Chinese congregation and the English congregation cultures: Evangelistic culture & Christian culture

Why there is such a chasm between the Chinese congregation and the English congregation within the Chinese church in North America?

When western missionaries went to China, there were so many Biblical concepts and God’s Kingdom culture to spread to the people. They must focus on the main point in order to quickly and effective get the message across, which is the salvation from Jesus Christ for our redemption. The rest, such as the relevancies on purpose of creation, sanctification, spiritual formation, and the hope of total restoration in our daily lives, was put onto the second order. Underneath of that, Chinese secular culture emphasizes on practicality and efficiency. The mixture of the salvation-centric gospel and the Chinese secular culture yielded a hybrid of a less-wholesome practice, yet lean and mean, in the Chinese congregation. As for the English congregation, they are more rooted in the heritage of the western thinking and culture, which have already been greatly influenced by traditional Christian culture early on. Hence, they would have a tendency to choose the more holistic approach with a wholesome view on salvation in relevant to the purpose of creation, sanctification, spiritual formation, and the hope of total restoration. However, the Christian value in the West has been deteriorating in recent decades; the English congregation must be aware of the peril of such decomposition - the tendency of swaying away from the true Gospel if to follow the western world without discernment.

Behavioural disobedience versus Holy disobedience

A discerning teacher would be able to continuing trusting his/her students when they are seemingly having behavioural disobedience issues, which are not rooted in Holy disobedience. That demonstrates the teacher is dwelling securely in God’s love. The Pharisees were agitated because of Jesus’ behavioural disobedience to their social and priesthood system; however, Jesus demonstrated perfect Holy obedience to the Heavenly Father.


 

Practicing Lectio/Visual Divina without knowing the fundamentals is risky

Practicing Lectio/Visual Divina without knowing fundamental Biblical interpretation and theology is like playing the piano without knowing musical theory. That would not only be hovering on superficial matters becoming a hindrance to further development, but it could also lead to peril malformation.