The Christian witness in Asia remains a powerful force as Communism depends on violence for security
The emergence in Communist China of the youthful Red Guards as strong-arm promoters of an anti-Christian “cultural revolution” is an ominous sign reminiscent of the Nazi youth movement of the Hitler era. Targets include leaders of the Christian community whose presence in China antedates the Communist regime.
What this development clearly indicates is that Communist “tolerance” of Christianity must never be confused with “religious freedom”—despite propaganda assurances. Moreover, it exhibits to all the world that Communism cannot really make headway against Christianity in a free society but must rely on violence, repression, and suppression for the entrenchment of its ideas.
China is now in the throes of a major crisis after which she will never be the same again. If a more militant regime emerges, there will be increasing trouble in the border areas of Russia, India, Viet Nam, and Thailand, with the classic maneuver of using a supposed external threat in order to unite an increasingly restless people. If a less militant regime emerges, there will be dramatic changes in China’s attitude toward Russia, Southeast Asia, and the United States—after the Soviet example.
The pattern that has developed in Asia is of new nations, large and small, that are extremely sensitive, intensely nationalistic, very desirous of rapid economic development without external interference, highly suspicious of the West, and even more suspicious of a militant Chinese Communism. It is very unlikely that they will choose Communism (although it could be forced on some of them), but the majority will without doubt be nationalist-socialist in emphasis.
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Red Guards Spur Attack on Christian Remnant in Communist China
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