Tag: House Church

Book Reviews

Scriptural Devotionals of God at Work in China

Making Pentecost Your Story: 50 Days of Reflection and Prayer by Robert Menzies
Reviewed by Peter S. Anderson

Following a brief overview of the church in China, this book provides 50 daily devotional readings covering seven weeks. Each reading begins with a well-chosen Scripture passage followed by a short story based on Dr Menzies’ own experiences with Christians in China.  

Supporting Article

Discerning a Cult

How can a cult be identified? This article alerts the reader to characteristics that can serve as warnings for the possible need to make a further examination of a church or group. It discusses specific issues related to authority and exclusivity, control and submission, secrecy and darkness, and abnormal changes in goals and conduct.

Supporting Article

Combating the Cult Almighty God Church

The author takes an in-depth look at Almighty God Church (formerly Eastern Lightning) and its impact on China’s house churches. He looks at early house church responses to this cult as it began infiltrating congregations as well as later responses as it became a greater problem. Yu shares with us a portion of the biblical Christology he developed to refute the erroneous teachings of this group.

Peoples of China

House Church Attitudes towards Government Authorities

ChinaSource recently asked six leaders of house churches, in various parts of the country, about the current environment that affects their practice of religion in their location. Their responses, detailing the environment as well as their attitudes towards the local authorities and the issue of registration, are expressed in this article.

Supporting Article

“House Church” and “Three-Self”

Cooperation Across the Christian Community

Protestantism in contemporary China is usually expressed using the opposing terms of "house church" and "Three-Self church," but McLeister believes this paradigm should not be accepted as a given. Rather, there is a wide range of congregation types in China which the author describes. He goes on to explain why boundaries between congregations may be blurred and gives examples of cooperative activities.

View From the Wall

Faith Going Public

Urban Christians and Civic Participation in China

The authors review the origins and history of the house church movement then go on to discuss the current urban house church situation including civic engagement and Christian publications.

Supporting Article

The Future of Christianity in China

A Panel Discussion

The following is a panel discussion that explores the future of Christianity in China. It deals with both the problems and the opportunities facing the Chinese house church today. The panelists included Ezra Jin of Zion Church, Beijing; Man De, a scholar with China Ministries International; Daniel Li of Blessings Foundation and Franklin Wang, a seminary student from Beijing.

Supporting Article

A New Era for House Church Leaders

The church in China is experiencing change in strategy as well as a change in position. It is preparing to engage the world.

Peoples of China

Profiles of Chinese House Church Leaders

The background, education and experience of house church leaders of China varies greatly. These profiles provide a glimpse of that variety and the challenges these leaders face.