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Fundamental
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©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
The True Church
Still Suffers
By Matt Costella
©FOUNDATION Magazine, January -February 2000
From first century Smyrna to modern-day China, the true Church of
Jesus Christ suffers for His cause.
NINETEEN CENTURIES AGO, Jesus Christ bestowed a
small epistle of only four verses to a suffering church that found itself in the midst of
great physical persecution. Speaking to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:8-11, Christ
exhorted this loyal little flock to "fear none of those things which thou shalt
suffer" but rather to "be thou faithful unto death." He never uttered a
word of complaint against this suffering testimony of believers, nor did He give them
advice or counsel concerning how to avoid the persecution they were called upon to endure.
Rather, Christ simply commanded them to continue to be fearless and faithful.
Although today's Western church knows nothing
of the persecution faced by Smyrna and other true testimonies of believers throughout the
centuries, this does not mean that, even today, true believers in Jesus Christ are no
longer called upon to endure similar tribulation. On the contrary, believers in India,
Indonesia, Sudan, North Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam, China and many other nations are
enduring physical and emotional persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ and for their
refusal to succumb to godless, atheistic religious or political regimes. Some are beaten,
imprisoned and fined by their own governments. Others are tortured, murdered or threatened
by religious militants who declare holy war against the one, true Christian faith. In
either case, many Christians refuse to renounce their faith in such situations. Certainly
they have followed Christ's command to "be thou faithful" (Rev. 2:10), even to
the point of death.
While many nations of the world actively
persecute Christians for their faith, no nation seems to be more deceitful and dishonest
concerning the atrocities it commits and the abuses of human rights it so actively
perpetrates than Communist China. Sadly, many in the United States only serve to further
the deceit and lies propagated by the Communist Chinese government by either believing the
state sponsored news reports that flow from China or by traveling to China and returning
with glowing praise of the "new-found freedom" enjoyed by all who will simply
attend an official, registered Protestant church and, in reality, "bow the knee to
Baal." But what is really happening in China today? Facts disclosing China's
suppression of religious freedom do exist, and this article will serve to document such
abuses as recorded by independent human rights organizations that know firsthand how evil
and deceptive the Chinese government truly is.
Legal Churches Must Register
As one writer so aptly noted, "The
Chinese Communist Party has never made any secret of its view of the place of religion
within Chinese society. It is to be tolerated—but only barely—until such time as
‘socialism with Chinese characteristics' is fully realized and religion, having
become irrelevant, will wither and die."1 China does claim to honor
freedom of religion, but only as long as the Chinese people choose to accept one of the
five official religions of the state—Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Daoism or
Islam. However, each officially recognized religion is monitored by a nationalist
"patriotic association" such as the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement
(TSPM), and worshippers are commanded to either attend a state-sponsored church or temple
or risk punishment.
Concerning China's claims of religious freedom,
notice the deceptive words of one of China's primary Protestant religious leaders, Han
Wenzao, as he spoke to New York Times reporter Erik Eckholm, and notice
Eckholm's comments:
"From our perspective, now is the best period ever for
implementing the policy of religious freedom," said Han Wenzao, who as president of
the China Christian Council is the national leader of the official Protestant church and a
prime link to the Communist Government. "The criterion should be, is the word of God
being propagated or not? It is and it's good." Han, who is 75 and has his office in
the Jinling Union Seminary of Nanjing, says he became a devout Christian at a missionary
college though he was never ordained. He helped create the official, "patriotic"
Protestant church here during the period after the Communist takeover in 1949, when, he
says, it was politically necessary to repudiate the "imperialist" sponsorship of
foreign missionaries. The willing believers joined in a generic, nondenominational church.2
Wenzao, who claims that China is now
experiencing religious freedom, sold out to the Communist regime years ago as he helped
"repudiate the imperialist sponsorship of foreign missionaries" and has since
been responsible for the persecution of millions of true Christians who refuse to subject
themselves to government propaganda in the "official" Protestant church.
Many who visit China attend state-sponsored,
registered churches and find them to be quite similar to services held in mainline
denominational churches in the United States. Eckholm observed:
Recent Sunday services at St. Paul's Church in Nanjing
exemplified the moderate, hybrid style of Protestantism that is promoted by Government
agencies. In what could have been a scene at an American Presbyterian or Lutheran church,
the members shared prayers and the Apostle's Creed, and they sang hymns with the robed
choir. They recited verses from Acts and Psalms, and watched as six men from an ethnic
minority group in Yunan, here on an exchange, sang a hymn in thanks for the hospitality.
They listened to a pleasant 20-minute sermon by the middle-aged Pastor Lin De'en, telling
the story of a man who on his death bed finally appreciated the Christianity of his wife
and son, and concluding with an ode to the value of personal worship: it will help you
become modest, honest, patient and love one another.3
Registration of churches is vitally
important to the Chinese government, for only then can it control what is taught so as to
hinder any words of protest against the godless communist system. The communist government
bases church registration on the "three-fix" policy which requires each church
to possess a TSPM approved pastor, a fixed meeting point and a restricted area of ministry
and activity.4 Yet even after a congregation becomes an official, registered
church, the government still carefully scrutinizes the activities of the group and
controls the "ministry" of the pastor. One human-rights researcher and author
noted:
Controls are exercised over such issues as personnel
selection, sermon themes, dissemination of religious publications and congregation size.
Those that test the limits of government tolerance, even on matters seemingly outside the
purview of religion, are subject to arbitrary procedures including the forcible removal of
leaders, but their members are rarely subjected to the kind of treatment meted out to
"illegal" unofficial groups.5
Despite the claims of increased
"religious freedom" and "religious toleration" in China, it is evident
that even the official Protestant churches in China are not free at all. Such churches are
used by the government to continue to stifle the individual's understanding of Biblical
truth. Because communism and true Christianity are diametrically opposed to one another,
it is impossible for any true church to condone such a wicked, atheistic political system;
but, of course, Communist leaders would never allow the Bible to be taught in such a
manner.
Fear drives the Chinese Communist government to
such measures, for communists believes that any ideology other than their own poses a
threat to the security of the current Communist state.6 Those within the ranks
of government are forbidden to practice any religion at all. One human rights publication
noted that in January 1995, "the Chinese Communist Party circulated a document to
party organizations at the provincial level ordering expulsion for party members belonging
to religious organizations, open or clandestine."7 The atheistic
foundation on which the philosophy of communism rests is alive and well, as evidenced in
the Chinese Communist Party.
Atrocities Against the House Church
Millions of true Christians in China worship
regularly in unregistered, illegal house churches, but these individuals do so at their
own risk. The Chinese government often imprisons house-church leaders and congregants,
beats them, forces them to pay outlandish fines or attempts to "reform" them
though labor camps. Such atrocities are occurring even today, despite reports to the
contrary by the Chinese government. Notice the following documented reports of housechurch
leaders and worshippers who have recently suffered terribly for the cause of Christ:
Local authorities use central government regulations to
extort money from unofficial church members, to forcibly break up clandestine meetings, to
hold worshippers without charge until they can raise exorbitant sums to buy their releases
and to orchestrate beatings severe enough to cause death ... Members of unofficial
churches have had their personal and productive property confiscated or been threatened
with the loss of their jobs ... Some church leaders are intermittently sent on mandatory
journeys in order to disrupt their relationships with their followers; some are forced to
attend long-lasting "study classes" aimed at conversion to official belief.8
China's persecution of Protestants continues as house church leader Cheng Meiying
is beaten unconscious, Li Qingrui is shot, and others are detained and given exorbitant
fines. Following the October 26 and November 5 (1998) crackdowns on Protestants in the
Henan cities of Wugang and Nanyang, over 70 house church leaders from all parts of China
remain in detention at the Fangcheng Prison and at an undisclosed location in Nanyang.
While imprisoned, these church leaders have suffered a range of torture and abuse.9
In April (1998), eight Protestant house-church leaders, including Peter Xu
Yongze, leader of the Zhengzhou-based "Born Again" evangelical group, were
detained by police in Henan province after a meeting. On September 25, the Zhengzhou
Intermediate Court reportedly sentenced Xu to a ten year term for "disturbing public
order.10
Communist China gets away with violations galore of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, especially the fundamental right to freedom of religion: consider the latest
outrage, the recent arrest of 40 Christian religious leaders in Hunan Province whose
followers worship in private houses rather than submit to the government's registration
requirements for religious groups ... Thirty million Christians worship in unregistered
churches on the mainland. These religious sites are subjected to periodic crackdowns
including the detention and beating of worshippers and sentencing of religious leaders to
forced labor.11
Police busted up a church service at a rural home and detained all 25 worshippers
in the latest raid on Protestants worshipping outside state control in China…The
dozen police confiscated all the Bibles found at the home in Sui county in central Henan
province. Eight days after the April 25 raid, 15 worshippers remained in detention ...
The raid in Sui county was at least the fifth police have conducted in Henan, a center
of activity for the underground Protestant church, since October (1998). Police have
detained 225 other Christians.12
Thirteen Protestants detained since Chinese police raided their underground
church 2.5 months ago have been told to pay a fine or face forced labor ... Police
arrested 40 Protestants while breaking up a Christmas service at a private home outside
Shangqiu city in central Henan province. All but 13 have since been released ... The 13,
kept in a city detention center, were told this week to pay fines of $240 or be sent to
labor camps ... Police have the right to send suspects to labor camps for up to three
years without trial. The fine is exorbitant, given that the worshippers are mostly poor
farmers.13
Human Rights Watch, an independent watchdog
organization that monitors human rights worldwide, issued a 1999 summary of human rights
developments and accused China of continuing to control expression, association and
assembly of political and religious dissidents. The report states:
Religious persecution continued, as did concern that
unchecked religious practice was a threat to social stability. New regulations were
adopted in Guangzhou city and Zhejiang province requiring religious communities to accept
government control, restrict contact with overseas organizations, and register with
authorities or face fines and other penalties ... Some religious leaders who rejected
state control of their activities were detained, usually under reeducation through labor
provisions.14
It is impossible for any honest individual
to look at the facts concerning the persecution of the true, uncompromising Chinese
believers and to claim that either communism is dead or that the Chinese are becoming more
"lenient" with respect to religious freedom. Likewise, it is just as treacherous
for any Christian, whether in China or elsewhere, to advise the true Chinese Christians
who worship in house churches to give up their fight for freedom and righteousness and
join the official Communist-approved churches.
The Western Response
The American response to religious
persecution in China has been somewhat mixed. Many conservative politicians understand the
plight of the Chinese people, especially those worshipping in underground house churches,
and have attempted to urge the government to confront China concerning its abuse against
Christians and those of other religions. On the other hand, others such as the National
Council of Churches and some liberal politicians believe the United States should refrain
from interfering with the rights of the Chinese people.
In 1997, the United States Congress ordered the
State Department to investigate the role that 78 countries played in the religious
persecution of Christians. According to a CNN report, the outcome of the State Department
investigation is as follows:
The United States accused China of religious persecution with
beatings and raids on private homes to "suppress unauthorized religious
groups"... Chinese authorities have cracked down on Christian movements that do not
register with the government, have closed hundreds of "house churches" and have
detained religious practitioners."15
Another CNN report stated that both the
legislative and executive branches of the United States government agree that "the
maltreatment of Christians in the world is woefully underreported."16 The
article noted that the State Department's report "charges that Communists in China
[were] in the tenth month of a crackdown to rid the country of religious groups not
registered by that party."
Six months later, another report prepared for
President Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright by the Advisory Committee on
Religious Freedom Abroad stated, "In China, members of the government-registered
religious institutions practice their faith within the strictures of the government.
Tibetan Buddhists, Muslim Uighurs, unregistered Protestants and Roman Catholics are
subjected to wide spread harassment, detentions, incarceration and persecution."17
Once again, in September 1999, the U. S. State
Department issued a new report on religious persecution abroad and cited China as one of
the primary offenders of human rights, and particularly religious freedom, worldwide.
Citing the State Department report, a September 8, 1999, Associated Press article, states:
"Chinese citizens can face harassment or prolonged detention in labor camps if they
practice their religious beliefs outside officially sponsored churches."18
China strongly criticized the United States for its latest report, saying that Chinese law
allows religious freedom and calling on the United States to refrain from interfering with
Chinese domestic affairs.19
Despite these obvious violations of human
rights against Christians, the United States government continues to work with and
dialogue with the Chinese government as though it were an ally and continues to aid the
communist government as it attempts to enter into international organizations such as the
World Trade Organization. In fact, one human rights organization insightfully reported
that "Chinese President Jiang Zemin scored a huge diplomatic triumph as the first
Chinese leader to be hosted for a state visit to Washington since the June 1989
crackdown" in Tiennamen Square.20
Many American religious leaders likewise bow to
the demands of the Chinese government that the United States refrain from interfering with
the "domestic affairs" of the Communist state. In February 1998, three American
religious leaders traveled to China at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin in
an effort to "improve bilateral relations" between the United States and China.
The U. S. delegates included Don Argue of the National Association of Evangelicals, Roman
Catholic Archbishop Theodore McCarrick and Rabbi Arthur Schneir. A CNN report noted that
"the U. S. team [was] escorted by officials of the Chinese People's Institute of
Foreign Affairs, who [had] arranged meetings exclusively with members of state-approved
'patriotic' religious organizations."21 Argue said he was "willing to
take the risk (of being used for propaganda purposes) to open dialogue and have the
opportunity to advance [the] mission."22
The American delegates reported that the trip
to China did not serve as a "fact-finding" mission, but rather, as an
opportunity for dialogue with the Communist government "on religious policy and
practice in a spirit of mutual respect."23 In the official report of the
U.S. Religious Leaders Delegation to the People's Republic of China, the delegates stated
that "the reports of our delegation's activities within official circles, as well as
in the Chinese press, indicated that religion is now higher on the agenda in China than
ever before." The report added, "In our exchanges with high level Chinese
government officials and with religious leaders-lay and clerical-of official religions, we
engaged in ground-breaking discussion about religious freedom."24 While
Argue, McCarrick and Schneier spoke glowingly of their attempts at "dialogue"
with the communists, non-religious human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch
actually more fully understand the futility of such reasoning with lying, deceitful
leaders. In its 1999 summary of human rights in China, the watchdog organization wrote:
Greater scope for scholarly discussion of reform did not mean
increased tolerance of political dissent. Those who publicly challenged the Communist
Party, organized petitions to senior officials on political issues, maintained links to
dissidents abroad, or had contacts with the foreign media were particularly vulnerable to
arrest and detention.25
The same is true for those who worship in
unregistered churches or maintain contact with missionaries or other outsiders not
approved by the Communist Chinese government. The Chinese government might
"dialogue" with others such as Argue who are willing to be used for propaganda
purposes, but such dialogue is useless and the true Chinese believers know it!
The Believer's Response
How is the Christian in the Western world to
respond to the persecution of fellow believers around the world? First, he must regularly,
earnestly pray for those who are suffering for the cause of Christ. Prayer not only
"changes things," but it also is the believer's link to sweet fellowship with
those whom he cannot see. Intercessory prayer likewise reveals one's concern for the
well-being of those who are suffering, and it honors and glorifies God and calls upon His
will to be done in the life of the persecuted believer. Second, he must educate himself
concerning the state of the persecuted believer. Such education involves discernment and
the careful delineation between fact and fiction. Many liberal religious and political
voices declare that religious persecution is no longer an issue. Yet such is not the case.
Information can be obtained from reliable, independent organizations that carefully
document the persecution and suffering endured by millions. Third, he must not identify
himself with any organization that serves to advance the cause of the believer's
oppressor. Those who find themselves associated with groups such as the World Council of
Churches, World Alliance of Reformed Churches and other ecumenical organizations that
rally around political liberalism and communism are, in reality, traitors to the cause of
Christ as they sell out their fellow brethren.
Now is an important time in history to better
understand the true nature of communism in China and the repression of the people within
that country. China is currently seeking to use clever rhetoric to persuade the free
nation of Taiwan to accept a "one country, two systems" relationship. China is
attempting to clothe itself in a facade of tolerance and change. Chinese military presence
is flourishing worldwide. Every believer must not be deceived by such a godless political
system. Satan has used communism to destroy churches and lives throughout this century,
and he will certainly continue to do so in the next.
Suffering believers in China and throughout the
world need intercessory prayer. Yuan Xiangchen, an 84-year-old leader of China's
house church movement, told New York Times reporter Erik Eckholm, "The head of
the church is not any agency or person. The head of the church is Christ." He
added, "The official church is led by the Communists. That's why we worship at
home."26 This precious believer who finds himself in the midst of
persecution knows the true nature of communism. Believers in the free world must heed this
man's wisdom and likewise understand the true nature of communism and of the Communist
Chinese government. Pray for the persecuted church around the world. Pray for the true
believers in China who are suffering for the cause of Christ.
Endnotes:
- Micky Spiegel. "Religion in China: Regulating the Opium of the
People." China Rights Forum, Spring 1995.
- Erik Eckholm. "China's Churches: Glad, and Bitter Tidings." New
York Times, June 17, 1998.
- ibid.
- Spiegel, "Religion in China."
- Spiegel, "Religion in China."
- Human Rights Watch. China: Religious Persecution Persists. December
1995, vol. 7, no. 16(c)
- ibid.
- Spiegel, "Religion in China."
- Human Rights in China Press Release. "Continued Persecution of
Protestants." November 24, 1998.
- Human Rights Watch 1998 World Report.
- Arnold Beichman. Free China Journal. "Stop Condoning
Beijing's Violations of Human Rights." November 26, 1999.
- Associated Press. "25 Underground Protestants Detained in China,
Report Says." May 3, 1999.
- Associated Press. "Chinese Protestants Face Fine or Forced
Labor." March 15, 1999.
- Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Developments. Defending Human Rights.
The Role of the International Community. 1999 Summary.
- CNN. "U.S. Accuses China of Religious Persecution." July 22,
1997,
- CNN. "Church and State: Unusual Government Report Focuses on
Christian Persecution." July 23, 1997.
- Associated Press. "Report Cites Religious Persecution." January
23, 1998.
- Associated Press. "State Department Report Details Religious
Persecution in China." September 8, 1999.
- Associated Press. "China Condemns United States for Criticizing
Religious Intolerance." October 7, 1999.
- Human Rights Watch 1998 Summary.
- CNN. "U. S. Clergymen Seek Religious Dialogue with
China." February 11, 1998.
- ibid.
- Don Argue, Theodore McCarrick and Arthur Schneier. "Religious
Freedom: A Report of the U.S. Religious Leaders Delegation to the People's Republic of
China." February 1998.
- ibid.
- Human Rights Watch 1999 Summary.
- Erik Eckholm. "China's Churches: Glad, and Bitter Tidings."
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