Preaching at the Beijing Gangwashi Church in China on 14 January 2018, World Council of Churches Asia president, the Rev Dr Sang Chang explored the question of where Christianity is headed in the 21st century.
“The reality is that Christianity of the 21st century faces significant challenges”, she said. “To understand these challenges, one must first understand the changes that Christianity is going through.”
She offered congratulations on the growth of Chinese churches. “China is on pace to become the world’s most Christian nation within the next two decades”, she said. “Therefore one of the most influential changes of 21st-century Christianity is the growth and revival of Chinese churches.”
Twenty-first century Christianity must also take note of the issue of world peace, she added. “Today’s world is characterised by severe conflict, division, and violence from racial strife, religious strife, economic strife, political strife, environmental crisis, and furthermore, nuclear crisis. I believe, for the churches’ witness in today’s rapidly changing geopolitical arena, the Biblical understanding of peace with justice and reconciliation is of utmost importance.”
Twenty-first century Christianity must struggle to bring about world peace with justice, she added. “I believe the 21st century will be the century where Christianity should strive hard for peace.I hope the 21st century becomes the century where all Christians receive blessings as peacemakers.”
* Read the Rev Dr Sang Chang's full address here
* The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, by the end of 2012 the WCC had 345 member churches representing more than 500 million Christians from Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other traditions in over 110 countries. The WCC works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church.
* World Council of Churches http://www.oikoumene.org/en
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Diaspora*
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