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Few would argue with the fact that China's policies governing religious activity
(of any kind!) are restrictive. The question becomes: How do we as
foreign "guests" or local citizens respond to these policies?
There appear to be at least two possible solutions.
The first and most common is taken from Matthew 10:16, which urges Christians
to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, in the context of suffering
for the Gospel. This verse is generally taken by all Christians (foreign and
national) to mean that they should "cover up" their Christian
activities: The government can't hinder what it doesn't know about.
Thus, China has a huge underground church movement, and most foreign Christians
enter the country in some other capacity, doing ministry in their spare time.
We in TEL-China, on the other hand, feel compelled by certain other Scriptural
principles that move us toward leaving more of the "covering" work to
God.
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As an evangelistic organization, we take Mark 16:15 as our Great
Commission statement: "Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to all creation" (NAS).
And China has the world's largest population, with millions
dying each year without a chance to understand who Christ is. We aren't
willing to pass up any chance to share Christ with the people we meet.
In fact, we are in China to make as many friends as possible so that we can
share with every one that is interested. To be concerned about our
"safety" or our ability to remain long in the land would force a
caution on us that would hinder our freedom to share and slow the progress of
the Gospel.
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In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells Christians that, "You are the
light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do
men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the
lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light
shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father who is in heaven" (NAS).
We are called not to conceal our light, but to let it shine, that it
might draw men to Christ, and that is why we're in China. To conceal our
light would work against our purpose.
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And what we find in China is that God has prepared a great harvest, so much so
that we end up discovering the truth of Matthew 5:14: "You are
the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden"
(NAS). The Lord has blessed a number
of our ministry locations with such fruit that it becomes next to impossible
to hide them. TEL-China is committed not just to proclaiming the Gospel,
but also to ensuring that everyone who receives Christ has a chance at a solid
foundation for a lifetime of growth and ministry. That locks us into a
longer-term relationship with those who believe the Good News. Thus even
as we share the Gospel with a new friend, we are compelled to continue meeting
with old friends. The number of those seeking Christ quickly overwhelm
those available to reveal Him. So we end up with large groups of
"students," a few trainers, and a "city" that cannot be
hidden. And we believe that to try to hide it would be counter-productive.
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Given the government's position on religion, we acknowledge the risk, but we
know too that the risk is managed by God. As is the government.
Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-7 that the Chinese government is
established by God. He goes so far as to say that the Chinese government
is a minister of God to do us good, if we do what is good. As nationals
or as foreign "guests," we are not to resist the Chinese government,
but to show honor and respect to it and all it's members and representatives.
We may not agree with everything they do or stand for, but nowhere does
Scripture give us license to dishonor them, resist them or rebel against them.
What a testimony that would be to them, if they saw Christians as the
most respectful of their citizens (see also 1 Peter 2:13-17)!
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Where the government's wishes and God's will conflict is where we Christians
have the clearest and most powerful opportunity to testify to the reality of
the Gospel (see Philippians 1:12-30). We see Peter and John in
just this kind of situation in Acts 4 and 5. When they were called
to account for themselves, they shared the Gospel. When they were warned
against speaking about Christ, they explained clearly that they could not
stop. When they were punished, they rejoiced. When they were
released, they kept right on preaching--publicly and from house to house
(see Acts 4:31 and 5:42). But nowhere does it say they took the
religious leaders as enemies (see 1 Peter 3:8-9).
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Indeed, this very issue is a major theme of Peter's first letter to the
Believers scattered abroad. Following immediately upon his instructions
about submission to governing authorities (!), Peter urges Christian slaves
to submit respectfully even to harsh masters. If we are punished for
doing right, then we have a reward for patiently enduring it, for this is the
example that Christ Himself left us and which we're supposed to follow (1
Peter 2:18-25). Certainly no one deliberately seeks out suffering,
but when suffering seeks us out, it is not something to be ashamed of, but
rather it is something in which to glory and which glorifies Christ (1
Peter 3:13-17; 4:1, 12-19). Even if it is simply identification with
another Believer (or a missionary) that brings suffering upon us (or a national
Christian) (2 Timothy 7-14).
In light of the above passages of Scripture, TEL-China as an organization is
committed to ministering in China as openly as each individual's faith at
present allows. We have a clear conscience about what we are
doing, which alone gives us great confidence as we serve (though it does not mean
we are without fault--1 Corinthians 4:4). We attend
government-sanctioned churches wherever we are, and seek to serve and be a
blessing to them--not just in terms of bringing new Believers to them, but in any
capacity that we can. Should "persecution" come our way (and it
has, but much less than would be expected!), we are committed to responding
respectfully, graciously accepting the discipline, while at the same time
seeking to deepen our mutual understanding.
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