Dear Jason:

I’m sure you and the rest @ Zondervan have already been inundated with concerns and criticisms regarding your decision to use images from various Asian cultures as a way to frame a book about Christian character and integrity. I just want to add my voice to those you’ve already heard from. It’s hard enough to get secular media outlets to stop perpetuating harmful or disrespectful stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans. But it is especially disturbing when a Christian company demonstrates profound ignorance of why this is damaging and sinful to segment of the population that I represent. When I was a trustee with IVCF, I was given an up-close view of how IVPress selected manuscripts, worked with authors, and even decided on cover art. So I know that the decision to use the authors’ previous framing device couldn’t have escaped this vetting process @ Zondervan. Assuming that I am correct about this, that’s why it’s all the more shocking that no one at your company was disturbed by this, that no one there knew enough either to remove all of these offensive references and allusions or to check with reliable Asian and Asian American Christian leaders first.

The damage has clearly been done. You’ve spent money and the book is available for purchase. As of this writing, you may have already made a decision to remove it from stores and have issued a heart-felt apology. However, if you haven’t yet, if you’re still weighing how to respond to this backlash from significant parts of the Body of Christ, then you’re also sending a clear message. That you really aren’t convinced, as the authors now clearly are, that the artwork and conceptual framework of this book are blatantly offensive, or that Zondervan was completely wrong in signing off on it, or that the clearest and best course of action would be to remove it from the shelves. I hope by now that you and the other decision-makers at Zondervan have reached these conclusions and have begun to contribute to the emerging efforts of reconciliation and understanding.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Ken Fong
Senior Pastor
Evergreen Baptist Church of LA, Rosemead

My beef is not just with the authors’ but with the publishers. This must have survived their vetting process because they don’t get how things like this are blatantly offensive ripoffs.

From what I’ve read, constructive discussions are under way, so hopefully that means a meaningful resolution will be made. Until that time, I will be refraining from further commentary.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by FastChurch: Impact matters more than intention http://bit.ly/3lRQOV...

I understand that this debate is painful and feels totally different for those who feel they have a dog in the fight, but I think this needed to happen.

This book never should have made it off the presses. It’s clear to me from reading the various posts and blogs that this is a repeat offense, both from Zondervan and from this sector of Christian culture. If one assumes good intent on the part of all involved, then it is absolutely necessary to point out the offense repeatedly until it is clear the other side gets it. Otherwise, the name of Christ continues to be tainted by unwitting racism.