In China: Church's Neighbors Come to Believers' Defense, Get Jail Time in Return
by Allie Martin
April 22, 2004
(AgapePress) - Officials of the Communist Chinese government are continuing their crackdown on unregistered Christian churches.Last month, a 100-year-old building that housed an unregistered Chinese house church was raided by more than 300 public security bureau officers and destroyed. The congregation included about 300 members and had existed for the past 20 years. The pastor and his son were arrested.
According to Todd Nettleton with Voice of the Martyrs, four neighbors -- who were not believers -- were also taken into custody when they challenged the authorities and tried to talk them out of tearing down the building.
"This was a large production, to come and destroy this church," Nettleton says, "and for neighbors to say anything to stand up for the Christians, I think that probably shows that this pastor who lived in the building had a good reputation [and] had good relationships with his neighbors."
"It's interesting because these four were not Christians," he continues, "and yet when the police and the officials came and began tearing down the building, these four questioned and protested, [asking] 'How can you destroy someone's home?'"
Nettleton says because of their actions, the four neighbors were jailed for 15 days.
The VOM spokesman explains that the "religious freedom" promoted by Chinese government officials applies only to churches that agree to be controlled by the Communist regime.
