Welcome to Breakpoint, a daily look at an ever-changing culture through the lens of unchanging truth. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street. As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, there's another milestone that should also be remembered. On July the 1st, 1997, after 100 years as a British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China.
Part of the agreement, Hong Kong was to remain one country, two systems for 50 years, remaining a capitalist center in an otherwise communist nation. Hong Kong has also become a hub of Christianity, a place where many ministry workers have been trained and theologically equipped and then sent into the mainland. Today, however, 29 years after that handover, the future of the church and of religious liberty in Hong Kong is far from clear. While many Hong Kongers hope to hold on to these freedoms and retain some degree of independence until 2047, others are far more apprehensive, believing that Hong Kong will more likely be assimilated into the mainland politically, legally, and ideologically. After all, as early as 2014, the Chinese Communist Party interfered with Hong Kong elections, screening out candidates they deemed to be disloyal to China and contradicting the whole spirit of one country, two systems.
They then cracked down heavily on the umbrella protest, arresting and deporting many leaders. Then in 2020, the Chinese Communist Party enacted the National Security Law, effectively granting the Chinese government more control over Hong Kong under the pretext of safeguarding national security. In reality, this just gave Carte Blanche authority for the CCP to persecute anyone deemed to be a threat. The party.
Now, even ministry workers can conveniently be framed as colluding with foreign entities. In fact, it is impossible for the power of the Chinese state to grow as it is within Hong Kong without Christians appearing to be more and more of a threat. First, Christianity is completely incompatible in a moral sense. As former Cardinal Joseph Zen put it, Christianity is a rejection of, quote, the whole culture which is now reigning in China, a culture of falsity, of dishonesty, a lack of spiritual values, end quote. Second, and more importantly, Christianity is incompatible with communism in its view of reality itself, and especially who is in charge over reality.
To call this a conflict of interest for Christians in Hong Kong is quite an understatement. Already, in response to the national security law, there's been a mass exodus of young professionals and ministry workers from Hong Kong. As a result, many churches there lack sufficient volunteers and sustainable financial support.
Some smaller churches have been forced to merge to avoid closing, while some larger multi-site churches have been forced to close campuses after losing too many congregates. Church workers who stayed in Hong Kong have found themselves carrying more responsibilities within an aging congregation. and with few prospects of ever finding someone to replace them. Of course, what's always been true about the church's existence and flourishing remains true for Christians there in Hong Kong. Our hopes never dependent on who's sitting on an earthly throne.
Whether Hong Kong is ruled by a communist regime or a democratic party certainly matters greatly in terms of things like freedom and safety in the future. Either way, the risen Christ is the Lord over all creation. And he's called his people to that specific time and place in history, to that specific moment within God's grand story of redemption. God has called some Christians to remain in Hong Kong. They have to count the cost of what it will take to be the church there, to minister to physical and spiritual needs of people, and to live as countercultural ambassadors in an otherwise frenetic metropolis.
With 2047 looming as it is, Christians in Hong Kong will be forced to recommit over and over again. to Christ in an increasingly authoritarian city, while also accepting the weight of the task to which God has called them. At the same time, like he has throughout history in times of increasing cultural pressures, God sovereignly uses situations like in Hong Kong to send his people to other places around the world. In addition to reminding us of the plight of Christians back in Hong Kong, these people will take the Church forward to other places, serving as businessmen and attorneys, and fathers and mothers and computer engineers and leaders and other things who hold fast to Christ and live under His Lordship in a new time and place.
Now for us here, the American Church, this is a cautionary tale of what happens when religious freedom is lost. But even more so, it's a wonderful affirmation that God's in control, that He's at work, that the Gospel is lived out by His people through His strength where He has put them. We have a shared Lord with our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong, but also a shared calling to be faithful and to be committed to this place where He's placed us. No matter how difficult it becomes. For the Coulson Center, I'm John Stone Street with Breakpoint.
Today's Breakpoint was co-authored by Mike Chan. And for more information or to share this commentary with others, go to breakpoint.org. Christian Educators, this is Billy Hutchinson with Colson Educators. And as a former teacher myself, I know you're busy. And I know you want to teach like a Christian, not just be a Christian who teaches.
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