It’s about “Becoming Like Jesus” and “Reaching Beyond The Church”.
We started this three part series looking for lessons from the Chinese Church which has grown from 3 million to an estimated 130 million. Polling from a 2001 IRIS study estimates there are 159 million Christians in the US. It’s hard to imagine in a few years there may be more Christians in China.
The paradox is fascinating. They have wanted to be like us, to experience real spiritual, personal, and economic freedom which they perceived could only be built on a Christian foundation. And now, we are going to China, to learn from them how to reignite our Christian impulse here! How did that happen…what can we learn? Here’s a few key attributes to ponder:
- Jesus is Lord - The failure of the Communist ideology left a painful vacuum of purpose. The search to fill that void resulted in the discovery of the redemptive power and purpose through Christ. The initial persecution of the early church refined and focused the conviction. There were no doubts or hesitations, Jesus was Lord and they worshiped Him as such. All religions are not equal in their eyes. No religious babel like we are experiencing in our current presidential campaigning.
- Disciple Making - The irreplaceable and lifelong task of becoming like Christ. It was structured into everything they did. It wasn’t simply about a commitment or attending church.
- Missional/Incarnational Ministry - It wasn’t about the group or the Sunday service. It wasn’t about coming to church and consuming church programs. It was about going to them, reaching others, and sharing the love of God wherever they were and in whatever context needed to be understood. They were missionaries in their own land ensuring the love of Christ incarnate in the day-to-day culture.
- Community - Yes. they had a deep sense of community. It wasn’t built around a passive cafe at church. It was much more than a Starbucks…”let’s hang out” type community. Deep trust and commitment are built through the shared struggle of a mission beyond the group. For the early Chinese it was about a very risky journey together. This Christian community was one of the most rigorous, formed through imprisonment, shared pain, and sacrifice.
Are the recent books “Simple Church” or “The Shaping Of Things To Come” a response to such a simple and remarkable movement?
