Two Views on Olympic Evangelism in China

Steve McConkey is the President of 4 Winds Athletics International Track and Field Ministry of Madison, Wisconsin. He joined Vic Eliason to discuss the issue from Monday's Crosstalk that concerned a statement from Franklin Graham where Graham expressed opposition to missionary work at the upcoming Olympics in China.

According to Steve, registered churches in China are Marxist and liberal in their theology. No surprise, then, that the communist government doesn't like to hear about the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of Christ, or the second coming of Christ.

Steve noted that 3,000 people have been arrested in the last year in China, some people simply disappear, while others that have printed Christian literature have ended up in jail.

Vic read a comment from Bob Fu, Founder of China Aid from May 14th. Fu said, "The Chinese Christians are law-abiding, patriotic citizens, but when an unjust law demands them to go against their faith and Jesus' teaching of the Great Commission, they cannot and will not succeed to a 'faith moratorium' in order to please an atheistic government during the Olympic Games, even if that means enduring imprisonment and torture. Mr. Graham's comment is a deep offense to hundreds of House Church prisoners and their family members."

Vic also read a response statement from Franklin Graham supporting his initial remarks. Part of the statement said, "I support Christian groups that want to do ministry in China during the Olympics. However, I believe we must be sensitive to and respectful of the local church and the impact we as outsiders could have on them. We are guests in China and anything we do or say has a lasting effect on Chinese Christians that will be there long after the Olympics when we are gone. If we intentionally or inadvertently engage in any illegal activity we could jeopardize the well being of these Christians and the church in China."

Graham's latest statement ended this way, "There is still progress that can be made in the area of religious expression in China, but I am encouraged by the current direction. My prayer is that the church in China will continue to be strengthened and grow. Let us do everything we can to encourage and help the church in China as the world's eyes will be on their nation this summer."

What Graham fails to mention is that within the "local church" in China there are communist approved, 3 Self-Patriotic Movement (3SPM) churches and the house churches. It's this latter category of churches that sources such as China Aid report have been the victims of brutal tactics on the part of Chinese police as they attempt to shut down these churches.

More Information

4 Winds Athletics International Track and Field Ministry web site:
http://www.4wca.org

Statement by Franklin Graham on Chinese Evangelism:
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com