Lighthouse: Persecution in China

The happenings in China surrounding Shouwang (Lighthouse) Church are gaining international media attention. The façade of religious liberty is giving way to the true demon underneath, and that demon is ugly.

It was not long ago that Chinese Christians were placed under house arrest and denied egress at airports during the Lausanne Conference in South Africa. That was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of government pressure and media coverage.

CNN posted an article about a young woman known only as “Water” who has been detained, followed, and harassed by the police for her involvement in the church. Her fears echo the fears of countless others, both in the underground church in China and in the broader context of Christianity past and present.

These fears include continued harassment, longer detention, and even torture. Water and others like her need our prayers to stand strong in the face of opposition, just as Peter did for the believers he wrote to in his New Testament epistles.

The example of the believers in Jerusalem following the detainment and beating of the apostles is one we should remember in this situation:

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 5:41-42, ESV