Posted on 08/11/2014 11:28:46 AM PDT by NYer
While this is definitely a "what could go wrong" story what with an atheist government creating a theology fit for its population, there's definitely a sign of hope here.
Atheist China, worried about the rapidly growing number of Christians, is constructing a "theology" in order to attempt to control this whole Christian thing. Funny, I think the Romans tried to control Christianity as well. How'd that work out?
The South China Morning Post:
China will construct a "Chinese Christian theology" suitable for the country, state media reported on Thursday, as both the number of believers and tensions with the authorities are on the rise.
China has between 23 million and 40 million Protestants, accounting for 1.7 to 2.9 per cent of the total population, the state-run China Daily said, citing figures given at a seminar in Shanghai.
About 500,000 people are baptised as Protestants every year, it added.
"Over the past decades, the Protestant churches in China have developed very quickly with the implementation of the country's religious policy," the paper quoted Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, as saying.
"The construction of Chinese Christian theology should adapt to China's national condition and integrate with Chinese culture."...
It did not include a number for Catholics in China, who must also worship only in officially sanctioned churches which reject the Vatican's authority, though an "underground" church loyal to the Holy See also exists.
Experts estimate that there are as many as 12 million Catholics in China, split roughly evenly between the two churches.
Ping!
Maybe they’re see the truth and it’s set them free?
Maybe they’ve see the truth and it’s set them free?
In North Korea they have something like 4 fake churches in Pyongyang operated by their intelligence services. They serve mainly as a prop for tourists
If only they could see that Christian theology as it is, is best for their country.
If only they could see that Christian theology as it is, is best for their country.
LOL! Still didn’t get it right.
It would be best for every one of them.
The missions won’t stop and there are so many there that now know the truth.
The People’s Salvation Plan...
One of the elements ‘Chinese Christian theology’ lacks is any allusion to hell. The Chinese gov. says ordinary Chinese are too unsophisticated to handle the concept of hell; it would scare/panic them.
On a permanent basis.
Well on the other hand, we could be reading the inverse one day...
Christian theology to construct a new Chinese government.
Just put up with pecking all right?...LOL
bump
This has been a work in progress for many years. See “The Empty Cross: The False Doctrine of China’s Official Religion Spread Through the Three Self Patriotic Movement Church,” 38 pages, compiled & edited by K. L. Shipman, publ. by The Voice of the Martyrs, January 2001..
(Philippians 1:15-20)
Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.
....Calvinism isn't a religion of subservience to any government. The great national myths of Calvinist cultures are all of wars against imperialist oppressors: the Dutch against the Spanish, the Scots against the English; the Americans against the British. So when the Chinese house churches first emerged from the rubble of the Cultural Revolution in the 80s and 90s "They began to search what theology will support and inform [them]. They read Luther and said, 'not him'. So they read Calvin, and they said 'him, because he has a theology of resistance.' Luther can't teach them or inform them how to deal with a government that is opposition."
-- from the thread Chinese Calvinism flourishes
I thought along those lines as well reading this. God can and does use unbelievers to spread His message. His Word has power for good without regard to the messenger.
Wow ... thank you for sharing that quote. Most appropriate.
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