A Beautiful Fight

——Church of Rock NY Uncovers the Nature of the Chinese Bible Ministry Exhibition

 

In early September 2011, we, the Church of Rock, NY, learned by accident that the Committee of the Three-self Patriotic Movement (Three-self or TSPM) and the China Christian Council (CCC) were to once more hold Chinese Bible Ministry Exhibition in four cities of the United States of America during September 28th and November 19th in order to strengthen the mutual understanding between the Chinese and American Christians. Gao, Feng, the President of CCC, said, “In the past several decades, the Americans have been holding many prejudice and misunderstandings towards the religious status in China including Christianity. There have been many negative reports and propagandas. The purpose of this Bible Ministry Exhibition is to use factual materials to introduce and make them understand the true and objective situations of the Chinese churches.”

 

What are the objective situations? The objective situations are that they try to use some “factual materials” collected from various sources to cover up the nature of the atheistic Christianity in order to deceive the world. This atheistic Christianity, a Christianity with Chinese characteristics under the strict control of the TSPM system, has been twisting the Bible and misleading and fooling the believers, and persecuting the true churches and believers. Because of the information reported by the TSPM and CCC leaders and followers to the authority, countless faithful God’s servants are arrested, tortured, mistreated, permanently injured or killed. Besides the ruthless torture, numerous young sisters are sexually assaulted or group-raped by the police, religious officials and other relevant personals. They have nowhere to appeal. These are the “objective situations” in China under the evil power. Obviously, these authorities and followers do not believe “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense”. However, will men’s unbelieving forfeit God’s justice and escape from the eternal judgment? (Hebrews 10: 30-31)          

      

To them, the high-ranking religious officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), these widely occurring “objective situations” are internal affairs – national secrets which should be kept confidentially and should not be made known to the Americans. Whoever uncovering these secrets is making up stories with an evil purpose, who betrays the country. Our patriotic churches will never allow them to do so. We will never admit these facts, like we never admit the killing during June 4th Tiananmen Movement. That is the place where the red five-star flag rises and should not be stained with an image of terrorism or state thug. Therefore, there is no religion persecution, and the Chinese are enjoying the golden time of religious freedom, a time better than any previous time.   

 

Under this principal of “no religious persecution”, Ding, Guangxun, an open underground CCP member and the previous leader of TSPM and CCC, advised his lord, the central committee of the CCP, “No good result can be achieved through harsh administrative measures to deal with people’s religion and relationship issues. ……This method will definitely not make house church disappeared, but make them become underground and then fire up frenetic religious and evangelical activities.”[1] Therefore, the best way is to utilize the believers and the officials of the TSPM and CCC (those are politically reliable secret CCP members fighting at the religious battle field) to collect house church information through the close interaction under the name of Christ, to partake and lead the house churches, and then to place them in our hands. For those overseas Chinese churches and religious organizations, including those foreigners’ organizations willing to accept our good-will support, we have to make them as the bridges and bases for our united frontline mission. We need to invest generously money and efforts in this matter since we do not lack money but representatives at the international stage. For, at the international stage, there are many issues we cannot deal directly but have to do through a mediator. Can you use the name of the CCP, or China, or Administration of Religious Affairs, or TSPM or CCC to command the overseas Christians to attend the Bible exhibition, to deceive the foreigners? Of course not. Therefore, we should let their own people deceive them. That is why we need representatives who have certain social status and influence.      

 

With this background of united frontline policy, “Pastor” Qiu, Fanghe, the key director of New York Theological Education Center, caught this opportunity to become a major representative of the TSPM and CCC in northern America. He started to advocate for the Bible exhibition a long time before the event and organized Christians around New York metropolitan to go to Washington D.C. He said, “Since 1996, I have had an opportunity to go back to my motherland four times per year to understand the development of the Chinese churches, and witness the processes of the thorough changes of the whole China and the Chinese churches. It is very hard to understand and accept without eye-witness. For all these events, one should feel amazed and grateful.” Four times a year. Sixty times in fifteen years already. The cost would be two hundred and ten thousand dollars based on a conservative estimation of three thousand and five hundred dollars per trip. This is really “amazing”! Your god supplies you really plentiful and you really should be grateful! It is true that the Chinese churches have been thoroughly changed since the pure Christianity has already been changed to atheistic “Christianity”. In those years of poverty, there were many God’s faithful servants such as Wang, Mingdao, Wang, Songling, Yuan, Xiangzhen, Ni, Tuosheng, who fought for the truth even to the point of death! In the present time when self-interest and money are always first, most are serving houses, cars and daily needs. How many God’s servants are still fighting for His truth? This is really a “thorough change”!

 

What was surprised to us and to “Pastor” Qiu is that his group-email also arrived one of our brothers’ email address. How amazing! Praise the almighty God! By such way, we learned this “holy ministry” of the atheistic CCP (it claims no God since it emphasizes itself is the “god” of the world. (Luke 4:6; Corinthians II 4:4)). It is worth to mention that in the USA, the largest Christian country which has been protecting religious freedom, the devil who has been brutally persecuting their “brothers in Lord” has even no adversaries – God’s people who take the devil as the adversary. (Peter I 5:7-9) All have been subdued by the devil with various interests. There is open opposing voice because otherwise their self-interest will be affected. (Peter II 2:19; Timothy II 3: 1-2) Then, how much is the possibility that there is a voice opposing the powerful evil, the god of the world, in other countries? (Revelation 13: 7-9; 16-17; 18: 2-4; 19: 11-13)

 

This evil power has enticed the overseas Christians into a snare of returning back to the motherland to visit relatives, to do business etc. However, our Lord has strengthened our faith! And the Holy Spirit has been moving us to earnestly contend for the faith and fight the good fight of faith. (Jude 3; Timothy I 6:12) Then we emailed some God’s message to the relevant church leaders and others, (John 1 3:16; Thessalonians I 5: 9-10, 19) to point out the evil nature of the TSPM and CCC – ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing, and to ask them to pray sincerely to God before deciding to hold the exhibition and re-consider if willing to co-work with such an atheistic church:

1.     Which leaders said, “The word becoming flesh, birth by a virgin, resurrection, trinity, judgment at the end, Jesus’ second coming, etc. all are strange and incredible religious ideas which are not understandable…… I have tried by all means but failed to convince myself to accept these things. What attracted me at the beginning and made me to believe in Christianity is The Beatitudes, the plain teaching by Jesus without any mysterious covering. I do not feel I need the other things (from the Bible). I do not think that my denial of the other things would affect my religious faith.” [2] “This should be taken as a calling for us religious leaders, a calling for us to reform our every religion to fit into the society of socialism. This includes the elimination of things not fitting with the society of socialism…… and the promotion of the reformation of the religion beliefs so that our change will not end at just political speech or expression of attitude but be reflected at the dilution of any religious things not fitting into the socialism society and the strengthening of those fitting the socialism society. We should probe each religion. Some of the stuff not fitting with the socialism society should be eliminated immediately, and the rest eliminated gradually.” [3]?

2.     Which leaders are all appointed by the atheistic CCP and its government which are already completed corrupted. They receive their salaries from the government. They absolutely obey the commands of the CCP. They distort the Biblical truth according to the CCP’s needs – they have changed the Biblical truth to the surviving way under the state terrorism. They only preach the sermons that have been pre-approved by the atheistic CCP to mislead and control the mass believers. To show their believing in the atheistic authorities, they help the government to oppress the true churches and believers, and to deceive the world by some “holy ministries” such as the Bible Ministry Exhibition. (It is very regretful to see that many people, especially those “smart” international Christian leaders not only are willing but also like to be “deceived”. As a matter of fact, what else can “deceive” them except those under table business of money and fame? (Revelation 12: 9, 18: 3-4; Matthew 27: 5-6))  

 

At the end of the letter, we also warned them: “Many deceivers who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist……If anyone comes to you and do not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” (John II 7-11) Please, for the sake that Jesus Christ will not be disgraced, for the sake of yourselves, and for the sake of those may be deceived by the exhibition, do not partake in the wicked work of the deceivers. You know that helping such kind of wicked work is a great sin. Stay away!”

 

We sent this letter together with See Through The Three-Self Church to the pastors and co-workers of the following three churches which were going to host exhibition: Mount Vernon Place Church in Washington D. C. and Chicago Temple in Chicago (two of the United Methodist Church) and Northwest Bible Church in Dallas. At the meantime, we also emailed a similar letter and See Through The Three-Self Church to each Bishop of the United Methodist Church around the world (except Bishop Hee-Soo Jung since we felt that it would be useless to talk to someone whose soul was already sold to Satan), to let them know that the ravening wolves were rushing to their flocks, and they should blow their watchmen’s trumpet loudly! Since the Lord said, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” (Ezekiel 3: 17-21)

 

A few days later, we also emailed Testimonies Of The Cross to the above pastors and co-workers, which collected a number of bloody persecution cases of God’s faithful children in China.

 

Among the Bishops, there were only two replied back through email. One said, “Please remove me from your email list.”Brother Shao replied back: “I will delete your email from the list. The reason you received the previous email is simply because your email address is listed in UMC directory. Can you tell me why you do not want to receive our email to UMC? Are you a UMC contact? Are you a true Christian? Are you concerned about your fellow Christians? Do you pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ? Or are you just an employee of an organization?” There was no response since then. The other one said, “When did education become a sin? Please remove me from all of your mailing lists.”Then Brother Shao replied, “If you think the exhibition is just an education. Then what kind of education is it? Please read the attachments in my previous email and you will find the answer. God open your eyes to see Satan's work - A Chinese Communist Party's education to deceive the world!” Again, no response since then.

 

The responses from the three churches follow:

 

Brandt C. Wright, the Executive Pastor of Northwest Bible Church emailed: “Thank you for your email. We have carefully read the information you felt led to forward to us.  Having done so, I respectfully request that you cease sending information to me or others associated with Northwest Bible Church.”

 

Phil Blackwell, the Senior Minister of Chicago Tempe replied:

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

 Thank you very much for your e-mail documenting your concerns about the China Bible Ministry Exhibition.  The display is coming to Chicago at the invitation of the Bishop of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung.  We have passed along your alert to him and those who serve in our regional office.  Our congregation is providing a site for the event at his request, given our location at the heart of Chicago's Loop.

 We are aware of the complicated and conflicted history of religion and politics in China and value your perspective.  We welcome other information that you might want to share with us.  We hope that by hosting the event we can expose our guests to our American-style of ecumenism and interfaith cooperation.”

 

Then Brother Shao emailed back to Pastor Blackwell:

“Dear Pastors Blackwell, King and Witt:

We would like to thank Pastor Blackwell for your email which explained the reason for your church to host the exhibition. We believe that you know that you should be the shepherds of God, and as a shepherd of God, you should protect your flock and not let someone lead you and your flock into this great sin. If you do not want to refuse the request from Bishop Jung, let your church brothers and sisters be the one to make the decision. Let them decide whether it is appropriate or not to host the exhibition. We do not believe that you want to put them into this iniquity without letting them know the truth. So, please forward the three attachments to every brother and sister of your church. Let them know the truth and then decide.

We believe that you know that you should be a church of Christ but not any man or any religion. Regardless of what kind of style it is, ecumenism should be done only within Jesus Christ since the body of Christ is consisted of only true believers but not anyone else. Why should you unite with those under the leadership of the atheistic Chinese Communist Party (CCP) but not God? Why should you unite with those tailoring Christianity to socialism by eliminating and muddling the Biblical teachings? Why should you unite with those helping the atheistic CCP persecute the true Christians? Do you really think they are brothers and sisters in Christ? “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

We have no idea what kind of interfaith cooperation you were referring to. If it is referred to the cooperation between the different denominations of true Christianity, then all of us should promote the cooperation. If it is referred to the cooperation between different religions, then we should be alert: we should not cooperate with unbelievers (of Christ) for God’s ministry (maybe we can cooperate for other purposes such as disaster relief). Under the umbrella of “interfaith cooperation”, will you host an Islamic “Koran” ministry exhibition?  Actually, it is better for you to host an Islamic “Koran” ministry exhibition than the Chinese Bible Ministry Exhibition, since at least the visitors to the exhibition will not be deceived in the former case: they will simply know Islam is Islam and the Islamic believe in Koran. However, the purpose of the Chinese Bible Ministry Exhibition is to cover up the evil nature of the antichrist – CCP who has been sending TSPM/CCC to display on the international stage some showcases to deceive the world. We urge you also read See through the Three-Self Church and Testimonies of the Cross in the attachment, so that you will understand the nature of the CCP and its messengers – the TSPM and CCC.

 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6: 14-15)

May God give you all the faith and strength to stay away from this great sin!”

 

Since there was no response from the church, we called after some days, and were told that they understood where we were from but the exhibition would be held as planned. They also told us that their church was just used as a venue and we should talk to Bishop Jung.

 

We did not hear anything back from Mount Vernon Place Church. Brother Shao then called Pastor Donna Sokol. She said their church was not the sponsor but just was used as a venue, and the US sponsor was Wesley Theological Seminary which was close to them. She also mentioned that she understood our point, but the board of trustee decided to continue after discussion simply because they had a long fellowship with Wesley. She had forwarded our emails to Wesley and gave Wesley’s contact (Jane Deland) information to Brother Shao.

 

Then Brother Shao called Jane Deland. When she heard the call was from our church, Ms. Deland immediately said, “I know what you are going to say.”

Brother Shao asked, “Have you read the information we provided?”

“Yes.”

“Then you should get out of it.”

“But we are already involved.”

“You should understand that this is a great sin!”

“We have done our homework. We have consulted with many international Christian leaders and feel comfortable to sponsor this exhibition. Actually, I am going to the committee meeting of the exhibition. Bye.”

And she hung up.

 

In order to help the innocent believers not be deceived by Satan and understand the nature of the TSPM and CCC, and also to help those collaborating with the TSPM and CCC turn back from this great sin, on September 27th, Brothers Li, Shao, and Chen and Sister Wu of Church of Rock, NY, drove to Washington D. C. since it was the first place for the exhibition, bringing with them several cases of See Through The Three-self Church and Testimonies Of The Cross which we had printed out in a short time at the cost of several thousand dollars – a brother’s saving through his simple and plain living! 

 

On the way, we were talking that we should understand but not feel disappointed at some brothers or seekers’ lacking of faith to go with us since their spiritual life were not mature enough, and however, they would experience God’s power and work and their faith would be greatly strengthened if they had come. The amazing thing was that we immediately saw the huge words of “Jesus Is Lord” on the back of a pickup running in front of us. When we were gradually passing this pickup, we saw “America Turn Back To God” painted hugely on its side. And there was a huge Cross in the trunk. Was not it that the Lord was telling us, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”? (Luke 9:23) Thank God to further give us faith and strength on our way to fight for His truth!  

 

We drove directly to Wesley Theological Seminary after arriving Washington D. C., to distribute the two booklets and an open letter to the professors and students, with the hope that they would know the nature of the atheistic church, resist its deceiving exhibition and fight the good fight of the faith. After entering the campus, we parked our van next to a small two-story building although we saw a huge tall building not far away since we had no idea about the campus buildings. Brother Shao said, “Let’s start from this small building.” Later, we learned that this was the main teaching building of the seminary, and the tall one belonged to the American University next to the seminary. Was not it the God’s hand leading us? Praise Lord! There were about five classrooms holding classes although it was already about 8:00 at night. After obtaining the permission from the teachers, we distributed the materials to the students, about sixty-seventy in total. Then Brothers Li and Chen went to the dorms and Brother Shao to other buildings. We met a student from Mainland China in the dorm. He said he had preached the gospel in Chengdu and other places in China, and also knew some information about the persecution of the house churches. However, he appeared hesitated and reluctant when Brother Li asked him to think about the deceiving nature of the TSPM. What made us more regret for him was seeing him dressed up and attend the exhibition opening ceremony the next day. We did not know the background of this student. We hope God will move and lead him to understand the truth and have the courage to resist the false and stay away from the evil doers. Later on, Brothers Li and Chen were politely asked to leave the dorm by a white lady (maybe a teacher).  

 

We hope those brothers and sisters who received our booklets can understand the devouring nature of the TSPM church and the socialism Christianity with Chinese characteristics. Among those, there was only one student coming to talk to us during the break. After asking for some more information, he asked, “What should we do? We have already booked for tomorrow’s opening ceremony.” Brother Shao replied, “You know what you should do.” On the next day, we did not see this student attend the ceremony. We pray God’s continuous leading him to be a faithful servant of our Lord. A white sister in her forties came out the teaching building after the class. Waving the exhibition flyer in her hand, she said to Brother Shao, “The Devil is cunning! Our seminary has serious problems……”

 

A black man in his fifties, seeming to be an administrative person, asked Brother Shao, “Who sent you here?” Brother Shao pointed to the sky. He asked again, “Who sent you here?” Brother Shao again pointed to the sky. When he asked the third time, Brother Shao told him, “God sent us here.”

 

“This is Wesley Theological Seminary. Did you get permission to distribute the materials?” He asked.

“We do not have the permission. We thought this was God’s school so that we could proclaim the truth freely, ” said Brother Shao.

“This is the territory of the seminary. This is America. You trespassed on private property. You broke the American law.” 

“Sorry. We violated US law. But I thought God’s law is greater than man’s law.’’

“This is America. You have to observe American law.”

“We take your point. Sorry. We trespassed on your private properties. However, what kind of law did Jesus broke when he drove out the vendors in the temple?”

Looking at another black man, he said, “See, talk to me about Jesus now……”

 

Later on, when we were sitting in the van and booking the motel, the another black man came to tell us, “Please leave now. We called the police. They are coming. Please leave now.”

 

We left after settling down the motel reservation.

 

The next morning was the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Before we left the motel, we got together and Brother Li opened the Bible and read, “Fight the good fight of faith.” (Timothy I 6:12) And then we prayed together: “Dear heavenly father, please give us faith and courage to fight for your truth. Please open the eyes of those deceived. Help them to see the devil’s schemes, and stay away from its evil deeds. May you accomplish your own work.”

 

The exhibition was held in a magnificent church of the United Methodist Church in the downtown of Washington D. C.. Brother Shao had previously contacted with Pastor Sokol, and obtained her permission to distribute the booklets outside the church. Pastor Sokol even allowed us to climb up the front stairs and stand at the porch to distribute the materials in case of rain. When we arrived in our van, Pastor Sokol nodded with a smile from a distance although we never met before. After discharging several boxes booklets, we started to handout them to the visitors under the church stairs. Almost every visitors received our materials (some thought we were handing out the TSPM’s stuff). A few elders in very nice suits said, “No, no.” and returned the booklets to us after a glimpse. They only wanted to see love: the believers and unbelievers, the godly and atheistic love together harmoniously since it is the main theme of this world. They did not want to see or believe how the atheistic party brutally persecuted their brothers and sisters in Lord. (Corinthians II 6:14; Corinthians I 10: 21; Ephesians 5: 6-11) What will be the end to those who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness? (Thessalonians II 2: 9-12)    

 

When we were distributing the booklets, a few TSPM people came out from the church several times. They stared at us with anger. However, when we looked at them straight, they would turn to other places, dare not the meet our eyes. The powerful CCP not only dared not adopt their policy of “destroying the enemies who refuse to surrender” but also dared not meet the opponent’s eye. They appear to be powerful only in the eyes of the coward and submissively lying down people but not in the eyes of the martyrs. (Matthew 18: 17; Peter I 5: 8-11) However, if it was in China, we would have already been beaten up and then thrown into jail for verdict with charge of shameful crime such as rape, murder, subverting the government etc., but not uncovering the truth. 

 

A Chinese man in red rope self-claiming to be a pastor of a local church came to ask us stopping the distribution. Waving his arms, he said, “You are not invited. Handing out these materials is not respectful…… China nowadays is no longer the China in the past. Persecution has been improved, and there are no more cases as severe as these you are showing…… In addition, the Chinese religious administration is advocating union and acceptance of each other. Why should you make inharmonious here?”

Before Brother Li could reply back, he left to welcome other visitors, and told us repeatedly before leaving, “You should stop.” At the end of the day, this pastor came across Brother Shao. He was again very excited and said, “I had preached in Fujian. I know the situation. All gathered together in the name of Jesus, prayed in the name of Jesus, and built the churches in the name of Jesus…… We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.” [No wonder the Lord said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 22-23)]

Before Brother Shao could reply, he questioned, “What is your purpose?”

Brother Shao said, “We just want to tell the truth to brothers and sisters so that they will not be deceived by Satan.”

After a little hesitation, he said, “I see you are kind of pursuing politics.”

What a surprise! Our uncovering the evil of the authorities is pursuing politics; their gaining favor from the evil and rich authorities to achieve unutterable personal purposes and helping them to deceive the world are not pursuing politics. Maybe this is their logic of bi-winning love which is that Christ and Belial could win together. (Corinthians II 6:15; John I 1:6; Revelation 18:3)   

He continued, “Religion should be separated from politics.”

“Well said. Religion should be separated from politics. Isn’t it clear that the TSPM and CCC are part of the politics since their mission statement clearly says they are under the leadership of the Communist Party? ” Brother Shao replied.

“This…… because the Bible asks us to submit to the authorities. You see Paul and Peter both ask us to submit to the authorities.”

 

What an excellent theologian! Regardless being black or white, doing good or evil, he always could find Biblical excuses. Is what the apostles passed down just “submissive”? Then how to understand “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”? (Acts 5: 29; 32) If Peter, Paul and other apostles had just submitted to the authorities without distinguishing righteousness and wickedness, good and evil, how could they have been killed by the authorities? In addition, Paul made it very clear: “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath……Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience……For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Romans 2: 8; 6:16; Ephesians 2: 2; 5:6-11, 16; 6:12) James also said, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. …… Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4: 4-8)    

 

We have demonstrated very clearly and completely in See Through The Three-Self Church that the TSPM and CCC are just a tool of the devil holding authorities. Without repeating, we only want to show a simple and direct example here. To this exhibition, the Chinese government has sent, in addition to the TSPM and CCC leaders, a delegation of State Administration of Religious Affairs led by Wang, Zuoan, Minister of the State Administration of Religious Affairs. This highest religious official of the atheistic government (actually he is the head of Chinese Christianity, Chinese Muslim, and all other Chinese religions) made the first speech at the exhibition ceremony in the supposed-to-be holy American church. He actually preached to the president of the American theological seminary, bishops, pastors, and other influential religious leaders attending the ceremony. He said, “I am not a Christian. However, my job requires me to understand Christianity, …… every time when I finish reading the Bible, I always have to think about one question – that is what is the core doctrine of Christianity? Those doing good will go to the heaven. Be a good person and do good deeds……. When we of different races, different nationality and different religions are gathering together here, there comes a big word in my mind which is love. This love ……would prevent the many unforgettable hurts happening again……” What a wonderful speech! It seems that we were really at the golden age of religious freedom. Aren’t these unforgettable hurts that numerous true Christians have been arrested, tortured, imprisoned, killed, and their children have become homeless and are struggling for survive every day? Or are these the big love he was talking about?  

 

After the atheistic Chinese Minister finished his speech of “love”, the president of the American theological seminary started to speak. He said, “Although this is your first time delivering a speech at a church podium, you preached a perfect sermon. I think this is the longest event that happened in our church without music……” It was really a perfect sermon! Even the supposed-to-be everlasting holy music had to be held to let Satan’s servant to deliver the sermon! How powerful is the atheistic way! (Corinthians II 11: 14-15; Revelation 13: 7-9, 16-17; 14: 8-12; 18: 2-4)

 

Is it the manifestation of what the Bible says, “there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (Thessalonians II 2: 3-4) The history of modern China has clearly performed this prophecy.

1.                “Opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped”: the CCP declared to the whole world: “We are atheistic!” “There never has been a savior.” “Religion is the opium to numb the people.” “Down with all gods!” They turned down Christianity and all other religions and brutally persecuted the people believing in all kinds of religions. Although they do not believe in God, they require people to worship them as God. In the old days, they forced everyone to stand in front of Chairman Mao’s portrait to receive instructions in every morning and report at every evening. Everyone had to hold the book of Mao’s speech next the chest to show loyalty, and to shout, “Long live the Chinese Communist Party! Long live Chairman Mao!” Nowadays, they do not shout “long live” since it seems too uncivilized. Then how to exalt themselves? Let the believers of all religions sing together “Party, Dear Mom!”[4] How beautiful and civilized! Mom, mother, great mother! Who does not have a mom? The CCP is the mother of all Chinese, their salvation star! For, “if there had not been the CCP, there would be no new China” and of course there would be no religious freedom, not to mention the Christians’ freedom to sit in magnificent churches to worship God. It is the party that gave us the right to worship God. Therefore, we have to thank for the party’s grace, and sing loudly to praise the party. Who could enjoy religion without the party’s permission? Furthermore, it is only under the party’s leadership that can one maintain pure religion. Therefore, one should first believe in the party, and then religion. This order of party first and God second should never be turned around.    

2.                “He as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God”: In all the government-sanctified Chinese churches – those supposed-to-be God’s temples, those sitting at the high places are all the party’s representatives. Although they do not directly claim the party as God, they often indirectly place the party above God. And now, these party representatives not only sit in the Chinese churches, but also openly sit at the high place of the American churches, and further, as an atheistic non-Christian without any covering, preach “God’s word”. Although the sermon is not true God’s word, but filtered and distorted Biblical teachings, the president of the famous American Wesley Theological Seminary gave a full score. Without any question, the party’s way of power is higher than God’s way. It would be just right “shewing himself that he is God”!            

 

Not only the religious affairs officials, but also the Chinese ambassador Zhang, Yesui, during his busy schedule attended the opening ceremony and joined the ribbon-cutting ritual. For, as said by the previous president Jiang, Zeming, “No religious affairs are small issues.” It is more effective to achieve the united frontline mission by religion than business since it would be more suitable for those heavy ranking historic figures such as the ex-president Jimmy Carter and Bill Graham to show up at religious affairs than at business affairs. Therefore, they have been trying to use religion to secure the united frontline mission moving forward smoothly. They put a lot of money in religion affairs, unite and use various foreign religious organizations, institutes and individuals going with the mainstream to eliminate the dissident voices. 

 

By the united frontline mission with money as the base, bribery, enticement and threat as the means, and control as the purpose, most of the foreigners have been subdued. Previously they looked down the poor communists; but now they are very submissive and obedient, obedient to the CCP, the dragon and the beast. This is what is prophesied in the Bible: “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 12: 9; 13: 4-8)

 

Under this situation, we who do not worship the beast have no choice but to fight for God’s word outside God’s temple like guerillas. What the CCP guerillas did were ambush and murder. What we guerillas do are to handout testimonies and tell the truth. Is it still a real Christian country where the Christian truth can only be proclaimed outside but not inside God’s temple? Dear brothers and sisters, at seeing this, don’t you feel that the Lord’s coming is near and the evil world will be judged soon? As a matter of fact, nowadays most people only have self-interest in their heart but no righteousness at all. (Revelation 19: 11)    

 

On top of the front stairs of the church, there were two white young men in black suits welcoming the guests. Brother Shao stepped up to them and asked, “Are you Wesley students?”

“Yes.” They replied very politely.

“I have two booklets here about the Chinese churches. Please take a look to know the facts.”

Looking at a middle-aged lady (probably their teacher or an administrative person) next to them, they hesitated and said, “Sorry. We do not want.”

“I have an open letter to Wesley professors and students. Please take a look,” said Brother Shao.

One of them said, “I have read it.”

The other one said, “An open letter? I want to see.”

Brother Shao handed the letter over to him. After a one-second glimpse, he put the letter into his pocket. Later, a white man in his fifties asked Brother Chen for some booklets. Then he went up the stairs and gave to the two students. And they received them. We guess he is a professor of Wesley. Thanks to God! There are still few His faithful servants fighting for His word in the seminary while it is committing adultery under the power of the great prostitute.  

 

A young pastor of the largest Korean church in Washington D. C. came out of the church and talked with Brother Shao. He said, his church turned down the request from the TSPM and CCC to host the exhibition because they knew the religious situation in China, and they also sent underground missionaries to China. He also told Brother Shao, “The reason for me being here is that our church was invited and we have to have a representative to attend the exhibition. I graduated from Wesley. I feel very disappointed at Wesley to sponsor this exhibition.” Later he said, “You are not alone. There are many brothers and sisters with you! Some large churches around the D.C. area also declined to host the exhibition.” Thanks to God! While the whole Israel was worshiping Baal, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him,” said the Lord. (Kings I 19: 18) 

 

Many always feel surprised at learning that the Israelites turned to worship Baal after having experienced God’s mighty hands so many times. How could they have done all these abominations in the holy temple, even “with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east”? (Ezekiel 8: 5-16) Dear brothers and sisters, please also think about why the TSPM churches sing at their highest voice “The east turns to red, and the Sun is arising,”[5] and “Party, Dear Mom!” What is the difference between them and the Israelites who “worshipped the sun toward the east”? After showing Ezekiel all those abominations committed by the Israelites, God ordered the destroyers to slay all those adulterous idol-worshippers. (Ezekiel 9) therefore, these people are destined to eternal destruction! “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (Thessalonians II 2: 9-12) 

 

According to the official website of the CCC/TSPM[6], the following guests gave warm remarks and expressed their best wishes to the Bible Ministry Exhibition in U.S.A.: Dr. Yawei Liu, Director of China Program of the Carter Center, Dr. Lamar Vest, President of American Bible Society, the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. John Upton, President of Baptist World Alliance, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church, the Rev. Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, U.S.A., the Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins, General Minister and President of Christian Church, U.S.A. and Canada, the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General/CEO of World Evangelical Alliance, Mr. Thomas Kemper, General Secretary of General Board of Global Ministries, the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Dr. G. Wilson Gunn, Jr,. General Presbyter of National Capital Presbyterian Office, the Rev. Dr. Daniel Vestal, Executive Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Dr. Douglas L. Rutt, Director for International Ministries, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Dr. Eugene Hsu, Former Vice President of General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Society, the Rev. Dr. H.S. Wilson, Executive Director of Foundation for Theological Education in South East Asia, the Rev. Robert Cunville, President of United Bible Societies, Mr. David Moyer, Executive Director of Maryland Bible Society, Mr. Myrrl Byler, Director of Mennonite Partners in China, the Rev. Dr. Donna Claycomb Sokol, Pastor of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church.

 

Dear Brothers and sisters, take a close look! What a Christian world that has already been united with the atheistic! The Bible warns us, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (Peter II 2; 1-3)

 

Brother Shao walked into the exhibition hall at the end of the day. Seeing a few TSPM/CCC people idling together, he went to them with a smile. Maybe they saw Brother Shao’s smile, their previous angry disappeared from their face.

Brother Shao greeted them first, “How are you?”

“How are you? May I ask where you came from?” A grey-haired man in his fifties replied politely.

“We are from Church of Rock, NY.”

“Church of Rock? Never heard of it.”

Looking at his name tag on his chest, Brother Shao read, “Pastor XXX.” 

“Yes. I am Pastor XXX.”

At this moment, another man in his forties turned around and met Brother Shao, “How are you? I am Joseph Gu.”

“Are you also a Christian?” Asked Brother Shao.

“Surely I am.”

Brother Shao then followed, “Since we are all brothers, then let us talk in our Lord. Since we believe in the Lord, we then should give our lives to our Lord, but not to the devil.”

They were shocked at hearing this.

Patting on their arms, Brother Shao said, “You know what I mean.”

They still could not find a word to answer. 

Brother Shao continued, “Remember, God is the one to judge us finally!”

Seeing them still speechless, Brother Shao smiled to them and then left.

 

Later, we watched the video of the exhibition ceremony, and were amazed at God’s work, since the opening prayer of the ceremony was clearly a slap on their face! (Matthew 25: 41). The following is the opening prayer by Bishop John R. Schol, Washington Episcopal Area, the United Methodist Church:

 

“Thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  Gracious God. We give thanks. You have spoken to your people through prophets and teachers, judges and kings and queens, through the high and lifted up and those born in a manger, through fisherman and Roman Centurions.

Yes God, thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  Gracious God, forgive us for you have lit the way with your word and we chose our own words and our own way.  Forgive us when we have turned to the words that have supported personal ambition rather than servant leadership, and when we have listened to rulers who seek nation building rather than seeking your kingdom.

Thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Embolden us through your word to spread the good news to the poor, release to the captives and tell the word of hope and justice to the oppressed.  Embolden us in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

Thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. God we also remember the word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and full of truth, a flesh of word that brought salvation. May your word become flesh through our lives and through our actions. 

Thy word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Today Lord, we pray for all those who spread your word through sharing your scripture, keep them safe. We pray for the persecutors, and those who seek to prevent the spreading of your word. 

Yes, God. Your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.”

 

This Bishop left the ceremony shortly after he delivered the prayer. We can see that God is in his heart. God used his speech to warn those seeking money and fame. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (Timothy I 6: 9-10) “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (Timothy I 4:1) This is exactly the present situation. Thank God spoke through this Bishop to his children and enemies, which strengthened our faith. Glory to our resurrected Lord and God who loves us!

 

Bishop Schol would not have had this chance to speak against this historic event of the union of the atheistic Christianity with the Christianity of the free country of the United States of America if the Chinese religious officials and their dear American friends had known that he would reject the favor offered by the powerful CCP. Due to the carelessness of the political scrutiny, the “glorious” history of the union of the Sino-US churches began with a spot. Fortunately, the spot can be wiped off since only a few present and nobody would tell the truth. History is the history of the authorities. The so called historians only write the history needed by those who can pay their salaries. Very few would write down the true history at the cost of hunger and imprisonment. Unfortunately, the record in God’s books cannot be altered or wiped off. And more unfortunately, God’s judgment is according to a man’s works recorded in God’s books but not the history recorded by man.  

 

With God’s might, our mission accomplished smoothly without much interference. The booklets of the bloody testimonies of the Chinese house churches and the truth proclamation reached many hands. We hope these testimonies and words can enter into their hearts, move them to rise up to fight for the faith. No wonder on our way back home Brother Li said, “What a beautiful fight!” Thank God for His leadership and protection because “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” After a short period, we followed them to Chicago and fought another fight for our Lord. (Romans 8: 35, 37; Timothy I 6: 11-12)     

 

 


[1]  Chunfeng Wang: See Thoroughly the Nature of the “Three-self Church” 

[2]吴耀宗：《光明与黑暗》Wu, Yaozong: Darkness and Light.

[3] 丁光训：從宗教自身建設看宗教如何與社會主義相適應-調整宗教觀念的呼喚【政協報】1998年9月4日第四版（Ding, Guangxun: Understand how the religion can fit socialism from the viewpoint of religion’s self-building – The Call for Adjusting Religion Ideology. Chinese Political Council Newspaper, Sept 4, 1998. ）

[4] “Party! Dear Mom!” (党啊，亲爱的妈妈！) is a popular song to praise the CCP. At the celebration of the CCP’s 80th anniversary in 2011, the CCP ordered all religions together sing this song and other songs to praise it. 

[5] “The east turns to red, and the Sun is arising.” (东方红，太阳升) is a song to praise Mao, Zedong and his CCP party. Mao is the Sun, the salvation star of the Chinese people.

[6] http://www.bibleinchina.org/news/choubeijindu/2011/9/119308512373.html accessed on 11/17/2011.