By Wendy Choy-Chan

Is there such a thing as being spiritually independent? Not to depend on others to be fed and led, but to be able to understand and apply Scripture on one’s own to walk the right way? Sounds like spiritual independence of a mature Christian?

But wasn’t that what Eve attempted to do? She learned the word of God and set up a rule to apply to herself to prevent her from sinning. When her rule was challenged, she observed, reasoned, and deliberated all on her own. We all knew the result. 

Spiritual independence is an oxymoron. To be independent is to be free of control and aid of anything/anyone outside of self. But to be spiritual is to be in communion with the Spirit. The Spirit is constantly pouring the love of God into our hearts and aligning our hearts with the heart of Christ, such that God’s desire becomes our desire. It is an on-going experience such that we live by the Spirit moment by moment and walk by the Spirit step by step (Gal 5:25). Christian maturity is in fact spiritual dependence, with the full and best kind of control and aid. We take the yoke of Christ upon us (Matt 11:29,30) and walk our spiritual journey in faith, trusting and following Christ moment by moment, step by step. 

I started serving as an interim minister at my church at the beginning of last year, but resisted God’s call to apply to be the permanent minister, feeling that I was not mature enough, nor qualified. Who? Me? Shepherding his flock? No way! As the year went by, God took me through so many challenges in life and ministry that I finally realized “I” would never be “matured enough” or “qualified.” It is never “me,” but “Christ in me” — me with and depending on Christ. All of a sudden, the yoke became easy and the burden light, and I responded to God’s call in faith, trusting that Christ will be in and with me, every moment and every step. 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Wendy Choy-Chan became a Christian while attending university in Canada. She graduated from Fuller Seminary with an MA in Theology, and from Multnomah Biblical Seminary with a DMin in Heart-based Spirituality and Christian Formation. Wendy lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters, and she serves as a minister at Evangelical Chinese Church of Seattle.