Christian Sensation in "People's Daily"!

by Tony Lambert

An amazing report which, if true, would push back the entry of Christianity into China over 500 years earlier than previously thought, appeared in the government newspaper People’s Daily in August. The full report is as follows:

“Studies show that as early as 86 A.D., or the third year of the reign of Yuanhe of the Eastern Han dynasty, Christianity entered China, 550 years earlier than the world accepted time. When studying a batch of stone carvings of Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 A.D.) stored and exhibited in the museum of Xuzhou Han stone carvings in Jiangsu province, Christian theology professor Wang Weifan was greatly surprised by some stone engravings demonstrating the Bible stories and designs of early Christian times.

“Further studies showed that some of these engravings were made in 86 A.D. The 74-year-old professor who is also a standing member of the China Christian Council showed reporters a stack of photos of Han stone carvings and bronze basins taken by him. He also compared the designs on them with those of the Bible, composed of fish, birds and animals demonstrating how God created the earth. Designs on these ancient stones displayed the artistic style of early Christian times found in Iraq and the Middle East while bearing the characteristics of China’s Eastern Han times.

“The stone carvings, being important funeral objects, are mainly found in four cities, and Xuzhou is one of them. It is reported that by now more than twenty intact Han tombs have been found, from which nearly 500 pieces of engraved stones were discovered. It is globally accepted that Christianity was first carried into China by a Syrian missionary, Alopen, in 635 A.D. in the ninth year under the reign of Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) Some experts once raised doubts that Christianity may have entered China in an early time as the Eastern Han but lack evidence. Nevertheless, Professor Wang’s discovery serves to strongly back up the theory and the earlier works of his own.” (People’s Daily 5 August 2002)

What are we to make of this? It is certainly encouraging that China’s most prestigious newspaper should show such an interest in early Christian history in China. However, a word of caution is necessary. Conventional history acknowledges that there was “extensive penetration of Persia by 225 A.D.” by Christianity. (History of Christianity in Asia, Samuel H. Moffat, 1992) However, Persia (now Iran) is a long way to the west of China. Much later, it seems likely that “Christians first entered the Tibetan world around 549 A.D., the time of a remarkable conversion to Christianity of the White Huns.” (The Jesus Sutras, Martin Palmer, 2001) At that date these greatly feared nomadic warriors sent a delegation to the Nestorian patriarch in what is now Iraq asking for a bishop because they had been converted. Thus it seems likely that Nestorian Christianity was lapping the frontiers of China a century or so before the “official” date of 635 A.D. It is perfectly possible that traders and travelers from Central Asia brought the gospel into China some years before the Emperor officially welcomed Alopen. However, while some knowledge of the gospel may have entered China in the sixth, rather than the seventh, century it is stretching credibility to assert as a fact that it entered in the first century, only fifty years after the death and resurrection of Christ. This would be while the apostle John was still alive and before he had completed his gospel. In view of the vast distances involved across thousands of miles of desert and mountains it seems inherently unlikely that Christianity arrived so early in China.

There is a strong, but unproven, tradition that the apostle Thomas took the gospel to southern India around 50 A.D. However, this is still a very long way away from China. It will need experts in the fields both of Han stone carvings and of Middle Eastern carving and archeology to make detailed studies before a definitive verdict can be delivered. In the meantime, Christians in both China and overseas will look forward eagerly to seeing published evidence and, hopefully, photographs for themselves. Whatever the final verdict this report is a timely reminder that Christianity first came to China not with the gunboats of Western colonialists in the 19th century but most probably through peaceful traders and humble Nestorian monks over a thousand years earlier.

TRIALS OF FAITH IN GUANGXI

“I believed in Christ in 1983 after listening to gospel radio from Far East Broadcasting Company. Then we were pathetically few—just two in fact! We had to go very far to attend meetings. At that time I thought it would be wonderful to have a meeting point in our village! Later, thanks to God’s grace, a meeting point was opened. In 1986 I attended the first Bible training course and since then have been a deacon. At that time it was difficult to meet as the government did not understand and thought we were conducting some superstitious activities. So they came and interfered. We were a house church so had to move back and forth seven or eight times. It was very unsettling. In 1991 we bought some land and built a meeting place. Now we have established a legal meeting point. But now our church is surrounded on all sides by new development and there is no access road. So we want to buy land in front of it. But we have insufficient funds. Please pray for our church.

“My husband, son and daughter-in-law do not know God. I have been praying for them for eighteen years, but they still refuse to repent of their sins. My son loves gambling and to play poker. Please pray for him. May we become a Christian family. This is my greatest longing.

“We now have 28 meeting points, but we are short of preachers. We need to go into the countryside to preach the gospel so we need more Christian materials to help us in this work. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations. But if we are not fed spiritually ourselves how can we feed others?”

This letter was written by a Christian in Guangxi, in February of this year. It highlights both the growth of the church but also the many problems it faces: lack of preachers; lack of Christian books and materials; lack of funds; unconverted family members; opposition from local authorities.

Pray that God will supply the needs of this local church in Guangxi and of many others throughout China in similar situations.

NEW CATALOG OUT!

Are you wanting to reach out more effectively with the gospel to Mainland students and scholars? Contact your national OMF office for copies of the 2002 catalog of APOLOGETIC/ DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING LITERATURE. This contains details with full color illustrations of:

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in simplified Chinese characters (some bilingual Chinese/English) on a wide variety of topics. Some examples:
What is Christianity?
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Scientists Also Believe in God
How I Perceive Qigong
Christianity and Economics
C.S. Lewis: Religion and Science
Chinese Culture and Christianity. etc.

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The Turning Point–Testimonies of Chinese Intellectuals Abroad, etc.

6 BOOKLETS OF BIBLE STUDY:
Jesus the Radical by Ada Lum (from John’s Gospel)
Basic Bible Studies by Francis Schaeffer
How to Lead a Group Bible Study, etc.

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Whiter than Snow (comics)
Children’s Songbooks with Tapes, etc.

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Survey of the Bible
Essential Theology
History of the Christian Church
Chinese Church History
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The complete series of 28 booklets is now also on CD-ROM

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10 Principles for a Happy Marriage
Guys and Gals
Challenge of Singleness
Marriage & Personal Restoration

BOOK ON APOLOGETICS (newly published):
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Over the last 15 years over 2 million booklets have been distributed. We value your prayers for this strategic ministry.