China is cracking down on religion. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended the U. S. government:
“Redesignate China as a ‘country of particular concern,’ or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations . . . Impose targeted sanctions on Chinese government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom . . . Publicly express concerns about Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic Games.”
It’s not just Christianity. According to USCIRF
- A million or more Uighur and other Muslims have been sent to concentration camps.
- Tibetan Buddhism is being suppressed; thousands of monks and nuns have been displaced, some imprisoned and tortured.
- Thousands of Falun Gong (meditation movement) practitioners have been arrested. Some may have had their organs “harvested.”
- Hundreds of Christian churches have been raided or closed. Images of Christ are being replaced with photos of President Xi Jinping. Youth under age 18 are banned from participating in worship services.
Lord, we pray for a changed hearts: for President Xi–to humble himself and worship God; for Chinese authorities–to grant freedom of religion; for the US government–to exercise godly wisdom in all situations involving China; for Uighur, and Buddhists, Falun Gong and all those of other religions–that all may find their safe shelter in Christ.
