Ancient Echoes: Contemporary Reflections on the Dao De Jing

This book offers critical reflections on the Dao De Jing. A renowned biblical scholar approaches this ancient work from contemporary life perspectives, bringing it into dialogue with biblical wisdom. It is an attempt to read a classic text through the lens of modern concerns and cross-cultural, comparative-literary study.

The Dao De Jing is a book of wisdom that presents the path of life and is quite paradoxical, with a strong sense of criticism of power and authority. The linguistic symbols and rhetoric are challenging to the point of creating the illusion of seeing the world upside down, and they play a role in dismantling existing frameworks. In this sense of deconstruction, I am reminded of the modern deconstructionist philosopher Jacques Derrida. In a similar context to Laozi, Derrida sharply criticized literature produced in the socio-economic culture of political power and capitalism, absolute power and uniformity, imperialistic contradictions and various discriminations, and inequality in modern society, dreaming of a more just society. The world that Laozi dreams of is just like that. That is, in a contradictory human society, how should everyone, society, and nation live according to "natural order"? What is that path? The answer presented by Laozi is the path of nature. Then what is the path of nature? It is to become like water and dust. Desire, but do not desire according to your own will. All thoughts, attitudes, and actions that live according to these principles of life are the De, which means "virtue," mentioned in the Dao De Jing. Dao and Virtue are inseparable. It is like saying that a tree is known for its fruit. It is like the principle that a good seed falls to the ground, dies, and bears good fruit. Living according to the path of nature, living like water and dust, is knowing oneself, and such a person is a wise person. Such a person is also one who overcomes himself, and one who maintains gentleness like water.

Justice and the Parables of Jesus

The cover design for my new book has emerged. I discuss theories of justice and the implications of Jesus’s parables for matters of justice, connecting them to contemporary issues—from affirmative action and climate justice to events in the United States and Korea. This book offers a broad, in-depth exploration of justice in Jesus’s time and our world. Excerpts are available online.

I made a sample syllabus for introductory classes on the parables of Jesus. It can work with seminary and advanced Bible Study classes.

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Prayer

Yung Suk Kim

"Prayer isn't about forcing my wishes to come true. Fervent prayer without reflection becomes a blind illusion. Prayer is a time of retreat to speak with the Divine, to find hope and confidence for living. It should be thoughtful, heartfelt, and intentional."

Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Chicago

I am honored to have been invited to speak at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church, where I served during my seminary education in Chicago. My presentation title is How to Pray: Based on the Lord’s Prayer. Thanks to Rev. Yunchun Han.

Critical Thinking

"Critical thinking means placing oneself within, outside, and beyond a situation. It does not remain fixed in a single mental mode but encompasses perception, emotion, and experience." --Dr. Yung Suk Kim

Critical thinking involves positioning oneself within, outside, and beyond a situation, continually shifting perspectives to see the full complexity of an issue. It does not remain fixed in a single mental mode but dynamically integrates perception, emotion, and experience, allowing for nuanced understanding and adaptive reasoning. By engaging sensory information, acknowledging emotional responses, and drawing on past encounters, critical thinkers evaluate assumptions, recognize biases, and generate more informed, creative solutions. This fluid interplay of viewpoints fosters intellectual flexibility and deeper insight, enabling individuals to respond thoughtfully to novel and challenging circumstances.

The Gospel of Matthew in the Work of Liberation: Strategies of Resistance and Models of Care

Within the above issue, Currents in Theology and Mission Vol. 52 No. 4 (2025), I have two essays:

1) Yung Suk Kim, "The Light Yoke: A Paradox of Yoke, Rest, and Self-Love (Matthew 11:28-30)"

"This essay explores the concept of true rest, which goes beyond mere leisure or self-care. It is not simply found in moments of prayer or belief in Jesus; rather, true rest emerges from our intentional engagement with divine grace, self-reflection, and meditation on our inner lives. It is essential to recognize the role of self-agency in this process. We each carry our burdens, and while we may seek divine assistance, it is ultimately up to us to actively participate in our healing and growth. Embracing a “good yoke” means accepting a framework that imbues our lives with value, dignity, and meaning. When we do so, we discover this yoke becomes a source of kindness, utility, and comfort—transforming our struggles into manageable challenges. When we align ourselves with this supportive yoke, our burdens feel lighter, and we open ourselves to deeper mental well-being and inner peace." (LINK)

2) Yung Suk Kim, "'Getting in Front of the Text' for Liberation and Social Transformation"

"Biblical texts do not mean, but we mean with them. Given the nature of contextual interpretation, we need to know who we are as readers, what we read in the text, and how we read it. How do we understand God in the Bible? Whose God do we read? Essentially, the reader must decide. We, the readers, must engage with various texts responsibly and take a stand. Liberation movement or social transformation must address all kinds of marginalization, locally and globally, economically and socially, religiously and politically, personally and communally, psychologically and spiritually. Readers of texts must recognize multilayered, intersectionality-woven marginality, stand in front of the text, and witness the power of the gospel for all people." (LINK)

"Getting in Front of the Text for Liberation and Social Transformation"

"Biblical texts do not mean, but we mean with them. Given the nature of contextual interpretation, we need to know who we are as readers, what we read in the text, and how we read it. How do we understand God in the Bible? Whose God do we read? Essentially, the reader must decide. We, the readers, must engage with various texts responsibly and take a stand. Liberation movement or social transformation must address all kinds of marginalization, locally and globally, economically and socially, religiously and politically, personally and communally, psychologically and spiritually. Readers of texts must recognize multilayered, intersectionality-woven marginality, stand in front of the text, and witness the power of the gospel for all people" (the link).

Excerpts of a new book: Justice and the Parables of Jesus (Yung Suk Kim)

This book examines the parables of Jesus through the framework of political philosophy, focusing on the ethical question of justice: "What is the right thing to do?" It contextualizes the narratives within the socio-political landscape of first-century Palestine, highlighting how they articulate a radical vision of divine sovereignty that confronts the dominant values and juridical structures of the Roman Empire. The text offers a nuanced analysis of the multifaceted themes of justice embedded in these parables, aiming to elucidate their moral and theological complexity. Organized thematically, each chapter engages with specific parables, accompanied by analytical discussion questions designed to foster critical engagement and scholarly dialogue. Ultimately, the volume aspires to contribute to contemporary discourses on justice by providing a comprehensive interpretive framework rooted in biblical parables, serving academic audiences and informed readers interested in the ethical and political implications of Jesus’s teachings.

Nature is always right

Nature is always right because it embodies a quiet, unassuming wisdom: it does not complain or demand, yet it persistently adapts and endures. Trees bend with storms and shed leaves without regret, rivers carve new paths when obstacles arise, and seasons shift with punctual humility, teaching resilience through constant, patient renewal. Its cycles forgive disruption—fire clears to fertilize, decay feeds new growth—showing that change is not failure but a necessary part of thriving. In this steady acceptance and readiness to transform, nature models how strength can be gentle, how persistence can be peaceful, and how the truest solutions often come from embracing change rather than resisting it.

 

40-Day Mindful Journey

I practiced mindfulness intentionally, reflecting on a single conceptual word daily for 40 days. I recommend others try the same in their own way.