in Scriptures.
In this brief message, I deal with three critical matters head-on as they relate to Asian American Christians. First, is there anything worse than hate crimes and racism? Second, could Asian Americans ever feel at home in America? Third, who or what is, in fact, influencing our narratives as Christ’s followers? Thank you.
In this message, entitled “Justice of God is more than social justice,” I delve into whether the justice of God and social justice are one and the same? If they are not the same, what could result if we treat social justice as if it is the same as the justice of God?
In this message, I encourage our social justice advocates to get to work. Walk the talk, starting from right where you live. To do that, I am going to share two personal stories that taught me the importance of not just talk a good game but actually play one. Or, as the apostle John puts in 1 Jn. 3:18, “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
This short message treats abortion as a justice issue from the standpoint of the aborted babies. Of course, there are other ways to examine this troublesome matter, including the effect abortion has on those women who had abortions. I cannot speak for everyone who had abortions, but I have met women who had abortions who never quite stopped grieving. While that is sad and, therefore, we ought to sympathize with them, let’s never forget that that pain pales in comparison to the pain, and ultimately, the death, suffered by the aborted babies. May justice be granted to unborn babies who cannot defend themselves.
“Hooray to Social Justice, but Whose Justice?” What does that mean? Well, you can tune in to the first message and find out. After that, in the second message, we will deal with what God’s word says about working hard and whether it is part of racist ideology in America. In the third message, I am going address abortion as a matter of justice for the people involved in that act of finality. Did that statement go down okay for you? I said “people.” The fourth message is where I get personal and speak to those who really want to make a difference by way of making our society more just—no doubt a worthy and biblically warranted effort. In the final message, after raising the question of whether social justice is equivalent to the justice of God, I wonder out loud what the consequence might be if we are confused over that matter.
Okay, I hope you stay tuned for all these short messages. Thanks, and God bless.
“Is the Expression, ‘If You Work Hard, It Will Pay Off,’ part of the Racist Ideology in America?” If that is true, then, telling that to racial and ethnic minorities would be unjust! So then, how does the concept of hard work square with Scripture, God’s word? This message begins with a reminder of what I plan to do in my talk in light of two important questions with respect to the most simplest definition of justice: “The fairness in the way that people are treated.”
There is more than one kind of justice and not all social justices are alike! There is God’s social justice and then there are other kinds. Certainly, a passion for social justice is good, but if it has no answer to the question, “Whose social justice?” it can be great force for error with serious repercussions that adversely affect lives. I seek to show what that means and what that looks like in this series.