The Goal is Salvation, Not Victory: Gospel-Centered Legal Practice

Editor’s note: As Chinese house churches try to respond to the current challenges in the Chinese climate toward religion, knowledge and understanding are in great need. In a 2021 seminar for Chinese Christians, “Gabriel,” a Christian attorney, shared about how and why house churches should adopt a gospel-centered legal framework, and what that means practically for believers and their church communities. In this excerpt, he encourages believers to take courage in the Spirit, and to lead lives that are holy and blameless. He reminds Christians that the goal is not legal validation, but a faithful witness to the God of their salvation.

Parts one, two, three, and four of this series were previously published. This excerpt has been edited for clarity and length.


19 For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Phil. 1:19–20

The Help of the Holy Spirit

Paul is joyful because Christ has been preached: he is not joyful because he won his lawsuit or because his church has grown . Paul rejoices in the expansion of Christ’s kingdom. In verse 19, he says this comes through prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit.

>
“The prayers of the saints are very important, and are a great assistance to suffering churches. Do not think you are not doing anything by saying, ‘I will pray for them.’ You are a great help.

At times, we think attacks against other churches are irrelevant to us. We may even think our prayers do not help. But the Bible says Paul is able to rejoice “through your prayers.” The prayers of the saints are very important, and are a great assistance to suffering churches. Do not think you are not doing anything by saying, “I will pray for them.” You are a great help, and this is through the help of the Holy Spirit, not you yourself, for humans are weak and fearful.

I used to say I was a wimpy lawyer, not a brave one. The night before I went to a hearing, I could not sleep. This was because I was inwardly depressed. In this kind of warfare, our weaknesses are obvious; pastors have shared that when law enforcement officers come, their legs begin to shake. People cannot bear this because they do not know what is going to happen. Imagine: suddenly, dozens of people rush upon you, and you are surrounded by a group telling you that what you are doing is illegal, and you will be punished. You might not be able to bear the pressure!

We rely on the help of the Holy Spirit, not on ourselves. We must gratefully say, “Lord, no human can accomplish this.” We need to return to the Holy Spirit and ask him to enable us to be broken and humbled. This is torturous, but it leads to joy and gratitude as we see God can keep and use us. You will eventually say, “Lord, thank you for keeping me on that day. That experience helps me be a little stronger. On that day, I bore witness to you.”

Faith That Overcomes Failure

When verse 19 says it “will turn out for my deliverance,” this is not referring to winning a lawsuit or successfully refuting law enforcement officers. Paul says this is just a part of his faith journey. His goal is to return to God’s family. The ultimate goal is salvation, not victory.

Presently, we attorneys are often defeated. I have never won an administrative review; I have not even been able to file an administrative lawsuit. From a human point of view, this is a very unsuccessful type of law practice. But we can discern we are still effective in certain aspects.

>
“We do not judge ourselves by our successes or our failures. We are willing to continue to lose.

More importantly, we are being refined in the process. God is satisfied with our work, but he is more concerned with our soul: he molds and shapes us to become more like him. When we experience even a small amount of growth, we feel everything is worth it, because “it is my eager expectation…that I will not be at all ashamed.” We do not judge ourselves by our successes or our failures. We are willing to continue to lose. True faith can overcome failure – some mornings you speak eloquently and persuasively at a hearing, but that very afternoon, you find you were penalized and have been served with a complaint. Outsiders think Christians are speaking empty words into the air, but our words still have an effect. We have fulfilled our responsibility.

Heart to Live a Holy Life

We are to be watchful so we can stand firm. As the saying goes, “In order to be turned into iron, the metal itself must be strong.” When you are investigated, any faults you may have will be discovered. Even if you are blameless, they will still find some problems. But in verse 20 Paul said, “I will not be at all ashamed.” We do not need to be afraid of investigation; others are free to examine. As pastors, we should ask, “Have I utilized the church’s offerings for personal benefit? Have I taken advantage for personal gain? Are there any areas of my life where I have fallen and have not repented?”

Some preachers also run a business. If a preacher works part-time, he will be put in a difficult situation when authorities examine his business taxes. But in the Old Testament, we see no one could find fault with Daniel, or with Paul in the New Testament. This is truly important.

I have noticed the rich and powerful are not the ones who have true power. Rich people have many faults and weaknesses, but the truly powerful are the saints, the holy ones. Preachers do not need to be powerful or rich.

>
We must ask God to give us the heart to live a holy life…It is important that we are not ashamed of anything.

Furthermore, if your co-workers within the church are wealthy, your risk is incredibly high – the government loves to search for problems in the church, and it will be easy to isolate the troubles and issues of these co-workers. I recently had a case where the pastor was punished with a 50,000 yuan fine [about $7,200]. The pastor did not intend to pay this fine, but many of his co-workers said they would pay it, because it was within their means. They thought complying would save trouble. This is the manifestation of the weakness of the capitalist class.

Brothers and sisters, we must ask God to give us the heart to live a holy life. Do not ask for a big ministry or for fortune. If God wants to give it, he will do so; if God wants to take it away, he can do that as well. It is important that we are not ashamed of anything. Especially as preachers, we must repent and live holy lives. Since none of us is truly holy, we need to keep repenting, that we may be able to stand in the day of trouble.


Gabriel (加百) is a pseudonym for a Chinese Christian who works as an attorney representing believers and churches facing legal challenges.

FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION

Pray that attorneys, pastors, and congregants facing pressure or persecution will have courage to face it. Pray they will lead holy lives that are free of blame and leave no room for their accusers.

Share This Story

Further Reading

harry-cao-6wI94S4kgtU-unsplash
A Peaceful World: The Story of An Ning, Part 2
Read More
loegunn-lai-ZqS6LIKjRgM-unsplash
Guangzhou: "I Truly Love This City"
Read More
xiaoyang-ou-RGQ2jJodSWc-unsplash
A Peaceful World: The Story of An Ning, Part 1
Read More

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

Videos

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.

Videos

Stories from Shenyang

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.

Videos

Stories from Qingdao

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.

Videos

Stories from Xiamen

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.

Videos

Stories from Chongqing

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.

Videos

Stories from Nanjing

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.

Videos

Stories from Changchun

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.

Videos

Stories from Guangzhou

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.

Videos

Stories from Kunming

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.

Videos

Stories from Shenzhen

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. 

Videos

Stories from Chengdu

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.

Videos

Stories from Beijing

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.

Videos

Stories from Shanghai

give

A short message about partnering with us.