China: Renewed Repression

The evening before He died, the Lord Jesus spelt out to His apostles the inevitable hatred of the world, both for Him and for all who followed His steps:

Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My Name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me (John 15:20,21).

The very next day the world's attitude involved for Him the death of the Cross. In their turn the apostles experienced a full quota of the world's hatred and oppression. Throughout the centuries suffering for the sake of the Name has recurred. In recent years that suffering has again surfaced in the world's most populous nation, the billion-strong People's Republic of China.

The policy of the Chinese government since communism triumphed in 1949 has been generally to discourage all religious activity, but there have been fluctuations in the degree to which this policy has been oppressively applied. Its severest application was during the so-called "Cultural Revolution" (1966-1969). However, in 1980 Deng Ziaping revised official religious policy, and again allowed certain activities under government supervision. The Three-Self Patriotic Movement was revived and many churches reopened under its auspices. Churches within this scheme had to subscribe to the three principles of Self-support, Self-government and Self-propagation. Many Christian believers who could not conscientiously identify with the TSPM churches had developed a widespread House Church movement. Hoping to woo this movement into affiliation with the TSPM, Deng Ziaping at first showed them some leniency, and they flourished in this more favourable political climate. When it became clear that they were not responding to the official plan, stricter regulations were introduced, leading to harassment of groups functioning outside the TSPM. From many parts of China confirmed reports tell of Christian leaders being imprisoned and congregations of believers being broken up. One pastor arrested in July, 1984 was not tried until January 1986: then he was convicted of distributing "reactionary" religious publications and conducting illegal religious activities. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Another church pastor, arrested in 1983, is serving a fifteen year sentence in a Shanghai jail.

However, the pressures have intensified since the failure of the reactionary communist coup in the Soviet Union (August 1991). Fearing lest there should also be a collapse of the Chinese communist system, the authorities have stepped up their oppression of all dissident groups. They class the House Church believers among "dangerous dissidents" because of their non-compliance to the TSPM norm. The Religious Affairs Department has issued a directive with distinctly more severe instructions as to how local authorities should cope with those religious groups outside the recognized TSPM churches.

All religious bodies are now to be registered. Overseas religious organizations are forbidden to set up offices or run activities within China. Christians outside the recognized churches are grouped with criminals, "counterrevolutionaries who use religion to carry on outlawed activities". Services must no longer be conducted in unregistered meeting places. The activities of illegal preaching and evangelism will "resolutely be struck down". Those who receive and give shelter to such preachers, or know of their whereabouts and fail to give a report will be severely dealt with.

The opinion has been expressed by informed Christian observers that Chinese' believers who are unwilling to conform may well now find themselves in a more serious situation than at any time since the Cultural Revolution. This calls for prayerful remembrance and concern, that God will mercifully overrule. Doubtless if the Chinese government is allowed to persist in such oppression, grace will be multiplied to those who glorify God through faithfulness to His Word. Perhaps it will be true of some that "they overcame him (Satan) because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death" (Rev. 12:11). Eloquent witness to the almighty work of the Holy Spirit, despite all the dark influence of the world's most powerful atheistic regime.

unknown | Aug 1992
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