The Chinese Perspective - Can there be a persecution and a revival at the same time?

 

 

I will try to answer this question clearly by the end of this entry. I’m not going heavily into the situation in other countries, but it would be unfair not to put Britain into a world-wide context. Currently, talk is of something spiritual happening in the US, the UK, France and other parts of Europe. Wider afield it is not as clear, though some countries outside of Europe and the West have been in revival for some time.

By September 2022 I was working on this project more than ever. I had revived the story at least.

Curiosity got the better of me and I attended a large online meeting about the persecution of believers across the world (a serious problem which needs much support from those of us who are in less danger).

A Christian persecution charity had got Bob Fu, the head of China Aid to give an online speech as part of his advocacy for Chinese Christians. Bob Fu is an extremely important advocate and eye-witness to the situation in China, having been in prison himself and having suffered under the authorities for his belief in Christ. I cannot stress how important Bob Fu is. He speaks up for his people.

The speech was about some awful persecution in China of believers and was critical of the Chinese Government (which is pretty much allowed from a Chinese citizen I think (at least outside of China)). China gets a bad press, but there are some huge problems, as there are with Russia and even Iran. These countries are not all bad - as with every country it is often the leaders causing the problems and not necessarily the people. There needed to be little further evidence for persecution there and I was unsure that the topic of revival would come up, despite there having been reports that China was going through a revival at the same time as the persecution.

The host of the online meeting (with hundreds of people there) said that we could ask questions if they were typed during Bob Fu’s speech.

The speech continued, about the past and current Chinese situation. About how there had effectively been a war on the cross and believers, in which the communist authorities had ordered for all crosses on church buildings to be removed. Those churches which did not comply were often demolished and the leaders arrested and imprisoned under awful conditions. I had already learned that communism wasn’t the paradise I used to imagine communism to be as a student, having read other reports of those who get on the wrong side of it. However, as a political lefty, I had always been interested in the systems of other countries. I figured, and still figure, that capitalism is not the best system either and that those who get on the wrong side of it are similarly punished, one way or the other. Sometimes even dying as a result of it.

I had typed in the following question to the host, who had said that he would ask Bob Fu the questions at the end of the speech. I asked:

“Thank you for opening my eyes to the persecution of Christians in China and about the persecution there. I heard that there was a revival in China as well. How can there be a revival and a persecution at the same time?”

As I say, I thought that the question would be asked by the host. Instead, the host said that we were to ask our questions in person. My webcam was not on but my name was on display. I took a deep breath and asked the question, a minor-miracle for me, never comfortable with this kind of public speaking. I was put on the spot and had to ask first.

His answer was this:

 

“That’s a good question…” (I cannot tell you how happy I was that he said that given that I had just changed the whole topic of the event, which I knew some people wouldn’t like)

“In prison you were forced to sit for 15 or 16 hours a day. You started a prison choir. So, every day I started to sing.”

At this point Bob Fu began to sing a praise song in Chinese. It changed the atmosphere again. He continued…

“Almost every person regarded me as their spiritual advisor. Many shared their experience - wherever God put them, that would become a prison church. No prison cell can have two Christians at the same time. But even prison wardens came to Christ. God revived his church in China.

So when this darkness, especially under communism could not offer anything - the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only light - coming upon a million souls. So that’s how God revives his church in the middle of persecution.”

There was no opportunity for a further question. My microphone was turned off by the charity and I just had my notes. If I could have asked another question I may have asked, “Is there still a revival happening now?”

 

But I got my answer. It was ‘Yes’. There can be a revival and a persecution at the same time and Bob Fu is an eye-witness to that. It seemed to me that the revival was similar to that outlined in the book of Acts where the disciples and believers face both persecution and see miracles at the same time. But presumably, not everyone was aware of the miracles.

We could still face a persecution in the UK. Some believers even feel it is happening at the moment. But I admit that most British people are largely tolerant. What we face here tends to be some discrimination, but it is not as bad as the persecution in countries such as China and North Korea (which effectively has concentration camps). However, the suffering of one country does not negate the suffering of another, even if that suffering is not as intense.

I didn’t tell anyone about it. One of my friends had once said, I think in the context of Question Time: ‘I do like to see some nerves in those who ask public questions’. I could deliver that, mainly due to my ongoing mental health problems (for which sometimes people are funny with me).

So, it seems, according to the testimony evidence of eye-witnesses:

 

1. That there is such a thing as a contemporary revival
2. That a revival can happen alongside a persecution

 

I am convinced that this is accurate and correct. Or, if you still don’t believe me, ask Bob Fu and those like him.

Trouble was, of course, that those of us who wanted a revival, wanted it to happen here… and at this point, that seemed increasingly unlikely. The same night that I asked this question, the sky clear, the September winds powerful and the winter approaching - there was a report on the mainstream news which said that hate crimes in the UK had increased hugely since the pandemic. Crime was not going down. And the reality was that, at any time, you and I could be next to experience it. When were we going to experience a revival?

The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

 

On Thursday 8^th September 2022 it was announced that Queen Elizabeth had died. Although people were a bit more prepared for it than the death of Princess Diana, they were still shocked because the Queen had been seen greeting the new Prime Minister Liz Truss only a couple of days beforehand.

There was, during that time (at least among some believers), as usual, an expectation that a revival could happen as a result. But to be fair, any major event would make the revivalists hope that there could be a resulting revival. If there was an eclipse, it meant a revival was imminent. If someone had a sweet dream, a revival was imminent. In the same way that blood moons signified the end of the world to some. I’m being a bit disingenuous again, but this all has a kernel of truth in it.

 

The UK Christian media at least were very much on message and made much of the fact that the Queen was a Christian. This was largely glossed over in the secular media, although it was mentioned. Especially since the shameful abuse scandal broke, Christians had been held in a particularly low regard. This had not been helped by Tony Blair and George Bush, who claimed to be Christians. So along with the abusers, because of the actions of a few, the whole community lost respect among many of the people.

But any hopes that the Queen’s witness could raise our reputation among the people proved to be a little too positive. The Queen died and rainbows were seen over the royal residences. Some took it as a sign. Others shrugged and carried on as normal. The event was huge and the country headed into a period of official mourning. Once again, it was the UK republicans and critics of the monarchy, including republican Christians who felt that they were not free to express anything but the highest praise for the Queen, whose popularity was not under question. But now many have romanticised the time under her as being better days, when the truth is that it was grindingly hard and bad for so many of us. For the future, if you are young, don’t believe those who say it was all peachy when the Queen ruled. It wasn’t. The problems were as bad, if not worse than many of today’s troubles.

As for a revival. Some of the modern prophets stated that a revival would come. One notable prophet stated that it would not come until the country had been significantly humbled through another recession and cost of living crisis. So, in September of that year, when the Queen died, he felt a little vindicated. Something had happened, even though it was not exactly what he had prophesied. I got caught up in this hope too - the hope of revival, despite many past disappointments. I should probably have known better. I didn’t publish this blog though until I was persuaded that something was genuinely happening behind the scenes.

I could not see how a revival could come without a sovereign move from God himself. We were in his hands and the gift was in his hands too. They started to call the Queen ‘mother’ or ‘grandmother’ and some of the revivalists started to call revival ‘the promised land’. Others wanted there to be another reformation, sick of the excesses and seeming inactivity of the established churches. Revivalists were by no means in unity in the UK. (And also needed to repent.)

I struggled because I wanted there to be a revival but I didn’t want the huge cost of living crisis and recession which was looming and which was likely to disproportionately make things so much worse for the poor. I was also preoccupied. My brother had not been healed from a diagnosis of terminal brain cancer. One medical trial requested £250,000 to take part. Can you believe that? We are so sick. My brother asked us, half joking, if we would sell our house for him. My heart was breaking and it affected what remained of my relationship with God because I blamed God for allowing the disease. Plus, I knew that revival was in his gift and that while he tarried, people died. Saying ‘God’s timing is perfect’ was not helpful. Sometimes his timing seemed to stink.

 

As for the country after the death of the Queen - the UK media stations changed their programming. The news was largely filled with the pre-prepared material (until that ran out). And people seemed quite flexible on the whole. They adjusted to having a new king and that was that. The Queen’s Christianity did not seem to have had the influence on the people which some hoped that it would. It was all quite depressing. Some murmured that the new king was too interested in other faiths. And, of course, conspiracy theories abounded - others said ‘He’s not my king’ (something which had historically not gone down very well with some kings). The majority of believers in the UK are monarchists though. I think it is because of all the royals in the Bible.

Around about the time of the funeral there was excitement in some Christian circles about exactly what the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon would be like at the funeral. Because it was likely to be the sermon which reached the most people ever. Estimated to be between 3-4 billion people. The sermon was delivered and people fell into two camps - some thought it was very standard and unengaging (having to fit into a small time slot), others thought that it was bold and criticised the powerful leaders who sat in Westminster Abbey to listen. One thing it did do was to please the majority of UK Christian listeners. As for the others - well, as usual, few people asked. There was some conversation about it on social media, but mostly about whether the Archbishop had subtly alluded to Harry and Megan. It seemed to please the converted most of all.

Then, after the funeral, with opportunities missed as usual, things returned to normal. What startled me was that this happened straight away. In the same way that you can notice everything revert to normal after the Christmas celebrations, things went back to normal after the Queens death. We had a king and that was that. Comedy resumed, allowed once again on the BBC (who halted it briefly) and we also resumed our legitimate worries about the cost-of-living crisis, the coming winter… and the possibility of nuclear war.

On 23^rd September 2022, after finally contracting COVID for the first time, I wrote in my diary: ‘Revival has rarely felt so far away as today.’

The Government's Perspective

 

December 2022 

At the end of November 2022, more of the 2021 census results were published. (Christmas is the best time for a census conversation. For a few reasons.) In this case, our very own oppressive Government (who had sat on the results for a long time and made everyone else wait for their findings), somewhat gleefully stated:

‘For the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1 percentage point decrease from 59.3% (33.3 million) in 2011; despite this decrease, “Christian” remained the most common response to the religion question.’

The results also showed that every other faith and none had increased in number.

 

It was the year of the Qatar world cup. We were not winning. Discontent filled the air. The streets felt oppressive. Strikes of all kinds were happening. And the cost-of-living crisis had become an official recession, looking likely to become a depression. And then there was Christmas, which many of the poor simply could not afford (yet still celebrated without any discernible reward).

The Conservative Government, at least being led by the first Prime Minister of colour (though not entirely because of the wishes of the party), knew that their time was short. There were protests - except, protesters rights had already been limited. Every day was a case of, ‘And what are we not allowed to do today?’

Government very much thought that issues of faith and spirituality should be delegated to the faith communities. Muslims, in particular, were still treated badly. Christians had received some much-needed kudos when Queen Elizabeth died, because the people respected her faith. That’s maybe a bit cynical, but as someone once said ‘What is actually wrong with cynicism?’ (Or, for that matter, naivety?)

It was very hard for anyone to claim that the UK was a Christian country anymore. Reasons for people ticking the Christian box on the census vary. But we were nominally Christian up until then, whatever you think of the real state of the country. Now were we Babylon?

 

As for the Government’s perspective on all this? I’m very sorry, but I’m afraid there are those who really don’t deserve their side of the story to be told. They didn’t lift a finger to help and, in many ways, hindered things. The charities largely helped, others helped. But the Government? No. Even their report that Christians in the UK really were discriminated against was tucked away. And they continue to complicate and make the lives of so many people, so much more difficult.

Or, to quote Fiddler on the Roof:

“Rabbi, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly.”

“Is there a proper blessing for the Czar?”

“A blessing for the Czar? Of course. May God bless and keep the Czar… far away from us!”

A Catholic Point of View

Over the years I have been to a few Catholic churches. One on holiday in Portugal, for a meeting so packed that I had to stand outside the church itself because the congregation was literally spilling out of the church. Another time when I was visiting a relative in Ireland and I went to the local Catholic church, curious to see what it was like – it was very much like a local community hub. I’ve been to the Vatican, but at the time I wasn’t a believer and was more interested in the array of often esoteric items being sold in the street leading up to the Vatican.

If the figures are to be believed, then it seems that many new Christians are becoming Catholic. I remember writing a report on how believers were portrayed in film and I found that most of the negative stereotypes concerned Catholic fictional characters, especially priests. Despite the child abuse scandals (which have got to be the worst sins that people from within both Catholicism and Protestantism have ever done), there seems to be something about the Catholic church which attracts many. Possibly it may be the claim that it is the true Church, with the legitimate successor to the first Pope, St Peter. But the Orthodox Church also claims to be the true, original church, so it can get pretty confusing. Especially when you are Protestant (which has absolutely no evidence of being orthodox when it all comes down to it (and has splintered into many groups)).

There is still a lot of misunderstanding and discrimination between some Protestants and Catholics, further evidence of our current lack of unity. For example, they don’t usually pray TO Mary and the saints. They ask Mary and the saints to pray for them in the same way that you might ask a church leader to pray for you. Because they believe that death is not strong enough to block prayers. Yes, they do some things wrong, but they also do a lot right and are as Christian as any other church which holds to the creed.

Archbishop Mark O’Toole of Cardiff prayed in his homily on the 2nd December 2024:

“Help us to come to you as Kyrios, as Lord, as the one who is the source of our joy, of our energy and our life. And to ‘Go’ forth in your name, not go ‘from you’ but to go forward in the power and strength of your presence to those who do not know you, who have not had the beauty of an encounter with you.  To go to those who are furthest away. 

Lord, help us to do this in communion with one another, walking together, assisting each one to be able to participate more profoundly and deeply, so that all may have their voice and their part in bringing others to you.  This is our Mission.”

And about the quiet revival he went on to say that it was being led by young men and laypeople.

Beth Przybylska, strategic project director at the church's Catholic Youth Ministry Federation told OSV News:

"If a mass revival occurs, I'm sure it will find great leadership. But for now, with local priests and parishes preoccupied with their own daily hardships, it's up to youth groups like ours to keep a wider momentum going."

There is speculation that young people are attracted to the traditions and ritual within many Catholic churches. And let’s face it – if you have suddenly become a believer, it is a logical choice to join the largest, least fragmented church in the world… If only just to be safe with ‘you know who’.

The Pandemic (continued)

 

Whether or not the pandemic was the catalyst for what seems to be an increasingly likely ‘quiet revival’ remains a moot point.

2021 (From my diary)

‘Is there a revival now?

It’s supposed to be defined in history as having common elements - people becoming believers, even the occasional miracle. Crime decreasing etc... What has happened before can happen again (for good as well as bad). Many believers seem to hope for a worldwide revival - but that has never happened before. It isn't impossible, I suppose. But all of the many books written about revival are lacking, because not a single person knows how to actually start one. Usually revivals start with the preachers, the Christian leaders. Just a few of them. Some say that before any genuine revival, things get really bad. The consensus is that prayer is hugely important. Then everyone has to decide whether they will help or hinder it.

If this, now, is a revival, I'm thinking we have been hugely fobbed off. But it is in God's gift and timing. How can people repent without a revival? And how is there a revival without people repenting? It is Catch 22. It is entirely in God's hands. The only thing we can do is cry out to him. To soften our hard hearts.’

 

Notably, if a revival happens, afterwards, many of the leaders are then neglected, after being used. Like Oskar Schindler was after saving many people. Evan Roberts, a significant leader of the Welsh revival also received the same treatment; despite everything he did. He was left to stew (or perhaps marinate) in his old age.

Similarly, when a revival happens there is almost always opposition from both outside and inside the church. In Birmingham, The Church of England drowned out the preaching of the Wesleys on the streets with church bells. That is illustrative of the entire antagonism which is ongoing towards any kind of awakening, even within the Church.

But the benefits of a revival are true enough. Historically it’s said that the entire atmosphere changes. There are huge numbers of people who begin to support charities and causes which have not received help or support before. In that sense it is the cause of causes - if a revival happens then more people support existing causes. It is said that people become more loving. There is not usually a push for governmental power. It isn't about that kind of power. It’s the power of God. Domestic violence, violent crime, drug use, all of these things historically decrease in revivals (before Government takes credit for that). There’s a positive aspect because people are said to be more conscientious and more loving. But the crime rates are not currently decreasing according to the stats. The pandemic didn’t result in a worldwide revival.

The worst of all worlds.

The only thing that can reach us after all this time is God’s love. It’s a cliché but true love never goes out of fashion. In an AI age where so many of us who are (slightly) older can feel left behind, let that be a comfort.

Revivalists do have a vision. It is not quite the same as the vision of the politicians, which tends to be about maintaining the status quo. The vision of revivalists is that this country will act as a resource to other countries and that the people within it will thrive rather than simply survive. And that the people within this country will live life to the full and prepare things for the future. That there would be hope for all of us and for the children.

The trouble is that opponents of awakenings often take their stances because of miscommunication and misunderstanding. But also, sometimes out of spite and fears of resulting losses in trade and employment.

 

At the start of Autumn in 2021 I saw the small-town street preachers again. They hadn’t changed. They prayed in the middle of the street. They carried boards reading ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery’ and ‘Babies are murdered here’. Whenever anyone approached them, people were sent away shaking their heads. The last I heard from them was when they were packing up and the particularly nasty street preacher said ‘Get away from us.’ They hadn’t changed at all. I did not confront them this time, I just witnessed.

 

August 15th August 2022. (Diary. Heaven knows what day of lockdown.)

‘Still no sign of the promised revival. Not that God had made the promise, but you would think that hundreds of thousands of believers in the UK praying for the same thing might persuade him a little. ‘Ask and you shall receive’ and all that.’

 

I spoke with my ex-parish vicar, Richard, on what he thought about revival.

“What do you mean,” he asked back, “about historical revival or revival now?”

“Either.” I replied.

He went on to talk about some of the historic revivals in the past.

“So, it could happen again?”

He seemed to agree and talked about how he believed that any modern-day revival would be different to the revivals of the past. I asked him if the Church of England was prepared for such an event. He skirted around the issue, but didn’t say ‘no’.

He spoke about how many Christians were already active in areas such as climate change.

And then I asked: “Do you think there is a way of uniting liberal and conservative Christians?”

“Yes,” he replied. “Because there is common ground between the two.”

“Like the creed?”

“Yes.”

Up and down the country there are an array of perspectives among Christian leaders, even within denominations. But it was refreshing to hear from one who seemed reasonably open minded to the possibility, even if it could mean a lot more work for him.

 

But at this point in time, the divisions between liberal and conservative Christians showed no sign of abating, even though we largely lost the freedom to go to physical churches. If believers are united in the communion service and affirming the creed (the common statement of faith shared by all denominations) together, we still show no sign of that unity when it comes to online communication. The UK church may have largely been learning online skills because of the pandemic, but we were still as divided as ever. And isolated. 'Close every door to me (and let’s have a flame war).'

Some even found the fringe issues more important than the core issues of the creed and the command to love. This was not just about views on LGBT+ issues. It encompassed views on climate change and even political preferences. Many wanted to make these core issues. Shibboleths. But the fact was that within both the Church of England and other denominations in Britain and worldwide, these were only core issues insomuch that those with opinions on either side wanted to make them core issues. I was to encounter a few believers who wouldn’t even accept the creed. They said that this was an added document and was extra-Biblical, but those with this view were very much in the minority. Although the subject of revival, I had to admit, was also not in the creed. It was an issue which an individual could have any kind of view on, even though it encompassed the words of the Lord’s prayer – namely, ‘Your Kingdom come…’ There was no mention of believing in revival in the Nicene or Apostles Creed. What there was mention of was believing in God and believing that Jesus had been crucified and resurrected, as the gospels relate. And in believing in invisible things.

I simply had to accept the fact that the most adamant, vocal opponents of revival, if they were Christian, could not be said to be non-Christian, because the creed only hinted at the idea of revival. And the same with the most conservative right-wing believers. But revival, by necessity, is entirely concerned with the gospel. You couldn’t really have a revival which didn’t focus on the basic gospel message of God being loving and giving his only son for you and I and anyone else who believes. The only condition being that of belief in Jesus according to the gospels. But maybe, I too, was trying to make all this a core issue?

And how could I continue to make something so interesting, so incredibly boring and religious, especially when there was effectively a plague?

The pandemic ended and we did get the worst of all worlds. One pandemic. A lot of death. And no revival. Good news was hard to find. And partly because of the mainstream media agenda setting. I remember asking one editor just how he knew where to place a story in news emphasis. He replied: “You just get a feel for it.” But maybe he should have said something like: “You just copy what all the other broadcasters and newspapers are doing.” 

That’s slightly disingenuous, but not that far from the truth.