When the Tolerance Ends
Earlier this month brought word that dozens of pastors and leaders of Zion Church, one of China’s so-called megachurches with locations in Beijing and around the country, had been arrested.
Ideas
Editorial reflection and analysis on issues shaping Chinese Christianity.
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Shining God’s Light in the World
This conference is a good reminder to Christians that the ultimate purpose of even something seemingly cold and private like theology is ultimately to equip ourselves and our fellow believers to better love God and one another.
The Quest for the Perfect Circle
In Chinese culture, no circle is more significant or beautiful than the full, bright moon on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Reunion is the very heartbeat of the holiday, and the moon’s flawless face is its ultimate emblem.
Why Biblical Theology Matters in Global Mission and the Chinese Church
The utilization of diverse resources is needed if we are to effectively and robustly train Chinese missionaries and churches to be an invaluable contributory force to Christian mission.
State Dominance of Religion
Surveying the fraught relationship between church and state in China, the late Chinese church historian Daniel Bays asserted that government control of religion has been a constant feature from Imperial times to the present.
Traditional China Meets Christianity
Traditional China’s worldview—Confucianism, Daoism/folk religion, Buddhism, and the management of “heterodoxy”—shaped how Christianity was first seen: foreign, sometimes tolerated, and often misunderstood.
Chinese Youth and International Students
Chinese students are not just recipients of ministry but future leaders—pastors, entrepreneurs, educators, and bridge-builders in the global church.
Formation of Different Players with a Unified Goal
I used a soccer match as an analogy for forming effective teamwork in an outreach program for delivering holistic blessings to the community. The ministry can be initiated by a faith-based non-profit with church members joining the endeavor.
Wise Engagement with New Technology
Like every technological advancement before it, AI presents both opportunities and threats—to society at large, and to the church. Balancing those requires divine wisdom and discernment.
Understanding Modern Christians in China: Becoming Who You Are in Christ
When grand narratives no longer serve as the backdrop for self-definition, the question of how an individual can better become themselves arises.
Looking to the Future of Diasporic Chinese in Cross-Cultural Ministries
Diasporic Chinese Christians are reimagining their identity and purpose in God’s mission. Once viewed primarily as recipients of outreach, they are now emerging as active agents in cross-cultural ministry, reaching beyond co-ethnics and engaging in global collaboration.
Four Questions for the 2040s
A new series adapted from Sam Ling’s 2025 HLS lecture asks four guiding questions across four axes—China, the West, the church, and ideas—to help us think and serve faithfully as we look toward the 2040s.