John Piper, Asians, and Missions

Aug 6, 2007

John Piper, Asians, and Missions

Another thought provoking post… about Piper and his comment about Asians and missions.

I personally agree with thecuttingtruth on this one. I myself have had the thought that we Asians have a better chance of ministering in Asia just because of our face… but when I had these thoughts, they were in a personal conviction type of thought. They were meant for me, and had no bearing on other Asian-Americans or non Asian Americans and their ability to minister in Asia.

Piper should not use this thought to try to convict whole groups of Asians to go to Asia or to Muslims. That becomes stereotyping. I think it can be a personal convicting thought, but he should not use these statements at conference to speak to Asians as a whole. That is slightly offensive. I understand he probably has really good intentions and he is NOT racist, but he needs to be careful in the words he uses.

It shows Piper has no understanding of the cultural issues that Asian Americans have. Some Asians would never want to go back to Asia because they left Asia for certain very specific reasons. Some Asians would never want to to Asia because they DO NOT understand Asian culture and are actually more “westernized” than a lot of “white” people. Some Asians would never be able to minister in Asia because they don’t speak Asian languages, and moreover do not have a knack for learning languages like some of our “white” brothers and sisters do. On top of that, they may feel more ostracized in Asia due to the language barrier. (What?!?! You’re Chinese but you don’t speak Chinese?). A lot of Asians have unresolved ethnic identity issues that would be huge barriers to going to Asia.

Piper just shows his complete lack of understanding about theese issues. Asians in general are NO more qualified or able to be missionaries in Asia than their non-Asian brothers and sisters. Some Asians may be LESS qualified to minister in Asia than some of their non-Asian brothers and sisters. (I’ve focused on the Asians going to Asia argument, but this could also be applied to Asians going to Muslims.)

2 Comments, Comment or Ping

sc_q_jayce

That particular post in particular by thecuttingtruth was pretty stupid.

1. His analogy in no way relates to what Piper said.
2. Piper’s generalization is true. (If it’s not, then… (see number 3)
3. The only way you can refute Piper is if you can provide evidence to the contrary that:

“Muslims perceive westerners as ’satanic/infidels’ much more easily than Asians.”

If you can’t argue that, then you have no argument.

And your post is an entire strawman of what Piper said anyway.

Aug 6th, 2007
randplaty

1. May or may not relate to what Piper said, but he is definitely making his own point.

2. Piper’s generalization is false.

3. That’s easy. Your statement is a generalization. In order to disprove it, I only need to find 1 muslim who hates Asians more than Westerners.

On top of that, what is a “Westerner?” I consider myself a “westerner” but I think Piper would consider me Asian. What does that say about his understanding of who I am?

Again, Piper is making a generalization. You can’t make these type of generalizations without a nuanced understanding of culture and ethnicity. Piper clearly does not have a nuanced understanding of culture and ethnicity. That’s the problem I have. That’s the problem that thecuttingtruth has.

There’s nothing wrong with what Piper said. It’s just the way he said it and the way it came across that needs to be changed. His language betrays his own personal lack of understanding of ethnicity.

Stop calling everything a strawman. Piper generalized. He created his own strawman.

Aug 7th, 2007