China: Christianity’s sleeping giant

UC Observer ^ | 02/17/2014 | By Alex Jürgen Thumm

[Viennacon]

The non-denominational status of Christianity in China is a big plus. It allows for more unity on principles, based entirely on their only source of Christianity. The Bible itself.

How long is it until the communist government has a Venezeula-esque situation on their hands? It’s not just Christians who are unhappy with the Chinese tyranny after all.

[RoosterRedux]

Wonderful article.

Yeshua is the most powerful force in the universe. He is particularly powerful when authorities try to suppress Him.

Gentle and quiet and loving...but all powerful.

[MNDude]

Sounds like the future belongs to China then. Godless cultures bring us North Korea. Christianity brought us the British Empire and USA.

Europe’s power and morality still exists as a flower’s life and beauty remains awhile after it has been cut from its roots.

[allendale]

The Jesuits once were very close to converting the Emperor of China and his entire household to Catholicism in the 17th century. The Jesuits were skilled astronomers, greatly impressed the Chinese, and had wide access to the Emperor. The Chinese however insisted on the veneration of ancestors. The Vatican would not approve and the rest is history.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

I only had to read a reference to the United Church of Canada (UCC) and see that the article was from the UC Observer to know that I don't want to read the rest. As I have a bad stomach at present, reading an article from the UC Observer, would most likely cause me to lose my supper.

The current 'Moderator' (president, if you will) of the UCC, Gary Paterson, is an openly homosexual 'man' who has been in a 'monogamous' relationship with his 'spouse', Tim Stevenson, for over 25 years. Both were 'ministers' in the UCC. Note: Canadian law only recognized homosexual mariages in 2001, so even by ignoring Jesus' comments on homosexuality, they were living common law for 10 years!

The good news is that Christianity, REAL Christianity, rather than the leftist, 'feel good' 'anything goes' belief system that the UCC spreads, IS growing in Asia, S. America and Africa. Unfortunately, it is failing in 'Christendom'. Praise the Lord and Lord help us, in the West!

[fuzzylogic]

I remember reading a while ago...the Chinese government did a study to better understand the most fundamental reason why the USA/Western Europe prospered. They studied all angles; resources, politics, economics, etc.

The came to the conclusion that the MOST fundamental reason was Christianity.

...not sure where I read this.

[MuttTheHoople]

When the Communists kicked the missionaries out of China in 1950, there were 70,000 Christians. Now, there's over 100 million.

I'm looking for the day some modern-day Chinese Constantine rises up, rejects Mao, and proclaims China a Christian Nation.

[Verginius Rufus]

The Jesuits were OK with veneration of ancestors, but other Catholic missionaries objected and got the pope to forbid it. Pius XII finally loosened the rules.

This piece basically equates Christianity with Protestantism. The Jesuits first arrived in the 1500s. A friend of my father's was a Catholic missionary in China in the 1930s.

[Verginius Rufus]

There is a wonderful movie called The Inn of the Sixth Happiness about a young Englishwoman who goes to China as a missionary, starring Ingrid Bergman. It's in the pre-WWII period--at the very end she is taking her orphan children to safety to get away from Japanese attacks. I don't know how closely it is based on a real missionary.

[SgtHooper]

It only makes sense—those people have been through hell for decades and realize what is important; while here, the scum are taking over and taking us down that path.

[xone]

ph

[Vinylly]

There is some good news from Iran. Our church has quite a few Iranian immigrants. Our assistant minister is from Iran and escaped Iran for his christian missionary work. The old Shaw of Iran was quite welcoming of the Christians who built a lot of churches. When he had to flee the country there were quite a few Christians that became enemy's of the state and were either prosecuted or imprisoned for many years. Christianity was nearly wiped out in Iran,
We have had two missionares fresh from Iran giving us up-to-date talks on what is happening in Iran that you hear about on CNN or MSNBC. There is a huge come-back to christianity. Christianity is stll illegal and can be imprisoned for up to seven years and churches are still being burnt. They have to meet security in private homes. The people are getting tired of a Muslim government because their economy is so bad. Iran was doing great under the Shaw of Iran.

[allendale]

It is a primordial fear in Muslim countries that the average person in the era of modern communications cannot help but notice the superior standard of living and stability in Christian countries. This in itself generates interest in Christianity. To a devout Muslim it is a serious offense to convert. An offense that could result in death. However with travel, the internet, business contacts and even a modicum of education Muslim populations are being exposed to Christianity, Christian thought and practices.There have always been persecutions but “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

[firebrand]

Jesus in Beijing

[ifinnegan]

Thanks for your comment.

The article was not horrible, but there was something that didn’t sit right with me. Hard to say what except that it gives too much validity or respect to the communist churches and does not really talk about the severe limitations on Chstianity. He touches on it a bit in the anecdote aboutthe evangelist from the Philippines not wanting to say so in public for fear.

Also he misrepresented the 3 Self movement.

He finally got aroundtothe House church which is the real deal andus illegal.

They will still jail and torture House church members at times.

These pictures

http://web.archive.org/web/20090829004050/http://geocities.com/mstkg/tort.htm

are of House church member being tortured (not graphic) and are about 10 years old now.

[Diapason]

The movie was based on the life of Gladys Aylward.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladys_Aylward

[21twelve]

I heard a missionary to China speaking at a conference several years ago, and he said that with the growth of Christianity over there, they pray for their brothers and sisters in Christ in America. Specifically, that we may be persecuted like they were (and are) so that we may grow in our faith and numbers.

After his talk I thanked him for his encouraging message of the church in China. “But, can you quit praying for us!?”

But obviously in my gut I realize that a strong and deep faith is a faith that relies entirely upon God, and not my job, TV, politicians, etc.

[SeekAndFind]

RE; They studied all angles; resources, politics, economics, etc.

The came to the conclusion that the MOST fundamental reason was Christianity

_________________________

Well, here is a brief paper concluding the same thing:

http://www.pas.rochester.edu/~tim/study/Stark%20Faith%20and%20Society.pdf

[Verginius Rufus]

Thanks for the link. I can understand her being unhappy with the misrepresentations of her life in the movie, but without it very few people would know of her remarkable life.