HOUSE CHURCHES AGONIZE OVER REGISTRATION IN CHINA


Registration is still a hot issue for China's long-suffering house churches. The government insists on registration as the only means of legal existence for churches. Registration means subjection to the Communist Party's Religious Affairs Bureau and other bodies controlled by atheists. Evangelism, finances, pastoral appointments and Sunday sermons are all ultimately managed by the Religious Affairs Bureau. A house church leader in Jilin province recently wrote a letter that vividly illustrates the dilemma Chinese Christians face. "Several of our church workers have searched the Scriptures and believe it is not right for the church to register. Now our church is scattered and under persecution. . But in a neighboring village, there is a big registered church set up 10 years ago. Their leaders believe the church should obey the higher powers and register with the government. . Because the viewpoints of these two churches are so different, the leaders have no spiritual fellowship. . Does our lack of fellowship with the Three Self church constitute schism?"

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