Editor’s Note: Elder Hao Ming and Elder Wu Jianan from the Deyang Qingcaodi Church in Sichuan have been detained in the Deyang Detention Center for a year and seven months on charges of “fraud,” and have yet to be brought to trial. Elder Wu Jianan’s wife, Sister Cui Yanqin, has two sons, aged 10 and 6. May the Lord’s abundant grace fill this family and support the members of the Deyang Qingcaodi Church! This is a recent prison letter shared by his wife Cui Yanqin on her social circle.
Elder Wu Jianan (first on the left), Elder Hao Ming (third on the left) in a group photo with church brothers and sisters
My last letter was written in a hurry and I didn’t write much to you. This time I have written some meditations for you, and now I will write a bit more.
In the eyes of many Christians, grace is something that makes life more comfortable or easier, such as harmonious families and smooth work. If grace is just the goodness of this world, then the cross becomes a shame, or a disaster that Christians avoid. The cross cannot be our glory, nor the path Christ calls us to walk. Our culture talks too much about grace, but what grace is has become blurred. Grace includes all the gifts given by God. I use the word ‘gifts’ because the cross is the most evident among them. When Jesus called his disciples, he explicitly emphasized that they would follow him and bear their own crosses. This shows that the life of the cross only arises from following Him, not from personal choice or life’s pressures, and can even be said to be a lofty, unparalleled blessing.
In light of this, those who bow down in the face of difficulties, complain, blame each other, slander and judge others behind their backs, or give up on themselves, do not understand grace. The grace of the cross was meant to come upon them, but they rejected this grace and despised it, thus missing out on the power derived from a glorious life. Those who complain and retreat or cry behind the scenes, trying to live a strong and glorious life, do not know grace or the cross, so their tears only show how self-centered and fleshly they are. Their tears prove that God is a supporting actor, serving them. Wife, those who are thankful in the storm are the ones who understand the path of the cross, the true disciples. I hope you all live in gratitude and sing loudly that the cross is my glory!
I have summarized the meaning of suffering: suffering is a privilege, a reward and presence, a special glory, a channel to draw on heavenly power, an imitation of Christ, and a test.
These days I have been thinking about what we lack, and it’s the signs of repentance. We claim to have repented, but we can’t manifest new life. This is very troubling, don’t you feel it? Our entire family seems to lack this atmosphere. Are we too fake? Can our children feel our faith? Our new life really needs a big question mark. What should we do?
Wu Jianan
June 5, 2023
This is a letter from Wu Jianan to me, about grace and repentance: he hopes I can truly understand what grace is, that even suffering is a gift, and learn to be grateful amidst the storm! Reflecting on our family, we often lack repentance, and even our faith can affect our children. I think what he said makes a lot of sense, so I share it for mutual encouragement!
Cui Yanqin
July 6, 2023
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