Recently, veteran diplomat Professor Tommy Koh lamented during a conference that “Singapore is a First World country with Third World people”. In his observation, many Singaporeans are selfish and unkind and have some way to go in civic-mindedness and graciousness. As much as we would probably have our fair share of unpleasant experiences with ungracious drivers and inconsiderate behaviour in public spaces, I do not think it is fair to associate bad behaviour with people from the Third World.
After all, we do not need to be a sociologist or psychologist to know that good behaviour is hardly a fruit of economic development or literacy standards. I mean just think about the type of cars that are usually driven by those guilty perpetrators. More importantly, equating inconsiderate behaviour with Third World citizens seem to hint of Western elitism and condescension towards Asian/Eastern culture especially when the majority of those classified as First World are Western countries. Moreover, for those who were educated in a local Chinese school or are familiar with Confucian ethics, you would recall that virtues such as benevolence and integrity can hardly be said to have originated from the West.
For us as Christians, we need to understand that our values are not about being Asian or Western, First or Third World. They are ultimately to be grounded in something that transcends our nationality and social status. Whether we are Chinese or of a mixed marriage, Singaporean or work permit holder, a graduate or having a PSLE certificate, God’s word instructs us that we are also citizens of another country (Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 2:11). Recognising who we are and where our true citizenship rests should help us view the culture in which we are born into and interact with from a truly biblical perspective.
For example, while it was permissible in the past for a Chinese man to have more than one wife, the Christian should readily choose to uphold monogamy as taught in Scripture and not conclude that he is becoming “liberal” and less of a Chinese for doing so. Likewise, we would be mistaken if we think that First World values are invariably superior and desirable and that Singapore should “progress” in that direction. In the first place, neither the First World nor the Third World can be said to have a monopoly on virtues.
More often than not, one would find that those advocating freedom of speech and thought tend to cite love as their criterion in determining whether something is acceptable or not. If that is so, it would be reasonable to expect that a Christian’s biblical conviction can also be taken into consideration in the public sphere even if it is grounded on one’s religion. After all, there is more than sufficient evidence to demonstrate that religious values, especially Christian morality are far from being irrational and bigoted. If anything, so much of today’s Western ideals about human dignity and gender equality have their roots to a large extent to Judeo-Christian ideals.
If what Singapore needs, according to Professor Koh, is “not sycophants but loving critics and critical lovers”, on what basis should Christians who raise their objections be brushed aside as conservative unthinking haters? If Professor Koh who identifies himself as a loving critic can lament about Singaporeans lacking in civic-mindedness, then surely faithful Christians who have been lovingly giving of themselves in the service of fellow Singaporeans can also raise their concerns whenever certain lifestyle and values are being propagated. The challenge today of course is how can one truly know what love looks like. When we take God out of the picture, whose version of love is to be promoted and how can we be so confident that it would truly be good for our nation?
To be sure, being a citizen of another world means that our hopes for our nation do not rest upon election results or having our voices heard by the powers to be. Our world does not end and Christians need not give in to despair and cynicism even if certain legislation does not go our way. In fact, we should not be surprised given that God’s Word has several reminders about how things will get worse in this world (Matthew 24:3-14, Timothy 3:1-5) before Christ comes again.
Until then, we have our work cut out for us as we seek to keep our conduct among the Gentiles honourable and relating with others in holiness and humility (Colossians 3-4:6, 1 Peter 2:11-12). If Professor Koh expects First World citizens to have better behaviour, then surely Christians who are citizens of another world can be even more exemplary. More than just helping to clear up the table after use or cooperating with the ushers to move to another pew instead of the one reserved for families with young children, what it takes for us is to put the interests of others before ourselves.
Hopefully, True Way will be the place where we get to see God transforming each worshipper more and more into the likeness of his only begotten Son, who left his world in order to redeem us from our fallen world. At the end of the day, it is of little significance whether we are from the First World or the Third World. What matters most is that here on earth, we are putting into practice the values of the world whom God has graciously prepared for his beloved people. In that world, we thank God that no one will ever be considered second class.
