4th of July

I have just celebrated my very first 4th of July outside of the country. I have been here in Indonesia for almost two years, but managed to spend this particular holiday in Maui last year, so this was my first time. Last year I remember walking the streets by myself, eating ice-cream and watching the fireworks over the ocean. I thought about how glad that I was to be an American, and how far we had come from when out country was new; I celebrated being an independent young adult, and new that whatever the future held for me it would be good. 

One year later, although in essence not much has changed, everything has changed. I went to a party with other Americans, I had ribs and baked beans and apple pie, we lit off fireworks, and a group close to us sang patriotic songs....I had two thoughts, 1: Isn't it kind of rude to celebrate the fact that we are not a part of this culture while we are living here? and 2: Without America (particularly when we set off the bomb in Japan at the end of WW2 which is the reason that Indonesia gained independence) none of this would be here, the way that it is. It was a very interesting mix of pride in my country and it's affairs, and all that it has done for the world, and also a realization that if I am going to be a missionary that patriotism, while good, cannot be part of who I am and what I do. 

I love America, I am proud and blessed to have grown up there, and be an American, but at the same time my life cannot be about American culture. I come here and I see groups of "bules" or "White people" who stick together, have "American" parties, and have no relationships with the local people at all, they would rather make sure that their children grow up to be 'American' and appreciate their own culture than 'expose them' to other things, other ways of life, and alternative thinking. Here is one example. 

I have a friend here who is a free thinking, opinionated American woman and is married to a very very Indonesian man. They have one son who is 3 (he is soooo cute!) and who still sleeps in their bed with them...in America this would be unacceptable, we teach and train our children that they must be independent and capable; they must be able to cook, clean, live on their own, hold a job, do everything from a very young age, and we tell them that they must have their own opinions and ideas. Honestly, I agree with all of that, and I have seen way too many children here who cannot think for themselves, but at the same time, I have seen American families who have taken this concept so far that as soon as their teenage daughter turned 18 she suddenly had to buy all of her own food (as if the birthday was the exact cutoff date). I think that people should be independent and able to take care of themselves, but I don't think that we should sacrifice a childs' well being in order to make them that way. There are so many parents in America who have terrible relationships with their children because they 'had' to make them independent. 

I think that what it comes down to is that Christians should live in a culture of Christianity (they will know you by this, that you love one another) instead of an American or Indonesian culture. In America, we are direct, even to the point of putting people down and being quite rude, because we say "I'm just being honest." in Indonesia, they will not say anything to you for fear of offending you, but will complain to all of their friends...Christian culture says "Speak the truth in love." it says "If you have a problem with your brother, go to him and speak with him, and if he will not listen then bring the elders." We have to stop living in a dream, whatever dream you are living in. My American friends don't know that they have offended their neighbors, because the neighbors of course will not tell them. It is time to break free of our cultural customs, and walk in truth and love, and honesty. 1 Cor 13 says that Love is never rude...the Indonesian version of that verse says "tidak sopan" which literally means "not polite." How many of you are polite in front of your spouse simply out of love and respect? We think, "Oh he is family, I don't have to be polite, I can just let it all hang loose." I think sometimes we just need a new perspective.

These are just some thoughts that I had this 4th of July. I still love America, I still went to the party, and I still had fun, but I just wanted to challenge you to think about our culture, and the things we do simply out of that culture, whether they be true and biblical and right or not. So, think about it, and Happy 4th of July!