~Pastor David Cho~
Proverbs 13: 12 NKJV
I was reading this week of South Korean pastor David Yonggi Cho, the pastor of the South Korean Yoido full gospel mega church. With a congregation estimated at around 830,000 people, it is the worlds largest church congregation. Of course, my next thought was as to why pastor Cho's congregation was indeed blessed with this honor. Although I already knew the answer to that question, it is interesting to see the differences between the church congregations in nations where christians are oppressed and congregations in our own country. It may seem that in our own nation that there is a church to suit every belief one may have, but this is not so in other countries. I believe that the deciding factor on this is freedom. For our own constitution guarantees us the right to worship as we choose. If one does not feel their worship or ministry needs are not being met in one congregation, they are free to seek out another which may satisfy their faith needs. However, what if you live in a nation where the very mention of the faith you believe in can get you put in prison? Recently, Gu Yuese, the pastor of Chinas largest "State approved" church was jailed for simply protesting the removal of 1,500 crosses in China. What is it that brings about such a fear of the cross of Christ? In one word, hope. For it is by hope that millions around the world turn to the cross of Jesus. It is through hope that those who are oppressed seek relief from their situation. As Proverbs tells us, hope defered makes the heart SICK. A people without hope are easier to control. Is it any wonder, then, that nations such as China and North Korea would make illegal the mere mention of He who brings hope to the entire world?
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11: 1 - 3 NKJV
I submit that the very reason that officials in certain nations try to squelch the teachings and beliefs of Christ do so to extinguish the very hope of the people. Why did Chinese officials remove crosses from certain areas in China? Simple, to bury the hopes of those living in that land. For once hope is eradicated, the people are left with nothing to believe in. All that remains is the information which their government feeds them. During world war two, it was common for residents in occupied nations to listen to radio broadcasts from the free allied countries for information on the status of the war. Why? Because such broadcasts brought hope that the occupation of their homeland would soon come to an end. At the height of the cold war, Voice Of America radio broadcasts brought news and information to those in oppressed nations across the world. To this day, the voice of America is broadcast into nations where people are oppressed by their governments. The very reason is hope. This fear of the cross of Christ Jesus is partly based on denying hope to those who would come to Him. To give hope to a population is the death sentence to any oppressive regime. However, even this has not stopped the spread of the teachings of Christ Jesus to all the nations. No matter how hard others may try, the fear of the cross of Christ ultmately leads to hope in Him.
"A lie told often enough becomes truth"
~Vladamir Lenin~
~Scott~
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