The Party or Jesus?

                 

It was shocking to come across an article from The Washington Post entitled “Jesus Won’t Save You – President Xi Jinping Will, Chinese Christians Told.” The article stated, “In the latest campaign, party members involved in poverty alleviation toured villages telling people how the party was supporting agriculture and removing poverty, ‘melting the hard ice in the hearts of religious believers’ and ‘helping turn them into believers in the party.’” The chairman of the local poverty alleviation effort even went so far as to tell the villagers that they, “should no longer rely on Jesus, but on the party for help.” What is the consequence faced by these poor villagers if they rely on Jesus instead of the party? If these people do not put their faith in the party, “they won’t be given their quota from the poverty-relief fund.” Essentially, they are being told to give up their faith in Jesus or starve to death.

My heart aches to hear of Christians being persecuted for their faith. I pray they remain strong and keep their faith in the Lord, and not place it in a party. When Peter and the apostles were questioned for teaching in the name of Christ, the apostles boldly responded, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:28-29 KJV). When the hypocritical Jewish leaders took counsel regarding how they would handle the growing “threat” of Christianity, a man by the name of Gamaliel made a fascinating statement. He said, “Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39). All those who oppose the Gospel saving message of Jesus Christ and His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22-23), are fighting against God Himself. All those who fight against God are on the losing side of the fight.

The inspired words of the apostle Paul also provide great comfort and strength in time of persecution. He wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Jesus also had something to say concerning persecution. He stated, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).

This writer has never faced the kind of persecution that Christians in China are currently enduring. Perhaps the day will come when this kind of persecution will take place in the United States as well. When it does, I am sure that our brothers and sisters in China will encourage us to remain true to the Lord. Until then, I plead with them to remain faithful to God over all else.

So, should we remain true to Jesus or to the party? When men force us to choose between declaring out allegiance for the Lord or for a human institution, we must choose wisely. I humbly submit to you that Jesus offers something that no party, government, or earthly ruler can ever offer: life eternal. Paul wrote near the end of his life, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Christians, we long for that incorruptible crown in Heaven, where we will be forevermore in the presence of God Almighty. Let us not ever give up our faith in Jesus Christ.

References

Denyer, Simon. Jesus Won't Save You - President Xi Jinping Will, Chinese Christians Told. The Washington Post , 14 November 2017. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/11/14/jesus-wont-save-you-president-xi-jinping-will-chinese-christians-told/?utm_term=.02dc32a93018>.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. Electronic database, e-Sword, version 11.0.6. n.d.