Persecuted Shuozhou Church Releases Confession of Faith

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ChinaAid
February 8, 2010

SHANXI--In the aftermath following the detention of six Shuozhou pastors and the destruction of Brother Gao Mao's home, members of Shuozhou have issued a Confession of Faith, affirming their doctrine and taking a stand in defense of their faith. (See the latest report on the attacks, from 1/28/10.) Click here for a PDF version, or read the full text below.

Confession of Faith
--Word of Life Christian House Church

 Introduction:

I believe in God, Father Almighty, Creator of heavens and the earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, given birth through Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and buried, was descended into the Death, and the third day risen from the dead; He ascended into the Heaven, seated at the right hand of Father Almighty, and will come back from there to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen!  

1.    Our belief

Based on the revelations of the Bible, we believe God created the heaven and earth and all the creatures (including humans). The first man God had created sinned; and his sin is inherited by all his descendants. God let His only son Jesus Christ died on the cross to be the redemption of the sinners. Those who believe in Him and His resurrection will not be judged and will enter into the eternal life. The Bible is the only authoritative standard. We carry on religious activities according to the Bible, e.g. fellowship, prayer, sharing, and baptism. We discipline our acts based on the teach of the Bible; our belief is consistent with the authentic Christian beliefs. We are not heresy or cult and our belief is not antisocial or antihuman; instead, we provide a foundation of harmonious social morality, which benefits the nation and the society. It can be witnessed in the churches and the community they live in that Christians are good citizens.

2.    Our Understandings of the Government

2.1.    We love the Lord, the people, and the churches; we love our own country and we support to maintain the unity of the nation and the harmonious relationship between different ethnicities.

2.2.    We obey the Constitutions and the People’s government authorities; they are authorized by God in China.

2.3.    We never act disobediently although we have always been misunderstood and persecuted by the government.

       2.4.    We never act against the nation or the people; we do everything to help others.

3.    Why We Refuse to Join in the “Three-Self” Church

3.1.    Different heads: the head of the “Three-Self” church is the government; they administrate the church based on religion policies. The head of the house church is Jesus Christ; we administrate the church in accordance to the Bible.

3.2.    Different ways of appointing the clergies: The clergies of the “three-self” churches are appointed by the bureau of religious affairs; the house churches select clergies who are anointed by the Holy Spirit, equipped with the truth and spiritual gifts, recognized by the churches and bear spiritual fruits.

3.3.    Different foundations: The three-self church is the product of the three-self revolution, which was initiated by Wu Yaozong, a social-evangelist and a few non-Christians.

3.4.    Division of Opinions: The three-self church supports the unification of the government and the church; they choose to make compromise with the government’s policies on religions and participate in political movements. The house church, however, support the division of the government the church; they obey the government under the biblical principles. When the two conflicts, they choose to “obey God not men” and take up the Cross to follow God, regardless of the cost.

3.5.    Different Missions: The three-self churches limit themselves to hold religious activities only at the registered churches. The house churches share the Gospel and nurture church members in diligence; they strive and develop in hardship.

4.    Our Relationship with the Total Scope Church

Before November 18^th 2009, we had not heard of “Total Scope Church”. Later when we registered to become religious citizens, we heard the name and found out that the “Total Scope Church” is officially recognized as cult. Our official name is “Word of Life Christian House Church”; we don’t approve other denominative names that are given by non-believers. The Christians in rural areas were unaware of the details when writing down the church name and therefore the confusion arose. In fact, we used to have common origins with TSC and had communicated with Mr. Xu Yongze, but that was before 1995. In 1994, we broke up with TSC and ended our connection with them ever since. These are truth. As for some of sayings about our church e.g. cry and rebirth, are either misinterpreted or fabricated.

5.    On the Five Characteristics of the Cult and Our Beliefs

5.1.    The cults fabricate absurd doctrines and spread them around. They often deceit people under the name of Qigong or legal religions. Our belief origins from the Bible and consist with the traditional Christian beliefs. Our faith reveals in our lives and can be testified by our ways of living. We never originate a doctrine or religion that is in contradicted to the Bible. Therefore, we are not cult.

5.2.    Deify the church leaders: We believe Jesus Christ is the only Savior, who died and resurrected, and is passed into the heavens. In Christ we are all equal; we are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God. The church leaders do not have privilege or authority in faith; they are the servants of God. In our church, we never worship or adore any church leaders. Therefore, we are not cult. 

5.3.    Fabricate and spread superstitious doctrines: Our belief is based on the Bible and its revelation. We don’t believe in doctrines that are beyond what the Bible says. We simply share the Gospel and tell people about God’s salvation. What we believe in are not mandatory; everyone has free will to choose what to believe. Therefore, we are not cult.

5.4.    Endanger the Society

Our practicing of faith does not harm the society; Christian students, employees, parents and families are ethical and hardworking citizens. Many loafers were transformed after knowing Christ, from burdening the society to making contribution to the society. Many alcoholics, gamblers, drug-dealers converted to Christianity and made a difference; many broken families were healed in Christ. Our belief does not harm the society; instead, it brings countless blessings to the individuals and the society. Therefore, we are not cult. In sum, Word of Life Christian House Church maintains authentic Christian doctrines. It does good to the society, especially in nowadays. 

6.    Our Reaction towards Persecution

6.1.    House churches that are under persecution are politically or morally innocent. They are persecuted because of fellowshipping, preaching, sharing the Gospel and refusing to join in the three-self church.

6.2.    House churches do not have anger against the government. They endure the sufferings in silence and pray for the government all the time.

6.3.    The house church leaders are under all kinds of persecution, but they never complain. They love their country and their government, and wait patiently for God’s mercy.

6.4.    The house churches hold authentic biblical beliefs. They serve the people in accordance to the Bible and have God’s presence. They develop fast; oppression could not stop the trend. The number of house church members is far more than those in the three-self churches. This is our proof from God.

We earnestly appeal to the government to

1.    Reevaluate our belief based on facts, the purpose of evangelism and our contribution to the society, and redefine our church as a legal church.

2.    Stop persecuting (beating, confiscating properties, imposing fines, education through labor) the house churches and fulfill region freedom soon.

3.    Release the Christians and evangelists who are under arrest because of their beliefs and practice of faith. Actually, where there are more Christians, where the society is more stable, cultivated and blessed.

May God bless China and continue giving more of His blessings!

ChinaAid urges the international community to pray for the persecuted of Shuozhou, as their case is evaluated. There has been positive momentum in favor of the defendants, and we call on believer to pray that God will continue to find favor with these innocent church members.

Contacts of Suzhou Case:
Church co-worker Sister Li: 13133493170, 0349-2263456
Defendant 1: Gao Mao; His son Gao Wenzhong: 13383492667
Defendant 2: Ma Fei, His wife Majinhua, His daughter Ma Wentao: 15834041008
Defendant 3: Li Zhengyuan, His sister Lin Airu: 15634900445
Li Guilian: 15634933104; His son Lin Guodong
Ren Boqing, His wife Fu Xi’e: 13834409703，13934990530
Jia Jun, His wife Yi Aiping: 0349-2268686, 15234916440

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