For many Asian Americans, our emphasis on education drives us towards worldly success. As one of the most highly educated ethnic minorities, Asian Americans often excel in the classroom. For many of us, we work hard. Our parents push us. Getting a “B” is never good enough. In some Asian American circles, it’s unheard of or even shameful if someone does not have a college degree.
Much of our emphasis on education comes from the teachings of Confucius. The Confucian ideal of qin-xue dictates that the path to self-improvement comes through pursuing the best education. A person is considered developed and highly respected if they have a good education.
I wonder if a lot of Asian Americans whose traditions are rooted in Confucianism also view spiritual maturity in the same way. At my Chinese church, I was light-heartedly urged to promote a guest speaker’s education rather than his character, to get more attendees at his seminar. Somehow the letters after the man’s name would draw more Chinese churchgoers.
Recently I heard (unconfirmed) that 75% of a seminary’s Master of Divinity program consists of Asians. Many of these would be international students from South Korea. Our Asian churches are much more likely to require an advanced degree than other churches. There’s a high emphasis on education.
After my first semester in seminary I found myself visiting a Chinese church that I am familiar with. I was asked “So do you feel more holy now that you’re in seminary?” I answered, “no, in fact, I am more aware of my own sinfulness” as I study the Word more and more.
One thing about Chinese parents: in wanting our kids to develop, we send them to experts. We send them to SAT tutors, Math camps, piano teachers. And we send them to youth pastors. Chinese parents often leave the mentoring to others, in the name of getting the “best” for them.
Aside from abdicating our privilege and biblical responsibility of mentoring our own children, there’s a danger here. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come from more education.
The more I spend time with people I respect and look up to, I realize that their spiritual maturity doesn’t come from schooling. It comes from humility and pursuing a genuine relationship with Christ.
Knowledge often just makes people more self-sufficient, less submissive, less willing to throw themselves at God’s mercy.
Perhaps if the rich young ruler was Asian, Jesus would ask him to give up the letters after his name instead of his riches. Maybe Jesus would say, “How hard is it for an educated man to enter the kingdom of God!”
Thanks Daniel, obedience, faithfulness and humility is much more important than what we know. Amen bro!
Thanks for dropping by! It’s definitely a priority issue for Asian Americans. I find myself worrying about my own kids’ academic prowess, but I should be praying more for them to have a relationship with God..,
preach it, brother!
Thanks Ben! I wonder how this can come out in our preaching and counseling in the Chinese church.
Hi Daniel, I had it easier than most Asians b/c although my mom was a teacher and my dad was an engineer, they were from Hawaii so I was not pushed as much as the mainland kids. However, I felt more pressure from my friends and their parents than my own parents. I hated growing up in Asian culture b/c I was not smart like my Asian friends. It really bites when one does not match up to their peers academically.
Hi Joanne! thanks for your comment. It’s definitely hard when you feel like you can’t measure up to those around you. How do you think that affects one’s spiritual maturity?
Hi Daniel,
How come I never saw this post till right now? Boo! I think it can affect one’s spiritual maturity by way of always comparing oneself to another. Ppl believe that they don’t measure up to God’s standards and so, it’s difficult for them to believe that God has given them different gifts than their peers.
Did I make sense at all? It’s after 1:00 am. Sry if it sounds mumbled jumbled…
Hi Daniel,
How come I never saw this post till right now? Boo! I think it can affect one’s spiritual maturity by way of always comparing oneself to another. Ppl believe that they don’t measure up to God’s standards and so, it’s difficult for them to believe that God has given them different gifts than their peers.
Did I make sense at all? It’s after 1:00 am. Sry if it sounds mumbled jumbled…
Good thoughts brother! Thanks for sharing. Self-sufficiency is always a temptation in my life!