In Christ, We Become One
I grew up a very chill Californian. I don’t mind being late. I don’t mind if you’re late. I don’t sweat the details. When you ask me what I’m doing, I’ll probably reply: “Just chilling.” If I want to spend time--which is all the time, I’ll ask: “Do you wanna hang out?” I prefer giving directions, caravanning, than using my GPS. The freeways aren’t that complicated anyway. The way I live, eat, and worked was very communal.
I went to New York for college and ended up pastoring in a NY church. There, I learned to mind being late. I began to sweat details. When you ask me what I’m doing, I’ll reply: “I’m working.” If I want to spend time, I’ll ask: “Are you free Tuesday next week?” I preferred using my GPS – it’s more efficient than going all together. The streets are pretty complicated to be following people anyway. The way I lived, ate, and worked was very independent.
East Coast Camp Meeting is a reflection of East Coast individualism and task-orientedness. It runs on a tight schedule. There is a focus on efficiency, learning, and education. It’s like a business. The Showcase was run like clockwork. The Opening Ceremonies and Slideshow were amazing. The leaders were running around, busy and productive all week.
West Coast Camp Meeting is a reflection of West Coast communalism and relationship-orientedness. It runs on a relaxed schedule. There is a focus on community, relationships, and understanding. It’s like a family. The Talent Show was on a volunteer basis. The Family Festival had all age groups and churches, mingling and playing. There were 20 parents in the cradle roll room, helping the VBS teachers. The leaders had time to hang out, get to know each other, and network.
Of course, these are merely stereotypes painted in broad strokes. But they do represent two sides that are often represented in our individual personalities, in our community, and in our world. We see them theologically: between liberal and conservative camps. We see them economically: the developed and developing world. The world would have us compare, and compete, and say one is better than the other. But having been part of both, I would say that the only way to truly progress as a community is for us to embrace the side that we don’t naturally understand.
In the Old Testament, David says something interesting: Love and truth have kissed (Psalm 85:10). Love (or mercy) is something soft, flexible, forgiving. Truth (where we get the word “amen”) is something hard, rigid, and demanding.
In the New Testament, John says something interesting: We have seen his glory…full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Jesus was the embodiment of both love, and judgment.
I have an experience of both Laos and New York.
Of both heaven and earth, He was the bridge between the two worlds.
In Christ, we become One.
Chris Choi is the English Ministries Pastor of the Sacramento Korean SDA Church.