Jesus in Beijing Review - Paper Example

David Aikman, a well-known journalist in Beijing for Time, has produced an outstanding present day view of Christianity in China. Varying from its historical origins as the home for Nestorians to the revolutionary work of the China Inland Mission and the Jesuits, up to the latter-day where Christianity is thriving throughout the entire nation. At the core of this special book are the various accounts of determined people who endangered almost everything and overcame intense suffering and all other ways of struggles simply because of their religious beliefs.

Aikman expounds on the story of first missionary endeavors in China, from the Nestorians between the year 601-700, then Franciscans between the year 1201-1300, to the Jesuits who came in the year 1501 and worked for almost a century. Every time, outsiders fell victims to Chinese governmental policies and were pushed out or controlled. According to Carroll (2005), the Protestant church has a great history in China, and it begins with the bold initiative of Robert Morrison, who landed in Guangzhou at the beginning of the 19th century. His interpretation of the holy bible set the base for the significant accomplishments of hundreds of evangelists in China in the Nineteenth century and to the middle of the twentieth century. Nevertheless, when Mao took control of China, all foreign people once more had to depart. Many pondered about the survival of the church in China. Jesus in Beijing provides vibrant evidence, not only of survival but of unparalleled expansion.

Not only does he address the pastors, priests, songwriters, music artists, and the young, educated people fascinated by evangelism, but also the everyday life of house church leaders. Aikman narrates testimonies regarding the leaders of the House, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches and how they are considerably motivating other Christians to display the perseverance and determination of Christianity in dealing with persecution and satanic cults (Carroll, 2005). Jesus in Beijing features a huge selection of information and facts concerning all ranks of the Church in China; the home church group, the Roman Catholic organizations (both underground and those permitted by state), and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

Interestingly, this book is concurrently very religious and provocatively political. Its principal thesis is that Christianity is slowly but certainly transforming China and changed China may change the entire world. In understandable journalistic design, Aikman looks at the historical background of Christianity in China, evaluates its multiplicity, highlights to us lots of its charming personalities, and describes political and cultural difficulties in the story of Christianity in China (Howard, 2005). Practical experience and analysis enrich Aikmans effectiveness. The suffering and resilience of lots of oppressed Christians develops through the entire work. An irremediable forward march of the Christian faith in China against incredible resistance grows all through to a climactic end with an upbeat foreseeable future. Well-balanced, objective negotiations of special Christian groups and their dissimilarities are informative and beneficial.

Vibrant connections between religion, culture, national politics and economics certainly exist. Aikman notices that transforming fortunes of the Christian faith in China reveal concurrent variations of socio-political-economic components. From the inception of Christianity in China till present-day times, the alterations of recurrent and frequently combative cultural transformations have impacted Christianitys reputation nearly as much as its unique spiritual attributes. Max Weber explored relations between religion and economics, for this reason, it's not a fresh concept; it nonetheless needs recognization that Christianity is a part of sophisticated elements (secular and holy), that is unable to be properly comprehended in seclusion (Howard, 2005).

According to Aikman, in the past, missionaries who valued and appropriated Chinas native dress, language, and customs were oftenly more successful as compared to those who failed to. Moreover, modern Chinese Christian believers capable of sharing their message and mission with Chinas non-Christian religious heritage are making real progress with passionate moderns. In a period of growing recognition of religious diversity and plurality, Christians who decline to skimp on their personal beliefs but yet agree and hold on the cultural backgrounds and spiritual heritage of other people may be the most successful people in works of preaching the gospel. The relative lack of persecution in the American church can be attributed to increased understanding among other religions, government, and missionaries.

Information to be considered in the new edition of the book is that theologians will indeed discover his prejudice towards Charismatic types of Christianity and his less-than-limpid evaluation of their apparent misunderstanding of Protestant doctrine. The authors bias towards some groups should be considered in the next edition. The Authors perception among Chinese believers that thirty percent of their fellow citizens will be Christian within a couple of years is vague. He should try to evaluate what Christian might signify.

Conclusively, David Aikman outlines that religion is not only an endeavor to connect properly to the eternal world above us but also in this temporal world. This book is an outstanding learning resource for people who are curious about Chinese Christianity, its challenges, the revival of spiritual power, mind-blowing growth and vision beyond China. The world church is now given the job of meticulously supporting Christianity in China, and help the Chinese churches to accomplish their goals.

Bibliography

Carroll, J. (2005). Book Review: Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power. International Bulletin Of Mission Research, 29(1), 47-48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/239693930502900123Howard, D. (2005). Book Review: Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of PowerJesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power By AikmanDavidWashington, DC: Regency Publishing, Inc.2003, 344 pp., cloth, $27.95. Missiology: An International Review, 33(4), 481-481. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/009182960503300424