Church in the Wilderness: A Message to the Global Church from a House Church Pastor
by Paul Peng with Hannah Nation
When all the church’s external support systems have gone or are diminished, we must ask, what can the church depend on? Union with Christ provides the answer. This essay looks at what we can learn from the Chinese house church about surviving persecution and hardship.
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The essence of the house church can be summarized as follows. First, its heritage is doctrinally conservative. The house church holds on to the ancient gospel truth and exalts the authority of the Bible. We might even say that the Chinese house church is the largest church community in the world that upholds the authority of the Bible; this is God’s special grace and mercy. Second, its heritage is of godly devotion and piety. The house church places great emphasis on drawing near to God in the inner room, praying, dealing with sin and the old self, memorizing the scriptures, and so on, all of which are valuable spiritual exercises. Third, its heritage is to maintain the separation of church and state. The house church affirms that Christians have a responsibility to be good citizens, but that the doctrine and governance of the church are subject only to the truth of the Bible and the Christian conscience, without interference by any external force. Fourth, its heritage emphasizes the way of the cross. The house church emphasizes that the way of faith is the self-sacrificing way of the cross.
Today the church in China (and indeed, any church in the world that is under attack by political or cultural forces) needs to continue cherishing this heritage, highlighting that the church, families, and individuals should be set apart for God. The heritage of the Chinese house church not only helps us face persecution today, but also helps the church to resist the influence of secularization.
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Paul Peng is a pastor and former publisher in one of China's top cities. He has spent much of his career studying church history and creating theological resources for the church in China.
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Category: Ministry Leader
Date created: 2020
Scripture: Revelation 7:4, 19:6-9, 20:9
Key terms: house church history, persecution, union with Christ
Related Resource: Church in the Wilderness Study Guide
