I'm protesting the Olympics. A little late to be typing this.....Having an international event of this magnitude in a country like China comes as complete lie to me.
Here is a closed nation, a Communist nation, that is trying to put on such a front, a phony front at that, and it just makes me sick.
Starting things off was the opening ceremonies when the little girl lip synched because the face of the actual singer wasn't pretty enough. Sure, at our huge sporting events the acts are lip synched but it's the actual artist singing.
The Chinese governement is going so far as to squelch any protests and is clearing out the homeless to give the false image that they are in control and eveything is all hunky-dory.
I think what bothers me the most is the human rights issues with this country; creating false crimes to arrest people. I belong to Voice Of The Martyrs, a non-profit organization that raises awareness of the crimes committed against Underground House Churches and its fellow followers, condeming them for following Christ and denouncing their National Religion.
I write letters of encouragement to imprisoned pastors and believers of Christ as they endure torture and lengthy sentences. I admire these people for having the faith and courage to stand up for Christ in the face of adversity.
Ask yourself this: would you defend Jesus if you were threated with death of either yourself or your family? Would you renounce your faith in Him if faced with this in order to protect yourself or your family?
I don't think I could. Yet these people do on a daily basis. They strongly and proudly profess their love, faith, and devotion to the Lord. I was emailed the following story today about a pastor in China who was arrested because he was behind the Olympic Prayer Bands that have been circulated around the world.
Inspiration for Olympic Prayer Band Arrested
Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, known for traveling across China on a bicycle to evangelize, was arrested by Chinese police just two days before the Olympics began. Pastor Bike was the inspiration for the recent partnership between The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association to create the Olympic Prayer Band.
Earlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff to ask Christians to pray for persecuted Christians in China during the Olympics. The pastor voluntarily preaches the gospel openly in China despite being persecuted. He has asked for his identity to be revealed to bring continued attention to the persecution of Christians in Communist China.
Thanks to Pastor Bike’s inspiration and the commitment of concerned Christians across the United States, more than 800,000 prayer bands have been circulated. On Aug. 6, Pastor Bike was arrested while trying to deliver medicine to his ailing wife. His wife and another pastor were also arrested. We have also learned this week that Chinese officials are opening a full investigation of the Olympic Prayer Bands that were distributed to house church members within China. Despite this increased pressure from Chinese authorities, Chinese Christians continue to ask for prayer and to make their plight known.
Order your Prayer Bands today!As the Olympics goes on, the harassment of Chinese evangelists continues to increase. Please help remind others to pray for persecuted Christians like Pastor Bike by ordering your prayer bands today!
More about Pastor BikePastor Bike, president of the Chinese House Church Alliance, rode his bike more than 10,000 miles, visiting 24 Chinese provinces to introduce nonbelievers to Jesus Christ. Armed with a Bible and his business card, which declared “Believe in Jesus, Earn Eternal Life,” Pastor Bike brought the gospel to thousands of people. He and other Chinese evangelists have been repeatedly harassed by Chinese officials during this Olympic year. Please pray for the release of Pastor Bike and his wife.
4 comments:
I concur!! I do not watch either!
I have to disagree on this one. Although I'm not watching much of the Olympics, the whole point of the games are to bring the world together regardless of political and ideological differences.
I would also say that the exposure that is occurring to athletes and visitors will likely bring about positive change as they see China. Undoubtedly the government will try to lipstick the pig as much as they can but there is no way they can prevent people who are there from seeing some of what China is like (sans Olympiad).
Historically, the Olympics have been able to bring about positive change and raise awareness of political issues (Jesse Owens in Munich, Mexico City in 1968, LA in 1984). I think it is possible that this Olympics could help continue the opening of China to the rest of the world, which undoubtedly is already well underway.
This is not to condone China's horrid record on civil rights and personal liberty, which is despicable. But shutting them out is not going to help change.
Rant over.
Here is a closed nation, a Communist nation, that is trying to put on such a front, a phony front at that, and it just makes me sick.
Thanks for saying that. I wish more people in the media would.
The way I see it, the more China tries to look flawless the more they shoot themselves in the foot; I forgot to add the doctored fireworks the rest of the world saw in the Opening Ceremonies, and now there's the hub-bub about the women's gymnastics having 12- and 13-year olds competing on China's team. If this does prove to be true then China's team needs to be stripped of their gold medal and award it to the US, and the silver going to Romania.
The disgrace and dishonor would be measurable.
The Olympics are not going to change how the government treats its people. Once the furor dies down China will still silence the protestors and imprison and torture those that have the courage to speak out and believe in the true Higher Power. China will continue to persecute the Underground Churches.
The media is nuts over China's Olympics, but do you ever hear of China's human rights issues (or lack thereof) concerning the false imprisonment and torture of those who speak out on a nightly basis?
I haven't heard it yet.
Rant over.
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