THE CHURCH IN CHINA

1 The Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) was instituted by 'patriotic' and often theologically liberal Christians with the strong encouragement of the Communist Party as the interface between the government and Church

a) The neutralization of all measures to impose unbiblical doctrines on the churches, limit evangelism, and force conformity to the dictates of the atheist government

b) Leaders who have compromised the faith and bowed to government pressure

c) The continued growth of the registered churches

d) Relationships between the TSPM churches and house churches

e) The future of the TSPM. Growth, despite its major flaws and weaknesses, has been astonishing

2 Leadership training is woefully deficient, and a crisis need

a) Faculty – often selected for their political correctness rather than for their walk with God

b) Students

c) Protection from interference

3 The Catholics were divided when the Marxists set up the Catholic Patriotic Association in 1957 with its own structure and hierarchy independent of the Vatican

4 The unregistered or house church networks are the heart of the true Church in China

a) Persecution is a present reality

b) Ongoing evangelistic outreach

c) Challenges to face:

d) The intellectual elite is largely urban

e) Leadership for the churches

f) The multiplication of heretical sects and doctrinal extremist groups

g) Spiritual unity has been furthered by recent persecution

h) Missions vision

Peoples

Han Chinese 91.3%.

Ethnic minorities 8.7%.

Literacy 81.5%. Official language Putonghua (Mandarin Chinese); local languages in the five Autonomous Regions. All languages 470. Languages with Scriptures 13Bi 13NT 16por 24w.i.p.

Economy

The Cultural Revolution with its application of an extreme Marxist economic system was a fiasco. HDI 0.701; 98^th/174. Public debt 11% of GNP. Income/person $860 (2.7% of USA).

Politics

This great and ancient nation has regained its place of importance in the world after nearly two centuries of decline and humiliation at the hands of the Western powers and Japan.

Religion

Elimination of all religious groups has always been the ultimate aim of the Marxist government.

Churches in China

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Geography

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Area 9,573,000 sq.km. The third largest state in the world, also containing the highest mountains and plateaus in the world.

Population (2000) 1,262,556,787 +0.93%AGR

Capital Beijing (Peking) 12,033,000.

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