How Did the Gospel Get to China?
Out of 1.4 billion, an estimated 30 million people in China claim to be Christians. As we consider the Church today, we can gain insight by looking back in history to see how and when the gospel was first brought to the Chinese. So, how did China get to this point?
HOW WAS THE GOSPEL BROUGHT TO CHINA?
The gospel first reached China in the 7th century, when Christians traveled along the Silk Road from Persia. In AD 635, a missionary named Alopen was welcomed by the emperor, who allowed him to translate Christian texts into Chinese and establish some of the first churches. Early Chinese believers called Christianity the “Luminous Religion.” However, the gospel growth faded as imperial support declined and foreign religions lost favor.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, rulers of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty were religiously tolerant. Both Catholic and Eastern Christian missionaries were allowed to enter China. During the late 16th century, missionaries began to present Christianity in ways that respected Confucian thought and Chinese culture. While conversions were limited, this approach established Christianity as intellectually credible and culturally engaged in China.
Starting in the 19th century, Protestant missionaries arrived in large numbers, especially after China was forced open to foreign access through trade and treaties. Missionaries like Robert Morrison, who translated the Bible into Chinese, helped spread the gospel more widely among the people.
WHAT DOES THE CHURCH LOOK LIKE TODAY?
In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party was established. With the introduction of communism, the government expelled foreign missionaries and placed harsh restrictions on religious life. Chinese churches were forced to come under official oversight of the Communist Party. Those who refused met in secret. Many of these house church leaders were caught and imprisoned in labor camps.
In 1980, a new leader of the Chinese Communist Party allowed foreign missionaries to return. The gospel had survived in China despite persecution. And with the missionaries’ help, the Church began to thrive and grow.
But under the next leader, scrutiny of house churches returned, and believers were arrested. Today, government restrictions against Christianity persist. While millions gather in state-sanctioned churches, many believers worship in unregistered churches to avoid government control and censorship.
Recently, believers have faced one of the largest government crackdowns on unregistered churches in nearly eight years. The COVID-19 pandemic also increased restrictions with the increased surveillance and facial recognition. Meeting in secret as house churches has become nearly impossible.
Missionaries continue to be expelled. Pastors are thrown in jail. Churches are raided. The Chinese government is rewriting the Bible with incorrect theology. Yet, Chinese believers continue to plant churches, train pastors, and disciple believers. Today, Christianity is the fastest growing religion in China. Most Christians within house churches are first generation believers. In fact, the Christian population is estimated to reach around 100 million by 2050.
HOW CAN YOU PRAY FOR THE CHURCH IN CHINA?
As Christians face pressure from the Chinese government, pray for their safety and endurance as they walk with the Lord. Pray that believers would be able to meet together in house churches and “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Also, pray for government restrictions to be lifted and for believers to one day have the freedom to meet openly.
Many missionaries have been expelled from China. Pray for Chinese church planters and believers to be equipped to take up the baton of making disciples and planting churches. Pray for the gospel to spread from the cities to rural towns. Pray for all people in China to know the healing, comfort, peace, and friendship found in Jesus. And praise God for strengthening believers to bring forth the good news even in the midst of persecution.
