In the backdrop of the ongoing tightening of Christianity in China’s online space, the “Two Associations” of Christianity of Beijing City publicly announced their Sacred Music Ministry Blueprint for 2025 on May 7. With the core goal of “advancing the Sinicization of sacred music,” this plan, though seemingly aimed at developing church music, carries deeper implications, sparking widespread concern over the Chinese government’s further intervention in and control of Christian faith.
Content of the “Sacred Music Ministry Blueprint for 2025”
According to reports from the “Two Associations” of Christianity of Beijing City, the meeting gathered 40 key church leaders and ministry staff to outline the direction of Sinicization of sacred music for the coming year. Some of the key discussion points include:
- the formation of official sacred music teams,
- the development of an original song library with “Chinese characteristics,”
- the hosting of concerts with a “Sinicization” theme,
- the integration of government-controlled sacred music modules into church apps, and
- the training of core volunteers for Sinicization.
It is not hard to see that “Sinicization” is the key vocabulary throughout these initiatives. Under the Chinese government’s policy push in recent years to keep emphasizing the “Sinicization of Christianity,” government-recognized church organizations actively respond, seeking to align the faith more closely with state ideology. This trend, already visible in areas such as theological discourse and church administration, has now extended into the realm of sacred music, leaving no aspect untouched by the government.
The so-called “development of an original sacred music library” and the holding of “Concerts with Sinicization-themed Christian music” can’t help but raise questions: Will traditional hymns, rich in universal values and deep theological significance, be replaced by “new sacred music” infused with Chinese cultural elements or even political overtones?
Christianity is often described as a “singing faith.” Hymns are not merely a form of worship but a significant means of conveying theological truths and shaping the spiritual lives of Christians. They represent a shared confession of faith of the Christian community and express humans’ reverence for God and understanding of His purpose.
China’s “sinicization” and restrictions on church music heightened since 2021
Since 2021, China’s online space for Christianity has been under severe restrictions. A large quantity of Christian music resources have been removed, and not even works by the globally recognized Hillsong worship team were spared. Apps that were once popular among Christians in mainland China, such as “Praise Hymn Net” and “Song of Songs,” were forcibly shut down.
Against this backdrop, the government-approved church’s development of sacred music modules and training programs for the Sinicization of volunteers appears to be aimed at eliminating music content deemed non-compliant by authorities and establishing a sacred music system that is state-controlled and politically aligned with the government.
Consequence of the Sinization of Sacred Music and Christianity in China
For Christians, hymns are far more than just melodies; they are important forms of worship towards God and expressions of faith. Each classic hymn carries rich traditions of faith and theological connotations and reflects the accumulation of spiritual experience of saints throughout the generations. Forcing the Sinicization of sacred music and replacing it with government-approved hymns is undoubtedly a distortion and erosion of the essence of the Christian faith, gradually dissolving its uniqueness. It not only limits musical choices for Christians but may even subtly alter their understanding of God and modes of worship.
The sacred music ministry plan of 2025 from the Beijing “Two Associations” of Christianity signals a shift in the Chinese government’s control over Christianity, from external administration to deeper cultural and spiritual domains. Even hymns of praise to God are not exempt from the fate of being Sinicized. — ChinaAid
