Last week I read the book, The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun. I’ve heard it recommend a handful of times as a telling story of China, modern day miracles, the persecuted church, and one man’s incredible testimony to God’s faithfulness. I found all that and more.
I want to be completely honest in this, but please don’t take offense at what I’m about to say. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was encouraging and challenging in many ways. However, I also at times, got tired of reading it. Brother Yun is constantly being beaten within an inch of his life, thrown in prison, and persecuted. I’m not saying it was okay for me to feel bored of reading about persecution, just that I did. It’s amazing to think that people have endured such intense and long lasting persecution even new.
I’ve subscribed to Voice of the Martyr‘s magazine for a number of years. For the past couple years in Nashville I was just getting emails, and I honestly wasn’t reading them, but fortunately a good friend at church was always making efforts to remind others of the persecution going on in the world and encouraging us to pray. This book was another challenge to “Remember those in chains as if you yourselves where in chains.”
I’m going to make an effort to read, remember and pray for my brothers and sisters in chains for the Gospel.
I don’t think I’ve commented before, but I’ve been subscribing to your blog via RSS feed on livejournal for a little while now.
I don’t think you’re a bad person for being bored by the book at times. I had a similar reaction when reading a memoir about domestic violence. It was hard to read about someone who continued to choose a situation that hurt them; of course, the life of a persecuted believer is something different. I can’t imagine living someplace where I’m imprisoned for my beliefs. I’m so grateful for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
Thanks for all your insights about living a Christian life. I may not always agree with you, but you views challenge and encourage me. God bless you!
I read this book a couple of years ago for a church retreat and liked it very much. The question that came up after words was “If Jesus came that we can have life and have it to the full (John 10:10) Is brother Yun’s life a full life”
This is a great question for a white middle class church. I came away reluctantly having to say yes.
i read this book a few years back after going to china on a summer trip during college. i think i liked it a lot because i could really imagine it happening. where i was, there were some church leaders that “disappeared”. it’s so so real. crazy huh?
and now, i definitely understand the feeling of these kind of stories becoming a little boring, just because the stories are so wide-spread. but hopefully, like you said, we won’t stop praying…it’d be just like the evil one to encourage us to not care as much about it and hopefully forget to pray.
Emily, Brian and Tiffany,
Thanks for the thoughts and encouragement I appreciate it.
Emily, so glad you finally said hi! Glad to have you and hope your interested in dialogging more.