True Stories – Why are Christians the most persecuted of all Religions of the World? – Focus on China – Day 22 of 40 Prayers

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

We included the peacemakers in the beatitudes because we facilitate peace between God and Man

I ask you and I ask me this simple question. The question is this :  Why are Christians the most persecuted of all Religions of the world? 

It is not because of our character or the fruit of Christianity, although, that adds to the fuel of persecution.

It is not because we say we all go to heaven and others go to hell and that all are sinners and we are righteous. That also adds to the fuel of persecution.

It is not because we say, we will serve no other god but one God through Jesus Christ. Although, that also adds fuel to the intensity of persecution experienced

It is because, Jesus, being a man makes Himself equal to God, and to add injury to that claim, He said, “He is the only way to God. And we’ll serve Him ONLY!”

Other christians persecute even amongst christians because we differ in our understanding of Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit and God Himself and how to go about worship and doctrines of the kingdom of God.

These are the key ingredients in the battle of all ages.

Let’s look several statements Jesus made that set Him up against the Jews in His earthly ministry, including His pre-trial before the high priest and also before Pilate, the accusation leveled against Him.

Today, we will look at persecution in modern China and Religious Freedom, updated for 2019 and we will make other nations persecution available within the 7 days upto next week Thursday. 

Why were the Christians in some regions spared persecution?

While Western democracies have democratically-crafted laws that apply to everyone, Communist China has autocratically-imposed laws that are applied selectively based on the people and the relationships involved. Underground churches in regions governed by Party officials favorably-disposed to Christianity tended to operate relatively unhindered, especially if their leaders had good relationships with those officials, while the Christians in regions governed by less favorably-disposed Party officials suffered raids, especially if those officials wished to line their pockets with the fines to be extracted.

Size and timing also mattered: the smaller the underground church, the less likely it was to be persecuted, while clampdowns tended to accompany major events (e.g., 2008 Beijing Olympics) and international developments (e.g., Arab Spring). The presence of a foreigner in an underground church raised a red flag, while receiving foreign funding triggered an alarm if discovered.

And as China’s economy boomed and land values rose, real estate developers bribed and colluded with government officials to steal the prime real estate of old, city-center Three Self churches, and the the body of Christ faced the more insidious temptation of money and heresies, including Western imports (see Christianity in China, Four Spiritual Laws, Eastern Lightning and Shouters).

Under President Xi Jinping (2013- ), the Chinese government embarked on a 3-phase, 14-year plan to gain total control of Christianity in China (see underground church).

In 2014, its religious bureau chief made the following deceptive and ominous declaration:

“Over the past decades, the Protestant churches in China have developed very quickly with the implementation of the country’s religious policy. The construction of Chinese Christian theology should adapt to China’s national condition and integrate with Chinese culture.” – Wang Zuoan, Director of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), to China Daily on August 9, 2014.

Of course, the body of Christ in China grew by the work of the Holy Spirit despite – not due to – the Chinese government’s “religious policy,” and Christian theology that adapts to a nation’s “condition” and integrates its culture is no longer Christian.

Also 2014, a nine page internal Chinese Communist Party memo that was not supposed to be seen by the public instructed cracking down on the “overly popular” religion of Christianity and instructed:

“The priority is to remove crosses at religious activity sites on both sides of expressways, national highways and provincial highways. Over time and in batches, bring down the crosses from the rooftops to the facade of the buildings… Be particular about tactics, be careful about methods… Use the idea of ‘illegal construction.’ This is crucial to investigate and prosecute from the perspective of laws and regulations to avoid inviting heavy criticism.”

2019 Update

The mask has come off in the third phase of the 14-year plan (see underground church), now under way. Thousands of crosses already have been burned (top) or ripped down from church buildings, increasing numbers of which are being closed and/or demolished (below is the January 9, 2018 dynamiting of a church in Shanxi province’s Linfei city (front view).

Inside the church buildings that remain open for now, crosses are being taken down or flanked by portraits of Mao Zedong and Xi Jingping, and singing songs that praise the Chinese Communist Party is being required before singing hymns. Pastors are being required to sign statements pledging to obey instructions from the Chinese government. Thousands of pastors already have been arrested, beaten, tortured, sentenced to years in prison, or simply disappearing (see Wang Yi).

Taking a page out of its playbook from the days of Cultural Revolution (1966-76), the Chinese government is again teaching school children that Christianity is an evil cult that spreads spiritual opium that they must not take and also warn and protect their parents from taking. The veiled threat to their parents is that their children will soon be instructed to report parents who believe in Jesus, let alone tell their children to believe in Jesus.

Mass Surveillance

The Chinese government is now using mass surveillance technology, artificial intelligence, and big data to surveil all of its citizens 24/7.

600,000,000 face recognition-enable CCTV  cameras (right) – nearly one for every 2 Chinese – will soon record all public space in China. Every inch of every street in Beijing is already covered. These cameras also are being forcibly installed inside church buildings, including over their doors, offering boxes, and Bible-selling counters.

2.  Sinicization of Christianity will “adapt” Christian theology:

“The core and soul of Sinicization of Christianity are the Sinicization of theological thought. Only by the realization of Sinicization of theological thought will there be Sinicization in the true sense. Otherwise, the Sinicization of Christianity will be empty slogans like trees without roots, water without a source. Through deepening the development of theological thought, the Chinese Church should be guided to find a development model that adapts to Chinese society and gradually establishes a theological system for the Protestant churches in China that can adapt to the socialist society. Deepening theoretical research on the development of theological thought will promote this transformation.”

3.  Sinicization of Christianity will be implemented by personnel who will be trained by “pushing” more “patriotism” and “socialism” at China’s “colleges on theology”:

“Maintain the right direction for running schools by strengthening the regulation of management and strive to improve the teaching quality of schools and colleges on theology. Sinicization of Christianity needs to be integrated into teaching and research and play an important role in Sinicization of Christianity. Curriculums require a higher proportion of teaching on the core values of socialism, patriotism, Chinese history, literature, philosophy and arts along with other traditional culture. Pushing these subjects on campuses and in classrooms allows for the correct guiding of students.”

4.  They and others are to be indoctrinated with “hermeneutics,” “books,” and Bibles with “annotations” that promote the “core values of socialism”:

“Contents of the Bible that are compatible with the core values of socialism should be deeply researched in order to write books that are popular and easy-to-understand. Such books can be provided to grass-roots church members, pastoral workers and believers in general to widely spread information among Protestant churches and expand their influence. Include the core values of socialism as important content for preachers in the development of theological thought… Bible study needs to be strengthened to establish a correct view of the Bible and the biblical hermeneutics in conformity with the situation in China as a foundation for deepening the development of theological thought. Be conscious of fostering research talent on the Bible and lay a solid foundation for reinterpreting the Bible and writing annotations for it.”

5.  And rather peculiarly, the declaration bemoaned:

“the lack of a pool of talent with accomplishments in traditional culture and theology has led to a failure to effectively carry out basic work such as translations of Christian works…”

Which “traditional culture” are they referring to?

It isn’t the Chinese culture since China abounds with its experts. Neither is it a foreign culture either since the stated aim of the Three Self Patriotic Movement is to keep foreign cultures out of China.

Which “translations of Christian works” are they referring to?

Since “Sinicizing” Christianity includes keeping foreign influences out of China, this phrase does not refer to translating into Chinese foreign writings about Christianity.

In their respective context, the first phrase refers to the culture in which Christianity originated, and the latter phrase to the translation of the Bible. What is being bemoaned is China’s lack of experts in Greek and Hebrew who can translate the original texts of the Bible into a new Chinese Bible that twists God’s Word to fit the ideologies of the Chinese Communist Party.

Then why not explicitly say that?

That would create an uproar and make it more difficult to slip such a translation to the masses. Veiled and nuanced language such as the one above is common in China.

How should we respond?

A.  Spread the word and invite Christians around the world to both pray for the body of Christ in China and press the Chinese Communist Party to back off its plans.

B.  Contact your government leaders and urge them to pressure the Chinese Communist Party via economic sanctions, including tariffs and the removal of China from the World Trade Organization (WTO).

C.  If the Chinese Communist Party still proceeds with its plans and commissions a mistranslation of the Bible, Bible smugglers and underground Bible printers inside China should dust off their warehouses and return to active duty.

D.  Those with “talent” hired by the Chinese Communist Party to “translate” the original texts of the Bible to its liking are advised to start with its final paragraph:

“I For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19) 

On April 3, 2018, the Chinese Communist Party published a white paper titled, “China’s Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Beliefs” and posted its English translation at http://www.scio.gov.cn/zfbps/32832/Document/1626734/1626734.htm.

This is the first expression of the Chinese government’s vision and policy on religious “freedom” in more than 20 years. Its key clauses are quoted below in blue and analyzed to ascertain if they express the intent to protect China’s freedom of religious beliefs or to keep China free from religious beliefs.

“China adopts policies on freedom of religious belief, manages religious affairs in accordance with the law, adheres to the principle of independence and self-management, actively guides religions to adapt to the socialist society…”

Since the Chinese Communist Party defines socialism in China, actively guiding religions to adapt to the socialist society means religions will receive “active” guidance – i.e., orders – to “adapt” to the Chinese Communist Party’s ideologies and policies.

“Actively guiding religions in adapting to the socialist society means guiding religious believers to love their country and compatriots, safeguard national unity, ethnic solidarity, be subordinate to and serve the overall interests of the nation and the Chinese people. It also means guiding religious groups to support the leadership of the CPC and the socialist system; uphold and follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics; develop religions in the Chinese context; embrace core socialist values; carry forward China’s fine traditions; integrate religious teachings and rules with Chinese culture; abide by state laws and regulations, and accept state administration in accordance with the law.”

Since the Chinese Communist Party decides what is in the “overall interest of the nation,” being “subordinate to” and serving those interests means being subordinate to and serving the Chinese Communist Party, including its “leadership,” “the socialist system,” embracing “core socialist values” and upholding and following “the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.”

“The General Provisions of the Civil Law states that a lawfully established place of worship qualifying as a legal person may register for the status of legal person to accept donations.”

In other words, only officially registered Three Self churches, which are blanketed with face recognition-enabling CCTV cameras, can take up offerings, which the unregistered underground churches cannot take up.

“The Regulations prescribe the rights and responsibilities of religious organizations, places of worship, and religious believers when establishing places for and holding religious activities, setting up and running religious institutions, applying for legal person status, publishing and distributing religious books and periodicals, receiving donations, managing religious property, conducting charity activities, and carrying out exchanges with other countries. The Regulations prohibit the commercialization of religions, and include additions concerning religious information services on the Internet.”

Since the underground churches do not have “legal person status,” they are precluded from renting property for church services (“establishing places for and holding religious activities”), distributing Bibles (“publishing and distributing religious books”), taking up offerings (“receiving donations”), and sharing the Gospel on the internet (“prohibit… additions concerning religious information services on the Internet.”)

“Foreigners may attend religious activities at temples, mosques, churches, and other sites for religious activities. They are also permitted to preach at places of worship when invited to do so by Chinese religious bodies at or above the provincial level.”

Chinese provinces have up to 100 million people. The only “foreigners” to be “invited” by someone at that “level” are very well-known pastors, who return home and cite their invitation to preach as evidence of religious freedom in China, thereby serving the propaganda interests of the Chinese Communist Party.

“Foreigners who conduct religious activities within China shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations. They shall not establish religious organizations, set up religious offices and sites for religious activities, run religious institutions, or recruit foreign students studying in China without authorization; nor shall they recruit followers, appoint clerical personnel from among Chinese citizens or engage in other missionary activities.”

In other words, an American in China cannot share the Gospel even with American “students studying in China without authorization” from the Chinese government.

“The State requires the registration of places of worship for group religious activities in accordance with the law, so as to provide legal protection and ensure that all activities are carried out in an orderly manner.”

All underground churches are in violation of this requirement.

“Chinese religious groups must conduct religious activities in the Chinese context, practice core socialist values, carry forward the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, and actively explore religious thought which conforms to the reality in China.”

“Core socialist values” includes atheism, which is diametrically opposed to the Gospel of Christianity. And since the Chinese Communist Party defines “the reality in China,” Christianity cannot “conform” to it.

“Throughout history, different religions in China have blended together and drawn lessons from one another to become an integral part of traditional Chinese culture. In modern times, different religions respect and learn from each other, and take part in exchanges and dialogues, and a new realm of ‘five religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism) working together to achieve harmony’ has taken shape.”

If “throughout history, different religions in China have blended together,” why does China still have “five religions,” all of which are over a thousand years old?

“According to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s report at the 19th CPC National Congress held in 2017, China will fully implement the Party’s basic policy on religious affairs, uphold the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation and provide active guidance to religions so that they can adapt themselves to the socialist society.”

In other words, religions that do not become “Chinese in orientation” and that do not “adapt themselves to the socialist society” will suffer the wrath of Xi Jinping, who needs to heed the Gospel just like any other mortal.

Prayer for Persecuted Christians in China.

Father, thank You for the persecuted christians in China. Thank for how far You have led them and kept them. Thank for the growth in underground churches that Your Spirit is facilitating.

Your Word says in

This brings us to the end of Day 22 of 40 – Prayer and Fasting for Church (You and I) and Leadership: Praying for the Persecuted Churches in China, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Africa and the Western World – True Stories – Why are Christians the most persecuted of all Religions of the World?

Shalom!