It is my rather limited observation that I find the chinese churches in America cannot grow in maturity in the Spirit. This is due to Chinese immigrants seeking comfortable lives in this country. When these include Chinese pastors and such, then it is hard, to truly appreciate the quality of suffering hardship mentioned in the Bible. It has become a foolish quality to them. They have interpreted persecutions and hardship for the Lord as going to work during weekdays, having to listen to people like me, mowing the lawns in their backyards, organizing events.
However, most of such pastors I have observed are immigrants from Taiwan. I have little experience on pastors from Mainland China, or even American born ones. This is why, I will be delight at the opportunity to actually visit these churches after my service at CCGCLI has ended at the end of this month. After my analysis of churches, if God calls, my mission for my Lord will begin, otherwise, I shall worship at my local English reformed church.
Many Chinese, especially the younger generation who can speak English well in this nation prefer attending English speaking churches, not just because of the English background they grew up in. But because of the culture. The messages of the sermons. Many Chinese immigrated pastors here love quantity, they are emotionally affected by the quantity of congregations, they love to follow successes of others instead of having their own firm standpoint from studying the word of God and seeking after what our Lord's will for them is. They have considered their success in immigrating to the U.S. as the basis of God's blessing for them and therefore they shouldn't put themselves in any difficult hardship while serving. If they have a chance to escape, they will use their creative minds which were given to serve God in wisdom, to find the best "legal" way to escape and call it God's will, God's guidance, God's direction, God's blessing upon a successful escape from their responsibility, because they have not come to U.S.A. to suffer.
Today at lunch, one of my church's sister mentioned that she and her husband wish to attend an English church as well. Which made me wonder about the differences between Chinese churches and American Churches here.
I had thought initially to service non-Chinese speaking crowd in my mission because I find that it is almost impossible to preach to the Chinese immigrants here as what they are interested in are money and fame. Such decision has haunted me numerous times. For many Chinese, the definition of having better life means making more money. Unlike some of the other cultures I have seen whose immigrants' definition of better life in America means having a comfortable and loving family and friends, regardless of financial status. By this understanding, I can tell what kind of job you would see a Chinese immigrant prefer contrasting to what a Hispanic immigrant would accept.
From certain standpoint, I would have to say I admire the motivation of Chinese immigrants here. However, I cannot say the same for their greed.
Because of this, I find myself having more respect for immigrants who aren't Chinese when I have the opportunity to compare, despite the fact that there are very humble Chinese immigrants who seek a simple life here.
Nonetheless, after the brief lunch today, I find myself deeply reconsidering the target of my mission. Serving the Chinese community in America seems harder than other races. As a Chinese, this is not something I should ignore lightly. I must be aware, not to be used by anthropocentric support and pastors and churches who love prosperity theology, lest the Glory of God be stolen by them ignorantly.
I pray that God will lead me a holy life, keep me clean and pure, give me strength, courage and wisdom, bless me with His will and rebuke and leave me not. That I may proclaim, the glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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