As I mentioned in my last post, I am going to share some quotes from the book Back To Jerusalem that spoke to me as I read about the Chinese church’s vision to evangelize and “church” the nations of the “10/40 Window” and Jerusalem itself.

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 … don’t be amazed at the Chinese Christians, they are just sinners saved by grace and undeserving of any attention. Rather, be amazed at the wisdom and manifest beauty of God’s plan. ‘For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.’ (I Cor.1:25)”  (Paul Hattaway, p.xiv)

Don’t pray for the persecution to stop! We shouldn’t pray for a lighter load to carry, but a stronger back to endure!” (Brother Yun, p.69)

Please pray that God will give us His wisdom in all things, so that the whole movement will be rooted in His will and operated in His strength.” (p.94)

We are often asked how we are going to finance the Back To Jerusalem movement. The answer is simple: we aren’t! But we believe God will, and that He has done so until now….we look to the hand of God for his provision and not to human hands.” (p.102)

When we serve God it’s importnat to concentrate on His character and our obedience to his leading.” (p.105)

We can’t afford any big programmes or fancy Gospel presentations. All we have to give people is Jesus.” (p.106)

When you are truly obeying the Lord’s call you please God, and when you are in step with the work of the Holy Spirit you begin to feel the heartbeat of our loving Saviour. Your work stops being a chore and starts becoming a natural overflow of the love of God that has been deposited in your heart.” (p.125)

 … we refuse to be drawn into the spirit of denominationalism in any way….We are also not interested in erecting any church buildings. We don’t need believe the world needs another single church building. They need Jesus ….” (p.129)

If God has given you a vision for is glory, then step out in obedience to the heavenly call. The road may not be easy, but you will succeed if you endure to the very end.” (p.134)

So why then are there still so many needy countries and areas of spiritual darkness in the world today? … The problem lies in the kind of Christianity practised by the majority of believers today.” (pp.136,137)

There are more than enough Christian ‘believers’ in the world today. God wants more disciples!” (p.138)

God cannot use a person who wants a safe and comfortable Christian life.” (p.151)

People often think people backslide because they cannot hold onto certain theological truths, but the problem is usually disobedience, not theology.” (p. 153)

A church is meant to be a training centre and command hub for war, not a social club for pleasantries and hypocrisy, where people give lip service to Christ while refusing to obey His commands.” (p.156)

I have just finished reading Back To Jerusalem – Called to Complete the Great Commission by Paul Hattaway of the mission organization, Asia Harvest.

The book has been used of the Lord to better inform and educate me about what He is doing in and through the house church networks in China to fulfill the Great Commission. The book, and its reports of the faith, commitment and ministry of Christians in China and the house church networks and leadership has been nothing but inspiring.

Hattaway, along with three Chinese house church network leaders, inform the reader about the history, mission and vision of the Back To Jerusalem Movement. The book includes the inspiring stories and testimonies of the network leaders who, collectively, have spent over 40 years in prison for their faith. The stories and testimonies of “common” Christians who have given their lives in service and ministry for the cause of Christ are told and are inspirational as well.

One of the misconceptions that I had about the BTJ movement was that it was the intention of the church in China to simply return to Jerusalem and share the Gospel of Christ with the Jewish population who reside there. But, as I learned from reading the book, the Back To Jerusalem movement is much more than that.

As Hattaway writes in the Preface of the book,

 … Back To Jerusalem does not mean that the Chinese want to rush to Jerusalem with the Gospel. Their vision is much larger than that. Nor is Back To Jerusalem some kind of end-times theory. The Chinese church has no plans to rush to Israel to usher in the return of Christ. Rather, it refers to a call from God for the Chinese church to preach the Gospel and establish fellowships of believers in all the countries, cities, towns and ethnic groups between China and Israel.”

The land and countries that lie between China and Israel is what is commonly referred to as the “10/40 Window.” The “10/40 Window” is comprised of 50 countries that are the least-Christian and least-evangelized countries in the world. 90% of the world’s Unreached People Groups can be found in this region of the world – more than 5,000 tribes and ethnolinguistic groups who have little or no knowledge of God, Christ and His salvation.  This region is dominated by Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. It is this land that the Lord has called the Chinese church to reach for Christ.

Many facts about and insights into the ministry of the church in China, and the BTJ  movement (which is essentially a church planting-house church movement), captured my attention and imagination.

Among them was Hattaway’s mention of the “strengths the Chinese house churches had developed during their years of hardship” as noted in David Adeney’s book, China: The Church’s Long March. The characteristics of the house churches (HCs) noted are:

• The HCs are indigenous
• The HCs are rooted in family units
• The HCs are stripped of nonessentials (enhancing their flexibility)
• The HCs emphasize the lordship of Christ
• The HCs have confidence in the sovereignty of God
• The HCs love the Word of God (reading, memorizing, singing, obeying, sharing and preaching it)
• The HCs are praying churches
• The HCs are caring and sharing churches
• The HCs depend on lay leadership
• The HCs have been purified by suffering
• The HCs are zealous in evangelism

Before mentioning these HC characteristics, Paul had written that, “In an ethnocentric and proud nation like China, an effective indigenous strategy was ( and “is” - my editorial note) essential.”

If you are familiar in the least way with what the Lord is doing in China, you know that He is moving mightily in the country. It is estimated that between 25,000 and 30,000 people a day are becoming Christians, and these primarily as the result of the ministry of the local, indigenous churches. I recently heard an elder from a house church in China testify that the house church he is a part of baptizes over 100 people every month. The video he showed of people being baptized in plastic, blow-up baby swimming pools set out on the floor of the church building’s floor was a blessed and thrilling sight to behold.

If you have a heart for missions and church planting, if the Lord has placed an interest in China in your heart, or a love for the country and its people as He has in mine, I want to encourage you to read Back To Jerusalem. Read of its history and the stories that represent what is taking place in the country even as I write. And pray. Pray that the Lord will continue the tremendous work that He is doing in-country for His glory and the salvation of souls.

I intend to write one more post on the Back To Jerusalem book. In that post I will share quotes from the book that I personally found to be moving, convicting and encouraging. The quotes will be from house church leaders who participated in the writing of the book, Chinese Christians involved in the BTJ movement and Paul Hattaway. The quotes pertain to faith, discipleship, obedience, and the BTJ strategy for fulfilling the vision the Lord has called the Chinese church to.

~ Blessings ~

The Great Separation has posted a review of David Aikman’s novel, Awaken the Dragon, calling the action-based story of a U.S. news correspondent in China who crosses paths with the underground Church “a great read.” The review continues

“Aikman does an incredible job of embedding Chinese culture, politics, religious, and the underground Church in an action filled fiction story.

“Given today’s international tones this book was all the more interesting. The author’s background and knowledge with China helped to give a stronger feel of reality to each aspect of the book.

“The characters were all well developed and brought to life. As were the character qualities of Christianity, especially in places of our world where it is under suspicion and attack. As a sideline, this book reminded me of my responsibility as a Christian to be faithful in my prayers for the faithful in China.

“The main story plot, that of a missing American, was exciting. The steady development of the action made this book very hard to put down. Even when I finished it, I wanted more. I would recommend this book to anyone.”

Just one more day in the Central Kingdom, so I thought I’d put up one more The Worst of Perth on Tour China post. The church hasn’t done too well in China since 20 million died in The Taiping Rebellion (where a Chinese guy thought he was Jesus’ little brother), but KFC is going strong. I’m putting it into worst church, but I don’t actually disapprove of a church being turned into a fried chicken outlet. There are certainly more bums on seats. The guy in the foreground is praying that they’ll bring back popcorn chicken. And if you are not spritually fulfilled enough after KFC, just pop around the corner to the Faith Bar, where saintly local bar girls will top up your state of grace until well after 4am. TWOP on Tour, Dalian North China.

Un document sur l’Église Chrétienne en Chine en 4 épisodes (2003, 2006)
Partie 1 (durée 59:49; Le premier raconte la renaissance qu’a apporté l’Evangile dans les différentes sphères de la population de la Chine moderne.)
JESUS EN CHINE

Today the First Lady of the United States wrote an Op. Ed. piece in the Wall Street Journal calling for the Burmese oppression of Buddhists to be brought to an end. That’s all fine and well. I certainly don’t want anyone to think that I support the rampant persecution of peaceful protesters.I am, however, very disappointed that the President and First Lady, who claim the name of Christ, feel more concerned with the persecution of Buddhist monks than that of Christian brothers and sisters in China, and around the world.

Why are we calling for international pressure against the oppressors of Buddhists, while turning a blind eye to the rampant and escalating persecution of Christians in China and throughout Asia? Why are we calling for a free Burma, but not a free China and Indonesia? Why have these images been shown over and over, but the protests in July of 2006 over a church demolition in China disappeared from the news in a day?

I’m asking again that we Christians call for a boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games. In light of the calls against the Burmese government, it seems the least we can do.

In 1979, then president Jimmy Carter called the world to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow as a protest of their invasion and oppression of Afghanistan. Anywhere between 50 and 60 countries participated in the boycott, making it one of the smallest Olympic Games in modern history. The boycott had no actual political significance as far as Soviet policy went, but it was a significant public statement. By not participating, we kept millions of dollars from being added to their economy, and we denied them the opportunity to present a positive “white-washed” image of themselves to the world.This is in stark contrast to the Berlin Olympics in 1936, which not only garnered Hitler and his regime a lot of positive public opinion, it also assisted to finance the torture and genocide already underway.

Next summer, the world has a choice: will we support a regime that imprisons, tortures and kills hundreds of thousands of Christians every year? Will we dump millions of our dollars into their economy? Will we willingly point our cameras where they tell us to point them, and block our ears to the screams of innocent blood? Will the Beijing Olympics be 1936 Berlin?

Or will we as Christians take this year to stand up and say “NO!”? We will no longer allow our brothers and sisters to be carried away in the night! We will no longer allow billions of our dollars to be sunk into an economy that is building weapons to point in our direction. We will no longer pretend that China is our ally.

It is a scathing indictment on the Western Church that a Google search of “Christians Boycott 2008 Olympics” turns up websites from journalists, Buddhists, and agnostics and atheists of many and varied kinds, but there are conspicuously no major Christian organizations in the mix! While part of the body of Christ is suffering in China, we are sitting, fat and happy, feeding the beast that is devouring them, and we are doing it for higher dividends, better profit/loss statements, bigger 401Ks and an ever more disposal lifestyle. Now we are faced with an opportunity to make a statement that will cost us NOTHING, but even that, it seems, is too high a price.

The least we can do for these least of the brothers is to ask our congressmen, senators, members of parliament and athletes to take a stand against China, and for the Chinese church by boycotting the 2008 Summer Olympics.

For other information about helping the Church in China, please visit Bibles Unbound, The American Bible Society, or a mission of your choice.

For information about the persecution of Christians in China and around the world, please visit:
Voice of the Martyrs, Christian Persecution, and Human Rights and Persecution.

The Lord is the King of Martyrs, come let us adore him!

Being influenced by parodies of the excessively bloody film 300, I have created this.

Today 9 July is the Memorial of St Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions. They were canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.

St Augustine Zhao Rong (1746-1815) is first on the list because he was the the first native Chinese priest to be martyred. He was captured and died in prison.

Other Martyrs include 14-year-old Wang Anna (1886 – 1900), who refused to renounce her faith. Before she was beheaded, she exclaimed, “The door of heaven is open to all”, three times murmuring: “Jesus”. She was beheaded by Boxer rebels on July 21, 1900, in Wei County, Hebei Province.

18-year-old Chi Zhuzi (1882 – 1900) was an illiterate peasant who at the age of seventeen decided to join the Church. His family objected and he suffered much. He was banished from his home and he took refuge in another village. When discovered, he was ordered back. On the way, the Boxers captured him and forced him to worship idols. He refused and admitted to being Catholic. They cut off his right arm and mutlilated him to death. His famous words were: “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian”.

Foreign as well as native Catholics were persecuted. The Spanish Dominican Father Francesco Fernandez de Capillas was beheaded in 1648 while reciting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. He is considered to be the Proto-Martyr of China, that is, the first martyr of China. The Dominican Fathers’ house in Serrangoon Gardens is named after him. Other Orders have illustrous martyrs as well, like the Paris Foreign Missions; Society of Jesus; Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, etc.

The entire list of the 120 martyrs can be found here. In total, 87 native Chinese and 33 foreign missionaries were killed between 1648 and 1930.

Recently the Holy Father has released a Motu Proprio on the Church in China. It would do everyone well to read it, especially all Chinese Catholics. This document expresses the Holy Father’s desire for religious freedom in China.

For centuries governments have tried to pit themselves against the Church by declaring the Church as an outsider. The Holy Father has stated, ‘No one in the Church is a foreigner, but all are citizens of the same People, members of the same Mystical Body of Christ.’ Indeed, the Body of Christ transcends all national, ethic, socio-economic boundaries. Let us pray that rulers will realize this.

The Holy Father has expressed a wish for dialogue with civil authorities in China. The prospect of negotiating with Communists may seem bleak, but great progress has been made with the government in Vietnam. Who knows if the same can be accomplished with China?

致命聖人之血乃信友之種籽。

Sanguis martyrum est semen christianorum.

The blood of maryrs is the seed of Christians.

The Holy Father has proposed that 24 May be made a day of prayer for the Church in China.

On that same day, the Catholics of the whole world – in particular those who are of Chinese origin – will demonstrate their fraternal solidarity and solicitude for you, asking the Lord of history for the gift of perseverance in witness, in the certainty that your sufferings past and present for the Holy Name of Jesus and your intrepid loyalty to his Vicar on earth will be rewarded, even if at times everything can seem a failure.

Therefore following the exhortation of our Holy Father, and in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in China, let us pray for them.

St Augustine and Companions, pray for us!

Our Lady of China, pray for us!

中華聖母﹐請為我們轉求﹗

Sources:

http://www.catholic.org.sg/cn/wordpress/?p=1678&page=1

http://www.chinesemartyrs.org/chinese_saints/index.htm

http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=7631