Editor’s note: For our last post during this month of praying for Taiyuan, several local pastors shared Scripture verses that they feel explain their city well.
China Partnership: What is the one passage of Scripture you feel is more representative of Taiyuan?
A City Dominated by Death
Tan Jian: This morning, I thought of Hebrews 2:14-15 as representative of Taiyuan:
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.:
Many others have said this: Shanxi Province and the city of Taiyuan have been dominated by a power of death. There have been many killings here, including the slaughter of missionaries. That culture of violence and toughness seems to rule many. People think death is powerful.
Shanxi Province and the city of Taiyuan have been dominated by a power of death.
But the gospel they need most is that the incarnate Jesus died for them – and by his death, Jesus destroyed the one who has the power of death. Yes, Taiyuan and Shanxi Province have experienced death. But if people can see the destruction of the devil’s dominion in the death of Jesus – if people can receive freedom, and be no longer enslaved by fear of death – if that could happen, it would be a vital encouragement to this city.
Trade Suffering for Rest
Huang Mujiang: I thought of Matt. 11:28:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
After all the incidents of people jumping into the river and after the economic downturn, people here have suffered greatly.
Do Not Be Lukewarm
Wang Zhudong: I thought of Revelation 3, and the Lord’s letter to Laodicea:
Never miss a story
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot… So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth… Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
The gospel they need most is that the incarnate Jesus died for them – and by his death, Jesus destroyed the one who has the power of death.
Slavery to Work
Bo Kang: I thought of Ex. 5:7-9:
“You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”
In recent years, I’ve seen this city enslave people more and more with toil – toil of mind, body, and time. People have been turned into slaves who lose themselves.
Brother Wu, Tan Jian, Huang Mujiang, Wang Zhudong, and Bo Kang are pseudonyms for house church pastors in Taiyuan.
Pray for Taiyuan to be freed from a culture of death, pressure, and slavery to work. Pray for the people of Taiyuan to experience the freedom and rest of following Jesus.
