A:
I'm thinking about writing some tracts with Taiwanese sayings. But in general, Taiwanese do not pay much attention to tracts. Perhaps they would take time to look at a comic-book type tract as Manga is a very popular form of entertainment. However, they have the biggest response from a sustained relationship.
People tune out for many reasons. The thing is, you have to just teach Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Meaning — sin, suffering, and God's love and judgment and mercy — which culminated with the cross and the resurrection. Point to Jesus the person: "What do you think about Jesus? What was he doing on this earth 2000 years ago? What about his completely righteous life? If so, then why did he have to die on a cross?"
(If you do not have much time to talk, it can be good for them to walk away with an unanswered question that comes back up in their minds… restlessly.)
The problem for Taiwanese is that they will have the same idolatrous orientation towards Jesus — some holy or powerful person and/or spirit whom you make deals with to get some of the power or good luck on your side to get what you want. So whether you turn to Buddha or your ancestors or Daoist gods, Matsu or the Red-Faced General or the Earth god (or Jesus — in their minds), they just worship or do the required rituals or give the right gifts to get that power on their side, so they can get the idol they really want: health, wealth, success, fame, sons, etc. And there is the other side of it, the mafia side: i.e. worship or pay off gods or ghosts to keep them from bringing you bad luck: I think of it as an extortion racket, protection money payments. That's their orientation.
You want to tell about Jesus? They'll think: I'm glad he's working for you. If my other gods don't come through, I'll consider him. Or … Oh, Jesus? Does he work for you? What do I have to do? What rituals does this god require? Then maybe he can help me with this problem I have — e.g. cannot get pregnant. Or want to pass a qualifying exam, etc.
So in this background, you have a lot more work to do. You need to convince them of the fact of sin — therefore the need of salvation. You need to teach them how God is just wholly other, totally different from Man. Man cannot become gods. Keep bringing them back to… but where did it all start, who created everything. You try to get some little power on your side, but what about the Most High Power, the One who created the Universe? Why talk to the desk secretary at a company when you can go straight to talk to the Boss, Founder and Owner of the company?
The Holy Spirit is the One who will make something you say “stick” in their minds. So say a little, or if the person seems open, say a lot, but that first time will not usually be the time they believe. It often will be 10 years down the road. Some of the Christians that became believers at New Hope actually first interacted with Christianity years before. And something stuck. Something made an impression. And at some point, they came back for a closer look.
So it is also good if you connect people with a church where there is relationship and a clear Gospel message. Some of the new believers had been coming to New Hope for three years… and it just was gradual, or they kept being confronted by something… and finally there was a breakthrough in their hearts.”
- Rev. Joel H. Linton
to Q & A
to resources
to Lintons