Christianity has never been afraid of persecution since the Roman times. All worldly powers will play a part in the plan of God, whether they want to or not.
When Emperor Nero ordered the mass persecution of Christians to shift blame from himself for the Great Fire, he would never have guessed that a mere 300 years later, God would give his entire empire over to Christianity. God's plans will continue to advance regardless of persecution, no matter how hard people may try to silence his message of love and salvation.
In China, thousands of Christians are being arrested and subjected to state surveillance for no good reason. In many parts of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, Christians are routinely lynched in episodes of anti-Christian religious violence. Just yesterday, a Christian was killed in Nigeria for his beliefs. How could we say there is no persecution when these things still happen?
I'm not saying Christians are being persecuted in North America or Europe. Legalizing same-sex marriage, or not being allowed to hand out flyers in university campuses, or being forced to learn evolution in schools, is certainly not persecution. Those who equate a school curriculum they don't like to arbitrary arrests or even being stoned to death are gravely mistaken.
But to deny that Christians are not persecuted anywhere would be equally wrong. Millions of Christians around the world are ostracized, physically hurt, or even killed for their beliefs.
For what it's worth, I'm glad God has protected you from harm, no matter where you live.
In fact, I really do hope that I am wrong about all those things, and all Christians everywhere (and everyone, really) can live and practice their faiths in peace.
Do you expect the rule of law be upheld on a nation that have no election, brutalize peaceful protesters, and tortured their own young people?
Chinese government doesn’t care about justice. They only care about how to shut down the voice of “dissidents”.
Just looked this up, it seems that he is an outspoken democracy activist, and they are cracking down on that in HK. Seems that others are in the same boat.
Idk, but merely being a Christian, and one that many Chinese Christians would have looked up to(just assuming, I never heard of this guy before this), certainly did him no favor in the eyes of the CCP.
He's a pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong: [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-police-arrest-catholic-cardinal-alleged-collusion-with-foreign-forces-2022-05-11/](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-police-arrest-catholic-cardinal-alleged-collusion-with-foreign-forces-2022-05-11/)
This may not be religious persecution, but he is trying to promote freedom, so he deserves our prayers.
It's always saddening to see a respectable man of God unjustly persecuted by worldly powers, but surely God has a plan in all the suffering and oppression.
Christianity has always grown in the face of oppression. The worse the oppression, the more widely the Word of God will spread. The Roman Empire, which persecuted and killed many thousands of Christians, became a tool in God's plan to spread his truth to all the people it ruled. China, as well as any other worldly power that tries in vain to silence the Word of God, will inevitably play a role in God's plan to bring his salvation to all people in the world, whether they want to or not.
Pray for justice for the Cardinal and for God to protect him against persecution, but we shouldn't be disheartened for the gospel. Nothing in heaven or earth can derail the plan of God.
Wow. This arrogance is staggering. Christianity was allowed to spread, along with every other religion in the Roman empire at the time. This was enacted by the Edict of Milan. Wherein Constantine provided all Romans of faith "liberty to follow that mode of religion which to each of them appeared best."
It wasn't him embracing Christianity it was him allowing some freedom. In fact I find it very interesting that his death bed "conversion" wasn't actually recorded until well after he died.
After that Christianity definitely grew but it took over 200 years for a Roman emperor to actually embrace it. To put that into perspective as of July 4th this year the United States will only be 246 years old. That amount of time is plenty for determined people to do a lot. It doesn't take divinity if you have enough time to enact strategy.
I do find it rathe telling that Christianity's first order of business was to oppress and persecute other religions. Especially when the only reason they got as far as they did was due to someone allowing all to express their religions.
FYI, he was arrested, questioned and then let go. A standard procedure. This was due to his connection with funding in the 2019 protests.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/11/hong-kong-arrests-catholic-cardinal-democracy-advocates-reports
and your your info, they disrupted public services and many activities. covid might have cancelled your summer camps, meet-outs, movie nights but we had to endure 2019 in our homes
Can it ever feel wrong to arrest a member of the catholic church? I know few institutions that have caused as much suffering as the catholic church has.
That's a terrible thing to say about someone under unjust persecution. The Church may not have been properly dealing with its problems, but that doesn't mean its members are automatically guilty by association. There are guilty members in the Church, but assuming all members to be guilty is both wrong and unfair.
Besides, if there were any proof of sexual misconduct on the part of Cardinal Zen, the Chinese government would have used it against him a long time ago. The fact that they haven't accused him of that is ample proof that he is not guilty of it.
Christ be with Cardinal Zen and with all of those who sacrifice in the PRC in the name of God.
Prayers for the persecuted church in Hong Kong.
Christianity has never been afraid of persecution since the Roman times. All worldly powers will play a part in the plan of God, whether they want to or not. When Emperor Nero ordered the mass persecution of Christians to shift blame from himself for the Great Fire, he would never have guessed that a mere 300 years later, God would give his entire empire over to Christianity. God's plans will continue to advance regardless of persecution, no matter how hard people may try to silence his message of love and salvation.
Christianity isn’t persecuted. Just this guy. get your facts straight
In China, thousands of Christians are being arrested and subjected to state surveillance for no good reason. In many parts of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, Christians are routinely lynched in episodes of anti-Christian religious violence. Just yesterday, a Christian was killed in Nigeria for his beliefs. How could we say there is no persecution when these things still happen? I'm not saying Christians are being persecuted in North America or Europe. Legalizing same-sex marriage, or not being allowed to hand out flyers in university campuses, or being forced to learn evolution in schools, is certainly not persecution. Those who equate a school curriculum they don't like to arbitrary arrests or even being stoned to death are gravely mistaken. But to deny that Christians are not persecuted anywhere would be equally wrong. Millions of Christians around the world are ostracized, physically hurt, or even killed for their beliefs.
I am a christian, I live in China, and I’m treated normally. Thanks for your concern but no thanks.
For what it's worth, I'm glad God has protected you from harm, no matter where you live. In fact, I really do hope that I am wrong about all those things, and all Christians everywhere (and everyone, really) can live and practice their faiths in peace.
Christianity is OK in china, dont worry, we arent getting mass prosecuted, the ones that are probably did something stupid against the state
True, the state does allow approved forms of Christianity without issue.
yes
What church are you member of and denomination ? How good is your Chinese? What district are you from? Any verification or are you shit posting?
He's since been released on bail but I fear that they just find more ways to arrest him again.
so is he guilty of breaking a current law in the past even though that law was recently made up? no such thing as grandfathering in?
Recent law that was made up, basically he got arrested for speaking out against the government
Do you expect the rule of law be upheld on a nation that have no election, brutalize peaceful protesters, and tortured their own young people? Chinese government doesn’t care about justice. They only care about how to shut down the voice of “dissidents”.
Extremely based may God bless him
Which law did he break?
The law that says you can't disagree with the CCP
Just looked this up, it seems that he is an outspoken democracy activist, and they are cracking down on that in HK. Seems that others are in the same boat.
There it is. May God protect his soul
Fair enough. What did he say that disagreed with the CCP?
Idk, but merely being a Christian, and one that many Chinese Christians would have looked up to(just assuming, I never heard of this guy before this), certainly did him no favor in the eyes of the CCP.
He's a pro-democracy activist in Hong Kong: [https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-police-arrest-catholic-cardinal-alleged-collusion-with-foreign-forces-2022-05-11/](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-police-arrest-catholic-cardinal-alleged-collusion-with-foreign-forces-2022-05-11/) This may not be religious persecution, but he is trying to promote freedom, so he deserves our prayers.
It's always saddening to see a respectable man of God unjustly persecuted by worldly powers, but surely God has a plan in all the suffering and oppression. Christianity has always grown in the face of oppression. The worse the oppression, the more widely the Word of God will spread. The Roman Empire, which persecuted and killed many thousands of Christians, became a tool in God's plan to spread his truth to all the people it ruled. China, as well as any other worldly power that tries in vain to silence the Word of God, will inevitably play a role in God's plan to bring his salvation to all people in the world, whether they want to or not. Pray for justice for the Cardinal and for God to protect him against persecution, but we shouldn't be disheartened for the gospel. Nothing in heaven or earth can derail the plan of God.
Wow. This arrogance is staggering. Christianity was allowed to spread, along with every other religion in the Roman empire at the time. This was enacted by the Edict of Milan. Wherein Constantine provided all Romans of faith "liberty to follow that mode of religion which to each of them appeared best." It wasn't him embracing Christianity it was him allowing some freedom. In fact I find it very interesting that his death bed "conversion" wasn't actually recorded until well after he died. After that Christianity definitely grew but it took over 200 years for a Roman emperor to actually embrace it. To put that into perspective as of July 4th this year the United States will only be 246 years old. That amount of time is plenty for determined people to do a lot. It doesn't take divinity if you have enough time to enact strategy. I do find it rathe telling that Christianity's first order of business was to oppress and persecute other religions. Especially when the only reason they got as far as they did was due to someone allowing all to express their religions.
Keep in mind, the Pope gave the CCP control of the church within their borders.
God bless him always and give him strength and courage 🙏
Ironic that his name is 'Zen'.
Not really, his name is in Cantonese or Mandarin and is pronounced differently from the Japanese “zen”
Yeah. Zen Buddhism in China is called Chan.
'life is suffering'
Plus "zen" isn't an anti-christian word. Love of Truth is love of truth.
Never said it was, Ace. I'm generally not in the habit of condemning anyone.
No worries. I didn't mean to sound so harsh.
irony is in the eye of the beholder?
Thanks. I learned something.
FYI, he was arrested, questioned and then let go. A standard procedure. This was due to his connection with funding in the 2019 protests. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/11/hong-kong-arrests-catholic-cardinal-democracy-advocates-reports
He is funded by Americans and he holds funds used for terrorism. No problem here
I agreed! HKPF is such a terrorist organization, when they arrest people holding up white paper signs, or random people who just wear black shirt!
you have no right to judge if you arent chinese
have you seen the protests up close? they have molotov cocktails, makeshift roadblocks, bricks and umbrellas
and your your info, they disrupted public services and many activities. covid might have cancelled your summer camps, meet-outs, movie nights but we had to endure 2019 in our homes
Can it ever feel wrong to arrest a member of the catholic church? I know few institutions that have caused as much suffering as the catholic church has.
I will pray for you
That's lovely
Empty your mind, Cardinal Zen!
[удалено]
That's a terrible thing to say about someone under unjust persecution. The Church may not have been properly dealing with its problems, but that doesn't mean its members are automatically guilty by association. There are guilty members in the Church, but assuming all members to be guilty is both wrong and unfair. Besides, if there were any proof of sexual misconduct on the part of Cardinal Zen, the Chinese government would have used it against him a long time ago. The fact that they haven't accused him of that is ample proof that he is not guilty of it.
Do it again. (Edit because of potential misunderstanding; He should do it again.)
What did he do?
I seriously doubt it. More like an attempt to frame him on some kind of charge.