His Body

Ch*rch in Ch1na was an amazing experience. Two of the Sundays I was there we went to an international fell0wship (where a foreign passport was required for entry), but it wasn't until visiting a local, g0vernment-app0ved ch*rch that I really got a glimpse of Chr1stianty in Ch1na. By sad contrast with the much more richly-equipped foreign ch*rch we first went to, the local Beijing b0dy of bel1evers demonstrated so much more depth and passion of w0rship and teaching. Granted bits and pieces of their the0logy or practice weren't what I was used to at home or necessarily spot on with what the B1ble teaches, but their hearts so clearly wanted to know Chr1st and preach the G0spel even despite their limited access to really solid p@storal training and ch*rch-building resources. Though we went to just one out of at least four regular morning services, the s@nctuary was completely maxed out on each of our visits, with thousands of Ch1nese crammed in the pews. Those that could not be seated crowded together along the walls, standing for the whole hour-long service. One Sunday they even ran out of communion cups due to the massive attendance. I immediately thought of how empty and shallow most Chr1stian churches in America seemed by comparison. While the numbers of attendees is by no means the gauge of a ch*rch's faithfulness, how many of us would be willing to stand up for an hour-plus straight, just to feed on G0d's word? How different this is from our American mindset of ease and comfort in w0rship, where man's needs and desires threaten to become preeminent over Chr1st.

In addition to their strong commitment to w0rshiping G0d despite limited ch*rch options and endless g0vernment restrictions, the second main thing that struck me about the Ch1nese believers I w0rshipped with this summer was their heart. Like any Chr1stian gathering, the church we went to had its share of pretenders and Pharisees, but there was also such a heart for J*sus and His Word among so many that encouraged my heart so much. The passion of those thousands of people as they sang about J*sus each week--many with tears streaming down their faces--was incredible. Their faces exuded the joy and all-sustaining satisfaction of knowing Chr1st as their L0rd, and their behavior demonstrated such fervency to obey and know more of Him. Many spent the time before the service began not catching up on the latest gossip from friends but sitting quietly with their B1bles opened on their laps, praying, reading, and meditating. All in all, they were truly a people that demonstrated hearts deeply devoted to their S@vior.

Thirdly, this Ch1nese ch*rch really impressed on me the beauty and joy it will be to stand before our F@ther in Heaven someday as the ch*rch united, no longer separated by differing g0vernments or borderlines or cultures. While the ch*rch was predominately Ch1nese, the English service we attended also attracted a wide variety of people passing through Be1j1ng from many other parts of the world. M1ssion groups, businessmen on trips, and countless others from many races and regions of the world joined under the same roof to praise the same L0rd. One Sunday in particular we had a short message by one of the Ch1nese p@stors followed by a brief charge from a visiting Kenyan p@stor followed by the congregation's thousands of mixed voices singing a hymn penned by Irish musicians Keith and Kristyn Getty. What a picture of what He@ven will be like! When as Revelation 9:5 says, we will sing a "new song" to Chr1st as the ransomed "from every tribe and language and people and nation."

How many reasons I found to praise G0d for and be encouraged by the ch*rch He is raising up in Ch1na! Please continue to be in pr*yer for their faithfulness and continued pre@ching of His G0spel despite all the obstacles set in their path.