Chapter 13 Choosing between God’s Will and the Law
A Study of Chinese Christians’ Dilemma over Fertility Desires and Behaviors
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Abstract
This chapter highlights the predicament many Chinese Christians face with regards to government policies on childbirth. On the one hand, God orders people to “be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth;” on the other hand, the Chinese government, until recently, strictly enforced limitations on births. Members of Grace Church, a “house” church congregation in the capital, have distinctively higher fertility desires than the average Beijing citizen. The actual fertility rate remains low, however, and in the face of the strict one-child policy, abortion was prevalent in Grace Church. After the universal two-child policy was implemented in 2016, fertility activities in Grace Church have changed considerably. This chapter shows that the adjustment to fertility policy has a greater impact on Christians than on non-Christians. A pro-life ministry is now beginning to sprout in Grace Church, as well as in other churches, which may lead to a reduction in the number of abortions among Chinese Christians.