If you've been reading this blog for any length of time you know that China is a communist nation and has a serious record of persecuting Christians.  You may also know that China has one of the largest underground Christian churches in the world.

However, did you know that China is about to have the largest Bible print shop in the world?  Amazing isn't it!

According to an article at OneNewsNow.com , China is planning on having Amity Press, which is a  government-sanctioned plant,  print one-million bibles per month.

But the ultimate question is why now?  Is this a political ploy on behalf of the Chinese government to appease freedom loving countries like America prior to the Olympics, or is it something bigger and grander that the Lord has in mind for His people? 

What do you think?  Please leave us a comment and discuss!

 
 

Comments

[Sheila]

Well I don't know what I think but I'm thanking God for this and praying that He would stir the hearts of those in authority in China to show favor to HIS kids there. For, "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Prov.21:1) And I pray
"..for kings and all who are in authority IN CHINA, that THE CHINESE CHRISTIANS may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

[Anna]

It is a bit surprising. Hopefully they are feeling a bit of international pressure to be more religiously tolerant. I hope that this is a huge blessing to Chinese Christians, one that lasts permanently.

[Diana N. Shaw]

Political ploy.

[Ryan]

I think it's both a political ploy and God's answer to much prayer.

[ezrah]

i think whatever circumstances there maybe for a country... it will all lead back to GOd.

[cat]

There's nothing new or strange about it at all. China has been printing Bibles for decades.

http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=4822

Amity started building the new factory to expand its printing capacity two years ago.

http://www.amityprinting.com/englishweb/efirst.htm

There's no need to search for some hidden motive - it's just a continuation in China of the gradual reform and opening up that has been government policy since the 1980s.

[Donna]

If the bibles aren't being printed and handed out for FREE...

Money is as good a reason as any...

[Mick]

This brings up a good moral question I have wrestled with in the past. . .

How can I justify buying a Bible (or other Christian products, books, etc. . .), even from my locally owned Christian bookstore, that are made in China. Knowing, that most likely they are probably the product of exploited cheap labor and are exported out of the country and don't actually do anything to progress the "gradual reform" of human rights abuses?

Has anyone else wrestled with this?

And it begs the question, how does publishing Bibles that will most likely be exported help the cause?

[jake]

I think the Chinese have discovered that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church and are now trying to corrupt it by making it part of the state by bringing it out into the open like Emperor Constantine did. Enter Pergamos.

[Jake]

The Chinese have discovered that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Now they are they are trying to corrupt the church by making it part of the state, just as the Emperor Constantine did.
Enter Pergamos.

[Milton Stanley]

Assuming the Bible are being printed in Chinese and not for export, "What then? Only that in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice."

[Colleen Thompson]

I'm glad that Bibles are going to be printed in China. God's Word is meant for everyone, and I think it's awesome that the people of China can discover Christ, too!