As I exited church yesterday, I was reminded that I was free to come and go to church as I pleased, and to worship Christ whenever, wherever, and however I wished, for the most part.
I watched an interesting story called “Jesus In China” on PBS Frontline/World on my ipod on Friday, and it really makes you think. The story detailed how some of our Chinese brothers and sisters in The Body of Christ have to worship in underground caves and discreet houses. They interviewed a pastor who was charged with being a counter-revolutionary and disturbing social order. That reminded me of Paul.
While there were some open churches, the story reported that religion is controlled by the government, and there were strict “rules” of worshipping in government-supported churches. One leader of an underground church said that he was told by an official that he “had to worship Jesus following the regulations of the country.” He responded, “If I follow what you say, then I don’t need to worship Jesus, I should worship you!”
The beautiful thing is that The Gospel is being spread, and new believers are coming into the kingdom, and we know that God will “bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:47), (Isaiah 49:6) One pastor said, “The next 30 years will be the age of The Gospel [in China].” Let’s keep our brothers and sisters in China lifted up.
Check out the full nine minute video here. What would you do in this situation? Would we be willing nowadays to risk years in jail and persecution for worshipping in what we consider to be in Spirit and Truth? I had to really ask myself this question. What are your thoughts?
Tags: Acts 13:47, China, Christian, Church, Frontline, government, Isaiah 49:6, Jesus, PBS, persecution, The Body of Christ, The Gospel, The Kingdom, underground church, Worship
