Chinese Christians Fast and Pray about New Religious Legislation.

New laws that are all set to be passed in China threaten Christians in the country with severe persecution, including prison.

CBN News reports that, according to an anonymous tip-off from an American Christian who has connections with China’s underground house church movement, church leaders in China are praying and fasting, preparing themselves for the new legal amendments.

China Law Translate reveals that the new version of the law has 74 articles, as opposed to the earlier version with 48 articles. These articles cover such things as general legal provisions, religious bodies, sites for religious activities, religious personnel, religious property, legal liability, and religious activities.

Dr. David Curry from Open Doors USA stated that, while the new amendments did have some common sense religious regulations that could protect the rights of Christians, he is worried about the impact they will have on China’s Christian population as a whole.

A two-page letter released by the Chinese government in September explained the necessity of the new amendments, warning that, “Any religious group or religious individual should not use religion to bring threats against national security.”

Brent Fulton from ChinaSource disclosed that officials in China have always viewed Christianity as a western tool that aims to infiltrate China. “In these new regulations there are things that specifically mention foreign infiltration. I think that’s what they are most concerned about – the influence of the West, as they see it happening through the church.”

Despite these restrictive moves, Fulton explained how amazed he was at the growth of the Church in China.

“God is moving in China in incredible ways,” Fulton said. “The example of the urban church today is really a testimony of what God is doing. You’ve got these urban house churches sprouting up in cities across China and they are very open about what they are doing.”

• Give thanks for the growth of the Church across China, and for the hunger in peoples hearts for the Gospel.
• Pray for the continued growth of the Chinese Church, for many people to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and come to faith in Him.
• Pray for the Government to see Christianity as relevant to China, not as a western tool to threaten them.
• Pray for opportunities for the Gospel to be taken to the Western parts of China, where there are many unreached people, mostly Muslims.
• Pray for the leaders of the Church in China as the fast and pray together for their nation and churches. Pray for strength, perseverance, encouragement and wisdom for these leaders in the face of the new legislation.

Philippians 4 vs 6: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Source: http://www.christiantoday.com.au/article, http://www.persecution.org