Ideas

Editorial reflection and analysis on issues shaping Chinese Christianity.

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Visionary art of Jesus as the light of salvation shining over a darkened world bringing hope and redemption. 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.

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 traditional Chinese festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, shown in a beautiful and artistic illustration with a Chinese style. 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.

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.

Woman in church praying, 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.

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.

Jesus statue in garden at St. Ignatius Xujiahui Cathedral, Shanghai. 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.

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.

Group of students walking along a college corridor, talking and smiling.

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.

AI concept with a magnifying glass and right, wrong, symbols in the wooden cubes.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.

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.

Looking toward the 2040s: a watchful posture over China and the world. 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.

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.

Modern buildings and ancient architecture in the city.While honestly embracing their own evangelical legacy, with its imperative for gospel witness, the Mennonites also found in their heritage values of “hosting, listening, waiting, learning, inquiring, affirming.”

Enduring Lessons for a Changing China

While honestly embracing their own evangelical legacy, with its imperative for gospel witness, the Mennonites also found in their heritage values of “hosting, listening, waiting, learning, inquiring, affirming.”