Editor’s note: What does “dying and rising with Jesus” look like?  J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life, a 2019 book by Paul Miller, seeks to answer that question. The book, which is readily available in China, has been a hot topic among Chinese house church Christians in recent months. Chinese Christians live in a country that often persecutes and pressures them, so their lives are full of opportunities to suffer with Christ. In fact, Chinese house church theology strongly emphasizes choosing to suffer with Jesus, and calls it “walking the road of the cross.” This book delves into why dying with Christ is necessary, but then turns to what, for believers, follows death: life!

This is the first of a series of articles we will share on Chinese Christians and the J-Curve. In this introduction, a Chinese leader shares how she has seen this teaching deeply impact Chinese churches as they think about suffering and resurrection.

I will share about the impact of the J-Curve on house churches from four aspects.

Theology and the J-Curve

First, from a theological perspective, the J-Curve is a successful contextualization of the gospel narrative about Jesus. The model is concise, clear, and accurate. It greatly helps us both contextualize and understand the gospel.

Passing Down the Experience of Past Generations

Secondly, the J-Curve is significant for Chinese house churches because it helps us to understand and pass down the spiritual experiences of previous generations of Christians. The death and resurrection of the cross are at the core of the “cross theology” of house churches.

The previous generation of Chinese house church Christians bore witness to the gospel of Christ through their spiritual lives: they suffered with Christ. That generation experienced the joy, glory, and hope of resurrection amid their suffering with Christ. In prayer, they experienced the strength, help, comfort, joy, courage, and hope of Christ’s presence in their lives, along with an indescribable mystery: great joy, full of glory.

The J-Curve is significant for Chinese house churches because it helps us to understand and pass down the spiritual experiences of previous generations of Christians. The death and resurrection of the cross are at the core of the “cross theology”” of house churches.

Younger Chinese Christians admire this, but find it somewhat vague. These experiences were not easy to follow, and difficult to explain. But the J-Curve model allows this testimony and experience to be expressed and passed down, using modern and contextualized theological language.

We can foretaste eternal life and how sweet it is to be with Jesus. The Bible tells us that knowing Christ is eternal. The J-Curve helps us experience this. This is significant for the Chinese house church, so our generation can understand the “cross theology” of previous generations. It gives us theological language to express this. This is greatly significant, so the next generation of Chinese house churches can inherit this theology.

Sanctification

Christian sanctification is living out our heavenly identity on this earth, being the light and salt of the world, bearing witness to Christ, and glorifying God. When it comes to this sanctification, the J-Curve helps believers practically unite with Christ’s death and resurrection.

Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Yes, we will have tribulation in this world. But Jesus is our peace. When we face various trials, Christians do not choose escape, but take up their cross and follow Christ. That is Christ’s call to his disciples.

The J-Curve describes this process from the perspective of the end times. Even amid a downward spiral of suffering, it enables Christians to more clearly look up to the resurrected Christ. This anticipation of the glorious resurrection in eternity gives rise to hope and joy.

When Christians suffer, we ask, “Why?”” and “How long?” We may go through depression and lose heart. But [this book] depicts Christ’s J-Curve so vividly. When we are suffering, with its help, we can truly have union with Christ.

The J-Curve experiences of both Jesus and of other contemporary Christians are like witnesses. Their stories help us draw strength from the gospel as hope for each “small resurrection” in the present. Hebrews 12:1-2 explains: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The J-Curve is instrumental in shaping a Christian worldview. It enables believers to make decisions with an eternal perspective, rather than focusing solely on this life. It is crucial for Christians to willingly take up the cross and bear witness to the gospel we believe and preach.

When Christians suffer, we ask, “Why?” and “How long?” We may go through depression and lose heart. But [this book] depicts Christ’s J-Curve so vividly. When we are suffering, with its help, we can truly have union with Christ. We can understand we are suffering and experiencing a spiritual valley. It’s not easy,  but we know Jesus is with us. This gives us hope that he has already overcome the world! He has taken on our sins; we are with him and he is in us.

This is the strength we need to live this life. It also helps our hearts and eyes to focus, not on this life, but eternity. As Christians, when we believe in Christ, we ask Jesus: “What does eternity really mean?” We can read in Revelation how glorious heaven is. We expect that we will be with him there. But what does eternity and resurrection really mean when suffering in this life?

The J-Curve can help us focus on Jesus and his resurrection. Because he is with us in our suffering, we can taste the heavenly joy and hope we have within. That is so sweet! Even when we are crying in tribulation, we can have real joy, and can sing and taste the glorious resurrection.

Because [Jesus] is with us in our suffering, we can taste the heavenly joy and hope we have within. That is so sweet! Even when we are crying in tribulation, we can have real joy, and can sing and taste the glorious resurrection.

A Resurrection Perspective in Witnessing

Finally, in regards to evangelism and witnessing, the J-Curve helps us better tell the story of the cross, from the perspective of the resurrection. When we share the gospel, sometimes we focus more on sin and the cross, and less on resurrection. If we do share about resurrection, we place it in the future.

With the J-Curve, we can put resurrection in our own time. Yes, resurrection is in the future – but now, every single day of our Christian life, we are experiencing this future. When sharing the gospel with unbelievers, it’s good to focus on the cross from the perspective of resurrection.

Lily is a pseudonym for a Chinese Christian leader. She and her husband have two sons, and are serving in their first year as missionaries.

Pray for Chinese Christians to grow in their understanding of what it means to be united with Christ in both suffering and resurrection.