China-Why Persecution?

REFINERS FIRE

China – why persecution?

Since the advent of Communism in China in 1949 the Church has grown at a rate that is unparalleled in history. Back then there were around 750,000 Christians in China. Now it’s estimated that there are over 100 million.

That’s a growth rate of 13,000 percent! But what are the reasons why the Chinese Church is growing so rapidly?

Undoubtably God has brought revival to China. One of the root causes of this great outpouring can be found in the response of  the believers to God’s refining fire. For over 100 years, many thousands of believers have experienced hardships beyond what most of us can imagine. In recent decades it has been at the hands of the Communists, who, despite their strongest attempts to destroy the Church, have in fact helped to build it!

Paul tells us that anyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. That statement relates to us all. Its not that we go looking for persecution but rather if we are proclaiming Christ by word and deed in our homes, schools, colleges or workplaces, then sooner or later persecution will find us. It may not be as intense as it is in other parts of the world, but nevertheless it is still persecution––even if its just name-calling. Jesus tells us to rejoice during these times because great is our reward in Heaven. So persecution can be evidence that we’re actually doing something right. But it goes deeper than this.

God refines His people. Refining is the process of purification of a substance or precious metal. The term is usually used of a natural resource that is almost in a usable form but are more useful in their pure form. That’s why God sometimes allows us to suffer persecution––he’s refining us and purifying us to make us more usable and more Christ-like. This kind of cleansing work often separates the true believers from the false, especially when they are confronted with the prospect of suffering emotionally or physically for the sake of the Gospel. It’s about being unashamed of Christ. Paul challenges us to ‘not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel.’

God builds the Church. Through the ages God has used persecution as a tool by which he builds his Kingdom. From the moment Stephen was martyred and persecution broke out against the church, the followers were scattered all over Judea, Samaria and even as far as Cyprus. The most amazing thing was they didn’t abandon their faith, they simply preached wherever they went and in this way the Gospel spread rapidly and the numbers grew daily. China is a living testament to this sort of growth.

Like many other parts of Asia, China is a difficult place to be a Christian. But it’s also not easy here at home right now. Sooner or later we will enter into times in which we will tested like our brothers and sister have in Asia. Let’s remember our family in China and let’s pray for the strength to endure when persecution comes our way.