I've been warned that I'm going to be preaching this morning just after the pastor announces the newly selected church name to the congregation. He told me so that I would "be prepared" just in case some of the people became upset with the change of the long-held name. (Evidently the business meeting which decided on the change was under-attended.)
It got me to thinking about the huge differences between the visible church here in America and in China. Here are a few, in no particular order:
1) In America, we take church names for granted. Individual church names and church signs are almost non-existent throughout the communist nation. Even the official government-sanctioned churches in the largest cities of eastern China are only able to promote the church's name in big gold letters on the facade of their building. Church signs, as we know them here in America, would be considered illegal propaganda throughout China.
2) While many American churches dispute bitterly over bulding programs and location changes, most churches in China have no "permanent" location at all, but meet in homes or other temporary locations whenever it is safe. Those few churches that are permitted to exist in the public sphere (mostly in large cities or pockets of eastern China) have little authority to move their locations on a whim, but must stay on the property that was allotted to them by the local government.
3) Church steeples in America are seemingly as abundant as the minarets of Saudi Arabia (or the Muslim enclaves of western China where we live). In China, it is extremely rare to spot a church steeple, cross, or any outward sign of Christianity. Often, when one is visible, it is just a museum or the remains of a Catholic or Orthodox church from years gone by. A missionary friend once told me that you could jump on a motorcycle and ride for twelve days straight into the heart of western China and never spot one visible sign of Christianity.
Once when traveling in a remote, mountainous region of west-central China, we had heard that a fairly large church did exist, and that it had a surprisingly large building and visible presence in the heart of that particular town. As we drove down one of the main streets toward what we assumed was the city center, we were thrilled to glimpse a red cross jutting up into the sky many blocks away (albeit nearly obscured by countless power lines and street lamps)!
When is the last time you rejoiced at the sight of a church steeple?
When did you last thank God for your church's building, property, and even its name?
Some good truth for me to ponder tonight. Thanks.
Thank you for the interesting comparison between the American Church and the Church in China. While Chinese Christians have many challenges, it is good to know that the gospel continues to impact many people. Farmington Church