CHINESE STUDENTS IN AMERICA

AND

THE CHINA FOR CHRIST MOVEMENT*

By Frank W. Price

Mr. Price is an associate secretary of the Association-Ed.

At such a conference, our thoughts naturally center around two themes, China and Christ. We are constantly projecting the social and religious problems discussed in these days, and the messages we hear, upon the background of China's conditions and needs. Many are asking themselves, "Does China really need Christianity? What are the essential elements in Christianity that can help her people, individually and socially? What distinctive service can Christian men and women contribute toward social reform, education and progress, and the nation's upbuilding?" And all of us, I do not doubt, whether Christian men, or open-minded, reverent students of Christian truth, are looking into the future, and wondering what the Church of Christ, now planted and growing on Chinese soil, is going to mean to the history of China and the world?

For Christianity cannot but affect deeply the life of the Far East. Think how profoundly it has influenced the course of events for two milleniums in Europe and America, through great men who have come under its power, and the millions who have sought to follow Christ. The long story of the Christian Church in the West is interesting, valuable and inspiring in the main. It contains much too that is unworthy, abuses and divisions and intolerance, but these have developed from human limitations, and in spite of, not because of the real spirit of Christ. The twentieth century finds Christianity, despite many failures and the Great War, a greater force than it ever was, I believe, for individual and social righteousness and international brotherhood.

The missionary fires which began to burn so intensely a hundred years ago, have carried Christian pioneers, preachers, physicians and educators to Africa, South America, Japan, India,

*Part of an address at Chinese Delegation, Silver Bay, July 1920.

Korea, China and every land. But the work of the missionaries is only the scaffolding, the native Church with its own trained leaders, its own organization, its own strong life and influence, must be the permanent building. In 1840, the number of Christians in China could have been counted on the fingers of one hand. Today, there are 400,000 and a Christian constituency of a million, and a wider circle of interested and thoughtful students of Christianity. The new Church in China is not handicapped by historical schisms and cramping traditions. It can share the rich heritage of religious history and experience which the West has had for two thousand years; at the same time it can build directly upon the foundation of Christ Himself. This will not destroy the best of China's ancient civilization and thought; truth knows no national boundaries, and Christianity will find fullest expression when China has illuminated it with sacred and philosophic insight and all nations have entered into its life.

The "China for Christ" Movement is a union movement of all churches in China, under Chinese leadership, for united advance by the Christian Church in China. A few sentences from the opening address at the first China-for-Christ conference in Shanghai last winter, by Dr. Cheng Chin-yi, will show you its vision and possibilities:

....

"Why is the Christian Church in need of such a movement at the present time? First, because there is an unusual willingness on the part of the more enlightened classes outside of the Christian Church to study and investigate Christian truth. . . . . The influence of Christianity is being felt and recognized by men who have the love of their country at heart. One may safely say that the Chinese Christians have never been so willing and ready to take part in the divine task of serving their fellow men and of extending the Kingdom of God on earth. . . . It should be a spiritual movement, every activity of the Church should be the expression of its spiritual nature and such alone can satisfy the deepest need of the world today. . . . Whatever form the movement may take it should be a Chinese movement. In this the Chinese Christians must take a leading part. The mobilization of all the Christian forces throughout the entire country is necessary to the success of any What should it attempt? To conquer

forward advance.

illiteracy, enlisting, training and utilizing men and women for Christian service . . . cultivating giving . reaching the un

reached. About $10,000 have been given to the work of the Yunnan Mission, nearly all of which came from Chinese sources. . . . Christianizing the public conscience. . . . Deepening the spiritual life. . . . Are we daring enough to capture the unparalleled opportunity in taking China for Christ?"

What can we do now to help this momentous Movement? First, let us understand it very clearly. The watchword is daring, "China for Christ." Why Christ? Has not China an adequate moral system? Is religion necessary? Such questions sometimes assail our minds; our friends often bring them to us in the sincere quest of the truth. The genuine experience of every real Christian is the strongest answer. But it is well for us to remind ourselves often that no other religion makes so universal appeal to all races, classes and condition of life, and is spreading with such power today. It reaches deepset into the human heart, touching the springs of action; it reaches broadest into social and world life, making love and the Golden Rule the ideal; it reaches highest to God, calls him Father and bids us pray. It is the religion of hope, of encouragement, of power to change men, of service and sacrifice. And the Ideal and Leader is not a cold idea, but a living Personality, Jesus Christ.

Again, the China for Christ Movement is laying strong emphasis on the organized church. We are often tempted to criticize and undervalue the Christian church, in general, or some individual church we happen to know, in particular. It does not seem to us to be accomplishing much. Certain members are hypocrites. The preacher is narrow-minded. And we often minimize the importance of church membership. One can be a "Christian at heart." Yet the Christian Church is just an organization, with the defects and weaknesses of every human organization, of those who are following Christ with sincerity of purpose and helping to work out His program in the world. It is necessary. It is vital.

Christianity has been brought to us from the time of Christ by the Church. We must put our Christian life and service in

China into an institution which will carry on after we are gone. That institution will be the church in China.

Achievement, in an orchestra, in athletics, in business, in industry, in war, is the result not of individual, isolated effort, but of co-operation. Where one is weak, many are strong. Against organized evil, we must organize the forces of spiritual power. A united Chinese Christian Church will wield a mighty weapon against materialism, corruption, cruelty, immorality, and other private and public sins in China today.

Then, every man needs fellowship in his beliefs, and worship and tasks. Life grows in the soil of friendship, and the church is a group of comrades in faith and purpose. I have been in large church congregations in this country which were like one big family. Such a congregation was a unit for good in in the community. Members were loyal to each other and their church. I wish every church in China might catch the spirit of one little Chinese laborer in France, whom I came to know well. He was in Paul Kwei's camp before he came to mine. The lad had become a Christian when working in Tientsin and was baptized in the Chinese Independent Church, founded by Dr. Chang Po Ling. Persecuted at his home in Kiangsu, he decided to join the army of laborers. In France, though illiterate, he was a leader in the anti-gambling movement in his camp and others, and showed his love and loyalty for his home church in Tientsin by sending two or three hundred francs of his savings back to its support every year.

The power of the Christian Church as a whole in China depends on the power of the thousands of individual churches scattered over the nation, in cities, towns, villages, and hamlets Many of us have been identified with such churches in China. Each one of them has a community to serve, to make cleaner and healthier, safer, happier, and more useful to the nation and God. The "li-pai t'ang" may close on weekdays, but the church should not, for the church is the Christian group, and the Christian group should be taught and led in ways of Christ-like life and service from one Sunday to the next.

Now, how can we in America bear a hand with this movement in China? How can we aid its advance now and prepare to aid it more when we return?

1. By giving more time to the study of Christianity, Life of Christ and constructive books on religion and the Christian faith, so that we may have a better understanding of it for our own sake and for the sake of the New Church in China.

2. Visit typical, active churches in America, and study something of their organization and activities. Make personal friends of some pastors. The church in China, as well as that in America, will have to depend for much of its support upon its laymen. Study other forms of organized Christian effort, the city Y. M. C. A.'s, Boys' Clubs, the institutional church, mission work in the slums, orphanages and the like.

you.

3. Share your studies and experience in these lines with fellow-students and try to enlist as many as possible to join For the strengthening of your own Christian life, forın a small group of Christian friends who shall help each other, discuss common problems and unite in some definite Christian service here.

4. Keep in touch, through "The Chinese Recorder," and other periodicals, English and Chinese, with religious movements and Christian progress in China.

5. Prepare, when you return, to share in constructive contributions to the development of the church in China. Original hymns with Chinese thought and music would be an addition to the worship. There is a great field for religious literature. Returned student leadership is choice, but comparatively little of it is found in the church in China today.

6. The new church demands a high grade of leadership and the call comes strong for men who will give their lives to entirely Christian service, the ministry, Y. M. C. A. work, social service, and be the prophets to serve and to guide.

7. Wherever you are when you return, throw your spirit and give of your time and support and service to the church nearest you. It may be a very weak little church. All the more will it need you, and in serving this little church, you will be aiding directly the whole Chinese Christian Church.

The China for Christ movement today calls us over here to join in its battle, to share its difficulties, to help to make its history, and to partake in its triumphs. Let us purpose today not to fail it.