Olympics, Here We Come, Maybe

As I looked through the headlines on World Net Daily my attention has been arrested by the Headline “China sweeping Christians out”. It seems that the Chinese government has decided that Christian missionaries aren’t worthy to stay in China before or during the Olympics so the Chinese government is expelling them.
So, let me see if I have this right, the whole Christian world is invited to China for the Olympics. But, to have the games all missionaries have to get out. Have I got that right? Now I have a problem with that and EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, should have the same problem


As I looked through the headlines on World Net Daily my attention has been arrested by the Headline “China sweeping Christians out”. It seems that the Chinese government has decided that Christian missionaries aren’t worthy to stay in China before or during the Olympics so the Chinese government is expelling them.
So, let me see if I have this right, the whole Christian world is invited to China for the Olympics. But, to have the games all missionaries have to get out. Have I got that right? Now I have a problem with that and EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE WORLD, should have the same problem.
This is an event that men and women train their whole lives for. The event itself can make a nation wealthy or it can bankrupt smaller ones from the turnout of spectators, or lack thereof. All of the “civilized” world watches as many of the events as they can, even to the point of disrupting their work and social lives. It has been marketed as a means to get nations together so that people from different countries can see the commonality of all people. The rewards for the winners are instant fame and fortune. National heroes are made in an instant. So, what is my problem? Is it with the Olympics? No. Is it with the Olympic concept? No. Is it with the Chinese people? No. Then what is the problem?
The problem and concern that I have is the blind eye that the Christian world has turned to the abuses and persecutions by the Chinese government.
It doesn’t matter which denomination is being persecuted. It matters that CHRISTIANS are being persecuted. HELLO, is anybody listening? Aren’t Christians of the household of God? The Bible doesn’t say anything about denominations. It says those born of God’s spirit.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. I Corinthians 12: 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. II Corinthians 5: 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Galatians 4: 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Ephesians 2: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Philippians 1: 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
We are in a global business and financial environment. Something that happens in the U.S. affects people in Singapore, Paris and Sidney. Likewise, something that happens in Japan affects the market in London, Prague and Rio. Yet, the thing that should most concern us shouldn’t be the financial sector or the commodities sector or the business sector, NO! It should be a concern about the health, safety and well being of the Christians through out the world.
I Corinthians 12:13-27. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
There is more to this life, for the Christian, than pleasures, entertainment and riches. Does God want His sons and daughters to have the best in this life? YES! He wants us to have a life that is more than abundant but we are not to forget to put God first. Matthew 6:31-33 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
But we as Christians have gone so far off track that we don’t even consider what is the best because we are wrapped up in the things of this world. Luke 12:16-21 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Do you see what it says? It doesn’t say that you have to be poverty stricken but there is one thing that you need to do and that is to be “ rich toward God”. Do the things of God. Walk for God. Luke 11: 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. This is Jesus Christ talking. If you are not for Him you are against him.
There are a lot of governments that are persecuting Christians and it hurts the body and we should be concerned. But China is persecuting Christians so that they can make ready for the tide of dollars that are going to come from CHRISTIANS. We as Christians could stop this right now.
There are over two billion Christians in the world. If the leadership of the Christian churches stood up and said to China “Stop it. Stop persecuting our brothers and sisters in China or we are not going to support your Olympics” and had the backing of their respective denominations the Chinese government would have to listen and stop. They want this Olympics to be their show piece to the world. If the world didn’t show up the Chinese would loose face and no self-respecting Chinese man would allow that to happen.
If this persecution continues unabated and the leadership of the Christian Church does not try to stop it and if the Christians of this world support the Olympics in China without a major change in policy toward the Christians of that country know that it is only a matter of time before your government knocks on your door …