In China, there are two growing challenges regarding the safety of the church and whether we can gather in the church. Large in-person gatherings are forbidden in many cities, but the definition of “large gatherings” depends on the sizes of the cities and the views of the law-enforcement personnel. Some cities define it as gatherings of “more than ten people”, while some define it as “more than one hundred people”.
The Feelings in Every Sunday
Every now and again we hear of news such as the churches being attacked, meetings being dismissed early, or the termination of contracts of landlords. This has led to the phenomenon that all pastors in the chat group greet each other with “Is everything OK?” every day.
The solemn situation has made us value Sunday services more. The Bible never asks us to attend extra group meetings, fellowships, or online lectures, though they’re very good and are encouraged. But the Bible has asked us to gather in the church every Sunday. This shows the importance of meeting on Sunday. Because for some non-devout Christians, meeting on Sunday may be their only chance to be told about God’s words.
When I prepare for Sunday sermons, sometimes I may have come up with nothing, even after long deliberation. Then I would write a perfunctory sermon. At this moment, it would occur to me that this may be the last meeting in the church, or it even is the last meeting altogether. Believers deserve to hear the most devoted and touching sermon. That’s how God’s words keep echoing in their minds. This is why all the elders and deacons of the church serve in every Sunday service with the aim to glorify God.
Every Saturday, I may wonder, “Would they come here tomorrow to interrupt our meeting?” The next morning, when I pass the police station, if I see that a bus is parked beside the police station, I may wonder, “Would they use this bus to disperse the believers in the church?” This may sound crazy, but this is the challenge and risk we’re facing every single day.
Reflections on Threats
A pastor in the same city shared that when his church was attacked, a high-ranking officer threatened him. The official said, “You should think about your child when you do this. You child may lose the chance of entering a school of a higher grade.” All other pastors felt worried when they heard this. What if they forbid our children to go to domestic colleges and ban them to go abroad for foreign colleges? Would our children understand our decisions? Then would it be meaningless for us to ask them to study hard if they couldn’t even have the chance to go to college?
This kind of risk often fills pastors’ hearts. Pastors in the chat group should encourage each other, but now they’re spending much time analyzing the current situation, guessing the plan of law executors and the actions we should adopt. The solutions include hosting online gatherings, online Holy Communion, multi-location church, group church, or allowing women to preach sermons and lead Sunday services.
The Reminder from God’s Words
The current situation has led to some practical interpretations of the Bible. For example, some pastors tried to adopt the online gatherings as a long-term thing, instead of a makeshift and temporary solution, and they tried to redefine the responsibilities of pastors and elders based on this. This is not good news for the Chinese church which is already in a difficult time.
At a time like this, God’s words seem even more valuable, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time.” (Matthew 10:79) If we worry too much, the worry will consume too much of our hearts and will tempt us to trust in our own plans as a result. That would make us believe less in Christ.
Please pray for us that God would protect us all.
(This article was originally published in the third edition of the Chinese Theologue Newsletter.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
在國内，教會的安全和能不能實體聚會，已經成為越來越大的挑戰。很多城市都已經容不下較大規模的實體聚會，不過何為“較大規模”， 則視城市的大小和執法人員的看法而定。有的地方十人以上即被定性為“較大規模”，有的地方需要上百人才夠此規格。
每個主日的心情
幾乎每個主日都會聽到某些教會被衡擊、被提前勸散、或房東解约的消息。以至於每個主日過後，群裡牧者們都以“今天平安嗎?”為互相問候的方式。
一方面，這讓我們分外珍惜教會的主日聚會。聖經並沒有要求基督徒必須參加其他錦上添花的聚會，比如小组、團契和網络講座，雖然這些都很好，也值得鼓勵。但聖經的確設定了七日的頭一日作為教會必有的共同聚集日子。由此可見，主日的餛養尤為重要。對於那些“不冷不熟”的基督徒來說，主日聚會可能是他一遇中唯一的受教機會。
我預備主日信息的時候，有時固為花了很多時間還沒有很清楚的思绪，就會想得過且遇，寫一篇“馬馬虎虎”的講章。這時候我就會想到，或許這是我們教會最後一次實體聚會，甚至可能是最後一次聚會，會眾應該聽到最忠心、最生動和最高質量的道，神的話才能繼續在聖徒的心中回響。這激勵我和其他長老、執事，用追求卓越、榮耀上帝的心態去面對每一個主日聚會。
每個遇六，我就會忍不住想:明天“他們”會不會來?遇日早農，到教會的路上會經過轄區派出所，如果它的門口停了中巴或大巴,我不免會想:“是不是今天要動手?要拉人?”..必起來很可笑是不是?但這的確是我們目前隨時面對的挑戰和憂慮。
面對威脅的反思
同一個城市的牧者分享說，他們教會被衛擊的時候，一位级別相當高的官員威脅他說，要為自己的孩子想一想M孩子還想不想升學?聽到這樣的消息，也讓我和其他牧者相當憂慮。如果他們將來不允許孩子在國內讀大學，又實行邊控，即出入境上的管控，不讓他們去國外讀書，我們該怎麼辦?孩子能夠理解父母的決定和代價嗎?我們現在要求孩子的學業和努力還有什麼意義呢?
可能會受到逼迫的憂慮，常常充斥著牧者們的心;為上述危險而憂心忡忡便是一例。
牧者們在群裡相聚，本該彼此勉勵、互相勸導，卻花了很多時間分析局勢，揣度執法者的
下一步和若 受到逼迫當探取什麼應急措施。討論過的方案包括;網上聚會、網络主餐、多堂點教會、小组教會、姊妹講遺和帶領等等。
主話語的提醒
目前的局勢催生了實用主義的、用處境解釋聖經的神學思路。比如，有牧者試圖常態化網络聚會，而不是將其看為疫情或逼迫下的一種應急方式，並因此重新解釋“牧師”和、長老”為兩種職權和範圍不同的職分。這對本來就步履蹣跚的中國教會來說，絕非佳音。
此時，主的話就顯得尤為寶貴:“你們被交的時候，不要思慮怎樣說話，或說什麼話。到那時候，必賜给你們當說的話” (太10:79)。 過多地為將來憂慮，會極大地佔满自己的心，並誘惑我們去信靠自己的計謀和預案，從而失去對基督和聖靈的信靠。
請為我們禱告，求主保守我們。
作者現在中國牧會
本文原載於《中國神學生通訊》第三期
In China, there are two growing challenges regarding the safety of the church and whether we can gather in the church. Large in-person gatherings are forbidden in many cities, but the definition of “large gatherings” depends on the sizes of the cities and the views of the law-enforcement personnel. Some cities define it as gatherings of “more than ten people”, while some define it as “more than one hundred people”.
The Feelings in Every Sunday
Every now and again we hear of news such as the churches being attacked, meetings being dismissed early, or the termination of contracts of landlords. This has led to the phenomenon that all pastors in the chat group greet each other with “Is everything OK?” every day.
The solemn situation has made us value Sunday services more. The Bible never asks us to attend extra group meetings, fellowships, or online lectures, though they’re very good and are encouraged. But the Bible has asked us to gather in the church every Sunday. This shows the importance of meeting on Sunday. Because for some non-devout Christians, meeting on Sunday may be their only chance to be told about God’s words.
When I prepare for Sunday sermons, sometimes I may have come up with nothing, even after long deliberation. Then I would write a perfunctory sermon. At this moment, it would occur to me that this may be the last meeting in the church, or it even is the last meeting altogether. Believers deserve to hear the most devoted and touching sermon. That’s how God’s words keep echoing in their minds. This is why all the elders and deacons of the church serve in every Sunday service with the aim to glorify God.
Every Saturday, I may wonder, “Would they come here tomorrow to interrupt our meeting?” The next morning, when I pass the police station, if I see that a bus is parked beside the police station, I may wonder, “Would they use this bus to disperse the believers in the church?” This may sound crazy, but this is the challenge and risk we’re facing every single day.
Reflections on Threats
A pastor in the same city shared that when his church was attacked, a high-ranking officer threatened him. The official said, “You should think about your child when you do this. You child may lose the chance of entering a school of a higher grade.” All other pastors felt worried when they heard this. What if they forbid our children to go to domestic colleges and ban them to go abroad for foreign colleges? Would our children understand our decisions? Then would it be meaningless for us to ask them to study hard if they couldn’t even have the chance to go to college?
This kind of risk often fills pastors’ hearts. Pastors in the chat group should encourage each other, but now they’re spending much time analyzing the current situation, guessing the plan of law executors and the actions we should adopt. The solutions include hosting online gatherings, online Holy Communion, multi-location church, group church, or allowing women to preach sermons and lead Sunday services.
The Reminder from God’s Words
The current situation has led to some practical interpretations of the Bible. For example, some pastors tried to adopt the online gatherings as a long-term thing, instead of a makeshift and temporary solution, and they tried to redefine the responsibilities of pastors and elders based on this. This is not good news for the Chinese church which is already in a difficult time.
At a time like this, God’s words seem even more valuable, “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time.” (Matthew 10:79) If we worry too much, the worry will consume too much of our hearts and will tempt us to trust in our own plans as a result. That would make us believe less in Christ.
Please pray for us that God would protect us all.
(This article was originally published in the third edition of the Chinese Theologue Newsletter.)
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
A Voice From China's Pastor: God Bless Us When We Cannot Meet In-Person
