Blog Entries

Some Things Don’t Change


Fifteen years ago, a Chinese writer who goes by the name of Huo Shui, wrote an article for the ChinaSource Quarterly called "Keys to Effectiveness in an Ever-Changing China." While China has continued to change, the things he talked about have stood the test of time. Or, as a friend of mine used to say, “things are the same, only more so.”

First of all, he urges us to understand the needs of Chinese society:

In an ever-changing society, many Chinese are puzzled, and many feel at a loss. To speak to the needs of the Chinese people, Christian workers in China must clearly know how to position themselves. Many workers simply say they work for the Lord and do not study the Chinese situation. “We are where the Lord put us,” is their stance. Other workers come to China expecting to see much fruit in a short time—a mode of thinking that is impractical in modern day China. These attitudes are not sufficient for addressing China’s complex needs. Adopting a simple approach for complex problems will not produce desirable results. Those coming to China with this outlook will miss great opportunities because they are either inadequately or ill prepared. To avoid this, they must first understand the needs of the Chinese people.

He then goes on to list some of the felt needs of Chinese people:

What, then, do Chinese people need? They need honesty, trust, integrity and faith. Chinese people need higher moral standards, they need to obey the laws, care for the environment, respect human lives, control personal desires and develop responsibility toward their family and society. Chinese people need a higher ethic than the pursuit of material desires. They need humility and forgiveness rather than arrogance and covetousness. They must desire truth. Above all, Chinese people need love; they need to know and respect the God who is love. Simply put, Chinese people, who are deprived spiritually and hungry for real faith, need real spiritual food that satisfies the soul and enables the pursuit of the real purpose in life.

For those from the outside, seeking to help meet those needs, our attitudes are sometimes as important as our deeds:

Our attitude is the key. We must understand that China, boasting a culture with a long history, suffered much humiliation over the last 150 years. Nationalism and patriotism, mixed with traditional Confucianism, live deep in the heart of every Chinese person. Chinese are very sensitive when foreigners approach them with an attitude of superiority. This hurts their self-respect. If we cannot approach our friends in a spirit of humility and love, if we cannot deal with one another on an equal basis, then our actions can easily be viewed as a bestowal out of pity.

To make friends in China is not hard, but to become really good friends—to be in a position to share God’s truth— requires giving of one’s self. As we interact with those who do not know God, we need to see beyond their outward pride and into their inner being. We ought to understand each individual totally from his physical needs, his daily living and employment needs, to his spiritual needs. As we dialogue with these individuals, we should not be proud of ourselves thinking we are better or more spiritual. Rather, we must humbly offer understanding as an expression of our love. Ultimately, the spirit of love and truth is the only key for unlocking closed hearts and minds.

He reminds us that our actions must be in alignment with our words:

Sharing the gospel is not about persuading others to believe God; the gospel cannot be imposed on people. Arguing or lecturing will only cause people to reject what we have to give. The Chinese people have listened to so much “preaching” (Communist doctrines) and propaganda during their lifetime that they instinctively reject any form of it. As a result, a lack of belief has become the hallmark of the new China. If a Christian desires to share the love of God with the Chinese, preaching is not the answer. Chinese people usually judge each other by actions, not by words. This is why Communism failed in China. There was a great gap between what was said and what was done, a large disconnect between theory and actual practice.

It is not easy to live out God’s truth through our actions—but it is easy to criticize others. Some have criticized the Chinese as being very pragmatic. While this is true, today’s pragmatism is the result of yesterday’s shattered dreams.  Remember, every action of every day testifies to what you believe. Once you enter China, numerous pairs of eyes will be watching you—not listening to you.

Finally, he reminds us of the importance of discipleship, not just evangelism, on going deep rather than focusing on numbers:

While it is wonderful to lead someone to the Lord, this is only the beginning. After an individual has come to the Lord, we must focus on discipling this person instead of hurrying out to convert someone else. This approach puts quality above quantity. Lacking qualified Bible teachers and without enough discipleship and training materials, spiritual growth is hindered. This has been the issue with the church—its roots are not deep enough. Once a Christian becomes mature and strong, he will naturally bring others to the Kingdom of God and Chinese Christians will develop their own church. Our task is to ensure that each Christian we lead to the Lord grows to full maturity. Focusing on quality will turn out to be the best way to achieve quantity although it may seem slow at times.

China may be changing, but the fundamental keys to effective ministry remain largely the same. 

Share to Social Media
Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman

Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio


Are you enjoying a cup of good coffee or fragrant tea while reading the latest ChinaSource post? Consider donating the cost of that “cuppa” to support our content so we can continue to serve you with the latest on Christianity in China.

Donate