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WHAT CHINA’S CHRISTIAN INTELLECTUALS ARE READING TODAY:
A DEMAND FOR DEPTH
By An Urban Intellectual Publisher
Translated by Samuel Ling - November 2001
With the rise of urban house churches and university students’ fellowships in China in recent years, the need for theological books and training is urgent.
Born in China, I came to faith in Christ 10 years ago through a university students’ fellowship. Seven years ago, I began ministry among urban house churches. My profession is in publishing and communications in the cultural sector (note: a publisher in literature, philosophy, etc.). When I first became a Christian, I was hungry and thirsty for all kinds of literature. I searched everywhere. At that time, four types of books were brought to China from overseas: A. Bibles, including a small quantity of cross-reference Bibles. B. Evangelistic pamphlets; among the more famous was The Four Spiritual Laws. C. Materials for training in basic doctrine: most were outlined lessons and questions-and-answers. D. A few theological books, e.g. Isaac Jen’s Systematic Theology (note: the late Rev. Jen was Chinese radio minister, Back to God Hour). We can see from these categories, that at that time, the goals of the overseas church in China ministry were: (a) pre-evangelistic seed-sowing, and (b) training rural preachers. For us, Christians and leaders who grew through the students’ fellowships, these materials are woefully inadequate. On the one hand, the evangelistic pamphlets were too shallow. On the other, the training materials and theological books were too dry. They were not deep enough, not rich enough.
The appearance of two books – A Manual for Church Workers Training (China Ministries International) and The Shepherd’s Staff (a book criticized as charismatic in orientation; I liked it) – turned out to be great blessings for the church. We received these books about four years ago (1997). They were immediately put to use in our coworkers’ training. We require coworkers to systematically read them, and conduct regular study sessions on the topics covered (e.g. Chinese church history, Religious Affections and Jonathan Edwards, The Great Awakening). Through such training our coworkers expressed their widespread need for this kind of reading material. In response to this need, I took many books which I collected through the years, and established a reading room for Christians (primarily coworkers). According to everyone’s demand, I regularly sent book lists to overseas Christians, requesting these books. After a few years, our library now has over 500 books on Bible exposition, devotional literature and theology. We can see from borrowers’ records and their feedback that:
A. Brothers and sisters have a growing thirst for in-depth theological thinking and training. Hermeneutics and systematic theology are now receiving widespread attention. In-depth books for further study are constantly in great demand.
B. Christians are intensely interested in the intellectual dimension of their spiritual growth. I had thought that Soul Stories, Streams in the Desert, and other short devotionals would be most welcome. In fact, these books are borrowed by sisters very often. However at the same time, other books were frequently borrowed: Augustine’s Confessions, Roland Bainton’s Here A Stand (note: a biography of Martin Luther), Williston Walker’s A History of Christian Church, Francis Schaeffer’s How Should We Then Live, and Josh MacDowell’s Evidence That Demands a Verdict (note: all available in Chinese). Together with what we know about house churches in other cities, we conclude that the books which are brought into China at present are woefully inadequate to meet Christians’ needs.
In a word, there needs to be two areas in which book-ministry needs follow-up.
First: First rate works on hermeneutics, systematic theology, and apologetics. Christians in China’s urban churches today are deeply influenced by contemporary trends. They are concerned about heavy-weight, foundational, philosophical themes in faith and thought. This is a very encouraging trend. One the one hand, coworkers want to build a strong foundation on Christian truth, as they are challenged by all kinds of intellectual trends. On the other, they want to respond to complex ideas and trends in Chinese society with a biblical perspective. This kind of systematic publishing can be integrated with theological training (e.g. intensive courses and on-line distance learning). Together, this would go a long way toward establishing a firm foundation for the development of China’s churches in the next phase.
Second: Books on pastoral care, counseling and family counseling, which are based on biblical truth. This type of books will enable the church to become involved in the lives of contemporary Chinese people, and at the same time to stand firm on the foundation of the Bible.
A pastor-friend who has spent many years in China ministry told me, he is in touch with students’ fellowships and urban house churches. He has discovered that there is very little space left for overseas Christians to make a contribution in teaching the church in China. The hunger and thirst for in-depth growth among China’s Christians are deeply moving. The lists of requests books which they send overseas show increasing depth and difficulty. The depth of their exploration is rarely seen among overseas Christians. Another missionary-friend said to me, when an overseas teacher speaks on basic doctrine for two hours, he/she can still hold the audience. However, in contrast with the popular sermon model outside China (one viewpoint plus several stories), the church China urgently needs theological thinking and training. We hope Christians overseas will meet this need, through publishing (overseas or in China), and assistance in theological education, helping a new generation of pastors and Christian intellectuals to build the doctrinal foundation for China’s church, and for the maturing of theological thought in the coming decades.