China v/s Home Churches

China today is one of the world’s fastest developing economies, challenging the western financial models. All these years Communist China had to go through many challenges- both internal and external. Today they face a new challenge- fast growing ‘home’ churches. Chinese authorities who had closed its eye towards the outlawed religious groups to allow more freedom of expression, is now trying to clamp them down. The underground movement which has gained strength will be tough to crackdown. The government will be at risk of facing bad blood, international criticism and even inspired protests.

I am a Christian and am fairly good at that. I don’t go around with loud noises but try to practice a little of what I preach (do not take it literally). I am not alien to the communist ideology too. I have read the basics and believe they are for the collective betterment of human race. I don’t try to mix my religion and politics. But if I am asked to choose the better between the two, I am confused.

Looking back into the initial history of Israel, they had a different power structure compared to its neighbors. They were ruled/guided by the judges. These judges were drawn from different tribes of Israel. We see people from leading families to commoner becoming the judges. These effected a classless society. But the people were fascinated by the monarchies around them. The glamour and insecurity prompted them to demand for a king to rule over them. A decision which indirectly affected the world’s largest religion, Christianity, years later.

Jesus’ apostles, barring a few, hailed from very ordinary origins. The early church was a persecuted lot but the church had this amazing ability to thrive in persecution. The word ‘Christian’ itself was coined to poke fun at the followers of Christ. Devoid of power or money early church and its teachings were more people centric.

All these changed when the Roman emperor embraced Christianity. He saw the potential in using a single official religion to unify his vast empire. Thus ‘Christianity’ was adopted as the religion of the Roman empire. The persecuted and underground religion came into public and soon assumed power and position throughout the world. The religious propagation assumed a different dimension and thus crusades happened.

Monarchies around the world realized that when it comes to religion people used heart more than their head. So religion was the easiest key to unlock their heart. Church and church leaders moved from the lower echelons of society and identified with the ruling class. At most places common man failed to identify with the church.

When Karl Marx revealed to the world the new ideology of ‘Communism’, he saw religion as a tool for division. Religion and politics was so deeply intermingled that it was impossible to see one separated from the other. So for communism religion stood along with capitalists and monarchists on the enemy side.

At the same time the communism gained popularity and power around the world, a new form of Christian movement budded in USA. A movement that supposedly sprung from materialism and individualism. It was drastically different from the collective Christianity advocated until then. The centralized power was done away with and in that place one leader for one church came up. He was not well versed in theology, but he knew how to preach to masses. His fervor and faith alone were good enough to attract people to him. In turn the leader had final word in all aspects of life of his followers- marriage, family, political, financial etc. This movement filled a spiritual vacuum in the Christian society at that time.

The home churches grew numerically as well as financially across USA and, later, around the globe. The term ‘home’ churches was derived from the times when Christians had to worship secretly at their homes fearing persecutions. The best part of such a gathering was due to the small size and huge fervor the members developed an inter-personal relationships which grew into strong bonds. Thus compared to a huge cathedral, people could relate to each other more easily.

The absence of a centralized leadership was fertile enough to raise many arguments and doubts on ideological perspectives. This ultimately led to splitting of ‘home churches’. I could give a somewhat vivid description because our place witnessed some of the biggest transformation thanks to the development half a globe away in USA. Development of the charismatic movement lured many people to it, which in turn gave many in Kerala to migrate to USA. Thanks to the American dollars, bigger ‘home’ churches, schools, businesses and homes came up in Kerala in less than quarter of a century.

The prosperity gospel was more in line with the Western ideals of private ownerships, materialism and capitalism. Thus political equations shook in many places over decades.

Who will prevail over the other? It’s difficult to say. But one thing is for sure- Humans are happy not to bother of long term consequences. Bigger and better life never happens for man. He looks for even bigger and better life.