China: ‘Digital Revolution Against Christianity’
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – China’s Communist authorities have launched a digital revolution against Christianity, according to Christians familiar with the situation.
Authorities reportedly remove Bible applications or “apps” from mobile devices such as smartphones and have blocked Christian public platforms on the Chinese social media network WeChat.
Additionally, hard copies of Bibles are no longer available for sale online, Worthy News learned.
Instead, bookstores owned by the state-run Three-Self Churches have been increasingly displaying the teachings of President Xi Jinping rather than Christian books, Christians noted.
Finding Christian material online is increasingly difficult in the Communist-run Asian nation, advocacy groups and human rights investigators confirmed.
“When someone attempts to access one of the banned “WeChat” accounts, a message appears,” said Christian advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC), citing several sources.
ACCOUNT BLOCKED
The messages reportedly state that the account violated the “Internet User Public Account Information Services Management Provisions” and was blocked and suspended.
Those wishing to use Bible apps had to use so-called “VPN” technology to circumvent the government-controlled “firewall,” a system that can block internet access.
VPN can ‘change’ the location from where an internet user tries to access Christian material in China. However, the government has been stepping up its efforts to shut down such VPNs, Worthy News learned.
Chinese authorities expressed concerns about the spread of uncontrolled Christianity in the country, which they view as incompatible with the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s ideology.
There are as many as 130-million Christians in China, according to several estimates.
Besides the reported digital crackdown, crosses have been removed from non-registered churches. Security forces have also closed or raided house churches or other groups involving devoted Christians while detaining many believers in recent months and years.
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.