The Church In The Wilderness
The wilderness is the place God has prepared for his earthly church to experience his grace and faithfulness. In this wilderness, God’s grace is even more precious, and his faithfulness is even more marvelous.
Church and State in an Atheist Age
Although the Chinese church has endured all these difficulties, we have hardly produced any serious theological reflection from this suffering. We have no theological thought or writing to show from these experiences. The history taking place now is an opportunity for the Chinese church to step forward.
What I Learned: Tithing as Proof of Citizenship
Our tithe is an exercise of our duty and privilege as citizens of God’s Kingdom, much like voting in an election in America. Whether the government approves of our giving or not, whether we get a tax deduction or not, it is an honor that our King above has made us citizens of his kingdom, and he deigns to use our two copper coins to advance his kingdom on earth.
Accused of Fraud: The Church’s Response
No one should stop giving financially based on the pretext that the church is facing persecution…The heavenly nature of giving is more truly revealed when there is risk in doing so.
Accused of Fraud: Theological Underpinnings
Persecution is focused on three areas: church property, church doctrine, and church polity (which includes clergy). All of this is aimed at restricting the church from exercising the basic mission entrusted to it by the King of heaven: worship, discipleship, and evangelism.
What I Learned: How Walking with the Global Church Kept Me from Resigning
Chinese brothers [have] helped me understand that suffering is on-the-job description of anyone who follows behind a crucified Savior. As I press on, my fraternity of Chinese pastors encourages me to believe that suffering is never the end of our journey with Jesus: the joy of the resurrection is always waiting for us on the other side.
Pastoral Emails from Lockdown: Part 2
Waiting patiently was an indispensable part of the process of the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land….Staying still in the wilderness was God’s way of refining his people.
The Effects of Pandemic and Persecution on the Church
We pastors, as well as all those who are willing to serve, need to explore together how we can follow the Lord in the midst of China’s present situation and our own weaknesses. We do not follow him alone, but live within a grand story that covers all of time. By faith, one can lose everything, even one’s own church… In the midst of unpredictable days, we know our future is secure.
The Night Watch: Psalm 134
The church today is the Night’s Watch of this generation, for her head is Christ. Only if Christ keeps watch for the church will the church be able to keep watch for this generation, lest it drift further and further away from God. No matter how corrupt this generation is, the prayers of the church are a clarion call through the night sky.
Way of the Cross, Way of Resurrection
Although they know Christ is with them now, they still live under a grim reality. They are still marginalized, still face police harassment, some of them may still go to jail….What sustains them in China is not just knowing Christ suffers with them, but knowing they suffer in Christ.
