Australian Churches Delegation on Great Wall of China.

In conversation with one of the leaders of the church in China I discovered how much the Chinese love their country. He was speaking to me about difficulties experienced during the Cultural Revolution. The emphasis however, was not on the frustration of personal ambitions but on the sufferings of his country. A graduate of one of the most prestigious universities in China, he had been forced during the Cultural Revolution to work barren, unworkable land for which he was given sufficient to feed but not to clothe his family. However, it was not about personal indignity or impoverishment that he spoke. But what hurt him was the fact that during his most productive years, between 40 and 50, when he wanted to contribute to the building of a New China, he was not allowed to do so.

For the Chinese, China has always been the centre of the world. Though humiliated by the West for almost a century before the victory of the Communist forces in 1949, the Chinese did not lose this sense of their importance. In this regard it is interesting to note that they developed their own Communism, more Maoist or Confucian than Communist. And, almost from the beginning, they have vied with Russia for ideological leadership of the Communist world.

A Chinese Church

It is little wonder that that Chinese want to develop a distinctly Chinese Church. At present, many of the outward marks of the church are Western--the buildings are Western, most of the hymns are Western, and, up until the Cultural Revolution, the Chinese Church was divided, hobbled by our Western divisions, If and when Chinese Christians are able to construct new church buildings, they will be in the Chinese style. While Western music, sung by competent choirs, attracts young people interested in Western music to the churches, Chinese Christians are giving attention to composing new hymns in a distinctly Chinese style. They are also working on a new translation of the Bible. Chinese Christians are wanting to say to their fellow countrymen--"We present you with a Christ who will appeal to you, who speaks your language, feels your hurts and is in touch with your dreams."

Self Management

Chinese Christians not only want to express themselves as Chinese; they also want it understood that they are organising their own affairs. In the early years Christianity was associated with Western colonialism, with opium wars, unequal treaties, foreign concessions and gunboat diplomacy. Some of the unequal treaties were drawn up by missionaries. The Chinese had difficulty distinguishing missionary endeavour from an Imperialism that humiliated them and carved up their country. Both before and after liberation Christianity was associated with Western Imperialism.

"Three-Self Government"

It used to be said that if the church gains a member China loses a citizen. Recognizing that the end was near for outside missionary organisations, and almost too late, some missionary groups attempted to quickly indigenize the Chinese leadership. Out of this the Three-Self Movement emerged, with its emphasis on self-government, self-support, and self-propagation. It is through this body that the church is able to liaise with the Government for such things as timber for pews, paper for Bibles, and the handing hack of buildings to the church. Within the last year, largely through the initiative of the Three-Self Movement, the China Christian Council has been organised to further co-ordinate the work of the churches.

Bible Smuggling

The Christian church wants to identify with its community, to say, "We are for China, we want to make our contribution. We are supportive, though not uncritical." It is for this reason that it resents the initiatives of Western Christians that recognize neither the sovereignty of the Chinese nation or of the church. Nothing angers Chinese Christians as much as Bible smuggling. Though it could be a year before they are able to supply all their people with Bibles, they are coping adequately with the problem of production and distribution, and with the help of the Government! Christians in the major cities are well supplied. It is in the country areas that shortages exist, though it should be pointed out that many country people are illiterate anyway! Not only does Bible smuggling disregard the sovereignty of nation and church, it is considered illegal and the propaganda used to boost funds is often blatantly inaccurate and hostile. Such initiatives, emanating usually from ultra-fundamentalist and strongly anti-communist groups, angers Chinese Christians, does them a grave disservice and imperils what freedom they enjoy. It is viewed, not only by non-Christian Chinese, but also by the Christians themselves, as the spearhead of a new imperialism. Besides, some of the crates that have been landed lie rotting on beaches and continue to gather mould in warehouses. The Chinese Christians are not against Western Christians distributing a Bible or two to individuals with whom they have established some sort of relationship, though they do frown on the deceit involved in Christians coming into China for secular purposes, who then proceed to exercise Christian ministries.

Fellowship not Paternalism

Christians in China are reaching out to make contact with the world Christian community. They do not want missionary organizations re-establishing themselves in China. They want to look after their own affairs and are capable of doing so. They do, however, want to meet with other Christians on the basis of mutual respect. They want Western Christians, particularly, to understand their situation, their preferences and their dreams. However enthusiastic we might be about the fact that China is opening up to the gospel, let us respect the sensitivities and maturity of the church in China which is led by some of the country's foremost intellectuals. Let us wait for the Chinese to ask of us, then let us give what help we can. And let us pray. They have asked for this and promised to pray for us.