Civil Responsibility And The Shanghai Community Fellowship In China: A Theological Examination And Response

Abstract

This mini-thesis follows a modified version of Osborne’s comprehensive theory-to-practice model to establish a biblical understanding of a believer’s civic responsibilities, specifically those in the Shanghai Community Fellowship (‘SCF’) in China, and of Chinese citizens who have lived overseas. The thesis focuses on three key New Testament passages, namely, Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. They instruct believers to ὑποτάσσω (‘submit’) to secular authorities. The main objective of the thesis is, therefore, to establish from Scripture biblical guidelines for a believer’s civil responsibility toward the state. To accomplish the main objective, the thesis addresses the following three subsidiary objectives: (1) to identify guidelines for church and state responsibility taught in the Scriptures; (2) to determine what has historically been taught regarding the church-state relationship; and (3) to identify the practical implications for SCF regarding its civic responsibility. The thesis concludes that the leadership of SCF should submit to the prohibition of the Chinese government when it decides to disallow Chinese citizens who lived overseas from attending SCF services.

This mini-thesis follows a modified version of Osborne’s comprehensive theory-to-practice model to establish a biblical understanding of a believer’s civic responsibilities, specifically those in the Shanghai Community Fellowship (‘SCF’) in China, and of Chinese citizens who have lived overseas. The thesis focuses on three key New Testament passages, namely, Romans 13:1-7, Titus 3:1-2 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. They instruct believers to ὑποτάσσω (‘submit’) to secular authorities. The main objective of the thesis is, therefore, to establish from Scripture biblical guidelines for a believer’s civil responsibility toward the state. To accomplish the main objective, the thesis addresses the following three subsidiary objectives: (1) to identify guidelines for church and state responsibility taught in the Scriptures; (2) to determine what has historically been taught regarding the church-state relationship; and (3) to identify the practical implications for SCF regarding its civic responsibility. The thesis concludes that the leadership of SCF should submit to the prohibition of the Chinese government when it decides to disallow Chinese citizens who lived overseas from attending SCF services.