"THE HONG KONG PROTESTS - IT'S REALLY A CLASH OF WORLDVIEWS" - by John Stonestreet and Roberto Rivera, Breakpoint.org, June 13, 2019; http://www.breakpoint.org/2019/06/breakpoint-the-hong-kong-protests/
Yet, as the New York Times reported and subsequent media interviews have made clear, these protests are about more than one law. They’re about preserving the freedoms that were promised when Britain returned control over Hong Kong to China in 1997, something that’s been increasingly at risk given the increasingly dictatorial nature of China’s Communist Party.
To understand this story, you need to know a bit of the backdrop of when Great Britain ceded Hong Kong back to China in 1997. The agreement clearly stated a governing principle, dubbed “One Country, Two Systems” that would govern relations between Hong Kong and mainland China for 50 years.
According to the agreement, Hong Kong’s domestic affairs would be governed by systems it inherited from Britain, which included freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and eventually, free elections.
Under this arrangement, Hong Kong became freer and more prosperous than the rest of China. This made the rest of China look bad. So less than 20 years into the agreed-upon 50 years, China began undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy by attempting to “pre-screen” candidates in their 2014 elections.
The response from Hong Kong became known as the “Umbrella Movement,” and included nine days of protest against Beijing’s violation of the agreement. In 2014, as now, the protests were more than an objection to a singular law or political change.
As the Wall Street Journal reported back then, the protests contained “an undercurrent of another, much older tension: Between Christianity and Communist China.” At least three of the founders of the Umbrella Movement were Christians, including the face of the movement, Joshua Wong.
In fact, there was a strong Christian presence felt throughout the protests: “prayer groups, crosses, and protesters reading Bibles in the street.” Churches played a “quiet but important role in the city’s protests, by offering food and shelter to demonstrators.”
Oh, and one more thing to know (again from the Wall Street Journal): “Hong Kong churches have long tried to spread Christianity in China. Protestant pastors based in Hong Kong have helped propagate the evangelical brands of Christianity that have alarmed the Chinese leadership in Beijing with their fast growth.”
In recent years, Beijing has gone from being alarmed about the growth of Christianity to declaring war on it.
The people of Hong Kong realize that things have gotten a lot worse in China since 2014. They want nothing to do with Xi’s “Socialism with Chinese characteristics.” And because (unlike their mainland cousins) their internet isn’t censored, they know what is happening to the Uighurs and to the Christians today on the mainland.
It shouldn’t surprise us that, as Christianity Today reported, there’s a significant Christian dimension to this year’s protests as well, just like there was in 2014. In fact, back in April, several Christians, including Joshua Wong, were arrested and imprisoned for taking part in pro-democracy protests.
Christians in Hong Kong aren’t buying the government’s spin that the proposed new law would “ensure that [Hong Kong does] not become a haven for fugitives and that existing legal protections and human rights would remain in force.” They realize that subverting Hong Kong’s autonomy is yet another way for Communist officials to suppress Christianity and its influence. They realize that, as the Times points out, laws like these are intended to “extend China’s reach into Hong Kong and strip its residents of the protection of the law.”
And we can be certain, the first protections to be stripped will be those of Hong Kong’s Christians.
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES
"The Christian Backstory of Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Protests" - Morgan Lee | Christianity Today | May 30, 2019;https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/may-web-only/christian-backstory-of-hong-kongs-anti-government-protests.html
"History shows this week’s Hong Kong protests are about much more than just one law" - Grace Shao | CNBC.com | June 12, 2019; https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/12/current-hong-kong-protests-are-much-more-than-just-extradition-law.html
"Inside China’s War on Christians (need subscription)" - Nina Shea and Bob Fu | Wall Street Journal | May 30, 2019; https://www.wsj.com/articles/inside-chinas-war-on-christians-11559256446
"Hong Kong Democracy Protests Carry a Christian Mission for Some" - Ned Levin | Wall Street Journal | October 3, 2014; https://www.wsj.com/articles/hong-kong-democracy-protests-carry-a-christian-mission-for-some-1412255663
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PRAYER MATTERS:
"To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against
the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth
"Prayer is inviting God into a seemingly impossible situation and trusting/resting in His love and grace to accomplish His perfect will in His perfect time and for His greatest glory. Intercession is one of the great privileges AND responsibilities for EVERY believer."- Stan
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Praying Through the Open Doors World Watch List for persecuted believers:https://www.opendoorsusa.org/take-action/pray/monthly-prayer-calendar/
In Nigeria (ranked #12 on the 2019 World Watch List), our brothers and sisters face increasing persecution on multiple fronts, including deadly attacks by Islamic extremists and extreme discrimination by Muslim families and communities.This month, we invite you to join us as we stand in prayer for our Nigerian family.
June 14 | IRAQ - Thousands of Christian Iraqi families have returned to their burned-out homes once occupied by ISIS forces. Pray for continued healing and that a strong, loving community would rise from the ashes.
*Names changed to protect identities
June 14 | IRAQ - Thousands of Christian Iraqi families have returned to their burned-out homes once occupied by ISIS forces. Pray for continued healing and that a strong, loving community would rise from the ashes.
*Names changed to protect identities
I found this article extremely informative. I learned about the relationship Hong Kong has with China, with the special system it has from Britain and how mainland China is trying to suppress it because of the influence of Christianity. This is truly a spiritual battleground.
ReplyDelete-herb