All Are Related

By Edwin Su

The December 2002 issue of Overseas Campus Newsletter published a Front Page article entitled We Have a Message. In this article, I depicted what we believe to be the most emphasized message and the best followed principle over the years in the Campus Evangelical Fellowship; and that is the sequential order of spiritual growth --> Christian living --> ministry.

We are impressed by the rapid growth of the ministry for Chinese scholars in the last decade. Both Chinese and Western churches have come to realize the importance of such ministry and the necessity of direct participation by Chinese scholars. Consequently, many newly converted Christian scholars quickly become coworkers, fellowship leaders, Bible study leaders, and even speakers, deacons and ministers.

With such urgent mobilization, we have witnessed the unprecedented growth of many talents throughout Chinese churches. Through this process, God has ignited the fire to serve among many gifted scholars. However, it also gives rise to a phenomenon of immaturity among the harvested crop, which is a shortcoming in this bountiful harvest.

Similar problems have been found with myself as well as with many other Chinese churches. To prevent repeating the same mistake, we hope that from now on appropriate guidance should be provided to Chinese scholars (including fellowship groups), so that their participation in Christian ministry is solidly based on the growth of their spiritual lives and the practice of faith-based living.

However, for those who have already participated in various ministries, does the lack of such foundation and order in the beginning prevent them from serving well at all? Not necessarily. In the early stage of spiritual life, one can clearly benefit from the appropriate guidance of a good mentor. For those without such privilege, however, God can still provide sufficient grace. If we appreciate the very close relationship of spiritual growth, Christian living and ministry, we will strive to set proper priorities. We will not be laboring on ministry while ignoring personal testimony; we will not replace the discipline of inner life with outward glamorous talents. Rather, we will build up our spiritual life during our ministry in areas such as tolerance, selflessness, and humility. We will let our spirituality be reflected in our personal lives, such as simplicity, discipline and sanctification. We will let our Christian living complement our ministry, like serving as a couple with one heart. This type of virtuous cycles is the true meaning of "all things work together for good."(Romans 8:28)

Other than the Lord Jesus himself, Daniel in the Old Testament can be considered as the best model for demonstrating such spiritual principle. Daniel possessed an "excellent spirit", had a stable prayer practice, and could survive in a vicious political environment because "neither was there any error or fault found in him". Such interaction between spiritual growth, Christian living and ministry is a model from which all Chinese scholars, inside US or outside, should have to learn today.