Summary

Christians in Chains Word on the Week 17th August 2024.
We do not come across this topic much in the West where there has been a declension of religion. It has been overtaken by the ‘Theology of Self’ with its overarching subject of ‘me-ism’. In other parts of the world where Religions flourish Christianity is to be feared.
The Christian message with its New Life in Jesus presents an alternative way of being human over against the prevailing beliefs. It’s outworking, of the message of sacrificial love, changes lives. Part of this change involves the departure from formal ritualism to freedom in Christ (John 8 verses 31 to 32).
This freedom is attractive with its ongoing confession of sins and the forgiveness which releases us from sins guilt and shame recognising that Christ’s death dealt with it (1 John 1 verses 5 to 10). The transformed life then becomes a challenge to others.
When the Apostle Paul and Barnabas preached the Gospel in the synagogue at Antioch they were well received and invited back on the next Sabbath. Their popularity created jealousy and the ruling Jews rejected the message. However, many of the Gentiles became believers. This caused the Jews to expel the preachers from the region! (Acts 13 verses 44 to 57)
Some countries see Christianity as a threat to the State. It presents a force which the State, or typically its leader, cannot control so the Christian Pastors and Leaders are put in prison. The judiciary is in the pocket of the State and lengthy sentences are given out with little hope of any review. Eritrea is one such country. Ironically Christianity continues to be practiced both inside and outside of the prison despite strenuous efforts to wipe it out!
But because of its sheer scale China has the largest number of Christians in prison. The other factor is the flourishing groups of believers that have become a substantial percentage of the population. Many of these groups meet privately where they have formed ‘underground’ Churches based on the early church.
Xi Jinping’s policy of sinicization is the process by which non-traditional Chinese groups are assimilated into Chinese culture. Churches which conform survive but their activities are ‘managed’ by the State. It’s back to the days of who is Lord – Caesar or Jesus (Acts 10 verses 30 to 48).
Let us stand in prayer with those who suffer for the Gospel (1 Corinthians 1 verses 3 to 11).