Comments on: What Impresses God

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:45:14 +0000

Thanks Hannah,

I too forget to pray for our suffering brothers and sisters – I want to be more faithful to pray for them….

By: Hannah

Hannah — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 01:11:43 +0000

Good thoughts. For me, the Olympics has been a constant reminder of the false face China tries to put on for the world. Unfortunately, I forget to translate that frustration into prayer on behalf of our Chinese brothers and sisters who are really suffering there.

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:24:55 +0000

Brother Eugene,

I so respect you for the way you are serving and trusting Jesus. Thank you. Please tell me how we can best pray for you and our brothers and sisters in China.

Lewsta,

Great insights – China doesn’t seem too worried about our Western technology, television and money corrupting their “ancient culture.”

By: lewsta

lewsta — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:08:01 +0000

What amazes me is that the Chinese government trots out that old saw about Christianity being a “new, western religion” that threatens their ancient cultural ways. Nonsense. I’ve read of solid evidence that Christianity has been in China since the very earliest time after Jesus’ resurrection, even that the apostle Thomas had been there (perhaps as an extension of his India travels?). And we westerners “buy” this line of preserving their “ancient culture”. The present “culture” of China is no more like “ancient China’s” than our present American culture is that of the pre-Columbian peoples that met the Mayflower in 1620! And we extend to China “Most Favoured Nation” status in trade? They are only very slightly less restrictive and repressive than North Korea.

By: Brother Eugene

Brother Eugene — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:38:30 +0000

I am a missionary in rural China, in the foothills of Tibet.

Although the stories shared in this post are not the norm for all Chinese believers, they do occur daily somewhere in this nation of 1.3 billion.

The hypocrisy of China is something that is hard for us to deal with living here on a daily basis.

I would love to send info to major news sources detailing the restrictions and persecutions that take place in our region against Christians and anything considered anti-government, but it is simply too dangerous for us to do so.

We would risk getting our business visas cancelled and being “booted” if we were to speak out in the way that we would like.

So we will just continue to share the Gospel and trust in the sovereignty of God in this and every situation!

By: Mark Altrogge

Mark Altrogge — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:36:03 +0000

Yeller, Courtney, Bruce, Briana, Katherine and Meg,

Thank you for your great comments. We’ve been preaching through Daniel in our church and it’s been so good to be reminded that Christ is reigning and only his kingdom will last forever.

By: Meg

Meg — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:29:54 +0000

Fantastic post, Mark. We have been talking about the economic rise of China and how they are now effectively the most powerful nation in the world. They are in control of the bank account and therefore have no need for the rest of the worlds’ approval of their human rights policies.

Having said that, we know that God is in control of all things, including the world’s purse strings. For reasons far beyond our ability to understand, God has allowed China to become what it has, including a police state that silences our brothers and sisters voices. Just as God allowed many other godless empires to rise to greatness before them such as Assyria, Babylon and Rome, He has allowed this for a time. God will have all the glory, regardless of China and their horrific treatment of Christians and many others who they see as a threat to their government.

Thank you for the reminder to pray for the dear saints in China. May we not be blinded by the glitz and glamour of the Olympics and great sporting achievments, but rather be in awe and wonder at a mighty God who is sovereign over all things.

Sorry for the long winded and emotional comment. It is something close to my heart. Thank you for writing such an honest challenging post.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:19:46 +0000

Thank you for this reminder! It is so important to keep the believers in China in our hearts and prayers.

By: Briana

Briana — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:42:15 +0000

Thank you for this post.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:25:33 +0000

I watched the entire opening ceremony and a constant theme throughout the show was the mass of people working in unison. It was meant to be symbolic of the Chinese ethic (and even communist ethic) of the individual disappearing into the collective and working for the good of the group. We should realize, though, it is that same ethic that works to persecute the church; any “foreign” religion, especially one that promotes individual decision-making, is seen as a threat to their social structure. So, in the opening ceremony, China was effectively explaining why they persecute the church and a billion viewers were watching an apologetic for persecution.