A church in America
The title is intended to be misleading. For honestly, there is not much of a difference. I’ve visited churches in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and recently America, and my hunch is that all over the world, the churches face similar challenges—though in varying degrees—and that God’s desire for His church is universal. Similarly, both the challenges faced by the church as well its mission is the same during Apostle Paul’s time as it is today. Isn’t it interesting that most of the letters in the New Testaments were essentially written to address the schisms and problems in the first century church? Yet when we read those epistles written over a thousand years ago, they still poignantly address our concerns today.
God’s desire for the church remains the same, regardless of location and time. He saves sinners to create a community of faith where believers motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), as well as help each other hold on to the hope that they have in Christ. Additionally, the church is meant to be a salt and light in the world—reaching the lost world for Christ, and creating truth, beauty and goodness where it is located. It is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
A church in china
Though worship style may differ from church to church, ultimately God is looking for those who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Such worshippers could be found in a church that sing new worship songs with a lively band as well as in a church that sings only hymns with grand piano, flute and string instruments.
Coming from a polytheistic environment and raised in a Taoist family, inevitably I asked myself: What is the difference between the church and the other religious institutions that purport similar values—love for our neighbor and authenticity in our faith?
Below are what I could think of at this point in time:
1) The motivation – Our actions are motivated by our relationship with God. We love because He first loved us. We are His people. So naturally, we live as His people.
2) The power – We trust not in our own ability to make a difference in this world. Our sufficiency comes from God. Hence, we depend on Him. Christ is the Savior; we are not.
3) The goal – We seek God’s glory and pleasure. His Word is our compass, and His Spirit our guide.
This Saturday, I look forward to a time of fellowship with Christian Indians living in America. Perhaps, I might be the only yellow-face Chinese there. However, I know I will witness once again the truth stated in the following hymn lyrics:
She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.
(“The Church’s One Foundation” by Samuel J. Stone)
