One of my seminary profs once quipped that when he first heard the term “Three Self” when he was in Hong Kong he thought it was some new and acculturated way of speaking of the Trinity. Actually the “Three Self” movement is a missiological term that came out of the experience of missions in Africa, actually through the CMS missionary Henry Venn among others. It stands for “self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating or extending.” China latched on to the concept as an extension of their general mistrust of foreigners in the aftermath of the Opium wars etc… and as an excuse to prevent outside “interference” in the Chinese (state) Church.
I do like a good Three Self Patriotic Movement service now and again. Oh the chanting.
That name makes me a little twitchy. Somehow, I’m thinking that the patriotic “three selves” don’t involve the Most Holy Blessed Trinity.
One of my seminary profs once quipped that when he first heard the term “Three Self” when he was in Hong Kong he thought it was some new and acculturated way of speaking of the Trinity. Actually the “Three Self” movement is a missiological term that came out of the experience of missions in Africa, actually through the CMS missionary Henry Venn among others. It stands for “self-governing, self-supporting and self-propagating or extending.” China latched on to the concept as an extension of their general mistrust of foreigners in the aftermath of the Opium wars etc… and as an excuse to prevent outside “interference” in the Chinese (state) Church.
Maybe this group will be able to work with the Govt of China to allow Bibles into the Olympic Village next summer?