{"id":21812,"date":"2014-04-11T14:11:16","date_gmt":"2014-04-11T20:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/?p=21812"},"modified":"2014-12-27T02:25:40","modified_gmt":"2014-12-27T09:25:40","slug":"chinese-christians-form-human-shield-to-protect-church-from-government-destruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/publiccatholic\/2014\/04\/chinese-christians-form-human-shield-to-protect-church-from-government-destruction\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Christians Form Human Shield to Protect Church from Government Destruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Officials in China\u2019s Communist government are denying that they are engaging in a campaign of systematic destruction of Christian churches.<\/p>\n

They make this claim despite the fact that they have ordered the destruction of approximately a dozen churches. Churches in the Zhejiang province are reportedly facing either destruction or government-ordered removal of their crosses.<\/p>\n

Christians who live in the province have responded courageously. They have formed human chains around the churches to prevent their destruction.<\/p>\n

Even though officials deny a demolition campaign, the Communist Party\u2019s provincial official in charge of religious affairs said publicly that the growth of Christianity was \u201ctoo excessive and too haphazard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The interesting thing to me is how completely these government officials misunderstand the mustard seed of faith that is Christianity. It\u2019s not now and never has been about church buildings. Christ grows in people\u2019s hearts, not buildings.<\/p>\n

They can tear down every church, and it will only serve to spread the Gospel further and faster.<\/p>\n