“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)
We just celebrated Chinese New Year, the year of Rooster. I found out yesterday my son was born in the year of Rooster. Immediately I was in denial. I know someone from my childhood that was a rooster and life was hard for her. Oh, mine, am I not a silly goose for thinking this way?
When I first became a Christian at age 13, someone from my church said, “From now on you no longer belong to this animal or that animal. You belong to Jesus now.” In the Chinese language, we would say “I belong (属) to pigs” or “I belong to rats.” Consciously or subconsciously, we identify ourselves with these zodiac animals. So I grew up with a bunch of pigs and rats, and a rat married me.
Do you know there are only two occurrences of the word “church” in all four Gospels? I didn’t know that. The origin of the word “church” in Greek refers to an assembly of people called out for a particular purpose.
This is an interesting definition of the word “church”! Christians are the called-out ones for a particular purpose!
I am fascinated by history. A quick study of history will easily shed light on most of our life situations. There has not been anything new under the sun. Whatever idea we want to try, it has been attempted. Only that it was in a different time, and with a different cultural backdrop.
Most history classes are taught without looking into the predominant religion that was influencing the very people that made history. One of America’s most beloved President, Ronald Reagan, was put in the oval office through one ambitious Christian man, Jerry Falwell. Jerry Falwell mobilized the entire conservative voting bloc in 1980, and their participation guaranteed a win for the Republicans.
I don’t claim to be a student of history. But a cursive look at it shows me so plainly that whenever men walk away from God, blessings cease; and whenever men walk towards God, all that they do prospers.
I know some of you might object to this general, naïve opinion. (Because I did, too) Come on, look at so and so, a non-believer, that started this company and that trend, see how wealthy and successful he or she is now!
Well, I am talking about HISTORY. A 3, 5, 7, or even 15 years of time does not constitute history. They are only moments in the grander scheme of things.
Do you know that in the first one thousand years since Jesus’ death, the center of Christianity was in Asia, and the greatest missionary church was in modern-day Baghdad? How misguided we were when we thought Christianity was a western religion and the Chinese must stick to their Buddhism root. There were already Christians in the capital of China around the 7th century. When the Buddhist first arrived in China during that time, it was the Christian bishop that helped them with the Chinese language and translated their Buddhist texts.
Like the Israelites of the Old Testament that strayed from God throughout most of their existence, the East has also drifted from the Christian faith. Wherever Christianity made its touchdown, the entire region prospered. Consider Europe in the 14-17th century, and North America in the 19–20th century. Wherever Christianity begins to wane, the entire region falls into darkness. Consider the Middle East now.
Jesus said His church will forever prevail. No powers of death and evil can ever overcome His living church. There are two billion Christians worldwide and this number is still climbing. If you want to place a bet, bet on Jesus and His eternality. That is the only investment that will never go down the drain.