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Faithful Disobedience: Writings on Church and State from a Chinese House Church Movement

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Reader's Choice Award Winner Throughout China's rapidly growing cities, a new wave of unregistered house churches is growing. They are developing rich theological perspectives that are both uniquely Chinese and rooted in the historical doctrines of the faith. To understand how they have endured despite government pressure and cultural marginalization, we must understand both their history and their theology. In this volume, key writings from the house church have been compiled, translated, and made accessible to English speakers. Featured here is a manifesto by well-known pastor Wang Yi and his church, Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, to clarify their theological stance on the house church and its relationship to the Chinese government. There are also works by prominent voices such as Jin Tianming, Jin Mingri, and Sun Yi. The editors have provided introductions, notes, and a glossary to give context to each selection. These writings are an important body of theology historically and spiritually. Though defined by a specific set of circumstances, they have universal applications in a world where the relationship between church and state is more complicated than ever. This unique resource will be valuable to practical and political theologians as well as readers interested in international relations, political philosophy, history, and intercultural studies.

288 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

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Wang Yi

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley Hoss.
196 reviews29 followers
November 26, 2024
Such an enlightening read. I truly enjoyed listening to the perspective of Pastor Wang Yi. There was so much to learn from him and how his theology shapes his peaceful disobedience to his government and whether or not to comply with the government. The book is a mixture of articles, lectures, sermons, and letters directed to the house church movement in China from a house church pastor in China. It's encouraging, inspiring, convicting, and edifying. I highly, highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for ThePrill.
255 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2023
Interesting, to say the least. Coming from a Western standpoint, I found the Chinese house church context very difficult to understand, and this book did not help me in that regard. The prefaces at the start of the chapters are meant to be helpful in explaining the context, but I did not find them particularly helpful at all. I did find the insight into Wang Yi's theology fascinating (Presbyterian, two-kingdom, amillennial), and it was interesting to see the outworkings of his doctrinal positions. Some of the chapters are repetitive, and the book reads more like a dossier and a record than something that's meant to read straight through. I had more to say, but I was typing this review on my phone and then the app crashed, so this is take two, minus some other meaningless points, probably. Overall the book was alright.
Profile Image for Rev Reads.
143 reviews28 followers
January 7, 2023
Faithful Disobedience by Wang Yi and others
I don’t know of any better way to describe Faithful Disobedience than a gift to the western church. This book is a gift of tremendous importance that far surpasses books the vast majority of books on Christian living, financial stewardship, or the other books that sit on the bestseller lists.
Unfaithful Disobedience should be a bestseller due to its importance.
We in the church are called on to pray for our brothers and sisters who are undergoing suffering and persecution for the Name of Christ. Hebrews 13:3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

Yet our prayers are filled with remembrances for our arthritis, electric bills, injured ankles, and those common requests the fill church bulletins. We instead need to remember those in prison. Those who are mistreated for the name of Christ as if it is was us who were enduring the shame and the pain.
But we have a distinct problem when it comes to remembering the persecuted church around the world: It’s so hard to remember to pray for those who don’t know. I try to keep myself and my church engaged in praying for the persecuted church and I am thankful for those ministries who help share the needs and requests of the global church.
What we need more than anything though is get to know those who are suffering for Christ and thanks to the work of Hannah Nation and JD Tseng – you can now learn the stories and testimonies of Wang Yi and some other house church pastors in China to help aid in your memory to pray for them.
Unfaithful Disobedience is a collection of articles and statements made by Pastor Wang Yi and other house church pastors in China. These are not writings for the American or western church by and large but written for the Chinese church so this is a powerful look behind the curtain of the house church pastors defending their churches and explaining their views to the church at large or even the government of China.
There were many moments in the book that were truly eye opening. I learned much about the history of the house church since the rise of the Communist party in China, what they have endured and how they are being persecuted this day.
The translators did great work. It was well-written, engaging English.
There are just these details small and large that bring the Chinese church to light. Things like the house church in China does not stand for churches meeting in secret or in people’s home but house church is the name for any church that is not part of the official church of China – the Three-Self Church. It was heartbreaking to learn how they deceived so many Christians at their formation. They even convinced Watchman Nee to join at first before the government imprisoned Nee.
And on top of all the important background information on the Chinese church and what they have endured – the book also includes much spiritual insight and encouragement to live for Christ even at the cost of comfort and safety.
Jin Mingri wrote – the true church is not afraid of being homeless; the true church is afraid of being spineless. Christ was hung on the cross “in the air.” This demonstrates that the world has no place for Christ. However Jesus conquered the world and drew the world to God.
These thoughts on persecution by Wang Yi should be put down on memory for all. When the government persecutes the church, we do not think it is harmful only to the church. It is also harmful for the government. Even unbelievers are harmed, because their opportunity to hear the Gospel is diminished. It is not just believers who are suppressed all are harmed.
And then Yi has a powerful section on how the church is harmed the least in persecution as one day we will be rewarded for our suffering yet those who persecute us will be judged by God. It’s empowering to remember that the very persecution we fear and avoid will actually be for our good and those who appear unharmed as the attackers are those who need pray that they will repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness and grace.
I think the one weak point by the authors is in their amillennial faith and their view of the Gospel and the Kingdom. I don’t see this as a major weakness in the book, I personally just wish the authors looked toward the Second Coming of Christ and His Kingdom with the full breadth and glory it is presented as in the Word.
Overall – Christians should view this book as a gift to inspire their prayers, inspire their willingness to endure shame or mockery for the Name of Christ. And may we all be in prayer for the church of China, something that will be much more likely to be maintained if we took the time to read the confessions, statements, and articles written by Wang Yi and other house church pastors.
If you enjoy church history this a great book. If you enjoy Christian biographies, this will be a good read for you. If you want to be encouraged to stand up for your faith and pray for the lost – this will be a challenging read for you.
I recommend Faithful Disobedience by Wang Yi and I think those who worked to bring these writings to an English reading audience.
This review is a transcript of a video review. You can watch the review on YouTube.com/revereads
Profile Image for Aaron.
903 reviews45 followers
December 13, 2022
What is God doing in the Chinese House Church? In Faithful Disobedience, IVP presents Wang Yi’s writings on Church and State from the Chinese House Church Movement.

Edited by Hannah Nation and J. D. Tseng, this book is a precious treasure. The ability to read first-hand accounts of our persecuted brothers and sisters is a modern miracle, and one that we should not take for granted. It is now a historical book that will prove to be prophetic guiding as Jesus draws near.


Articles, Talks, Sermons, and Letters

The main feature of this book is the manifesto by pastor Wang Yi and his church, Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China. He is known for his advocacy for the rights of Chinese Christians and house churches, and was arrested in 2019, sentenced to 9 years in prison. He is currently undergoing his imprisonment. While the book is quick to note that we are not to heroize him, for he is still a mere man. I can’t help but pray for his faith and for the other Chinese Christians enduring persecution.

In this book, Yi clarifies his theological stance on the house church and its relationship to the Chinese government. The book is a collection of articles, talks, sermons, and letters. It is divided into three parts: Part I: Our House Church Manifesto, Part II: The Eschatological Church and the City, and Part III: Arrest and the Way of the Cross. Reading this book was a harrowing yet hopeful experience. I most appreciated the introductions, notes, and glossary — giving proper context to the work as a whole and to those who are persecuted in our present-day.


A Paradigm Shift

I was greatly inspired by learning about the house church movement. They are defined as being unregistered, not secret, theologically engaged, not uniform, and Chinese. Reading about Wang Yi’s “radical openness” and his sermons, described as “beautifully crafted, logically organized, educational experiences in Christianity,” was moving.

This book will cause a paradigm shift for those who are unfamiliar with the Church in China. It will help you “look deeper than the commonplace ‘persecuted Christian’ narratives that are so prevalent and that limit our ability to actually hear from churches outside the West.” I was amazed at how this book came to be, both from a technical standpoint with translators and the help of the Internet, as well as from a cultural standpoint with the tensions around Christianity in China. I prayerfully anticipate how God will continue to move in his Church.


Witness the Work of God

From an academic standpoint, the theological and cultural impact of this book is one-of-a-kind. Hannah Nation concludes the book by examining where Wang Yi and his contemporaries best fit in the landscape of theology. She finds them Reformed in their posture toward the city, hinting of liberation and neo-Anabaptist theology with regard to the state, and situational in nature harkening to the writings of the early church under the Roman empire. She leaves with a pressing question: How ought Christians to think about the church meeting digitally?

While we know the story of the Church has a happy ending, we also know that Jesus promised persecution. With a global missional mindset, you will feel the burden of Christ’s love for his church and the hope of the gospel message for the world. All will be challenged and ultimately encouraged to persevere in faith. This book is a beautiful witness to the work of God and the faithfulness of his beloved children.


I received a media copy of Faithful Disobedience and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Mary.
22 reviews
July 27, 2025
Didn't think this book would make me so emotional. If you want to know more about what Chinese house churches have faced, and what they are still facing, read this.
I need to know where I come from, and the history that my church bears, and the statements that we choose to uphold. If we don't stand up for Christ, who do we stand for?
哥林多后书 4:16-18 和合本
16 所以,我们不丧胆。外体虽然毁坏,内心却一天新似一天。17 我们这至暂至轻的苦楚,要为我们成就极重无比、永远的荣耀。18 原来我们不是顾念所见的,乃是顾念所不见的;因为所见的是暂时的,所不见的是永远的。
Profile Image for Lauren Bonnema.
137 reviews4 followers
December 13, 2022
I’ve been challenged and encouraged lately by reading the new book Faithful Disobedience: Writings on Church and State from a Chinese House Church Movement. This book compiled of sermons, articles, online posts, interviews and public addresses by Chinese Pastor Wang Yi and others is part Chinese church history, part theological discussion and part exhortation to not only Chinese believers, but believers around the world. I’ve personally been challenged by Wang Yi’s writings on persecution and the role of the church in community and particularly his description of our world as a sinking ship or a landfill but yet the call of Christians everywhere is to bring the beauty of the gospel to those on the sinking ship. This book is for those who desire to grow in their understanding of the gospel at work in other parts of the world and be challenged in how we should live our lives in accordance with the gospel in the midst of a hostile world.
Profile Image for David.
727 reviews29 followers
January 30, 2023
This is one of the most important books I have read in the last few years. It is a collection of essays, sermons, blog posts, and articles from key House Church Leaders in China. What I know of the Chinese church has largely been shaped by books like "The Heavenly Man" or Watchman Nee. This book completely changed my preconceptions and idea of what the church is currently like in China. Chinese churches are largely urban and some even operate out in the open although they are unregistered with the government. The primary author, Wang Yi is currently serving a 9-year prison sentence.

It is clearly contextual, Chinese, theological, and devotional. Most of the writings center around the issues facing the church in China, particularly opposition and persecution. It is important to hear from the Chinese church in their own voice. The American church has much to learn from the posture and attitude of these Christians. Their own theological working through the issue of church and state is worth considering.

The pastoral letters written before their impending arrest reminded me of the early apostolic fathers. They are so rich and often moved me to tears.

The translation into English is well done. They are easy to read and engaging. Most of these works can be read quickly, but I think this work is worth reading through slowly. I think this is a must-read for all Christians.

I received a free advanced copy of this book and then immediately purchased my own physical copy.
Profile Image for Nicholas R..
2 reviews3 followers
December 7, 2022
This book is a wonderful window into the House Church movement in China. It bears lessons for us in the US because the House Church is forced to answer questions about suffering and relationships between church and state in a visceral way that we typically only address academically. Contributor Jin Mingri shares this challenge: regardless of how society or government views or defines the church, we must know what the church is. This book explores precisely that, including the Church's role in suffering for the Gospel, heralding the coming Kingdom of Heaven, and simply taking up our cross and following Christ.
This book can help a Christian understand the underground church, but I also hope it can challenge the comfortable Christian; challenge his or her priorities, challenge whether or not he or she would answer the cost of discipleship.
Several essays also discuss identity. Do we appreciate those who had to suffer before us so that we could have the freedom to enjoy the church we enjoy today? Or do we take it for granted? Faithful Disobedience reflects on the value of knowing the sacrifices of our forbears and understanding their stories as part of our own identities. I say "our" because although my church here is not part of the House Church in China, I know that the church in America was once familiar with suffering, and we would do well to remember that.
Profile Image for Keith.
172 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2024
In anticipation of arrest, Pastor Wang Yi wrote to his congregation: “If God decides to use the persecution of this communist regime against the church to help more Chinese people to despair of their futures, to lead them through a wilderness of spiritual disillusionment and through this to make them know Jesus, if through persecution he continues disciplining and building up his church, then I am joyfully willing to submit to God’s plans, for his plans are always benevolent and good…If believers in Jesus do no wrong then they should not be afraid of dark powers. Even though I am often weak, I firmly believe this is the promise of the gospel. It is what I’ve devoted all of my energy to. It is the good news that I am spreading throughout Chinese society. I also understand that this happens to be the very reason why the communist regime is filled with fear at a church that is no longer afraid of it” (224).
Profile Image for Jill.
249 reviews35 followers
November 6, 2024
Faithful Disobedience is an interesting, albeit fascinating, collection of writings. We have so much to be grateful for living in a land of religious freedom, that it's actually quite difficult to fathom what foreigners in hostile areas must go through to worship. I listened to the audio version of this book and found it often difficult to keep track of each new section. It definitely reads like a textbook of sorts.
However, the information within is crucially important for all, although targeted for the Chinese movement specifically. It's definitely one that I can see revisiting, perhaps in the print version, to organize my thoughts more clearly and gain a better understanding of the house churches and the belief systems of Wang and others.
Thanks to NetGalley and IVP Academic for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
Profile Image for Joe Jewart.
34 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2023
The book, in general, is a great work on a Christian theology of disobeying civil authorities. It's especially insightful as the work is not just abstract intellectual thought, but it is practiced by those who are truly dealing with totalitarianism. In other words, it is theology applied to real life. It also gives the Western church a better understanding of what it means to be a House Church in China. The only thing I struggled with, as a postmillennialist, is the 2 kingdom theology it presented. We need to get some more postmil, reconstructionist, and theonomic thought to the Chinese Reformed Churches.
Profile Image for Jacky Han.
34 reviews
January 6, 2026
Nicely edited summary of the Chinese house church landscape. Most descriptions resonate with my personal experiences growing up in China as a Christian, and seeing how churches are doing these days, I see a high relevance of a book like this in the Christian communities worldwide.

It is a timeless reminder that for Christians, being persecuted is not only something we shouldn't be surprised about, but also be grateful for, because historically speaking, that's how the church grew far and wide.
Profile Image for Dan Waugh.
125 reviews1 follower
October 16, 2023
I picked this book up as part of my commitment to read more non-Western Christian theology. This collection of essays, blog posts, and sermons was encouraging, convicting, and thought-provoking.

The book explains the genesis and rationale of the house-church movement in China and establishes its ongoing importance. It is an important book for church leaders wondering what life and ministry might look like under a totalitarian regime.

Profile Image for David.
310 reviews6 followers
April 9, 2024
This is the most inspiring book I've read in years. If you want to know the state of Christianity in China, you can't go wrong with this book. Wang Yi's theology and wisdom also has practical application for anyone trying to follow Jesus in any country where that carries a price, including India, Africa, and USA.
Profile Image for Nicholas Pokorny.
253 reviews3 followers
October 2, 2025
Mostly transcripts and excerpts on churches in China. Much of it sounds technical and stilted, but that may be attributed to the nature of the writings. Immeasurably insightful for anyone wanting to get an intro into the Home Church movement in China.
Profile Image for Timothy.
369 reviews5 followers
November 10, 2025
If you want to understand the modern house church movement in China, this book would go a long way by reading the writings of (primarily) Wang Yi. His preparation and thoughts on persecution would be particularly helpful for those in the West who seldom put much thought into it.
30 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2024
Much denser theologically than I anticipated.
Challenging read, but important.
Profile Image for Jennifer O..
19 reviews6 followers
June 24, 2024
Must-read for any believer. Will challenge your perspective on persecution and suffering, and perhaps lead you to prepare for the persecution that will surely come before our Lord's 2nd coming.
410 reviews2 followers
June 25, 2025
Convicting collection of Chinese pastors’ writings about the way of the cross.
Profile Image for AL.
469 reviews12 followers
November 15, 2024
I’m always curious about how Christianity is practiced throughout the world.

This was not only an insightful look at the plight and struggles of Christians in China but I greatly appreciated the perspectives provided and found myself stopping to really think over and absorb what was shared.

Definitely a great read for Christians seeking different perspectives on Christian living as well as the sacrifices those in other countries may make to practice and pray.
Profile Image for Ben.
2,739 reviews234 followers
September 29, 2023
Inspiring and Powerful

Amazing book on the home church moment in China.

Sad about how religion is being removed from China.

Great book about anarchy for Christ.

Some really important things realizations about Christianity.

Inspiring book

Highly recommended.

Don't miss this book!

4.6/5
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