Referring to sending missions from China, the slogan of “Back to Jerusalem” will always find a way to conversation. Certainly, it seems difficult to discuss the mission of the Chinese Church today without mentioning this movement. Although there are important places in the history of the Chinese Church, “Back to Jerusalem” is almost a biography of the Chinese Christian commitment to global evangelism, perpetuating a narrative that obscures the greater narrative of God’s work between the nation and the location of the Chinese church within it.
A follower from China wrote in a look back at his time at the fourth Rou-Ousanne conference last year in Seoul, South Korea.
Throughout the Lausanne Conference, I observed that when the mission of the Chinese Church was mentioned, the phrase “Back to Jerusalem” was still frequently called. It appears to have become a collective goal, but many siblings (both China and overseas) retain different perspectives on this vision.
The brother continues to criticize the current use of the slogan from several perspectives, including false geographical theology, distorted eschatology and the suggestion that the Chinese church is uniquely made to complete the great committee by turning the gospel west through areas currently ruled by Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism.
The modern “Back to Jerusalem” story elevates the role of the Chinese church in order to overturn a larger story about how God works throughout the church to achieve the redemption purpose of the nation.
He questioned the expectations of Chinese Christian leaders who view Lausanne as a way to gain international recognition and support for China’s role in the global mission. Meanwhile, he also calls on global mission leaders to focus on China’s so-called “strategic” nature as a special force in the implementation of the Grand Committee. Generating unrealistic expectations on both sides, the modern “back to Jerusalem” story elevates the role of the Chinese church in order to overturn a larger story about how God works throughout the church to achieve the redemption purpose of the nation.
Going out
One way to avoid this extreme is to see Chinese churches in a larger context. In other words, it is a new wave of immigration that has a widespread global impact on Chinese Christians. Among the tens of thousands of people traveling across China’s borders, there are many Christians. Some deliberately go out as missionaries sent by Chinese churches. Others are leaving with their families to seek better educational opportunities for children, pursue more promising careers, and to step out of the oppressive control of the Chinese state.
An exceptional advancement that has been naturally sent in recent years is to make it possible to understand that deliberately dispatching workers will feed the story of “returning to Jerusalem.” However, the more complicated dynamics of Christians from China participating in the Chinese diaspora of the world are also part of the story of God’s work in Chinese churches.
Rethinking the diaspora
The traditional diaspora idea would view non-faithful first-generation immigrants from China as being made up of new mission areas in their new home countries. The Chinese Christians who come out with them are expected to find opportunities to engage with fellow immigrants and bring them to Christ. The focus at this point is still on reaching the Chinese to other Chinese.
It is not usually up to the third or fourth generation that the Diaspora Chinese Church has begun to pursue sustainable mission efforts among culturally different people.
The next generation of Christians born outside of China may also find ministry opportunities, primarily within Chinese communities, but some may venture further afield and engage with people from other ethnic or cultural backgrounds. It is not usually up to the third or fourth generation that the Diaspora Chinese Church has begun to pursue sustainable mission efforts among culturally different people in their homes and elsewhere in the world.
This trend in church and mission development has long been observed among Chinese diaspora communities around the world. If nothing changes, this pattern could be repeated by those riding the current wave of immigration. As related to sending missions from China, some mention that the larger immigration phenomenon is potentially referring to what they believe is the real work of intercultural outreach.
What if someone out there could see their personal transition in the larger story of God’s unfolding stories for the nation?
But what if someone out there could see their personal transition in the larger story of God’s unfolding stories for the nation? Perhaps the new chapter is written in the story of the Chinese diaspora.
Changes in paradigms require not only spiritual encouragement from pastors in China and receiving countries, but also practical help to adapt to a new life when taking deliberate steps to participate in what God is doing in the hearts of his new neighbors.
This may mean, for example, that they are building their business and professional pursuits to enable them to actively engage teachers and other parents in new schools where their children are participating, and that their children are looking for like-minded churches and organizations that are actively involved and already active in ministries within their community.
The role of the Chinese Church in the world’s evangelization concerns mental intentionality rather than reaching a specific destination.
The role of the Chinese Church in the world’s evangelization is more about the intentionality of the mind than reaching a particular destination, whether in Jerusalem or elsewhere. It is not just about strategy, methods and structure, but also about following the invitation of the spirit to participate in his work where he leads.
The story of the church expansion throughout history, beginning with chapter 8 of the ecclesiastical scattering, is the story of the movements of spirit-oriented people who thrust believers into new places and new circumstances in which they can plant the seed of the gospel. This ongoing story continues to unfold today in the lives of Chinese diaspora Christians who see God working through his own scattering to serve interstate purposes.
Originally published by Chinese sources. It was reissued with permission.
Dr. Brent Fulton was the founder of China Sauce and was the first president until 2019. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies at Wheelon University, before serving as International US Director of the Chinese Province of Hong Kong and Editor of the UK Publications. Dr. Fulton holds an MA and doctorate in political science from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in radio TV films from Messiah University. Currently, Dr. Fulton promotes a network of member care professionals serving missionaries sent from China and consults with other organizations about the impact of China’s religious policy.
