At 8 minutes past 8 o'clock on the 8th day of the 8th month the Olympics Games will start in Beijing, China. 8 is a very auspicious number in Chinese culture and the date and time have been set very deliberately.
What China is also very deliberate about is that it wants it to be a very harmonious time. For this reason they are redoubling their efforts to make certain that nothing is allowed to happen to threaten that. This is having a marked effect on the way that Christian ministry can be carried out. Many Christian workers from overseas are being given one-month visas or else are having their visas cancelled altogether. But as these restrictions are being implemented many overseas Christian agencies are planning a strong Christian witness. And this is the focus of today's minute for mission.
In previous Olympics - in Athens and in Sydney - the open Christian witness inside the Olympic Village and at the various venues around the cities brought a lot of enrichment to individuals and to the Church itself. Many found Christ and lives were profoundly changed. But this overt Christian witness is inappropriate in China where severe restrictions still apply as to how Christian belief can be celebrated. The Government is still strongly Communist and atheistic.
The Church in China sees its role as providing loving Christian service to overseas visitors. They are planning home-stay accommodation, community festivals with street artists and entertainers. They are financing outside screens for viewing the events and putting on musical entertainment. They are not aimed to be evangelistic but want to be seen to be a gift from the Church to the community. They are aiming to be discreet and are looking for the long-term benefits of bringing the fragrance of life to different elements of Chinese society. They are walking a delicate tightrope between honouring God and obeying Chinese lat.
On the other hand some overseas Christian agencies are coming with big dreams and visions hoping to bring thousands into the Kingdom by short bursts of evangelistic preaching on street corners . No relationships can be formed or followed up by such methods and are likely to cause unnecessary offence. Let us pray that all who love Jesus Christ in Beijing during the Olympics will be sensitive to the different political climate of China and respectful of the laws of the country they are visiting. Let us pray that the love of Christ will be winsomely and attractively presented.
What China is also very deliberate about is that it wants it to be a very harmonious time. For this reason they are redoubling their efforts to make certain that nothing is allowed to happen to threaten that. This is having a marked effect on the way that Christian ministry can be carried out. Many Christian workers from overseas are being given one-month visas or else are having their visas cancelled altogether. But as these restrictions are being implemented many overseas Christian agencies are planning a strong Christian witness. And this is the focus of today's minute for mission.
In previous Olympics - in Athens and in Sydney - the open Christian witness inside the Olympic Village and at the various venues around the cities brought a lot of enrichment to individuals and to the Church itself. Many found Christ and lives were profoundly changed. But this overt Christian witness is inappropriate in China where severe restrictions still apply as to how Christian belief can be celebrated. The Government is still strongly Communist and atheistic.
The Church in China sees its role as providing loving Christian service to overseas visitors. They are planning home-stay accommodation, community festivals with street artists and entertainers. They are financing outside screens for viewing the events and putting on musical entertainment. They are not aimed to be evangelistic but want to be seen to be a gift from the Church to the community. They are aiming to be discreet and are looking for the long-term benefits of bringing the fragrance of life to different elements of Chinese society. They are walking a delicate tightrope between honouring God and obeying Chinese lat.
On the other hand some overseas Christian agencies are coming with big dreams and visions hoping to bring thousands into the Kingdom by short bursts of evangelistic preaching on street corners . No relationships can be formed or followed up by such methods and are likely to cause unnecessary offence. Let us pray that all who love Jesus Christ in Beijing during the Olympics will be sensitive to the different political climate of China and respectful of the laws of the country they are visiting. Let us pray that the love of Christ will be winsomely and attractively presented.
BT
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