The Year We Embrace the Truth of Immanuel

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Hannah Nation is the Director of Communications and Content for China Partnership. She is a research associate at Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity, and has written for The Gospel Coalition and Christianity Today. She received her Master of Arts in Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

It’s Christmas Eve in 2020. Last night my family watched the always-delightful Muppet’s version of the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. As furry creatures sang and Scrooge’s heart softened, I pondered the message that Christmas means good cheer to all. To be clear, I don’t disagree with Dickens that we ought to celebrate the advent of the Christ child’s birth, publicly, and with a purposeful eye to the disenfranchised. However, surely Christmas is multifaceted, as so many minor-keyed carols remind us. Particularly in this year of mourning, I find myself reflecting on the topic of suffering and melancholy not only within the traditions of Western Christianity, but more broadly, within the breadth of Christianity globally.

Two years ago, December took on a new somberness for me. In the early days of Advent, a woman I have personally met, prayed, and bunked with was arrested, separated from her child, and detained for close to a year. I still remember getting the news – I was sitting at home in my bed, preparing for my Christmas vacation and selecting gifts on Amazon. Today my mind drifts to my sister, who despite being released from jail remains under the strictest house arrest, cut off from all communication with the outside world, and separated from fellowship with other believers.

This year, for the first time in a long time, we in the West are tasting a small bite of the suffering experienced by Christians around the world and throughout the history of the faith. As we live through self-enforced isolation, limiting our contact with others so that some may live, our very sense of self is being challenged. The American idol of independence is on full display. Where our longstanding cultural marker was once an ideal worthy of aspiration, the pandemic we find ourselves in now reveals the ways our penchant to do it “my way” entombs us. For single adults enduring lockdowns alone in apartments, for families struggling to keep jobs in the face of limited childcare, for churches and pastors realizing they were disposable to begin with – this pandemic reveals to us a truth we’ve long discussed but only now can actually feel. Isolation is a terrible thing. For the Christian, it is dismemberment.

For many, suffering during Christmas feels incongruous. We experience anger at giving up time with family and frustration that our traditions have been put on hold. Some will refuse to accept suffering into their lives and will insist on the right to festivity and celebration.

But for those laying aside the expectations of the holiday, we are given the chance to experience the fellowship of Christian suffering. For every canceled holiday party, we have the opportunity to pray with Chinese Christians. For every lonely Christmas morning, we fellowship with those who have awoken in a cell. For every disrupted church service, we walk with those denied the ability to worship together. Like never before in your lifetime, 2020 has brought you into closer fellowship with brothers and sisters the world around, for whom walking the way of the cross is a regular, daily, yearly requirement.

In recent weeks, I have heard many jokes about Christmas being cancelled. At times I’ve felt that way myself. But unlike the cultural expectations instilled in us since Dickens, a party is not actually the marker of celebrating the God who descended to suffer in a lowly, and lonely, manger. His birth was an act of fellowship and identity with a broken, suffering, sorrowing world. The hardships of 2020 are not ones to forget and move past. This is the year we embrace and live into the truth of Immanuel. Though our hurting communities live in isolation for the moment, today we fellowship in spirit with Chinese and other Christians around the world who have known and understood this truth much longer than us. This is the year we are invited to reevaluate our part in the body of Christ in the light of the perseverance of millions of saints the world around. This is the year we are given a better chance to understand what it means to walk the way of the cross as we are united with Christ. This is the year we ask ourselves if we really believe in a sure hope beyond death. Will you take 2020 with you into 2021? Do not let this opportunity pass you by.

As my sister in China knows well, the spirit of Advent continues with us beyond December 25th into each new year. At Christmas, we celebrate the first arrival of Jesus into this world. But it is his second arrival, in full glory and justice, that will fully end our waiting and bring us into new life. 2021 feels full of hope, fresh from the woes of 2020; but that is only because the new year hasn’t yet begun. In due course, even 2021 will be hard and dark. When my sister was released from detention, her advent did not end. She still awaits the freedom to leave her home. She still awaits the return of her husband. She is free from her prison, but she has still not received the justice and reconciliation she awaits. We wait with her, both for her earthly bridegroom to return, but mostly for her heavenly bridegroom. For when he comes, he will ride the clouds of justice and all will be well.

FOR REFLECTION:

What might it look like to live in the new year with the waiting, longing, Advent spirit of 2020?

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Further Reading

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A Peaceful World: The Story of An Ning, Part 2
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Guangzhou: "I Truly Love This City"
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A Peaceful World: The Story of An Ning, Part 1
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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA

With rising pressure and persecution in China, there are two challenges imperative for church leaders. The first challenge is for current leaders to love Christ above all else, and not to stray into legalism or love of the world. The second challenge is to raise up the next generation of leaders, who will humbly model Jesus even if current leaders are arrested.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN PRAYING FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA? PRAY FOR:

  1. Current leaders to grow in their daily walks with Christ
  2. Current leaders to shepherd and raise up new leaders
  3. New leaders who love Christ and will model him to the world
  4. New leaders to love and care for the church

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ABOUT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

About Shenyang

Shenyang is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Liaoning Province. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, including the Shenyang Imperial Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shenyang is also a hub for China’s heavy industry, with companies such as the China First Automobile Group and the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation having their headquarters in the city.

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About Qingdao

Qingdao is a city located in eastern China and is famous for its beaches, beer, and seafood. The city is home to several landmarks, including the Zhanqiao Pier and the Badaguan Scenic Area. Qingdao is also a major port and has a thriving economy, with industries such as electronics, petrochemicals, and machinery.

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About Xiamen

Xiamen is a city located in southeastern China and is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful coastal scenery, including Gulangyu Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is also a hub for China’s high-tech industry, with companies such as Huawei and ZTE having research and development centers in Xiamen.

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About Chongqing

Chongqing is a city located in southwestern China and is a major economic center in the region. The city is known for its spicy cuisine, especially its hot pot dishes, and is also famous for the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam. Chongqing is also home to several historic sites, including the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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About Nanjing

Nanjing is a city located in eastern China and is the capital of Jiangsu Province. It is one of China’s ancient capitals and has a rich cultural history, including the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the Nanjing City Wall, and the Confucius Temple. Nanjing is also a modern city with a thriving economy and is home to several universities, including Nanjing University and Southeast University.

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About Changchun

Changchun is a city located in northeastern China and is the capital of Jilin Province. It is known for its rich cultural heritage and is home to several historical landmarks such as the Puppet Emperor’s Palace and the Jingyuetan National Forest Park. Changchun is also a hub for China’s automotive industry, with several major automobile manufacturers having their headquarters in the city.

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About Guangzhou

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is a city located in southern China and is the capital of Guangdong Province. It is one of the country’s largest and most prosperous cities, serving as a major transportation and trading hub for the region. Guangzhou is renowned for its modern architecture, including the Canton Tower and the Guangzhou Opera House, as well as its Cantonese cuisine, which is famous for its variety and bold flavors. The city also has a rich history, with landmarks such as the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Additionally, Guangzhou hosts the annual Canton Fair, the largest trade fair in China.

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About Kunming

Kunming is a city located in southwest China and is the capital of Yunnan Province. Known as the “City of Eternal Spring” for its mild climate, Kunming is a popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and cultural diversity. The city is home to several scenic spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Stone Forest, Dian Lake, and the Western Hills. Kunming is also famous for its unique cuisine, which features a mix of Han, Yi, and Bai ethnic flavors. The city has a rich cultural history, with ancient temples and shrines like the Yuantong Temple and the Golden Temple, and it’s also a hub for Yunnan’s ethnic minority cultures, such as the Yi and Bai peoples.

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About Shenzhen

Shenzhen is a city located in southeastern China and is one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolises. The city is renowned for its thriving tech industry, with companies such as Huawei, Tencent, and DJI having their headquarters in Shenzhen. The city also has a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous museums, art galleries, and parks. Shenzhen is also known for its modern architecture, such as the Ping An Finance Center and the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center. Despite its modernization, Shenzhen also has a rich history and cultural heritage, with landmarks such as the Dapeng Fortress and the Chiwan Tin Hau Temple.

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About Chengdu

Chengdu is a city located in the southwestern region of China, and the capital of Sichuan province. It has a population of over 18 million people, and it is famous for its spicy Sichuan cuisine, laid-back lifestyle, and its cute and cuddly residents – the giant pandas. Chengdu is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can observe these adorable creatures in their natural habitat. The city also boasts a rich cultural heritage, with numerous temples, museums, and historical sites scattered throughout its boundaries. Chengdu is a city of contrasts, with ancient traditions coexisting alongside modern developments, making it an intriguing and fascinating destination for visitors to China. 

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About Beijing

Beijing is the capital city of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 21 million people. The city has a rich history that spans over 3,000 years, and it has served as the capital of various dynasties throughout China’s history. Beijing is home to some of the most iconic landmarks in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. The city is also a hub for political, cultural, and educational activities, with numerous universities and research institutions located within its boundaries. Beijing is renowned for its traditional architecture, rich cuisine, and vibrant cultural scene, making it a must-visit destination for travelers to China.

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About Shanghai

Shanghai is a vibrant and dynamic city located on the eastern coast of China. It is the largest city in China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of over 24 million people. Shanghai is a global financial hub and a major center for international trade, with a rich history and culture that spans over 1,000 years. The city is famous for its iconic skyline, which features towering skyscrapers such as the Oriental Pearl Tower and the Shanghai Tower. Shanghai is also home to a diverse culinary scene, world-class museums and art galleries, and numerous shopping districts. It is a city that is constantly evolving and reinventing itself, making it a fascinating destination for visitors from around the world.

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