As I consider the current state of America and the American church, I can’t help but think that we need to learn from Hudson Taylor today. As a nation, the divisions seem to be getting wider and wider with an increasing attitude of “assimilate or go home.” Sure this is the inevitable result of sin, so why should I be surprised and expect anything different? But what about the church?

I have several missionary heroes, and one of them is J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM). My roots hail from China, and the first Christians in my family were my paternal grand-grandmother and my maternal grandparents. Their conversions were the act of the Holy Spirit, of course, but through the means of missionary labor. These unknown saints may not have been associated with CIM, but Taylor left his mark on missions in general and China in particular.

European imperialism was sweeping through Asia at the time. Countries were subject to gunboat diplomacy and trade agreements in favor of the conquerors. I don’t know if the British opinion of the Chinese was the same as the sentiments in North America, but I think it would be safe to say that there was very little sense of equality. However, Hudson Taylor’s attitude was quite different, which is perhaps one of the reasons he is so respected.

Taylor adopted the dress, living quarters, eating habits, and customs of the Chinese people, unlike other missionaries, and received strong criticism for this. The CIM workers were expected to speak and read and write the language. In addition, they learned history, customs, and culture. To me, this shows profound respect for the Chinese people, their heritage, and way of life. The following are Taylor’s own words:

I am not peculiar in holding the opinion that the foreign dress and carriage of missionaries – to a certain extent affected by some of their converts and pupils – the foreign appearance of the chapels, and indeed, the foreign air given to everything connected with religion, have very largely hindered the rapid dissemination of the truth among the Chinese. But why need such a foreign aspect be given to Christianity? The word of God does not require it; nor I conceive would reason justify it. It is not their denationalization but their Christianization that we seek.

We wish to see Christian [Chinese] – true Christians, but withal true Chinese in every sense of the word. (emphasis mine)

Taylor’s deliberate decision to “in everything unsinful become Chinese” reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s willingness to be all things to all people for the sake of the gospel. (1 Cor. 9:19-23) And like Paul who fought against the gospel + circumcision, he did not want to impose a foreign culture upon the Chinese believers  – “true Christians, but withal true Chinese in every sense of the word.” His goal was not to make converts to Christ and British culture but to Christ alone.

As I consider the current state of America and the American church, I can’t help but think that we need to learn from Hudson Taylor today. As a nation, the divisions seem to be getting wider and wider with an increasing attitude of “assimilate or go home.” Sure this is the inevitable result of sin, so why should I be surprised and expect anything different? But what about the church?

As members of the body of Christ, we have dual citizenship in a kingdom with much higher standards. We are to love one another and esteem others more highly than ourselves. He is our peace who has broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile. (Eph. 2:13-15) We look forward to the day when we will join the throng from every tribe, nation, and tongue. (rev. 7:9-10) Yet, it seems as though lines are being drawn that parallel the wider culture rather than offering a stark opposite.

I’ve sat on this post for a while because the following questions go over like a lead balloon:

Is there unconscious cultural assimilation taking place in the American church and specifically the reformed church?
Are we willing to examine ideals, sometimes cherished ones, to see whether they are cultural or biblical?
Are we willing to listen to those who feel pressured to cultural conformity?
Are we willing to change?

It’s awkward to be on the receiving end of those questions, but it’s equally difficult raising them. Other than being with family or traveling to Asia, I have been a minority in just about every context my entire life. It is very wearing being the outsider. It is painful to be mocked, patronized, ignored, or worse – to be treated as a stereotype rather than an individual. I’ve learned that it’s easier to not make waves, keep your head down, do your job, and no one will give you a hard time. Or at least, the flack will be minimal.

But there comes a point where it is no longer acceptable for me to stay silent. My love for Christ and for His church should far outweigh my fear of being written off. (That’s the advantage of being a nobody. No one may care what I think or write. ) I also want to speak for the sake of my daughter. I don’t want her shamed or to feel ashamed for pursuing God’s plan for her life when it may be different from the accepted norm. To be very clear, the issue isn’t whether your culture is wrong and mine is right or vice versa. The issue is the assumption of assimilation. If you are in the majority, you are already inside the culture that others may feel pressured to join. This is why outsiders’ voices need a fair hearing and why I am respectfully asking you to please listen. You can’t speak for me, and please don’t assume that you can.

So consider yourself forewarned of future posts. Cans of worms may be opened. Toes may be stepped on. But why does Christianity need a cultural aspect given to it? As Hudson Taylor said, “The Word of God does not require it, ” so why should we?

Resources:

Respecting Chinese Culture: The Example of Hudson Taylor, Part One and Part Two, Dr. G Wright Doyle.

Heal Us, Emmanuel: A Call for Racial Reconciliation, Representation, and Unity in the Church, Storied Communications, 2016.

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America , Michael Emerson, Christian Smith, Oxford University Press, 2001.

Persis Lorenti is an ordinary Christian. You can find her at Tried With Fire and Out of the Ordinary. This article appeared on her blog and is used with permission.