As the Chinese church matures, believers are increasingly discovering the rich diversity of theological traditions. While finding one's theological "tribe" can be strengthening, it has also led to a rise in friction.
Brother Enhui is a minister serving in a church in Northern China. Based on his extensive interactions with Reformed, Baptist, Charismatic, and Presbyterian groups, he holds to a simple philosophy: "As long as it does not violate the fundamental truths of the gospel, you are my brother."
To complete a seminary assignment, he once put on his backpack and went for "field research" in various churches, including Charismatic ones.
"I accept the Charismatic movement, but I do not accept extreme Charismatic practices," he stated.
He described visiting one such extreme group. Initially, the worship was lively but normal—not the chaotic scene one might expect. However, the sharing session took a strange turn. The testimonies became increasingly bizarre, with members claiming the Holy Spirit had physically teleported them from one place to another. As he listened, it felt as if "everyone was ready to fly at a moment's notice."
Enhui's response to this is hilariously grounded. "If a plane ticket can solve the problem, why do you insist on manufacturing a miracle?" he argued.
"I'd rather have a blanket on a plane and stay warm," he joked. "My prayer is simply for a safe flight... If there is a plane, why would He need to lift you?"
However, Enhui is careful not to deny the supernatural. He believes miracles happen, but they are often God's specific provision for a specific context.
He recalled a story about his great-uncle, who was once walking to seminary carrying a heavy sack of grain. Suddenly, a vehicle stopped. The driver invited him in and drove him directly to his destination without asking for a fare.
Then there was his grandmother. She used to walk to a neighboring village for evening services. The path was lined with graveyards and frequented by wild rabbits. One night, as she left the village and the streetlights faded, a beam of light suddenly appeared—Pa!—shining directly on her path. It guided her all the way to the turn near the church where the streetlights resumed, and then—Pa!—it vanished. She also had the gift of healing; she would lay hands on the sick in the village, and they would recover.
"Are these heretical?" Enhui asked. "No. That was the Holy Spirit working in that specific era."
God knew his great-uncle didn't know how to navigate public transport; He knew his grandmother needed protection in the dark. But today?
"If a car stops on the road today and tells you to get in, what do you do?" Enhui asked. "It's dangerous! Do not get in, especially if you are a sister."
When asked if all churches should merge into one giant organization to show unity, Enhui offered a pragmatic "No."
"If your calling is evangelism, then preach hard. If my calling is discipleship and building up the local church, then I will focus on that. Why force us to look identical?"
He explained that trying to merge churches with different visions is a recipe for disaster. "You talk about missions every day; I talk about spiritual growth every day. We would end up fighting within three days, calling each other 'devil's work' or 'heresy'."
He drew a biblical parallel: Paul was called to the Gentiles, and Peter to the Jews. They had different mandates.
"We can move freely between us and visit one another," he said, "but we don't need to unify into one structure."
Despite his humorous and open attitude, Enhui has a firm bottom line.
"Put aside the labels. If you don't brand me a heretic, I will recognize you as a brother," he said. But there is a limit. "If you touch the fundamental truths—such as the Virgin Birth or the Trinity—then I will turn against you."
"Tampering with these truths is like flirting with my wife right in front of me," he said, "It is absolutely crossing the line."
But for everything else, worship styles, governance, or secondary theological debates, he believes there is room for discussion, disagreement, and even a few jokes.
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Katherine Guo
