The Heavenly Man - Brother Yun

With Paul Hattaway. Published by Monarch Books: Oxford, UK & Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2002.

 How do I begin to describe this book to someone that hasn't read it?

This book is the faith-stirring, challenging, at times very foreign account of the life of Liu Zhenying, aka Brother Yun. One of the early leaders of the modern Chinese House Church movement, Brother Yun tells how he came to the faith, and how God has used him throughout his life. He does this very "matter-of-factly", always explaining what God has taught him in any given situation, and even admitting the times when his own stubbornness has led to the discipline of God.

The discipline of God.

Western audiences should find Yun's journey quite challenging at times, as he outlines times of imprisonment and torture, along with God's miraculous provision and deliverance. And the biggest challenge is that Yun sees God's hand at work in those times of torture and imprisonment as much as (if not more than) in those times of blessing. Prosperity preaching in the West can make us uncomfortable with the idea of suffering for the faith, to advance the Kingdom, and yet Yun highlights just that. He says things like "I was proud, so God sent me to prison to teach me to be humble", or "God allowed me to be in this prison so I could reach that person", and challenges the Western readers to see God's hand at work through things that seem negative.

I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to stretch their faith. It is very challenging, and is one my wife and I will be processing for some time to come.

Completed with Elise 1 February 2020.

(Elise Books)

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