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Beijingolympics
For anyone interested in tracking religious freedom this is a must read article from the Washington Post.

Beijing Curbs Religious Rights

Rob

2 Responses

  1. Thanks for posting the article and for the link.
    I saw President Bush interviewed seemingly spontaneously by Bob Costas. The President stated he attended the state church on Sunday and was not attending an underground church. He also stated very candidly that he spoke with China’s president about these issues. However, from my family’s personal experience, I don’t think any one person can change the mind and heart of an ingrained communist leader such as the president of China. I feel that at the deepest core of any communist regime is a rock-solid, hard-heart fueled by everything that is NOT Christian. Communism is the philosophy of promoting self, namely the self who is in power. Proverbs says, the man who isolates himself, seeks his own will. Communism uses the rule of isolation to get what those in power want – more power and control. Only God Almighty can break through that hardness of heart and mind. But how amazing and awesome it is that in the midst of the opressive heavy hand of the enemy, God brings the law of redepmtion into play by spurring the growth of the authentic church. We must remember to pray for the church in China. Who knows what will happen after the lights and cameras are packed up and the whole world is once again left in the dark about what actually goes on behind the great wall.

  2. Interesting article. Even though it reveals a lot of the truth about what rights Chinese Christians really have, it certainly softens it. The words must have been chosen carefully: “cracking down,” “detained and questioned,” and “pressured.” The reality is much more harsh. I also found it interesting that the author of the article so freely shared the names of the Chinese believers interviewed, and even went as far as to share the names of the house church and where they were located. Did he do it knowing that he was putting their freedom, and possibly lives, in danger? And as far as Bush attending a house church for a Sunday Service… is he really so ignorant? The police are not kind to Christians of underground congregations… his attendance would jeaopardize so much. It confuses me that he would even consider it. I respect Bush and I am thankful for his faith and admire his commitment to our Country, but from what I know about the Chinese government’s feelings toward Christianity, that is just a stupid idea. The persecution in China is a sad, heartbreaking reality, but I can’t help but wonder if the Gospel would be less appealing (like it is here) if it weren’t for their LACK of freedom. Anyway, interesting article. Have you read “Safely Home” or “Heavenly Man?”