Restricting the Gospel

Posted on 22 June 2009.

"I have joined the army but we are not allowed to bring our own radios or surf the Internet, so I may never hear Gospel radio again," wrote Mr Mo from Henan province (OMF).

Li Jinai, head of the army's General Political Department, has commented, "Following the profound reforms our country's economy and society have been experiencing and our continued opening up to the outside, every type of thinking and culture has surged in. Inevitably, some mistaken, backward things have also seeped in to influence the military. The Chinese Communist Party is the leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and maintaining the Party's absolute leadership is our military's political priority" (Reuters).

This is just one way in which the Chinese authorities make it difficult, and sometimes illegal, for certain sectors of society to hear the Good News of the Gospel.

Though officials in some areas can turn a blind eye, it is still forbidden to share the Gospel with those under the age of 18. Those who give Christian teaching to children have been arrested and fined. Children who admit their Christian faith at school can face strong criticism and even bullying.

Another group officially denied the opportunity to put their trust in the Lord Jesus are members of the Communist Party. Anyone who shares the Gospel with a Party member faces the possibility of arrest and detention. CCP members are not allowed to have any religious beliefs, and those who do become Christians face some difficult decisions.

In fact, official government policy maintains restrictions on everyone's access to the Gospel, as the ‘Three Fixes' principle says that religious activities can only be held at designated sites by designated people and at designated times.

Thank the Lord that His authority is higher than that of any government and that His Word is spreading in China despite the many constraints.

Pray for all those who are hindered from hearing the Gospel by official restrictions - for those in the army, for Communist Party members, for children under 18... May those with hungry hearts still be able to find the truth.

Pray for Christian believers who ignore these restrictions, believing that God's law is higher than man's. Pray for wisdom and for protection as they seek to share the Good News.

Pray that such man-made restrictions on the spread of the Gospel might be removed. Pray for ever-greater freedom in China for God's Word to be proclaimed.