December 24, 2000

Celebrate freedom; pray for those oppressed

During these last few days before Christmas, American Christians eagerly prepare for a joyous celebration. Many churches will host overflow crowds, especially for family and children's programs, and come Christmas Eve, well, let's just say you'd better get to church early if you want a seat. Yet as many of us prepare to celebrate God's gift to mankind, we also should celebrate the gift of freedom given to this country.

In Communist China the season of Advent has been one of particular brutality aimed at churches that dared organize themselves outside the official Communist Party structure.

As The Washington Post reports, unofficial churches tolerated for decades by the government recently have been seized and destroyed or turned into Communist Party facilities. Communist Party officials and government workers, under protection of armed guards, took sledgehammers to a Protestant church in Wenzhou, smashing even its organ and sound system.

It's all part of an official campaign against "illegal religious activity locations and feudal superstitions," as officials put it.

Why such a harsh crackdown now? Because China is undergoing a religious revival, and fealty to any authority higher than that of the Communist Party cannot be tolerated if the Communist dictatorship is to survive. Communism survives only through oppression.

In America, no one tries to bulldoze churches or prevent people from worshipping. As we gather for Christmas celebrations, let us include in our prayers those people throughout the world who are not as free to gather in worship.