China Isn't Trying to Wipe Out Christianity
Many church leaders do not want to speak openly about the Shouwang Church. They support their brothers and sisters. However, privately, they express that Shouwang has pushed the edge of the envelope.
This makes people wonder. What is the truth about persecution in China? Unfortunately, there is no black and white answer. Yes, there are still Christians in prison. Were thousands arrested for their faith last year? Depends on how you define arrests. Take the Shouwang Church. Perhaps every week their members keep worshipping in public places and people are taken in to the police station. They are released within hours, or in the worst case, a few days.
The government wants to control the church. That has not changed. The chosen method is not the same. Severe persecution has been traded for cooperation with Christians, even with the house churches. As long as they do not get involved in politics, they will be left alone. Christians should be allowed to organize themselves and be politically active. No doubt. But one simply has to admit that the situation in China has improved over the years, despite recent reports to the contrary.
Do the Han Chinese Christians still need help? Yes. They need to learn how to function as a church in a freer country. They also need to learn to develop their own materials, rather than receiving everything for free from overseas. And last, but not least, they should not forget about persecuted Christians among the Chinese minorities and abroad. The Chinese church stood strong under severe persecution. Let it stand strong now, too.
Grieving with the Good Friday God
La complejidad hispana: Todo cambió en el 2012
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audrey ruth
Okay, I'm glad to hear that everything is hunky dory in China now. As long as Christians don't violate a long laundry list of perceived offenses, they are just fine. ::sarcasm off:: All persecution of Christians in every land has always been, first and foremost, triggered by their supposed rebellion against the ruling party -- in this case, the Communist Party. In virtually every instance, there was no real rebellion, only a declaration of God's Word with which the ruling party did not agree. It's that simple, and that terrible.
Virginia Yip
It is about time that American Christian hear a diferent voice on China.
Don Sturgill
Shoppers can rest at ease now. China doesn't want to get rid of Christians--the government is only trying to protect Communism (i.e. maintain power). No human rights problems there.