Happy (Chinese) New Year!

In 2nd Timothy chapter 4, we see that Paul is encouraging Timothy to be faithful in the circumstances in which he ministered, providing some principles we can follow today:
2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The word is watchful - are you watching?  Are you listening?  Are you speaking the truth in love? These are all characteristics of believers who are being a voice for God in our culture today.  There are many who do not know Him, and their errant ways are being reinforced by people who are all too willing to lure them to follow human ideals rather than Godly principles.  We have to be discerning and understand the times in which we are living, times in which we have been placed - sovereignly by God.

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The apostle Paul was devoted to finding creative ways to share the gospel message, as we see in 1st
Corinthians 9:
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;
20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;
22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

The Chinese New Year was celebrated over the weekend, ushering in the year of the rooster, and a ChristianHeadlines.com piece, referring to a Mission Network News report, highlights the work of Bibles for China, which decided to use the occasion as an opportunity to share the gospel.

The article says that, "During this huge celebration, many Chinese people go back home to be reunited with their families." Wendell Rovenstine of Bibles for China is quoted as saying,
“Bibles for China is really happy this year because we believe there’s a lot of homes where families will be together that, for the first time, these homes have a Bible..." He said, that as families "get together to make dumplings and serve dumplings at the end of the festival, before the children and the families leave to go home, that God’s Word will have been there.”

And, ChristianHeadlines.com had a story about a new way to celebrate the Chinese New Year in China, which was set to be introduced.  The article says, based on a CBN report:

This new celebration involves a musical based on the life of the biblical character Ruth, which will be performed throughout the entire nation of China. It is the hope of Christian artists that the message of Ruth—revealed within the musical, which has never before been seen in China—will bring more unbelievers to a saving faith in Christ.

The writer for ChristianHeadlines.com, Andy Beth Miller, says: "As well as the obvious hope for musical watchers to make a decision for Christ, the show's producers are also hoping that the familial theme of the play may serve to inspire improvement in China’s own family relationships." She points out that "...internal conflict within the family has been labeled as one of the top causes for the rising divorce rate in China. Here’s hoping the message of Ruth will meet its mark."

Show director Huang Lan was quoted in the CBN piece. He said, "The only question I thought about the whole time was, 'How should we present this Christian story?'" He added, ""I knew many broken Chinese families need to know the story...The conflicts among family members in China are greater than ever. This could be the chance to heal some of the broken relationships. I pray the (Holy) Spirit could make miracles."

There are several takeaways for us as we consider these two stories.  One is that we can be sensitive to the occasions around us to share Christ's love and hope.  For instance, in America, Christmas and Easter are two times of year during which I believe that spiritual sensitivity is high.  And, this ministry was insightful enough to look at the possibilities of families gathering in homes and endeavor to place Bibles throughout the country at a time when that Bible could impact more people. Sports occasions are also great vehicles to share Christ - you think of tremendous ministry that we've spotlighted around NASCAR; there are also the Olympic games and...a major sporting event is coming up this weekend that attracts large numbers of people and the potential for ministry focus - on-site and in churches, who might invite non-believers to come watch the big game.

And, there is a profound opportunity through the arts to communicate Biblical truth.  Artistic expression is a gift, and God will introduce concepts into our souls that can presented in creative ways.  As Jesus demonstrated for us, stories are great ways to illustrate the heart of God, and through the arts, people can find ways to present dynamic elements of their own stories.  Telling your story of what God has done for you is a powerful way to draw people to Christ.