Who gets to define religion? In our case, specifically, who gets to define the new Christianity? China passed new religious regulations almost six tears ago. I started to write about them a couple of times. It was never quite right though. I felt like the U.S., in some way, was going to copy what China did. As it turns out, we’re doing just that.
Not in the same way. Not for exactly the same purpose.
But the one thing we’d have in common is the desire to control people by redefining what one specific religion is about.
We don’t really know who or what to pray to anymore, because too much is changed. The adjacent image tells the story.
China targeted every major religion. Here in the U.S., some in the government are targeting Christians to remake Christianity in their image, and thereby control both the Christians and the non-Christians in one fell swoop.
In China, they openly want the government to control Christianity.
In the U.S., they use social media, personal desires, hatred, and the like to get some so-called Christians to be the impetus for their new version of Christianity.
Different. And yet, the same. Either way, Christianity becomes unrecognizable.
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First, let’s look at China.
What is the goal for a new Christianity in China’s religious regulations?
Obviously, from the title, at least one goal is to redefine religion in China. But are there other goals?
Part of the goal of the Chinese government is to water down Christianity to the point where it retains so little of Jesus’ teachings that it means nothing. Of course, in China, the official position of the Communist Party is that there’s no God. Therefore no Jesus. No Salvation. Everything comes from the Party and all allegiance is to the party. God must be eliminated in order for that to happen.
It’s like the adjacent image. You can still see the crosses, representing Jesus dying on the cross for the salvation of all who believe in Him and follow Him. But you can also see the Chinese flag, trying to cover up the crosses. It’s symbolic of China trying to eliminate God.
It’s not just Christianity either. It’s any religion. So while this is about Christianity specifically, things in it do apply to any and every religion in China.
I dare say, even atheism, which is a religion by definition, will be affected by these regulations. we’ll see why and how as the series progresses.
In essence, the Chinese government is trying to put the Chinese people into the scenario of the Church in Laodicea from Revelation. They want to, in many ways, redefine Christianity to very much reflect the state of the Laodicean church.
Things seem hopeless for them. By them, I mean both the people in the ancient church described in Revelation and the Chinese people today.
A reason for hope in spite of new religious regulations in China
And yet, Jesus promises the right to sit with Him on His throne to those who overcome in the Church in Laodicea. Since this is prophecy, the same promise should be outstanding to the Chinese Christians.
And so, this attempt at oppression seems tailor-made for a “new hope” for the people in China. And even though they may start off with a watered-down Chinese Christianity, Jesus says that anyone who really tries to reach Him will succeed.
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Next, let’s look at the U.S.
What is the goal for a new Christianity in America’s religious laws?
It’s like the adjacent image. You can still see the crosses, representing Jesus dying on the cross for the salvation of all who believe in Him and follow Him.tom But you can also see the American flag, trying to cover up the crosses. It’s symbolic of some in the U.S. trying to redefine the Son of God. And His Father. And the Holy Spirit.
In the U.S., the goal is to turn Christianity into a weapon. Something to turn into hatred. Those who can be riled up by some portion of the Republican party are the sources to find out who to hate.
Then, that hatred is turned against them. It’s been done before.
I asked Bing Chat to do a bit of research for me. Here’s what I found out about history maybe repeating itself.
There is no consensus among historians about Hitler’s religious beliefs. Some argue that he was a Christian while others argue that he was an atheist or held some other beliefs. According to an article in the Washington Post, Hitler “loathed Christianity” and “despised its ethics” 1. Another article from Christian Post states that Hitler was “godless” and “never acted as a Christian” 2. However, some sources suggest that Hitler was raised as a Catholic and even considered becoming a priest 1. It is important to note that Hitler’s views on religion were complex and evolved over time.
2
The Catholic Church in Germany opposed the Nazi Party, and in the 1933 elections, the proportion of Catholics who voted for the Nazi Party was lower than the national average 1. According to an article from Facing History & Ourselves, two-thirds of Protestant voters supported the German Christians movement in a national vote taken in July 1933 2. It is important to note that Christians in Germany were not a monolithic group and had different views on the Nazi Party. 3
Sure sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Leaders who may or may not even claim to be Christian. Leaders who certainly are not following what Jesus taught and commanded His followers or His way of life. And leaders who claim to be Christian, but are rejected by some because of what they are doing to and in the name of Christianity.
One of the most obvious problems, at least it should be, is something as simple as the passage below.
Love for Enemies – Luke
6:29, 30 pp — Mt 5:39-42
Lk 6:27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Lk 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
I don’t know how anyone can know, believe, and live out that one passage from Jesus and still feel justified in following certain members of the Republican party in this country today.
And yet, we know it’s happening. It’s in the news all the time. It’s in social media. We can’t get away from it.
It’s sad.
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Conclusion – Can the conservative Republican Christians in America redefine Christianity?
For a significant portion of the Christian church in America, the answer is a resounding yes. This particular Jezebel seems to be alive and well in the U.S. And they’re trying to spread their news to the end of the earth. Some are even very active in Africa.
Conclusion – Can China and U.S. governments define a new Christianity?
Can the Chinese and U.S. governments define a new Christianity? They’re succeeding right now. For now. And to an extent.
The question is whether those who know and understand what Jesus taught about love, not hate, will stand up and be heard.
Ultimately, of course, God will win.
But actually seeing that victory in person isn’t something I’d wait for. Or even hope for.
Because that’s the end. As in – The End.
God and me - this life and the next 
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