Ep 18: What is Chinese House Church Theology? With Hannah Nation

In this episode, we talk about:

• The House Church of Theology’s upcoming book, Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church.
• The common beliefs and differing perspectives between Chinese sermons and American sermons.
• How we approach the theology of suffering as Americans versus the Chinese perspective.

About Hannah Nation:

Hannah Nation serves as CHCT’s Managing Director. She is a graduate of Covenant College and received her Master of Arts in Church History from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. As a student of missions history and World Christianity, she is inspired by this historical moment and the privilege of witnessing a new chapter in church history unfold across China. She has written for The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, byFaith Magazine, and Life in the Gospel, and contributed chapters to several books. Nation also currently serves as the Content Director for China Partnership

Resources & Links:

Connect with Hannah on Instagram | @hannahfsnation

 

Learn more at https://www.housechurchtheology.com/

Follow Mission ONE on Instagram | @partnerwithmissionone

Learn more on mission1.org

Show Notes:

What does Christianity look like on the other side of the world? Today, we are joined by the managing director of the Center for House Church Theology and the content director of China Partnership, Hannah Nation! She is here to share her wealth of knowledge and experience with the House Church as we take a look into Chinese theology and culture. She will also give us a sneak peek into the House Church’s upcoming book, Faith in the Wilderness: Words of Exhortation from the Chinese Church.

 

Then, we’ll talk about the effect of the pandemic on the church, the theology of suffering, and the influences that shaped Chinese sermons into what they are and how they are spread today. What are the key differences between Chinese sermons and American sermons? What are their perspectives on politics and resistance, and how do they contrast our Western views? How does the House Church engage Chinese culture and a predominantly non-Christian audience? Join us and learn what unites us together with our brothers in Christ from across the globe!

0:00:00 Meet Hannah Nation, serving as the managing director of the Center for Chinese House Church Theology and the current content director of China Partnership!

0:02:15 What is your upcoming book called and what is it about?

0:05:00 Why should we be reading Chinese sermons?

0:08:30 Following that question, why the House Church?

0:09:50 Listening to the marginal voices of Christianity.

0:12:00 How did this book happen?

0:15:00 The significance and gift of translation.

0:19:15 How does your team translate?

0:20:45 How does the House Church engage Chinese culture? 

0:24:40 What should people know about the House Church?

0:28:20 Where do you see the House Church take up resistance?

0:30:20 The differences between Chinese Christian resistance versus US Christian resistance.

0:33:55 How did the pandemic affect their sermons?

0:39:00 What are the main differences of content in Chinese sermons compared to US sermons?

0:42:45 Is the question of an end goal a trend you see among the entire population?

0:45:25 The theology of suffering.

0:47:40 How should we start looking at suffering?

0:50:10 Where does their understanding of suffering come from?

0:53:50 How do we prepare ourselves for suffering?

0:56:50 Why do we cling to the idol of safety?

1:01:50 How does the moral structure of the culture shape these sermons?

1:08:50 What makes Faith in the Wilderness an excellent group study tool?