When you think you hit the bottom of yourself

I am here because of my students. I am not perfect, but my passion for teaching and student success in class has always remained the same. I care for them. I care about their learning and unlearning. I believe critical study can reshape their understanding of scripture, society, church, and humanity. Writing is an essential part of rigorous study, and it is indispensable for academic success. I will do everything I can to help them prosper. I will encourage them to learn, teaching them what they need. I will also learn from them. On the first day of class, I begin with the following:

Trust God.
Trust yourself.
Trust your instructor.
Trust each other.
Trust the process.
We are in this together.

When you feel there is no hope within you, trust God. When you think you hit the bottom of yourself, that is not the end of the story. Don't beat yourself up. Look up to heaven. Remember that you are an able student. Trust yourself. Honor your instructor, and you may learn more than you expect. Consider your peers not as competitors but as learning partners. When things go rough--through hump and bump--stay the course. Ask for help. There is always a way out if you ask. Trust the process. We are all in this together.

Confucius sounds like Paul

Confucius summarizes the most basic ethical virtue with one word: 恕 shù, which means "having the same mind with others" (Analects 15:24). That is, one needs to consider others as oneself. One must think from the other's perspective and have empathy with others. This idea is well expressed in his word: rén zhě rén yě (仁者人也), which means: "To love is to become the person" (The Doctrine of the Mean). By the way, love (Ren in Chinese: 仁) appears frequently, 106 times, in the Analects of Confucius.

Examples of Abstract

My writing philosophy is to write clearly, concisely, and coherently. I avoid long, complex sentences that are only clear as mud. Writing is a reflection of the mind and heart. We need to be careful about the choice of a word, grammar, and structure of a sentence or the whole piece of writing. We must also express ideas concisely yet vividly. Lastly, we have to communicate ideas persuasively, maintaining consistency throughout the writing.

A good abstract must include the following: (1) what your paper is about (topic); (2) what is the point (thesis)?; (3) how your thesis is argued (methods or evidence); (4) what are the implications? Or why do you write? Below are the abstracts from my works. 

Yung Suk Kim, “Reclaiming Christ’s Body (soma christou) in Paul’s Letters,” Interpretation 67.1 (2013).

Traditionally, “the body of Christ” has been read through an organism metaphor that emphasizes unity of the community in Christ. The weakness of this reading is that there is no clear articulation of how members of the community are united with Christ. The body language in Paul’s letters can be best understood when read through a metaphor for a way of living that emphasizes Christ’s embodiment of God’s gospel. The body of Christ in Paul’s letters is, first of all, his physical body that represents his life and death. Then, derivatively, it is also associated with Christian living—for example, “You are Christ-like body” (1 Cor 12:27).

Yung Suk Kim, Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations. Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2021.

In the Hebrew Bible, various aspects of theism exist though monotheistic faith stands out, and the New Testament largely continues with Jewish monotheism. This book examines diverse aspects of monotheism in the Hebrew Bible and their implications to others or race relations. Also, it investigates monotheistic faith in the New Testament writings and its impact on race relations, including the work of Jesus and Paul’s apostolic mission. While inclusive monotheism fosters race relations, exclusive monotheism harms race relations. This book also engages contemporary biblical interpretations about the Bible, monotheistic faith, and race/ethnicity.

Yung Suk Kim, “Imitators” (Mimetai) in 1 Cor. 4:16 and 11:1: A New Reading of Threefold Embodiment,” Horizons in Biblical Theology 33.2 (2011): 147-170.  

Abstract

When it comes to the language of “imitation” (mimesis) in Paul’s letters (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:6-7; 2:14), divisions among scholars are most clearly manifest. At one end of the scholarly spectrum, Paul follows a Stoic model of imitation, according to which the teacher exhorts pupils to follow him, based upon his authority established (demonstrated) by good conduct. Accordingly, Paul is viewed as an advocate of the Hellenistic ideal of unity at the expense of diversity. At the other end of the spectrum, Paul is seen as a social conservative and an obstacle to true liberation. Here the idea of imitation serves as a means of control and domination of others, as post-colonial and feminist scholars have pointed out. So Paul’s exhortation to “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1) is understood as a demand for sameness, an appeal to copy Paul. However, the language of imitation can be read through the eyes of “embodiment”—a way of life, as an alternate meaning of imitation in 1 Corinthians, which will lead to the involvement of three aspects of God, Christ and the believer. I argue that imitation in 1 Corinthians is neither a copy or sameness nor a type or model to be emulated by the Corinthians. Rather, it should be understood as a way of life rooted in the image of Christ crucified, which plays a central role in the letter, deconstructing abusive, destructive powers in a community and society and reconstructing a beloved community for all.

Leticia A. Guardiola-Saenz, “Borderless Women and Borderless Texts: A Cultural Reading of Matthew 15:21-28,” Semeia 78 (1997): 69-81.  

Abstract 

As an exercise in cultural studies, this reading focuses not just on the written story and its socio-historical conditions of production, but also on the story as a site where the socio-historical conditions of consumption and the social location of the reader merge with the text to produce a borderless or hybrid "cultural" text. Such a hybrid text is the inception of the story in the cultural space of the reader, where it intermingles with the values, ideologies, and interpretations of the reader who has consumed and experienced the consequences of the interpretation of the story. The Canaanite woman's story is then read through the experience of a Mexican-American reader who crosses the ideological borders of the text to contend that the ideology of chosenness cannot be the final border up to which a reading of this story can go. This alternative reading of the story emerges as the suppressed voice of the Other strives to be heard in the re-casting of the story from the Canaanite woman's point of view. This interpretation comes as a reading strategy of liberation from the imperialistic readings that have been used to oppress and suppress the emergence of the Other. 

The most basic ethical virtue for Confucius

Confucius summarizes the most basic ethical virtue with one word: 恕 shù, which means "having the same mind with others" (Analects 15:24). That is, one needs to consider others as oneself. One must think from the other's perspective and have empathy with others. This idea is well expressed in his word: rén zhě rén yě (仁者人也), which means: "To love is to become the person" (The Doctrine of the Mean). By the way, love (Ren in Chinese: 仁) appears frequently, 106 times, in the Analects of Confucius. 

Mencius, an indomitable interpreter of Confucius, expresses this idea of empathy with cè yǐn zhī xīn (惻隱之心), which means a mind of mercy toward others. The concept of shù corresponds to that of mercy as in the parables of Jesus who subverts the world of the hearers by emphasizing the need of caring for the needy and desperate. My recent article "Reading Mercy in the Parables of Jesus" investigates the theme of mercy in Jesus's parables. The article's abstract may be helpful:

The parables of Jesus deal with various issues in human lives, ranging from personal crisis to economic justice. The culture of competition and comparison has deleterious effects on the weak and marginalized. Some parables of Jesus address these problems: “Father and Two Sons” (Luke 15:11-32), “Pharisee and Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14), “Wheat and Weed” (Matt 13:24-30), and “Vineyard Workers” (Matt 20:1-16). In these parables, Jesus challenges the merciless society and the culture of competition, asking his audience to see others through the lens of mercy.

Concerning Diversity

Diversity means many things or elements must be considered and honored in human lives. In education, diversity means a few things. The diversity of students are entitled to receive a good education. Also, educators must consider the diversity of pedagogy for them. Teachers must be diverse in their educational background, cultural experience, and race/ethnic composition.

Diversity does not mean that one stays in a comfort zone, sticking to one's own, never communicating with or opening to others. Diversity does not merely promote group allegiance or sectarianism. Flocking together with those who share similar things (usually by gender or culture) is not the same as the spirit of diversity. Diversity seeks the whole of diversity in which all need to participate in ways that they keep particulars based on differences and yet engage with others. I deplore superficial identity politics or in-group binding based on allegiance morality that does not seek to pursue the well-being of the whole people or world.

 

My story as a theological educator

At the root of my teaching lies the sense of my vocational identity in theological education.

I am committed to transformative teaching, indomitable scholarship, and effective public service. I have a passion for human transformation, rooted in self-knowledge and self-criticism. Traveling to many Latin American countries during my business career, I learned a great deal about cultural diversity and the need for human solidarity. What does it mean to live in this world with each other (i.e., the meaning of the Other --which resonates Emmanuel Levinas' "the face of the other," Paul Ricoeur's "inter-subjective narrative identity," or Jacques Derrida's "relationless relation")? How can we do theology in our thoughts and deeds, while moving pointedly away from individualism? And how can we read biblical stories with each other when we differ?

My teaching philosophy is as follows:

I foster and teach to engage in the knowledge of who we are in this world in which we see our diversity and differences. In my teaching, diversity is not a given but a source of critical engagement with each other. I value both a critical and self-critical stance toward any claim of knowledge, truth, and reality. I emphasize the following as pedagogical goals: learning from others, challenging one another, affirming who we are, and working for common humanity in differences. In my teaching, all in all, I communicate critical diversity and transformative identity in a variety of life contexts.

I reflect on the teacher, student, and author. A good teacher satisfies students, a wonderful teacher teaches what they need, and an ideal teacher teaches them with love, helping them to teach themselves. A good student follows the teacher's instruction, a remarkable student asks critical and self-critical questions, and a formidable student knows that learning is limitless. A good author satisfies readers, an admirable author stimulates their interest, and an exceptional author creates new needs for them.

Currents in Theology and Mission (Oct. 2021)

Two of my articles were published in the October issue of Currents in Theology and Mission: (1) "Reading Mercy in the Parables of Jesus"; (2) "The Johannine Realism about the Kingdom of God, 'Born from Above, Born of Water and Spirit' (John 3:1-21)."

"Reading Mercy in the Parables of Jesus"

The parables of Jesus deal with various issues in human lives, ranging from personal crisis to economic justice. The culture of competition and comparison has deleterious effects on the weak and marginalized. Some parables of Jesus address these problems: “Father and Two Sons” (Luke 15:11-32), “Pharisee and Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14), “Wheat and Weed” (Matt 13:24-30), and “Vineyard Workers” (Matt 20:1-16). In these parables, Jesus challenges the merciless society and the culture of competition, asking his audience to see others through the lens of mercy.

"The Johannine Realism about the Kingdom of God, 'Born from Above, Born of Water and Spirit' (John 3:1-21)"

John emphasizes the realism of the kingdom of God in the present. Given the Johannine community’s expulsion from the synagogue due to its faith that Jesus is the Messiah, the members of this nascent community need assurance about their new place in Christ. They are comforted and encouraged to live as children of God. They are born from above and experience a new life through the Spirit. To maintain their discipleship with Jesus, they must keep his word and stay in the light. The Advocate will come to them after Jesus is gone, and God’s reign continues to be seen, touched, and experienced in the present. As Jesus sends his disciples into the world, the Johannine community receives a new mission to love the world, testifying to the truth of God, following Jesus’ word.

Thanks to the book series editors for Cambridge University Press

A big relief. Finally, I heard the good news from the book series editors for Cambridge University Press: "This version of your manuscript is now ready to send to the publisher with our approval." The book title: "Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations."

I expressed my thanks to the two series editors (Elements in Religion and Monotheism): "What good news that I receive from both of you! I cry with excitement. I cannot express enough my utmost thanks for your support, patience, and generosity. I will never forget your mature guidance and care for my work."

Below is what I gleaned from the CUP website.

Religion and Monotheism
This Cambridge Elements series publishes original concise volumes on monotheism and its significance. Monotheism has occupied inquirers since the time of the Biblical patriarchs, and it continues to attract interdisciplinary academic work today. Engaging, current, and concise (20,000–30,000 words), the volumes will benefit teachers, researchers, and advanced students in religious studies, Biblical studies, theology, philosophy of religion, and related fields.

Overview
The Cambridge Elements Series in Religion and Monotheism publishes original concise volumes on monotheism and its significance. As the commitment to just one God, monotheism has occupied inquirers at least since the time of the Biblical patriarchs, and it continues to attract interdisciplinary academic work today. The series volumes will be engaging, current, and concise (20,000–30,000 words), and they will benefit teachers, researchers, pastors, and advanced college, graduate, and seminary students working in the areas of religious studies, Biblical studies, theology, philosophy of religion, the history of religion, and the sociology of religion. The series invites proposals for original works on all aspects of monotheism, and it especially welcomes proposals for works that have significant interdisciplinary value for advanced students and researchers. It will publish both original thematic works and original historical works on monotheism and its importance. While making original contributions to their topics, authors will produce works that are accessible to advanced students and researchers outside their own academic fields.

"The mind of shame and hate" (Mencius)

I admire Confucius because he emphasizes virtuous humanity. I like his practical wisdom. Zi Gong (Confucius's disciple) asked: “Can you summarize with one word how we should live in our whole life? Confucius said: “Isn't it empathy? Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself" (Analects 15:24). This kind of similar teaching is also found in Hillel's episode in Talmud (Shabbat 31a): "What is hateful to you do not do to others; all the rest is commentary, and go and learn it." Jesus also says a similar thing: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets" (Matt 7:12).

But today, I want to visit Mencius, a great interpreter of Confucius, who says that "the mind of shame and hate is important." A virtuous, righteous human must know what shame is and what hate is. Simply speaking, when one does a bad thing, one must feel shame. At the same time, when one sees evil acts from others, one must condemn those things. Feeling shame is an important virtue as much as one judges others. We need to recover a mind of shame in our work, our decision-making, and in all our lives. Often, we are clear as mud when we deal with ourselves. We need self-inspection and must be adamantine in our dislike of heinous acts. The following calligraphy represents the above words of Mencius.

 xiū ě zhī xīn

 

"Today" (σήμερον) in Luke

Luke brings the good news to the world of today (σήμερον, semeron). Today is the day of salvation. Today scriptures (the word of God) are to be fulfilled in our hearing. Today is the day of repentance and renewal. The lost are found and restored today. God's reign is in the here and now. The poor must be fed now. Blessed are those who are poor. Luke is a smart, realistic theologian who deals with the delay of Parousia with a focus on God's work today. Cognitive dissonance is resolved, as Luke shifts its mission to God's mission today. Though some argue that Luke is an innocuous gospel to the Roman Empire, we cannot ignore the alacrity of Luke's creative strategy emphasizing "today," without which the good news is hollow. See the following texts from Luke, which include the importance of today.

Luke 2:11: To you is born this day (today) in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 4:21: Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 5:26: Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen strange things today” (healing a paralytic).

Luke 17:21: For, in fact, the kingdom of God is within or among you (no use of "today," but we see the present tense of God's rule).

Luke 19:5-10 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Luke 23:42-43: Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (to one of the criminals).