Night is Not Here

There is a general understanding that Christians in China from unregistered churches are unable to meet together, and that believers cannot evangelise unless inside an official church venue.  The authorities are actively hunting for the remaining unregistered congregations that continue to operate, and those reaching out to share their faith risk fines, detainment or other punishments. New laws have banned religion from all but authorised Christian websites and licensed clergy.

That is the general narrative.  Yet China is a land of contradictions. Time and again the standard narrative is proven inadequate in explaining the more complex situation on the ground.

Indeed, during 2022, China's online environment become much more restrictive for Christians. New regulations require that any preaching must be by licensed clergy and the sharing of religious content by organizations that have obtained an "Internet Religious Information Service License." Since March 1, 2022, house churches have seen their WeChat accounts vanish, and their websites shut down. And smaller state-sanctioned churches have struggled to meet the strict requirements to obtain a permit.

Digging deeper, we ask how strictly have the new rules been enforced?  At the moment, it appears that efforts are largely focused on individuals or organisations that have been critical of the government's policies. Believers in China that spoke with CCSM, indicated that they were not self-censoring in their private emails or small group Zoom communications and so far have been able to continue as usual. Time will tell if this is the pattern of the future. 

And if you thought that unregistered Christians were frozen with apprehension and have stopped working, you would be mistaken. In reality, many Christians are continuing in their service to God, doing more despite the risks, than many Christians in the free West. Our hats are off to them.

To give a few examples...

 Dr. Wang is a surgeon who runs not one, but two, online Bible youth groups.

A doctor of Chinese medicine, living on the East Coast, dispenses the gospel to all her patients. And she travels at the weekends into neighbouring provinces to evangelise.

A group participates in an online church (hosted offshore). Testimonies and sharing are an important part of their meeting. Children join in. The group brings together the East and West to worship together and encourage each other. Five new believers were recently baptised.

These Christians have not given up on their commitment to the Great Commission. They are by no means paralyzed by fear. 

In the words of Jesus:

"We must perform the deeds of the one who sent Me as long as it is daytime. 

Night is coming when no one can work."  [John 9:4]

Night may be coming, but it is clearly not here yet!  

The Chinese Church may be somewhat hampered, but it will never be silenced. Seeing these believers unfazed, bold and dedicated is an encouragement to believers in other countries, a large number of which themselves are commencing a descent toward censorship, restrictions and persecution.

(Names given above have been altered for security.) 

Prayer Points 

Praise God that He is watching over His church in China.

Pray that God will lead His labourers to those that are thirsty.

Pray that Christians will be able to continue to share the Good News among China's millions.

Pray that believers in the West will be encouraged and strengthened by the witness of the Chinese Church.