The Conclusion of Deadly Viper
The Deadly Viper site is down and Zondervan, the publishers, issued the following letter:
November 19, 2009
Zondervan Statement Regarding Concerns Voiced About "Deadly Viper: Character Assassins"
From Moe Girkins, President and CEO
Hello and thanks for your patience.
On behalf of Zondervan, I apologize for publishing Deadly Viper: Character Assassins. It is our mission to offer products that glorify Jesus Christ. This book’s characterizations and visual representations are offensive to many people despite its otherwise solid message.
There is no need for debate on this subject. We are pulling the book and the curriculum in their current forms from stores permanently.
We have taken the criticism and advice we have received to heart. In order to avoid similar episodes in the future, last week I named Stan Gundry as our Editor-in-Chief of all Zondervan products. He will be responsible for making the necessary changes at Zondervan to prevent editorial mistakes like this going forward. We already have begun a dialogue with Christian colleagues in the Asian-American community to deepen our cultural awareness and sensitivity.
Zondervan is committed to publishing Christian content and resources that uplift God and see humanity in its proper perspective in relation to God. We take seriously our call to provide resources that encourage spiritual growth. And, we know there is more to learn by always listening to our critics as well as our advocates.
It would be unfair to take these actions without expressing our love and support for the authors of this book, Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite. Both gentlemen are gifted writers and passionate about their ministry. We do believe their message is valuable and plan to work with the authors to come up with a better presentation of that message. We will jointly ensure we do our due diligence on the appropriateness of the creative side. This will include reaching out to a broad spectrum of cultural experts.
Finally, I want to personally thank Professor Rah, Ken Fong, Eugene Cho and Kathy Khang for their input and prayers during this discussion. We appreciate everyone’s concern and effort and look forward to working together for God’s kingdom.
Warmly,
Moe
Wow … thanks to Zondervan and the authors for their humility and graciousness as well as their apology, and also to Soong-Chan Rah, Eugene Cho, Ken Fong and Kathy Khang for their advocacy and eloquence in representation. Way to go, Church! (Although, reading some of the comments on those blogs, I’m struck by how much more work needs to happen within the Church …)
Check out more coverage–actually, a lot of it’s the same–on the aforementioned’s blogs, as well as on Angry Asian Man.
Links of the Day, November 20
On his visit to South Korea, President Obama was presented with an honorary taekwondo belt.
News
Politics
- Mike Huckabee shows his civility and class–I like Mike, even if I don’t always agree with him.
Sports
- Thierry Henry says that a replay would be fair.
Another year older, another year wiser?
Some might say.
Update: I share a birthday with Ann Curry, Jodie Foster, Ryan Howard, Kerri Strug, Jason Scott Lee, Meg Ryan, Ahmad Rashad, and Larry King–so happy birthday to them, too!
What if Jesus meant all that stuff?
In Esquire, a letter to non-believers from Shane Claiborne, that puts into words many of things that I feel, including:
“Forgive us. Forgive us for the embarrassing things we have done in the name of God.”
“I am convinced that the Christian Gospel has as much to do with this life as the next, and that the message of that Gospel is not just about going up when we die but about bringing God’s Kingdom down. It was Jesus who taught us to pray that God’s will be done “on earth as it is in heaven.” On earth.”
Wanna know where NOT to buy your Christmas gifts?
Check out the ILRF’s 2010 Sweatshop Hall of Shame.
Links of the Day, November 19
News
- Senator Harry Reid unveils the Senate health-care bill, which the CBO estimates will cost $849 billion over 10 years (beneath the $900 billion cap set by the President) and will cover 94% of the population.
- A vicar and his wife forgive the girls who drove their daughter to suicide.
- Economic growth is predicted for 2010. Let’s hope it pans out that way!
- A US judge rules that army engineer negligence led to massive flooding when Katrina hit.
- Good news from Afghanistan:
Politics
Green
- California approves energy standards for TVs.
- The Scientists and Evangelicals Initiative pushes for climate change legislation in the US.
Sport
- France go through to the World Cup after knocking Ireland out in the qualifier playoff. Thierry Henry is one of my favorite players in the world, but seriously?!
Miscellaneous
- E-Cho’s top book recommendations for Christians.
- The world in Lego, courtesy of Mandy.
DC*B in DC
Last night, I went to see David Crowder* Band, whom I consider one of the most creatively, technically and artistically progressive Christian worship musicians out there. And it was awesome. Mark (one of the guitarists) took a pic from the stage to tweet:
Some thoughts on faith, music and politics to come.
A Boy is Shot and I Wonder Why I Do What I Do
Last night I walked down 14th Street NW, past Columbia Ave where a police car was parked, blocking entry to the street; and I watched people milling about, heading home after work. A wave of emotion hit me like a sucker-punch as I wondered how many of them knew that they were walking past the place where, two nights previously, nine year-old Oscar Fuentes was shot and killed.
I whispered a prayer for Oscar’s grieving family, and as I did so, I was reminded with startling clarity of a few of the reasons I do what I do:
Because I believe that the God I serve weeps over every life that is lost—including a nine year-old boy named Oscar Fuentes—I live and work for a world where every person is valued and honored for the image of God within him or her, regardless of how smudged and tainted this image has become (Genesis 1-3).
Because I believe that when Jesus told us to pray that God’s kingdom would come on earth—of which the evidence would be God’s will done on earth as in heaven (Matthew 6:10)—he wanted us to envision a world where there are no more tears, where mourning and crying and pain are no more (Revelation 21), I seek to live and work with the Spirit who is already at work in our world to see this come to pass, as elusive and impossible as this may be this side of Christ’s return.
Because I believe that day of the Lord—when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks (Isaiah 2:4)—was inaugurated by the coming of Jesus, I live and work for a world characterized by a peace that is not simply an absence of violence and war but a wholeness of relationships with God, with others, with oneself, and with creation.
Because I believe that the redemption and salvation that came with Jesus Christ are not just a personal gift but a calling to a life that places others before ourselves (Philippians 2), I live and work for a world in which those who have not and cannot experience the many freedoms that I have may know those same freedoms.
“How long, O Lord?” the psalmists lament on many, many, many occasions. And for good reason: we live in the interim between Christ’s resurrection and his return, in the painful in-between. There remains much that is broken and sin-stained, and often we groan with creation as we hope for the promises to come (Romans 8).
But when I start feeling paralyzed by the sheer size of the challenges facing those of us who seek to live out the kingdom of God on earth, when I start wondering why I’m doing what I’m doing, when I get a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of things that are in need of repair and redemption, I look at the picture of Oscar Fuentes, newly stuck up on my wall next to pictures of my nieces and nephews, aged between 18 months and 13 years.
I remember that God so loved the world that he sent his only Son to save us all (John 3:16-17), that we might have life abundantly (John 10:10), and in this blessing we might carry out the ancient commission to be a blessing to others (Genesis 12:1-3). And I remember why I do what I do.
“From everyone to whom much is given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48)
about me
Ask me. I might tell you.
