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.
Epiphany (meaning the revealing or appearance) is not a celebration of a specific event in the life of Christ on earth. Rather it is about a specific aspect of Christ’s life and ministry on earth – the manifestation of his divine glory and status.
Read MoreIs tradition dangerous? My answer is an unequivocal “yes.” Yet there is danger in all good things. If there is anything that sinners are good at, it is our ability to turn God’s good blessings into idols. Any good tradition, when misused, can be just as harmful!
Read MoreBut there are some truths that are viewed differently in different churches. For example, when did the kingdom come? Pre-millennium, post-millennium, or it hasn't come yet? Another example – should baptism be conducted by sprinkling water or full immersion?
Read MoreThe hope [of Passover] is not only for Judah, but also for Israel. Their discussion about what to do dragged on for one month. So we notice that the leader and his people all think the plan seemed right – truth and unity is not in conflict here.
Read MoreWhen you have a focus on the gospel, its power itself is transforming. Whenever we hear the gospel, whenever you taste the sweetness of the real, true gospel – the resurrection, the cross, the ascension – you are looking for the eternal rest [that comes] after his return. Once you taste that, you cannot return. You reach a point where you can never return. That sweetness will always attract you in that direction.
Read MoreI don’t think persecution is the main difficulty for the Chinese churches. The more persecution, the more revival for the Chinese churches. Sometimes we are expecting persecution from the government. When pastors are arrested revival comes to the church. Most of the time, the pastor is the stumbling block of the revival.
Read MoreMore and more churches where there is the traditional way of doing church [feel that] there is no solution, there is no way out. But we cannot isolate ourselves anymore. We have to watch out for what is going on, instead of being unaware of what God was doing. A lot of times we just want to fulfill our own hearts by using religion or the gospel.
Read MoreAs I reflected on the church, I realized that she is our mother, and a healthy church must be balanced. The preaching of the word, the practice of sacraments, and the enforcement of church discipline: all three have to be there. Some say that faith is a personal matter, and that salvation has nothing to do with being part of a church. However, it is only through being part of a church community that people can examine whether they actually have genuine love. Only the church has the authority to carry out discipline measures, to warn us against our sinful natures, and hold us accountable for sinful acts.
Read MoreI cried out before God, and turned to him in repentance. I told God that I could not live out the gospel. Then God responded to me: I should not try to live up to the gospel, but to embrace the gospel.
Read MoreThe gospel of “grace alone” brings church leaders to think hard about true grace: Jesus Christ has accepted who we are, even while we were sinning against him. We do not need to earn our salvation; we do not need to earn our sanctification. We already have them in Christ. For church leaders, this is the source of power to imitate our Lord and serve the local church. Change in the lives of leaders brings about change in local churches. The culture of “saving face” can be replaced by the culture of grace. All fake dragons are exposed by the light of the gospel, and the Real Dragon, Jesus Christ, reigns in the ancient land of the dragon. He will set his people free!
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