The Communist Party has just enacted much tougher laws that criminalise Christians if they do not pledge loyalty to the state.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that all religions now have to become “Chinese” and the new laws will attempt to bring churchgoers and their leaders under party control.
The new laws will put the state firmly in charge, giving the Communist Party the ability to hire and fire church leaders and change religious doctrine to make it more Chinese.
That means churchgoers will have to pledge loyalty to the Communist Party first, which according to a local church leader, Pastor Wang cannot be done. “Jesus Christ is my only belief, my only loyalty is to Jesus Christ,” he says. “God says you should love your enemies, if they are hungry give them food to eat if they are thirsty give them water to drink, so we will pray for the non-believers. Let the spirit of Jesus move them and conquer them.”
Chinese authorities have already started the crackdown in the Christian heartland in the southern province of Zhejiang. It’s been extensive and brutal. In the past two years they have torn down nearly 2,000 crosses and in some cases demolished churches. Church leaders and their followers have been arrested and imprisoned.
The Chinese Government admits there are about 25 million Christians registered at state-run churches where pastors are appointed by the state and theology approved by the governments Religious Affairs Bureau. Accurate estimates of unregistered worshipers are difficult to obtain, but experts say their numbers vary between 40 million and 70 million. It is said by 2030 China will have the world’s biggest Christian population.
Source: ABC Online
Prayer Points
- Join with our Chinese brothers and sisters in praying for the Communist Party members.
- Pray the believers will be bold and not be discouraged. Pray they will continue to seek opportunities to meet with one another.
- Pray for those believers in danger of arrest and interrogation; ask the Lord to grant them wisdom when dealing with authorities and strength to stand firm in their faith.
I am praying for my Brothers and Sisters in China. Your faithful witness and boldness is an inspiration to all believers in CHRIST JESUS .May our Lord Jesus reveal Himself to you in comfort and strength .
I am praying for my Brothers and Sisters in China. Your faithful witness and boldness is an inspiration to all believers in CHRIST JESUS .May our Lord Jesus reveal Himself to you in comfort and strength .
I thank God for His marvellous ways in dealing with His children. I will continue to pray for the persecuted Christians all over the world. God is continually touching the lives of many persecutors and people of other faiths especially the Muslims. I look forward to the day when the Two of the MOST POPULATED NATIONS WILL BEGIN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST … CHINA AND INDIA AND WILL BE THE MAJOR CHRISTIAN NATIONS IN THE WORLD. WHAT REJOICING THAT WILL BE.
I thank God for His marvellous ways in dealing with His children. I will continue to pray for the persecuted Christians all over the world. God is continually touching the lives of many persecutors and people of other faiths especially the Muslims. I look forward to the day when the Two of the MOST POPULATED NATIONS WILL BEGIN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST … CHINA AND INDIA AND WILL BE THE MAJOR CHRISTIAN NATIONS IN THE WORLD. WHAT REJOICING THAT WILL BE.