CHINA'S WAR AGAINST RELIGION

"China’s war against religion: ‘Unauthorised’ churches stormed in bid to impose Communist Party control

 BEIJING has initiated a violent crackdown on ‘unauthorised’ Christian and Muslim places of worship, storming buildings, tearing down signs and barring entry.

BEIJING officials have stormed one of China’s largest “underground” Protestant churches for operating without a licence, part of a widespread move to impose state control over religious worship. 

The head pastor of the Zion Church, Ezra Jin Mingri, poses on Aug. 28 in the lobby of the unofficial “house” church in Beijing, China. - image from http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2018/09/11/2003700218

In recent months, religious groups have raised concern the government is cracking down on congregations in Beijing and several Chinese provinces, destroying crosses, burning Bibles and ordering followers to sign papers renouncing their faith.

In its latest act, around 70 police and Communist Party officials stormed into the Zion Church in Beijing — housed on the third floor of a nondescript office building in the north of the capital — after its Sunday afternoon service.

“They chased everyone out and sealed off the place, even tearing down our signage on the wall,” church pastor Jin Mingri told AFP. “All our things have been confiscated and we have not been allowed to re-enter the building.”

Chinese citizens are theoretically free to practise any religion — so long as it is officially recognised by the government, and meets Communist Party criteria.
And that’s the catch.

China’s officially atheist government is wary of any organised movements outside its own control, including religious ones, and analysts say oversight of such groups has tightened under President Xi Jinping. 


So Beijing has repeatedly cracked down on unauthorised religious activity.
China has also been under heavy international scrutiny for its treatment of its mostly Muslim Uighur minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. Human rights groups have accused the Chinese government of conducting a crackdown that has detained of as many as one million ethnic Uighurs in internment camps." -  extracted from NEWS.COM.AU

"Beijing has taken harsh measures to stop the spread of Christianity, even banning children from attending church services.

China has banned Bibles as well as public displays of the cross, with plans to stop its 1.38 billion residents from practising the faith.

Digital versions of the Bible are no longer available in China, and only an official approved version by the government church is available for residents to read.

This comes after President Xi declared Christianity as "Western infiltration", insisting Western ideologies that post a threat to the country's Communist regimen." - extracted from NEWS.COM.AU

GOING UNDERGROUND
Zion Church, which was raided at the weekend, was one of the largest “house” churches in Beijing, with up to 1500 people attending its five weekly services.
“I believe the government will continue to go after high profile unregistered churches … particularly those whose pastors signed the open letter, in order to send a strong signal to other churches,” Fulton said, adding that many churches might stop large services and instead have smaller group meetings in homes.

The state-linked China Christian Council estimates the country has around 20 million Christians — excluding Catholics — in official churches supervised by the authorities.
But the true number of worshippers could be higher, at least 40 million to 60 million, according to some estimates.

China’s roughly 12 million Catholics are divided between a government-run association, whose clergy are chosen by the atheist Communist Party, and an unofficial underground church loyal to the Vatican." - extracted from NEWS.COM.AU

The Bitter Cup (China's Persecution of Underground Churches)

This documentary abounds with compelling testimonies by house church missionaries. Their dedication, suffering, faithfulness, and thanksgiving is producing an unprecedented multiplication of Chinese Christians every day. Discover the similarity of the early church in the Book of Acts of rapid multiplication of Christians by disciples making disciples.

Acts 2:42-47 They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. 43 Many miracles and wonders were being done through the apostles, and everyone was filled with awe. 44 All the believers continued together in close fellowship and shared their belongings with one another. 45 They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. 46 Day after day they met as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

BiblesForAsia.weebly.com

chinasoul.org/index.php?lang=en-gb

MODERN CHINA TODAY and Its Solar Tech 2017

There’s nowhere else in the world quite like it. You can’t help but be blown away by the number of solar panels gleaming from almost every surface in the city. From the top of its buildings to the roof of its buses.

Dezhou, China is the world’s first solar city, with 98% of its power produced by solar energy. It’s inspiration of Chinese entrepreneur Huang Ming.

China Icons got the guided tour from one of his engineers Ni Weiyue. Thanks to dreaming big, being innovative and leading by example, Dezhou has replaced 600,000 tons of coal a year with green technologies and energy.

Meet Huang Ming, solar energy pioneer behind China's ambitious, record breaking Solar Valley - where 98% of energy used in the city of De Zhou, comes from solar energy.

Could this be the model for future cities across the world?

When Huang Ming saw the damage caused by pollution in his home town, he was devastated. That, followed by the birth of his daughter soon after, inspired him to quit his day job and dedicate his life and bank balance to solar energy research.

Today, the company Huang Ming founded - Himin - has become one of the world's most successful solar energy companies.

Huang Ming takes us on a personalised tour of his city and the inspiration behind his favourite buildings - the Sun and Moon Mansion and the factories topped with solar panels. He also reveals some of the research and development Himin are doing to introduce solar power into everyday items used across the world.

Half of China's population now use solar energy and the country makes the most solar heaters and panels in the world. But with this adding up to just 1% of the world's energy consumption, Huang Ming believes there's so much more still to be done.

Chongqing, Chinese mega city that reminds us on Manhattan might get impressive new complex, right between the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Architects from an international architecture firm Safdie Architects designed this huge piece of modern architecture, a mixed-use complex of skyscrapers for the point where two rivers meet.

Two central towers should be 358m (1,175ft) tall while the shorter ones should be 248m (814ft). Huge platform will connect all four towers offering space for rooftop gardens, clubs and pools.
"Located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jailing rivers, the site for this mixed-use project is imbued with a significance that is immediately symbolic. The foremost of Chongqing’s traditional city gates (the Chaotian Gate, or “gate to heaven”), where emperors carried out the ceremonies of diplomatic greeting, it has long been a historical landmark... MORE PLS CLICK HERE.


China wants to build 100 panda-shaped solar power plants. They've already built one and have begun another. From the air, the collection of panels looks just like a cartoon panda. Each individual plant will, over a 25-year period, save 1.06 million tonnes of coal and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2.74 million tonnes.

Mirror website: http://www.malayax.online/2017/08/theres-nowhere-else-in-world-quite-like.html

The Gospel-Shaped Heart: Treasuring the Glories of Christ (John Piper)

HK500 Opening Video - China Partnership 

The Gospel-Shaped Heart: Treasuring the Glories of Christ (John Piper) -  - China Partnership 

Reflections on the Reformation 500 and the Gospel Conference
By Jackson Wu, May 26, 2017

We caught up with our friend Jackson Wu at the Reformation 500 conference in Hong Kong and asked him to share his reflections on the conference.

Over three thousand Chinese leaders and mission workers from around the world met this week in Hong Kong for the Reformation 500 and the Gospel conference. I’ll offer an overview and commentary on the meeting.

image taken from - http://www.chinapartnership.org/blog/2017/3/the-hong-kong-conference-a-once-in-a-lifetime-experience

From the Main Stage

Three plenary speakers gave three talks, one-per-day.

John Piper

Chinese believers were introduced to vintage Piper. His opening message helpfully reminded people of the central (but oft overlooked) promise of the New Covenant—new hearts. Salvation is more than forgiveness; it causes God’s people to delight in Christ above all things.

His final two talks were especially significant for the Chinese context. He challenged pastors not to accept the word of teachers and so-called experts, but rather to compare everything with what is found in the biblical text. This will require rigorous thinking—not mere information that’s been memorized.

Finally, Piper explained from John 11 and elsewhere why God most delights in his own glory and why this is tremendously loving to his people. Whether participants realize it or not, he was emphasizing the importance of God’s “face” (lian).

Paul Tripp

Having observed that Christians normally relate the gospel either to the past (what we’re saved from) or to the future (i.e. eternal life), Tripp led participants to consider how the gospel addresses the here and now. In typical Paul Tripp fashion, his candid messages challenged pastors to do serious self-reflection.

Pulling no punches, he warned Chinese pastors of “identity amnesia”, whereby believers forget who they are in Christ. Many church leaders become proud, forgetting they are God’s children and Christ’s servants.

What’s more, Tripp reminded listeners that God uses people who are meek, who suffer, and don’t live in comfort. We have a choice—seek the praise of people or of God. What’s the deeper desire of our hearts?

 

Richard Pratt

Pratt offered a change of pace from other speakers. Inserting humor and broken Chinese, he offered a broader perspective of the gospel. Focusing on God’s kingdom, he drew from Genesis 1:26–28, Isaiah 52:3–10, and Matthew 5.  The corrective from an individualistic gospel message is welcome.

From my interaction with others, Pratt’s second talk caused some confusion. Although saying the church is the true “Israel” of God, he seemed to present China as the next-in-line (after America and Europe) to bear Israel’s call as a light to the nations. Consequently, it’s difficult to discern the precise nature of the kingdom, as Pratt presents it. While avoiding overt political comments, the vagueness of his remarks likely spurred various questions that are tangential to his main points.

This critique aside, I applaud Pratt’s consistent emphasis on God’s kingdom as central to the gospel. In his concluding talk, he proclaimed “Heaven is not the goal of the kingdom of God.  What is the goal? The earth!” In other words, God wants his will done on earth as in heaven. Biblically speaking, “heaven” refers to God’s throne room, not some far off otherworldly location. Thus, the gospel announces God in Christ will establish his throne in this world. This entails the resurrection of our bodies, a truth that Christians too frequently overlook.

Chinese Speakers

Although the three plenary speakers reside in America, the meeting was organized and led by Chinese church leaders. This observation alone was one of the greatest joys of attending the conference. Many Chinese talks were interspersed between the plenary speakers. These Chinese pastors addressed topics related to the Reformation, such as the five solas (e.g., grace alone, Scripture alone, etc.). Not all of these sessions were translated into English. The talks were more thematic rather than expositions concerning the Reformation itself.

A Few Final Comments

Conferences are always more than the speakers and scheduled activities. So, I’ll offer a few tidbits and lingering critiques.

What about the Reformation?

The conference did not focus on the Reformation as directly as one might expect. The messages were edifying and stem from Reformation thinking. However, I’d prefer the conference speak more directly to the Reformation’s ongoing relevance to the Chinese church. How might historical issues surrounding the Reformation relate to contemporary China?

“Reformed”?

As many in China know, numerous Christians lack the training to understand various nuances concerning church history, denominations, theological debates, etc. A de facto denomination system emerges. It is shaped by guanxi(relationships, networks) more than historical and perhaps theological conviction. Consequently, Chinese believers tend to be less nuanced in their theological views and instead rigidly see theological ideas as “package sets.” Just as one commonly hears someone say, “We Chinese all believe . . .”, in the same way, many believers will say, “All Reformed people. . . ” or “All charismatics . . .”, etc.

I mention this dynamic because I’ve heard the question asked, “Is this conference and its extended ministry pushing Reformed theology?” For multiple reasons, this is a natural question deserving attention.

First of all, the answer depends on what one means by “reformed.” If “reformed” means “Protestant”, then yes. More often, people have in mind either Calvinist soteriology or Presbyterian theology. Though some use the term, “pushing” is not a fair term. The conference speakers did not give sermons about TULIP. The leadership generally affirms a Calvinistic view of salvation; however, they don’t wave this banner above the gospel. The involvement of multiple Baptist leaders is evidence the conference is not a “Presbyterian” movement.

I make these comments for a simple reason. Some people in China feel the need to “pick sides,” being wary of other theological camps. This attitude makes it difficult to facilitate church unity in China. One fruit of this conference is precisely that it brings together a spectrum of Chinese Christians and workers. Therefore, meetings like this one are a welcomed blessing.

Lost in Translation?

Very little of the conference was “contextualized” in a substantial or uniquely Chinese manner. This is not surprising since many (most?) of the speakers and organizers have ministries outside the Mainland. The messages, whether from Westerners or Chinese, resembled what one would hear at a conference sponsored by Desiring God Ministries or Together for the Gospel.

Is this a criticism? Not necessarily. The talks were biblically substantial, filled with gospel truth. Nevertheless, I can’t help but wonder how the conference might have been different. Should such meetings be substantially indistinguishable from conferences held in America?

A few speakers said the church should “always be reforming.” If so, what does it mean for the Chinese church to reform itself where it has surrendered too much to tradition? Even if we affirm Reformation theology, at what point might we need to reconsider whether certain emphases and strands of Protestant teaching reflect historically Western questions? The Reformation was a particular response to specific historical problems. At a broad level, the church yielded too much authority to tradition.

Is it not possible we might repeat this mistake as the Christian movement continues spreading throughout Asia from the West? If so, we need a contextualized application of the Reformation for the Chinese church.

Overall, we have much reason to rejoice. Thousands of Chinese believers were united in spirit as we studied the truth. The conference successfully brought people together for the purpose of worshiping the one King of all nations. 

SOURCE: Chinasource.org

“Reformation 500 and the Gospel” Conference Held in Kong Kong

By Ruth Wang on June 22, 2017 11:06 AM. - ChinaChristianDaily.com

A conference named "Reformation 500 and the Gospel" was held in the Asia World Expo of Hong Kong from May 23 to 26, 2017. 

Aimed at celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the conference invited three renowned American evangelical pastors; John Piper, Paul Tripp and Richard Pratt. They preached three sermons in a "Gospel Series."

John Piper, who is the senior pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota as well as a Bible scholar, professor, and well-known best-selling author, preached sermons on "Power of the Gospel."

Paul Tripp has pastored for 15 years at Tenth Presbyterian Church and is a professor of Redeemer Seminary based in Dallas, Texas and the executive director of the Center for Pastoral Life and Care in Fort Worth, Texas. He gave sermons named "Renewal Gospel."

As a response to the need of global Christian leadership training, Richard Pratt is co-founder of Third Millennium Ministries, an organization committed to provide accessible and free education resources in learners' native languages for anyone who wants to study the Bible. He delivered sermons entitled "Kingdom of Gospel" at the conference.

Apart from the three speakers, talks on a "Reformation Series" were held in the topics of "the five solas" (Scripture alone, faith alone, Christ alone, grace alone, glory to God alone) and "Gospel & Mission."

Meanwhile, three panels were held. The first one was attended by the three speakers on "Reformation and Gospel" and the rest were by Chinese pastors on "Gospel & Today's Church" and "Reformation & Pastoral Ministry."

Translated by Karen Luo

HISTORY FOR YOU: SILVER and the SPANISH EMPIRE.

In which John Green explores how Spain went from being a middling European power to one of the most powerful empires on Earth, thanks to their plunder of the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries. Learn how Spain managed to destroy the two biggest pre-Columbian civilizations, mine a mountain made of silver, mishandle their economy, and lose it all by the mid-1700s. Come along for the roller coaster ride with Charles I (he was also Charles V), Philip II, Atahualpa, Moctezuma, Hernán Cortés, and Francisco Pizarro as Spain rises and falls, and takes two empires and China down with them.

Jesuit Illuminati CHINA New World Order 2017

George Soros Announces China Must Lead The New World Order

George Soros  is a Hungarian-American business magnate-MORE

"In an interview with the Financial Times, George Soros has subtly laid out the banksters’ plan for ushering in the New World Order, announcing that China must lead the New World Order, “creating it and owning it” and supplanting the United States as the world’s economic superpower.

Soros’ plans for China are the exact opposite of Donald Trump’s expected policies regarding China. The President-elect has described the Asian giant as a “currency manipulator” and outlined plans to correct the current situation of unfair competition and bring good jobs back to America. He has already angered the Chinese, speaking on the phone to President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan – breaking with nearly four decades of U.S. protocol.

When a reader first passed me a link to the Soros interview I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought it might be faked, so I did some checking on its authenticity and found out it was actually real. Here was George Soros — who is unquestionably a Western elitist even in the eyes of the most ardent Kool Aid drinker — speaking of using China to bring in the New World Order." - Extracted from George Soros Announces China Must Lead The New World Order. You can read the whole article HERE.

Colonial Elite Rules China for the Illuminati

"Beijing -The Chinese elite is a merger between the Communist leadership, Hong Kong tycoons, and the criminal Triads. All three factions derive derive their power from Illuminati collaboration.

China has appeared autonomous because the Illuminati developed the country internally, funding 'revolutionary' political parties spouting nationalist slogans. The reasoning was that the Chinese people would revolt against overt foreign domination, but embrace their place in the NWO if they believed they were in control.

Lord Bertrand Russell revealed this plan in a report on China published in 1920:

'Out of the renaissance spirit now existing in China, it is possible, if foreign nations can be prevented from wreaking havoc, to develop a new civilization better than any that the world has yet known.'

The fascist superpower we know today was created in the second half of the 20th century by the bogus Cold War dialectic of communism vs. capitalism.

The stage was set in 1898 when Britain and China signed a contract stipulating that Hong Kong would be handed back to the Chinese in 1997. This meant that the fierce Communism of the mainland and laissez faire capitalism of Hong Kong were always destined to merge.

The process of unification gave rise to the current China power elite. What follows is background of the three main factions.

THE TRIADS

The Triads is a collective term for the secret societies and criminal groups that originated in 18th century China with the aim to bring down the Qing dynasty.

For over a century the Illuminati waged war against the Qing dynasty. The Triads were their vehicle for subversion and revolution, in a similar fashion to Freemasonry in Western revolutions.

For instance, during the opium wars, the Triads helped bring the drug into China. The revolutionary Nationalist Government that toppled the Qing dynasty in 1912 was a coalition of triad groups. Sun Yat-sen, the man who led the nationalist coalition that toppled the Qing in 1912, was a Triad member and was trained and armed in British Hong Kong. Chiang Kai-shek was also a Triad member.

When the Communists achieved dominance in 1949 they kicked the Triads out of the country. They fled mainly to Hong Kong and Taiwan to re-build. Chiang Kai-shek continued to publicly receive US funding.

Today the Triads are best known as the world's largest criminal entity, involved in drug trafficking, prostitution, money laundering etc. They exist in any country with a large Chinese population, notably in Canada, Britain, USA and Australia.

Former Canadian diplomat Brian McAdam said: "Within each Chinese community, there's usually a strong Triad presence controlling and extorting money from the businesses, and if there's drugs, they're bringing them in."

Of the Triads enormous global reach Fritz Springmeier has written:

'The Triads are the most powerful criminal fraternal group in the world, except for the Illuminati and the families that make up the Illuminati's Committee of 300. The Mafia Is small peanuts compared to the Triads. The Triads are almost untouchable by any law enforcement group. For instance, in Great Britain the British do not have hardly any ethnic Chinese on their police force to even try infiltrating the Triads.'

A key source of this power is that they partner the Far East Lodges of Freemasonry in running the Asian drugs trade, notably the production of heroin in the 'golden triangle' in South East Asia, second only to Afghanistan. Drug trafficking is very important to the Illuminati because it funds black budget programs.

The most powerful Triads in Hong Kong have their own territories, headquarters, sub-societies and public fronts. They are allied with the tycoons. The tycoon's own Hong Kong and the triads run it. A few of these are Sun Yee On, Wo Hop To and 14K. To insure a smooth handover of Hong Kong in 1997, the communist leadership needed these groups onside.

In the early 80s, the Chinese government convened a secret meeting between the 'Dragon Heads' of the major Triad groups operational in Hong Kong. The communists informed the dragons that if they agreed not to interfere with the takeover transition, they would be allowed to continue their criminal activities without interference.

Following these successful negotiations, Deng Xiaoping spoke of the triads as Chinese "patriotic groups" and the Hong Kong press published a photograph of Charles Heung, a senior officer of Sun Yee On, conversing with Deng's daughter.

In 1992, Western Intelligence Services became aware Wong Man Fong - formerly head of China's central news agency - was helping the triads to set up legitimate businesses in China, particularly in Guangzhou and Shanghai.

 CONCLUSION

The mainstream media portrays China as hostile to Western power. However, by studying the triumvirate Chinese elite and their intimate ties to the Illuminati, it is clear that modern China is an Illuminati creation.

The Chinese elite must never stray from the NWO agenda, for it follows that if the Illuminati made them, they can break them too." - Extracted from Colonial Elite Rules China for the Illuminati. You can read the whole article HERE.

China’s Reforming Churches Mission, Polity, and Ministry in the Next Christendom.

"Even the most conservative analyst must acknowledge China is changing. This nation of 1.35 billion people—20 percent of the earth's population, boasting the world's second-largest economy and largest language group (Mandarin Chinese)—is experiencing not just change, but rapid and radical change. And as we survey the scene, the change of greatest importance is the astounding growth of the Christian faith in China." - Jason Helopoulos is the assistant pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, and is the author of A Neglected Grace: Family Worship in the Christian Home (Christian Focus, 2013).

Unapologetically Presbyterian
Baugus and the other authors in this volume are unapologetically Presbyterian in their polity. This jure divino Presbyterianism may discourage some readers from entertaining this work, but my heart was strangely warmed to find so many forthright, conscience-convicted, ecclesiological friends in one place. Still, a non-Presbyterian with any interest in China, missions, or the future of the Christian church will find the contents of this book exceedingly helpful and informative.

China's Reforming Churches is divided into four sections. The first contains three chapters and examines the history of Presbyterianism in China. The initial chapter details some of the early missions work in China by Western countries. It includes a helpful overview of particularly influential missionaries prior to the Communist Revolution and the work of various denominations in the country. A fascinating aspect of this account is the transformation from Old School Presbyterianism to theological liberalism among the Western missionaries in China. One positive of the Communist Revolution was the expulsion of these liberal missionaries from China, combined with the fact that only evangelical missionaries tended to return after the unrest. God was apparently preparing the ground for the fruit we see today. The second chapter details the history and influence of North China Theological Seminary. The third records the history of Korean Presbyterian missions in China, providing insightful analysis of the Korean Presbyterian church and how the lessons it has learned over the years may aid the Chinese Reformed Church.

The second section looks at Presbyterianism in China today, relying heavily on the voices and experiences of current Chinese pastors. Chapter four (“Perceived Challenges to Christians in China”) is especially enlightening as it nullifies some common Western assertions about the Chinese church and highlights the actual pressures she faces. It concludes with some sobering warnings and gentle encouragements for the Western church's relationship with the Chinese church. The fifth chapter is a thorough argument for Presbyterianism and its need in the Chinese church. Luke P. Y. Lu makes a strong case that Presbyterian missions organizations in China should act in accordance with their Presbyterian identity as they pursue this mission. Chapter six is an interesting dialogue between a few Chinese pastors and Baugus. At times this chapter is hard to follow, but is well worth the meandering read. These pastors are significant figures in Chinese Christianity, and their reflections and humility should encourage the reader about the future of the church in China.

The third section of China's Reforming Churches consists of four chapters exploring the challenges and opportunities for Presbyterianism in the country. Chapter seven is a tour de force; it reads as a kind of “State of the Union” address, establishing the basic outline of the current cultural context and how this affects Christianity and missions in the country. Chapter eight explores the Three-Self Patriotic Movement (TSPM) churches, which are government sanctioned, and the house churches, which are not. In chapter nine, David VanDrunen explores the foundation of two kingdoms theology and how it could assist the Chinese church going forward. The final chapter of this section was written by Guy Waters and looks at the case for Presbyterianism from Acts 15.

The fourth and final portion of the book takes active steps in examining how the Chinese church might be influenced to embrace Reformed theology even further. Chapter 11 is a challenging read about the opportunity currently before the Western church to translate quality Reformed literature into Mandarin and to publish these books legally in China. The author is not naively placing this challenge before the Western church; he notes the difficulties, but the possibilities he relays are reason enough to find motivation. Chapter 12 is a summary of the challenges and advantages of theological education in China. Baugus wrote this chapter, and his pastoral sensitivity and professional optimism is evident. The final chapter by Paul Wang explores the need to indigenize and contextualize the Reformed faith in China. It is a pleasant and necessary ending to the book.

Extracted From:  http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/chinas-reforming-churches-mission-polity-and-ministry-in-the-next-christend