Throughout history, exclusion has persisted for various reasons, both in ancient and modern eras, in China and abroad. For instance, in economically developed regions, some local residents may exclude or even discriminate against individuals from less developed areas. Similarly, those from culturally rich regions may look down on people from regions with less cultural heritage; urban residents may regard rural people with disdain; and coastal populations may show prejudice toward those from inland areas. Although the topic of exclusion is seldom addressed within the church, it may have been a long-term issue.
Brother Joshua, who has served full-time at a church in southern China for several years, has interacted with numerous middle-aged believers and young people. He has observed that the issue of exclusion differs from person to person and may also vary across age groups.
The Issue of Exclusion Among Elderly Christians
Joshua observed that, in general, elderly Christians tend to be less exclusive, as their faith is often sincere and devout. They typically believe that as long as someone works diligently and believes faithfully, that person is considered good.
However, he acknowledged that there are indeed a few elderly believers who exhibit a certain degree of rejection toward Christians from other regions. A senior believer once explained that local Christians had initially welcomed outsiders warmly. Unfortunately, some of these newcomers did not show gratitude for the love and support they received, instead taking it for granted, leaving the locals feeling hurt. Subsequent incidents further intensified the disappointment.
The Issue of Exclusion Among the Middle-aged Group
In contrast, exclusion appears to be more common among middle-aged Christians. On one hand, many in this group are confident that their church is well-functioned, which has a number of pastors and ministers. As a result, they believe that even if one or two pastors leave, it would not impact the church. On the other hand, Joshua explained, "In this area, it's common for entire families to follow the Lord together. In fact, an extended family could establish a church on its own if it wished. Because of this, local believers often feel self-sufficient and do not particularly care about the views of outsiders."
Another contributing factor is the transformation driven by economic development. Before China's reform and opening up, the country was generally impoverished. However, following the reform era, many eastern regions, especially along the southeast coast, experienced rapid economic growth. This led to increased wealth and better employment opportunities, attracting many from other parts of the country. These newcomers were often financially disadvantaged, and over time, a wrong sense of superiority developed among some affluent locals. This sense of superiority has led to the rejection of non-local residents.
Joshua, himself an outsider, shared his perspective: even when wealthy locals are Christians, they may still look down on less affluent outsiders, even if those outsiders are also believers. "For example," he said, "full-time church workers like us receive year-end bonuses. To us, these bonuses feel like a part of our wages, which we've earned through a year of hard work, as stipulated by church policy. So, when we receive them, we give thanks to God and feel at peace with it." However, he added, "Sometimes I get an odd feeling when church leaders, mostly middle-aged ones, discuss how the bonuses should be distributed. Their attitude makes it seem as if the year-end bonus is a form of charity from the church to the full-time workers, more like a handout given out of pity."
The Issue of Exclusion Among the Young Group
"As for the younger generation, I believe it varies from person to person," Joshua remarked. Many local young believers have studied at universities in other regions, received quality education, and value mutual respect. Generally, they do not exclude others simply because they are not locals. However, Joshua pointed out that some young Christians may still harbor a sense of superiority due to their family background or the environment in which they were raised, both culturally and spiritually, leading them to reject outsiders.
He also shared the experiences of some of his seminary classmates, most of whom came from different regions. During their internships in local churches, many of them clearly felt excluded by certain local believers and even some pastoral workers. "For instance," he said, "in meetings, many local pastors would speak in their dialects, which the outsiders couldn't understand at all. Is that not a form of exclusion? They were fully aware that non-locals were present, yet they still chose to speak in the local dialect."
If the Church Wants to Grow, It Must Foster a More Welcoming Environment for Non-local Church Staff
Brother Joshua believes that if the church in this city hopes to develop further, it must create a more welcoming environment for non-local church coworkers. In the past, internal migration within the country was relatively limited, particularly in economically developed regions where the population primarily moved in rather than out. However, the current situation has significantly changed. Many young talents from this city have moved to urban cities and no longer return to their hometowns. This trend is mirrored within the church community, resulting in a growing shortage of local talent. Given current patterns, this situation is likely to persist for a long time, leaving local churches facing a long-term lack of young leaders.
To address this, local churches must strive to attract staff from other regions, which requires reforms and innovation to make the church appealing to non-local workers.
Joshua noted that many churches in the city have yet to recognize the importance of attracting non-local coworkers and instead continue to focus primarily on developing local talent. However, he observed that cultivating local church workers is already a challenging task and is likely to become even more difficult. Moreover, even when local workers are trained, they might not perform as expected. He added that theological seminaries across the country are grappling with declining student enrollment and decreasing academic quality.
Nevertheless, Joshua pointed out that this city benefits from a relatively developed economy and is capable of offering competitive salaries to full-time church staff, giving it a distinct advantage in attracting talent from elsewhere. "The church must reform and innovate to create a more hospitable environment for non-local staff," he emphasized. "This involves multiple aspects, including adequate compensation for full-time staff and fostering a warm and supportive church culture. Ultimately, it's not just about attracting and retaining people, but about winning their hearts."
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Karen Luo, translated by Poppy Chan
