Danny ChaiI’m re-reading Where We Go From Here and am reminded why I loved it the first time I tried to get through it. It’s incredibly convicting and challenging, and in my opinion, full of insight on so many different topics. Seriously, reading it makes me want to go out and change the world; I can see why John loved the book so much, and I feel bad that I stole his copy. I was so impassioned by it I think I scared Jieun.
Anyway, it has something to say in a way about gunning that I think is very true. He argues that Satan sets up kingdoms in this world that imprison us, and the goal of Christians is to break through those kingdoms. Each kingdom enforces a certain type of behavior:
Affirmation is a reward, and separation is a punishment for not “acting right.” This destructive behavior is found in all cultures. Satan’s great lie is that your significance depends solely on your performance. The gnawing fear of rejection — not only by the family unit but by the kingdom — creates prison bars far more powerful than steel! Satan has kept his subjects in his control by instilling them with fear.
I just found that passage really interesting. And I think it’s true for many of us, especially Asians, definitely myself – I think I’ve said this explicitly before in the past, that my greatest fear is failure (which to me is mediocrity). And I think implicitly behind that is a fear of being rejected, like by my parents. I need to get over that fear, and overcome Satan’s lie. What I accomplish says nothing about what I’m worth.
Man, it’s a great book. So much insight; this is just like a throwaway one in the book.