Prodigals, Wastels, and Rogues
November 23, 2009
Filed under Applied Spirituality, Asian Christians, Bible Study, China, Chinese Christians, Christian Living, Christian Optimism, Christianity, Church, Conversion, Discipleship, God's Kingdom, God's Love, God's Story, Gospel, Grace, Jesus, Jesus' Teaching, Repentance, Trusting God
Tags: Chinese Christians, Christian Living, God's Grace, God's Love, Jesus, Jesus' Teaching, Parables, Prodigal Son, Repentance
Mick Turner
Scripture is filled with great teaching stories. Both the Old and New Testaments contain golden nuggets of wisdom, often hidden in the form of parables and dramatic tales of one kind or another. The problem is we often gloss over these stories because we have read or heard them many times. This sense of familiarity is unfortunate and leads us to either ignore or entirely miss vital truths which, if applied to our daily living, could make us much better people.
Consider the familiar story of the Prodigal Son as told by Christ in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. We are so familiar with this tale of a wasted life saved through love and redemption than we often loose the impact that it should have on our lives. Especially if we are wastrels and rogues like the wandering Prodigal. I had the good fortune to have this timeless story brought to new life for me when I was serving as an English teacher in China.
I often taught English writing classes to university students, mostly students majoring in English Language. I sometimes began the semester by handing out a paraphrase of the Prodigal’s story because it was easy to read and contained three central characters. The students were asked to write several paragraphs expressing their thoughts on the younger son, the elder brother, and the father.
The results were often startling. Sometimes students criticized the younger son for his irresponsibility and lack of filial piety, certainly a strong value in a culture so influenced by Confucianism. Others admired him and extolled his adventurous spirit and independence. These were usually students who were strongly impacted by the New China and its market economy and increasing focus on material acquisition. Opinions also varied on the elder son, ranging from a “loyal and faithful son” to a “stick in the mud traditionalist”. But it was the father who tended to mystify them most. How could a father be so tolerant? So forgiving? So loving and compassionate?
At times students were able to ascertain that this was a story about something other than a human father, although I never discussed this in class in a formal way. To do so would be in violation of my contract and Chinese laws regarding foreigners and religious activities. But the student responses helped me as a Christian. They helped me view this story with “fresh eyes” or as Chinese Christians would say, ” Xin qi de mu guang”. The student writings pushed me to see things from different perspectives, different angles. They helped me to see more clearly.
What I saw more clearly was the outstanding, awesome, and all-encompassing love of the Christian God. Of course I had often heard this concept expressed in numerous sermons and read of it in countless books. But while in China, where I was more dependent upon the Spirit for my spiritual food, this reality of God’s loving grace bored into my heart more and more deeply. I came to understand at a deeper level that I was in fact accepted. Accepted in my weakness because this is where the strength of Christ is seen. Accepted in my brokenness because this is where the healing of Christ is seen. Accepted in my faithlessness because this is where the fidelity of Christ is seen. Accepted in my wandering in the wilderness because this is where Christ’s true and stable mansions are eventually discovered.
Remarkable isn’t it – God accepts our response to his offer in spite of our conflicted hearts and spirits. In fact, if one is to believe what Christ teaches in the parable of the Prodigal, then he in accepts our desperation just as much as he accepts our repentance. Again, this points to the awesome nature of God’s love.
The following passage is a directly quoted from one my student’s compositions, in this case from a young woman of twenty-one who had remarkable insight into the character of the prodigal son’s father:
What impressed me most was the father in the story. I was most amazed at his love for his two sons, especially the younger one. You see, when the boy asked for his share of the family fortune, the father gave it to him willingly. But it was not just money that he gave him. If you think about it, the father gave the wayward son a part of himself. The money was just the outer trappings. The father had worked hard for many years and put himself into earning this money. So when he gave the money to the young boy, he gave him his life as well. But the young man was foolish and immature. He wasted his father’s money and became bankrupt. But even more, he wasted his father’s most precious gift, that gift of himself. No wonder he ended up starving and despondent. If I were in that situation I, too, would have a deep longing to return home to the embrace of my loving father. And what is most wonderful in this story is that the father accepted him and loved him, no questions asked. I would give the world to know a father like that.
Many people would like to believe, truly believe, in the overwhelming love offered by God in the Christian gospel. Yet many refuse to accept God’s gracious offer because they feel they are too unworthy, too blemished, too tarnished, too tainted. Many feel they are not good enough to share in this amazing grace that the Bible talks so openly about. Well, the fact is these people are right. They are unworthy, blemished, tarnished, tainted. All of us are. That’s the whole point of the gospel in a nutshell. We cannot go to God because of who we are. But God can come to us. And he did. Christ came into the world for the sick, the fractured, the less than whole. Our unworthiness is our greatest claim to the good news of the gospel.
Because we are broken, we are blessed.
© L.D. Turner 2009/ All Rights Reserved
Continue to Pray for Your Brothers and Sisters in China
February 14, 2009
Filed under Asian Christians, China, Chinese Christians, Christian Kindness, Christianity, Church, Church Renewal, Discipleship, Global Church, God's Kingdom, God's Love, Gospel, Holy Spirit, House Church, Jesus, Jesus' Teaching, Ministry, Mission and Calling, Missions, Morality and Values, Positive Faith, Positive Living, Prayer, Service, Spiritual Practices
Tags: Chinese Church, Christianity, Early Christians, Early Church, Global Church, God, Holy Spirit, Prayer
Mick Turner
The incredible growth of the Chinese Church continues and I wanted to once again mount my soap box and ask that all readers of this site remember to pray for your brothers and sisters in China. In spite of formidable odds, restrictive laws, and consistent persecution, Chinese Christians continue to spread the gospel throughout their homeland and the results are staggering. Although the church, particularly the underground house church movement, is still expanding at a mind-boggling pace, these brave, committed Christ-followers need ongoing prayer and support.
If you are a regular reader of this site, you probably know that I lived and worked in China for five-plus years, serving as a tent-maker missionary. As I have stated many times, these years were the most rewarding years of my life personally, professionally, and especially, spiritually. The commitment, vitality, and courage of the Chinese Church is truly inspirational. As my wife, who is Chinese, and I often share in our talks about the Chinese Church, God is doing a very special work in the Middle Kingdom.
It has often been said that the Chinese House Churches bear a striking similarity to the First Century Church and there is much truth to this statement. Most times, however, those who make these comparisons have focused primarily on the similarities between the early Church and the house churches in the context of location and structure. Like the early Christians, the Chinese house churches meet in peoples homes and have a similar structure to their First Century counterparts. Another striking similarity of course is that both groups faced persecution. The Chinese Church, as previously stated, still is quite unpopular with the government and, to some extent, the secular culture as well.
It is important to consider these similarities to be sure, but there are other ways the Chinese Church bears close resemblance to the early Christian church in the First Century. Let’s take a look at a description of the early church by Don Basham, given in his book A Handbook on Holy Spirit Baptism:
What grips the imagination is not the lack of prestige but the demonstration of power. In that day, God moved in response to prayer. Miracles attended the saving power of Jesus Christ. Within the spreading fires of that church’s influence, not only were the lost redeemed, but the lame walked, the blind received their sight and the oppressed were delivered from demonic powers. It was a fellowship of believers admittedly imperfect but vibrantly and dynamically alive. It may have been despised by the society around it, but no one ever accused it of being dull and boring…..Those early Christians were more interested in manifesting the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives than in maintaining orderly worship services. They were more concerned with Christian love than correct liturgy, more concerned with being found faithful than found popular.
When I first read these words I immediately thought of my many Christian friends in China, both in house churches and in the sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Many of these Christians are on fire for the Master, seeking to serve him wherever they are planted and doing so in often difficult circumstances.
Also, just as in the early church, there is a great deal of emphasis on the Holy Spirit. This is truer of the house churches than the Three-Self bodies, where more charismatic displays are discouraged. In the underground church there are frequent, well-documented cases of signs, wonders, and the miraculous. As in other areas of the world, the explosion of church growth in China has been primarily a Pentecostal/Charismatic phenomenon and, whether more sedate and staid members of the Body of Christ in the West understand it or not, this reality has resulted in a vital, energetic, and courageous church that flourishes in spite of governmental, social, and economic impediments. From my first-hand observations of the Christian faith in China, this is without a doubt a work of God.
It is for these and many others reasons that I ask you to continue to pray for the Chinese Church as it finds its way in the ever-changing landscape that is contemporary China. God is indeed doing a great work among these wonderful people and we can all be a part of it through prayer and encouragement.
In addition, please remember that there are still many of our brothers and sisters in China who are suffering mightily due to the devastating earthquake that struck Sichuan Province late last spring. Months later, many remain homeless and without many of the basic items we often take for granted.
© L.D. Turner 2009/ All Rights Reserved
Back To Jerusalem: A Mission of Passion and Purpose
October 31, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Evangelism, Global Church, God's Kingdom, God's Story, Gospel, Holy Spirit, House Church, Jesus, Jesus' Teaching, Ministry, Mission and Calling, Missions, Positive Faith, Positive Living, Prayer, Revival, Service, Trusting God
Tags: Back to Jerusalem, Chinese Church, Gospel, Islamic World, Missions, Obedience
*** A significant number of readers have asked that we again publish this article on the Back To Jerusalem movement, a missionary effort of the Chinese Church. We are more than happy to do so as we at LifeBrook both support and engage in continuing prayer for the safety and success of those involved.
Mick Turner
The news of late has carried a number of stories about the Olympic Torch and its precarious journey around the world. Protesters in many countries have gathered to make their voice heard about the atrocities committed by the Chinese government in its suppression of Tibet and its support for the bloodshed in Darfur.
Perhaps lost in this vocal and even violent protest over the plight of the Tibetans is the difficulties often encountered by Christians in China. Although the Communist Party has gradually taken a more tolerant position toward the Chinese Church, there are still incidents of persecution, imprisonment, torture, rape, and even murder. These atrocities are often aimed at members of China’s illegal underground church and, while many make it in to the western press, many others go unnoticed.
This article, however, is not so much about the persecution of Christians in China as it is about the heroic efforts of Chinese Christians to spread the gospel beyond the borders of the Middle Kingdom. The fact that these brothers and sisters in Christ plan and execute these missionary efforts is especially remarkable, considering the political environment in which they have to operate.
I lived and worked in China for over five years, serving as a “tent-maker” missionary. During this time, I became acquainted with many Chinese Christians, both members of underground house churches and the official Three Self Patriotic Movement, the government sanctioned church in China. It was through my friendships with these remarkable Christians that I first learned of the “Back to Jerusalem” project. Since returning to the States I have learned that very few western Christians are aware of Back to Jerusalem, so I want to share a bit of information about the movement in hopes that these brief words might motivate readers to pray for these courageous missionaries who, quite often, place themselves in the mouth of the lion.
Briefly stated, the goal of the Back to Jerusalem project is for Chinese Christians to evangelize all the nations between China and Jerusalem. The proponents of the movement understand that Christianity spread westward from Jerusalem and eventually to Britain and America. The faith then traveled from these two countries to China. The Chinese Church now feels it has both a call and a mandate from God to take the gospel message all the way back to its origin. In a geographical sense, the good news will have spread around the world.
The vision for Back to Jerusalem actually was birthed back in the 1920’s, but due to the ever-shifting nature of Chinese politics during the first half of the 20th Century, the movement fell off the radar for a number of years, only to resurface with great passion as the century drew to a close. Often hamstrung by a lack of funds, the proponents of the project never gave up. Against all odds, the initial missionary team was formed and trained.
In March, 2000, a team of 36 Chinese missionaries left the country for the mission field. A number of them never returned, but the project continued to move forward. Relatively unknown in the West, the Back to Jerusalem movement continued to arouse passion in the Chinese Church. Many of the initial missionaries had been subject to torture, deprivation, and ill-treatment in their home country, so they were well-prepared for what they might face in other lands that were hostile to Christianity, especially Muslim nations.
The Islamic countries are a high priority for the Back to Jerusalem missionaries. As I talked to people involved in the project and reflected on what I learned, I arrived at one salient awareness: Perhaps the Chinese are much better equipped to evangelize Muslim nations than we westerners, particularly Americans, are. The fact is, Americans have a bad reputation in the Islamic World. Whether this image is justified or not is not the issue here. The reality is, a Muslim is more likely to listen to a Chinese Christian than an American one.
Space does not permit a detailed analysis of the movement here. I would like, however, to encourage Christians here in the States to pray for these missionaries, their families, and for the success of Back to Jerusalem. Believe me, these folks need all the help they can get, spiritual and material. If you would like more information on the Back to Jerusalem project, visit the website:
http://www.backtojerusalem.com
Also, Paul Hattaway, along with three prominent house church pastors, has written a book entitled, Back To Jerusalem, which contains useful information.
In closing, I find it ironic that, with all the protest about the Olympic Flame and whether or not it will complete its journey around the world, the Chinese are carrying another flame, this one of the spirit, which is also attempting to complete a circumnavigation of the globe.
May God be with these courageous people.
© L.D. Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved
Wise Words for Today
October 31, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Bible Study, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Discipleship, Global Church, God's Kingdom, Gospel, Grace, House Church, Identity In Christ, Incarnation, Inner Light, Issues in Transformation, Paul's Teachings, Sacred Study, Scripture, Spiritual Quotations, Wise Words for Today
Tags: Christianity, Spiritual Quotations, Gospel, Chinese Christians, Chinese Church, Watchman Nee, New Creations in Christ, In Christ
Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold they are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). The Cross terminates the first creation, and out of death there is brought a new creation in Christ, the second Man. If we are “in Adam,” all that is in Adam necessarily devolves upon us; it becomes ours involuntarily, for we have to do nothing to get it. There is no need to make up our minds to lose our temper or to commit some other sin; it comes to us freely and despite ourselves. In a similar way, if we are “in Christ,” all that is in Christ comes to us by free grace, without effort on our part but on the grounds of simple faith.
Watchman Nee
(from The Normal Christian Life)
Thoughts on the Chinese Church – (continued)
August 19, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Church, Evangelism, Global Church, Ministry, Mission and Calling, Missions, Morality and Values, Positive Faith, Prayer, Service
Tags: Beijing Olympics, Chinese Christians, Chinese Church, Christianity, Evangelism, Global Church, Missions
Mick Turner
As the 2008 Beijing Olympics are underway, I have been reflecting on some of the legal aspects of practicing Christianity in China, specifically as such practice applies to Chinese citizens. I suspect that most American Christians are generally unaware of how the legal system works in China in relation to religious practice.
In addition, as the Olympics unfold there will be increased media attention focused on China and, whenever there is increased media attention on a subject, there is often an increase in confusion. This occurs not out of less than savory motives, but instead, occurs because it is impossible to give the full perspective on an issue in the space of a few minutes or worse still, in a sound bite.
As some readers know, I spent close to six years living and working in China. As what has come to be called a “tent maker” missionary, I worked as a university professor, teaching advanced courses to English and Journalism majors. As I have said before, this was perhaps the most rewarding experience I have ever had, both professionally and spiritually. I became very close with a number of Chinese Christians and, in so doing, gained much perspective on the reality of what it means to worship Christ in China today.
Before I went to China, I had a long-standing love affair with all things Chinese. I was a serious student of Chinese history, culture, religion, and philosophy. My time there only deepened the affection I felt for this magnificent land and its even more magnificent people. I especially came to honor and esteem Chinese Christians who are forced to go about pursuing their love for Christ in ways that we cannot even imagine. Observing, developing friendships, and just associating with these folks taught me more than I can ever know.
Living and working in China, I also discovered that we Americans have a somewhat distorted view of Chinese society in general and Chinese Christianity in particular. This is not to say that everything we see, hear, and assume about China and its Church is incorrect. It is just to assert that there are some areas where, due to a lack of contact and familiarity, we have come to several erroneous conclusions.
As a very brief backdrop to what follows, let me share a few things that will help you understand the contents of this article. First of all, Christianity in China is growing at a pace too rapid to quantify. All attempts at discerning the actual number of professing and practicing Christians in China is wrought with difficulty. Official figures cannot be trusted due to questionable and largely inaccurate methods of data collection, along with the fact that the local governments often report either inflated or otherwise faulty figures in order to meet the needs of its own agenda. Also, the membership in the massive house church movement, which by the way is where the tidal wave of expansion is taking place, is not available. In a country where religious persecution can be a definite reality, keeping membership rolls is asking for trouble.
Explaining the divisions of Christianity is also somewhat difficult, but I generally use the following way of breaking things down into a manageable perspective. Basically, there are three types of religious entities found in China. First, there is the government sanctioned church, known as the Three Self Patriotic Movement. This is the official church and, increasingly, these congregations are meeting in church buildings, not wholly unlike their counterparts in our country. The distinguishing feature of the Three Self Church is the fact that it is a legal entity and, although it operates under close state scrutiny and restrictive laws, members rarely are harassed for worshipping openly unless they do something that violates one of the many laws governing church operations and practices.
I am in daily prayer for the Chinese Church in all its forms and I hope that, with the Lord’s guidance and blessing, I can eventually turn some of the material I will be sharing in this series of articles into a book that delves into the subject at a greater depth. Most of the research and first draft has already been completed. Also, here at LifeBrook my wife, myself, and a Chinese couple we are dear friends have put together a ministry we call ChinaLight International, which is commissioned with the goal of increasing contact, understanding, and cooperation between Christians in China and America. This undertaking, however, is wrought with difficulties in terms of laws in both countries, visa issues, and international politics.
Still, we are assured that we can, with the Lord’s help and benediction, turn these stumbling blocks into stepping stones. We humbly and earnestly ask for your prayers for this vital endeavor.
© L.D. Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved
Further Reflections on the Chinese Church
July 26, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Book Reviews, Books That Bless, Chinese Christians, Christian Books, Christian Education, Christianity, Church, Discipleship, Global Church, God's Kingdom, House Church, Missions, Morality and Values, Revival, Worldview
Tags: China, Chinese Christians, Chinese Church, Christianity, David Aikman, Global Church, Jesus in Beijing
Mick Turner
If you are a regular reader of this blog you are aware that I have a deep and abiding love for China, its people, and especially its church. I lived and worked in China for almost six years as a tent maker missionary and, as I have said before on these pages, these were the most rewarding years of my life on both a professional and a spiritual level. Moreover, my wife is Chinese and a Christian and through our years of marriage I have deepened my understanding of her homeland and its people.
As the 2008 Olympics rapidly approach, I have been thinking and praying about this fascinating country and thought I might share with you a bit about a book that explores the Church in China and the ramifications of its rapid growth. The book is by David Aikman and entitled, Jesus in Beijing. Aikman was Beijing Bureau Chief for Time Magazine for many years and has a unique perspective on the social and religious changes taking place in China as it transitions into a market economy. The book is highly informative, readable, and cuts to the chase as far as some of the main issues surrounding the church in contemporary China.
Based on the current growth figures, the book makes several thought-provoking statements early on. For example, consider this perspective:
Within the next thirty years, one-third of China’s population could be Christian, making China one of the largest Christian nations in the world. These Christians could also be China’s leaders, guiding the largest economy in the world…..What is happening in China is what happened in the Roman Empire nearly two millennia ago – a great power transforming itself. The results could be astonishing.
Indeed, the results could be quite astonishing. Is Aikman guilty of being overly-optimistic in his assessment of the potential influence of Christianity in China? Perhaps he is, at least in certain areas. Overall, however, I think his statements ring true in a number of ways. For example, Aikman discusses an important meeting that took place between a group of 18 American tourist and several key Chinese economists and sociologists. In particular, Aikman mentions a lecture attended by this group of tourist. During the lecture, the Chinese speaker said the following:
“One of the things we were asked to look into was what accounted for the success, in fact, the pre-eminence of the West all over the world,” said the lecturer. “We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life is what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don’t have any doubt about this.”
Standing alone, that statement itself should blow your socks off. Even more asounding, however, is the source. This was not some hard line evangelical Christian preacher from America speaking; it was not a pastor of the official Three Self Patriotic Movement or even a renegade house church organizer. The person speaking was a well-respected scholar from one of China’s most prestigious academic research institutes, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing. Although always seeking to expand the arena of social science research in China, Aikman accurately points out that CASS is “hardly a viper’s nest of liberal dissent” in China. In fact, I had several dealings with CASS during my stay in China and found the scholars there to be cordial, helpful, but quite conservative.
The lecture, which took place in 2002, was delivered by a man who spoke excellent English, was quite knowledgeable about both Chinese and American history, and is representative of a growing number of highly educated academic elite in China who are becoming enamored with Christian thought in general and Christian morality in particular.
During my years in China, I noticed that many of my students were spiritual hungry and seeking answers to life’s important questions. Since the collapse of credibility in Maoist-Marxist teachings, more and more thoughtful people in China are turning to religion for answers. Many return to their family roots in Buddhism or Daoism. Large numbers are exploring other religious traditions, many of the New Age variety. The overwhelming majority of these spiritually famished seekers, however, are finding both hope and truth in Christianity.
It will be vitally important for Western Christians to keep abreast of the growth and progress of the Church in China. By sheer numbers alone, the Chinese Church will help forge to future directions of the global church. It is equally important that Christians in the West learn as much as possible about the Chinese Church, its history, its cultural underpinnings, and its ongoing relationship with the government. China as a nation is going to play a major role in the unfolding of history in the 21st Century and beyond. The Chinese Church will also play a significant role in the unfolding of Christian history as well. With these thoughts in mind, let us do all that we can to become better educated about this ever-growing circle of brothers and sisters all across China. A good place to begin is Aikman’s book.
And above all, lets remember to keep these consecrated and committed people in our prayers. They face, on a daily basis, challenges that we in the West never imagined.
Have a Safe and Happy Holiday
July 4, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Church, Global Church, God's Kingdom, House Church, Prayer, Spiritual Practices
Tags: Add new tag, China, Fourth of July, Persecution, Prayer, Religious Freedom
I just wanted to take a few moments to wish each and every one of you a safe and happy Fourth of July. In addition to great food, fireworks, and other plans you may have, I would also like to encourage you to spend time reflecting on and expressing your gratitude to God for the freedoms that you have. I am especially thinking about the freedom to worship openly.
After spending five-plus years in China, the issue of freedom to worship is particularly on my heart every Fourth of July. Although China has come a long way in terms of allowing Christians to gather and worship the Lord, these new-found freedoms remain inconsistent and persecution is still a daily reality in the Middle Kingdom. I know this from things I witnessed while living over there. In some areas, believers had little trouble from the authorities while in other locales, Christians were jailed on a regular basis.
In your prayer time today, please remember your brothers and sisters in China and in other nations where the freedoms we often take for granted are only a pipe dream.
Have a blessed day,
Mick
The Church in China: Perspectives on the Future
June 19, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Church, Church Renewal, Culture, Evangelism, Global Church, God's Kingdom, Gospel, Holy Spirit, House Church, Revival
Tags: China, Chinese Christians, Chinese Church, Christianity, Global Church, Pentecostal Christianity
Mick Turner
I walked slowly down the steep hillside that overlooked the Taiwan Straits. Located just off shore from Mainland China, Nan Ao Island is a singular place of beauty. As I sat on a large boulder I could sense something very special about this place. Maybe it was what the Celts called a “thin spot,” one of the unique locales where the seen and the unseen worlds intersect. I sat there for over an hour, alternating times of prayer with times of silence; times of conversing with God and times of just being still and sensing the wind against my face. At such a time it was very easy for me to understand why, in so many languages, the words for wind, breath, and spirit are the same.
I suspect it is only fitting that this place would be a thin spot, which separates one reality from the next. In our physical world it does the same thing in many ways. This narrow body of water is like a membrane between two worlds, the one on Taiwan and the other on the Mainland. In one world Christians are free to practice their faith without fear of government repercussions; in the other, although things are much more open than in the past, there is still the chance of persecution and incarceration.
As regular readers of this site may recall, I spent five-plus years working as a tent-maker missionary in China. These years were without a doubt the most rewarding and fulfilling years of my life on just about every level. Always fascinated by China and its 5,000 year old culture, these years gave me the opportunity to experience first hand many of the remarkable changes that are taking place. In addition, it also gave me a chance to be a witness for the Lord through my interactions with the many Chinese friends I made during my years there.
One of the most obvious things I observed was just how spiritually hungry the Chinese people are. With the collapse of the Marxist and Maoist world view and the transition to a market economy, many Chinese are searching for something to hold on to, something that will not only give their life a sense of meaning and purpose, but also, something that will give them a sense of traction in a society that is literally changing from one day to the next. I think it is this very spiritual hunger that is fueling the phenomenal growth of the Protestant Church in China.
Here in the West we have heard about this rapid growth of Christianity in China and we welcome it. It is highly correct that we do so and we should do all that we can to enable that growth to continue, whether it be by financial support, going on our own missions, or engaging in consistent prayer for this vital church body. What is even more important is that believers in the West come to understand the potential significance of what is happening with the church in China. Events unfolding now in the Middle Kingdom, especially in regards to the growth of the church, will without a doubt have an impact on the world at large during the 21st Century. Whether this impact is of a positive nature or a negative character remains to be seen. What is certain is the fact that the church, in spite of decades of severe persecution, has grown dramatically.
Efforts at ascertaining an accurate number of professing Christians in China are wrought with difficulty. This is due in large part to the reluctance on the part of many true believers to publicly identify themselves as such. And, with the horrid history of severe persecution, who can blame them? Further, the numbers proffered by the government cannot be trusted as they normally include only statistics from the officially sanction Three Self Patriotic Movement churches. Independent researchers come up with varying figures as well. Keeping all this in mind, the most reliable counts put the number of Christians in China at somewhere between 80 and 110 million.
A recent report by the National Catholic Reporter’s veteran writer John Allen stated that 10,000 Chinese become Christian every day. If this figure can be trusted, and other researchers affirm that it can, this would mean that by mid-century there will be at least 200 million Christians in China. It boggles the mind and the ramifications are tremendous. Whereas for centuries the Christian faith has been a largely western phenomenon, in just a couple of generations, Christianity may well be “Sino-centric.”
Research into the makeup of the Chinese church is also somewhat difficult for the same reasons that accurate numbers are hard to collect. Still, several trends are readily discerned. First, the growth rate in the church is increasingly occurring among the nation’s intellectuals and on its university campuses. This is a significant trend in that it is these very people who will increasingly occupy leadership roles within the apparatus of the state. The more Christians occupying positions of influence, the more these believers may be able to guide the direction of the country.
Interestingly, the Chinese Church, especially in the house churches, is overwhelmingly Pentecostal. Some studies report that as many as 95 percent of believers in the non-official church bodies are Pentecostal and/or charismatic in their expressions of faith, including speaking in tongues, signs and wonders, emphasis on healing.
The Pentecostal makeup of the church is fascinating, considering what was just said about the fact that the church’s most rapid growth is coming in intellectual and university settings. In America, in the immediate aftermath of the Asuza Street outpouring, the early Pentecostal movement grew rapidly among the lower classes and, to a large extent, uneducated people. It would seem that whatever the Holy Spirit is doing in China, it is of a different flavor that its American counterpart.
/to be continued/
© L.D. Turner 2008/All Rights Reserved
A Great Blog About Asian-American Christianity
June 4, 2008
Filed under Asian Christians, Chinese Christians, Christianity, Church, Culture, Discipleship, Global Church, God's Kingdom, Internet
Tags: Asian American Church, Great Blogs
Whenever I run across a web site or blog that I feel is great, I not only add it to my blogroll, but also make a comment on this blog. One such site is Peter Ong’s blog entitled, Journey of a Servant. The blog is about many aspects of the Asian American Church. You might want to take a look. If you are interested in the Asian Church, you will be glad you did. Go here:
