In a previous post we shared an interview that was
conducted with Paul Hattaway, director of Asia Harvest. We have been partnering
with this ministry to help provide as many Bibles as possible for Christians
throughout China. In this interview, Hattaway continues the discussion on the
present need for Bibles in this country. This article first appeared in the
Asia Harvest newsletter, and has been slightly abridged.
Asia Harvest: What do you find is the main point of confusion people
have when you share about the need for millions of Bibles in China today?
Paul Hattaway: Without doubt the most difficult thing many
Christians outside China struggle to grasp is how come there is still such a
huge need when they have heard that Bibles are now legally printed inside China
by the government-approved Amity Press.
We dealt with this subject extensively in our previous
interviews, but basically the frustration is one of scale. In a country of more
than 1.3 billion people, to allow a trickle of legal Bibles, only available to
believers in the registered churches, is obviously not going to satisfy the
need of the 60 million+ Christians who don’t belong to the government –approved
churches. They have been isolated and left alone to fight for a crumbs which
might fall from the table.At the same time, it is a tricky balancing act
because we are thankful for every single
Bible that is legally printed in China! We just wish they did tens of millions
more, and that there was a way to feed all
of God’s hungry children, rather than favoring those who attend a certain kind
of church.
AH: If the need for Bibles among the house churches is so great, why do
so many people, and organizations like The Bible Society, claim there are
plenty of Bibles available for Christians in China today?
Hattaway: People need to understand one more key element to the
need for Bibles in China. Unless people understand thus they will remain confused
about why there are such varying claims.
There are three government entities in China: the Three-Self
Church, the China Christian Council, and the Amity Press (which is sponsored by
The Bible Society). These three entities do NOT acknowledge the presence of the
(illegal) house churches we serve. If they do mention [them] at all, it is
grudgingly, [and] they scoff at any suggestions that there are 50 or 60 million
house church Christians, compared to only about 20 million believers among the
registered churches in China.
This being the case, in the eyes of these organizations
there are plenty of Bibles in China
today among the registered churches they serve, because they have chosen to
close their minds and eyes to the vast need of the house churches.
Tragically, the need for the Bibles among the house churches
has become even more acute in recent years because several ministries who used
to supply Bibles to them are no longer doing so. Some decided it was more
politically correct to give their money to print legal Bibles than risk their
reputations helping the illegal believers.
AH: In many countries there is an abundance of Bibles sitting on
Christians’ shelves, and they can even be found in the homes of unbelievers.
Why are the Chinese so desperate for God’s Word compared to many Christians in
other parts of the world?
Paul: The difference is that the Word of God is fresh and new
to many people in China. They have no Christian background or worldview, so
when they hear the message it is amazing and transformative to them. This is
especially true in poorer rural areas, but a little less so in the bigger
cities where materialism has taken hold.
More than 60 years of atheistic Communist teaching in China
has resulted in a large spiritual void in the lives of a billion people. When
many people hear truth, they are eager to embrace it and wholeheartedly live
for God.
There are problems in the Chinese church, but I have always
appreciated the hunger and reverence the majority of Chinese Christians have
not only to read God’s Word, but to live it. The first step, however, is for
them to have access to it!
AH: Several people have asked us if it would be a better idea to stop
printing paper Bibles in China, and use more modern methods to get God’s Word
to the Christians there, such as Bibles on smart phones, MP3 players, CDs, etc.
What do you think?
Hattaway: It is always wonderful to hear how Christians are using
their initiative to provide Bibles in electronic and other forms. As long as
God’s Word is getting to the Christians who need it, I am happy!
When it comes to the 60 million or more house church
Christians in China, however, it needs to be understood that the majority of
them live in poor, remote farming areas. In such areas, the average income is
often just a few hundred dollars per year.
Most of the house church believers we serve have never owned a smart phone or
computer in their lives.
There are house churches in the cities too, but they tend to
have an easier time accessing Bibles, so practically 100 percent of the Bibles
we print and distribute are to these rural regions of China.
While we are thankful for every effort people are making to
get God’s Word into China in more modern formats, we remain committed to
helping meet the stated needs of those we serve. Their requests remain for
paper Bibles, and lots of them.
AH: We have arrived at the end of our interview. I think everyone
reading this will no doubt be much more knowledgeable about the need for Bibles
in China today. Do you have any last things you would like to say?
Hattaway: In the Parable of the sheep and goats, Jesus taught
His followers that there is much more to life than us sitting around trying to
perfect our doctrine. His kingdom is very practical. To the sheep, Jesus said, “Come, you who are blessed by mu Father;
take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the
world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed
clothes and you clothed, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison
and you came to visit me.’”
“Then the righteous
will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and
give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,
or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go
visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew
25: 34-40).
There are millions of Christians in China right now who are
hungry and thirsty for God’s Word, but they cannot obtain it. There are
believers who are spiritually sick, naked and bound because of a famine of
God’s Word.
This is not some kind of fundraising appeal. We are
presenting an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many Christians
in China.
Thank you for the opportunity I have had to share the
reality of this great need with you. Please pray our Heavenly Father will
provide all His children in China with Bibles, so that they may know His Word
intimately.
We invite you to be part of this wonderful and strategic
opportunity to help the Church in China.
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