Wednesday, December 31, 2014

China Cracks Down on Freedom, Christianity

By Douglas V. Gibbs

David Marshall explained when he was on the December 13, 2014 episode of Constitution Radio with Douglas V. Gibbs that in China a powerful underground Christian Church exists.  Though some freedoms had emerged for a short while as Communist China toyed with the insertion of limited capitalism into their otherwise government-managed economy, as citizens become more defiant after tasting a small morsel of freedom, the communist leadership is cracking down on any public displays of Christianity, and any emergence of paraphernalia or information that champions liberty.  The Chinese ruling class recognizes that with Christianity comes an increase in a demand for freedom, and the communists in control refuse to tolerate such a passion.

The intolerance by the government in China regarding Christianity has revealed itself recently.  A week before Christmas Chinese authorities dismantled a cross at a Christian nursing home.  The decision by the communist government occurred in the Zhejiang province, where the Christian population has been steadily growing.  The reason given for the removal of the cross was simply that the "orders came from high up."

426 churches in the province have received orders for the demolition or removal of crosses.  China claims it guarantees freedom of religion, as long as people worship in institutions that are registered with the ruling Communist Party's religious affairs authorities.  Some here in the States may, considering the assault on Christianity in the United States, expect similar requirements in America to emerge as well, with the added caveat that the churches must preach approved messages, such as regarding homosexuality.  Liberal leftists have already attempted such a move in Houston, and there is no doubt that won't be the last time we experience such an assault against religious freedom.

China is home to an estimated 60 million Protestants, but as the church grows, government persecution is increasing, under a government decision of a broader crackdown on dissent and religion.  Increased crackdowns are expected after the first of the year, largely fueled by the Muslim extremism in the western region of China, an area occupied by a significant Uighur Muslim population.

The communists also recognize that danger to their power structure that a system based on a written rule of law may present.  An example of this understanding is the recent one-year jail sentence given to a filmmaker who produced a documentary on the country's 100-year quest for constitutional rule.

Shen Yongping was found guilty in Beijing of running an illegal business because he had not obtained permission to film the documentary.  Shen argued he was innocent because he had released the film online for free and did not profit from it.

Though the ruling Communist Party says it has pledged to respect the constitution and legal system, critics say the communists continue to act as if they are above the law, and despite the lip service, are hostile to true constitutional rule.

Communist Party publications have sternly warned over the last year against Western-style constitutional democracy.

Shen, who is in his early 30s, was detained in April shortly after he finished filming the eight-part series on efforts in China to achieve constitutional rule since the last days of the imperial Qing Dynasty.  He had been warned and threatened with arrest a number of times during filming by authorities.

As we study what is going on in China, we can find a number of similarities to the crackdowns against liberty and Christianity in the United States by the Obama administration.  The path to accomplish these atrocities against freedom and Christianity in America, however, is being accomplished through a different set of tools and strategies - be it the Affordable Care Act's mandate that religious institutions also pay for insurance that covers abortion aids despite their religious stance on the issue, or the court's rulings against Christians for daring to stand against Homofascism, which recently resulted in a Christian Bakery losing a case regarding the refusal to bake a cake for a gay couple, and ultimately being forced into bankruptcy, and the example of the Houston mayor demanding the transcripts of sermons to make sure they did not speak negatively against homosexuality.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary



Homosexual "Wedding" Cake Case Pushes Christian Baker To Bankruptcy (September 2014) - Political Pistachio

City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons - Fox News

Homosexual Agenda Aims At The Destruction of a Civil Society (January 2014) - Political Pistachio

Gay Agenda: Destroy All Opposition (2013) - Political Pistachio

Christians, Stand Your Ground Against Homofascism - CNS News

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