Allegedly the largest Christian church in China, on Nov 3, 2016, Panshi (Rock) Church of Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province, held its dedication ceremony after ten years' construction. Over 330 pastoral workers from churches nationwide attended the dedication ceremony. Many pastoral workers, leaders, and delegates gave speeches, and it left a great impression.
The deepest impression was when Ma Guoli, one officer of the provincial Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, congratulated the completion of Panshi Church on behalf of the Provincial Bureau. He mentioned that Panshi Church was formerly Longfeng Christian Church. The completion of Panshi Church is inseparable from the help of the government and the CCC&TSPM. The style of Panshi Church fits with the characteristics of Christianity. It is also a geographical and cultural landscape of Daqing City.
Officer Ma offered advice on three aspects regarding Panshi Church. First, love the country and religion, be independent, and glorify God and benefit men to adapt to the socialist economic construction. Second, resolve problems with the concept of law and defend the dignity of the law, interests of the people, national unity, and the integrity of the nation. Be a good believer as well as a good citizen. Third, promote social and economic development. Christians should become light and salt for the benefit of society. At last, he said, "One more Christian, one more good citizen. I believe that was the biggest confirmation toward us Christians by Section Chief Ma on behalf of the government."
A good Christian should serve the society with his own wisdom power, and glorify God and benefit men by loving the country and people. Chinese Christianity requires believers to love the country, abide by the law, and fulfill responsibilities. This is the specific reflection of serving God, and a good combination of spiritual ministry and serving man. Christians should use their model words and deeds to help people abandon evil and carry on good, unveil the inner truth, kindness, and beauty of the spiritual life, and carry forward the Christian ethics centered on love (as with loving your neighbor).
Every Christian has and is interrelated with his own country. He needs to love the country and subject to the government. "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God." (NRSV Rom. 13:1)
The country is the symbol of a nation. However, the country is not the government, nor is government the country. The two have connections, yet are different. The government is the administration that maintains a country's normal operation, and it is instituted by God fundamentally. Today, when we talk about "Loving the country" it doesn't mean any government, nor some people, but to love the people in the country -- our flesh and blood brothers. Love the land-the land we were born and raised in given by God. This love abides in God and comes from God. "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh."(NRSV Rom. 9:2-3) Paul who had the same life as we do deeply love his own people. And for the sake of his own people, he'd given up himself.
Every Christian has his own people and his social responsibilities. "From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live." (NRSV Acts 17:26) It is allotted by God. Every Christian should be "the salt, light, and city of the world" in the boundaries allotted by God, (Mat. 5:13-15) A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Salt has to have flavor or it will be thrown out. The lamp should be on the lampstand to give light to all in the house. Therefore, every Christian should actively adapt himself to society to change vulgarity into holiness, and be the salt and light. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Mat. 5:16)
In 1996, at the 6th National Conference of the Chinese Christianity, The CCC&TSPM made a call to Christians nationwide of "A good Christian should be a good citizen." (Chinese National Christian Three-self Patriotic Movement Committee and China Christian Council are collectively called National CCC&TSPM.)
Chinese Christianity is in the same breath as our country, and shares the same fate with the people. Continue to explore and make new progress in the road that adapts to the socialist society. After the consistent efforts, Chinese Christianity finally casts off the title of "foreign religion", parts from the old era of "One more Christian, one less Chinese", and enters into a new era of "One more Christian, one more good citizen."
(The author is a fellow worker in Jilin Dunhua Christian Church.)
