The Chinese have a plan called Sinicization with the goal of transforming the heart and soul of Christian theology and re-translating the Bible or revising biblical commentaries. This would actually involving summarizing the Old Testament with some Buddhist additions and Confucian teachings and new commentary for the New Testament. The five-year plan appears to be expansive, even incorporating Chinese elements into church worship services, hymns and songs, clergy attire, and the architectural style of church buildings. Everyone knows that between 4,000 to 6,000 crosses of state-sanctioned churches have been torn down but the churches that do have crucifixes on the inside must put up pictures of Chairman Mao and Chairman Xi [Jinping] on either side of the crucifix. Music that begins worship will include the revolutionary songs of communist China. In addition the state will seek to close or merge many of the state-sanctioned churches as well as step up efforts to close the more than 20,000 house churches not sanctioned by the state.
In many ways, this is even more overt and profound than the attempt of Nazis to define Christianity in a way that was friendly to Hitler and to find accommodation within Scripture for the Nazi ideology. While hundreds of Christian leaders have condemned the effort, it remains to be seen if they will be more successful than the churches of Germany were in resisting the state sponsored control of Christian dogma, worship, and piety. What is clear, however, is that Pope Francis recent accord with the Chinese in allowing them a role in naming bishops and exercising certain authority over Chinese Roman Catholics appears now to have been a real sell out and an encouragement to the emboldened efforts of China to do more than control the churches and to undertake an actual remake of the Christian message and identity within their borders. All of this comes at a time when it is clear, that despite appearances, China is closing doors rather than opening them to freedom and to the West. It also appears to justify those who suggest that our dependence upon the Chinese is providing the financial cover for their consolidation of power within their borders and their moves to strengthen their position within the world.
Of course, liberals will insist that those who cry foul are overreacting and that the same kind of cultural appropriation of the Christian faith has been done in many other places. For the orthodox Christian community concerned about doctrinal integrity even more than personal freedom, this is very ominous. That said, freedom is just a word unless it is accompanied by the protections of law which not only give liberty to the churches but to every believer to confess and teach without control or interference from the government -- whether in China or in the enlightened West.
Some more fruits of a Chinese Christianity and the Vatican accords. . .
Chinese authorities destroy two Marian shrines despite Vatican-China agreement by Mary Rezac/CNA posted Saturday, 27 Oct 2018
Government forces destroyed the shrines of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Dongergou (Shanxi), and Our Lady of Bliss in Anlong (Guizhou) As part of an ongoing crackdown on religious practice in the country, Chinese authorities demolished two Catholic Marian shrines this week. The move comes just one month after the Chinese government signed an agreement with the Vatican regarding the appointment of bishops. According to reports from AsiaNews, government authorities destroyed the Marian shrines of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Dongergou (Shanxi), and Our Lady of Bliss, also known as Our Lady of the Mountain, in Anlong (Guizhou). The shrines were pilgrimage sites for both the official Chinese Catholic Church and the “underground” Catholic Church in China. Authorities claim that the shrine in Anlong was destroyed because it lacked the necessary building permits. Local Catholics told AsiaNews that they believe the demolitions were part of the so-called “Sinicization” efforts of the Communist Party to bring the Catholic Church more in-line with the government’s understanding of Chinese culture, society and politics. Last month, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had signed an agreement with the Chinese government intended to normalize the situation of China’s Catholics.
It looks like the Chinese are taking a cue from Joseph Smith. The Mormons like to say that they are Christians, too. Riiiiight.
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