Among the five religions officially recognised in China are both Catholicism and “Christianity”, ie, Protestantism. They are differentiated historically in Chinese minds by the use of different terms for God, different transliterations of the names of the Apostles and so on, rather than by matters of theology. Protestantism is nowadays said to be “post-denominational”. Anglican, Methodist, Lutheran and so on are defunct labels in modern China.
From the end of the 19th century there were Chinese Christians for whom the Western labels imported by missionaries were a distraction from Jesus-focused discipleship and an obstacle to evangelisation. They pressed the case for a unified church which could claim to be authentically Chinese and not a foreign religion.
Their case was understood by missionary leaders, but more in theory than in practice….
And these official ‘churches’ are just like real Christian churches except for the inconvient bits.
I’m no expert, having recently spent a mere week in Beijing, but in listening to Chinese Christians speak about the current situation, it became apparent to me that very little is as we would expect, as Western Christians raised on tales of the Cold War, Brother Andrew and Watchman Nee. The registered churches of China seem to have greatly increased freedom to preach and teach on formerly forbidden subjects; the Christians I met who belong to registered congregations were spiritually vibrant and very willing to put themselves on the line for the Faith. (I also learned, from a source I trust, that China is now one of the largest printers of Bibles in the world.) I’d need to learn much more to understand the dynamics between the registered and unregistered, and wouldn’t dare venture any opinions at this point. Whatever the details, it’s clear that the Christian situation in China is very dynamic, fluid and constantly evolving; there is tremendous opportunity, challenge, and need for prayerful support. I’ll need to duck for cover after writing this, and I’m certainly open to correction from more informed sources, but in closing, I wonder if there might be more of an argument for being a registered Christian in today’s China than remaining a parishioner in today’s Episcopal Church.
DuPage Anglican
“And these official ‘churches’ are just like real Christian churches except for the inconvient bits.”
Dilbert, it must be nice making your snide roman remarks from your comfortable home in America. Christians are dying for their faith. You do them a disservice by profaning their memories. But then it doesn’t matter. You are of no more consequence than those who burned protestants at the stake hundreds of years ago.
JM, you may have missed that I referred only to the PRC domesticated, sanctioned and approved ‘churches’ that out of their necessity to serve the state very carefully abridge the true Christian message to fit the political need. I have nothing but praise and thanksgiving for the underground church in the PRC that struggle to survive.
Dilbert, I think I need to re-underline my point that the realities of the registered churches in today’s China appear on closer much more complex than the all-too-simple assumptions about them that we tend to make in the West. Before going to China, I would have dismissed the registered church as quickly as you have, but what glimpses I saw suggest that God is mightily at work in China among registered Christians, unregistered Christians, and even among governmental officials, whether or not they acknowledge His work.
DuPage Anglican
Sorry, my mistake.
#5, so then halitosis is better than no breath at all?
You are correct DuPage (# 2) about the publishing of Bibles. The Bible Society officially and openly publishes in PRC many different translations, including a number of Chinese languages/dialects. They have a freely available DVD on the subject, shown recently in our church.
Further to DuPage @ #5. From a local woman who has now made SW China her home these last 25 years: the situation is delightfully fluid and complex, with registered churches having many freedoms generally and with some encountering problems from local officials. Her talks these past two furloughs have been a joy to listen to! So the headline, re six churches daily, rings true with her information alone.
Thanks to DuPage Anglican and art,
There’s a lot of similar anecdotal information floating around, but I know of no reliable, comprehensive study. But in the absence of hard data, these kind of personal testimonies are still valuable and encouraging.
Many experts feared that Christianity might die out in China after all foreign missionaries were expelled around 1949. But in a most amazing way, the Christian Church has actually thrived as never before. Maybe a little persecution would be good for us in the Global North.
Six new Protestant churches opening every day in China? Quite plausible in such a huge nation. Would that it were true in Japan! Or many other places, including post-Christendom European countries.
David Handy+
DuPage’s experience is the same as mine. The Gospel is being faithfully preached in the registered Protestant churches (Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches). Christianity – render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s – is very compatible with modern China. The only problem that I see when I have visited is that there is not enough space and not enough services. The demand is overwhelming. We were packed in like sardines. (I am preparing to go back for another surgical trip. Any prayers for a successful trip would be appreciated!)
#11: Having made the trip once, I’d pray for everyone who has to endure 14 hours in economy class just to get there. I appreciate the positive input here, and would really like to know more about the unregistered church in today’s China. Has its relationship to the government changed as the government changes its stance towards Christianity in general? How do registered and unregistered Christians and congregations relate to each other? What makes a Chinese Christian or congregation choose one course of action over the other? The possible questions are endless; now that I have been there, I find that I can’t stop thinking about the place, and can’t turn away from anything I find in print about it. China is a remarkable nation and culture, at a pivotal moment in its history, and therefore in ours.
Bon voyage, robroy.
DuPage Anglican