(Hengyang, Hunan Province) Chen Wensheng, a Christian street evangelist from a small church in Hengyang, Hunan, responded to the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services newly published by the China Religious Affairs Bureau. Many mainland Chinese Christians voiced various panics on the internet and took to their social media “How Should Christians Respond to the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services” and criticized self-censoring Christians.
Chen Wensheng, a Christian from China, said that when the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services were recently released, it was just a simple notice because it has not been implemented yet. This indicated that there had not been persecutions yet regarding this matter. But many so-called “Christians” have been terrified and in a state of panic; they hurried to change their chats’ names, their online IDs and were afraid to send the words Jesus, God, and such in their group chats. They only dared to send “yS” and used alphabets as replacements, “amens” were typed as “am” instead. Some were terrified to the point where they left or disbanded group chats.
Christians should have a basic concept of the rule of law, according to Chen. He thinks that the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services is not a law but administrative regulations and is the same as the Revision of the Religious Affairs Regulations in 2018; it has no legal effect because the national legislature’s voting did not take effect and therefore it is unconstitutional. Since it is legal, Christians have the freedom to choose different ways to express their faith freely. Suppose Christians went online to preach about Jesus’ name and were met with illegal law enforcement to persecute Christians. In that case, Christians will face it joyfully because of Jesus.
Chen Wensheng used several scriptures to call upon Chrisitans to stand firm in the face of persecution:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35 NIV)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10 NIV)
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| Chen Wensheng and a family of Christians at church (Photo: ChinaAid source) |
Chen Wensheng is a Christian from a small church in Hengyang, Hunan. Before believing in Jesus Christ, he was addicted to drugs for more than ten years, and he was able to overcome his addiction after becoming a Christian. He preaches the gospel passionately, and together with members of the church, they follow after the apostles’ footsteps and walk across towns and cities, in Hengyang and other regions. They hold up a cross with the words “Glory to the Savior” “Repent, Believe and Be Saved.” For this reason, he became a frequent visitor to the police station. Chen Wensheng spent the first day of the New Year in 2021 in a detention center; he was detained for ten days. Ten days after his release, he and his 84-year-old mother took to the streets again to preach the gospel. Subsequently, authorities arrested them both. Chen Wensheng was detained for 15 days. Authorities detained Chen more than six times in 2021 for preaching the gospel. Even in the detention center, he preached the gospel to inmates, and there have been people who called him to ask questions about Christianity after they left the detention center.
On the afternoon of December 27, the community and local police, State Security officers, United Front Work Department, other government department officials, and the newly appointed district party committee secretary went to Chen Wensheng’s home to speak with him, Chen Wensheng saw it as a great opportunity to preach the gospel to them.
~Yu Bing, ChinaAid Special Correspondent
