Review: David Aikman's Jesus in Beijing
by Jay Kyle

Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power , 2003, by David Aikman, pub. Regnery Publishing Inc.

As evidenced by its subtitle, the author of Jesus in Beijing asserts that the nation of China is quietly undergoing an internal transformation with potentially astonishing results. Since 1979, the Church in China has experienced unprecedented growth. Some experts estimate that there are 80 million Christian believers today and forecast that at least 1/3 of the population could be Christian within the next 30 years. That possibility alone makes it imperative that we grow our knowledge and understanding of the forces that are shaping that transformation.

Written by David Aikman, former Beijing Bureau Chief for Time Magazine , the book chronicles the history of the nation of China and the rise of Christianity and presents a thorough and obviously affectionate understanding of Chinese art and culture.

Not written as dry history, this book is also filled with personal stories of the radical men and women of the faith that God has used to grow the modern-day Church in China—their continual arrests and their sufferings, much of which continues today.

It is well-known that the official government-approved church in China is the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Aikman details the controversy, suffering, and mistrust that exist between the Three-Self church leadership and the house church leaders. He also addresses such topics as China's art and culture shapers, Chinese intellectuals, persecution, the “Back to Jerusalem” movement, and foreign groups working in China.

Jesus in Beijing has helped me prepare for my work. For me, this book comes alive because of Mr. Aikman's personal love for the Chinese as well as the testimonies he relates of the Chinese church leaders. To understand China and its people today, we must take time to learn its history.

Other resources:

Acquainted With Grief , by Thomas Allen Harvey, pub. by Baker Books

Online article, “Cultural Christians and Christianity in China” - http://iso.hrichina.org/download_repository/2/a2_christians4.2003.pdf .

For information about work in China, email yousurelycan@yahoo.com.

Jay and Maureen Kyle have been missionaries with MTW since 1976 and lived a number of years in Mexico City. They currently live in New York City and work in many global cities.