The current era is characterized by multiculturalism, postmodernism, and the dominance of the Internet, followed by deconstruction in various fields. Churches, too, face the inevitable tension between tradition and modernity, as well as between generations, which has become a common challenge, yet solutions are few.
A church in East China has its roots in a traditional, local congregation with relatively conservative beliefs. The congregation emphasizes gatherings and full-time ministry, viewing activities outside the church as "worldly." As a result, they are generally reluctant to engage or communicate with churches from other denominational backgrounds.
Over the past decade, some young and middle-aged pastors have sought to pursue openness and development in the tension between preserving church traditions and embracing modernity. However, this effort is challenging, particularly in navigating the complex relationships with the older generation.
Brother Endian (Grace), a 50-year-old Christian who has been pastoring for over 20 years, grew up immersed in this church's atmosphere. He is among the young and middle-aged pastors striving to "break through tradition and pursue openness," being labeled a "heretic" and "nailed to the cross" by the older generation due to their attitude and approach.
However, he is encouraged by the church he leads, which has transitioned from being insular to more open, particularly in successful “reforms” focusing on ministering to workplace people. The office workers, regarded by the older generation as "Levites who have strayed into the fields," now are the community he pastors.
Recently, Brother Endian shared with the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper, three key insights he has gained from his efforts to "break through tradition and pursue openness."
Firstly, he emphasized the abundance of God’s kingdom, asserting that as long as biblical truth is upheld and there are no doctrinal conflicts, he is willing to engage with believers from diverse churches and backgrounds. While there might not have been direct cooperation, such interactions could strengthen each other's spiritual lives.
In his view, when churches with different backgrounds and systems only engage in discussions that are exclusive within their traditions, reaching a consensus could become challenging. However, he believes that it is unnecessary to wear others’ shoes or undermine their perspectives. Instead, both sides can strive to accept each other as individuals and respect the work of the other.
"We hope to unite and engage in dialogue with more churches, groups, and denominations within the kingdom of God," he added.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of respecting each person's era context during their service to God. He explained that most of the senior generation in his church lived through the period near the Cultural Revolution, enduring imprisonment and severe trials of fire—"so their faith journey needs to be fireproof." Meanwhile, he noted that the challenges faced by younger generations and churches today are no less significant, as they are struggling with various tides of the era—"so they need to be waterproof."
Finally, he concluded, "They (the older generation) haven’t gone through what we have, and we haven’t gone through what they have. We can't compare, but only respect each other."
- Translated by Poppy Chan
