Communicating the Good News in China Today: Realistic Expectations for Foreign Believers

Abstract

China is experiencing breath-taking economic development and social change, and the Chinese people are at a spiritual crossroads. This thesis looks at Christianity in China and asks, “Can foreign believers play any part in sharing the good news in mainland China today?” Laying the groundwork the thesis looks at the Marxist view of religion and outlines official religious policy. Some of the lessons of history are highlighted – from the Nestorians in the Tang dynasty, to Jesuits in the Ming and Qing and Protestants in the 19th and 20th centuries. The thesis looks at the Chinese Church (in all her forms) and there is also a detailed consideration of the role of Christian foreigners. The thesis considers the place of ordinary believers, both in Scripture and in the modern “tentmaker” movement, in building God’s Kingdom in a hostile world. The major philosophies that have shaped the Chinese worldview (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and Communism) are discussed before there is an examination of how various sectors in Chinese society view Christianity. This thesis aims to demonstrate that, with adequate spiritual, linguistic, and cultural preparation, and with appropriate strategies, foreign believers can indeed play a part, alongside the Chinese Church, in the task of gospel proclamation.

China is experiencing breath-taking economic development and social change, and the Chinese people are at a spiritual crossroads. This thesis looks at Christianity in China and asks, “Can foreign believers play any part in sharing the good news in mainland China today?” Laying the groundwork the thesis looks at the Marxist view of religion and outlines official religious policy. Some of the lessons of history are highlighted – from the Nestorians in the Tang dynasty, to Jesuits in the Ming and Qing and Protestants in the 19th and 20th centuries. The thesis looks at the Chinese Church (in all her forms) and there is also a detailed consideration of the role of Christian foreigners. The thesis considers the place of ordinary believers, both in Scripture and in the modern “tentmaker” movement, in building God’s Kingdom in a hostile world. The major philosophies that have shaped the Chinese worldview (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and Communism) are discussed before there is an examination of how various sectors in Chinese society view Christianity. This thesis aims to demonstrate that, with adequate spiritual, linguistic, and cultural preparation, and with appropriate strategies, foreign believers can indeed play a part, alongside the Chinese Church, in the task of gospel proclamation.