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.
The practices of our parents shape and form us, but we have a perfect Father who has loved us completely. May that love be the defining force in the lives of Chinese believers. May they hold tight to him and rest in his perfect love for them – even when they fail.
Read Moreis this suffering worth it? Have you had moments when you question whether it is worth it? Suffering is messy, and most of us do not look like heroes when we experience it. Jesus knows that. He went through it himself. So, even if we do not emerge from suffering as heroes, it is more important that Jesus endured his suffering and was victorious over sin and death.
Read MoreOur church is not as prepared as we thought. People still have many fears. As pastors of the flock, we must first acknowledge our weaknesses. I want them to fix their eyes on Jesus’s grace. Victory does not lie in wisdom or courage, but in the grace of Christ. We need to communicate the power of this grace to those who persecute us.
Read MoreI have been baffled by unconditional love, this idea of loving and accepting someone unconditionally. Even though I have been a believer for many years, I am still sometimes perplexed by this.
Read MoreA church under persecution is in great difficulty. Communication among members is limited. Believers face great pressure, and many spiritual challenges... Under persecution’s pressure, the weaknesses and struggles church members experience are very real.
Read MoreAfter I came back to China, they started to show strong opposition because I was now in China, not in America anymore. Yes, they were very much against my faith. I was already an adult, but they wouldn’t let me go to church.
Read MoreAs I got clear on the gospel, I became much clearer on my identity. I began to grasp that if I followed Jesus Christ as my Lord, then being a Christian was my primary identity. Being ethnically Chinese or nationally Scottish wasn’t how I should define myself.
Read MoreBecause of the one-child policy, she could only have one daughter. My mother’s coping method was to prove to my grandmother that even though she had only had a girl, this girl would be better than a boy. In that way, I could feel the pressure she put on me.
Read MoreHonorable judge and public prosecutors: the law seeks justice, and you are representatives of that law. I implore you: fear God, look to the starry heavens, fulfill your divine vocation, and render a just judgment.
Read MoreI want to encourage you that many in the American church are praying for you. Yes, we are praying your safety and peace. But above all, we are praying his steadfastness would enable you to praise him in all circumstances, knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
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