Welcome back for the second half of our deep dive with Ben Lau! If you thought part one was deep, prepare to get your spiritual socks knocked off. We kick things off with a provocative reading of Ben’s second parable, “Converting the Chinese Heathen.” It’s a story that challenges the “either-or” mentality of early missions, where becoming Christian often meant leaving one’s culture at the door. Ben and Daniel get real about the “white man’s religion” trap and ask the million-dollar question: Can you honour your ancestors and still follow Jesus? (Spoiler alert: it involves less “demonic” labelling and a lot more “conversational wondering.”)

The episode takes a fascinating turn as we connect Chinese history with Indigenous ways of knowing. From the “dry bones” of Ezekiel to the inculturation retreat centres of Hong Kong like Tao Fong Shan, we explore how faith can be planted in any soil and grow into something beautiful and unique. We even get into some “hot takes” on why Western theology dominates the pulpit while Chinese culture dominates the potluck. Whether you’re curious about Jesus as a “Hong Kong gangster boss” (yes, you read that right) or wanting to know how to be “prophetic” against modern-day empires, this episode is a playful wrestling in the tension and a deeply necessary conversation for anyone trying to navigate faith from any cultural, racial, or ethnic margin of Christianity.

Glossary of Terms

* Contextualization: The process of presenting the Gospel in a way that is relevant to a specific culture, without losing its core message.

* Heathen: A historical (and often derogatory) term used by missionaries for those who did not follow the Christian faith; Ben uses it here to critique historical attitudes.

* Ruach: The Hebrew word for “spirit,” “wind,” or “breath,” often used to describe the moving power of God.

* Tao Fong Shan (道風山): A Christian retreat centre in Hong Kong famous for its architecture and mission that blends Chinese cultural aesthetics with Christian theology.

* Prophetic: In this context, not predicting the future, but speaking truth to power and identifying “malformations” in society (like economic extraction or the marginalization of people).

* Qingming Festival (清明節/清明节): Also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, a traditional Chinese festival for honouring and visiting the graves of ancestors.

Small Group Discussion Questions

* Cultural vs. Christian: In the parable, the pastor mistakes Western culture (folding hands, specific hymns) for “pure” Christianity. What are some practices in your own church or faith life that are actually cultural rather than strictly biblical?

* The Ancestor Intersection: Ben points out that the Gospels start with genealogies and Jesus met his ancestors at the Transfiguration. How can we better “honour the dead” or our heritage in a way that enriches our faith rather than scares us?

* Jesus, the “Hong Kong Gangster” Boss: Daniel shares a hot take about Jesus being like a loyal Hong Kong “gangster boss” who takes a bullet for his people. If you were to explain Jesus’ character using a figure or archetype from your specific culture or community, who would it be and why?

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