Blog Entries on Church and State
Instrumentalizing the Church in China
In the polarized political landscape, China garners near-universal disapproval. The instrumentalization of China's church distorts reality for political gain, linking it with domestic religious freedom issues. Genuine dialogue is needed to address complex concerns and avoid silencing Chinese Christian voices.
Looking Forward with Concern and Hope
A Preview of the 2023 Spring ChinaSource Quarterly
The 2023 spring issue of the ChinaSource Quarterly comes out next week. Here’s a sneak peek from the guest editor.
Beyond the Standard Narrative
Legislation may technically render a host of Christian activities illegal, but these activities do not suddenly cease. While we may hear that “China” is clamping down on unregistered meetings or websites or online gatherings, the reality on the ground may tell a different story.
Pressure on the Church, Pressure on the Party
A Reader Responds to the 2022 Winter CSQ
When pressure comes, Christians generally respond in one of three ways: fight, flight, or somewhere in the middle…. When praying for the Chinese church, we must not fail to pray...for the unity of Christians under pressure.
Faithful Disobedience as Testimony to the Kingdom
A Book Review
Wang Yi wrote, “The goal of disobedience is not to change the world but to testify about another world.”
Chinese Christians in the New Era—Hope and Overcoming
The winter 2022 issue of ChinaSource Quarterly offers perspectives like a plane dropping from thirty thousand feet to ground level, as they shift from high-level and mildly optimistic…to close up, personal, and much more pessimistic. Together, they offer helpful insight on what’s happening in China after ten years of…political leadership by Xi Jinping.
Drinking from a Deep Well
A taste of the 2022 winter issue of ChinaSource Quarterly, "Chinese Christians in the New Era."
The 20th Party Congress: A Roundup
In an unprecedented move, the 20th Congress of the CCP approved Xi Jinping to take up a third term as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. To help our readers understand the ramifications of the event, we have a roundup of articles and podcasts.
5 Theological Truths and Church-State Relations (2)
Lessons from China
How will we react to attempts to divide us along socio-economic, racial, ideological, or nationalistic lines? Will we quietly acquiesce and accept a church that is not really whole?
5 Theological Truths and Church-State Relations (1)
Lessons from China
The statement declares, “Christian churches in China are eager and determined to walk the path of the cross of Christ and are more than willing to imitate the older generation of saints who suffered and were martyred for their faith.”