Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, under the zodiac sign of the dragon. I wish you all a blessed new year and the vigor and spirit of the mythical “dragon horse”!
Speaking of “dragon,” it reminds me of a song I used to sing many years ago, “Descendants of the Dragon,” a song composed by a young Taiwanese composer, Dejian Hou. Part of the lyrics go like this:
Black eyes, black hair, and yellow skin
Forever and ever the descendants of the dragon I am
Although there was much controversy about the composer’s life experience and I didn’t agree with all the lyrics, the song did have a resonant effect on me. I have been living in the United States for more than three decades, but I find my Chinese roots still going strong. It is reflected in the ways of my life and thinking. I suspect that will never change.
We are known as Asian Americans, and this country is the place where we choose to live willingly. Since it has given us protection and care, we owe our allegiance to it. (You may disagree with the national policies and you can also choose to emigrate to another country.) It is not right for a Christian
citizen to act unethically by reaping all the benefits of citizenship while seeking ways to avoid the duties and responsibilities.
In the Chinese traditions, the “dragon” represents strength and prosperity, and it was also the symbol of the emperor in the old days. Many traditional Chinese have the mentality of hoping their sons will grow up to become “dragons” someday.
The Bible says something very different about the dragon: that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray (Rev. 12:9). It reveals the other meaning of “the descendant of the dragon” in us. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (Psalm 51:5) The Apostle Paul wrote, “As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10, 23).
We can’t change the Asian blood in us, but we can change our old selves from being the descendants of Satan by trusting in God’s great love. We are transformed into new creatures by the blood of His Son. (2 Cor 5:17)
As a pastor to our congregation, every year I pass red envelopes to every brother and sister on the Sundays of the Lunar New Year. The Bible verse I chose for the envelopes this year is: He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5)
May brothers and sisters be renewed in spirit, knowing that the heritage from the devil has been obliterated, and we have become the heirs of Christ!
(Translation by Bob Tang)