20SP_RE201A-CI-Christianity

I had no idea that Chinese Christians are persecuted in the fashion that they are. It is crazy to me to imagine possibly being arrested for expressing my faith and practicing my own beliefs. This lesson was very eye opening. 

It is confusing and I don't understand the point and purpose of it. 

I know that China is a communist nation and that they are afraid of Western colonization, but I dont understand why they are only allowed to worship in the one church that the government allows and why you can be persecuted for believing in something different. 

Whether or not I agreed with the State's beliefs and rulings in the government realm I would still not want the state regulating my religion. That is why in America we have separation of church and state. After seeing the oppression that Chinese Pentecostals face I have a new appreciation for my religious freedom. 

Its not hard to understand why the Chinese people lean so much on persecution and martyrdom when they face imprisonment for not wanting to hear what a Communist state-sponsored church feeds them. The struggle of their religious persecution is why the freedom we have is so amazing.

I would feel uncomfortable attending a Christian church that was state-sanctioned by a communist church. Although they claim this is religious freedom, it does not seem like religious freedom to me. It seems very fake and forced. I can't imagine having to hide from the government in order to practice my religion and worship the way I want. It makes me thankful for the religious freedom that I have.

It's hard for me to imagine maintaining religious integrity under a state attempting to wipe away that identity. The cultural genocide and violence inflicted on Uighur muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Pentecostals is pretty astonishing. I also have no idea where it's going to go because the Chinese government has shown it's equally ineffective as it is cruel in suppressing non-state sanctioned religion. 

I think that risking your life for a religion is a good form of dedication. It shows that you are willing to do anything for the religion and the lord. Praying in house churches to avoid being taken out by the government is great.

It’s so sad to read about how strong the government hold is on them and that people are being persecuted for what they believe in. 

It is interesting that back in Constantine's time, there were house churches. In today's world, there are still house churches in China where they are also trying to be controlled by state sponsored churches. I guess my question is, how long will this last? Will they ever be able to worship freely? The government has provided churches in an atheist world, so will they eventually give in and provide freedom to the Chinese people to worship on an individual seeking basis. It takes up a lot of resources to constantly monitor and charge people who participate in house churches. 

It makes sense that the Chinese Pentecostals would put faith in suffering.  They see a parallel between their suffering and persecution and the suffering and persecution of the important figures of the Christian faith.  Government controlled religion would leave them feeling similar to the figures of early Christianity who died for their religion but were rewarded with a much better life.

The lesson felt familiar. When the lesson said that the government would listen into their prayers and try to control the people was wrong,but the fact that the people would rather die than renounce their faith showed how they are true Christians in the eyes of their people. I felt like this lesson was very interesting and that the way they were willing to practice even with the laws was courageous.  

This lesson I feel like I was already familiar with.  People in places who do have to suffer for Jesus are true christians if they endure the suffering because that indicates their dedication, but what if you don't have to suffer like us? then you need other ways to show your devotion.  I find the government control really sad and wish it wasn't that way for the Chinese people.

This lesson felt very familiar when it discussed the Chinese government regulating state approved churches, and it likely did to you all as well. After a few minutes of contemplation, I realized that this was exactly what Constantine did to Christians back during his rule. His basilicas, appointed bishops, and doctrine are mirrored in the actions that the Chinese government is taking right now. Chinese Christians are flocking to house churches, just as many Christians did, or fled Rome and went on to practice monasticism.

Wow, this was an interesting lesson. I had never thought that the mark of a "true" Christian might be those willing to lay down their lives and/or suffer for their believes. In the reading I could not believe that a married couple could not worship together because one was a foreigner. I admire the grit and perseverance of the Chinese pentecostals who are striving to practice their faith despite anti-religious laws in their nation.