The 007 Perception vs. Reality
When we first moved to China, there were a lot of unknowns about how the system here works. You hear tons of stories that make it seem like there are 007 agents following you around everywhere you go. Your phones, computer, and hairdryer are all hacked and people are listening to every word you speak. We acknowledge that the technology does exist and the possibility is there, but it is just hard to believe that I am that important on anyone’s radar.
Then after dealing with the police on several occasion you start to feel less scared and fearful. At least, that is how it has been with us and those we work with. Each time there is something that happens dealing with the law, it also seem to be way less severe than we ever imagined. I am not just talking about religious things, but just everyday life.
The Police Station
After visiting one of the police stations to register months after we arrived here, I was in shock. The local police stations are not very intimidating. Of course any police station is intimidating, but nothing like what you would think. Basically, the rooms have a bed, table, and desktop computer. From what we understood, they can’t even access the internet there, just the the police network. When they tried to enter the information into the computer, they couldn’t figure it out so my translator had to do it for them and I even had to help at one point.
Ignorance of the Law
Another reason that it seems to be less scary than imagined is because a lot of the police don’t seem to know the exact laws. When I was registering, I had to return many times just because they didn’t know what to do when I was there.
When I got a traffic ticket, people didn’t know where to pay it. I went to the police station and the couldn’t find it in their system so they just excused it.
Even recently during the Sunday interruption, they didn’t know exactly what the law was. Then following that when one of the guys went to turn in copies of our passport, the local police station didn’t know anything of it and wouldn’t take it at first (the same place where they were questioned).
Making Police Friends
Making friends with a police officer helps. I made friends with one officer that has been to my house and I have been to his. I have shared the Gospel in his presence, tried to give him a Bible, and even made reference to my future plans. It has helped me see they are real people who need the Gospel too!
Just recently, I spoke over the phone with a police officer that was there when they broke up the service and he wanted me to teach his friend’s son English.
The police for the most part have been nice and friendly. Of course there is always a rude one in the bunch.
Even if the police station isn’t what you see on CSI, they don’t have every detail of the law memorized, and you make plenty of police friends, we know that doesn’t stop them from enforcing the law. We know that doesn’t mean we can be reckless in going about our day or ministry. We are still serving in unfavorable circumstances. We take necessary precautions but try not to let the 007 perception take over our lives.
08.16.11
Happy to be Persecuted
Here is a timely article from my pastor on persecution. He has been a great help and encouragement to us. I wholeheartedly agree with his thoughts below. Enjoy!
Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
This is so opposite of what we think. We are blessed when we get persecuted. We are happy when we get persecuted if we know that they are persecuting us for doing right.
God has promised to reward us in Heaven. We know that when they persecute us we are just another in the long line of so many that have gone on before us.
So what should our attitude be when our missionaries are arrested for preaching the gospel in a closed country (where it is illegal to preach the gospel)?
Some would question whether or not we should even be there but I must remind you that we were commanded to take the gospel to the whole world.
Others would err on the side of too much caution. They want to avoid persecution so they make up good “spirit;” excuses for being quiet and hiding their light under a bushel.
Others question whether they should support such a missionary and what do we do when they get kicked out of the country. Which is better, to get kicked out for preaching, or to not preach and get to stay.
What do you think Jesus would have done? Would He have risked death to do the job He was sent to do? Would Paul have tried not to get into trouble or would He have rushed in where few would dare to go?
Jesus said that if we get persecuted for preaching that we are blessed, happy, and rewarded. How can you argue with that?
Source: austingardner.net
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A text from the Police Officer
I received a text friday morning from one of the police officers that I met at the church on Sunday. Since we have to write down all our information they had my cell phone number and he said in his text that he needed to ask me something and for me to call him.
So of course I was nervous! I thought everything was past and there weren’t any problems. One of the guys just turned in our passports to the police station the day before, so I wasn’t sure if there was a problem or not.
When you get a text like that, and being in our situation, it is hard to concentrate on other things and stay focused. Fear isn’t something that is absent from our life, it is something that we have to constantly fight and keep thinking on the right things.
After we finished at the hospital, I gave him a call. He got right to the point and asked me “I have a friend whose son wants to learn English and he asked me if I knew any foreigners, so I thought of you and thought I would ask if wanted to teach him. He could pay you.” My immediate two thoughts were: Seriously! & Instant relief!
I turned down the nice offer but was relieved that he was offering me a job, which seems to mean I am no going any where for awhile. Hopefully!
08.9.11
Thoughts from What Happened Sunday
As missionaries to China, we expected persecution in some form.
We came to China to spread the Gospel and plant churches, for us this means we would face persecution. We knew the cops would come, we just didn’t know when.
We weren’t ignorant of the persecution that happens in China, we just decided that is wasn’t going to keep us from making disciples, planting churches and training leaders.
The Bible promises persecution for those who live godly, so the church must be doing something right.
The persecution was nothing of political nature but took place during the preaching of the Word of God.
We don’t plan on running into hiding but to keep advancing and pushing forward. We didn’t come here to retreat.
Some will mock, some will think we are reckless, others will use this an excuse to continue hiding but we will continue to live boldly, proclaim loudly, and worship openly.
We didn’t seek out persecution, we were just doing ministry trying to be obedient servants and it found us.
We weren’t being reckless but we were being radical with the Gospel in China.
Some will distance themselves from us, break any associations with us and continue to comfortably live in China unharmed and untouched because of hiding the candlestick of the Gospel. We simply state: “lift the candlestick high, keep it high that China may see the Light, in spite of the cost, in spite of the persecution, keep it shining bright, Jesus high and lifted up.”
Some probably will never come back to the church, some will be scared for awhile and then maybe come back, others will say “no matter the cost.” The church will be refined.
Biblical persecution is a time for rejoicing seeing many were counted worthy to suffer for His name sake.
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Is it protecting or excuse making?
I was thinking the other day when talking to a friend, “why are we more scared than those we are “protecting”?
The reason many people don’t do things in China is to protect the national believers. But that is really just an excuse because we are scared.
I remember that after I preached at the church many people recorded it and one guy said he was uploading to the Chinese version of Facebook (renren).
Not only that, but they openly talk about Christian things, share scripture, and make groups that all point to them being Christians.
So why do we withhold information and soften our proclamation? They aren’t.
Is it protecting or excuse making?
Let’s go forward no longer making excuses, no longer being afraid.
Question:
What are some things you or other people have done because of fear that now seem a little outlandish?
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Uncomfortable (2 of 2)
The next time he would come over with his family for a Chinese Holiday. I decided that I need to try to be bold with him and I was going to give Him a Bible as a gift. He gave my family several gifts and I offered Him the Bible (Chinese/English) and he rejected it. He said he understood my meaning but couldn’t accept it on the based that he was Communist and he believed what they believe.
This was kinda of a shut down for me. I was disappointed about it and was looking for a way to start talking about the Gospel. I even told him I studied the Bible in college, that I wanted to be a teacher and pastor when I learn Chinese, but nothing seem to interest Him in asking about God.
I started this story saying that we recently went to his house for a meal. I was tired and didn’t want to go and even tried to cancel but he was already preparing and excited to have us. They made us a great meal for our family and gave us this huge picture of famous Chinese Characters painted by hand. They were so generous.
I was praying for an open door to start talking about the Gospel. His sister was there and they were talking about me wanting to be a pastor and the lady said that she is a Christian. I was surprised but then saddened when she explained. She said a few years ago she faithful went to the Three-self church to pray because they said praying helped you sleep better..?!? But then She asked me question about some of the old testament laws and it opened the door to start talking about the Gospel. I started to try and remember everything that I had learned and memorized and clearly tell them about the Gospel. I could tell my police officer friend probably was a little uneasy about it because he would walk in and out of the room, but his sister listened intently. Praise the Lord!
The whole night they carried around the video camera and recorded our every move from the moment that we got out of the taxi. We had to eat food that we normally don’t eat (most of it was really good, at least from my perspective). When we left it was poring down rain and freezing…but it was all worth it just to be able to share the Gospel. Their were a lot of things that made this situation uncomfortable, but we didn’t come here to be comfortable, and I needed to be reminded of that.
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Uncomfortable (1 of 2)
Recently, we were invited over to a Chinese families house for a meal. This family has been over our house before and now they wanted us to come to their house and see how they “Chinese” live. The thing that is different about this family, is that the husband is a police officer.
When I first met this man, I met him at the police station. He spoke a little English and I spoke little Chinese. I was trying to be polite as I waited for those working on our paperwork, so I told this man that maybe he could help me practice Chinese and I could help him practice English. He thought it was a great idea and wanted to exchange numbers and so we did. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into!
After that, he called often and wanted to get together. At first I thought it was good and then after awhile I thought it was annoying. Since He was a police officer, I didn’t want to always be hanging around him. I know that that attitude was bad, but I just didn’t like the stress of having someone always wanting to be around and asking questions.
He wanted to come over and help me speak Chinese, so we studied in my office. He looked through all my books (mostly Christian), asked about the quote on the sword in my office (given to my at my ordination), and asked many other questions. We studied and I kinda tried to make it boring so he wouldn’t want to do this everyday.
None-the-less, the Lord was teaching me to be bold and compassionate. It was like He was saying “So you think you’re bold?” This man was sincere and wanted to be friends.
So I decided that if we are going to get together then we should do two things, Study Chinese or try to be a witness to Him. (A missionary in West China told me of a story how he had been challenged about the least reach people group in China: Policeman! This too was convicting.) There needed to be reason to get together, more then just consuming time.
Next Post: Uncomfortable (2 of 2) – “The next time he would come over…”
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“First and Foremost”
” Ominously, the Chinese government has spoken its mind through official state-owned newspapers. One of these papers, the Global Times, ran an editorial last week that stated: “All Christians, as well as those of other faiths, are Chinese citizens first and foremost. It is their obligation to observe discipline and abide by the law.”
“But our citizenship is in heaven,” Paul reminds us, “and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Phil. 3:20]
While the New Testament commands Christians to obey the righteous laws of a nation, believers cannot bend the knee to the regime as their primary allegiance. No Christian is “first and foremost” a citizen of any earthy kingdom or nation. This is a despotic demand for the idolatrous worship of the state. ”
Source: AlbertMohler.com
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“Fear not”
“During the Boxer Rebellion, when the workers with the China Inland Mission were experiencing great suffering, the founder James Hudson Taylor, then in his late seventies, said to some colleagues, “I cannot read; I cannot think; I cannot even pray; but I can trust.” “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
“Fear not” is the word of assurance that the Lord gave to many of His servants: to Abraham (Gen. 15:1), Isaac (26:24), Jacob (46:3), Moses and the nation of Israel (Ex. 14:13), Joshua (Josh. 8:1; 10:8), King Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:17), the Jewish remnant returning to their land (Isa. 41:10, 13–14; 43:1, 5; 44:2), the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 3:9), the Prophet Daniel (Dan. 10:12, 19), Joseph (Matt. 1:20), Zacharias (Luke 1:13), Mary (1:30), the shepherds (2:10), Paul (Acts 27:24), and the Apostle John (Rev. 1:17). You and I can say with these spiritual giants, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear” (Heb. 13:6).”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be committed. An Old Testament study. Ruth and Esther (45–46). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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Undercover or Under-the-Covers (5 of 5)
The Problem With Being Undercover: National Workers.
The last thing that my notes bring me to (and was hard to write) is the idea the you must stay undercover for the sake of the national workers. “You don’t want to hinder the national worker” people say. But I ask “are you more afraid of being a witness and getting him put in jail than him being a witness and being put in jail?” This type of thinking just doesn’t make much sense. Why? Because of Jesus’ example.
Jesus told his disciples “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” Therefore, you have two choices: the missionary can go undercover and play it safe (his disciples will follow) or he can live it out boldly and endure suffering (his disciples will follow.) Ultimately, we should be following Christ. They hated him and crucified him, therefore we should expect suffering.
In the same passage he told his disciples some of what they would experience:
- “behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Mat. 10:16)
- “they will scourge you in their synagogues;” (Mat. 10:17)
- “ye shall be hated of all men” (Mat. 10:22)
Jesus told his followers that if they followed him there would be persecution. Jesus trained his disciples to live boldly in spite of the persecution. He didn’t go into fear mode to keep his disciples from persecution, he lived out the suffering for all to see. He expected his disciples to turn the world upside down and to endure suffering in the process.
Suffering is part of God’s plan in spreading the Gospel. (Our emotions want to overrule this and we want to protect those we so dearly love. We don’t want to see them hurt or cause pain towards them. Let us remember that God know’s best and suffering for the sake of His name is part of the Christian life.)
This may seem like a harsh saying, but, if they persecute the national worker, it is not because of you, he can deny Jesus and not be persecuted. He is persecuted because they hate Jesus!
But what if “the persecution for the national worker is greater than what it would be for the missionary.” This may or may not be, but you just have to leave this in God’s hands. Everyone’s lot in life will be different. Some will endure a little, some a lot, others will give all.
Our goal is training men. Not just assisting them from time-to-time but life-on-life discipleship. Therefore, they will learn to react to persecution the same way we do! If we hide in fear, they most likely will do the same. We desire more than to train them to be saved and safe. Our training says “we are training you to be exposed to danger or risk for the sake of the Gospel!” We want to see them reach their country with the Gospel; this probably will include enduring persecution. We should model what that looks like the best we can.
I know I have failed in this area. I have often been the coward more times than not. May we rest in Him and boldly live out His grace!
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