Chinese Christians must clearly recognize that the government-controlled church is not a continuation of Christianity, but a systematic usurpation of faith.
by Vivian Ren
When learning about the current state of Christianity in China, many people often misunderstand the coexistence of the “Three-Self Church” and the “house churches” as two “equal” choices. However, the “Three-Self Church” is not merely a religious entity, but a control mechanism embedded within Christianity by the authorities. This misleading terminology conceals a profound reality of religious persecution. Many believers participate unknowingly, unaware that their faith has been distorted. Since 1949, the government’s deception and suppression of religious beliefs have never ceased; its distortion and tampering with the Bible and the church have only intensified.
Historically, the concept of “autonomy, self-support, and self-propagation” for the Chinese Christian church was first proposed in the late 19th century by Western missionaries in China, such as David Livingstone. Its core principles were: Autonomy—governance and pastoral care of the church by Chinese believers; Self-support—funding of church expenses by Chinese believers; Self-propagation—evangelism by Chinese believers. This aimed to localize the Chinese church: by achieving economic self-sufficiency, cultivating local leadership, and independent evangelism, the church would adapt to its local environment and ensure long-term development. This original intent was positive, helping Chinese Christianity break free from external dependence and foster an independent, mature local faith community.
However, after 1949, this pure “Three-Self” principle was thoroughly distorted. The Chinese government required all religious organizations to register and file with the government. Protestant Christians were compelled to join the officially controlled “Three-Self Church” and submit to the administration of the State Administration for Religious Affairs. In 1950, Wu Yaozong (Y.T. Wu) initiated the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement,” calling on Christians to join the government-led Three-Self Patriotic Church.
However, this movement was fundamentally political, not a religious revival. The so-called “autonomy” meant that internal church affairs would be managed independently by the Chinese church, free from interference by foreign religious groups. In reality, it required absolute control by the national government. “Self-support” claimed complete financial independence from foreign governments or religious groups, yet churches often relied on state subsidies and grants, creating hidden economic dependence; “Self-propagation” required domestic preachers to handle missionary work and doctrinal interpretation, but strictly aligned with national political needs, avoiding any elements that might challenge the regime. Though the “Three-Self” principles appear identical in name, the nature of the church has become fundamentally different.
Consequently, the original missionary-proposed “Three-Self” principles were reshaped entirely into a political tool. The 1950 “Three-Self Declaration” marked Christianity’s incorporation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, with the State Administration for Religious Affairs becoming its de facto governing body. This movement was essentially a political purge, forcing churches to become appendages of the Party and eliminating any potential “foreign influence” or independent thought.
During this transformation, many Christians seeking faith purity and unwilling to compromise with the government were forced to turn to “house churches,” choosing to continue gathering in private spaces. Though not operating in secret, these churches were officially deemed illegal, frequently subjected to government suppression, and disparagingly labeled “underground churches.”
The “Three-Self Church,” meanwhile, is managed by the “China Christian Council” and the “Chinese Christian Association,” with all activities requiring government approval. Church buildings and sermon content undergo strict scrutiny to avoid sensitive topics like political dissent or human rights issues. Pastors must publicly pledge loyalty to Party policies and participate in political training sessions; failure to comply risks dismissal, detention, or harsher penalties. Within churches, national flags coexist with crosses, and flag-raising ceremonies are mandatory, transforming sacred worship into displays of political allegiance. This scenario not only desecrates religious rituals but also profoundly distorts the spiritual lives of believers.
Under the government’s strict control, the “Three-Self Church” has turned Christianity into a tool for indoctrinating Party-State ideology, long since perverting the Lord’s true intent. Controlled by the atheist Chinese Communist regime rather than God, the “Three-Self Church” is forcibly integrated with communist ideology (such as venerating Mao Zedong as a “savior” or mixing Party dogma with scripture). It is fundamentally a product of political campaigns and a “puppet organization” controlled by secular authority.
The CCP government upholds “atheism,” viewing religion as opium, while our Christian faith declares Christ as our God and Savior. This fundamentally conflicts with the Bible’s “theism” (God is the one true God). The Bible teaches that Christ alone is the head of the church, yet the “Three-Self Church” must submit to the supervision and directives of the CCP’s Religious Affairs Bureau. The Bible states that authority comes from God, yet the authority of the “Three-Self Church” originates directly from the secular regime. This inverted authority structure not only violates core biblical doctrine but also places believers in a spiritual predicament.
Even more heartbreaking is that within the “Three-Self Church,” believers read a government-altered and censored Communist Party version of the Bible, which bears little resemblance to the complete Bible. Specific sensitive passages are deleted or altered to suit political demands. Fellowship, worship, and prayer with brothers and sisters can only occur in government-designated venues, otherwise they are deemed “illegal gatherings”; pastors’ sermons are strictly monitored, prohibiting truths considered as capable of causing “social instability.”
The CCP views religion as a tool for control, demanding that Three-Self believers undergo atheist education—a sharp conflict with the biblical command “You shall have no other gods before me.” The “Three-Self Church” has long been reduced to a tool for the government to deceive and enslave believers. Joining it requires compromising the Bible, violating the principle “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” This is undoubtedly not what the Lord desires.
The originally holy Christian faith has been utterly distorted and suppressed by the CCP government. China’s “Three-Self Church” is a soulless, fallen church. It may appear busy and lively, but it has long lost the direction the Lord points to. Its existence serves only to deceive believers and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Would the Lord truly desire His children to pray and serve Him within such a church? This state of affairs is heartbreaking: though outwardly prosperous, the “Three-Self Church” has lost its essence under government oversight, becoming a propaganda tool. It fuels persecution against independent faith, and believers gradually lose their purity through compromise. Many believers who joined initially sought only safety, yet unknowingly became corrupted by political ideology, drifting away from the pure gospel.
Facing this reality, we must clearly recognize that the “Three-Self Church” is not a continuation of Christianity, but a systematic usurpation of faith. It subordinates God’s word to the Party’s will, transforming the church into an extension of the state apparatus. In this winter-like era, lifting its veil serves not only to awaken Chinese believers but also to call the global Christian community to confront this distorted truth. Only by restoring the true “Three-Self”—with Christ as Head, Scripture as Authority, and the Holy Spirit as Guide—can the Chinese church be reborn.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
