arresting christian pastors
16 - 10/25 /13:03
The tyrants ruling China dread citizens who think for themselves.
More particularly they fear those who follow Christ—who refuse to bow to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their fear is once again on display; the CCP is once again conducting a broad roundup of pastors who lead underground churches in China.
More particularly they fear those who follow Christ—who refuse to bow to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Their fear is once again on display; the CCP is once again conducting a broad roundup of pastors who lead underground churches in China.
Friday 10/10 police in China detained Ezra Jin Mingri, a pastor who launched Beijing Zion Church in 2007, as reported by his daughter Grace Jin who lives in USA. Pastor Jin was residing in city of Beihai, Guangxi Province, China.
Pastor Jin’s church quickly became one of China’s largest, with congregations across that country. The Wall Street Journal reports that in several cities, Zion Church pastors and workers were taken into custody or are missing. Once people disappear in the hands of Chinese police they are in grave danger of abuse and long detention, often without charge or trial.
The underground church in China is in reality out in the open and bold. “Underground church” is simply an identity embraced by churches that reject the requirement that all churches must be authorized by the CCP.
Pastor Jin rejects government authorization. As a result he’s been under surveillance for years. His Zion Church facility in Beijing was previously shut down, as were Zion Church facilities in other cities. Yet Zion Church flourishes. For years Pastor Jin has been barred from leaving China to visit his wife and children, who reside in USA.
The China Communist Party is perturbed that Christianity spreads via the internet. September the CCP issued a new Code of Conduct for Religious Clergy on the Internet. Preaching on the internet “may be done only through websites, applications, forums, etc. legally established by religious groups, religious schools, temples, monasteries, and churches that have obtained an ‘Internet Religious Information Services License.’” Another article in the code says clergy “must not self-promote or use religious topics and content to attract attention and traffic.”
In other words, Christians must not become influencers.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement calling for Pastor Jin’s release along with the release of other leaders of the Zion Church. This is welcome. The rest of the world could help by speaking up.
Christians, too, must speak up. More importantly Christians must pray. The least we can do is the most we can do—pray. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard