Tony Lambert is the director for research, Chinese ministries, for OMF International and the author of China's Christian Millions, The Resurrection of the Chinese Church and the recently published Pray for China! A 30 Day Prayer Guide.
Lambert writes: “China has been experiencing a major revival of religious faith…at the same time there has been an upsurge in cults, many of them quite bizarre.” He traces a brief history of China’s cults and then deals with how a cult is defined in China. He goes on to look at the difficulties that emerge when applying unclear and subjective definitions of what constitutes a cult and concludes with an overview of Eastern Lightning.
Current evidence is that religion is flourishing in China. However, practical problems make statistical statements for the number of religious believers in China quite hazardous. The author cautiously examines the evidence that exists for each of the five, major, officially-recognized religious faiths in China.
Henan: The Galilee of China (Volume 2 of the "Fire & Blood" series) by Paul Hattaway
Reviewed by Tony Lambert
The "Back to Jerusalem" movement can be traced back to a vision for evangelism which God gave to several different indigenous Chinese Christian mission movements in the 1940s.
Fierce the Conflict by Norman H. Cliff.
A Review by Tony Lambert
Essential lessons from history for today's cross-cultural workers.
The last year has seen the promotion by Bishop K. H. Ting (Ding Guangxin), former head of both the China Christian Council (CCC) and the Three Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM), of a campaign for “theological construction” that is “compatible with socialism.” To understand this current movement we look back at Bishop Ting's early life and work.
The church in China does not exist in a vacuum. Rather, it is experiencing unprecedented change that mirrors the rapid pace of change in society at large. Caught up in this vortex, the question is, “Can the church keep up and adapt itself for effective witness in 21st century China?”
Lessons from history for those seeking to serve in China.
God’s Chinese Son, The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan, by Jonathan D. Spence,
Reviewed by Tony Lambert