根据圣经的教导和福音的使命，我尊重上帝在中国设立的掌权者。因为废王、立王，都在于上帝。为此，我顺服上帝对中国历史和制度的安排。

作为基督教会的一位牧师，我从圣经出发，对社会、政治、法律诸领域，何为公义的秩序和良善的治理，皆有自己的理解和看法。同时，我对中共政权迫害教会、剥夺人类的信仰和良心自由的罪恶，充满厌恶和痛恨。但是，一切社会和政治制度的改变，都不是我蒙召的使命，也不是福音被赐给上帝百姓的目的。

因为，一切现实的丑陋、政治的不义和法律的专断，都显明了耶稣基督的十字架，才是每个中国人所必须的、唯一的拯救。也显明了真正的盼望和完美的人类社会，并不存在于地上的任何制度和文化的改变中，而单单在于人的罪恶如何被基督白白赦免，得着永生的盼望。

作为一位牧师，我对福音的笃信和对众人的教导，及对一切罪恶的责备，都出于基督在福音里的命令，出于那位荣耀君王的无法测度的爱。每个人的生命都如此短暂，而上帝如此迫切地命令教会，去带领和呼召任何愿意悔改的人向他悔改。基督如此迫切的、乐意赦免一切从罪恶中回转的人。这是教会在中国的一切工作的目的，就是向世界见证基督，向中国见证天国，向属地的短暂生活见证属天的永恒生活。这也是我本人所蒙的牧职呼召。

为此，我接受和尊重中共政权是上帝所允许的暂时的统治者，如同主的仆人约翰·加尔文所说，邪恶的统治者是上帝对邪恶的人民的惩罚，目的是催逼上帝的百姓向他悔改。为此，我乐意在身体上服从他们的执法行为，如同服从主的管教和训练。

我同时相信，中共政权对教会的逼迫是极其邪恶的犯罪行为。作为基督教会的牧师，我必须对这样的罪恶发出严厉的和公开的责备。我所蒙的呼召，也要求我以一种非暴力的形式，在和平和忍耐中，去违背那些违背了圣经和上帝的一切人间法律。我的救主基督也要求我，喜乐地承受违背恶法的一切代价。

但这并不意味着，我个人和教会的抗命行为，是任何一种意义上的维权行为或公民不服从的政治行动。因为我完全无意于去改变中国的任何制度和法律。作为牧师，我唯一关心的，乃是信仰上的抗命，所带来的对罪恶人性的震动，和对基督十字架的见证。

作为一位牧师，我的抗命行为是福音使命的一部分。基督的大使命要求我们对世界的大抗命。抗命的目的不是改变这个世界，而是见证另一个世界。

因为教会的使命，仅仅是成为教会，而不成为任何世俗体制的一部分。从消极的角度说，教会必须将自己从世界分别出来，避免让自己被这个世界体制化。从积极的角度说，教会的一切行动，都是努力向这个世界，证明另一个世界的真实存在。圣经教导我们，在关乎福音和人类良心的事务上，只能顺从神，不能顺从人。因此，信仰上的抗命和肉体上的忍耐，都是我们见证另一个永恒世界和另一位荣耀君王的方式。

这是为什么，我对改变中国的任何政治和法律制度并不感兴趣，甚至对中共政权迫害教会的政策何时会改变也不感兴趣。无论我活在现在或将来的任何政权之下，只要世俗政府继续迫害教会，戕害唯独属于上帝的人类良心，我就将继续信仰上的抗命。因为上帝赋予我的全部使命，是藉着我的一切行动，好叫更多的中国人明白，人类和社会的盼望，仅仅在于基督的救赎，在于上帝超自然的恩典掌权。

如果上帝决定藉着中共政权对教会的迫害，来帮助更多的中国人对前途绝望，带领他们经历信仰的幻灭与荒漠，从而认识耶稣，并不断熬炼和建造他自己的教会。我十分乐意顺服上帝的安排，因为他的安排总是慈爱而美善的。

正因为我的一切言行，并不寻求和期待社会和政治层面的任何改变；我对一切社会政治的权势，也不再存畏惧之心。因为圣经教导说，上帝设立政府的权柄，是叫作恶的人惧怕，不是叫行善的人惧怕。信耶稣的人，并没有作恶，也就不应惧怕黑暗的权势。尽管我是常常软弱的，但我笃信这是福音的应许，是我殚精竭虑，要在中国社会传扬的好消息。

我也明白，这恰恰也是中共政权对一个不再惧怕它的教会充满了惧怕的原因。

如果我被关押或长或短的时间，能够帮助掌权者减少他们对我的信仰和我的救主的惧怕，我十分乐意以这种方式来帮助他们。但我知道，唯有当我对一切迫害教会的罪恶说不、并以和平的方式抗命时，我才能真正帮助掌权者和执法者的灵魂。我渴望上帝使用我，以失去人身自由的方式，来告诉那些让我失去人身自由的人，有一种比他们的权柄更高的权柄存在，也有一种无法被他们关押的自由，充满了耶稣基督死而复活的教会。

无论这个政权对我加以怎样的罪名，泼以怎样的脏水，只要这罪名指向我的信仰、写作、言论和传教行为，那不过都是魔鬼的谎言和试探。我将一概予以否认，服刑而不服法，伏法而不认罪。

并且我必须指出，对主的教会和一切相信耶稣基督的中国人的迫害，才是中国社会最邪恶、最可怕的罪恶。这不但是对基督徒的犯罪，也是对一切非基督徒的犯罪。因为政府粗暴而残酷地威胁他们、阻拦他们来到耶稣面前，世上没有比这更罪大恶极的事了。

如果有一天，这个政权被上帝亲自颠覆了。不会有其他原因，必然出于上帝对这一罪恶的公义的刑罚和报复。因为在地上，从来只有千年的教会，没有千年的政权。只有永远的信仰，没有永远的权势。

关押我的人，终将被天使关押。审问我的人，终将被基督审问。想到这一点，主使我对那些企图和正在关押我的人，不能不充满同情和悲伤。求主使用我，赐我忍耐和智慧，好将福音带给他们。

使我妻离子散，使我身败名裂，使我家破人亡，这些掌权者都可以做到。然而，使我放弃信仰，使我改变生命，使我从死里复活，这些世上却无人能做到。

既然如此，尊敬的官长们，停止作恶吧，这并不是为我的益处，而是为你们和你们子孙的益处。我苦苦地劝你们住手，因为你们何必为我这样一个卑微的罪人，而情愿付上永远沉沦地狱的代价呢？

耶稣是基督，是永生上帝的儿子。他为罪人而死，为我们而复活。昨日、今日，直到永远，他都是我的君王和整个世界的主。我是他的仆人，为此被羁押。我将温柔地去反抗一切反抗上帝的人，我将喜乐地不服从任何不服从上帝的法律。

我坚信，圣经没有赋予任何政府部门管理教会和干预基督徒信仰的权柄。因此，圣经要求我，以和平的方式，在温柔的反抗和积极的忍耐中，充满喜乐地，去抵制一切迫害教会和干预基督徒信仰的行政和司法措施。

我坚信，这是一种信仰上的抗命行动。在迫害教会和抵挡福音的现代极权国家中，信仰上的抗命是福音运动不可避免的一部分。

我坚信，信仰上的抗命是一种末世性的行动，是在短暂的罪恶之城，对永恒的上帝之城的见证。抗命的基督徒，以十字架的道路和方式，效法那位曾钉十字架的基督。和平的抗命，是我们爱这个世界的方式，也是我们避免成为这个世界的一部分的方式。

我坚信，圣经要求我，在实践这一信仰上的抗命时，必须倚靠基督的恩典和复活的力量，遵循两个不可逾越的底线。

第一是内心的底线，对灵魂的爱，而不是对肉体的恨，是信仰上的抗命的动机。对灵魂的改变，而不是对环境的改变，是信仰上的抗命的目标。在任何时候，如果外在的逼迫和暴力，夺走了我的和平和忍耐，使我内心对那些逼迫教会和欺辱基督徒的人，生出了怨恨和苦毒，这一信仰上的抗命就失败了。

第二是行为的底线。福音要求信仰上的抗命必须是非暴力的。福音的奥秘是以积极的受苦，来替代身体的反抗，并甘愿承受不义的刑罚。和平的抗命，是爱与饶恕的结果。十字架意味着在不必受苦的地方情愿受苦。因为基督拥有无限的反抗能力，却忍受了一切羞辱和伤害。基督反抗这个反抗他的世界的方式，就是在十字架上，向一个将他钉死的世界，伸出和平的橄榄枝。

我坚信，基督呼召我，在这个抵挡福音和迫害教会的政权下，以一生的服侍，来实践这信仰上的抗命。这是我传福音的方式，也是我所传福音的奥秘。

主仆王怡

2018年9月21日初稿，10月4日修订，被羁押48小时后由教会发布

2019年12月8日，秋雨圣约教会教案一周年时由秋雨圣约教会发布

My Religious-Disobedience

By Pastor Wang Yi of Early-Rain Covenant Church, Chengdu, China

I respect the rulers of China in obedience to the teaching of Scriptures and the mission of the Gospel as all governments are set up by God. He alone rules in the kingdoms of the world, setting up kings and removing them also. Therefore, I submit to the rule of God in His arrangement of the governments and systems in China.

As a pastor of the church of Christ, my views concerning the society, politics, and laws, and what is a righteous and good rule of a society are based on the Bible. I despise and hate the evils that is being brought upon churches, stripping man’s freedom of faith and conscience. However, it is not my personal calling to transform society and governmental policies, neither it is the purpose of God’s people when they received Gospel.

Therefore, all of the ugliness of the society and unrighteousness in the politics and laws, are only serving to reveal the only, absolute need for all Chinese people, which is the Cross of Jesus Christ. Our hope of a perfect society on earth will not be fulfilled by the transformation of political systems or cultures, but only in the forgiveness of men’s sins by Christ, and the hope of eternal life.

As a pastor, my assurance of the Gospel, my teachings, along with my rebukes against all evils, are based on Christ’s commands in the Gospel, and from the unfathomable love of the glorious King. Life is short, God has urgently called the church to bring in all who are willing to repent, for Christ is ready to forgive all who turn from their sins. This is the only purpose of the church have in China: to testify Christ to the world, to reveal the Kingdom of Heaven in China, and proclaim eternal life in this short earthly life. This is also my own personal calling as a pastor.

Therefore, I accept and respect the Chinese Communist government as a temporary ruler permitted by God. As God’s servant John Calvin had said, wicked rulers are a punishment from God to a wicked people, its purpose is to urge God’s people unto repentance. For this reason, I am willing to obey their rule in my physical body, as if obeying the Lord’s discipline and training.

At the same, however, I declare that the persecution of churches by the Chinese government is an evil criminal act. I hereby renounce such a deed done by the government. My calling is to practice a peaceful civil disobedience in perseverance, disobeying all earthly laws that are breaking God’s law in the Bible. My savior Christ also commands me to endure with joy all consequences of disobedience to the evil laws.

However, I would like to clarify that my action and my church’s action of disobedience is not a civil-rights movement or political civil-disobedience of any sort. I have no intention to change the political system and laws in China. The only matter I care about as a pastor is Religious Disobedience, and its effect of brining repentance of sinners, to the glory of the Cross of Christ.

As a pastor, my action of disobedience is part of the mission of the Gospel. The Great Commission of Christ is a calling to radical disobedience to the world. The purpose of disobedience is not to change the world, but to testify for another world.

The mission of the church is to be a church, and not be a part of a worldly system. From a passive point of view, the church is to separate herself from the world—to avoid worldliness. But from a positive point of view, the mission of church is to enter the world, to testify the reality of another world. The Bible teaches us to obey God and not to obey men concerning the Gospel and conscience. Therefore, by religious disobedience and endurance in our bodies, we are showing that there is another eternal world and a King of glory.

Once again, I am not interested in changing the political and judicial systems of the Chinese government; and moreover, I am not working toward the change of religious policies or the removal of religious persecutions by the government. I will continue my religious disobedience, as long as the current or future government continue its persecutions of the church and harming man’s consciences. My mission from God is to make known to Chinese people that the hope of the society is only in the redemption of Christ, in the special sovereign grace of God.

If it was the will of God to use the persecutions of churches by the Chinese government to help Chinese people to recognize the hopeless future that they have, and to shatter their dreams of their false faiths for them to come to Christ. And also in the process to purify and build up His church, I will gladly submit to the will of God, for His will is always loving and good.

Due to my words and acts were not intended to change the society and political system, I fear not the powers of this system. For the Bible teaches that God sets up the government that the wicked might fear, not those who do good. It is not a wicked deed to believe in Jesus, and therefore we should not fear the power of darkness. Although I am weak, but I believe this is the promise of the Gospel, it is the good news I must preach to my final breath.

I also understand, this is the very reason why the Communist government is afraid of the church, who is not afraid of the government.

If my imprisonment, whether long or short, will help them to reduce their fear of my faith and my savior, I would be glad to help them in this way. But I also know, only when I say no to the evil that persecutes the church, and practice religious disobedience in peace, then I can truly provide help to those who rule in power. My yearnings are for God to use me in this way, that when I lose my physical freedom, I can proclaim to those who take freedom from me, that there is a higher power, and there is a freedom that cannot be locked up, overflowing from the church of Jesus Christ who died and rose again.

No matter what accusations they might put under my name, and in whatever ways they might smear my reputation, as long as they are concerning my faith, my writings, my speech and my evangelism, they are nothing but the lies and temptations from the devil. I will categorically deny any such accusations. I will take the consequences of disobeying the law, and I will plead “not guilty”.

I would like to point out that the greatest evil and crime of the Chinese society is the persecution of the church and all those who believe in Jesus Christ. This is not only a crime against the Christians, but also a crime against humanity. There is no greater crime in the world than a government which treats people with brutality and severe threatenings, in order to prevent them from coming to Christ.

One day this government will be overthrown by God himself, and the only reason will be none other than the vengeance and righteous judgment of the evil of the government. The Church will last for millenniums; there will be no thousand-years governments on earth. Only faith, not governments, will last for eternity.

Those who imprison me now will be imprisoned by the angels one day. Those who judge me now will be judge by Christ in the end. As I think upon these truths my heart is filled with compassion and sorrow toward those who lock me up. May the Lord use me, grant me patience and wisdom, to bring the Gospel to them as well.

The rulers of this world can separate me from my wife and children, they can tarnish my name, and they can destroy my family. However, no one on earth can make me to give up my faith, to transform my life, and to give me resurrection from the dead.

Therefore, my respected rulers, I plead with you to stop your acts of evil, not for my benefit only, but for the benefit of you and your children. I plead sorrowfully with you, why must you suffer the consequences of eternal damnation in hell for a humble sinner like me?

Jesus is the Christ, He is the Son of the Eternal Living God. He died for sinners, and rose again for us. From yesterday, today, to eternity Jesus will be my King and the Lord of the world. I am His servant, imprisoned for this very reason. I will disobey peacefully to all those who disobey God, and I will joyfully disobey the laws that are disobedient to God.

I believe the Bible does not grant the government authorities to intervene in Christian religious faith and church management. Therefore, according to the Bible I am to resist in peaceful manner and joyful endurance, all efforts by the government to suppress Christian faith and worship in churches.

I believe my action is a kind of religious disobedience. A religious disobedience movement is inevitable in an authoritarian nation that is set on persecuting the church and the Gospel.

I believe religious disobedience is an eschatological movement, it is a testimony of the City of God in this city of sin. Christians who participate in religious disobedience is walking a path of carrying the cross, imitating Christ who were crucified. A peaceful protest is our way of loving this world, and it is also a way to avoid worldliness.

I believe, according to the Bible, I will depend on the grace of Christ and the power of His resurrection to practice religious disobedience. I have two principles that I will not violate:

The first one is the principle of my inner heart. My love for the lost souls, and not my hate toward flesh and bones, shall be my motivation of religious disobedience. My purpose of religious disobedience is to transform souls, not to transform the society. I will have failed in my effort of religious disobedience when I become bitter and hateful, and lost my peace and patience in the face of persecutions.

The second principle is a principle of my actions. The Gospel requires a peaceful religious disobedience. The mystery of the Gospel to is to endure sufferings instead of physical resistance. It is a willing heart to accept unjust treatments. A peaceful disobedience is a result of love and forgiveness. The Cross displays a willingness to suffer in an unjust place. Christ has all powers in the universe to resist persecution, yet He endured shame and suffering. The way Christ resisted the resisting world was the Cross, He stretched out an olive branch to a world which crucified Him.

I believe, Christ has called me to serve with my life, to practice religious disobedience in this nation that persecutes the Gospel and the Church. This is my way of evangelism, and this is the mystery of the Gospel I preach.

Wang Yi

Written :9/21/2018

Edited: 10/4/2018

Letter released by my church after I have been jailed over 48 hours.