Tag: Church History
Supporting Article
A New China and a New Catholic Church
At this crossroads, perhaps Wu Jingxiong points the way forward… In an era when conflict threatens to dehumanize us all, Wu Jingxiong’s Christian humanism remains to this day a beacon of hope.
Supporting Article
Learning from the Larger Story
Menzies discusses his belief that the Pentecostal churches in China have an important contribution to make to the larger, global body of Christ, and that the Pentecostal movement, in China and globally, need the larger body of Christ.
Lead Article
The Christian World They Made Together: 1850–1911
History of Chinese Christianity in North America (1)
The author explains the growth of the Chinese diaspora and Chinese immigration to the United States and Canada as well as the events that gave birth to North American Chinese Christianity.
ChinaSource Perspective
Viewing the Registered Church through Different Lenses
With the media’s incessant focus on official persecution of the unregistered church in China, Fulton reminds us that it is often easy to forget the vibrant dimensions of Christian life playing out in China’s registered churches.
Lead Article
The Three-Self Patriotic Movement
Divergent Perspectives and Grassroots Realities
Vala addresses the history of TSPM churches and the distinction between them and house churches. He looks at their relationship over past years and describes what is happening with both today.
Lead Article
History: It’s Essential
Strong faith is built upon history. Knowledge and reflection on history are essential for the church and for those who serve.
Supporting Article
Fragmented and Complacent
The Chinese Church that Lacks Historical Consciousness
The Chinese church’s lack of historical consciousness is longstanding. While the secular world has increased its understanding of history in many areas, the church has lagged behind. Only recently has research into church history begun. As it becomes known, the church needs to recognize that history has practical applications and must learn how to apply these. When this does not happen, there are negative effects, and the author discusses some of these.
Supporting Article
Traditional Chinese Views of History and Contemporary Chinese Christianity
Following a brief review of the ways Chinese have viewed their history over the centuries, the author turns to the consideration of how today’s PRC citizens view their history. All Chinese views of history have included “history” that is promoted nationally and directly serves the interests of the state. This approved narrative means that for most Chinese there is a nation-wide, generally agreed upon social narrative that may well be the only one he or she knows. The author then offers four items for the foreigner to remember when considering Chinese history or Chinese Christian history.
View From the Wall
Why Believers Need to Understand Chinese Church History
We must know the past to understand the present. For the most part, Chinese Christians do not understand Chinese church history; therefore, they often have no means to properly respond to changes in society. A look back at Chinese church history shows us that many of the difficulties faced by today’s Chinese church have similarities to those that have confronted the church over the years. Not only can history suggest appropriate ways to respond to today’s difficulties, it can help us discern God’s purposes in the present.