John H Armstrong

Of Gods and Men: A Film to Move the Soul

Of Gods and Men is one of the most moving and tender Christian films that I’ve seen in several years. It is understated, in terms of its Christian witness, and profoundly human. There is no great display of heroism here, just a group of devoted Christian men living courageously for Christ and peace in a violent place and time. The soundtrack is in French, with English subtitles. Please do not let this keep you from seeing this moving depiction of the very real world in which Christ has called some of his people to both live and die.

Based loosely upon real events that happened in 1996, seven French monks in Algeria are kidnapped by Islamic terrorists and disappear. (The reason that we know the story as well as we do is because two men escaped capture and told the story!) The circumstances of the murder of these seven brothers, which is clearly based upon facts, are still shrouded in a degree of mystery. The film rightly leaves the circumstances of their end in doubt, at least regarding specifics. But the truth is these men knew their end would come, sooner than later, and they faced this possibility with their eyes wide open. They did not feel called to become martyrs but they felt they were to live well where they were and stay at their post.

Prior to their abduction, the monks in Of Gods and Men, did know that they were in real danger — even though they had lived in friendly harmony with their Muslim neighbors for years. The group had to make a collective decision of whether to leave Algeria or stay. Every man had to first decide for himself. The movie grants each the dignity of individual struggle, which is wonderfully portrayed in some of the best film I recall seeing. But in the end this was also a community decision since the men took their vows and community seriously. This makes the story entirely countercultural for an American audience, all the more reason for you to see it.

This film has received numerous international awards but was a surprising omission among this year's Foreign Language Film Oscar nominees. Anyone think that religion, and a stunning Christ-like conviction lived out powerfully in the midst of Islamic terrorism, could have influenced the Academy’s decision? I admit I lean that way rather strongly.

The cast is led by The Matrix Reloaded's Lambert Wilson as Christopher, the elected head monk. His role is played with a depth and tenderness that is memorable. Michael Lonsdale from Munich is the monastery's aging doctor. But it is shared strength as a band of brothers who are humble before Christ that has stirred many viewers to an awe that transcends skeptical opinions about religion or politics. This has happened in France, and across Europe, where Christian faith and belief remains at a profound low point in the popular cultural context.

The devotion of these men is not only remarkable but their way of facing their mortality is awe-inspiring. This inspiration is movingly expressed when the men join in the beautifully plain chant that fills the simple, but moving, soundtrack. The music of Tchaikovsky makes an emotionally climactic appearance in the sound when, having absorbed the consequences of their choice to stay in North Africa, the men share wine and listen to this music on an old tape deck.

I rarely see a movie that has been so undersold, even by the best critics. See Of Gods and Men if you want to consider what it means to live a peaceful life for Christ in the midst of terrorism and suffering. I am not likely to think about what it means to live and die for Christ in our world in the same way again, at least anytime soon.

Is Christianity the Most Persecuted Religion?

The Catholic organization Aid to the Church in Need released a religious freedom report on November 30th. The report says that seven of ten people are unable to freely live out their faith without some form of state or personal opposition that seeks to make their expression of religion difficult or nearly impossible, at least in public. I am not sure what figures and means were used to determine this percentage but I have to believe the reality of this problem is much greater than almost anyone in the West knows or understands. And I do believe no other religious profession is as widely persecuted as the faith of Christian believers the world over.

Americans, in particular, take the freedom of religious expression for granted. We should be vigilant to protect this hard won freedom and we do all that we can to properly extend it to others wherever possible. This freedom is always tenuous and when virtue goes freedom is often not far behind, which should concern those of us who live in the modern West.

The same report says that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world with at least 200 million Christians suffering from various forms of discrimination. The greatest “hot spots” are in the Middle East and various parts of the former Soviet Union, as well as some Asian countries where Islam is particularly powerful. It is important to note that this is not true in every Muslim context but the plight of Christians has grown even worse in many Muslim countries over the last decade.

An anonymous prelate from the Vatican’s Synod for the Middle East said in October that the position of Christians from the Middle East is precarious regarding both freedom and emigration. In part, he said, “Let’s stop saying there is no problems with Muslims; this isn’t true. The problem doesn’t only come from fundamentalists, but from constitutions. In all the countries of the region except Lebanon, Christians are second-class citizens.”

Pray and Speak Up for Christians in Iraq

On October 31 two priests and 51 parishioners were murdered by Islamic terrorists in Baghdad at a Syriac Catholic Cathedral. The primary reason for this attack seems to have been the determination of certain militant Islamic forces to prevent a religiously plural central government in Iraq. Pope Benedict XVI called these attacks “savage” and “absurd.” The descriptions of what happened, even to children, are gruesome.

Joseph Kassab, executive director of the Chaldean Federation of America (CFA), the largest and oldest association of Chaldean organizations in the nation, said: “Iraqi Christians are being systematically murdered and driven from their homeland. This situation must, repeat must, be addressed by an international security coalition with members from Iraq, the U.S. and the U.N.”

Many Iraqi Christians believe their suffering is invisible to most Christians in the U.S. I have to agree. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs issued a statement on this recent attack and did not even mention the cathedral or use the word Christian in condemning the attack. Several members of Congress have written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to acknowledge that the specific targets of violence in Iraq are Christians.

When we invaded Iraq many of us questioned U.S. policy at that time. I personally believed that the biggest losers in such an invasion would be Christians. Under Saddam Hussein Christians were left alone since politically they served as a kind of buffer between conflicted Muslim sects. Now with a weakened government and the rise of day-to-day violence Christians are dying and being driven from their ancient homeland, a place where the gospel has been present since the first century. “Out of sight, out of mind” should not be how we express our outrage to our government and other world leaders. Our brothers and sisters are dying since they are targeted as infidels by the radicals. What will we do?

Tony Dungy: Blessed By Hatred?

Tony Dungy, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, is an outspoken and wonderfully consistent Christian. His story is told in several books that reveal his faith and principles of personal coaching and leadership: Quiet Strength: The Principles, Practices and Priorities of a Winning Life, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance and The Mentor Leader: Secrets to Building People and Teams That Win Consistently. Dungy has recently become an NBC analyst for NFL games. This new job has opened Dungy to a lot of harsh criticism. He has been called by critics a “high priest, the oracle who passes judgment on all moral questions.”

Since football involves a whole host of moral and personal issues Dungy is frequently asked to weigh in on people and situations in his new role. Questions such as: “Should Reggie Bush have returned his Heisman Trophy?” Or, “Does Michael Vick deserve forgiveness?” Or recently, “Should Coach Rex Ryan cut back on the f bombs?” Dungy has answered yes to all three questions. He has urged compassion toward LeGarrette Blount, the Tampa Bay running back who punched an opposing player while at Oregon last season, and also proposed stiffer punishment for Jets receiver Braylon Edwards, who was benched for one quarter for a DUI. Dungy said one game was more appropriate. Some of players, both Blount and Vick, have actually turned to Coach Dungy for personal counsel.

But Coach Dungy has recently come under considerable fire for his stance on virtue and life. A Google search will reveal that Tony Dungy’s name is now connected to “holier than thou,” a fact which Sports Illustrated noted in the October 18 issue. This site got 871 hits in one week. Another source attacked Dungy, calling him: “Tony Dungy: An Insufferable S---.”

In Phil Taylor’s Sports Illustrated (SI) article he quotes Dungy saying: “I’m not trying to be anyone’s judge or conscience. I don’t feel that I’m saying or doing anything different from what I always have. NBC has given me a platform, but I’ve always been passionate about doing what’s right, about Christian values, and I’ve never hidden that. I really haven’t changed.”

What has changed, says SI’s Phil Taylor, is that “Dungy has a freer rein, unconcerned with the taboo against a coach sticking his nose into another team’s business. He’s a media member, paid to give his opinions, and the more often he speaks his mind, the more likely he is to encounter opposition.” Dungy says, “People are going to disagree with me sometimes, which is fine. I’m not suggesting that I have all the answers.”

Phil Taylor writes that “The vitriol aimed at Dungy is hard to fathom. He has none of the bombast of, say a Limbaugh or a Sharpton; he’s not an attention junkie and doesn’t revel in stirring up controversy. He has the ability, increasingly rate among those who consider themselves social commentators, to criticize without mockery or sarcasm. How exactly does this make him insufferable?”

My answer to Phil Taylor’s question is rooted in the gospel that Tony Dungy loves and lives in his life day-in-and-day-out.

God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12, NLT).

Tony Dungy is not Charles Barkley for sure. Barkley can take on various people and decisions and folks say, “Sir Charles is just being who he is.” Dungy humbly answers a question with an honest answer and the response is akin to sheer hatred. Taylor asks, “Could it be then, that Dungy’s virtue makes some of us uneasy? Maybe we are so unaccustomed to a good man simply trying to apply his own set of values to the world around him that his critics have been reading him wrong. You needn’t believe he is always right to appreciate his efforts to do right. There’s nothing sanctimonious about that.”

When I read Phil Taylor’s words I thought to myself: “Blessed are you Tony Dungy.” I wish more public figures lived their faith in this way, speaking the truth but doing it with humility. Tony Dungy is hated for his Christian values and practices and openness. I don’t think there is much doubt about this when you listen to him and understand his life.

If you do not know Tony Dungy’s story here is a great video about the man and his faith.

The Dance of Life

One of my great joys is to teach evangelism, as an adjunct professor, at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. And one of my most profound joys in teaching is to work alongside some of the finest practitioners of evangelism in the world. One such evangelist is my dear friend Dr. Lon Allison. Lon is the Director of the Billy Graham Center and a dedicated preacher and evangelist. He also promotes the unity of the Spirit in the whole church. I was asked by Lon, a few years ago, to serve on this advisory team. I gladly do this and support him in every way I can. Lon recently made a trip to Africa and shared the following account of his journey with his friends. I share it with you because of the insight it provides regarding the church in Rwanda and in the West.

Less than a week ago, I proclaimed the gospel of Christ in Mukamiri, Rwanda. Several congregations gathered in a large concrete structure that was grey and barren of art or color. They call this building their church. The service went 2 ½ hours before I spoke. Children’s, women’s, youth, men’s, and combined choirs sang and told the gospel story. Most of all, the choirs dance. Oh how they dance!

Earlier in the week I’d witnessed and experienced the same on a hillside outside the Anglican Cathedral in Musanze. Africans love preaching that has been, and we’d given them our best efforts, “prayed-up and through-through.” Preachers from the “West” like myself, and African Bishops and Archbishops, all took turns in declaring the Word. It was, I’m told, reminiscent of the East African revivals bursting upon these lands in the 1930s. We preached and we sang, but most of all, I remember that we danced. Bishop Nathan grabbed my hand (we’d just finished preaching together) and said, “Come Dr. Lon, we dance”.”And did we dance---hundreds of Africans, many who had just come forward to commit to Christ (children, youth, mothers with babies, bishops wearing purple)---we danced. The dance was a glad, exuberant kind of dance unstructured and full of complex and vibrant African rhythms. I’m not absolutely positive, but I believe I saw Jesus in the crowd.

The dances of Rwandan life are sometimes overwhelmingly sad as well. Our trip started with a sad dance. We’d come to Rwanda, from Vancouver and Chicago, as a team of 10. Part of our purpose was to experience and learn from Rwanda. The sad dance defies descriptive words. I sum it up with one: genocide. In the spring and summer of 1994, chaos and evil reigned. Neighbor betrayed neighbor, family betrayed family---ethnic cleansing spilled blood throughout Rwanda. More than one million people perished. Today memorials from the genocide are found in every region of the country. And at each memorial are buried bodies. At the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, 250,000 bodies are buried in vaults; most are nameless. We witnessed a bombed out church where grenades had punctured the walls, and 5,000 had perished mostly from machetes. Skulls of that destruction, and the clothes they wore, are on display. Dark brown blood marks many of the walls and the floor. “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). Rwandans get that.

Sixteen years later, the country and its ten million people still struggle to find ways to cope, understand, forgive, and when possible, to reconcile. The church of Jesus leads out in the reconciliation teaching and guiding the way to peace which only the gospel affords. And the government participates as well. In many places, reconciliation leads to restitution and restoration. Across the red dirt street from the “grenaded” church are new homes built for families who lost loved ones. The builders are remorse-filled perpetrators of the genocide. The genocide will not go away. Anyone you get to know beyond their first name, will answer softly and reverently when asked if they knew someone who died. The common answer is, “yes, many”. You ask no more questions.

In this climate, God’s people preach, counsel, guide and rebuild the souls and structures of their society. And brethren from the West, like our little team, join them. Shoulder-to-shoulder, text-to-text, prayer-to-prayer, we joined. We certainly realized that we were among people knowing pain most of us have never known. And because of that, we understood that the church also knows grace and mercy at levels beyond our understanding and experience. There were giants among us. And yet, they seemed so grateful we’d come. Bishop John told us why. Rwandans remember when they cried out and the world did not come---until too late. Somehow, in our coming now, they find comfort. They are effusive in their gratitude.

It was by faith I preached in these places. The Word of God and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins was my only theme. My brothers and sisters did the same. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God. And the mystery of salvation, the breathtaking wonder of watching souls born anew, experiencing grace, forgiveness, and hope happened over and over again. Our best estimates suggest we preached to some 10,750 people in our meetings. And we watched as approximately 1,750 responded and by commitment stepped into, or back into, trust in Jesus Christ to save them in this life and the next.

Many of you prayed and some of you gave money to help us in this journey. Please receive my thanks.

What is next? We are now planning and raising funds to invite key Rwandan Christian leaders to come to America and preach Christ and reconciliation to us. Like the Macedonian we cry out, “Come to America and help us.” We were with some giants. Perhaps God will use them to save our people and our land.

I hope to return. Both Rwanda and Tanzania have asked for me to return next year and stand with them in other settings, to preach the gospel of Christ, and dance, dance, dance.

Lon Allison

July 31, 2010

A Fool for Christ

Some of you may have noticed that the former NBA player Manute Bol died, at the age of 47, a few weeks ago. The sports world paid little attention. Bol was not known for stardom but for being a physical freak. He stood 7 feet, seven inches tall and weighed 225. He was both the tallest and thinnest player in the NBA. He averaged only 2.6 points per game over the course of his career, though he did excel at shot blocking given his towering presence.

Bol earned $6 million playing basketball. When his fortune was used up the Sudanese native became a humorous spectacle in order to raise more money. He was hired to be a horse jockey, a hockey player and a celebrity boxer.

Wall Street Journal writer Jon A Shields, assistant professor of government at Claremont McKenna College, noted that “Bol agreed to be a clown. But he was not mocked for his own personal gain as so many reality-television stars are. Bol let himself be ridiculed on behalf of suffering strangers in the Sudan.” You see, Manute Bol was a radically committed follower of Jesus Christ. He raised money to help his neighbors in Sudan and thus gave his life to obey the first and second great commandments. While doing relief work in Sudan Manute Bol contracted a painful skin disease that ultimately contributed to his death. Bol literally gave his life for others.

Obituaries, and ESPN commentators, described Manute Bol as a humanitarian, not a Christian. But this is not unusual. The same sports journalists describe men like David Robinson, A.C. Green and Dwight Howard as “good guys” rather than as Christians. I am not surprised. These men, like Manute Bol, are willing to let their light shine in the dark world of the NBA where martial infidelity is common and consumption seems to be the shining glitter the sport offers, specially to previously poor black athletes.

Jon Shields noted, in his Wall Street Journal article about Bol’s passing, that “he was a fool for Christ.” What a great witness to leave behind. Eternity will notice even if the sports world did not. In the passing of Manute Bol another witness to Jesus Christ died a martyr’s death and the world was not paying attention. Why should we think they would?

The Ongoing Struggle of Church and State is a Real Threat to Mission

A French court has ruled that the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Nice, built with funding from the Russian Tsar Nicholas II and completed in 1912, just prior to the country's revolution, belongs to the government of Russia and must be handed over. The victory is Russia's latest in a series of battles for church property around the world, which represent attempts by the Russian government and Russian Orthodox Church to reassert control over a widespread diaspora. A Russian émigré group has run St. Nicholas Cathedral under the jurisdiction of the Istanbul-based Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople since the 1920s.

If you do not follow such news this may strike you as quite unimportant. It strikes me as both sad and dangerous. By danger I am not reworking the old themes of the cold war, not at all. I am reminding Christians of the danger the church faces when it gets too comfortable with the state. From 1917 until the fall of the U.S.S.R. the church and state were very separated in Russia. In fact, the state persecuted the church in waves and waves of opposition. This persecution ran the gamut from killing bishops and ordinary Russian Christians to destroying property and taking it to make it into museums for atheism.

When the communist regime began to crumble in Eastern Europe, and then inside Russia, things changed for the church. At first almost all Christians were welcomed into the former Soviet Union. Bibles and church workers of all sorts moved in and the results have been mixed to say the least. One of the sadder parts of this story is that we exported a great deal of American evangelical subculture with the gospel message. Eventually the government, and especially the Russian Orthodox Church, became concerned about all this foreign, and mostly evangelical, influence. Frankly, one can understand why if you study what happened closely. Besides exporting a great deal of our own version of the faith we also exported ideas foreign to Russian culture and trampled over centuries old traditions without wisdom.

Another tragedy, maybe even greater than the first, was that we also exported our sectarian versions of the church. We went in as Baptists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Independents and charismatics. The result was a scandal to those who had professed faith in Russia for centuries and to those who saw the impact of this divided church on the new Russia.

All of this preceded rulings like that of the French court. In time the Russian Orthodox Church and the new government (which is a mixture of the old with some things new) made "peace" and the result is a new marriage between church and state that frankly troubles me as a teacher of mission and an advocate of church unity and the Great Commission.

I asked an Orthodox priest about all this and he answered me as follows:

This is just another of the long-standing problems of church/state relationships. To put the best light on it (which is to really strain things), churches that have suffered persecution have been known to "rebound" into unholy arrangements when favor comes to them. Constantine and the Church had some of the same problems. Yes, there are things worse than persecution.

What a thought for serious Christian leaders and churches. "There are things worse than persecution." I doubt most American churches and leaders have a clue about what is worse but I think we might live to find out. We shall see. In the meantime don't you think we need to think about the role of church/state continually and vigilantly and be discussing it inside our Christian churches in the West?

 

When and How Should We Speak Out About the Persecution of Other Christians?

The Institute on Religion & Democracy (IRD) recently expressed its dismay (January 14 post) at the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA)’s for having ignored religious persecution in China during its recent visit. Instead, says Faith McDonnell of the IRD, the WEA spoke only of cooperation with the government-registered church while disregarding restrictions by the communist regime on unofficial churches. The vast majority of Chinese Christians, conservatively estimated at 80 million in number, worship in unregistered congregations that meet in homes and other settings.

The IRD post adds that: “In the past week alone, leaders of the Chinese House Church Alliance were detained by the authorities in Hebei province according to China Aid. House churches in both Beijing and Shanghai have also been closed recently by the police. In Shanxi province, authorities demolished the Fushan House Church’s building, giving church leaders long prison sentences. In December, a Ugyhur Christian convert from Islam was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his faith.”

There is no question, to my mind, that this report from the IRD is accurate. Having served on the board of IRD, and having had the privilege of knowing Faith McDonnell, I deeply respect her integrity and professionalism. She knows her facts and she has a deep desire to help those who suffer. I also agree that there is a time and place to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, as is the case for those millions of believers in the unregistered house churches in China.

Faith J.H. McDonnell's full statement reads as follows: “We are glad that the WEA was able to minister to and encourage China’s officially registered church. But we cannot do service to one part of the Body of Christ at the cost of doing disservice to another.“One would not be able to discern the presence of any other church in China from the WEA’s report. We find it staggering that there was no acknowledgment of the 80 million or more Chinese house church Christians or what they face from the Chinese government."

“Acknowledgment of the Chinese house churches, and of those who are in prison for their faith, is our duty as fellow Christians."

“We see the inability of good intentions and legislation to stop the persecution of Christians around the world. We see what appears to be a juggernaut of policies and politics crushing freedom and democracy. But have we seen the power of God released in these circumstances by faithful and constant prayer? We must get serious about praying for the persecuted church.”

Question: Is it always right, especially in a context where one is a guest inside an oppressive regime like that in China, to “acknowledge” every part of the body of Christ in order to assist one part of that same body?

I think the answer to this is rather tricky and never easy. I know Faith and believe her completely, as I have already noted. But I also deeply respect the World Evangelical Fellowship and would guess that they were not trying to harm anyone by acknowledging the registered churches in China. They were seeking to build relationships with Christians inside China for the cause of Christ’s larger mission. At the same time I am not sure of the entire context of their discussion, which obviously was held in private.

Let me give some context to my question. I can still recall Billy Graham’s visits to oppressive countries like Russia and China during the 1980s. He was routinely criticized, by the left and the right in this instance, for not taking a stand against the persecution of believers within those lands. It seemed like he was being "used" so he could preach the gospel to some and ignore others. I can still recall a protest in front of the Graham Center here in Wheaton. I shared a great deal of dismay about his stance at the time. Many years later we have come to know what we did not know at the time. My view has changed based upon the facts of Dr. Graham’s stance in the actual context of what he aspired to do and why he tried to do it. I do not see his behavior as harmful to the persecuted church but, in the long term, I think it may have actually helped the persecuted church.

I freely admit that I am not an expert on these matters. I pray for the persecuted church as my friend Faith McDonnell urges us all to do in her final paragraph. I know Faith to be a wonderful, honorable and admirable Christian advocate for her persecuted brothers and sisters so this is not in question at all. The heart of her concern is right on.

I hosted Brother Yun, the former Chinese house-church prisoner, in Wheaton in the fall of 2008. I learned from him (firsthand) of the horrors of persecution in that land. But I still wonder. Should we raise objection to such groups as the World Evangelical Fellowship, who can do so much good for the church in China, because they do not publicly speak about the plight of the house church?

This reminds me of another story that I know to be true. I got the story from a minister who was in the room with President George W. Bush at the time that he told the story to a small private group. On his first visit to China President Bush spoke to the premier on behalf of Christians in China at a dinner. He told the premier of his own faith and urged him to see that following Christ should never bring such oppression from a government since faith helped make him the man who could run for office and eventually become the president. After a night’s sleep the president pressed the point once again, in private, the next morning.

As far as I know the media never reported this so many Christians may have felt the president lost a golden opportunity to speak on behalf of fellow Christians in China. The real facts are that he did but in a guarded and appropriate way, at least from how I see the situation. I am open to see this differently and some of you may have information or facts I do not have but I “winced” when I saw IRD openly question another important evangelical group that faithfully seeks to represent Christians from all over the world.

The Persecution of Christians Is a Serious Problem

One in ten Christians around the world live with persecution for their faith. Such persecution takes many forms. For some this means they live with daily fear of violence, kidnap, rape or even death. To talk with a friend about Jesus can land you in jail in many Muslim contexts. In other places being a Christian means you must live in utter poverty, trapped by a system that limits your opportunities to break free. In many contexts being a Christian means you carry a distinct social stigma. This affects the jobs you can get and how your children will be treated in school. Under shari’a (Islamic law) the court will reject your testimony as worthless when it is compared to that of a Muslim, regardless of the credibility of that particular Muslim.

In the global church today it is estimated that 200 million people live in areas where they face discrimination, persecution or oppression because of their faith. The two greatest threats to the world-wide family of believers come from communism and the practice of shari’a law. There is still persecution from some forms of militant Hinduism, in parts of India. And there is some from Buddhist extremists in places like Thailand. But the majority of opposition to Christian believers comes in countries where communism is still practiced as social/economic law and under Islamic law.

In all our public discussion of the political/military situation in Iraq I am quite amazed at how few Christians actually understand the implications of American policy in that country. Before we entered Iraq Christians were actually in a far better place than they are today. Iraq offers to us a context of hope but one filled with real fear at the present time. While Saddam generally left believers alone the present influence of Islam has altered that rather significantly and most of us simply do not understand.

There are two sources I use to keep up with persecution on a regular basis. One is the American mission of Voice of the Martyrs. The other is a mission begun in 1993 called Barnabas Fund. There are many others but these two are reliable and helpful for my prayerful (and monetary) response to the persecution of my fellow Christians. I urge you to become aware of this problem and to engage it as a part of your Christian mission.

China and State-Sanctioned Repression

Those of us who lived through the summer of 1989 can never forget the historic Tiananmen Square protests in China. Student led protests created a massive movement for a more open and democratic government that reached a crescendo in early June. Then the Chinese government decided to stop the Beijing protests with force. No one knows how many people actually died in Beijing as martial law was enforced and soldiers marched on the city to clear the streets. Tanks rolled and people died. Official statements say that a little over 200 people died. The more likely guess is that the number approached 3,000. People were shot in their own homes by bullets that soldiers sprayed randomly into crowds and homes. The pictures that we saw in the west were astounding. Most of us watched with amazement. The end result was that the student protest was put down and the people were again forced to submit to a repressive government.

Filmmaker Antony Thomas went to China a few years ago to find one of the most iconic people of the era. The man was never identified, though a western story has given him a name and says the government executed him. His only name, used all across the world, is “The Tank Man.” If you have seen the photos (both still photos and movie footage) you still recall the tanks rolling down the empty streets while a young man, holding two plastic grocery bags, walks in front of a tank and, in effect, says: “Leave my city. Stop!” The rolling tanks stop and the man succeeds for maybe a minute or so. The pictures, taken by an American photojournalist from his hotel balcony, spread around the world. The man’s courage was widely celebrated. Thomas went to see if he could find out what really happened and if "The Tank Man" was alive. The result of his visit is the sterling Frontline (PBS) piece called “The Tank Man.” (You can find the video at PBS or rent it from Netflix as I did.)

Thomas examines how the student uprisings benefited the urban elite and middle class tremendously but did little or nothing for the throngs of Chinese people who live in the rural inland parts of the country. In effect the government allowed western style economic principles to come into China but kept out democratic movements, thus the spirit that drives our economic ideology. One wonders how long this can last but for now it seems to work, bettering the lives of more Chinese people every day. What is particularly shocking in Thomas’ presentation is how complicit the major Internet and software companies in the west have been in allowing the government to use their services to harass and persecute Chinese citizens. My blood boiled at the footage of the congressional hearings related to the deliberate compromise of democratic principles by Yahoo, Google, Sun Systems, etc. Money really does outflank democracy for such American business people.

Will China ever escape the repression of a fiercely undemocratic government? One would think that in the long run it is bound to happen. For the sake of the church we ought to pray that it does happen yet the church can operate very effectively in non-democratic contexts too. (We shall look at this very point in another blog on China that I have written for October 20.) If American money were not poured into China without conscience reform might happen even sooner. The Tank Man represents real courage under fire. We do not know who this man actually was, or even what happened to him, but his story simply sets before us a picture that is worth more than a thousand words. My view of this moment will never be the same after seeing Frontline’s special “The Tank Man." Check it out.