The Chinese government’s crackdown on Christianity continues to intensify.<\/p>\n
Christian congregations in Beijing and several provinces are having their crosses destroyed, Bibles burned, and churches shut down according to pastors and a group that monitors religion in China. Furthermore, the government is ordering followers of Christ to sign papers renouncing their faith in some areas.<\/p>\n
Under President Xi Jinping, China\u2019s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, religious believers are seeing their freedoms shrink dramatically even as the country undergoes a religious revival.<\/p>\n
The continued suppression of religious freedom is part of an official campaign to “Sinicize” religion by demanding loyalty to the atheist Communist party. They also seek to remove any potential challenge to the party\u2019s power in the country.<\/p>\n
Bob Fu of the U.S.-based group China Aid said that the closure of churches in central Henan province and a prominent house church in Beijing in recent weeks represents a \u201csignificant escalation\u201d of the crackdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe international community should be alarmed and outraged for this blatant violation of freedom of religion and belief,\u201d he wrote in an email.<\/p>\n
Fu also provided video footage of what appeared to be piles of burning bibles and forms stating that the signatories had renounced their Christian faith.<\/p>\n
Jay Sekulow, President Trump’s attorney and Chief Counsel at the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), wrote in a tweet: \u201cThe situation for Chinese #Christians becomes more dire by the day. We are working tirelessly to put maximum pressure on China stop the persecution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n#China<\/a> CCP starts burning the Bible and crosses in Henan. Last time burning Bibles campaign happened in late 1960s by dictator Chairman Mao\u2019s wife Jiang Qing in Shanghai. She was arrested in 1976 but Christians grew to millions. Will Never be successful\u6cb3\u5357\u6587\u9769\u91cd\u73b0\uff0c\u70e7\u5723\u7ecf\u5341\u5b57\u67b6 pic.twitter.com\/T5esv16NXI<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Bob Fu\u5085\u5e0c\u79cb (@BobFu4China) September 5, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n