Pastor Sam Law
As summer semester ends, I've had opportunity to
reflect on the blessing of community as I finish writing my term
paper on why Chinese churches are growing so rapidly. The
secret? Community!
Many people think it's due to good preaching or
exciting meetings or even "miraculous signs." But all the
studies reveal that the main reason Chinese become Christian is
because of the community our Lord Jesus created through love by the
Cross (Rom 5:8). Asked why she became a Christian, a young woman
answered ". . . I've come to know God by experiencing the word and
love of God as manifest among the brothers and sisters [here at
church]."
For Chinese society which is heavily based on
renqing (relationship-based rules that determine who we help and
don't help, i.e. cliques), as Paul writes, "There is neither Jew
nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28), Christian community comes as a great
shock. One researcher concludes, "Chinese Christians are treating
everyone in their social world as members of the same clan, and, in
the process, undermining balanced reciprocation of favors as the
basis of network ties. This transformation represents a
striking and quite fundamental rejection of some traditional
Chinese norms. . ." (Soc Relig 67:2 (2006), 171) For Chinese
who depend on renqing for favors, for business, to get grants,
etc., Christian community is so otherworldly many respond joyously
to its call.
This is how Christianity saved the Roman
Empire. The power-based society could not but submit to love.
So as we prepare for 40 Days of Community, let's reflect on how we
are living as community. When newcomers attend ECC, do they
see renqing (cliques) - or Christ? Blessings from KY!
