Why Chinese Churches? Why Not? Take 2

So why Chinese churches? Well why not? The common argument I’ve heard coming from friends and church members comes from their right desire to reach their non-Chinese friends at work and neighbours. This is indeed a noble desires. Unfortunately more often it is idealistic than it is realistic. I was speaking to one young guy sometime ago about our church’s vision to be focused on reaching the Chinese. He echoed the same response  above ie we are being exclusive. What was interesting was when I asked him how many non-Chinese friends he has, he said none. All of his unbelieving friends were Chinese. Of course this is not true for everyone but the fact is that  in many cases it is basically true. It is the same with me. Most of my unbelieving friends and relatives are Chinese. I remembering going to a relative’s wedding  just recently. In the room would have been nearly 300-400 relatives, friends etc. 99% were basically Chinese and from what I know, nearly all were unbelievers. So the reality is that while I can try and reach out to so many other culture groups of people, why not focus on a group I’m already plugged into in a big way?

As in my previous blog, the numbers are divided between those who hold firmly to the HUP and those who hold firmly to HUP. Huh?? i.e. Homogenous Unit Principle vs. Heterogeneous Unit Principle. We talk about the basic unit PRINCIPLE, but as one friend helpfully noted, he would prefer to talk about the Homogenous Unit REALITY. Whether we like it or not, like attracts like. That’s a reality and let’s not deny it.

Now of course we can use this in a sinful and perverse way to be exclusive and racist, but we can also use this is in a strategic way to reach those whom we can better reach for the gospel. Let’s not deny it. As i said above, if I’m already plugged into a massive Chinese network, then why shouldn’t I play to that strength. Instead of always apologising for focusing on the Chinese I can give thanks to God that he has made me who I am and that I can reach the Chinese far far easier than anglos and anyone else for that matter.

This is not about being exclusive but about being focused.