Through their blows, the persecutors and the persecuted came to know one another. This is an important gain for both of us, as we continue to walk through persecution. This is what it means when we Chinese say: “Out of blows, knowledge grows!”
There will always be conflicts for people who grow up in a traditional Chinese education, because a Chinese education is an atheistic education. But I never doubted the existence of God. The existence of God was as natural to me as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. It was as natural to me as getting up in the morning.
I am a subversive patriot because, despite the progress we have made as a nation, America is not my best hope for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." My ultimate allegiance is to a King who gave up his own life, liberty, and happiness to redeem us from the tyranny of sin.
Our tithe is an exercise of our duty and privilege as citizens of God’s Kingdom, much like voting in an election in America. Whether the government approves of our giving or not, whether we get a tax deduction or not, it is an honor that our King above has made us citizens of his kingdom, and he deigns to use our two copper coins to advance his kingdom on earth.
Read MoreNo one should stop giving financially based on the pretext that the church is facing persecution...The heavenly nature of giving is more truly revealed when there is risk in doing so.
Read MorePersecution is focused on three areas: church property, church doctrine, and church polity (which includes clergy). All of this is aimed at restricting the church from exercising the basic mission entrusted to it by the King of heaven: worship, discipleship, and evangelism.
Read MoreChinese brothers [have] helped me understand that suffering is on-the-job description of anyone who follows behind a crucified Savior. As I press on, my fraternity of Chinese pastors encourages me to believe that suffering is never the end of our journey with Jesus: the joy of the resurrection is always waiting for us on the other side.
Read MoreWaiting patiently was an indispensable part of the process of the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land....Staying still in the wilderness was God’s way of refining his people.
Read MoreWe pastors, as well as all those who are willing to serve, need to explore together how we can follow the Lord in the midst of China’s present situation and our own weaknesses. We do not follow him alone, but live within a grand story that covers all of time. By faith, one can lose everything, even one’s own church… In the midst of unpredictable days, we know our future is secure.
Read MoreThe church today is the Night’s Watch of this generation, for her head is Christ. Only if Christ keeps watch for the church will the church be able to keep watch for this generation, lest it drift further and further away from God. No matter how corrupt this generation is, the prayers of the church are a clarion call through the night sky.
Read MoreAlthough they know Christ is with them now, they still live under a grim reality. They are still marginalized, still face police harassment, some of them may still go to jail....What sustains them in China is not just knowing Christ suffers with them, but knowing they suffer in Christ.
Read MoreThese words are a compassionate gift, written by saints who find refuge in Christ amidst great suffering. Their words challenged me as a pastor, and pulled me further away from my fears. I hope that we would come to see even suffering as a great invitation. Although none of us may ever sit down with Gabriel and Bao En, we can hear them say: “Come, let us together find refuge in Christ.'“
Read MoreWhen we talk about the law in church today, we do this to return to the gospel… When you treat something as higher than the gospel and use it to judge everything, it will create problems. We must return to the gospel. But how do we testify to the gospel when we are in the process of defending our rights?
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