RELIGION IN THE NEWS
A report and comment on religious trends and events being covered by the media.This week’s item is from Christian News Service, July 1, 2008, with a headline:“ChineseSecurityForcesRaidHouseChurch at Coal Mine.”The following are excerpts:Chinese security forces raided a house church at a coal mine in China’s Gonsu province and detained several Christians as part of a crackdown on unauthorized worship services in the Communist nation.The raid took place at a house church at the Hong We coal mine located in BayinCity in the provinces Ping Schwan district.Several believers including Wong Fian, a Chinese man in charge of the gathering and two female members were detained for several days.Wong was placed under ten days administrative detention, while the two unidentified women were held for three days.The next day officials reportedly detained two more members at the same site who both received ten days of administrative detention.They were also fined 1,000 China Won Renminbe, or about $145, a high amount in Gon Su, one of China’s poorest provinces.Gon Su authorities defended the crackdown saying in published remarks that these people are suspected of engaging in cult activities and undermining public security, adding that the house church had public gatherings for 3 years in the local area.Chinese Christians have expressed concerns over reports of a wider crackdown on house churches ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games in the Chinese capitol Beijing.The raids have been linked to concern among Communist officials that Christians worshipping outside the Communist backed churches will use the Olympics to gain international attention for their plight.
Tom:
Dave, when we were in Hong Kong last year, I heard, before going there that there were more Christians in mainland China than there may be in the rest of the world.Now, I thought that seemed to be pushing it a little bit, but after our experience just in Hong Kong with the people that we met, with the young people that we had the opportunity to speak to, I can believe it.Dave, as you remember, these young people, I think are going to be missionaries going into mainland China.And I don’t have any doubt that God had his hand upon them, seemed to be an anointing there.But also, we know from the history of the church that, correct me here, but isn’t persecution the life blood of the church, or isn’t there a phrase to that.
Dave:
Tertonian who said, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
Tom:
It’s not we want to see our brothers and sisters in Christ martyred.On the other hand, and one of the reasons I selected this news alert is that we would pray for these people who are being persecuted in mainland China.
Dave:
Well, it is getting worse, Tom, some are being executed, the government is cracking down.Now the government is changing its ways, they have become a capitalist country now, and they now are in the world market.I’ve talked to people from over there, business men for example, and I say, Can China ever go back to where it was?Absolutely not, they’ve come too far!So, when you get to where they are, there are certain rules you have to go by.For example, we’ve been sending food back that is contaminated, or toys that have lead in the paint, and so forth, they sent them back—you’re going to have to get up to the standards of the West.Now that carries over into what we are talking about, because you begin persecuting these Christians, well, we aren’t looking with favor on China.Now you’ve got to get out of that mode and begin to live more like the Western world.Well, of course the Western world, a lot of places, what’s the point of persecuting the Church in Sweden or France?
Tom:
You can’t tell the difference.
Dave:
There is no power at all.
Tom:
Yeah, but Dave, the thing that I find curious, and I really believe because this persecution is demonic, it doesn’t make any sense.The most productive people, these people come to Christ, they are living for Christ, and they are a model in the community.You know, they are not a cult, trying to bring down the, start revolution or anything like that.Yet the persecution persists and there has to be a spiritual battle going on here and a motivation, I think, right out of the pit of hell.
Dave:
Yeah, but Tom, we could show that Satan is confused, he doesn’t know which way to go.For example, Jesus addresses Peter as Satan, Get thee behind me, Satan!Why was that?Because Peter was saying, Lord, you don’t have to go to the cross, they’re not going to kill you.So he was denying the very heart of the gospel.
Tom:
Looking like he was looking for Jesus’ best interests here.
Dave:
He was thinking so.Now this is the first pope, so the Catholics say, he got off to a rather poor start.
Tom:
In terms of infallibility.
Dave:
Right, and he’s rebuked by Jesus.But then the next thing Satan enters into Judas to betray Jesus to the cross.So now Judas who at one point was trying to get Peter to influence Christ not to go to the cross, and now he’s changed his mind.Now let’s get Him up there, let’s nail Him to that cross.So I would say Satan is brilliant beyond all of our computers put together, but he’s also blinded by his own ego.I think that Satan really thinks he’s going to win.After all, who wouldn’t follow him?Look at all the perks he gives you.
Tom:
Well, Dave, again, I want to emphasize why we’re bringing this to everybody’s attention.We need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are under persecution.Certainly China, as this report indicates, but throughout the world, people who are just trying to be steadfast in the faith, live a life that’s pleasing to God, and helpful to their community, yet they are being persecuted.
Dave:
Well, it was Constantine recognized this, he said, we’ve been making a mistake, we’ve been killing these Christians.Look, they are the best citizens we have, they don’t get drunk, they don’t start revolutions, they are hard workers, let’s encourage them.So he made the church the official—everybody became a Christian and then that was the smartest thing Satan did because now he’s got a bunch of phonies pretending to be Christians.
Tom:
So whether the ploy of Satan is seduction or persecution, we really need to hold the body of Christ in prayer.
Dave:
Amen.