Officials in Liaoning Province publish Sinicization hymns

(Liaoning, China – May 29, 2024) The official Chinese Communist Party continues to pursue the “Sinicization of hymns,” an effort that has become one of the key elements of the “Sinicization of religion,” to prompt the integration of Christianity with traditional Chinese culture. Rev. Hou Yujie, chairman and president of the official Liaoning Provincial Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee in Yingkou, Liaoning Province, Northeast China, wrote a collection of poems on the theme of “Sinicization of Christianity.” These poems contained lyrics that echoed the political views of the CCP, seriously departing from the biblical and theological traditions of Christianity, turning praise of the Trinity and Christ into idolatry of the State, and turning hymns of praise for the Lord into hymns of praise for the Party.

This collection of 50 poems was composed by Hou Yujie in different situations, places, and times, such as in church, in seminary, during trips, and at midnight during the Covid-19 Pandemic outbreak in China. This collection of poems was composed by Li Guohong.

The content of the poetry collection is led by the core socialist values advocated by the Chinese Communist Party, with selective retention of some of the lyrics based on fundamental Christian beliefs, doctrines, and spirituality, but the overall tone is to promote the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, and to cultivate the concepts of unity, progress, peace, and tolerance.

This collection of poems includes songs praising the country with “Bless the Motherland,” “The Fragrance of Christ Permeates China,” “The Contribution of Chinese Religion,” and “The Joy of Your Nation.” Others cater to the official sinicization policy called “Promoting Sinicization of Christianity.” One song titled “The Beauty of the Four Propels” refers to the promotion of the introduction of the national flag, the Constitution, laws and regulations, socialist core values, and outstanding traditional Chinese culture into places for religious (folk belief) activities.

And some of them use political slogans to promote traditional Chinese culture and encourage believers to glorify God and benefit others, such as: “Remain true to the original aspiration and Never Forget the Mission,” “Learning to be Tolerant and Forgiving,” “Enlightening in the beauty of Life,” and “Building Christian Families.”

In recent years, Chinese officials have banned local churches from using the traditional hymns and the “Spiritual Songs collection,” as well as the popular church hymn “Canaan Hymns” by Lu Xiaomin, which is a collection of gospel hymns commonly used in house churches.

Chinese officials have set up Christian cultural activity centers in Christian churches registered with the government, arranging operas and sketches, and setting up groups for calligraphy, painting, opera, catwalks, and photography activities, in order to integrate local culture into Christianity and to promote the “Sinicization of Christianity.” With a variety of programmes and activities involving the integration of traditional Chinese culture and opera performances into churches, and the registered Christian churches holding opera performances such as “The Spirit of the Nineteenth Congress” and the play “Hongniang.” The content of these programs has nothing to do with praising the Lord.