Jesus in Beijing

by David Aikman

Within the next 30 years one third of China's population could be Christian, making China one of the largest Christian nations in the world. These Christians could also be China's leaders, guiding the largest economy in the world. David Aikman, former Beijing bureau chief for Time, take you inside this new revolution to - why the Chinese believe that Christianity is crucial to the rise of the West, and therefore of China - why fierce anti-Christian persecution and covert government encouragement exist side by side in China - how the Christian underground has spread, and won over key members of the Chinese Communist Party - the impact of a largely Christian China on global politics

Genres: China, Christianity, Christian, Nonfiction, History, Asia, Religion

Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

COMPILED FROM HIS WEB PAGE AND BOOK JACKETS:
David Aikman, former Time magazine Beijing bureau chief, is an author, journalist, and foreign policy consultant. After more than two decades with Time magazine - reporting from more than fifty countries and interviewing world figures such as Boris Yeltson, Billy Graham, Magnuel Noriega, and Mother Teresa -- Aikman became a freelance writer and commentator. He has written for several magazines as well as publishing books.

With special expertise in China, Russia, the Middle East, Mongolia and religious freedom issues worldwide, Dr. Aikman is frequently invited to deliver expert testimony at Congressional hearings and is a popular speaker at conferences, seminars, panels and to academic, church and professional groups at events all over the world.

He lives in Virginia with his family.

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

The edition I got via interlibrary loan was not the revised and updated version but the original, written in 2003.
This is a fascinating history of Christianity in China, with the emphasis on the Communist era. But I'm glad he included the very earliest Christian influences. Really, it was all very interesting, and I learned a lot that I didn't know ... quite a bit that surprised me. I won't go into those surprises here, but I'd be glad to if anyone is interested.
The only complaints I have are that the book could have been edited a little more tightly and the fact that are there no maps. Why a publisher would print a book like this without at least one map showing the places the author mentions is beyond me.
The quality of the pictures isn't very good, but I can't say that that bothered me.
I wish I had gotten the revised and updated version. Things are developing so quickly in China, and I'm sure a lot has changed even in the seven years since this was written. But for a picture of Christianity in China up to 2003, you couldn't do better.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually surprised at this book's journalistic tone. For the most part, it attempted and maintained a disinterested outlook, merely providing the facts of the growth of Christianity (alongside other major religions) in China.

Bias crept in a few times, however, as he'd describe charismatic Christianity with much more powerful terms than he would, say, Catholicism. He also let the gloves completely come off when he tore into Bishop Ding, China's most prominent theologian (who's officially sanctioned by the Chinese government).

One other point of contention would be the book's quietly uncritical support of free-market capitalism and its (capitalism's) connection to Christianity. I.e. approvingly supporting Weber's theory of the Protestant work ethic. Although I should've expected as much from the author of G.W. Bush's faith biography, I was nonetheless disappointed to see an otherwise good & insightful overview marred by such a blatant nod to the religious right.

[Wrenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book about Christian China. Even if it is the only one I’ve read, I would still probably say it is the best one available considering the other books I’ve looked into buying. It’s very journalistic in tone and is very much a historical book. Lots of mini-biographies and sections for various churches. Not super appealing if you’re looking for a history in a story format. Very appealing if you appreciate details, historical contexts, and read to purely learn. There are small portions of the book that are biographical in nature, but for the most part it’s a historical narrative. There’s also a wonderful appendix full of creeds, questions, and some background information about the book. I was pleasantly surprised to see early church history in China because you really get to see everything unfolds from the start. The author does a great job of going into detail about how Christian culture is able to flow freely into Chinese culture without conflict. The central conflict that Christian culture meets in china, besides other religions, would be the Marxist worldview. I didn’t find that the author was very biased to western thinking. While he is obviously a westerner, I never saw a point where he demeaned chinese culture or anything like that. He doesn’t really promote capitalism as being a necessary requirement for china but I feel like he would certainly like it. So as far as bias goes, there’s really not anything signficant.
A section dedicated to the Chinese Christians of the 20th century is truly inspiring. Americans in the United States never experience true persecution. Never has our government and organized groups of people attacked Christians. The early Church fathers and later “uncles” of China truly deserve recognition for their faithful service to the kingdom.
This book tends to focus on the more modern communist China and how the communist government of China has dealt with Christianity. Despite the low amount of christians currently in China, it is encouraging to see the growth of it even under the pressure of suppression. I’m eager to see in the future how chinese christians shape and influence the world. Specifically, the middle east because Islamic countries are pretty hostile towards the west due to political and economic warfare. Chinese christians are in the unique position of having good political relations with the middle east. After reading this book, I believe that the calling of evangelizing the middle east belongs to Chinese Christians and not western christians for the most part.

[Phillip Kang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a comprehensive history of Christianity in China from 635 AD to present, and an insightful and penetrating look at the many political and social challenges facing the Christian Church there, especially the underground house churches, which appear to be thriving and expanding amidst persecution by the authorities. A go-to book if you want to delve into Christianity in China. Overall, a good read.

[Aaron Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking to better understand christianity in China from a cultural, historical, and personal perspective this is the book for you. The author does a very good job taking the reader inside the mind of Christianity in China: contrasting the state run church versus house churches. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because I disagreed with some of the authors conclusions.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading John Sung's biography (or was it autobiography?) a few years ago. Back then, I immediately questioned the accuracy of the stories, because it seemed like miracles were being performed left, right and centre. I remember one being an unsaved woman who died, was brought back to life to accept God, before dying again. My skepticism levels went right through the roof (especially since you don't get this sort of things in Singapore).

Reading Jesus in Beijing didn't get me to believe the above miracle, but I do better understand how those miracles could have made it into the book. And ok, I'm a bit more openminded about it - I can't say that it's impossible, especially since I believe that miracles have occurred (I have a tendency towards cessationism, although I can't say I'm firmly in that school of thought).

Basically, Jesus in Beijing is an overview of Christianity in Japan, and a quick biography of the main movers and shakes. Basically, it's like a book of mini-biographies, with a quick history lesson in the front, and a discussion of the role of foreigners and the Church's future at the back. The edition I read is from 2003, and I believe there's been a revised version, so I'm not sure how much stuff I'm missing, especially for the "future" section, because the Beijing Olympics, which was talked about as a good opportunity for spreading the Gospel, has passed.

I really liked this book. For some reason, I found it to be a very convincing piece on how Christianity in China was, and how it is, right now. I liked the appendix, which has the Church's confession of faith, among other documents, although I wish there was a Chinese version as well. I'm not sure how much I can read, but it'll be interesting to take a crack at it.

I wish I read this book earlier. I think having the history of the Church in China explained to me before I started reading autobiographies and biographies of some of the Church leaders would have made the way I read the latter works so much informed, and more balanced.

This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Josh Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Jesus in Beijing because I was looking for a history of Christianity in China, and it was the only option available on Audible. There appear to be better alternatives in print - so unless you're illiterate, I’d recommend exploring those instead.

Many of the book’s shortcomings stem from the author’s perspective as a committed Christian. At times, it feels less like an objective historical account and more like an effort to rally the faithful. Aikman clearly views the spread of Christianity in China as a positive development and reflects the traditional Christian hostility toward “godless Communism.”

Official estimates put the number of Christians in China at around 38 million (~3% of the population). That’s far below countries like South Korea (~28%) or the U.S. (~64%), but well above Japan (~1%). Still, it represents roughly a tenfold increase over the past four decades.

Accurate numbers are hard to come by. China’s Christian population includes both members of state-sanctioned Three-Self churches and attendees of unsanctioned house churches. The latter are technically illegal (though enforcement is inconsistent), making reliable counts difficult. Official figures also exclude heterodox sects like Eastern Lightning, which teaches that Jesus has returned as a Chinese woman. Despite being banned as a xie jiao (cult), it is estimated to have 3-4 million followers, with other similar groups adding a few million more—though these numbers are inherently speculative.

Eastern Lightning is widely disliked by the CCP, official churches, and house church leaders alike. Aikman recounts claims from church leaders that members were kidnapped and pressured to convert, and the CCP has accused the group of terrorism. However, he never interviews members directly, so their story is told entirely through the lens of their opponents.

History

Christianity is not new to China. It first arrived in 635, centuries before reaching parts of Europe, and spread for about 200 years before being suppressed under Emperor Taizong as part of a broader crackdown on foreign religions.

Later rulers showed intermittent interest. Kublai Khan invited the Pope to send scholars to prove Christianity’s truth (an invitation declined). Jesuits were later welcomed, though primarily for their scientific knowledge rather than religious teachings. Aikman even suggests that the Kangxi Emperor may have secretly been Christian, though he refused to convert publicly, citing Christianity’s foreign origins.

This idea that Christianity is "foreign" recurs throughout the book. That framing feels odd. Christianity is foreign everywhere except Israel, yet it has taken root globally. I live in Mexico, which is even farther from Israel than China, but Christianity isn’t considered foreign here. Of course, much of the world, including Mexico, was Christianized by force, which was never a viable path in China. Missionaries there had to rely on persuasion.

The closest China came to large-scale Christianization was the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864). Led by Hong Xiuquan - who believed himself to be the younger brother of Jesus - the movement triggered a civil war that killed around 20 million people. This likely included a disproportionate share of China’s Christians.

That legacy may still influence the CCP’s approach to heterodox groups like Eastern Lightning. Christianity can be used to critique the state (as the line goes, Jesus was killed by the state), but it also has a long history of reinforcing authority and social order. As Marx described it, religion can function as the “opiate of the masses” - and populations with access to good opiates tend not to rebel.

During the Cultural Revolution, Christianity was effectively banned as an imperialist tool. Believers were imprisoned, sent to labor camps, or tortured, creating a generation of martyrs. This period also gave rise to the house church movement - initially covert gatherings in private homes.

With Deng Xiaoping’s reforms, overt persecution eased. Today, house churches remain technically illegal but are generally tolerated as long as they stay small and avoid political trouble.

Christianity Today

Aikman argues that Christianity will continue to grow in China, a view shared by many of the believers he interviews. Some even believe China has a special role in spreading Christianity globally, particularly to Muslim countries. There are seminaries dedicated to training missionaries for this purpose, based on the belief that Chinese evangelists may be more effective than Western ones.

Interestingly, a large majority of Chinese Christians, sometimes estimated as high as 75%, are women. This creates a mismatch in the dating pool, with some attributing the gender imbalance to men prioritizing career and financial success over religion.

Another explanation is that religion appeals more strongly to those with fewer opportunities for advancement. If that’s true, efforts to suppress Christianity by marginalizing believers may backfire. If adherents are already marginalized, the state has little leverage. A more effective strategy might be to expand economic and social opportunities instead.

As an atheist, I’m not particularly sympathetic to religious belief. In theory, improved education should lead to declining religiosity as scientific explanations replace supernatural ones. The fact that this hasn’t happened as expected - in both China and the U.S. - suggests limits in how education shapes belief.

That said, I’m also a classical liberal. People should be free to think and believe what they want. The CCP’s attempts to eliminate Christianity through coercion have failed because coercion does nothing to address the truth claims of the religion itself.

Ultimately, I don’t know whether Christianity will continue to grow in China any more than Aikman does. His argument largely extrapolates current trends forward - a method that works until it doesn’t. Because most of his sources are Christians or sympathetic to them, we get only a secondhand view of opposing perspectives.

What is clear is that the CCP retains significant control over institutions like education and remains officially hostile to religion. It likely has the capacity to slow or stop Christianity’s growth if it chooses. The real question is whether it will continue relying on blunt, ineffective repression - or adopt strategies that might actually work.

[The other John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's a look at the state of Christianity in China today (okay, six years ago), looking at how the religion has sprung back from earlier persecution and is now thriving to a greater degree than at any point in China's history. Mr. Aikman pretty much traces the history of the Chinese church through the 20th Century, highlighting the individuals who have had an impact on its development. It's an interesting tale that's easy to read. It made me feel somewhat foolish. I've lived in China, gone to church there, and met Chinese Christians--all this while being quite ignorant of what they might have gone through. I definitely wished I checked this book out before I went. Oh, well. I suppose I could always go back.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good reminder that Christianity is far bigger and (in practice) far more complex than I typically think. The author's approach is curiously different from most writing about Christianity that I read these days—journalistic, not making the kind of doctrinal distinctions that I am used to, taking as "Christianity" anything that claims to be and being unequivocally positive about it all.

Mostly I wish there were an addendum that covered the last 10 years since publication of the revised and updated version.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating topic, poorly written book...

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable, enlightening read.

[Kiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Time Magazine journalist goes long and wide into all that can be known about Chinese Christianity past and present. A convicting and educational read. As I prepare to be a Bible teacher in Hong Kong, my reading is tilting toward China. This book explores both the official Chinese church, the underground house churches, the political realities, and presents the spectrum of views that experts offer on what the future holds. There is so much to celebrate and mourn. So much suffering yet so much hope and grace. I look forward to learning much more up close and personal in the coming years. 15 hours or 418 pages of Chinese Christianity, the good, the bad, and the beautiful.

[Böðvar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book of the century!
I thought I knew a lot about this topic but this book (2006 edition) added so much that I didn't know and changed my view on the outlook for Christianity in China. It took me a while to read this massive book.
It is so interesting and inspiring to learn how Christianity spreads in China. and how it has and still may infiltrate the structure and government of China by Christian intellectuals who gradually grow in numbers within the administration.
It is also interesting to learn the view of the Chinese Christians that political changes must and will come from within the government and administration and not by counterrevolution.

[Guy Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

Encouraging book hindered by a terrible audiobook performance. The text itself is a little disconnected at places, but the content is worth sorting through. It reads a bit like Fox's Book of Martyrs in some passages due to the terrible persecution that believers are experiencing, even today. The perspective of Chinese Christians was what I went to the book looking to find, and it is there to discover, in part. All in all, worthy read.

[Julie Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfinished...about 1/2 way through. Good, but very dry..just the bare facts about how Christianity spread in China. Good for people who are interested in this subject.

[Corine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but did not love but still mulling the why’s of my reaction.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gave a helpful, broad picture of the spread of Christianity in modern-day China. If you're interested in seeing how God is working in a very dark nation, despite persecution and government oppression, I'd recommend at least skimming this book. It was pretty interesting to compare it with the spread of the Gospel in the early church, and contrast it with the spread of religion in the New World, and I ended the book with some measure of optimism for how God will use that nation in the days ahead to continue growing His church here on earth.

[Tim Casteel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but it felt a little disjointed. It's very informative but largely a patchwork of individual biographies of key Christian men and women in China. I listened to it on audiobook - which is NOT the best format for this book. The narrator is not great and it makes the patchwork biographies all the more disjointed.

That being said, I learned a lot and I know of no other book that gives such a comprehensive overview of the key events and leaders of the growth of the Christian church in China.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very thorough and balanced review of the history, both ancient and modern, and persecution of Christianity in China, along with analysis of the potential of China to have a growing impact on world Christianity. David Aikman has done thorough research and interviews to give the movements, personalities and challenges that have impacted the growth of Christianity in China. He gives a balanced presentation of both the official and underground churches in China, both Protestant and Catholic. He shows a good understanding of Christianity and theology to report on the Chinese church without weighing judgment about how it has developed. Highly recommended.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-reasearched, eye-opening, sobering, and encouraging read for anyone interested in gaining a greater cultural understanding of one of the the world's greatest cultures.

David Aikman, a former *Time* magazine bureau chief in Beijing, provides a journalist's overview of China's religious (Christian) history for the purpose of asking what role might Christianity play from within China as China evolves into a major economic and world super-power.

In a talk delivered in Beijing in the summer of 2004 (the transcript of which is included in one of the many helpful appendixes in the back), Aikman rehearses the thesis of this book: "If China becomes a Christianized society, and this of course I'm repeating as the thesis of the book, you have a nation which in maybe forty years will be the dominant superpower the world. I think it's unlikely that the United States will be able to maintain military dominance, and certainly not economic dominance, for another forty years. China will emerge. And the question I ask in this book is, and I think the question we should all ask , is 'If China becomes the dominant nation of the twenty-first century, what kind of China will it be?'" (p. 359)

The book is sixteen chapters, each covering a different aspect of China's religious history, from 635 AD right through to the modern era. For those familiar only with Hudson Taylor's work in China, the first one-hundred pages or so provides a rich history narrated through several short biographies chronicling China's religious development apart from foreigners.

The book orients the observer to China's religious landscape by introducing the reader to the history, distinctions and similarities, and beliefs and practices of groups like the the "house churches" and the "Three-Self Patriotic Movement." Aikman also includes chapters discussing the results China's Cultural Revolution have had on Christianity's growth, along with the significant and severe abuses of human rights sanctioned by the government.

He concludes: "A moment may come when the Chinese dragon is tamed by the power of the Christian lamb. The process may have already started with house churches."

[Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book on the history of Christianity in China. It details the very first missionaries to arrive in the Tang Dynasty to modern state of the church. He covers China's growth of native Christianity and its resurgent lapses into extreme xenophobia. Most of the book though is spent on current leaders and movements within the underground church, both Protestant and Catholic. The book is very revealing about the state of Christianity within China's borders, and for me, many of the facts came as a surprise. Christianity, while still predominately underground and unsanctioned, is fast growing and quite widespread. He details many individuals leaders from different denominations (mostly foreign ones to Americans) and their struggles with the Cultural Revolution and imprisonment. While Chinese Christianity is very Charismatic in its theology and practice, the Chinese Christians adamantly hold to their patriotism and love of their country. They desire to spread Christ, not overthrow the government; in fact they feel the call to evangelize to the Muslim world. Aikman does not delve too much into foreign influence aside from initial plantings, and ends with the possible future of Christianity's influence on China. I suggest at least glancing through the appendices, as they give valuable insight into the leaders' own words, and definitely suggest reading The Story Behind Jesus in Beijing, which is the author's own reflection on the work, and addresses some questions I had myself about its writing.
Aikman does an excellent job of writing as a journalist; he states facts, and does not embellish or expand on what might have been or will be. This book is not a Christian publication, and that helps its authenticity and wide appeal. Aikman states that "Christianity is the best and most beneficial belief system for the promotion of economic growth in any society." That is why Christianity should have such a strong influence on this growing superpower's future. This book is a great read that is never dry or boring, and provides insightful information on a topic that is unknown to many Westerners.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noted journalist and bureau chief in Beijing for Time, David Aikman has compiled an excellent portrait of Christianity in China today, ranging from its ancient roots as the destination for Nestorian Christians to the pioneering work of the Jesuits and the China Inland Mission, right to the present day where Christianity is booming across the whole country.

At the heart of this book are the stories of individual men and women who have risked everything and braved brutal torture and all manner of other hardships because of their faith. He covers pastors, songwriters, musicians, priests, and the new intellectuals intrigued by Christianity but it is the unrivalled access to the lives of house church leaders that makes Aikman's book stand out. The stories that Aikman recounts of the house church leaders and the underground churches in general (both Protestant and Roman Catholic) are greatly encouraging to other Christians and speak of the determination and persistence of Christianity in the face of often-brutal suppression and dangerous cults (such as the Eastern Lightning).

Jesus in Beijing contains a wealth of information about all levels of the Church in China - the house church movement, the underground and state-authorised Roman Catholic organisations, and the Three-Self Church. My only complaint is that occasionally Aikman inserts comments about the Middle East that seem more geared towards readers in America and that his writings about the Roman Catholic Church in China seem rather more restrained than the other chapters.

This notwithstanding, Aikman has provided an invaluable book about the state of Christianity in China - one that will benefit church and missionary organisations as well as interested readers and scholars.

[Martin Mostek · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is one boom in China which goes curiously under-reported. So David Aikman went and reported about it. In this book he presented his finding. There are millions of Christians in China, many of them in loose network of evangelical house churches. They live both in rural areas and biggest cities. Despite continuing oppression and bouts of persecution Christianity in China keeps impressive rate of growth. There may be anything between 70 and 100 millions of Christians in China - majority of them probably in underground or at least unofficial structures both Protestant/evangelical and Catholic. Author devotes most of his attention and reporting to house churches and their networks but provides also outline of complex situation on Chinese Catholicism.
He tells story of extraordinary endurance and faithfulness of many of Chinese Christians and their ability to keep and spread their faith even in times of greatest oppression. Author concludes that in coming decades Christianity may play even more important and visible role in China as a result of both continuing general growth of churches and specifically with growing number of members of elites (cultural, social and political too) coming to faith too. With China growing role on global stage this is and will be story to watch.

[Pamela Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best Missionary book I have read so far besides Fire from Heaven. It is amazing how it is so much better for the people to develop their own governed churches without foreign interference mainly for their own protection of staying out of jail for over 20 years. I always thought it would be best to help others help themselves and then leave those people alone.

These people need prayers and I think American's need to learn how to evangelize others to become self-independent and leave.

A great Book for seeing the Truth and how they are experiencing the move of the Holy Spirit without people making it worst for them to suffer. It will take a while to finish the book as I usually read 2 to 5 books now at a time.

Enjoy this great tips for witnessing.

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent work by a journalist with the street credit to write a documentary on Christianity in China and it's impact. Aikman is generally optimistic about the influence of the church over the Chinese dragon, but he doesn't neglect to report details of the underground church and it's persecution. He is also effective at highlighting the unique perspectives (theological and worldview) of Chinese Christians. Highly recommended for those interested in China, global Christianity, missions, and evangelism.

[Paulieanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a vague idea of the history of China and the history of the spread of Christianity in China, before reading this book. The author, who never professes his own faith or lack of, takes the reader through the history and the challenges to the spread of Christianity in the Communist country. As a journalist, he takes the reader through the series of events he believes were crucial to the development and spread of the Christianity. Even though it took me a while to read, I would recommend this book for a general overview and glimpse into China.

[Tricia Culp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although it was a bit dry in places. I thought the first half was the best- the history of Christianity in China through the centuries. I also enjoyed the sketches of influential Christians of the last century. The parts that are more current are getting a bit dated. Now I would like to read something really focusing on the sociology of Christianity there in the past 20 years and the state today.

[Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written story of the current status of Christianity in China. The author, formerly the Time magazine bureau chief in Beijing, lays out a thought-provoking thesis that the Chinese church is perfectly positioned to evangelize the Muslim world from the East and complete the geographic sweep of the Gospel around the globe to the Holy Land from which our Lord started His ministry. A compelling read that will give you insight into the church in China.

[Jacque · Rating 3 out of 5]

How there's two main churches in China: the one sanctioned by the Communist government, and the much larger underground church. If you want to know about the history of the Christian church in China, its leaders and martyrs, how some folks are persecuted but remain steadfast in their faith, then this book's for you.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book documenting the current movement of Christianity in China. I was expecting more on the idea of how it is changing the global balance of power (as stated in the title), but this was really only touched on in the last chapter. An informative read, although I wonder how many believers got in trouble after it was published...