Chapter 2

The changes that have happened in China over the last 20 years have had at least two characteristics: First, they’ve come at us fast. In fact, they’ve come at us so fast that it has been easy to miss the changes that have happened in China. Secondly, the changes in China have been deep, wholesale changes in almost every sector of society. Of course, we know about the changes that have been made in the economic sector that has fueled this remarkable economic growth, but there are many other areas of change. When we uncover them, I think it really helps us with many pieces to our overall picture of China and her Church.

As an example of this, I met an older couple yesterday that had just finished a three-week tour of China, their first trip to China. The older gentleman told me that before leaving for the trip, he had in his mind that China was a police state and he was expecting armed military personnel on every corner in the cities of China. What he found, of course, is a complete opposite picture of what he thought he would find in China. And this is a main point for me: That so many in the West have a picture of China in their minds that doesn’t come close to meeting reality. Of course, it is not really their fault in that we in the West automatically have a picture in our minds when it comes to the word “Communist.” I’ve taken the task of changing these perceptions as a personal crusade of mine. So here’s my main points from Chapter 2:

• The changes in China have been deep and have happened quickly.
• There is a clear road map that we can trace to see the development these changes have taken.
• It is our responsibility in the West to keep up with these changes and use our analysis to effect our engagement in China.
• In areas like Rule of Law, showing patience to the Chinese helps us develop relationships and gives us the opportunity to be ‘Jesus with skin on.’
• By understanding that China is undergoing a transition from a secular state to a religious state gives us hope for China’s future and helps us engage appropriately.
• Because Chinese intellectuals are increasingly seeing Christianity as the answer for China’s ills allows us to engage with them in ways that only proves to them that they are right.

So now it’s your turn! What do you think about Chapter 2? And what other changes and trends have you seen that would help us all understand China and her Church? I turn the floor over to you!