MINISTRY//A silver lining

Recently, our ministry and news blog posts have pointed out obstacles the Chinese government is erecting to the spread of the gospel. Especially the unregistered churches in China have met with obstruction, sometimes destruction.

A friend of 316NOW in China, however, has pointed out that China's strict insistence that Christianity can only be practiced within the churches that have registered with the government does have a silver lining.

China’s restrictions on Christianity

"Many churches with unbiblical theological backgrounds refuse to register. The government's policy is to stop all unregistered churches. Although it's one size fits all policy, it does limit these churches and the rapid spread of false teaching."

"Brands of Christianity that are heavily law-oriented could spread all over the country. If that happens, it might be too late to change people's wrong theology in the future. But God is greater. He is using the government to play a role in preventing the spread of heresy."

God’s guidance of Christianity

"Perhaps, instead of complaining or paying too much attention to the current sensitive environment for Christianity, we should focus on the opportunities of sharing the gospel that God is opening to us. May God help us to turn difficulties into blessed mission opportunities!"

What you can do: Ask the Spirit to help 316NOW -- and other Christian ministries in China -- to focus our gospel-efforts on what God is allowing us to do in China rather than on what we can no longer do.