Article on ChristianityToday on the Back to Jerusalem movement amongst the Chinese house churches. House church in China are aiming at sending 100,000 missionaries to its neighbouring countries, and they have taken the great commission seriously. There will be persecutions along the way, but those who have experienced the culture revolution know no fear. The mission is still at its infancy but certainly growing. The focus is not on the miracles, but on gospel proclaimed…
What do you think when you read through the mission statement of BTJ? What are your thoughts after you have learnt the persecutions and faithfulness of those in Chinese house church? Praise the LORD!!
But the scepticism in me has dampened my reaction. I would love to gain more understanding on the greater majority of Christians in China, but my “hand-on” experience with Chinese students here in Australia and back home might have distort what I can see. Having contacts with over one hundred students over the past years has drawn one conclusion: the young generation Chinese can be generalised as godless, selfish, immature and materialistic1. I have met one or two house church goers from Wenzhou, one of the most Christianised city in China, but their responses have been quite disappointing. BTJ claimed that there are 1 million full time gospel workers, as they are sending out the tithe of 100,000 as missionaries, but somehow I don’t hear much about them amongst the Chinese students here.
Maybe the sample I have here in Australia is misrepresented – maybe mainland Chinese who can afford overseas education are amongst the top 1% of riches in China. Maybe those faithful in house church only lives in the country side. Maybe they are too busy resisting persecution and proclaiming God’s word. Maybe only the atheists come to UNSW to study…
I think I just need to have more independent resources on house churches in China, if such thing exists.
On the way to church camp last Thursday, JJ told us that she has watched the film “神州” by the famous activist 遠志明 who escaped to the states and became a gospel worker. JJ is a young but smart Christian, and she shared with us what she thought of the film. At the same time she was also confused about some of the ideas in there, like Chinese dragon being the serpent/Satan, God in China before Han Dynasty, quoting Bible verses out of context, etc. Last week JP from Canberra came visited us, and also shared with us his view on the film “十字架”, the latest from the same producer.
I think I would like to get my hands on these movies as well in order to understand more on the mainland Chinese brand of Christianity. I wonder whether they have done to Christ what the Zen Buddhism has done to Buddha over the centuries.
Hey, I’m interested in finding out more about this house churches, what resources do you have, or is there a way I can get in contact with these people. I read an article on Back to Jerusalem in NewsWeek, and it provoked me to find out more
BTW, at USYD, it ain’t much better :
“Maybe the sample I have here in Australia is misrepresented – maybe mainland Chinese who can afford overseas education are amongst the top 1% of riches in China. Maybe those faithful in house church only lives in the country side. Maybe they are too busy resisting persecution and proclaiming God’s word. Maybe only the atheists come to UNSW to study…”
SC
A few weeks ago we got to meet an elderly house church worker who is now living in the states, but came to Australia for a visit. According to her, house church network can be quite difficult to break in if you are from outside, i.e. without any connection. They need to be extremely careful as it might just be persecution who is knocking on the door. At the same time, they despise three self church, calling it the work of Satan. They also do not welcome people who visited them, and then visited TSC.
With that in mind, I asked her, then who should we send the gradulates of MBF to when they return back to China? They don’t want to go to TSC, but they don’t know how to go to the house churches. “Connections…” she said. But how, when we starts with none? They have got a website, and some email addresses @ hotmail. But it just seems to be too secretive to me.
And it is hard to be children of light if at the same time you want to be secretive…
Not everyone must me overt in their faith, because it may be wiser to keep your head low otherwise you may lose it. How then can you spread the word? yes it is difficult to connect, but someone try…
I think you have some points. I think, after living in China since 97, that there is a lot of hype in the b2j movement not unlike the WWJD hype we saw in the states a few years ago. I think there are also many non-Chinese (I include ALL non- PRC citizens regardless of skin color or ethnic background)who want to see b2j sucess and are providing $$ to meet this end. This $$ often clouds what His desire might me. I have been appoached with the “God gave you $$ and us people” idea which I do no think is healthy. Chinese people have historically not done much X-culture work. Chinese Churches often go overseas to find other Chinese to witness to. I would love to see more Taiwan brothers come to the mainland and work as bi-vocational professionals.
I am seeking information about B2J. I have read the book and the concept has caught my attention. The Chinese house church networks have had experiences of persecution that those taking the gospel to muslims etc. will not doubt experience. I guess my skepticism comes from my perception that it sounds almost too good to be true. Is it a legitimate movement?
I read in he australian of 27th January, 2009 that secret negotiations were undertaken between the Communist Party and the Chinese House Churches leaders. It was reported that this was due to Christians outnumbering the Communists. Christians 100-130 million while Communists were at 74 million.
Can you verify this news report, please?