In a recent post for The Gospel Coalition, “Looking to the Chinese Church for Encouragement,” Christopher Catherwood notes the decline of “Judeo-Christian” values in the United States, yet reminds readers that the advance of the gospel globally should be cause for hope. As an example Catherwood points specifically to China. In so doing he challenges some long-held assumptions of Christians in the United States.
“Does Christianity need a sympathetic government for its gospel to spread, for the kingdom of God to expand?” Catherwood asks.
“Surely not, as the exponential expansion of Christianity in China suggests. We should be encouraged because the work of God is truly invincible, even in seemingly impossible circumstances.”
Catherwood goes on to trace the growth of the church in China through the dark days of the Cultural Revolution up through the death of Mao, when the surprising reality of the church’s triumph began to come to light. In a refreshingly balanced treatment of the church today, Catherwood looks at both the trials and the strengths of China’s Christian community, noting that, should the current trajectory of growth continue, China will have more evangelicals than America by the year 2030:
“China has certainly never been a ‘Christian country,’ but it’s seeing revival on a scale that would be inconceivable to the faithful American and British Christians who left their homes in the 19th century to bring the gospel to the world’s most populous nation. While those men and women never saw the fruit of the lifetimes of labor, we are privileged to see it today.”
Certainly the example of China bears out the truth that the advance of the gospel does not depend on a sympathetic government or the ability of believers to directly influence the political system.
In Catherwood’s words, “It seems the factors many of us in the West consider necessary for church growth are supremely irrelevant to the growing church in China.”
Correction: The original post misstated the year that the number of evangelicals in China is projected to surpass the number of evangelicals in America. We regret the error.
Image credit: Dalian Skyscape by egorgrebnev via Flickr.
Brent Fulton
Brent Fulton is the founder of ChinaSource. Dr. Fulton served as the first president of ChinaSource until 2019. Prior to his service with ChinaSource, he served from 1995 to 2000 as the managing director of the Institute for Chinese Studies at Wheaton College. From 1987 to 1995 he served as founding …View Full Bio
Are you enjoying a cup of good coffee or fragrant tea while reading the latest ChinaSource post? Consider donating the cost of that “cuppa” to support our content so we can continue to serve you with the latest on Christianity in China.