My Journal

Last Sunday, I took the liberty of a nice early morning to visit a huguenot church on Staten Island, Reformed Church of Huguenot Park, It was a disappointment. They are looking for a pastor, so they had to invite guest speakers. One of the lady there, Carol, who's supposedly to know more about the church history than others, doesn't seem to grasp the real essence of Reformed church.

When I asked her about the history of the huguenot community on Staten Island, she told me she doesn't know much except that there are carvings on the walls in the sanctuary honoring the memories of some of the huguenots who came to this island. And when I inquired about how that church was influenced by the huguenots, or whether there's any other shred of huguenots evidence in the church, she assumed I understood that all reformers are huguenots and presuming that I did not know enough about the reformed movement by asking me to check out the history RCA website. She mistook the fact that I wasn't asking about reformed history, nor huguenot history, but merely the huguenot influences in where she has been worshiping every Sunday. A place where not just a park, but even a town and a street were named after huguenots.

Not only so, her understanding of huguenot history was erred. I had to give a brief couple sentences on the history of the reformed movement to correct her misunderstanding of the reformed history. She thought the reformed movement happened independently with some amazingly coincidental timing in different countries and that not all Huguenots are Reformers. She also thought that the Walloons (ethnic group in Belgium) means Huguenots. I do not know what her definition of huguenots are. Moreover, her understanding of the reformed movement was erred too. Something similar I have seen in another american reformed church. Where the elder ladies seem to treasure catholic tradition more than God's words. Which was why the pastor of the other church left. I realized there could be a common misconception of their doctrine after listening to her. The term "catholic" of "Holy Catholic Church" in the Apostles' Creed does not mean the Roman Catholic church. In fact it has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic church at all. The word "Catholic" comes from Greek, meaning "Universal". For all churches are the same body of Christ, in spite of the different denominations we see.

Another common thing they had was racism. She told me there used to be a Taiwanese Reformed church renting their space, but when the church grew, it moved out for a new place. She commented that they were "newly converts", because the gospel was preached to the Chinese later than the Europeans. I wished to reply:" Newly converts? Like your daughter-in-law?" who is a Filipino. But I realized it would only waste my time. I was reminded by a seminary lecture I once attended:"The western christians love to send missionaries out to other countries, they are still dreaming, we should start sending missionaries back to this fallen, full of immorality and unethical nation."

Overall, I was disappointed to see how the town having the huguenots name yet found little or not of its reformed influence in the community today.

I loved the architecture however. It was built in a way to remember the secret hideouts of the Huguenots for meeting in France during the persecution. Perhaps the only thing I should be grateful for this lady for sharing this to me. And I also loved the service, the hymnals sung. Unlike many Chinese Reformed churches I've seen here that have thrown away the good old classic hymnals and replacing them with Hong Kong Taiwanese pop style garbage musics.

After that, I visited Great Kills Park. View wasn't that great. Very dull beach, nothing else to see. Perhaps a good, relatively open and remote place for stargazing at night. 

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As I begin my getting to know churches in the city, where I live, many have commented that I am "church hopping" or "church shopping", but it is not so. I believe that I already have a good old home church in mind, it is a Reformed church very near where I stay. Or that my leave from CCGC was because I dislike CCGC, nay, every church has their dissensions and problems, but I have never encouraged anyone to leave a church nor have I ever leave a church because of such. I have longed treasured something Rev. Stephen Chan (陈佐人牧师）'s message during one of his Reformed seminary: "I have more respect on those who stayed in the church and aggressively but patiently and diligently fight for the Truth."

We must never damage the reputation of a church behind its back especially when we leave that church. It is very unethical. I only display the truth, but I have never condemned CCGC to hell, sure there's agony and sadness and tears, it is never possible for any physical church of God to be perfect on this Earth, for that day has yet to come. And I say "church of God" because there are indeed so called "churches" that aren't of God...such as the cult: Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons/Latter Day Saints, etc. I have always view CCGC as a church of God despite its history, for true doctrine has been established nonetheless. My pray and sorrow came from great hope that it does not part from God's Word. If it is insisted that I must compare to other churches, CCGC is a Chinese student ministry based church, as a church, its pastor has double burden (church and students) with low pay if compared to other churches. This is never easy. God has different visions for different churches and pastors. If other churches were to take upon the task of CCGC, base on what I see, I doubt they would be any better than CCGC unless it is God's will. CCGC is like a maternity ward, many children of God seen in Chinese churches in the city were actually born in CCGC, these churches have nothing to be proud of by having these as their congregation.

My leave comes from my good use of the time God has given me. It is that simple. There are those in CCGC who cannot accept this, nonetheless, I believe I have dealt with this issue fairly, I have given enough notice, more than two weeks notice, more than three months, more than even a year, for their hearts to be prepared. When it has come to the level where the need of my presence in a church is greater than the need of Christ, it is God's job, not mine. For my time to pastor a church has yet to come, and I have never confirmed that this is God's calling for me. I must not put my hand on God's Ark of the Covenant, even if it seems to be falling apart or seems to be needing human support.

I have never ever looked down on a church of God, even as a reformer. For even John Wesley has said: 

 I look on all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.

Journal (11 June 1739)

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