Encouraging silence
My apologies for being so quiet lately on the blog front. I’ve been meaning to write, and have jotted down some things that are peeving me at the past couple weeks as noted by the number of drafts I’ve created in WordPress. However, lately I have realized that I have not felt like talking about 2 specific things: relationships and theology.
Relationships & Theology
I’m just tired out from the endless, meaningless ditty that has been the topic of these online conversations and am just taking a short blog-break from it (please excuse me if this is the topic that interests you). You know you’re old when people your own age start getting married, and I am–for good or for worse–at that stage now. I have at least 3 friends my age that are engaged and soon to be married, and thus, relationships is not an issue at the backburner–it is very much front and center.
On the theological front, there are always things to talk about since I am Alex and my mind just naturally tends to lean towards theological constructs and my personal mind-wrestling with various issues often requires seeking a good, biblical conclusion. As of late, I have been looking at the attributes of God, specifically his unchangingness–how his identity and character does not ever change, but his relationship to us (how he relates to us) does. This simple attribute of God has been mind-boggling this past week: that God’s character remains the same (Holy, just, wrathful, gracious, loving, merciful, kind, etc. …) in spite of His relationship to us changing (sinner to saint, rebel to worshipper, punishment to forgiveness). Indeed, God more than often seems to change how He deals with us, and yet who He is does not fluctuate or deviate from the Solid Rock of His unchanging identity and character.
Silence Encouraged
In talking to my dad about seminary lately, he has noted that I may not get a good recommendation from my pastor(s) because in the past I have been vocal about my church’s methodology in and/or theology behind different ministries. I told my dad that he need not be concerned, because all those issues have been more-or-less resolved and have no personal vendetta behind them. However, his rambling on and on about this issue when talking to me revealed a truth about our Chinese Christian culture that is of more hindrance to our faith and ministry than benefit.
It is the notion that pastorate and church leadership encourage the congregation to be silent about how, why, and what things are being done in the church. Things being done could include simply how programs, fellowships/cell groups, Worship Service is being done, as well as unorthodox doctrine and faulty theological logic behind what is conveyed from the pulpit. And I do not mean that they incite such encouragements via written or verbal form, but that it is in their supposed piety that such silent behavior is encouraged. Simply put, the pastorate does not want anybody to tattle-tale on them about what is done–they just want things their way, or no way, and do not want to hear any comments about this except those in favour. If you have any disagreements about how, why or what is being done in the church, keep silent and keep it to yourself.
It is in this kind of church climate that my dad has not been silent about many issues in our church, and he has gotten himself into quite a bit of hooplah because of it. I, in turn, have somehow by genetic predisposition and learning from my father, to carry the same kind of vocal mentality.
It is interesting to note here that this is totally contrary to the emerging-missional paradigm of ecclesiology: in our postmodern culture, we desire authentic Christian relationships that seeks to glorify God and build each other up, especially through having conversations and discussions. The current Chinese Church culture (at least at my church) seems to be patriarchal–that is, the person at the top (senior pastorate) has the complete and final verdict in what is considered acceptable or unacceptable opinion.
I wish I could yell and thump my Bible right now like John MacArthur would probably be doing if he heard of such issues… but honestly, it is like going back to Rome. I won’t say any more on this similarity, lest I get myself into any more trouble by saying what I have already said here, but honestly–whatever happened to let love be genuine and without hypocrisy, loving one another with brotherly affection, and outdoing one another in showing honour?
How can we foster a spirit of mutual edification and encouragement if such behavior is only acceptable if it does not disagree with the views of those at the top? How can we grow God’s glorious blood-bought church if constructive criticism and critique is discouraged? I know I am definitely growing spiritually and in my ministry skills because of Pastor Arthur’s criticisms & critiques over the years!
~Sighs~ Lord have mercy on us.
