This morning I read a very disturbing article by Derek Lam, a Christian student studying theology in Hong Kong. He is a Democratic activist who has been targeted by the Chinese government. He and his friends are facing prison time for their stated beliefs and peaceful protests to maintain the right of democracy in Hong Kong.
In this article, his great concern is that the Chinese government is successfully infiltrating and subverting the Christian Church. The greatest fear of totalitarianism is true Christianity. Hitler feared it and imprisoned Christian leaders like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Caesar feared it and burn Christians at the stake or had them mauled in the Coliseum by lions. Stalin and the Communists feared it and so they sent church leaders to the gulag. Slave owners feared it and created a Bible removing all the books, chapter and verses that spoke about freedom to give to African slaves in the West Indies.
“We are in the world and not of it.”, Jesus said. He also said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Patriotism is a wonderful thing. I’m as patriotic as they come. But if my country or my president does something that is contrary to the values and laws of the Bible, I will not support it and I will speak out against it.
Our number one patriotism needs to be to the Kingdom of God. That is what this amazing young man is writing about. “I hear the sound of a person” who is following Jesus no matter what the cost. He is now a marked man and he will be monitored by this totalitarian regime for the rest of his life.
I long for heroes to emulate. When I read the Bible, the lives of David, Moses and the Apostles spur me on. On Friday, August 25th, in the New York Times, I have found another one.
Here is the link to the article if you would like to read it