"Godless Greed"

Posted on 21 May 2009.

A new regulation introduced in Hua County, Henan Province, says that local officials must text their superiors for approval if they want to drink alcohol.

The government website explains: "Government workers are strictly forbidden from drinking alcohol at lunchtimes on workdays. If there are special circumstances where officials need to drink on weekday evenings, they should text before 5pm" (BBC). "Special circumstances" are described as including visits by senior leaders or outside business people.

Regulations such as this are generally introduced because of the corruption that is rampant across China. Hosting lavish banquets with abundant alcohol has been a favourite way of spending company money.

One government official has commented: "I was the secretary of the communist youth league and party branch secretary in a large corporation. All I did during the day was entertain business partners and associates. We ate, drank, gambled and met call girls. We bribed and took bribes. I trusted no one in the company. All this godless greed, hatred and twisted egos made me sick. I was exhausted and on the brink of suicide" (FEBC).

Sadly, such activities have also influenced Christian churches. One believer shared: "The pastor does whatever he wants. Not content with the high salary he draws, he embezzles church funds. When he was found out, rather than admitting his guilt, he framed other people and tried to remove his opponents. Almost all brothers and sisters who used to serve in the church have been expelled. The pastor and his supporters rob from the offerings to God. The confrontation has made it impossible to conduct normal church services. As an ordinary believer who goes to church to worship God on Sunday, I am awfully saddened by the confusion here. How it must grieve God's heart! I believe our God is righteous. Those who turn God's temple into a den of robbers will receive God's judgment. But I really don't understand why such things happen. How can the pastor and his followers who do evil be fearless of God's punishment?" (FEBC)

Pray that regulations can be introduced that will help to combat effectively the corruption that continues to affect China so negatively.

Pray that Christian believers will be positive examples who will stand up against corruption and refuse to get involved in immoral or illegal behaviour.

Pray that any church leaders who have embezzled funds or engaged in other such sinful behaviour would be exposed and removed from positions of authority.

Pray that other believers might not be stumbled by the leaders' sinful actions, but that they might continue to stand strong in their faith, forgiving those who have sinned whilst realising the error of the leaders' behaviour.