Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader who recently died at the age of 92, was "an
instrument of revival", according to Chinese house-church leaders. They say "he
was God's unwilling instrument to help bring revival to China." In an interview
with "Compass", an American institute for persecuted churches, they said "he
gave us the freedom to evangelise by not using the devices to punish us when we
did exactly that. That created an ideal atmosphere for church growth." A
well-known house-church leader from Shanghai explains further: "under too much
oppression, the Gospel does not spread. With too much freedom, the gospel is
never tested." A house-church leader in Guangdong said "Deng replaced Maoist
ideology with a materialistic philosophy: get rich quick. It is astonishing that
exactly this started many people on a spiritual quest, asking if they are only
there to buy a larger television or a better fridge." Informed observers believe
that the situation will continue; Deng's chosen successor Jian Zemin, who will
be 70 years old in July 1997, recently told leading government officials "we are
in a secret battle with the church." However, the Christian house-churches
continue to grow very quickly.
Source: Compass Direct, PO Box 27250, Santa Ana 92799, USA. Fax (1) - 714 - 531
- 2681, e-mail compassdr@Compuserve.com