Ideas

Editorial reflection and analysis on issues shaping Chinese Christianity.

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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.

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.

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.”

Stone cross over the gate of Mofan Bookstore the former site of the Chinese Anglican Church, Beijing.

If Revival Comes I

Based on a review of over 160 years of modern church history in China, the author takes an optimistic view of the current situation and firmly believes that God is preparing present-day China to embrace another great revival of Christianity—hereafter referred to as "China’s Next Revival."