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"Remember
them that are in bonds, as bound with them;
and them which suffer adversity, as
being yourselves also in the body."
Hebrews 13:3
The Executive Forum on Ministry in China
will be held February 22-24 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The event is
staged by the Christian Leadership Exchange which in turn is headed by Mr.
Danny Yu. The forum is nothing less than a betrayal of the true followers
of Christ in China. It is a shameless propaganda stunt on behalf of the
puppet state church of the People's Republic of China. The forum is part
and parcel of a concerted effort to convince Christians in the West that
there is freedom of religion—albeit with "a few problems"—in
China. The speakers are persecutors of and accomplices of those who
persecute our Christian brethren in that nation. This year's Executive
Forum on Ministry in China (formerly titled Symposium on Church Ministry
in China) will once again feature no house-church Christians or pastors.
Instead, the forum will wine and dine delegations from the following
Chinese organizations which are under the direct supervision and control
of the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) of the Central Committee of the
Chinese Communist Party:
Three-Self Patriotic Movement:
As the official state church, the TSPM faithfully touts Communist Party
policies. The TSPM leadership (usually party members) or the party
itself appoints pastors who must not only maintain party loyalty but
also silence on numerous portions of Scripture. Many TSPM personnel are
communist agents. (See below for more.)
China Christian Council:
The CCC along with its sister organization, the TSPM, monitors and
regulates church activity and even reports "illegal" religious
activities to the RAB. The CCC, which provides the leadership structure
of the state church, advances party policies within the state church as
well as presents a propagandized image of the church in China to
foreigners.
In past years, the Executive Forum on
Ministry in China also featured delegates from the Religious Affairs
Bureau. We believe such individuals will certainly be present this year as
well but will be "undercover," perhaps due to a growing outcry
against Danny Yu and his China ministry forum's betrayal of the suffering
church in China. According to Mr. Yu's own web site, he has entered into a
"partnership" with the state China Christian Council. According
to our information, he is also in partnership with other elements of the
communist government of Red China. Mr. Yu is a master propagandist for
that tyrannical government. In his public writings and speeches, he
carefully weaves in disarming comments about Chinese Christians
occasionally having some problems with local officials even as he subtly,
and not so subtly, demonizes the house-church Christians in China.
Christians in the West need to understand
that Mr. Yu is working hand-in-hand with the communist government of the
People's Republic of China. From time to time, that government shows it
appreciation for Mr. Yu's labors on its behalf. For instance, the
November 18, 2001 online edition of the People's Daily
contained a report on a "celebration" in the Great Hall of the
People in Beijing to honor twenty years of "cooperation"
between Danny Yu and communist government agencies.
Presbyter Ji Jianhong, one of the
top-billed speakers at this year's CLE forum in Colorado Springs, is the
chairman of the National Committee of the Protestant Three-Self
Patriotic Movement. Ji has stated that he became involved in the TSPM
when he came to understand "that the Chinese Communist Party was
not against religion . . . I also found that some Communists were great
people."
As the true Christians in China suffer
persecution at the hands of the Communist Party, Danny Yu is wined,
dined, and honored by their persecutors. Christians are still being
persecuted in China, even dying for their faith. Those seeking
confirmation of that claim should contact Bob Fu, president of China Aid
Association (phone: 432-689-6985). Mr. Fu, who escaped China with his
wife in 1997 after both being imprisoned for holding Bible studies,
works closely with the underground church in China and has documented
many instances of recent persecution of Chinese Christians by their
government (www.chinaaid.org).
Danny Yu is a wolf in sheep's clothing
(Matthew 7:15) who is inflicting great harm on the true Body of Christ
in China. For the cause of Christ and the sake of our persecuted
brothers and sisters in China's true Church, Danny Yu and his
state-church cronies should be exposed, reproved, and shunned.
—Ralph Ovadal, director, Wisconsin
Christians United; pastor, Pilgrims Covenant Church (phone: 608-328-4841
• cell phone: 608-558-2612)
"Woe
unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after
the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. .
. .
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame;
wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for
ever."
Jude 11, 13
Seven Rules of the Three-Self
Patriotic Movement (According
to China News and Church Report, December 3, 1993)
"First, (Christian believers) must
fervently love the People's Republic of China, support the leadership of
the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples' Government, uphold the
unification of the motherland and the harmony among ethnic groups, and
work steadfastly on the road of socialism.
"Second, (Christian believers) must
strictly abide by all the laws, regulations, and policies of the Communist
Party and the State, and strive to be patriotic and law abiding citizens.
"Third, (Christian believers) must
actively work to increase the material wealth and cultivate the spiritual
morals of the socialist civilization. They must comply with the
government's labor codes and strive to contribute to the development of
the ‘Four Modernizations' established by the Communist Party. When
scheduled religious activities are in conflict with production and work
schedules, the economic activities must take priority.
"Fourth, a permit must be obtained
from the county Religious Affairs Bureau [who are Communist Party members]
in order to establish religious meeting points. No unauthorized meeting
points are allowed.
"Fifth, (Christian believers) must
actively cooperate with the government to carry out thoroughly, the
party's religious policies to the letter. (They) shall not persuade and
force others to believe in Christianity. (They) shall not brainwash
teenagers under 18 with religious beliefs. (They) shall not bring children
[under 18] to religious activities.
"Sixth, one should see a doctor for
medication when sick. (Christian believers) must not resort to prayer
alone for healing so as not to endanger people's health and lives.
"Seventh, (Christian believers) shall
not preach their religion outside the church building and specific places
which have been designated for religious activities. They shall not preach
itinerantly. They shall not receive self-proclaimed evangelists into their
homes, churches, or meeting points."
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