Scrolling through the international section of a prominent US Christian news website, I was left with the overwhelming impression of a church under attack. In country after country, bombings, detentions, murders, torture, discrimination, unfair regulations, and other forms of repression dominated the headlines. Of the top 50 news items, fully 70 percent involved instances of persecution. The one story about China fit the pattern as well—an account of the unjust sentencing of three unregistered church leaders on trumped-up fraud charges.
Are not Christians in the non-Western world, where most believers live, also making disciples and planting churches? Are they not making significant advances in Bible translation, breaking new ground in theological scholarship, empowering the poor, feeding the hungry? Out of the depth of their spiritual experience, do they not have much to teach believers in the West about what it means to abide in Christ? Of course they do! Yet these stories go largely unreported. The result is a false dichotomy between Christians who enjoy religious freedom—and are apparently thriving as a result—and the rest who are in survival mode.
Shining a light on the plight of those who suffer for their faith is a vital function of Christian journalism. Believers in countries where such atrocities are not a daily fact of life need to be reminded of the value of their own freedom and encouraged to pray for and support those who face persecution. Yet by portraying Christians overseas primarily as victims, such coverage often precludes understanding at a deeper level how the Lord is working in their lives and taking to heart the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from their experiences.
Anticipating Winter
A decade ago, ChinaSource published the perspectives of two pastors in China on what appeared to be tightening restrictions on religious activities. One was rather optimistic; the other, a prominent urban leader, anticipated the church might be entering a period of renewed persecution. If so, how should they respond?
Today, some worry the churches in China are not aware of the potential severe persecution, as they seem to take an optimistic perspective towards the signs of tightening environment. It is hardly imagined how they can endure, or even survive, in a tightening environment. Yet from the history of the Chinese church, we can see harsh winter realigns the churches in China, tests their foundation of faith, and enables every believer to show their Lord. And because the price for keeping the faith has been raised by the authorities, the churches in China will naturally purify themselves. True gold fears no fire. The difficult times can nurture disciples that are willing to carry their own crosses. Pastors will also have to serve with pure motives, to get ready to be motivated by God’s love, and to shepherd the Lord’s sheep faithfully.
As this pastor noted, China’s Christians are no stranger to hardship. Yet it is not only the Christians in China; the Chinese people as a whole have endured countless wars, famines, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. They have suffered injustice at the hands of Western powers that have come to exploit China’s resources, as well as from their own rulers—ruthless emperors, corrupt officials, and Communist leaders whose failed policies have brought suffering to millions.
In Chinese culture, pine trees are often depicted as a symbol of steadfastness and endurance, while plum blossom a strong personality of not fearing difficulties. When winter is getting harsher, pine trees are even hardened and plum blossoms take the time to flourish. We firmly believe that regardless of changing circumstances, the One who reigns over all and our history shall never change. Everything is in His good hand.
More recently, another urban church leader described how the repressive atmosphere in China shapes the lives of believers:
What do things look like in China? From an outsider’s perspective, it is horrible, like hell. Can you imagine your emails and social media constantly being watched? Or police officers showing up at your front door because two months ago you bought a Christian book or are in a WeChat group that you barely checked? Or having your job and social security threatened if you attend a church service or share your perspectives about current events? Yet, from the insiders’ perspective, it is simply life. Like a deep-water creature, we get used to the darkness, cold, and pressure. If you live in the surface water, the conditions are unbearable. But we learned how to share the gospel, pastor our churches, and advance God’s kingdom in deep water. Some might think that deep water is not fit for life, but if you find yourself there, you might be surprised by how resilient life can be, or how you can be. You simply need to do it, and you can.
A Resilient Faith
For China’s Christians, the confidence to face whatever may come is rooted in a firm understanding of God’s faithfulness throughout the centuries.
“Chinese churches have gone through over 200 years of ups and downs,” wrote the first urban leader quoted above, as he contemplated another wave of repression. “We may see the past as a nurturing stage when believers were pampered, trained, and disciplined. Now that they are fully fledged, it’s time to put their strengths to the test.”
For China’s church, the sufferings of the past have not only been times of purification and strengthening; they also inform how believers today respond in the face of difficulties.
Learning from the historical patterns of the church, passionate evangelization comes from a burning spirit; a burning life comes after the test of fire. All in all, the harsh winter is a period of trials but also a season of hope…. When the trial in winter is over. I believe God will enormously revive the churches in China and charge them with the Great Commission.
A Resourceful Church
In the face of opposition, China’s church has repeatedly shown itself to be extraordinarily innovative, adapting quickly to turn setbacks into opportunities for the gospel.
Reflecting a decade ago on how the church should respond to the coming “winter,” this same urban pastor wrote,
If the situation is getting worse, local churches are compelled to break into small pieces. The scattering of believers shall help with the spread of Gospel, like the early church. As the government prepares to put a strong hand on the donation, churches may then face financial hardship. But then local churches will also have no room for laying up treasures in their bank accounts. After all, there is no need for them to save up money for establishing glamorous church buildings. They will have to give away the donation as soon as they receive it, to the poor, to seminaries, and to charitable groups. This could speed up development of church ministries in a wonderful way. Delegation of religious control to the authorities at community-level would on one hand narrow the space for unregistered churches. On the other hand, out of the purpose of survival, local churches are motivated to gain favour from the local authorities by doing good deeds in the community. It is the time for more local churches to move out of their comfort zone to reach and serve the community, help the needy, and care for the neighbourhood—truly become salt and light.
Within a few years, his words had proven to be prophetic. While many foreign organizations, reeling under restrictive new NGO regulations, pulled back or left China altogether, local believers seized on the opportunity to live out their faith through social engagement. They also faced stringent restrictions, as well as discrimination because of their faith, yet many viewed such engagement as a necessary step in maintaining their Christian witness. Christian NGO leaders urged believers not to see government regulations merely as a constraint, but as a guide to how they should become involved.
The resilience of China’s church is a reminder that, beyond the story of suffering—the steady drumbeat of reports of what oppressors are doing to the church—lies the sacred narrative of how the church continues to be the church in spite of, or in response to, the oppression. Without this deeper narrative, the story is incomplete.
