Trial Of Faith

In place that is no longer so far and so distant, due to modern technology, there is a pastor being held as  prisoner in his own home.  The police have welded his door shut, so as to keep him from “being a terror in their society”?  “To keep him from robbing, killing, and vandalizing the area in which he lives”?  No!  Neither of these are true.

Pastor Hua Huiqi has been is guilty of preaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ without the approval of the government of China.  He has been charged with “Disturbing the social order”, and the police have continued to harass  his family too.

This is taking place a few short minutes of walking time from the very place where the Olympics will soon be held.  The Olympics where many nations of the world come together with their best athletes compete in many and various competitions, and winners are awarded gold medals for first place, silver medals for second place, and bronze medals for third place.  Nations participating in these events are mostly received in a friendly fashion.  The Nations participating also arrive with words of praise for the host nation, and offer words of appreciation.  The events are also televised by satellite around the world.  I wonder how popular these programs would be if Christians refused to sponsor them.

We sponsor by watching them, and purchasing the products advertised during the Olympic games.  As a Christian we must do what the Spirit of God leads us to do, and do it with all our heart.  There are many Christians who will be in China, as guests, and witnessing for the glory of Jesus, but even that is going to be kept at a bare minimal due to the laws of China.  While there may be many Christians who go there to be witnesses for Christ we need to be praying for those Christians like Pastor Hua who live in the midst of the lion, and the beast of this communist government which is not friendly to Christianity, unless they can control your church through the “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” church which is the state church of China.

In a special report by Voice of the Martyrs called, “Ten Minutes from the Olympic Village” we hear the story of Pastor Hua.

“Pastor Hua Huiqi, 45, know exactly how the government feels about his faith.  For the last 10 years, Hua has been arrested several times a year by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) for “disturbing the social order.”  This past year, police have harassed his family as well.

‘Hua and his 60-member house church  have a ministry of assisting poor and vulnerable people in southwest Beijing.  Authorities target Hua because he refuses to register his congregation as a state church, as his ministry would be controlled by the government.  He would be unable to do any Christian work outside the church building.  He remains active in the “illegal” house church.  “It is better to follow God than the government,” says Hua”

There are a few people who have gone to China and come back reporting that there is religious freedom in China.  Is there religious freedom when the government must be in control?  NO!!!  That is bondage.  The Three-Self Patriotic movement is not free to practice its faith, it must follow the government guidelines.  We must admire and support Pastor Hua in his stand for Christ.   He is the one, and his church and the others who are in accord with him; who are truly free.

The government has taken much of Pastor Hua’s possessions, and they continue to imprison him.  After a time of imprisonment they released him.  Hear is more from that Special Report:

“On July 25, 2007, Hua was released, 20 pounds lighter from six months in poor  prison conditions.  PSB officers continued to come to his house, demanding names and telephone numbers of the house church Christians in China.  They wanted to find out how the churches kept in contact.  The officers also commanded him to lure Pastor Bob Fu of China Aid Association to China so they could arrest him.  They threatened Hua, saying, “We are detaining your mother as a hostage.  Everything depends on your actions.”  Hua steadfastly refused.’

‘At 11 p.m. on October 1, Hua was arrested again and threatened at the police station.  The next day, they took him to his father’s house and told him he was not to leave.  They welded the front door shut and stationed more than 30 policemen on the roof, courtyard and surrounding areas of the house.  They cut off electricity and did not allow anyone to visit him.”

How can we support a nation which offers no freedom.  When there is no freedom of religion there is no freedom at all.  Someone or many may be thinking, “Well if he would just get in line and register his church then he would be free.”  Folks, that is not freedom.  That is, in fact bondage.  When a government requires registration of its churches, and then orders them how they can conduct their “business”, that is not freedom, but complete government intervention and control.

May God be with Pastor Hua of Beijing, China; and all the Christians who are standing in faith of Jesus Christ.  Those are the ones who are seeing many souls come to Christ.  It is said in the Special Report that, “An estimated 10,000 to 30,000 Chinese turn to Christ every day.”  It sounds like there is a great work of God going on in China.

Let’s remember to always pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering in their preaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Let’s also pray that we who are not being persecuted in the same fashion, that we too will be strong in faith, believe the gospel is the only way of salvation, and then proclaim it boldly wherever we may be.  May God help us.

-by Tim A. Blankenship