Thought for the Week - 30th January 2022

 

Dear Friends,

This week sees the beginning of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year, traditionally lasting some 16 days and this year starting with Chinese New Year’s Eve on 31st January and lasting until the Lantern Festival on 15th February. Those celebrating will enjoy time off from work and visits to their family to enjoy eating, drinking and cooking together and exchanging good wishes for prosperity and blessings for the coming year. In our Operation World prayer resource we’ve been praying for the continent of Asia, praising God for the growth of the Church into new places including China and the former Soviet countries in Central Asia, and thanking God that the growth in the church in Asia has largely been through the work of national workers, local evangelists and ordinary believers. But life for Christians in China is fraught with danger, including persecution, threat, arrest and imprisonment, and the Chinese authorities continue to crack down on the followers of Jesus Christ. Two recent examples, firstly from Release International are that Christians in China are forbidden from remembering their own martyrs and required to celebrate in acts of worship the martyrs of the Red Army, requiring them to submit evidence of their involvement in the celebrations. Release International partner Bob Fu of China Aid said, ‘This is another horrendous example of the government stripping Chinese Christians of their identity and expression’, and whilst state churches are compelled to participate in such events, faithful house churches continue to face systematic persecution. The second example is from Open Doors and is that the Bible app has been removed from China’s Apple Store after its creators were unable to provide a permit for its distribution in the country. Bibles have been available to purchase in China for years but only through official government approved channels. In 2018 the sale of online Bibles was banned, meaning that many Christians relied on the Bible apps to access the Scriptures. Open Doors magazine states, ‘Sadly, this development is a continuation of a trend that is seeing the Chinese government assert their control over religious groups in the country’. Dr David Landrum, the Director of Advocacy for Open Doors UK and Ireland says, ‘This sets a dangerous precedent for religious freedom. Historically, more than any other influence, it is access to the Bible that has enabled religious freedom, which in turn is the foundation for so many other human rights.’ Whilst it is impossible to be certain, officially there are about 44 million Christians in China, but that figure could be closer to 100 million if those belonging to ‘underground’ and ‘house churches’ are included. Such is the growth in China that the Bible Society reports that one million new believers come to faith each year. But such growth brings challenges, and it is estimated that there is just one trained pastor for every 6,700 believers. We thank God for the amazing growth of the church but ask for the Lord’s protection upon all who proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.

A Prayer for China

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the Church in China, and for the many Christians who worship you there in spite of the many challenges they face. Bring them your peace and joy and strength, and enable communities to worship you in spirit and truth despite intense surveillance and threat. We pray that the Church will be led by your Spirit and equipped to face any form of oppression that comes. May Christians be wise and discerning as they respond to the situation, and may you bring them hope and encouragement to continue in their faith. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Neil

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