Continuing with the evident
persecution of Christians (worldwide), are you aware of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)? This Christian organization works for
religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.
Specifically in China, CSW is concerned about the ongoing
church demolitions and the removals of religious symbols in Zhejiang Province …
amid growing reports of the use of extra-judicial measures and violent tactics
by the authorities. The spate began in
early 2014. The estimates for the number
of churches wholly or partly demolished so far range from 130 to over 200. In June, China
Aid reported that some sources claimed 360 Christian organizations had had
their buildings demolished, crosses removed or received demolition notices.
Crucially, the churches affected
include both Protestant and Catholic, registered and unregistered. They vary in size and in age. Some have had their sign removed, while others
have been completely demolished. However,
almost all have been ordered to remove religious symbols … most often the cross
(but also sacred statues and signs.) CSW says that some churches are
reporting the use of extra-judicial measures and violence by the authorities. Dozens were injured on July 21st when several
hundred armed men attacked members of Salvation Church as they tried to prevent
police removing the church’s cross. According
to reports, the incident occurred at 3a.m. when the uniformed men lined up near
the church. Church members reported that
the men suddenly charged without warning after the members prevented them from
entering the church. Some claim the
police present did not have the correct paperwork to remove the cross. Days earlier, on July 17th, the church’s
pastor Zhan Yingsheng resigned from the state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic
Movement and began a hunger strike in protest against the authorities’ attempts
to remove the church’s cross.
Some Zhejiang Christians claim that
the removal of crosses and the demolition of some churches are the result of a
visiting provincial secretary’s complaint about the number of Christian crosses
in the province, and believe that the ‘Three Rectifications and One Demolition’
campaign associated with the demolitions is being used to target churches. However, the authorities maintain that the
campaign is not targeting Christianity.
The CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “We are deeply concerned
at the use of violence against the members of Salvation Church, who were
attempting to peacefully protect their church’s cross from being removed. This spate of demotions and the removal of
Christian symbols have left Christians across the province feeling humiliated
and victimized. In cases where churches
and other buildings are found to be in violation of regulations, we urge the
provincial authorities to conduct proper investigations in accordance with the
law, without the use of violence and intimidation tactics. We further call on the Chinese authorities to
provide compensation to those injured on July 21st, and to hold to account
those responsible for the incident.”
Christians (worldwide) need to wake
up to the persecution of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hear the warning of Martin Niemoller … a
German pastor during the WW2 … who failed to cry out against the atrocities of
Adolf Hitler. He later became a victim
of a Nazi concentration camp. He issued
a warning that we must heed today about Christian responsibility in the face of
an ungodly government. He stated: “[In
Germany] First they came for the
Socialists, and I did not speak out … because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out …
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out … because I was not a Jew. Then
they came for me … and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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