Stay Away from Chinese Churches in America?

If someone say it's better to stay away from Chinese churches in the United States, I would say it is a bit extreme, but that is understandable.

The common view why the new generations in America would want to stay away from their immigrant parents' or their ethnic churches is that these churches are too immature. These churches follow the cultural tradition of their home countries - meaning backward, undeveloped.

Here, I'm not interested in the view of those Chinese who automatically stay away from Chinese churches or the likes. Because it is obvious they are the immature ones. They prefer publicity, carrier opportunities, fame, American parties, etc. (Mega churches full of white people seem to offer that). Whatever it is, it is geared to their self-interest.

The former case is quite a challenge. Many immigrant pastors, elders, have certain views brought by them to America from their home culture. Views which is just not permitted in the States in general: e.g. submit to older people even if they are wrong, pastoral nepotism, etc. This result in much dissent within the church and caused many to leave and unattractiveness of the church toward the younger American brought generations.

One might distinguish this problem from a Chinese megachurch. Shouldn't the problem above be restricted to smaller Chinese churches? In bigger churches, one does not need to deal with others so personally all the time, hence less disagreement, less dissent. Any disagreement could easily be dissolved in the whole bureaucracy of megachurches. From what I can observe, cultural differences matter most even in megachurches. The problem with these Chinese megachurches is that they either conform to the American way (which a lot of them actually do, more than they are willing to admit), such as in their youth ministries (all in English, copying the American way as much as they could) or they dilate the need for fellowship - it's a big church after all, just look at the crowd and feel good that you are "in" this fellowship already. The former part is suicidal for the church (this Chinese church will only last for one or two generations); the latter one will turn the church in to a business organization which is likely to eventually go bankrupt (such as California's Crystal Church).

I think America is still brewing the first or second generation of Chinese churches. After this, I can evaluate my thoughts with reality.

The remedy: So should we not have Chinese churches in America? Not so. But thus far, the best form of Chinese church is one that is theologically grounded (Reformed), evangelical (Gospel centered), and bold (willing to make sacrifices for Christ - not for self-ideology like having the American dream). Thus far, The latter challenge is the one I've seen most Chinese pastors in America have failed: "I've finally immigrated to 'paradise', why should I still live like a slave!?!"

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