In the Chinese government’s continuing persecution of Christians, poor families are now being told to renounce their faith or lose welfare benefits.
The Chinese economy has been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, especially low-income households struggling to make ends meet. Now government officials are ordering Christians who receive welfare payments to replace crosses, religious symbols, and images inside their homes with portraits of China’s communist leaders. “All impoverished households in the town were told to display Mao Zedong images,” a local pastor said. “The government is trying to eliminate our belief and wants to become God instead of Jesus.”
A church member in one of the villages recalled how authorities entered his home and destroyed a calendar with an image of Jesus on it, then replaced it with a portrait of Mao instead. “Impoverished religious households can’t receive money from the state for nothing, they must obey the Communist Party for the money they receive,” he explained.
Enforcing the new regulation started several months ago across China. In April, the government of Xinyu City in the south-eastern province of Jiangxi withheld a disabled Christian’s funds (about $20) because the believer continued to attend worship services. And in Jiangxi’s Poyang county, an elderly Christian woman was taken off the government’s aid list because she said “Thank God” after receiving her monthly cheque (about $40).
In May, a government official in the eastern province of Shandong barged into the home of a Christian and posted portraits of Mao and President Xi Jinping, then said, “These are the greatest gods. If you want to worship somebody, they are the ones.”
Another elderly woman from Henan’s Shangqiu city lost her welfare benefits in April after officials found a cross displayed on her house door. “They tore it down immediately,” the Christian said. “Afterward, both my minimum living allowance and poverty alleviation subsidy were cancelled. I am being driven to a dead end. I have diabetes and need injections regularly.”
Earlier this year, the communist regime resumed removing crosses from churches throughout China, in addition, portraits of Mao and Xi have replaced images of the Holy Spirit.
Sources: CBN News, Bitter Winter, Australian Prayer Network
- Pray to the Lord, our provider, on behalf of these brothers and sisters and ask Him to supply their needs.
- Pray the people of China will be in no way deceived about their leaders – that they are entitled to be worshipped. Pray people will come to know and love the One true God.
- Thank the Lord the church in China continues to grow. Pray the believers will be courageous as they face escalating opposition.
Post your prayer in the comments below.
Christians in China! This is God’s words 4 u: ‘if my people who r called by my name [ Isra-El, in your case, Christians as u carry d name of Christ], will humble themselves, n pray, n seek my face , n turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven , n will 4give their sins, n heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 [ an easy way 2 remember this scripture is 2×7=14].
Do not consider d sins of those who oppress n persecute u, but our sins as
God’s people, that they need 2 b repented of which is a condition 4 d healing of d land of your nation. u have had multiple floods across China. yes, some of it is due 2 d sins of your leaders, but trust in God, n accept this scripture as truth. bcause d healing of d land depend on d repentant attitude of God’s people as an example. to them.
‘judgment begins in d family of God’ . 1 Pet 4:17….v19 suffer according 2 God’s will, let us trust our souls 2 our faithful creator, n do good. much love. ps. present your leaders in prayer 2 God.
Lord when we lost it all and escaped to follow you, you helped us in our time of need. We ask the same for these people. God we pray that they can continue in their faith, without further harm, and that they know in their heart that only you should be the source of their worship and trust. That no member of the communist party should be their god. May you bring this country to its knees in repentance, so that it can be a shining example of your Word to the rest of the world. Sadly we live in a world where no country is full of people following you and knowing you as God.
It would be so nice to see one country as a whole do that.