China News

by Tony Lambert

THE COST OF BIBLE TRAINING
In the affluent West, it is quite common for young Christians to pay thousands of dollars each year to attend Bible college or seminary. But in China the continuing poverty of many rural believers means that going to Bible college is an impossible dream. According to information from the China Christian Council most rural would-be trainees are unable to afford the very modest 50 RMB (US$6) needed for living expenses each month at the twenty or so provincial Bible training colleges now open in China. These brothers and sisters in Christ only need US$6 a month—but it is too much. Furthermore, 95 percent of existing pastoral workers who desire advanced biblical and theological studies are unable to afford the 100 RMB per month needed (just US$12).

A Three-Self pastor in Zhejiang pointed out recently that despite this desperate need, some churches in the more affluent cities in China are spending huge sums on grandiose church buildings in gothic or classical style. Many of these buildings are then under-used. Or, a pastor’s manse is built complete with luxurious fittings. Sometimes churches are unable to pay the bill for these projects. Money is also wasted on lavish ceremonies and banquets when churches are opened or refurbished. Money may also be wasted on entertaining foreign guests with lavish banquets. Some pastoral workers even spend huge amounts on group trips to Southeast Asia for “church exchanges” —when, in reality, more time is spent in sightseeing.

The Zhejiang pastor calls for a curb on such extravagance for the sake of the rural believers in desperate need of basic training.
This report should make overseas donors pause for thought. The very human, even knee-jerk, reaction is to want to channel large sums of money to those in such desperate need. However, history shows that the giving of large sums in this way is not the best way forward. Accountability is often lacking. The genuine biblical principle of self-support is undermined and the local Chinese churches brought directly or indirectly under foreign control. We even heard recently of one North American group who were happy to pour large sums of money into their pet project inside China. The local house churches mentioned they already had a thriving program of evangelism and asked whether perhaps some of this money could be used to support the existing, indigenous outreach. They were told in no uncertain terms they would not receive a cent for their own work—but thousands of dollars would be poured into the scheme dreamed up by the people overseas. Such economic imperialism cannot be too strongly condemned.

The principle of self-support is biblical. The last few years have seen a serious erosion of this principle in both State-registered (Three-Self) churches and seminaries and in unregistered house churches. Some Christian organizations in North America, South Korea, Southeast Asia and Europe are guilty in this regard. They may be well-intentioned—but good intentions are not enough.

The growing Chinese church needs grounding in the principles of God’s Word.

Humble dependence on God and seeking his will in prayer remain the foundational principle for true church growth, Bible training and evangelism. Reliance on foreign funding will lead to spectacular short-term gains but to the ultimate withering and death of true spiritual life. It seems the valuable spiritual lessons we may gain from the Chinese church over the last 50 years are in danger of being forgotten. Will we build wood, hay and stubble—only to see it swept away again by our holy God?

THE CHURCH IN TAIWAN
Taiwan has been much in the news in recent months. Announcements by the ruling party to move the island towards total independence have been met with a sharp rebuke from Beijing. About 43 percent of Taiwanese support their president’s call for a March 20th referendum on whether China should stop aiming hundreds of missiles at the island. Thirty-eight percent opposed the referendum. Beijing fears that it could set a precedent leading to a direct popular vote in Taiwan on whether to reject unification with China. Beijing resolutely maintains that Taiwan is merely a break-away province which should be brought back to the motherland, by force if necessary. On December 17 a Chinese government spokesman labeled Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian as “immoral” for gambling with the island’s future with his moves towards independence, and threatened to crush such attempts. He stated: “In the face of outrageous Taiwan independence-splittist activities we must make necessary preparations to resolutely crush Taiwan independence-splittist plots.” (Reuters, 17 Dec 03) However, President Bush’s earlier warning to Taiwan and his clear-cut opposition to any efforts to change the status quo may have relaxed the tension at present. Nevertheless the potential for conflict remains. We urge Christians to continue in prayer for a long-term peaceful solution.

Church growth in Taiwan was for many years in the doldrums. However, the last decade has seen modest growth.
1989 2001
Prot. Christians 426,775 516,992
No. of churches 2,666 3,710

This means the number of Christians has grown by about 21 percent in a twelve-year period. However, the number of cross-cultural missionaries sent out by Taiwanese churches has increased ten-fold over the same period from 20 to over 200!

There has been a new emphasis on prayer and Bible study in many churches along with vigorous evangelism uniting churches from different denominations. Taiwanese pastors and businessmen also play a strategic role in the evangelism of Mainland China and in theological training.

On the downside, traditional Chinese religion and superstition flourish in Taiwan, as do sects and cults such as Yiguandao, Falungong and the New Testament Church. Buddhism, too, is expanding with campaigns to promote “Buddhist marriage” and “Buddhist family-life.” Buddhism has replaced Taoism as Taiwan’s major religion. Through active participation in politics and education, it has penetrated many schools and influenced a whole new younger generation.

As Taiwan’s half a million Christians only account for 2.4 percent of Taiwan’s total population of 22 million, the gospel still has a long way to go to make a major impact on Taiwanese society.

(We are grateful to CCCOWE for statistics and information for the latter part of this report.)

THE ILLEGAL CHINESE MIGRATION INTO SIBERIA
Many thousands of Chinese migrants cross the border into Russia in search of better pay and savings to send to their families. One Chinese peasant interviewed in Siberia said he earned a daily wage of 200 rubles (about US$3) for 15 hours work picking cabbages and cucumbers. Russian alarmists regard this as a quiet “invasion” to reclaim lands lost 150 years ago when China ceded huge areas of Siberia to the Russian tsar. Estimates of the numbers of Chinese illegals vary enormously. One Russian documentary put it at 1 million, but more cautious experts say the number peaks each summer at 40,000. In far away Moscow, the government is trying to reverse the rate of depopulation which depletes the workforce in Siberia by 10,000 each year. Few Russians want to go there, so the demand for migrant workers will continue.

The market in Khabarovsk is a lifeline for its inhabitants. Everything from grapes to gaudy sofas, socks and kettles is from China. So are the traders officially numbering 700. Their Russian customers are torn between necessity and fear. They never try to chat to the Chinese and the migrants avoid contact with the locals. But for the market authorities, China means profits. Equally enthusiastic are other businessmen. The logging industry is always hungry for human resources. “They are incredible,” admits Sergei, the owner of a local timber firm. “So hardworking. If the Russians worked like this China would be behind Russia, not the other way round.”

The regional bosses believe in keeping the migrant numbers down. Next year the number of visas for Chinese workers has been set at only 4,000.

In the vast, bleak, inhospitable waste that is Siberia the Chinese migrants find little welcome. However, here and there small fellowships of Christians have sprung up providing the warmth of fellowship in Christ. Christians from overseas are seeking to pastor them and to do outreach. Will you pray for this difficult mission?

(Based on BBC report, 18 December published in The Independent, 14 December)
Copyright OMF International 2004