Christianity in China

In a time when there's so much negative news, not just in the world at large, but in the church world as well, its good to come across a really positive story concerning the church world.

In this article from FoxNews.com "Christianity in China", we get some interesting insight in to the explosive, but relatively under-the-radar, growth of Christianity that's taken place in China over the last several decades. Good stuff. And it calls to mind the Lord's words in Matthew 24 v. 14: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached as a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come." Even so, come Lord Jesus.

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Christianity in China

By Lauren Green

Published January 20, 2011 

FoxNews.com

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/20/christianity-china/#ixzz1Bir8kJg

While religion in China may not be a big topic for discussion during President Hu Jintao's meeting with President Obamathis week, many experts say that an explosive growth in Christianity may be transforming the officially atheist regime.

According to China Aid, a Texas-based human rights group, the number of Christians in China has increased 100-fold since 1949. Current estimates range from 80 million to 130 million active members. And one startling estimate from a Chinese Christian businessman has that number doubling or even tripling in the next generation.
Christianity could become one of the macro forces shaping Chinese culture, say experts like Dr. David Aikman, author of "Jesus in Beijing."‬‪

"If the Chinese become Christianized ... which doesn't mean you have a majority of people who are Christians, but it means about 25 to 30 percent of people in positions of influence, in politics, in culture, in the media. If you have that component of a major power that accepts Christianity enthusiastically as a guide to life, that is going to change the world view of the leaders of China."‬‪

Full article here: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/01/20/christianity-china/  

Aslo... from this interesting website I came across, ChristiansInChina.com, I found these interesting facts I thought it would be good to post: 

Basic Facts:

• In China, there are two official churches: three-Self Patriotic Movement (Protestant) and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (Roman Catholics)

• There are around 20-50 million Chinese who are members of the official Chinese churches, with the majority Protestants

• However, most of the Christians in China belong to so-called house churches (private gatherings might be more appropriate). Estimates put the population around 70-120 million

• The Christian population has grown exponentially since 1949, especially during the past 30 years. By one account, the Christian population in China in 1997 is 20 times more than it was in 1949. Since 1997, the population has almost doubled

• Overall, about 5% to 10% Chinese call themselves Christians

• In 2007, about 50 million copies of the Bible were printed in China, making it the top nation where the word of God is spread and read

From: http://www.christiansinchina.com/basic-facts-about-christianty-in-china/ 

See also: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2659766n (2007 video article from CBS News.)

Mission Leader: Why So Few Christians in Japan?

Interesting article about the lack of penetration of Christianity into Japanese society:


By Michelle A. Vu|Christian Post Reporter

The quality of missionaries or the methodologies used is not the problem when it comes evangelizing. But it is the Japanese mentality itself that is hindering more people from coming to Christ, said a mission leader last week at a global conference in Tokyo.

Japanese people value human relationships more than truth and principle, said Dr. Minoru Okuyama, director of the Missionary Training Center in Japan, during his presentation at the Tokyo 2010 Global Missions Consultations.

“Because they are afraid of disturbing human relationships of their families or neighborhood even though they know that Christianity is the best,” said Okuyama, who previously was Buddhist and a Shintoist. “Thus, Japanese make much of human relationships more than the truth. Consequently we can say that as for Japanese, one of the most important things is harmony; in Japanese ‘Wa.’”

He added, “[T]hose who harm the harmony are bad, whether they are right or not has been beside the question.”

Less than one percent of Japan’s population is Christian even though the religion was brought to the country over 150 years ago.

Okuyama noted that Christianity is thriving in neighboring China and Korea because the mentality of the people is to “make more of truth or principle than human relationships.”

Full article here.