This Positive Post Tuesday is a little different for me today because it’s not a specific person that I am talking about, but rather a movement. This morning I was flipping through some different sites and somehow ended up on the Chicago Tribune’s site reading an article called “Jesus In China”. Here’s a few excerpts of what it had to say:
“The rise of Christianity is reshaping the officially atheist nation, its politics and the way many Chinese view the world…
Christianity — repressed, marginalized and, in many cases, illegal in China for more than half a century — is sweeping the country, overflowing churches and posing a sensitive challenge to the officially atheist Communist Party. By some estimates Christian churches, most of them underground, now have roughly 70 million members, as many as the party itself. A growing number of those Christians are in fact party members.
Christianity is thriving in part because it offers a moral framework to citizens adrift in an age of Wild West capitalism that has not only exacted a heavy toll in corruption and pollution but also harmed the global image of products “Made in China.”
At a time when Christianity in Western Europe is dwindling, China’s believers are redrawing the world’s religious map with a growing community already exceeding all the Christians in Italy. And increasing Christian clout in China has the potential to alter relations with the United States and other nations.
“Originally, we used to have a huge government that controlled everything, but now the government is gradually shrinking and civil society is growing stronger and larger,” he said. “I felt that churches should make good use of that opportunity to expand and spread the word of God.”
The Zion Church opened its doors in May 2007 with just 20 people. Within a year its membership had surged to 350 worshipers. He preaches a non-denominational but relatively conservative brand of evangelical Christianity. Jin’s urbane services, full of contemporary references to the economy and education and pop culture, tapped a well of fervor among young, successful Chinese.
Since becoming a Christian five years ago, Zheng has launched a campaign to raise ethical awareness and revive a “system of trust” among his colleagues. “For example, we do not evade taxes,” said Zheng, who serves on the provincial government’s advisory body known as the People’s Political Consultative Congress. “We do not make fake or substandard products. We will not change the contracts and promises made to customers.”
“We are not only doing business for man,” he added. “We are doing business for heaven.”
Down a narrow market street lined with dumpling vendors and vegetable stands, a rutted road in Henan province leads to a home that echoes with what sounds like a party. Men and women in their teens and 20s are packed into a room, dancing to a live guitar, piano and drums. The boys, jumping as though in a mosh pit, shout: “It’s the power of the holy spirit! Nothing can stop it!” A banner on the wall reads “Beijing belongs to God”—a provocative sentiment in a one-party state.
After their performance, they lower their heads and clench their eyes shut. Some have tears streaming down their cheeks, and a woman prays: “China will be a Christian nation.”
Pretty impressive huh? What’s interesting to me is just a couple months ago I posted some statistics that I read in National Geographic concerning China and it seems like some of that might be changing. I’d say news like this is pretty positive. You?
Now it’s your turn. This thing keeps growing every week and that’s awesome. Let’s make this week even bigger. Tell your friends. For those of you just showing up here’s how it works. It’s pretty simple. (1) Write something nice about someone, building them up, encouraging them, you know.. being nice. (2) Fill out the box below. Have fun.
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Thanks so much for posting this. Living in China with the purpose of shaping this country’s future leaders is very difficult. The excerpt from the article is powerful and mostly true. However, i find that people in the west paint a more beautiful picture of the chinese church than what actually exists. Yes, there is great progress being made. Yes, the government is less and less controlling. But stating that there are more christians in china that italy says very little. It may be true by the numbers, but the percentages will knock you on the floor. I work on a campus of 20,000 people, less than 100 of them are followers. In a country of 1.3 billion people, 70 million followers feels like a drop in the ocean. Your post is positive and i leave here encouraged, but the job isn’t finished. There’s much to be done. But without a doubt, God is on the move in this great nation (China). Sorry for such a long comment, i’m passionate about China.
Brody, aren’t you proud of me? Not only did I remember, but I’m even first!
(Um. Thanks for the Twitter reminder…)
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This is the first time linking back here, but I try to do the Positive Posting weekly (”try” being the operative word there…). Found you through Mark Lee’s blog…what an awesome idea and I hope I can be a more regular addition to your links for it! Thanks for starting such a positive light in a world that can tend to be a bit dim…
Very encouraging, Brody.
Okay, so mine was actually posted Monday afternoon. But that counts, right?
Very encouraging stuff.
That’s awesome to hear! I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness after so many decades of prayers and lives dedicated to spreading the gospel in China.
May we be thankful for (and make full use of!) the freedoms we have here in America.
That is amazing. Here in the 50 mile radius of my church, we’ve been sensing a revival and moving of people towards faith in God.
But that moving is ALL over! And that is SOOOOOOOOOO amazing. Especially in a country where it is pretty much forbidden. Wow.
Good stuff, Brody. Thanks for sharing.
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I look forward to PPT every week… thanks for keeping this up Brody, it really is an encouragement in my life.
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I finally posted! Can you believe it???
I love this article. I had a very dear friend of mine who had a heart and passion for China. He was 75 years old and was still making trips every summer back to China. He LOVED the chinese students he taught over there and continued his ministry through education of students and teaching english.
He died about 4 years ago(In China on a summer trip), but it made me smile to think that the holy spirit inside of his heart gave him such a passion to make a difference in people’s lives (specifically China). He would have been the 1st one to read this article and spread the great news!
Thanks for this great post.
Apparently I jumped the gun a little this morning. So, here’s my Positive Post Tuesday link now.
Dr. Rus
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What an amazing post. We are standing in belief that God can transform China. WOW! Bring it on Lord!