Obstacle or Way Forward
We were a couple of hours from deciding if there was possible way for us to stay in China. When we met on monday night, I was exhausted, worried and frustrated with government officers and the individuals who enjoy holding the answers and the power. Our family visas expired the next day (Tuesday) and that Monday was a day of obstacles and denials. Without going into too much detail on an open blog that could be read by anyone, we came across an individual that stopped our process and kept saying, “办不了”（in this context meaning, “there is no way forward”). Hours of driving, stressful conversations visiting many government departments led us to believe the door was slamming shut on our life here. That is where I was while sitting in the dark during the chat last Monday night.
David Bebbington’s Evangelicalism in Modern Britain describes those desiring renewal (not of visas) of their walk and their church as well as the obstacles that they encountered through the centuries. Evangelicals were the radicals desiring change in their time.[1] Bebbington writes that evangelicals were made up of groups within major churches as well as “various non conformist churches and sects.”[2] These were people wanting reform in all aspects of life. They were “people who believe in conversionism, biblicism, crucicentrism, and activism [and that] have taken all kinds of positions on social issues. […] They have been abolitionists and slaveholders, socialists and capitalists, supporters of strong government and defenders of states rights, defenders and opponents of gay rights, revolutionaries and reactionaries.” [3]“Evangelicalism has appeared as the source of social reform and repression, missionary initiative or theological reaction…”[4] Seeing Christ transforming power affecting all levels of our society has pushed generations of evangelicals to seek Christ-like transformations within the world they live in; work, school, and home. Not everyone has agreed with Bebbington’s view of history of evangelicalism. “Bebbington’s approach accounts for the diversity of the movements such as its turn to affect. His work would benefit, however from more analysis and less narrative at points.”[5] Even though some criticize the version of history within this book, Bebbington paints a solid and informative picture of how evangelicals have sought true change even adapting itself within an every changing world. “Evangelicalism was ready to change as the cultural climate changed. It shows that Evangelicalism is a transcultural […] movement, a rather protean phenomenon that can be valid for all ages and all people groups. The changes of Evangelicalism might prove the strength of the movement, not its weakness, if the changes do not affect its core identity.”[6]
Are the Evangelicals of recent years as adaptive and desire radical transformation and in years past? “Bebbington does not believe evangelicals triumphed over their circumstances. He endows contextual forces with the power to circumscribe religious forms. Social factors shaped Evangelicalism’s intentions repeatedly. The alienation of the working classes and the receptivity of the middle classes set the movement’s social niche. Intellectual challenges created fissures with the movement. Even faithful initiative could not overcome the force of context. Instead, the movement suffered the disintegrations of modern life.”[7]
What initially brought evangelicals together was ultimately what drew them apart. “Evangelicalism is, despite its self-perception, a radically modern form of Christianity.”[8] There strong desire for reform and renew eventually united and divided groups around their interpretation of how to live out the tenets of evangelicalism. Bebbington describes the journeys of Christians drawn to denominations that interpret the views of God in ways they agree with. Do we see denominations as a way to unite or as a way to help us understand who is an insider and who is an outsider? Is it human nature that makes us what to find those like us and exclude those different from us?
In China today, the house church movement has come to recognize the need to identify themselves with certain branches of theology. After so many years of just getting by, there is a desire for good Biblical teaching. We could debate all day what the definition of good teaching is but for the Chinese they have learned to begin asking questions. I have been asked,“Are you Reformed, Wesleyan or Charismatic?” Evangelicalism in China is moving from the radical fringes to the mainstream. In order to find its footing amidst the cacophony of christian voices, many are independently labeling themselves along streams of theology without committing to a particular denomination. There is a sense they are reliving the journey that some evangelicals took a century or two ago in Europe. We are seeing the division that lead to separate denominations in the west. China faces some issues as it strives to stand up for true reform in and out of the church.
With morning comes a new day. As with individuals in the history of evangelicalism, there comes people that risk to h
elp renewal. For our family, that came in a police officer that spent hours driving us to various agencies to move us through the all day process allowing us to turn our paperwork in an hour and half before the visa office closed. Whether we are Moravians holding a “heathen love feast”[9] or Chinese house church ministering to the “not yet believers”, we recognize that we are to find a way for “our diverse constituencies [to] capture a vision of what it might mean to be missional communities of invitation, welcome and embrace.”[10] If we are part of a radical reforming movement of , then despite the obstacles that will come our way, we remain open, full of grace and ready to be used for His transformational work of renewal with our lives and those around us.
[1] Bebbington, David. Evangelicalism in Modern Britain. Routledge. New York.(1989) 45
[2] Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s. Clouse, Robert G. American Historical Review, Feb, 1991, Vol.96(1), p.165(2)
[3] https://thewayofimprovement.com/2018/01/04/should-we-retire-the-bebbington-quadrilateral. Accessed January 10, 2018
[4] Sachs, William. “Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s.” The Journal of Religion 72, no. 1 (1992): 114-116.
[5] Ibid, 115
[6] Adam Szabados. Book Review David Bebbington. Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: aHistory from 1730 to 1980s. http://szabadosadam.hu/divinity/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BEBBINGTON.pdf
[7] Sachs, William. “Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s.” The Journal of Religion 72, no. 1 (1992): 116
[8] Adam Szabados. Book Review David Bebbington. Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: aHistory from 1730 to 1980s. http://szabadosadam.hu/divinity/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BEBBINGTON.pdf
[9] Bebbington, David. Evangelicalism in Modern Britain. Routledge. New York.(1989)82
[10] Beyond Bebbinton: The Quest for Evangelical Identity. Brain Harrris. https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/churchman/122-03_201.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2018
About the Author
Greg
Greg has a wife and 3 children. He has lived and work in Asia for over 12 years. He is currently the Asia Director of Imanna Laboratories, which tests and inspects marine products seeking US Coast Guard certification. His company Is also involved in teaching and leadership development.13 responses to “Obstacle or Way Forward”
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SO, I’ve only read the first paragraph, and had to comment. WOW! Greg, I had no idea. How incredibly stressful. I can’t even imagine. And (gently scolding) WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING? And I hope “the rest of the story” is hidden somewhere in this post! Okay…going back to read the rest of your post now….
Whew! Glad the visa renewal got sorted! 🙂
You mention that China is just now going through the journey that Europe went through two thousand years ago. What do see as the role of outsiders (like yourself) in that journey?
Jenn. I know if anyone understands the “adventure” it is to stay and live in a foreign country it is you. Know that it was not my desire to hide anything. I heard your concern and value your prayers.
I think Chinese are wrestling with identity and finding out what it means to be a Bible believing church in a time where teachers and training from other countries come in with their own agendas. We have always tried to build the kingdom, teaching and training leaders that will never be a part of our groups. We hope this attitude allows groups from different theological backgrounds to find unity from time to time.
Hi Greg,
Great testimony! I think we would have understood if you would have missed that chat (grin).
I am amazed that someone in China asked you, “Are you Reformed, Wesleyan or Charismatic?”
I was interested what you responded?
And how would you have responded if they asked you, “Are you Evangelical?”
Chinese are not always familiar with each denomination. They are products of who has led them or trained them. There is definitely a concern that correct theology and that training down another thread doesn’t produce confusion.
Greg so many amazing elements in this post. Amazing personal testimony of God’s provision and your faithfulness and grit through an intense trial.
And really interesting insight into the home churches of China beginning to sense a need to form a solidified theology.
Im blown you away you found time to write this! well done.
It was a rough week and I felt the quality of my blog reflected the rough week 🙂 It was a good week to be reminded of His faithfulness to see me through.
Greg,
Thanks for sharing your “life happens” story. Gosh, I hear you. My wife and I once spent a day in jail in Botswana for a similar Visa-Work permit challenge. Ugh!
Transcultural movement; what an excellent description of the evangelical movement. Great analysis and comparison with China’s evangelical movement to what we have seen from the United Kingdom. I commend you for your missional invitation, welcome and embrace to those you serve in China. Praise the Lord you persevered in your “all-day” Visa process. I bet those who watched you during this struggle saw the image of Christ in your presence.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Hi Greg! I wondered how you were during our chat on Monday and I’m glad to learn the visa process was sorted out. So stressful, so uncertain, and so many ramifications if it went the wrong way…but what a testimony to being the hands and feet of Jesus. This statement in your blog caught my attention: “Do we see denominations as a way to unite or as a way to help us understand who is an insider and who is an outsider?”. Very thought provoking! What is intended to be a gathering of like minded people has perhaps become the core of exclusion. Your thoughts in regard to the Nazarene faith?
Jean, as you know even within a denomination there are groups that are happy to exclude. Human nature draws together those that think alike…and the opposite is true. I love Nazarenes but we are as human as the rest of the kingdom.
Greg,
Your ability to remain cool under pressure, in hindsight, is amazing. The question I have is this, did you see God moving you through the day?
Another question I have is this, do you see the divisions of denominations creating an us against them mentality in church there in China as there seems to be here in the States?
Jason
I think like most times is life, it is easier to see God’s hands in hindsight. I am amazed how he sent the right people at the right time that did very un-chinese government actions.
People are always looking for ways to separate and be better than. Chinese just has unique ways of doing that, even within the kingdom
Greg, first, sorry for the stress you are facing as you seek to continue your ministry; I know that can be frustrating.
Second, you touched on a great issue that I believe is huge in the modern day church; How do we grow in our faith without division with those who share different views? Throughout this reading, I just kept seeing the quarrels and divisions that were taking place as this mindset of theology seemed to change. Exactly what you hit upon was eerily the reality of faith movements today…everyone swings the Christian flag, but for some reason, so few want to be seen holding it up together. There is the desire to see religious reform, or biblical conformity, but the limitation is that you have to do it MY way or else I’m taking my worship elsewhere. At what point do you think the modern church could actually grow together instead of continuing to grow apart?
Greg,
Amazing story to start this blog– thank you for sharing that! I was really interested in reading not only your analysis of Bebbington, but of how you see these questions at work in contemporary China. The distinctions among Reformed, Weslyan and Charismatic have seemed important to us in the West along the way, but it sounds like this is a new phenomenon where you are. It sounds like so much dynamism around this right now in China. Keep at it!