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Confucianism sought to bring order and harmony to society by focusing attention on reviving the rites of the ancestors (li), and so becoming a cultured person (ren). The theory is that others will see the superiority of the cultured life and emulate it – and thus the cultured person’s dignified behaviour is the cornerstone of society.

However this means that all the focus is on external behaviour – and not at all on the internal motivations of a person. Over many years, this has generated a society where the highest virtue is to remain dutiful and fulfil one’s obligations, regardless of the personal cost. In contrast, in Western culture the highest goal is self actualisation (as in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).

And you can see the difference in East and West coming out in what is admired in the movies that people watch (particularly dramas – not action movies). In the West when someone breaks out of stifling and constricting social obligations and pursues what is really in their heart, that is seen as virtuous. Western movies are all about living the real you, about being authentic, about pursuing what you want – regardless of what others think about you. In contrast, movies in the East honour the father who fulfils his duty at great personal cost. The policeman who heroically does what is required of him. The employee who, though torn apart internally, who still fulfils his obligations.

In the East, this can translate to a Christianity that is all about duty. And obligation. And loyalty. People are admired because they fulfil their duty to God at great personal cost. The focus is on the sacrifice that people make. Perhaps you have heard statements like the following?

• "Look at that man, he has cancer, and yet he is setting up tables for church."
• "Look at that woman, she is in hospital dying, and yet she is still doing her duty by sharing the gospel."
• "Look at those missionaries, they give up so much to serve God. I could never be like them."

And these statements would be said with great reverence. With awe and humility before these people, in recognition that we have not yet attained such a level of godly self effacement.

However what is missing in all of this is the affections. Because the Eastern approach puts the focus on the external behaviour. On dutiful, even sacrificial obedience. In this approach, what is going on inside is irrelevant – or perhaps it is even better if you are personally wanting the exact opposite to that which you must dutifully do. And so it is even more heroic if, on the inside you long for a comfortable lifestyle, yet dutifully you pursue the hard road of being a missionary – and al that for God.

However far from requiring dutiful obedience, God is actually interested in our affections. He wants for us to love him (Deut 6:5), he commands us to delight ourselves in him (Psa 37:4), to worship the Lord with gladness (Psa 100). But not only that, God actually condemns dutiful obedience. Consider Deuteronomy 28.

The problem here wasn’t that they weren’t serving (external behaviour) – they were doing that. The problem was that they did not serve the Lord their God with joy and gladness (internal affections). And as a result they faced the judgement of God.

Consider also 1 Peter 5. Here Peter is appealing to elders of the church. Here the negative judgement from Deuteronomy is put in terms of a positive command.

We are to serve not because we must, not out of a sense of duty. But because we are willing, as God wants us to be. We are to be eager to serve. God is interested in our motivations in ministry. If we do the work of ministry begrudgingly, if we do it out of a sense of duty and not of joy, then we have a defective ministry. God is not honoured in your service, and you need a change of heart.

In Desiring God, John Piper describes a husband bringing flowers to his wife on their anniversary. She is overjoyed and thanks him – but imagine if he says, "don’t mention it, it’s my duty. Even though I didn’t want to do it, I sacrificed my money and time, and bought these flowers for you. It’s only what I have to do." That is an insult to her honour! She would be more honoured if the husband loves her and see it as his joy to bring her flowers.

Ultimately if we are serving God out of a sense of duty, if it is a great sacrifice for us, then it reveals what we really treasure. If it is a great sacrifice for us to serve God, it shows that we really value possessions or pleasure most of all – and not God. But when he is our very great treasure, then choosing him over lesser things is no sacrifice at all.

Jesus calls it hypocrisy when people honour God with their lips, but their hearts are far from him (Matthew 15:8). The sense of duty is deeply embedded in Chinese culture – and many Chinese Christians operate out of a sense of duty and obligation to God. However God is actually dishonoured when all our service is to us is duty. God desires that we serve him – with joy and gladness!

[ PS: a good book to read here is Desiring God, by John Piper. Read it online for free here! ]