Christian returns to China despite ‘desperate’ situation
After 12 years in the United States, a young Christian returns home, as many of his peers try to flee to the West. “From a spiritual perspective, China is like a dried-up pond,” he writes, one that “urgently needs your help.”
Beijing (AsiaNews) – Although the situation is “deteriorating” for Christians in China at present, and many try to “run” to the West in search of a "better life", it is up to Christians to “uphold a different value system from the secular world ", privileging "God’s kingdom over self-interest,” this according to Rex Chen, a Chinese Christian who left his homeland 12 years ago to study in the United States, after finishing high school.
Chinese Church Voices, an occasional column of the Protestant website ChinaSource Blog, published Rex Chen’s story, in which he calls for evaluating “whether our actions align with God's will and values" beyond what "benefits our earthly life".
Looking back to the time when he left China to study, he writes that “Most people might find it hard to understand, but I was very reluctant to leave China at that time, and even considered giving up studying in the United States. This was because my sister, who is 18 years younger than me, had just been born”.
Rex Chen comes from a broken family; after his parents split, he missed out on parental companionship and was raised by his grandparents who were all the family he had.
An additional motive not to leave was related to his faith. “As the only Christian in my family at the time, I was very worried that if I went to study in the United States, there would be no one to continue sharing the Gospel with them.” In the end though, despite angst and fear, "I left my home and embarked on the adventure" by going to study in America "alone".
Today, 12 years after his departure and academic successes, he chose to return; in the meantime, his grandparents have passed away, and his sister has emigrated, while many Chinese Christians prefer to leave the country "for various reasons".
Some do not want their children “to grow up in an environment like China;” others for “a lack of good church life and freedom of speech” as well freedom of worship, which makes life "too oppressive." Finally, some insist on the economic aspect, saying that “It’s hard to make money.”
These are all valid reasons, Rex Chen notes, but none “prioritize’(s) the needs of God’s kingdom,” while “a Christian’s primary responsibility is their duty as a Christian and their responsibility in God’s kingdom.”
Although the cost of being a Christian is "high," he does not understand why so “many students from mainland China choose not to return after graduating from seminaries. Given the worsening situation in China, the expulsion of many missionaries, the dismantling of many churches, and the urgent need for more ministers to return to serve, I thought most of them would return to China.”
Instead, “the reality is quite the opposite; at least 80% of seminary graduates from mainland China choose to stay in the United States” because “Some are confused about their calling” while others are “merely selfish, hypocritical, and cowardly”.
Stressing the importance of returning to one’s homeland, he cites the example of Jews who left their homes in the West to go and fight at the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, or the heroism of Ukrainian soldiers.
“If these people can make such great sacrifices for their earthly countries, then as Christians with eternal life and God’s promises, shouldn’t we be even more courageous and loyal for God’s kingdom?” For this reason, “I hope to see more Christians stay in China to meet the needs, as the population is vast, the fields are broad, and the need is urgent.”
In his conclusion Rex Chen writes: “Three months ago, I returned to China, and upon returning, I found the situation more urgent and desperate than I imagined. From a spiritual perspective, China is like a dried-up pond, and I hope more people will come to serve in China, as it urgently needs your help. I am waiting for your arrival here.”
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20/03/2017 17:02
29/05/2021 13:54
