My first term of sabbatical study at the University of Michigan was in its last week when President Carter startled the world with his announcement that the United States would establish diplomatic ties with Communist China on January 1, 1979. It is not that there has not been ample indication of movement toward formal ties between Washington and Peking. Things have been brewing ever since 1972. The shock was rather from the incredible insensitivity with which a loyal ally was treated and from the evident disregard for the security and human rights of 17 million friends in Taiwan.
In a series of telephone calls to China Evangelical Seminary colleagues in Taiwan and the U.S., my thoughts kept going back to the strong words of hope expressed in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea” (NASB). (As Chefoo school boys during World War II we had sung these confident lines while being marched off to a Shantung concentration camp.)
In his second epistle, Peter describes various phenomena relating to the end times and concludes with the rhetorical question, “What sort of people ought you to be?” Now, in this time of testing for the church in Taiwan, we too must address this question. It seems to me that there are three important dimensions to the Christian’s response.
1. Upward—As with the Psalmist who saw the Lord standing firm and strong amid the earth-shattering events around him, so the church must have a deepened awareness of God’s sovereign presence. In a phone conversation with Grace Kao, a CES faculty-in-preparation at Wheaton Graduate School, her response to the unilateral breaking of ties with Taiwan was quiet but very confident: “President Taylor,” she said, “God is on the throne!”
The Christian’s awareness of this fact involves not only a recognition of God’s sovereign role in world history, but also, equally important, a submission to his lordship in daily life. Jesus once said to an enthusiastic group of followers who wanted to be his disciples, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21, NASB).
2. Inward—In a time of testing such as this, the church in Taiwan must also have a deepened awareness of the unity of the body of Christ. External pressures, rather than creating a divisive effect among Christians, should, by the grace of God, instill in us a deeper love and understanding for one another.
The church has often turned to the Book of Nehemiah to find a blueprint for its renewal. As that courageous leader led his countrymen in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, he was keenly aware that the only way the Jews could succeed in the face of their enemies’ duplicity and intimidation was to be firmly united in their common task. Internal contradictions threatened to tear their society apart. Nehemiah’s decisive action and personal example in a simple lifestyle and concern expressed in concrete ways for the less fortunate members, knit the community together in new bonds of strength. The walls were rebuilt and God’s people were prepared to face the greater task of national reconstruction.
3. Outward—Finally, in this time of testing the church in Taiwan must have a deepened awareness of its mission. Recrimination against unfaithful friends or self-pity in adversity are negative responses unworthy of followers of Jesus Christ. The positive example of Chinese Christians is stirring.
Bob Chang is doing graduate study at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Old Testament as a member of CES’s faculty-in-preparation. His wife, Margaret, and their two children are in Taiwan. In the course of our telephone conversation following President Carter’s announcement, Bob said, “Haven’t we been praying for the Lord to open the door for the gospel in mainland China? I hear that next year 5,000 graduate students will be coming to the U.S. from China for study. This is going to place before the Chinese churches and Bible study groups in North America an unprecedented opportunity for witness. We must pray and prepare now.” There was no note of apprehension or uncertainty in Bob’s voice. Daily we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” and that’s what the focus of this CES graduate’s life is all about. Amid storm and testing, uncertainty and danger, the disciple of the Lord presses on in the fulfillment of Christ’s commission.
And so the church in Taiwan is facing a time of testing. What will be its response? An important chapter in the history of the Chinese church will be written if, with a deepened awareness of the Lord’s sovereign presence and the unity of the body of Christ, we move resolutely forward to win this generation for him.
G. Douglas Young is founder and president of the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem. He has lived there since 1963.
