Can Asian Americans Help to Heal the Nation?

By Dr. J. Doug Stringer, Somebody Cares

Image: TheCall via Facebook

Everywhere we look today, busy candidates on their long, laborious path toward the 2016 elections are preparing to convince us to vote for them. They are not the only ones who need to prepare. Voters, especially those of faith, must be spiritually and practically prepared.

Spiritually, we know that lasting change is not guaranteed because of a particular person or party, or through legislation alone. For a lasting impact both spiritually and politically, we as Christians must return to our foundations and our first love.

Practically, we need to select leaders who love the people they are called to serve more than they love being served. To do so, we ourselves need to be willing to serve others more than being served. And that means, to serve people of all ethnicities and differences.

As an American of Asian descent, married to a Texas-born Latina of Mexican descent, I recognize the unique differences, experiences and challenges of individual backgrounds. Too often we create walls by virtue of the categories we place people in—ourselves as well as others.

God loves the beauty of all His creation. Jesus taught that His brother, sister, and mother are those who hear the word of God and follow it. Together we are collectively His “Coat of Many Colors.” Yet, a growing trend in one stripe of that coat deserves some focus.

Americans of Asian Descent in Faith and Politics

Asian Americans are growing in number and in influence. In 1965, Asian Americans made up less than 1% of the United States population. As of 2011, the Asian American population had grown to 18.2 million, which accounts for 5.8% of the U.S. population.[1] Increased immigration to the United States is one factor of this growth. In 2010, Asian immigrants to the U.S. outnumbered Hispanic immigrants for the first time. About 36% of the immigrants entering the U.S. were Asian, and 31% were Hispanic.[2] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “By the year 2050, there will be more than 40.6 million Asians living in the United States, comprising 9.2 percent of the total U.S. population.”[3]

Over the last several years, there has been a growing number of high-profile Asian pastors in America. Christian leaders like Francis Chan, Paul Tan, Jade Duncan, Che Ahn, Tony Kim, and Khanh Huynh, to name only a few, have grown into influential leaders. These and many other Asian American pastors are not confined to reach only an Asian community. They see the importance of reaching across social and ethnic boundaries as bridge builders and ambassadors for Christ.

Americans of Asian descent are also being increasingly represented in the political arena. Governors like Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina are of Indian descent. Both of their families come from the Punjab region spanning eastern Pakistan and northern India.

Both are now Christians, and it’s not a coincidence. In 1904, John Hyde, the son of an American Presbyterian minister, helped start the Punjab Prayer Union. One hundred and eleven years later, two U.S. States have governors whose family ancestry is from that region. I am reminded that the prayers of intercession continually come before the Lord.

Americans of Asian descent have the potential to make a huge difference in many facets of American culture. First, Asian Americans are capable of making their voice heard politically. A report released by the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) in May 2015 revealed that the number of “Asian American registered voters will grow from 5.9 million in 2015 to 12.2 million by 2040.”[4] This means that by 2040, roughly 1 in 15 registered voters will be Asian American, making Asian Americans one of the fastest growing electorates in America.

The numbers of Asian American voters is increasing while the number of foreign-born Asian American voters is expected to shrink. “Today, almost two-thirds of Asian American registered voters are foreign-born, but a quarter of a century later, only slightly more than half will be.”[5]

Asian Americans have a political voice now, but in the future, they will be able to exercise even more political clout. S. Floyd Mori, CEO and President of APAICS, believes, “Asian Americans are a very fluid voting base and every election is a new opportunity to court the Asian American vote. Cultivating Asian American voters and gaining their loyalty is pivotal to a political party’s future. Securing the Asian American vote in areas with large concentration, and in swing vote states, will be a political game changer. Political parties should also cultivate candidates who can appeal to, be responsive to, and turn out, the Asian American vote.”[6]

However, Asian Americans must overcome the distinctions that threaten to drive them apart. To an outsider, it may not look like Asian Americans are diverse, but they are. About 62% of Asian Americans identify themselves by their country of origin or combine their country of origin with American (e.g. Japanese American). Only 14% of Asian Americans identify themselves as American.[7] On top of that, Asian Americans are a diverse group in terms of faith. Most Filipinos in the U.S. are Catholic, but most Korean Americans are Protestant. About half the Indian American population is Hindu, and half of Chinese Americans are unaffiliated.[8]

Even more important, we are looking at one of the biggest global revivals in history that will undoubtedly have long-term cultural and political impacts. Despite the differences in country of origin and faith, there has been unmistakable evidence that Christianity is spreading among the global Asian community. About 42% of Asian American adults state they’re Christian.[9] As more and more Asian Americans make the decision to search for Christ, it is our responsibility and privilege to fan the flames, and to provide church homes.

Voting Our Values

Within the Asian community there is a diversity of political and religious affiliations, but many of the core values and beliefs held are actually Biblically based. Values like honor, respect, family, social justice, and education are all extremely important to most in the Asian American community. Like any other bloc of voters, Asian Americans tend to vote for the party they believe best represents their beliefs.

Yes, the Asian population has increased significantly, and as a voting bloc it could impact future elections. Many Asian Americans consider themselves independent politically, but the complex history of Asians in America often affects their voting decisions. For example, in Hawaii many Asians are more likely to vote Democrat than Republican because of their negative historical views. Back when Asians were being brought to Hawaii to work on the plantations that sprang up, the Republican Party implemented immigration quotas to limit the number of Asians allowed into Hawaii. This decision has affected the party’s standing with Asian Americans in Hawaii even today.

Nationally, there is a newer generation of Asian Americans that still carry many of the core values of their parents, yet I believe they are a potential independent voting bloc for those who will recognize their value in American culture. Many Asians support the care of the elderly and needy because it’s a part of the culture. Rather than creating more social programs, or stronger government control, many in the Asian community would rather see people empowered to function without those programs through access to education.

Religious freedom is also of importance. With 42% of Asian Americans identifying as Christians, this should be a growing consideration for politicians. Who will represent their religious liberties, their social concerns, and their traditional values? The struggle that American Asians must undertake is to examine their voting patterns and determine if they’ve been voting for those who best serve their convictions. For the nearly half who profess to be Christian, we must also look past the platitudes and rhetoric of political speak, and vote according to a biblical ideology that protects our religious freedoms and gives us a sure foundation for the emerging generations.

Thomas Wang of Great Commission Center International left China to come to America in 1958. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen ten years later. During his time in America, Wang has seen the country change and grow, in both positive and negative ways. In 2009, he wrote of America, “I love this country and I am concerned and committed to her spiritual welfare and her destiny in history.”

We all should be concerned about our nation’s welfare. Helena Hwang, a friend of mine, is involved with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. She is amongst a growing number of American Asians who have a deep concern for this nation and its health, both spiritually and practically. It is time for us to make a stand and strive for a nation under God.

Focusing on God’s Agenda

Can Asian Americans become a force for righteousness in this country? Can Americans of Asian descent help to heal this nation? With the growing numbers, some political advisors are seeing how the Asian vote in America could become significant enough to swing elections.

Which brings me back to the point of national change. For any change to be lasting and meaningful, it must come from an inward change. The nation and the Church need a revival of character. What would happen if Christians of all backgrounds were to actually take responsibility to vote according to a biblical ideology and conviction, rather than our personal preferences or party affiliations?

An external change made only for show will not help the Church or the nation, but an internal change that carries over to the Church’s external dealings will positively impact America for generations. In order to see lasting change in our nation, we must be intimately aware of the state of the Church and its people. A.W. Tozer observed that “what God says to the Church at any given time period depends altogether upon her moral and spiritual condition, and upon the spiritual need of the hour.”[10]

We are in need of an awakening in the Church if we are to see a revival in our nation. We must be careful to guard against superficial change. Reform must be internal in order for it to bring lasting external transformation.

I cannot help but wonder how much more could the Church as a whole swing an election toward righteousness. If the Church, the largest “tribe” in our nation, were undivided in heart and voice, would we be the very conduit of moral strength, healing and hope in the nation? Yes, there is a battle for the soul of America, but when the Church, the heart of the nation is strong, all others, even those who oppose us, would benefit from our strength. To keep such a divisive and irreparable split from happening in the Church, we must consent to move past our differences⎯-be they denominational, racial, generational, or political⎯and become part of something bigger than ourselves.

I love what Asian American Bobby Jindal said of our nation during a solemn assembly at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge: “The United States did not create religious liberty, religious liberty created the United States.”

Even as I encourage the growing number of Asian Americans to follow Christ and vote their values, I encourage each of us—as dual citizens of this nation and of God’s Kingdom—to take responsibility for our own part in preparing our hearts so together we can impact the soul of our nation. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we find a perspective and purpose greater than ourselves. [1] A.W. Tozer, “The Gift of Prophetic Insight”

[1] Pew Research Center. Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. July 19, 2012.

[2] Pew Research Center. Meet the New Immigrants: Asians Overtake Hispanics. April 2, 2015.

[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Minority Health. “Asian American Populations.” https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/populations/REMP/asian.html.

[4] Ong, Paul and Elena Ong. The Future of Asian America in 2040. May 7, 2015.

[5] Ong, Paul and Elena Ong. The Future of Asian America in 2040. May 7, 2015.

[6] Ong, Paul and Elena Ong. Commentaries on the Future of Asian America in 2040. May 7, 2015.

[7] Pew Research Center. Meet the New Immigrants: Asians Overtake Hispanics. April 2, 2015.

[8] Pew Research Center. Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. July 19, 2012.

[9] Pew Research Center. Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths. The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. July 19, 2012.

[10] A.W. Tozer, “The Gift of Prophetic Insight”
Dr. J. Doug Stringer is founder and president of Turning Point Ministries International, which birthed an international movement known as Somebody Cares, a network of organizations impacting their communities through unified grassroots efforts. Doug is also the founder of Global Compassion Network.