Sky is the Limit for Christianity in China

Hardly a week goes by anymore that the exponetial growth of Christianity in China doesn't seep into the news somehow. 

In 1949 when Chairman Mao took over and soon chased out or put to death the leaders and clergy of the church it seemed like the end of an era.  Maybe the end of time for Chinese Christians.  Yet today, millions and millions of new Chinese are embracing the Christian faith like never before, says the World Council of Churches (WCC). 

Three days ago Christian Today  reported that Mathews George Chunakara, Director of WCC's International Affairs and Public Witness, said there had been a "unique and explosive growth" of Christianity among the Chinese people.

"I have been visiting China for the last 15 years. I am astounded to see the tremendous growth there. Their worship places are now overflowing," Chunakara told Christian Today.

"It is not just the poor you see in churches, even the rich and educated are embracing Christianity. Beijing and Shanghai are the proof,” he added.

The ecumenical leader compared freedom of religion in the country now to a decade ago, when the church kept a tight grip on the goings on in churches. He said the situation had "much improved" and that the government was now starting to "favour" religious people.

"The Chinese government will not raid unless provoked. Now being the fastest growing economy, they know the importance of a harmonious society. To promote such a society, they are giving religion a special role," says Chunakara.

 For instance, the Communist Government amended the Constitution two years ago to accommodate the role of religion.

 "You could not expect such a thing to happen 15 years ago," Chunakara said.

When you read about the explosive growth of Christianity in China, do you ever wonder... why?  What is it about the Christian faith that is so attractive to Chinese?  What do so many Chinese "see" in Jesus that they don't see in Budhism, or Shintoism, or Hinduism? 

The answers may be a no-brainers for Christians, but it's still a cultural phenonmenon that one can't help but sit up and take notice, no matter what your religious views or background.

The People of Medicine Lake

Toast and I decided last night to walk around Medicine Lake. To see if we could do it. Around the whole lake—all 7.8 miles of it. I’ve never walked around a whole lake before, at least one that is of any decent size. We made it just fine in about two hours with just a short stop for Toast to take a swimming break (her favorite thing!). My hips are sore this morning and I’m a little tired, but otherwise, feeling great. Toast is conked out on the floor—sleeping.

Tons of people were out last night… walking, riding bikes, sitting by the lake talking, walking their dogs, kids swimming at the beaches.

I feel funny meeting people on the walking path, pretending we don’t notice each other as we pass within 24 inches of each other. So I usually greet people. Most people try not to make eye contact as we approach each other, I notice. But when I greet them they almost always seem happy to greet me back. (Why wouldn’t they? We’re all come from the same species after all.)

It probably helps to have a dog walking with me. “You can trust people with dogs.” (That’s what one woman told me recently.) Especially if they’re holding a filled poop bag (which I did for about 1.5 miles until I could find a garbage). I mean, who walks around with a filled poop bag except only the very conscientious, responsible type? So, what’s not to trust?

I passed a herd of women. Walking—or getting in shape—for a breast cancer walk. They had official-looking tags around their necks. Two groups of them—probably 6 in the first group and 3 in the second. The second group was especially friendly (maybe because they were less “driven,” since they were the slower group). They got all cutesy about Toast and smiled a lot.

Women are especially enamored with Toast, I’ve noticed. They’ll smile and say things like “pretty dog.” Or, “what a beautiful dog.” Sometimes a guy will say something similar, but it’s rare, and it’s always an older guy who’s usually walking a dog himself.

There were not as many guys walking and biking as women. And they were usually with a gal, biking or running. Guys usually are riding a bike rather than walking. They seem more intense—riding for a workout. Whereas most of the women seem to be walking… usually with another gal, and fully engaged in conversation. One guy who was stopped on his bike, looking at the map of the lake, obliged me and took the shot of me and Toast on my cell phone.

One big German Shepherd was especially jealous of Toast when she got to go swimming. The Shepherd wanted to go too, but was constrained to just sit and watch as Toast jumped in and played fetch with a stick from the shore.

We passed one group of women who were sitting at the park at a picnic table planning out their next Bible study, or book study. I overheard them debating whether they should begin with a prayer or not and trying to figure out how “spiritual” to make it.

I think you could easily walk around the same lake, meet the same people, and conclude that “people are just not very friendly.” Maybe they aren’t, really. But maybe they are. Maybe it just depends on your own demeanor and perspective. I find that most strangers on the walking path are happy to greet others, and are usually very friendly, but they usually don’t initiate it. But since I like to greet people… I’ve found that people around Medicine Lake are usually a pretty friendly bunch. (Toast agrees.)

Burn a Quaran Day?

A group of Christians in Florida needs the corrective insight of other Christians. Immediately. Maybe you can help.

Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville, Fla., currently plans an "International Burn A Quran Day" on September 11. Senior Pastor Dr. Terry Jones explained, "We only did it because we felt there needed to be an outcry against Islam, because Islam is presenting itself as a religion of peace."

I’m left scratching my head thinking, “How is this a biblical action rooted in Christian love?”
This action doesn’t exactly square with my reading of the First Letter of the Apostle Peter, (2:12) "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." Or when he says a few verses later in 2:17: "Show proper respect to everyone.”

Fortunately the President of the National Association of Evangelicals, Leith Anderson, has responded quickly. He said the book burning would "exacerbate tensions" between the religions. In a statement the NAE said, "It sounds like the proposed Quran burning is rooted in revenge. Yet the Bible says that Christians should 'make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else' (I Thessalonians 5:15)."

Muslims worldwide would be “profoundly” offended by the burning of Qurans, just as Christians would be deeply insulted if another faith group burned Bibles, the NAE stressed.

Orlando-based Pastor Joel Hunter of Northland, A Church Distributed, who is a member of the NAE Board of Directors, commented, “We have to recognize that fighting fire with fire only builds a bigger fire.”

“Love is the water that will eventually quench the destruction,” he said.

I have my own issues with Islam but the way to lead Muslims to the truth is not through vengeful acts, making incendiary pronouncements, or encouraging emotions of fear, distrust and violence on the part of fellow Christians. It’s through love and respect. At least, that was Jesus’ way. Since I’m a follower of Jesus, it’s my way too. By default.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, it’s your way too.

Our brothers and sisters at Dove—well-intentioned, I’m sure, but misguided nevertheless—need to hear from other Christians. Before they do something stupid, of which, all of us who follow Jesus, will bear the shame and grief. And it’s not like we (Christians) have a huge supply of goodwill in the eyes of the world in the first place.

More info at: The Christian Post. Send an email to Dove at: http://www.doveworld.org/contact. Make your voice heard.