China: Persecution - "A Plea for Understanding"

For countless hours over the years, I have sat with pastors and leaders of different underground church groups in China. One of the greatest frustrations they have repeatedly expressed is the seeming lack of understanding of Christian leaders in the West to their situation in China.

They have told me the two most trying things they have had to deal with is first, the treatment of their families when they are incarcerated and when their families are finally able to come for one of their rare visits, they are shocked to see their children in tattered clothes, bare feet and ribs showing because they have not had enough nourishment and what pains them so deeply is that they can do nothing to help them.

I find it remarkable that number two on their list was is not the beatings in prison, the hard labor they endure, or any number of items you and I might think would make a prison stay unbearable. Instead, they expressed their frustration with how the truth of their plight is so unknown to the other part of the Church – those of us in the West. They are angry at the deception that is perpetrated upon them. They also wonder why we don’t take a closer look when the Chinese politicians tell us about ‘religious freedom’ there.

After airing their frustrations with the “system”, they are so quick to express their deep appreciation for the brothers and sisters from afar, as they call us and the prayer and practical help – the gifts - that so encourages them and helps them endure in their darkest hours. They cannot even find words to express how they feel about their families being cared for by others who don’t even know them.

Part of the problem, I think is that believers in the West so seldom see the “hard evidence” of the abuses, the beatings, the imprisonments, the lack of basic freedoms. When I saw the events begin to unfold in Tibet in March, I realized that the handling of the protests and protestors by the communist government revealed the nature of what so much of the Chinese public endure, day in and day out. I ask the Christian public - pay close attention - as this is how our brothers and sisters in Christ are treated every single day. Not because of protests however, but simply for their stand for their Lord and the proclamation of the Gospel. May it stir us to pray, stand with them, and help them financially.

The leaders in the underground church have no plans for any public protests and neither are they asking you to mobilize and march on Capitol Hill. They simply want you to know the truth. The truth is there is not religious freedom in China! However, since when has that ever stopped the Church? From the early days of the Church, there was great hardship and persecution. In fact Jesus Himself stated in John 15 that just as he was persecuted, those who followed Him would also be persecuted.

The Church in China is alive and well not because they don’t have difficulty. But rather in the face of difficulty and because of their perspectives - they stand - tall, joyful and victorious. They have chosen to follow the Way of the Cross and to walk the path our Lord Jesus walked, one full of suffering; but a path full of purpose, meaning, victory and joy.

As we look at China and the Church today, let us seek to understand. Let us also be bold enough to stand with them. Sometimes it may require us to speak but always, it requires us to pray for them and as we can render assistance to these faithful servants and their families as they serve on the front lines as we also share with them.

Thank you for caring!!