Religious Freedom In China

The acceptability of China to the gospel is still arguable.  Generally, the China government has changed its attitude on the freedom of Christian beliefs even the gospel can’t be preached at the moment, at least some kinds of church meeting are still allowed on Sunday.  

“There is still some restrictions on church meetings on Sunday,” said Dr. Shen, a Chinese Language Professor. “The congregation of the local Chinese people and the foreigners are not allowed to gather together in the same congregation. They need to have their own.”  Because of political reason, the China government aims to avoid the aggression and influence from the foreigners to the government body through the local citizens.  Missionary work will still need to wait until the release of all these restrictions.

Beside the invention from the government, the gospel spreading is also being affected by the Cultural Revolution.  There was secondary and primary schools set up by Christian parties; but after the revolution, all these schools were forced to change to private basis.  Students do not have any way even to learn about God.  Dr. Shen explained that the newer generation who lives and studies in this system is practicing “no such things of God”. 

Kwong Chun Wah, a clergyman who teaches at Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, says that the new Hong Kong government will not tackle religious issues in the near future, because too many other important issues are demanding attention.  He also says that Christian leaders in Hong Kong saw the main focus of the handover as a crisis of identity.  But Tung Chee-hwa, the first new leader of Hong Kong after 1997, has provided assurance that he will protect and preserve religious freedom in the nation.  Tung, a multimillionaire Hong Kong businessman chosen by Beijing to run the territory, stressed that churches and church organizations would not suffer because of the change that took place July 1.  

 “The Basic Law stipulates that the Hong Kong SAR government shall not restrict religious beliefs, interfere in internal affairs of religious organizations or restrict religious activities that do not contravene the laws of Hong Kong,” he said.