From Confucian Scholar to a Servant of Christ

Be sure to read part one of this series, “Introduction and the Early Life of a Conqueror of Demons,” and watch out for the rest of entries, which give readers insight into the life and faith of this remarkable man.  

Pastor Hsi’s Conversion and Spiritual Rebirth

Hsi became David Hill’s Chinese teacher. This middle-aged, proud, and sad Confucian scholar, bound by sin, was extremely disappointed with the world, but he finally came to the truth of Jesus Christ. David Hill did not lecture to Hsi. When they were not in class, Hsi would attend morning prayers and evening worship, spending a lot of time reading the New Testament in his room. Jesus became real and trustworthy, not just a man anymore, but God in the flesh. However, the burden of sin, the condemnation of conscience, and the bondage of opium addiction became increasingly difficult for him to overcome. He realized his humbleness and unworthiness.

He placed the Bible respectfully in front of him and knelt down. He read the Bible like this, all the way to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the very presence of God came upon him. He heard the Savior’s cry, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death” (Matthew 26:38), and realized “He loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). In that small room, he yielded himself to the Redeemer.

On that autumn night in 1879, the 44-year-old Hsi belonged to Christ. Of course, he had to obey the Lord’s will, so giving up opium was imperative. He had been smoking opium for 14 years, and the addiction bound him like a chain. His craving for opium was stronger than his dependence on food and water. The severe pain caused by quitting opium seemed to tear his whole body apart, accompanied by unrelieved fatigue and dizziness. He was in tears, felt extremely depressed, dizzy, trembling all over, in unbearable pain, thirsty, unable to swallow food for seven days and seven nights, and even unable to sleep. He took a lot of anti-smoking drugs and tried both Chinese and Western medicines, but to no avail. Everyone prayed for him, and as long as his physical condition allowed, Hsi himself often came to the Savior to pray.

Finally, he realized that the pain he was going through was not only a physical struggle but also a spiritual force. Hsi cast himself completely into the arms of the Savior, and he repeatedly declared, “My life is in the hand of God. And truly, I am willing to break off opium and die but not willing to continue in sin and live!”¹

He read about the “Comforter” in the Bible and knew that the Holy Spirit of God could empower and strengthen people and help them to defeat their enemies. So he prayed quietly, and a wonderful answer came to him. Life and strength poured into his heart. He sweated all over. The pain and struggle stopped, the battle completely stopped, and peace filled his heart.

He later said, “I see now why I was permitted to pass through such a severe ordeal. It was in order that I might thoroughly understand the true nature of the conflict…If you would break off opium, don’t rely on medical help, don’t lean on man but trust only in God.”² When he later helped others break off opium, although he used and valued medicine, he never placed his faith solely on medicine. He firmly believed that in order to effectively overcome physical habits, the spiritual difficulties must be resolved first.

A New Name and a New Life

His opium addiction was eradicated. He seemed to have been trained by God and was growing spiritually. He was also called to the Great Commission. The clear calling, along with the filling of the Holy Spirit, left an indelible mark on him throughout his life. From that moment on, he was a separated person, chosen by God for special service.

This former Confucian scholar decided to give himself a new name. He did not choose a flowery name but used the two words “胜魔” (Shengmo: Demon-overcomer), which was practical and direct. He knew that the Christian life is a life of spiritual fights and conquerors.

Soon after Hsi was saved in Christ, David Hill went back to Hankou, and they never met again. When Hsi left the mission station and returned home, he was a completely new person. He was filled with love and joy, and his first reaction was to return to his family and share the good news that Jesus Christ saves sinners. People immediately sensed he was different and believed that he was possessed. He burned all the idols in his home and dedicated his home to the living Lord. He knew that he himself was the message he preached, and he was determined to live differently.

Conclusion

Pastor Hsi’s transformation from a Confucian scholar to a devoted Christian leader is a testament to the power of faith and the Holy Spirit. In the next installment, we will follow his journey as he matures in grace and faces the challenges that come with leading a ministry in a hostile environment.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on ChurchChina.org and translated by the author. ChinaSource edited it into a series of posts and published it with permission.

1. Mrs. Howard Taylor, Pastor Hsi, 52.
2. Mrs. Howard Taylor, Pastor Hsi, 53.

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