Persecution Blog

Is There Persecution in China?

Ever since I came to work at VOM, I’ve learned there is controversy in the Christian world over how bad persecution in China really is. Some think it happens only occasionally. Some think it happens because unregistered churches aren’t adhering to Chinese law. Occasionally, a well-known Christian leader will visit China and proclaim persecution doesn’t exist.

So, does persecution exist? A Christian worker in China wrote last week, “We want the world to know what is happening in China. This is the worse I have seen. For the first time, they [the government] are not targeting mostly leaders, foreigners and Bible schools. They are targeting local churches, threatening to put common Christians in prison if they do not stop having house church meetings.”

The worker has studied persecution for 33 years, including 23 years working in countries, like China, that persecute Christians. He writes, “The situation of persecution in China is not ‘complex.’ It is simple. China is communist. The government wants to control religion. Persecution in China is mandated at the highest level of the government. They do this through the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) [the Chinese state church]. Through the TSPM, they control the venue, the leader and the message. We are not against the TSPM. If a TSPM pastor preaches the gospel, we praise God that the gospel is being preached. They cannot, however, preach the whole gospel; it is clearly against the law.

“To imply the house church members are rebelling against the government is a typical communist line of defense on the issue. Nowhere do the Scriptures command the church to obey the authorities who rule over them, when authority’s rules go against God’s laws. Jesus’ disciples said, ‘Is it better to obey God or man?' For Christians, the answer to this question is clear. We do consider, however, what kind of witness we show those in authority. We honor the government in every way possible. Many policemen have become Christians because of watching the faith of Chinese believers.

“Many believe that Bibles can be legally distributed in China. In some locations, very small numbers can be distributed. But it is illegal in China to distribute large numbers of Bibles in every province of the nation. Often, the police confiscate legally purchased Bibles when they raid homes.”

The worker finishes with these words: “Supporting those who are persecuted is vitally important for the church in China. We must all take the opportunity to pray, to give, to encourage and to battle for the truth.” 

I hope you will continue to be an advocate for the truth about what is going on in China and for our brothers and sisters there.

VOM Corrects Sophia Tesfamariam's Errors in Reporting on Eritrea

On Saturday I shared with you an unbelievable hit piece against The Voice of the Martyrs and other ministries that help the persecuted church, and today I wanted to address a few errors that  Sophia  Tesfamariam made in her "article". 

In the article she said, "One such radical Christian fundamentalist, Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs, someone who also entered Eritrea twice, pretending to be a “humanitarian worker”..."

Here's the facts, Todd Nettleton has only been to Eritrea ONCE and he didn't go on a humanitarian worker visa and pretending to be a "humanitarian worker."  My source for this information is Todd Nettleton.  Tesfamariam's source - incorrect.

Tesfamariam also postulates that Christians are NOT under persecution in Eritrea, and yet we currently have three Eritrean prisoners that you can see for yourself on www.prisoneralert.com

One wonders  how she would explain the fact that Christians are in prison if Eritrea is such a bastion of peace and religious harmony?

In fact, in May of 2002 all Christian denominations other than Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox (read: EVANGELICALS) were told to STOP having public services. Their churches were closed by this tolerant and freedom-loving government.

I also wonder how Tesfamariam would answer the three prisoners from Eritrea who have collectively been imprisoned for 2069 days.  Two of the prisoners, Haile Nayzgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel have been imprisoned for 1184 days each, and   Kidane Weldou has been imprisoned for 885 days.

Ms. Tesfamariam, we respectfully ask you to correct your errors. 

And dear readers, we ask that you pray for Ms. Tesfamariam and also for the prisoners.  You can also still write them by visiting this special page just for Eritrean prisoners.