The Olympic flame is kept in a safety lamp - do we take as much care in passing on the flame of the gospel?(Photo: (c)Beijing2008)Over the last two years we have received [news of] a number of Olympic initiatives, all wanting to capture the “golden opportunity” of the Beijing Olympics. Some were seeking advice: “Can we send a children’s choir?” Or, “Do they need volunteers from our country to help with hospitality?”
Some were – as expected – unilaterally determined, and sensational; such as “dispatching hundreds of God’s smugglers into China” and “mobilizing thousands of gospel tract bombers to cover the city.”
Our response is the same: we try not to add fuel nor pour water to any and all such initiatives. We do, however, state that after careful prayers, and wide ranging discussion with long-time ministries both inside and outside of China, we will not endorse, or cooperate with their efforts.
Our reasons are:
Long-term, local mission is bestIt is not a secret that previous Olympic efforts, like most short-term missions, mostly enthused and excited the outsiders far more than the local church. They were beneficial for mass mobilisation and not necessarily for meaningful evangelism [that would yield] long lasting blessing to the local church.
We should count the cost“The cost effectiveness is way out of balance,” an experienced youth mission leader told us. “Some of these short-termers will end up becoming long-termers, or even life-termers. But this will take much training and follow-up.” And most of the Beijing Olympic proposals I’ve seen lack both.
They could do more harm than goodChina’s official Three Self Church is fully aware of the Olympic craze. “Beijing has already built two brand new churches for us to cope with the large number of foreign visitors, to show the world that China now has more religious freedom,” a Religious Affairs Bureau staffer told us. “Insensitive efforts from the outside will be considered infiltration. They will hurt our government’s attitude towards Christianity as a whole.”
Indigenous materials are bestSome leaders of Beijing’s urban house church movement and international fellowships have been approached by the authorities as to how they could serve the Olympics and vice versa. A proposal of placing Bibles in Beijing’s hotels, or even in hotels of other cities, is now being considered. “We have locally produced Bible portions and gospel booklets which are relevant to our context,” an urban house church leader in Beijing appealed. “Please tell the outside not to smuggle their materials!”
Local believers will shineA number of progressive urban house churches and campus fellowships have trained and mobilised their members to apply to serve as volunteers during the Games. Quite a few have been accepted. “We pray that we will be used of God to serve the visitors, serve the Olympics, serve China and at the same time glorify God.” From these leaders’ perspective, the Olympics can actually be an opportunity for Chinese believers to witness to guests from around the world.
Mutual prayer support is needed moreThe best Olympic initiative actually came from a good elder friend of mine. He is the leader of a house church movement known as the “Jerusalem of China.” “The Olympics will bring the attention of the world to China. We wish to invite Christians around the world to especially pray for and bless China during these two weeks. Pray that more and more, God’s Kingdom comes and God’s will be done in our land.” He also pledges that his fellow leaders are in agreement that during the Olympics, they will mobilise their members: “As they watch athletes from around the world competing in Beijing, and learn about the countries they come from, our believers can thus pray for the whole world more relevantly and effectively.”
‘Be wise as serpents, innocent as doves’And a most interesting input actually came from a ranking officer – a Christian though – of Beijing’s State Security. He was not surprised when we asked him about the recent expulsion of “one hundred missionary families” from the city. “We are cracking down on foreigners who overstayed their visas, or abused their status. The security will tighten even more as it gets closer to the Games. It’s not necessarily targeted against Christians. If anything, it is against any and all ‘undesirables,’” he said. “As a disciple of Jesus, I suggest that we learn from his teaching, that He sends us out to be wise and harmless.”
Asian Outreach is a partner of CMS. This article was first published in Asian Report, a bimonthly mission report of Asian Outreach. For more information on Asian Outreach, please visit www.asianoutreach.org