Editor’s note: This interview with two Shenyang believers was originally published in 2019. Brother Li and Sister Cai are lay leaders in their church, which is made up of busy graduate students at one of Shenyang’s prestigious science institutes. In this second part of the interview, Li and Cai talked about some of the obstacles that science students face when considering Christianity. They also shared how they nurture their own spiritual walks with the Lord.

This is the second of a two-part series.

She Could Not Believe in a Supernatural God

CP: What hinders this group of people [in a graduate institution in Shenyang] from accepting the gospel? What is it about the gospel that is difficult for them to comprehend or accept? 

Brother Cai: People mainly cannot accept the gospel: that there exists one God, or that Jesus is God. Because they cannot understand these things from a scientific perspective, these beliefs are very difficult for them to accept. They think that, because they are scientific researchers, science is their religion. To them, science can explain everything. That makes it hard for them to accept our faith.

I should give you some context; where we are, our church is relatively small, but more than half of our church members graduated from our research institute. Now they are working, and under a lot of pressure. Those we would like to reach out to are very similar: they are also very busy, and under a lot of pressure.

Because they cannot understand these things from a scientific perspective, these beliefs are very difficult for them to accept. They think that, because they are scientific researchers, science is their religion. To them, science can explain everything.

Some seek out the church voluntarily, because they feel empty inside. They feel really lost, because they experience so much stress. Some are actually on the verge of being depressed, or having anxiety disorders. When they see Christians, they see we are joyful and we care for them, so they keep coming [to church.] But from the point of view of reason, they just can’t accept Christianity. This is a major hurdle for them.

[Sister Li] had the same struggle.

Sister Li: True. It was quite unusual with me, though. I had been seeking God since I was in college. When I got here after college, God gave me very clear leading. He is very gracious to me! I came to Christ just two months after I started grad school here. But among my classmates, many find it very difficult to believe in a supernatural God. It is very difficult for us to believe in the miracles mentioned in the Bible, or that God created the world.

Let me give you an example. My former roommate, who is now graduated, used to discuss the Bible with me a lot. She knows all the core beliefs of Christianity: why we need a Savior, how men have sinned, and how we can obtain salvation. She even praises our faith.

When we were rooming together, I was still not a believer, and she could see that I am a very anxious person, that I get nervous easily in a new environment. But after I came to Christ, she noticed that I changed a lot, and she marveled that my faith can really bring about change in my life. Even before she left – she graduated before me – she told me that my faith is great, and that if we ended up working in the same city, she would visit church with me. But she said she still could not accept [Christianity] just yet. She acknowledged that faith is very different from the things we learn [in school], things we can just memorize and believe. It is not like one plus one equals two. She simply could not believe in a supernatural God. That is a major obstacle for her.

After I came to Christ, she noticed that I changed a lot, and she marveled that my faith can really bring about change in my life. Even before she left – she graduated before me – she told me that my faith is great, and that if we ended up working in the same city, she would visit church with me. But she said she still could not accept [Christianity] just yet.

Faith, Family, and Daily Life

CP: Are any of your parents opposed to your belief? 

Sister Li: My parents reacted very strongly to the news that I had became a Christian. I told them about it when I went home the first winter break after I came to Christ. Then, over the past few years, every time I visited them I would find time to chat with them about it. Slowly, very slowly, they are not as against my faith as before.

CP: What was the reason for their opposition? 

Sister Li: They could not accept that I study science, and yet it seems like I am superstitious. Also, I feel that those in their generation – they are in their 50s – are particularly strict with their lives. They would tell me my faith does not bring me money, or make me a better student. They told me I should focus on doing well at school, and should not let my belief affect my responsibilities as a student.

They would tell me my faith does not bring me money, or make me a better student. They told me I should focus on doing well at school, and should not let my belief affect my responsibilities.

CP: How do you generally spend time with God? 

Brother Cai: I usually read the Bible when I get up, and I also read some devotional materials to help me have a quiet time. Because of work, I can only keep my quiet time in the morning. If I miss having it before I get caught up in work, then I will usually miss quiet time all together, since I get really tired at night.

Sister Li: I read the Bible when I get up, and then I pray when I wash up. It is a 15-minute walk from my dorm to my office, so I usually pray while I walk to work. I also read a little bit of the Bible and pray fairly regularly before I go to bed. We have a Bible-reading plan that I follow. My current roommate is also a believer, and she and I sometimes pray together for each other and for our church before we sleep.

Sister Li and Brother Cai are pseudonyms for two Chinese intellectuals based in Shenyang.

Pray for God to supernaturally reveal himself to Chinese students wondering if he is real.