A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (February 21, 2010)

<Futurology, Soothsaying, Fortunetelling, and Biblical Prophecy) (10)

Now, let me share about the past and the present of China so that we may see the future from the biblical perspective, especially the relationship between Christianity and Chinese people.

When was the Gospel of Christ brought to China? According to the unofficial legendary, there were at least 6 times that the gospel of Christ was brought to China, which even including Apostles Thomas and Bartholomew who might come to China in the first Century. Later on, some Assyrian and refugee Christians who came to China and shared the gospel in different times and locations. According to a historical record written in 15^th Century AD indicating that during the 3^rd Century AD, a big iron Cross with a description of Christian faith on it was uncovered in Lu-Ling, Chiang-Xi Providence. It shows that from very early ages, some Christian activities were found in China, but because of no root, then, disappeared.

According to the official historical record, Christian gospel had been brought to China at least 4 times. The first time was in 635AD during the early Tang Dynasty by Nestorian Christians. It was spread well; at least 2000 churches were built and lasted for more that 200 years. Until 845AD when the emperor gave an order to forbid all foreign religions (including Buddhism) except Daoism, Nestorian Christianity died thereafter. Then, when Mongolians took over China (1277- 1367AD), the emperors allowed Christians come to spread the gospel. They were called, “Evangelion Religion.” But unfortunately, when the Mongolian Dynasty was overthrown, Christianity died also. It only lasted for about 91 years.

The third time Christianity came to visit China was during the late Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644AD) by the Jesuit missionaries. But until the third emperor of Qing Dynasty, (late 18^th Century) China forced all foreigners to leave, Christianity was abrupt again. The fourth time that Christianity came to knock the door of China was in 1807AD by a very

brave young British Protestant missionary Robert Morison. He spent years in China working so hard including translating the Bible, for 14 years of work, he only brought 2 or 3 people converted. But it was a great breakthrough. Later on thousands of thousands of missionaries came, many of them even died in China without regret for the sake of the gospel of Christ. Now, one can see the fruit is so plentiful. Praise the Lord!

When we retrospect the past 200 years of the mission work in China. One may find that this time, when the gospel arrived to China, the last Dynasty was very weak and the whole nation was corrupted. And by that time the European Imperialism was just rising up and many countries were looking for exploring new territories in Asia, Africa, and South America. The Europeans and Americans depended on the new devices of weapons and good military equipments forced many countries to give in or surrender to meet their demands. And unfortunately, Christianity arrived at the same time with the imperialism. And because of that, that created a lot of trouble to misunderstand the Christian faith. And since that time, Christianity was always regarded as “foreign religion.” The Chinese even declared, “If one Chinese becomes Christian, one real Chinese is dead.”

After Communists took over China in 1949, the relationship between Christianity and China was even worse. Especially during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) the churches were forced to close and church facilities were destroyed or converted to be other kinds of usages, and at least 30 millions of people were killed during this period of time.

Nevertheless, we still need to praise the Lord! Although it was so painful that even many people tried to forget about this event, God seemed allow it happened. And this Cultural Revolution was just like a farmer who intentionally made a “very deep cultivation on the land.” Of course, the land was deeply wounded. Yet, the seed of the gospel was buried in the deep soil during the severe winter time. But the winter is gone, now is the spring time, the breeze of the Holy Spirit is blowing. One can see the sprouts of the gospel are growing and growing. The hostility against Christianity is faded. Now a new statement is made, “When a Chinese is converted to become Christian, one good Chinese is born.”

Furthermore, one can see that the Holy Spirit is doing mighty and marvelous works in china now. One of the examples is that many young scholars now arrive in the USA and have the first hand experience of Christian faith, many of them become Christians. And many of them now go back to China that brings a lot of good impacts on the Chinese society. China now is changing. We pray it will get better and better. Then, what is the next step that Chinese Christianity is going? Let us discuss on next Sunday. (To be continued…)