‘Uncontrolled’ growth of Christianity in China ‘makes government nervous’

China's Communist Party is feeling increasingly threatened by the ‘uncontrolled growth of Christianity’ in the country. The number of Christians is estimated by some to reach 247 million by 2030, many of whom are in the booming underground church. Some experts are now warning that, threatened by such uncontrolled growth the Communist Party may be preparing a sweeping crackdown.

As China’s political elite are preparing to gather for the 19th Communist Party Congress, experts are warning that the Communist Party is feeling increasingly threatened by the ‘uncontrolled growth of Christianity’ in the country.

On 18 October, Communist Party of China (CPC) delegates from across China will meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In the five years since the last congress there have been significant changes in China. One of those changes is the ‘uncontrolled growth of Christianity’ – a growth so explosive that, according to some experts, the Communist Party is now feeling threatened. The number of Christians is estimated by some to reach 247 million by 2030. This will make it ‘the world’s largest congregation’ – according to Eugene K. Chow writing in The Diplomat. He writes: ‘Threatened by the rapid, uncontrolled growth of Christianity, the Communist Party is gearing up for a sweeping crackdown.’

Chow describes how ‘many state sanctioned churches have been forced to install surveillance cameras, and preachers, selected by the government, are monitored to ensure that their sermons do not broach taboo topics’ – for example, messages that contain foreign influences. China’s government is concerned foreign powers want to infiltrate churches to destabilise the country.

“They want the pastor to preach in a Communist way,” said an underground church leader. This means that the state churches are even avoiding certain ‘subversive’ parts of the Bible. The story of Daniel, for example, who refuses to worship the state leader, is not a welcome subject in a country increasingly focused on the personality of its leader.

This increasing control is one reason why most Chinese Christians avoid the registered, state sanctioned churches, and gather for worship more covertly, in the booming ’underground’ churches.

'The correct path'

Last month the Chinese government sharpened its religious regulations in a move seen by some as tightening its control on Christians, although it was claimed to be an anti-Islamisation measure. According to Wang Zuoan, the head of China’s religious affairs bureau, “the revision was urgently needed because the foreign use of religion to infiltrate [China] intensifies by the day and religious extremist thought is spreading in some areas”.

While the Chinese constitution guarantees religious freedom, Zuoan told South China Morning Post the new rules were to help the government maintain “the Sinicisation of religion in our country … and keep to the correct path of adapting religion to a socialist society”.

Whatever ‘adapting religion to a socialist society’ means, it doesn’t mean freedom of expression. Between 2013 and 2015 over 1,200 crosses were pulled down from churches in the prosperous eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, known as the ‘Jerusalem’ of the east for its strong Christian presence. Worse than damage to buildings are the numerous cases of Christian leaders who disappeared, were imprisoned and tortured, or harassed. These people, it is clear, have not been keeping to the 'correct path'.

Cult of personality

The 19th Congress will determine who gets to lead the Chinese Communist Party. And whoever leads that will lead the 1.3 billion people of China and the world's second largest economy.

Thomas Mueller, analyst for the Open Doors World Watch Research unit says the regime has two priorities: controlling the media and emphasising ideology. “The preferred line of thinking is emphasised by introducing President Xi Jinping’s own brand of ‘political thought’ into the Party constitution, tying ideology closer to the budding personality cult around him,” he said. “As the emphasis on Communist ideology and the personality cult emerging around President Xi gets stronger, the authorities will correspondingly act more strongly against all other ‘ideologies’ not fitting into this system, including the Christian religion.”

Another source who preferred to remain anonymous told World Watch Monitor that religious restrictions, in particular for students and young people, are tightening but that the policies are not equally enforced in all parts of the country due to its size and regional diversity.

However, as Chow concludes, ‘While the Communist Party has developed increasingly sophisticated ways to manipulate its citizens, it remains to be seen if the government can successfully subvert a religion that has withstood repeated repression over its 2,000 year history. Given Christianity’s long, enduring track record, party officials are perhaps rightly worried.’

Please Pray:

• For both the state and underground church in China - that they would stand strong against government pressure
• For protection for church leaders and their families and for the courage to preach the gospel
• For the influence of other governments, that they challenge China on issues of human rights.