The paper examines radically divergent attitudes toward imperial power in two Tang-dynasty Christian texts. The Xi'an Stele (781), erected in the capital Chang'an, develops an elaborate "royal way" theology where the virtuous emperor becomes central to civilizing the empire, receives sacred titles borrowed from imperial vocabulary, and functions as mediator between heaven and earth whose support for Christianity brings universal benefits. The Discourse on God, likely produced in China's Western Regions, presents a starkly contrasting vision: it preserves bitter memories of persecution ("all kings attack the liberties of peoples"), articulates no royal theology, and rejects any idealized portrayal of political power. These theological differences likely reflect unequal social positions within the Chinese empire. Communities situated near the court appear to have developed accommodating theologies that emphasized mutual benefits between religious and political spheres, while communities in peripheral regions, whether through different historical experiences or reduced access to imperial favor, maintained critical perspectives on sovereignty. This comparative analysis demonstrates how geographic location and social positioning shaped competing theological responses to political power in medieval Chinese Christianity.