On November 12-13, the Suzhou CC&TSPM held a meeting and seminar on the Sinicization of Christianity.
Attended by 100 members and pastoral staff, the seminar focused on two themes entitled Can believers be yoked together with unbelievers? and Construction of Urban Christianity, according to the Suzhou CC&TSPM. Papers were submitted by 86 pastors in the city, of which 25 were selected for exchange.
Pastor He Jiemiao, chairman and president of the Suzhou CC&TSPM (Christian Council & Three-Self Patriotic Movement), concluded that there were common attributes between believers and unbelievers in spite of different beliefs. As everyone worked hard to have a better life, Christians should share the gospel by their actions. In response to the saying, "Believers will go to heaven, and unbelievers will go to hell", he emphasized, "No one can misinterpret the Bible and challenge the sovereignty of God. He said we should study the whole Bible and not jump to conclusions."
Second, He shared the huge challenges they faced in the construction of urban Christianity. The first was that the church lacked leaders and the authority of the church and status of pastors were challenged. The pastors lacked the knowledge and ability to handle affairs and had personal shortcomings, so they were far from meeting the requirements of the church and society. The image of the pastors continued to deteriorate due to secularization, contradictions within the church, foreign influence, heretics, and cults. The second point was that the current church establishment (patriotic organization) also faced challenges. From time to time there is the phenomenon of teaching tyrants, one person has the final say or one family has the final say. There was also chaos, irregularities in church asset control and financial management.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
