Norman H. Cliff, Fierce the Conflict. Dundas, Ontario, Canada: Joshua Press Inc., 2001. 207 pp.
Fierce the Conflict is a collection of stories of the lives of eight Chinese men and women who have suffered for the sake of the gospel. Through personal interviews, biographical and autobiographical sources, and books published by these men and women on various spiritual topics Dr. Norman H. Cliff briefly relates each person’s life. The focus is placed on events of spiritual significance, such as conversion, ministry, and hardships faced for the sake of the faith. All of these Christians were persecuted in some way under the regime of Mao Zedong, and the courage these individuals showed in the face of hatred and unfairness is inspiring.
This book tells the stories of Allen Yuan, Ester Cui, Watchman Nee, Fan Peiji, Wu Wujia, Graham Wu, David Wang, and Wang Zhen. It also contains an introduction by Tony Lambert, Director of Research for China Ministries for OMF International, a list of abbreviations and Chinese expressions, “a chronology of important political and military events in modern Chinese history,” four appendices (a sermon by Wang Mingdao, an extract from a sermon by Watchman Nee, a sermon by Pastor Fan Peiji, and a map of China), a list of sources, and a bibliography. These extensive extra features add much to the helpfulness of the book, giving the reader not only the stories of Chinese Christian leaders, but also instructing him in the basics of Chinese culture, history, and geography. Through these features and through the stories themselves, the reader gains, especially, an understanding of China in the early and middle decades of the 20th century.
These accounts of Christian leaders are each very inspiring. Dr. Cliff’s personal relationships with many of those of whom he writes help to engage the reader, though the writing style is, at points, difficult to connect with. One unfortunate side effect of telling eight stories of persecution of Christians around a similar time period is that they all begin to sound the same. They are not, of course, and their differences show the many ways in which God can work, but it can sometimes be difficult to involve oneself in a story that sounds very similar to the story one has just read.
This book provides a good overview of the lives of famous as well as lesser-known Chinese Christians, and would be a good introduction to the situation of the church in China, especially if taken one story at a time. For a more in-depth look at a Chinese Christian with similar experiences, also consider reading Bold As A Lamb, the story of Samuel Lamb.
Reviewed by Sarah Cozart