Editor’s note: In May, China Partnership is praying for the city of Shanghai. As we focus on the particular issues Shanghai people face, we wanted to re-run an older interview we previously published with a Shanghai pastor. In this interview, he considers how he himself has changed after becoming a Christian. He received a traditional Chinese education, which emphasized benevolence and doing good deeds. But since knowing Christ, he now sees that humans need Jesus, not a moral code or an abundance of merit. His personal relationship with Jesus has changed him from the inside out, and made him into a new man.

This article has been lightly edited and condensed from the original version.

Direct Relationship, Not Just Deeds

Pastor: I am interested in culture, and used to read a lot about art, history, and philosophy. I loved these when I was younger. Therefore, I have some of my own thoughts and ideas about culture. After I believed in Christ more than ten years ago, my understanding of culture has undergone some major changes.

After I believed in Christ, my understanding of culture has undergone some major changes.

CP: Which city are you from?

Pastor: I’m from Shanghai. The word “home” in the name [of our church] refers to our fundamental mission to share the gospel through family ministry, which means to make Jesus known to more family members.

CP: You just mentioned that the gospel changed your view on culture. How has the gospel renewed your view of culture, including your view of China?

Pastor: Because of the traditional education I received, the things I pursued were influenced by my education. When I came to know Jesus about ten years ago, this completely overturned my world view.

My previous education was a traditional Chinese education. I learned a lot about ancient cultures, and also some about contemporary cultures. But now, I think my understanding of culture includes one more aspect: that of the kingdom. My values and understanding of culture are totally different from what they used to be.

CP: What do you think is the biggest influence traditional education had on your values?

Pastor: Traditional Confucianism teaches benevolence. I did a lot of good things and charity work for others before I was a Christian. But now I think that, while those deeds were not bad, what humans need the most is the gospel, the salvation of the soul.

CP: All of us are good at finding our own merit out of our own imperfections. How has your understanding of yourself changed as you went from seeing yourself as a good person to viewing yourself as a sinner?

Pastor: After I put my faith in the Lord, it was still a long process to come to know salvation through the cross and genuinely connect my life to Jesus. I am not saying my life was renewed the day I was baptized. No. I came to faith in 2004, was baptized in 2005, and the renewal of my life came after 2007, especially after I started to pastor a church.

I did a lot of good things and charity work for others before I was a Christian. But… while those deeds were not bad, what humans need the most is the gospel.

I cannot pinpoint the exact moment my life was renewed, but when I came to understand my former relationship with Jesus, and the fact that Jesus really died on the cross for my sins, I was renewed and transformed inside out. Because there is direct relationship between me and Jesus, this renewal completely transformed my former views and ideas on culture.

Humanism versus Gospel

CP: What do you think are some of the problems in the previous culture?

Pastor: The previous culture was humanistic. Humans didn’t really understand themselves; they only wanted to be a good person, but they didn’t understand the essence of the human heart. This is not to mention that they would not admit themselves to be sinners. They didn’t get it at all.

Traditional culture knew nothing about human sin. Therefore, if someone does not know they are a sinner, they certainly cannot be blameless.

Traditional culture could never lead someone to understand themselves as sinners. If someone cannot see their own sin, then they cannot really know themselves, and can never truly understand the gospel.

CP: What do you think are some of the biggest clashes between Chinese culture and the gospel?

Pastor: Traditional Chinese culture is all about benevolence, but it is a huge obstacle for people to genuinely understand themselves as sinners. Traditional culture could never lead someone to understand themselves as sinners. If someone cannot see their own sin, then they cannot really know themselves, and can never truly understand the gospel.

CP: When you were transformed, how did you interact with those around you who had been with you in the past?

Pastor: First, I love them; I genuinely love them. I interact with them, and pray for them. More importantly, I hope that as I live in Christ, I bear the aroma of Christ among them.

A while ago I ran into some friends from years ago. They said, “You are so different from who you were; you are not the same you used to be.” I said, “Praise the Lord. It is Jesus who changed me.”

Lu Ming is a pseudonym for a Shanghai house church pastor.

Pray for Chinese to really understand that they are sinners in need of grace.