'The Bible According to the Party': Beijing is Trying to Rewrite Christianity with Communist Ideology

The campaign to “sinicize Christianity” in China has entered a new and controversial phase, one that critics say aims not just to control churches but to directly alter the teachings of the Bible and replace the authority of Christ with the ideology of the Communist Party. International reports show that in recent years, the Chinese government has attempted to turn Christianity into a tool in the service of “socialist values” by removing parts of the “Ten Commandments,” replacing quotes from Xi Jinping in churches, rewriting Bible stories, and expanding security surveillance of places of worship.

A review of reports published in the media and by institutions monitoring religious freedom shows that the "sinicization of Christianity" project pursued by Xi Jinping is not limited to restricting the activities of house churches, but has now also extended to changing the content of sacred texts.

According to reports from Henan province, Chinese authorities have removed the “Ten Commandments” from some state-run churches and replaced them with quotes from Xi Jinping. One of the quotes used was part of the Chinese president’s speech about the need to align religions with “socialist values” and counter the “influence of Western ideology.”

In one report, a Chinese pastor warned: “The ultimate goal of the Communist Party is to become God itself.” This statement was widely echoed in Christian media and religious freedom organizations.

Meanwhile, the publication of a state-run textbook in China has sparked a new wave of criticism. In the book, the famous story of the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel of John has been changed. In the original version, Jesus Christ forgives the woman and prevents her from being stoned, but in the version published in China, the story ends differently, with Jesus himself stoning the woman. Critics say the change turns the gospel’s message of mercy and forgiveness into absolute obedience to the law and the authority of the state.

China experts believe that the Communist Party sees Christianity as a potential threat to its ideological authority, given its historical ties to the West and the rapid growth of independent churches. For this reason, Beijing, along with the security crackdown on underground churches, is trying to present a “state” version of the Christian faith that does not conflict with party policies.

Religious restrictions in China have increased dramatically in recent years, with reports of churches being equipped with surveillance cameras, sermon content being controlled, independent church leaders being detained, people under 18 being banned from attending religious services, and crosses being replaced with images of Xi Jinping.

Despite these pressures, Christianity continues to grow in China. Some estimates suggest that the number of Christians in China has reached tens of millions, with a significant portion worshipping in house and underground churches, communities that operate outside of direct government control.

In response to these developments, religious freedom groups and some Western politicians have called for more pressure on Beijing. Proposals for human rights sanctions and visa restrictions against officials involved in the repression and forced conversion of Christian doctrines are among the calls that have been made in recent years.