Did you watch the opening ceremonies in Beijing, China? I am not a big opening ceremonies guy. I love watching the thrill of victory and agony of defeat. I cannot get as fired up about parades, pomp, and circumstance.
There is another reason I had a hard time watching the opening ceremonies. You see, I just finished reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs updated edition by Voice of the Martyrs. I chronicles Christians who have been martyred for their faith up through 2006. A number of those mentioned in the book were martyred in China. It is hard for me to see the facade of the elegance and majesty put on by a country whose officials have instigated or allowed gross persecution of Christians, Christian churches, and their leaders.
For instance, consider these accounts:
“The New York — based Committee for Investigation on Persecution in China revealed that 182 house-church Christians from 24 cities and 16 counties were arrested between June and August 2002. Many were repeatedly tortured by the police.” (Foxe Book of Martyrs, 420)
“In December 2002, Phillip Xu was sentenced to eighteen years of re-education through labor leading an unregistered house church service near Shanghai the previous month. Xu had previously spent six years in Laojiao (re-education through labor) and had been released from prison only two years earlier. This was his fourth imprisonment. His sentence was served and he was released in June 2004.” (Foxe, 421)
“In June 2004, thirty-four-year-old Jiang Zongziu was arrested for ‘disturbing the social order’ when distributed children’s gospl literature in the marketplace. She was beaten to death by police while incarcerated in Tongzi County.” (Foxe, 423)
“A major crackdown against unregistered church groups continued in early 2006. On January 8 & 15, Beijing Public Security agents raided well-known unregistered Beijing Ark House-church during Sunday services. On PSB officer declared the church was disturbing the neighbors, while another quoted State Council Regulations on Religious Affairs saying the congregation was meeting in an ‘illegal religious gathering place’ because it was not registered. A house-church member was beaten after a PSB officer noticed that the raid was being videotaped. Thirty-six students of a house-church Bible school in Huaibei City, Anhui Province, were arrested March 1, 2006, when PSB officers in anti-riot uniforms and vehicles stormed the school. Christian materials were confiscated.” (Foxe, 425)
China’s government may have cleaned up awfully nice, but does anyone really think that it has become the shining beacon of the Olympic Spirit that it appears to be at the 2008 Games? I think not. One good thing we can pray for as believers is that the public exposure will expose the gross injustices of a Chinese, communist government that does not allow law abiding citizens to worship freely.
In Acts 7, at the end of a powerful Gospel sermon, the church leader named Stephen was stoned to death for simply serving and preaching Christ. Over to the side the murderers of Stephen left the coats with a man named Saul (Acts 7:58). While Saul did not throw a stone, he held the coats of those who did. His culpability in this crime is obvious.
Believers, we must lift our voices for the persecuted believers in China. We must pray that they would remain steadfast. And, wherever our voices will be heard, let us proclaim Christ to the lost. Yet, let us also let people know of the travesty in China. If we ignore our brothers and sisters inside China, I fear that though we are not throwing the stones, we will be holding the coats of those who do.
To God be the Glory!
