A Chinese Pentecostal communal church that challenged traditional norms and faced severe persecution post-1949.
Origins and Founding
The Jesus Family, known in Chinese as 耶穌家庭 (Yesu jiating), was a distinctive Christian sect that emerged in China during the early 20th century. Founded in 1921 by Jing Dianying, a former Methodist preacher, the movement began in the rural village of Mazhuang, Taian County, Shandong Province. Jing, disillusioned with mainstream Christianity, sought to create a more authentic and culturally relevant form of Christian practice that would resonate with rural Chinese communities.
The group’s inception was rooted in Jing’s vision to establish a community that lived according to the teachings of Jesus Christ, emphasizing poverty, celibacy, and communal living. This approach was inspired by the apostles’ life as described in the Book of Acts, aiming to reflect the early Christian communities of the New Testament.
Beliefs and Practices
The Jesus Family’s theology centered on the concept of communal living, which they believed mirrored the early Christian church. Members practiced a strict communal lifestyle, renouncing personal possessions and family ties to live in collective settlements.
The movement also emphasized spiritual experiences, including prophecy, divine healing, and the second coming of Christ. Their worship practices were characterized by emotional intensity and participatory nature, often including ecstatic prayer, speaking in tongues, and spontaneous singing. These expressive forms of worship contrasted sharply with the more formal practices of mainstream Christian denominations in China at the time.
Communal Structure and Lifestyle
The organizational structure of the Jesus Family was hierarchical, with Jing Dianying serving as the spiritual leader and ultimate authority. Below him were elders who managed the day-to-day affairs of the communities. This structure allowed for efficient decision-making and resource allocation within the sect.
Members adhered to a strict daily schedule that included prayer, Bible study, and communal labor. The group’s economic model was based on collective farming and handicrafts, with all resources pooled and distributed according to need. Men and women typically lived separately, except for the youngest married couples, and engagements and weddings were arranged by Jing, the Family head.
Education and Social Impact
Education played a significant role in the Jesus Family’s activities. The sect established schools within their communities to provide basic education to children and adults alike. These schools not only taught reading and writing but also focused on religious instruction and the principles of communal living central to the group’s ideology.
The Jesus Family’s relationship with broader Chinese society was complex. While some local officials viewed the sect as a stabilizing force in rural areas, others were suspicious of its growing influence and unconventional practices. The group’s emphasis on communal living and shared property drew criticism from those who saw it as a challenge to traditional social and economic structures.
Growth and Expansion
By 1949, the Jesus Family had expanded significantly, with over a hundred communities and thousands of followers across China. The movement remained primarily a rural phenomenon, with most of its followers concentrated in Shandong and neighboring provinces. While it never achieved widespread national prominence, it represented an important example of how Christianity could be adapted and reinterpreted within a Chinese cultural context.
Challenges and Persecution
During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), the Jesus Family faced significant challenges as their communities were disrupted by the conflict. Many members were forced to flee their homes, and some communities were destroyed. Despite these hardships, the sect continued to operate and even provided assistance to refugees and others affected by the war.
After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Jesus Family, like many religious groups, faced increasing pressure from the communist government. Initially, the government showed some admiration for the movement’s practice of communal ideals similar to those promoted by Communism. However, this tolerance was short-lived.
Suppression and Decline
By the mid-1950s, the Chinese government had begun to crack down on the Jesus Family and other religious movements. In 1952, the government dismantled the Jesus Family, seizing their headquarters and forcing their communities to disperse. Many of the sect’s leaders, including Jing Dianying, were arrested and imprisoned. Jing died in 1957 under harsh prison conditions.
The group’s properties were confiscated, and its communities were forcibly disbanded. This period marked the effective end of the Jesus Family as an organized religious movement in mainland China.
image via Asia Harvest
