Visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to China

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, made a two week visit to China October 8-12 at the invitation of the senior leadership of the TSPM and China Christian Council. The unusual length of the trip was evidence of the importance the Archbishop gives to understanding the increasingly important role played on the world stage by China, and also the growing role of the church in Chinese society. Cities he visited included Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi’an and Wuhan. In Nanjing he visited Amity Press and saw the Bibles being printed. Over 50 million have been printed, of which half have been distributed within China. A new, larger factory is being built which will have the capacity to print 12 million books annually. (People’s Daily, 24 Oct 2006)

Dr. Williams stressed the important role played by religion in helping to build a “harmonious society” which is the theme most emphasized at present by the Chinese government. However, he pointed out that harmony was not monolithic: “[it] means pulling together with all our differences towards a common goal.” He said he was impressed by the range of activities especially in social welfare in which churches and non-governmental organizations in China are involved.
During his meeting with Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the latter stated that “religion can play an important role” in building a harmonious society. This shows how far official views have changed from hard-line anti-religious policies during the Mao years. Hopefully, some local officials who still persecute Christians will take heed of this official statement.
The Archbishop raised the issue of the restriction on under-18-year olds being instructed in religion and was told by Mr. Jia that in effect this had become a dead letter, as many TSPM churches now hold Sunday schools and youth activities. If the only result of his visit is the abolition of this repressive regulation, then it will have achieved a significant result.

The Archbishop came under fire in some circles for only visiting the government-controlled registered churches. In fairness, a person in his position could only go in officially and could not visit house churches. However, he was able to pass over dossiers concerning six religious believers unjustly imprisoned for their faith to the government at a high level.

During the visit, verbal agreement was made opening the door in China for Anglicans to go to Chinese seminaries to help train China’s theological students. We hope that Anglican evangelicals with their wealth of biblically-based scholarship will take up the opportunity so that Western liberal theology will not have a monopoly in Three Self circles in China as has largely been the case until now in terms of visiting lecturers.

(Our report is based on articles in People’s Daily and China Daily of 24 October 2006 and in the Christian Press.)

THE PROBLEM OF NOMINALISM

Nominal Christians—in China! Can it be possible? The very idea is shocking and seems in stark contradiction to the reports of crowded churches and mass baptisms. There is no doubt that many, probably most, believers in China who come to faith in Christ have counted the cost and have at least a basic understanding of the gospel.

However, rapid changes in society, including rampant materialism and westernization, make nominal Christianity a real threat in some cases. In some Chinese cities, it seems fashionable for non-Christians to celebrate Christmas and for young people and intellectuals to show interest in Christianity. Large numbers are baptized in big city churches and in rural house-churches —but while the church is growing, little research seems to have been done on the number of people who fall away after they are baptized.

The average Three Self pastor has over 10,000 people in his flock to minister to. In most TSPM churches much more attention is given to baptismal classes than to follow-up after new converts have been admitted into the church. Also, many rural house-church leaders are unable to follow-up young converts as they stream into the cities in search of employment. The movement of people across the country, as well as the shortage of consistent, in-depth Bible training means that many Christians fall prey to the many cults actively proselytizing for recruits.

Nor should one forget the big gap between the younger generation and their parents and grandparents. For many young people, particularly those attending big, city TSPM churches, persecution is something their parents experienced back in the 1960s and 70s. As Sunday school work is still a weak link in the churches’ ministry, some can grow up attending church more out of loyalty to their parents or habit than direct personal faith. So shallow and even nominal Christianity can be a real problem.

Last August a Christian sister in Guangdong wrote the following letter to FEBC:

“The believers in our church are very weak and shallow in their faith. They have the perspective that believing in Christ will bring peace and prosperity. This is very dangerous because they may not have truly received the gospel. The number of people attending our church remains the same. We visited some who had not come to church for several months. When confronted, they just said they would come when they have time. Some of them have even been believers for over ten years…”

In November, a Christian in Beijing wrote a similar letter to CCL:

“In Beijing some preachers influenced by prosperity theology have ‘blessed’ people everywhere telling them that whoever believes in the Lord will succeed. Some who were blessed by them but experienced failure later, doubted their words and later even gave up their faith. These preachers have altered the gospel and do not understand the Bible.”

These letters highlight the problem of nominal or distorted belief. In some cases, “believers” have never really heard the true gospel, but only a form of false “prosperity” teaching. There is no doubt that some groups from overseas are busily infecting the Chinese church with “prosperity” teaching and other extreme teachings. Some “believers” readily lap up this easy-going “gospel,” but when pressure or persecution comes they fall away.

Christ himself called on his disciples to count the cost. Yet sometimes when Western Christians share the gospel with Mainland scholars overseas, they down-peddle the possible repercussions when they return home for fear of putting them off.
Yes, the gospel is all of grace and without price. But it is not cheap. It cost the Son of God his life. And we do a disservice to Chinese friends if we share a watered-down version which denies Christ’s lordship and his call to a lifetime of discipleship.

GROUND-BREAKING COURT CASE

In June 2006 three house-church Christians were arrested in Wendeng, Shandong province during worship and placed in administrative detention for ten days by police for “violating the religious management regulations, holding an illegal meeting and illegal evangelism.” However, they submitted an appeal to the local government which was rejected.

In late October a defense lawyer filed a lawsuit for illegal detention before the Wendeng Intermediate People’s Court. The police contacted the Christians and proposed an out of court settlement. On November 10 the Court revoked their punishment and approved the settlement in which the Christians agreed to give up the symbolic restitution of 1 RMB each. This is the first time Chinese house-church Christians have been successful in getting the authorities to admit they should not violate the religious freedom guaranteed by the State. Let us pray it may set a healthy precedent in future cases when Christians are unjustly detained.

(Report from China Aid Association)