What is it like to be a Christian teen in China? Well, Christianity is one of the fastest growing religions in a country that has long since lost its religious identity. While many Christian teens may identify China with Buddhism, it should be noted that a faith in Christ is not taking root quickly.
Number of Christians in China
It is currently estimated that there are between 70 and 110 million Christians in China with about 90 percent being Protestant and 10 percent being Catholic. It is also estimated that 10,000 Chinese become Christian each day. The fastest growing denomination in China is Pentacostal, and it is the middle and upper class that make up most of the Christians in the country.
The Chinese Government and Christianity
While the Chinese government is not overtly hostile to Christianity, it is also not very welcoming. The ruling Communist Party in China is officially atheist, and at times has been hostile toward Christianity. While there was a point when Christianity faced numerous obstacles such as marginalization or repression, and at times it was even illegal to be a Christian in China. The fact that Protestantism has been barred from churches gave rise to the house-church movement. Still, the rise of Christianity is still being looked at with great suspicion, and it may be some time when Chinese can freely worship Jesus with no major consequences. In 2008, China even promised to distribute 50,000 Gospel booklets in Chinese and English for the 2008 Summer Olympics, 30,000 Chinese New Testaments, and 10,000 complete Bibles. Still, that same year a Christian bookstore owner was arrested for printing Christian materials for use in house meetings, as he was accused of giving those materials to non-state approved churches.
What Does That Mean for You?
As Christian teens, it is important that you not become blinded by the small world you see every day. We cannot forget Christians and missionaries struggling in other areas of the world, nor can we take our freedom to worship for granted. While China is moving toward more religious freedom, it is apparent that the country still has a way to go. While most Christian teens are in school and cannot take time out to go help or evangelize in China, they can take time to pray for Christians and non-Christians alike in the country.
