Vol. 15 // No. 1 Spring 2019
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THE EVENT HORIZON
LIES
RISE
BEYOND BLESSED
Laurence Ininda
Joseph Shin
Elizabeth Page
Carista Eliani
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
UNSUNG HEROES This semester, Seed celebrated the unsung heroes of the Bible, people such as Rahab, Caleb, Jehosheba (don’t worry, we didn’t know who she was, either), and many others whose names are unknown but whose faith is worthy of high praise. They may have been the spiritual B-team of God’s history, but their behind-the-scenes courage was vital to fulfilling God’s purpose. More than ever, Christians must be brave. This issue embodies our desire to display heroic faith in a world hostile to truth, and we hope to inspire you to do the same. Besides, there is no such thing as an unsung hero before God; Scripture promises us that He will “rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV).
This publication is published by New York University students and NYU is not responsible for its contents.
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LIVING AS SHEEP
BRAVE
THOUGHTS ON LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL
Alyson Ferro
Yvette Shin
Namho Kim
THE EVENT HORIZON Laurence Ininda
When Jesus speaks of giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting in Matthew 6, He touches on some of the ideals that people aspire to when talking about religion. While there are many forms that these practices can take, it’s no question that Jesus asks us—you and me—to be a part of this bigger-than-ourselves endeavor on earth. Yet, it is evident that you need not be religious to do good in your community, in society, or in the world. The basis on which different people do good varies. So what is Jesus really pointing the Christian to when He repeatedly says, “your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”*? The emphasis here is not to look to what one may achieve or gain by doing good, but to take oneself out of the picture entirely.
*Matthew 6:4, 6, 18 NIV
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Having a notion of selflessness is one that may drive a person to do meaningful work that impacts and improves people’s lives. There are countless examples of the efforts people have made to make the world a better place. Human beings are inherently good. What difference does it make, then, if one person shares the same kind of selflessness that Jesus commands of the Christian, but does not profess the faith? This question resembles a sort of philosophical black hole: it is hard to see beyond the good acts themselves and make sense of the intentions behind them. Considering what Jesus commands in Matthew 6, within the context of the bigger picture, offers some much-needed insight when questioning the reasons for doing good. Having faith in God is not simply about obeying Jesus and trying to be “good.” Rather, faith comes by and through the working of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, in its very essence, faith is a yielding to God—trusting Him to be the ruler, the drive, and the reason for everything in one’s life. This conviction causes Christians to see less of themselves and more of God’s beauty and purpose, despite the pain, brokenness, and suffering in this world. Doing good, then, is an expression of faith in God, an act of hope that transcends the fallibility and inadequacy of human will and points to future glory for all of creation. If one pictures the whys and hows of God’s mystery as a black hole, we are just bordering the spiritual event horizon—barely peeking into the details as we try to understand the revelations that human inquiry may lead us to. Searching Scripture will offer some balm to the soul. We can also learn from those before us who have asked these deep questions. But as we do, we must remember that looking to God, and not to the self, is the substance of genuine faith, as well as the source of joy, hope, and peace. 5
LIES Joseph Shin
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I’m gonna tell a lie: whenever I’m cornered by life’s pain and suffering, or by its tragic circumstances, I immediately revert my attention to the Lord and His endless divine resources for the heavy-laden. The lie there is in the word “immediately” because coming to God is often the fifth or sixth thing I do in moments of crisis. Here’s another lie: I am in control of my life. It seems like a reasonable claim. Simple cause and effect can explain how my actions and inclinations (and the actions and inclinations of others) brought me to where I am. Whether the end result is positive or negative is almost irrelevant; the important idea is that what I do results in what I want. I am in control of my life—this is a lie. But let’s entertain this lie. Because I am in control of my life, I have the power to manage and alter the things that are within the walls of “my life.” When something hurts, I believe that I can control its effect on me. When I’m pushed down and I’m out of choices, all I have to do is understand that the blood pumping through my veins is mine, and it’ll course through me and incite action and resolve. Within these walls, I am in control.
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But maybe, just maybe, I’m not in control of my life. Maybe this idea that I’m the one pulling the strings and causing things to happen isn’t fully true. Maybe there’s more to the tangible outputs I see every second I live. Maybe my perception of how my life is run and operated is too shallow. So, I’m gonna entertain an idea that can build upon, but also undo, the implications of said lie: I am not in control of my life; I am being controlled. But controlled by what? Well, so many things, many of which one could probably name. In the consecutive stream of moments that populate my day, it’s probably my feelings and the words of others. On a daily level, it’s probably my circumstances and those close to me. On a monthly and yearly level, it’s probably my goals, visions, and dreams. With that said, I want to experience this: God controlling my life during those moments or periods of time when I need Him to, when the things that usually dictate how I live are infinitely ill-equipped to lead me in the right direction. God is living, and like an excellent mechanic, He understands how to keep my life running. The fascinating thing is that I don’t know what the heck He’s doing half the time. But I don’t want to know. I don’t need to know. I’m not in control of my life. He is. I’ll let Him run it.
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RISE Elizabeth Page I was always told “You watch a pot, it never boils” But for the first time, I stood there Watching Waiting Seeing what becomes and how it became And my fascination wasn’t in the boiling I found My amazement came in the process. In the waiting I finally understood The beauty of a bubble’s climb to the top Only to quickly pop.
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BEYOND BLESSED Carista Eliani
I am blessed beyond measure, And here are some moments that I really treasure. Being able to sleep in on my day off, Recovering from an uncontrollable cough, Having time to sit down and weave, And wearing shirts with extra-long sleeves. Napping on the train during my commute, Consuming sweet dragon fruit, Using unlimited MetroCards, And finally buying a bigger laundry cart.
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There is a big misconception, That something must be grand to deserve recognition, That it must be an extraordinary achievement, And that it must bring a feeling of fulfillment. But one thing I’ve learned: Most of my blessings are not self-earned. For if I worked and always achieved, I wouldn’t be thanking God for what I’ve received. So I’m convinced of this: I’m blessed simply because I exist, Not because I do great things, But because God creates beautiful happenings. He works in ways I do not understand, Ways that no human mind can ever comprehend, Ways that surpass my imagination, Ways that can only be thought of by the God of all creation. I am blessed beyond measure, And I will continue to collect moments to treasure.
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LIVING AS SHEEP Alyson Ferro
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I recently went to Scotland, and of everything I saw, I was most struck by two things: first, nature’s beauty revealed in countless rivers, cliffs, and mountainsides, and second, the endless number of sheep. As I hiked by myself one morning, I came across some rocky terrain and couldn’t make out the path. I asked a nearby hiker for more information, and instead of telling me where the actual trail was, she simply pointed to the rock formation that was the focus of the hike. Hopeful, I started to climb. Because of unexpected rain, the ground was fairly muddy and unstable, but I soldiered on. I was already halfway up the steep slope when I realized that I wasn’t on the right path, but by then it was too late—I was too scared to go up or down. That’s when I looked below me and saw a small flock of wild sheep also making their way up, easily navigating the landscape.
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After moments of panicking and crying, and with a fellow hiker’s help, I made it down safely and didn’t think too much of the experience. But when I got back from the trip, I strangely kept running into Bible verses about the wilderness and sheep and was compelled to revisit my hike through the lens of Scripture. When doing so, I realized something: sheep are not very smart (quite stupid, actually). Yet somehow, as I, a supposedly intelligent human, struggled to slowly climb up the mud and rock on my hands and knees, they trotted along steadily together. Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” (NIV). The wilderness is a common backdrop in the Bible. Jesus fasted there for forty days, the Israelites wandered there for forty years, and sometimes, we find ourselves there (as I did). Sadly, we often try to travel through this wilderness alone when we should be like sheep: led by God and committed to others who are also led by Him. My hiking experience paints a grim picture of what can happen to us if we wander through the wilderness without a clear path to follow or someone to guide us. What’s cool is that, as Isaiah says, God doesn’t just show us an existing way through the wilderness—He makes a new way through it. John 10:14 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” We know God’s voice. In the wilderness, if sheep can follow God’s voice and make their way together, then so can we.
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BRAVE Yvette Shin
She has no name. But she has a reputation. She has no value. But she holds an expensive jar of perfume. She has no voice. But she speaks with tears and the humble gesture of washing feet. She has no name. But she has a label: sinner. The anonymous sinful woman who anoints Jesus in Luke 7 is an icon for those who have been marginalized, discriminated against, or unfairly treated. She washes Jesus’s feet as an expression of deep respect and honor, but her public display of affection only exposes her to harsh criticism.
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As this story demonstrates, expressing oneself is risky because it can elicit unintended reactions. Speaking up in praise of an individual or a situation makes one the target of public opinion. Speaking out in criticism, however, does so in a more sinister way. With smartphones and computers serving as megaphones to the world, everyone has a voice. But are all those voices worthy of being heard? How can we discern the ones speaking the truth from the ones that are not? Our growing distrust of the media is making this job extremely difficult, and a high price is being paid because of it, specifically in the arena of sexual misconduct. In the fall of 2017, the #MeToo movement burst onto the scene in the aftermath of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Allegations against the Hollywood producer began pouring in, and while the public eye focused on the mess in Tinseltown, voices from other places in the country and around the globe began speaking up. But along with the conversation came controversy: what exactly is sexual misconduct? NYU’s website describes sexual harassment as “any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical, or otherwise.”* While helpful, this definition is necessarily non-specific, making proving sexual misconduct an uphill challenge.
*https://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/sexual-respect/ prevention-and-training/what-is-sexual-misconduct.html
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Many cases boil down to a matter of “he said, she said,” with victims often getting the shorter end of the stick. So why speak out at all, when the accuser is often subject to more severe scrutiny than the accused? Why stain one’s reputation and risk one’s livelihood for something that may not make a difference? The woman in Luke 7 answers this question. Those who witnessed her uncomfortable display of affection may have criticized her for it, but those who later heard of her actions were inspired by it. What she did was courageous. She acted confidently in the forgiveness she was given and was empowered to express it publicly. And to this day, her story still inspires people to act on their convictions despite the cost. It takes just one brave voice to encourage others to speak out. Whether it is sexual misconduct, discrimination, bullying, or any other form of abuse, our voices need to be heard. While many are quick to criticize, remember that many others are quietly listening, nodding their heads in silent agreement, garnering the courage to eventually share their stories and join the fight. So move confidently in the forgiveness of Christ. Be brave. Tell your story courageously. We are listening.
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THOUGHTS ON LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL Namho Kim
Conflict is nothing new to Christianity. Throughout history, Christians have held differing Biblical views. And even among those who share similar ones, there has been sharp debate about how to live them out. A prime example of this is the American civil rights movement, led in part by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
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In Letter From a Birmingham Jail, King responds to the Clergy’s criticisms of his civil rights efforts through the use of examples, biblical and contemporary. Addressing his “Fellow Clergymen,” King articulates his disappointment with the Church, elucidating the differences between the contemporary Church’s lack of strong support for civil rights and the early Christians’ fierce struggles against persecution under Roman rule. Both battles (against legalized racial discrimination and against Christian persecution) focused on civil disobedience, both carried out the principles of martyrdom, and both were labeled as extremist. But both were based on opposing theological principles that have characterized much of Christian history. While King and the Clergymen concur that the lack of civil rights in Birmingham is an injustice, they differ in their approach to remedy it. King feels “compelled to carry the gospel of freedom”* through civil disobedience, drawing on Paul’s vision for Macedonia’s aid, believing that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”* The Clergymen, on the other hand, consider this kind of destabilizing direct action to be “unwise and untimely.”*
*Letter From a Birmingham Jail, 1963
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In The Missionary Movement in Christian History (Orbis Books 1996), author Andrew F. Walls writes that the basis of the Clergymen’s criticism of direct action is the desire “to live as a Christian and yet as a member of one’s society.” Their approach was to indigenize the civil rights movement, to work within the existing social context to bring about eventual change. King’s ideology is in direct conflict with the Clergymen’s social appeasement policy, and so he argues that no protest is untimely: “This ‘wait’ has almost always meant ‘never’... ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”* The debate between King and the Clergymen is not a superficial clash of opposing principles but an ongoing struggle that exemplifies the underlying and unresolvable conflict present in Christianity to this day. But the tension created by this conflict can provide an opportunity for Christianity to grow and mature. King believed that “there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth.”* Perhaps the purpose of this continual struggle is not to anticipate which side will overpower the other but to discover what new, unexpected principle may result from it.
*Letter From a Birmingham Jail, 1963
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You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13 NIV
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Contributors Carista Eliani Alyson Ferro Laurence Ininda Namho Kim Elizabeth Page Joseph Shin Yvette Shin Editing and Layout Carista Eliani Alyson Ferro Rebekah R. Shin Yvette Shin Design by Carista Eliani
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 NIV 24