Tag: Religious Persecution
From Bricks to Bonds
A Journey Beyond the Walls of Faith
A small congregation worked together to create a beautiful rental space, then lost their pastor and had to move from place to place due to government restrictions. Through this experience, they came together to create unbreakable bonds with one another and learn about what truly makes a church.
Faith Tested, Faith Strengthened
Stories of God's Hand in China's Church Community During the Pandemic
When external persecution came knocking, it was us, not our parents as in the past, who had to confront these challenges head-on. Such a shift compelled us to grapple with a fundamental question: What does it mean to follow Jesus, especially in the unique context of China?
A Missed Opportunity
How Our Questions Shape Our Narratives
Through his testimony, many became acquainted with China’s suffering church. His story was one that needed to be shared, and by God’s grace it became a great source of encouragement to those who heard it. . . . There is another story, however, that could have been told if anyone had thought to ask.
Supporting Article
The Pentecostal Legacy of the Indigenous Churches in China
Prior to 1949, while some of the independent, indigenous Chinese churches were not Pentecostal, the larger church networks had Pentecostal roots. Pentecostal beliefs and practices continue to define a large segment of Chinese churches today.
How Should the Church Respond to Government Control?
A Reader Responds to the Spring 2023 CSQ
The maintenance and advancement of Christianity is highly correlated to three main factors: government control, social receptivity, and culture. Comparatively, China is not the most difficult place for Christianity to develop.
Messy Choices in Messy Situations
When facing situations in which right and wrong choices are not quite so black and white, we need each other more than ever to discern the right path to take. In supporting each other, I believe we should also give each other the benefit of the doubt more often than not.
Supporting Article
Pastors in China’s New Era
Lee explains the three main reasons why the Communist Party is wary of Protestants: their faith is seen as an ideological threat to the Party, churches can bring foreign influence, and they are a collective action threat. She then explains the various ways pastors are dealing with the actions the Party is using to hold them in line.
Supporting Article
The Church in China: Living in Babylon
The author recounts personal stories showing how much things have changed in China since 2015, as evidenced by the CCP's increased control, repression, and persecution.
Christianity and the State—Dispelling a Myth
Embedded in today’s evangelical China narratives, particularly the narrative of the persecuted church, is the assumption that regime change will inevitably bring about greater openness for the gospel in China. But is that what Chinese history tells us?