This book encourages Chinese believers to remember the example of Wang Mingdao—to identify the wolves in sheep’s clothing within the church, and to stand up for the whole truth of God’s Word. I emphatically recommend Dr. Thompson’s book.
-- Dr. David Wang, Hosanna Foundation (Hong Kong)
Dr. Thompson's book is a reminder of how Christians distinguish between authenticity and falsehood, understanding and keeping the gospel faith in this era of "wanting everything."
-- Nicholas Tai, Associate Dean, Lutheran Theological Seminary
The thesis of this book is that the Chinese church needs to become a confessional church if it is to mature to its full potential within the worldwide church. Written confessions have been important in maintaining the integrity of the Christian church in every age. Many parts of the modern Protestant church, however, have abandoned their confessions, including the Chinese church. This is a key factor in the theological shallowness which is evident among so many of its members and leaders. The chaos in China throughout much of the twentieth century not only prevented the training of an adequate number of leaders but also kept it from entering deeply into the struggle between the liberal and evangelical Christian worldviews that was taking place throughout much of the church elsewhere. Instead, Chinese Protestantism was influenced strongly by newer movements that stressed evangelism and simplicity of doctrine and in which one qualified for leadership by undergoing persecution rather than formal education. The important twentieth-century figures Wang Mingdao, John Sung, Watchman Nee and Jia Yuming are surveyed as case studies for these developments. An appendix reprints in its entirety the important essay of Wang Mingdao that led to his imprisonment in 1955. His call for Christians to stand true to the entirety of Holy Scripture and its teaching will inspire Christians yet today.
About Author
Dr Glen L. Thompson served as the Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament and Historical Theology there until his retirement in 2019. He holds M.A., M. Phil. Ph.D., Columbia University. In addition to his teaching and research, he is a Lutheran pastor who has served churches across Africa, North America and Asia during his forty-year ministry.
ISBN：9789881416827
Publisher : Asia Lutheran Seminary
Publication date : 2018
Number of pages : 161
