The influence of missionaries and Christian groups on Nee’s ecclesiology cannot be ignored. Some of them have been credited in developing an indigenous model of contextualization of Christianity in China. Lam Wing-hung asserted that the Local Church, founded by Nee, has played a vital role in the Chinese church’s history of contextualization movement:
The 1920s were a unique period in the history of Chinese Christianity when there were a host of experiments to indigenize the Christian faith. A series of significant events happened in this decade that gave momentum to the indigenous church movement.
Other than Lam’s dissertation, Jonathan Chao also focused on the indigenization endeavor of the Church in China during the 1920’s. Chao, however, gave a slightly different assessment and said,
These movements have often been called indigenous church movements, but strictly speaking, they were really various forms of independent churches… Indigenous churches, as defined by their advocates in the 1920s, are those which have not only attained independence, but also have a clear sense of Chinese identity and deal with Chinese
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Nee was convinced that traditional liturgies such as infant baptism and the inclusive Lord’s Supper were contrary to the biblical teachings. Nee, therefore, practiced believer’s baptism by immersion and the limited participation of “Breaking Bread” services. The Spiritual Man, the only book written by Nee himself, was mostly derived from the publications of Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis (1861-1927), who worked with Evan Roberts during the Welsh Revival. Nee’s correspondence with the Keswick Convention had a profound impact on his theological foundation. Theologically, Nee was inspired by fundamentalism and premillennial dispensationalism. These influential movements shaped a framework for Nee’s theological doctrines. Ken Ang Lee
Although fictional, the book Safely Home written by Randy Alcorn is a remarkably dependable story based on real characters. The way of life in China and in America is portrayed in an extraordinarily accurate way. This book consists of a powerful story which focuses mainly on the persecution of Christians in China. Although not every follower of Christ lives in China and not every Christian is persecuted the way in which Li Quan, his family, and other fellow believers were persecuted, the morals and examples can be applied to any Christian’s life. Since the story takes place in today’s time period, the scenario is quite significant in any believer’s life. Christians should be more informed on the details of persecution around the world in order
Evangelicalism by its very nature is hard to define. In fact, Douglas Sweeney, Chair of the Church History and the History of Christian Thought Department at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School states, “precious little consensus exists among those who have tried to describe the evangelical movement.” Nevertheless, Sweeney does an excellent attempt by briefly explicating the diverse history of the evangelical movement in his book, The American Evangelical Story: A History of the Movement. Sweeney, a Lutheran and expert in American religion and culture not only introduces
In the early 1920’s, a new movement began, known as the Fundamentalist Revolt. This New movement all started when Protestants started feeling threatened by all of the modernists and new cultures arising. Fundamentalists didn’t like that modernists were completely changing entertainment, sexual rules, and general morals. Fundamentalists believed that people had to start going back to their old ways and the ways things were written the Bible. As this idea got bigger and bigger people started preaching their ideas of how fundamentalism should regain its position in society. Anti-modernist preached about the ideas of alcohol in public and even Darwinism to prove the points of fundamentalism. More specifically the fundamentalist revolt impacted religion, race, and immigration in many ways all across country.
Xuanzang was a highly educated Buddhist monk from China, who in 629 C.E. made the long and treacherous journey along the Silk Road to India. His main objectives in his sixteen years away from home were fundamentally religious; he only wanted to study more complete scriptures to answer questions he had, which he deemed unsolvable in his own country. It is important to understand Xuanzang’s own position within the Chinese society and the type of situation it was in: Chinese Buddhists had many disagreements
The 1920’s was a period of extremely economic growth and personal wealth. America was a striving nation and the American people had the potential to access products never manufactured before. Automobile were being made on an assembly line and were priced so that not just the rich had access to these vehicles, as well as, payment plans were made which gave the American people to purchase over time if they couldn't pay it all up front. Women during the First World War went to work in place of the men who went off to fight. When the men return the women did not give up their positions in the work force. Women being giving the responsibility outside the home gave them a more independent mindset, including the change of women's wardrobe, mainly in the shortening of their skirts.
As an Arab(Muslim) living in the US, I perfectly recognize what it is to be a member of a minority group. However, I am quite intrigued by the idea of studying the Chinese Christian subculture within the United States. This project will involve studying existing literature on the given subculture – which is Chinese Christian community within the US. In most cases, subcultures are closed knit and members like associating with members of their communities; understandably because of the need to belong and find closeness with one another. Nonetheless, Christianity amongst Chinese immigrants in the United States brings forth the idea of present-day assimilation, religious conversion, and so forth. In order to ensure this project is completed successfully, there will be different methods of collecting information other than studying existing literature – by experts in the field. Most notably, there will be interviews with members of the subculture being studied to get first-hand information on the experiences of the group in the US.
Chinese people might find naming their religion challenging as it is a mixture of “traditional religion, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism” (Corduan, 2012, p.388). The Chinese Popular Religion continues to evolve and change as the world around it changes and outside influences enter the Chinese culture (Corduan, 2012). Investigation of the Chinese Popular Religion includes its key features, practices, and influences, along with tis role in contemporary China, and how Christians can enhance their interactions.
Throughout the book, Aikman puts an emphasis and commends China on its increasing growth in the Christian community despite militant communism. He continues to discuss the structures of the positions within the clandes...
The 1920's was a time of change in the United States. “The Roaring Twenties” had an outstanding impact on the economy, social standards and everyday life. It was a time for positive results in the industry of consumer goods and American families, because of higher wages, shorter working hours, and manufacturing was up 60% in consumer goods. But it was also a time of adversity and opposition for others, such as immigrants and farmers. Immigrants had lots of competition when they were looking for work and they weren't treated fairly by Americans, depending on where they came from and what they believed. Farmers were paid very little because the price of food kept going down, they also had the Dust Bowl to worry about. African Americans became further infused with mainstream America during the Harlem Renaissance. They were also able to organize and elect officials who would make life better for them. The Roaring Twenties was a very exciting time to live in and we can all learn what the real world is like, and how we can prepare to be ready for it, today and in the future.
Taoism is an ancient Chinese religion, a religion of peace focused on universal balance. The religion itself, though generally surviving today, was almost entirely wiped out in ancient times. Taoism’s primary symbol is still visible on the global market in modern times, though it tends to carry somewhat different meanings then it necessarily did previously. An incredibly life-structure oriented religion, it has permeated through society and is more easily understood through analysis of Taoism’s historical origins and leaders, its types and beliefs, ethics, and the modern influences of Taoism on society.
The cause and responses of the spread of Buddhism in China is similar to and reflect that of Christianity’s spread throughout western Europe. The universality aspect of both of these religions makes it possible to draw the comparison between the two. Buddhism and Christianity shared a positive response concerning the recognition of its unifying effects to create a more orderly society. Regarding Buddhism, this is seen in document 5, and regarding Christianity, this is seen in the way it became the unifying force in the Roman
...ki, S.J. The Chinese Rites Controversy from Its beginning to Modern Times, (1) George Minamiki, S.J. The Chinese Rites Controversy from Its beginning to Modern Times, (3)
Hong, Andrew. "Confucianism and Filial Piety." Andrew Hong, Reformed Second Generation Chinese Ministry. N.p., 5 May 2008. Web. 2 Nov. 2013. .
Johnston, Patricia. "Bibles for China." Magazine of the United Free Church of Scotland [Glasgow]. United Free Church of Scotland. Web. 09 Dec. 2011. .
Historical conceptions of China’s culture and global position shaped the PRC’s perspective. Central to this is Sino-centrism and its edict from heaven for dynastic China to spread civilisation (Xinning 2001: 70). Imperial China’s tribute system represented a “Pax Sinica” and the physical manifestation of Sino-centrism, with its success affirming Chinese cultural superiority (Y. Zhang 2001: 52). Instructive in this is Sino-centrism’s similarity to, and conflict with American Manifest Destiny, itself an articulation that Anglo-Saxon American’s are God’s chosen people, with a superior culture and who are pre-ordained to spread civilisation to inferior peoples (Hollander 2009: 169). The PRC’s nationalism can be seen in part as a rejection of this competing celestial mandate, linking China’s decline to foreign intervention and the acceding to unequal treaties that saw the loss of peripheral territories considered intrinsic to historic China (Kissinger 2011: 112). In this way, the PRC’s formation as a modern nation state is the recrudescence of Sino-...