On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2020, I was handcuffed and taken to the detention center, accused of “illegal missionary organization.” The barbaric law enforcement I experienced during this process is suffocating to any conscience. Thus began our 2021 from a prison cell.
On the morning of the 16th, when I was released, brothers and sisters greeted me with flowers and smiles, shedding pure tears. Their swollen eyes silently spoke of the harsh suppression of the spirit outside—worse than the physical blows and insults to dignity I suffered inside. Our church hall in Pingyang Jingyuan was not only looted on the day of the incident but was also cut off from water and electricity and forcefully locked before my release. This seems to reflect the treatment of ordinary citizens in their own country and God’s people living as foreigners in a strange land. The city’s face turned fierce in an instant, with buildings like jagged rocks, exerting all the world’s power.
During this time, I received a call from home. My father’s health had rapidly deteriorated. Diagnosed with late-stage cancer, he experienced much grace over the past year. But yesterday morning, he could no longer eat or drink, yet tears of gratitude flowed several times. My father whispered in my ear that his time to go home had come, and he longed to praise the Lord, but alas, he could not sing out loud. During my 15-day detention, he patiently waited, using his last breath to join the battle with his children in the Lord! As for my beloved wife, she had a continuous low fever for many days and was only mentioned last after entrusting everything to God’s grace.
Throughout this process, I have defended myself countless times to the police, officials, and fellow inmates. Of course, to them, our words don’t count, our voices are not worth hearing, and even the Word of God we proclaim is deemed meaningless. Christ was already presumed guilty by the world on the cross. Everyone who does not believe in Christ has participated in this crime with their prejudices. But the innocent Christ was condemned to forgive us sinners, to be justified by faith!
The so-called “illegal preaching” or “illegal religious group” quickly escalates to “cult” status. Although not written in official documents, this term is constantly implied in spoken language. They casually equate God’s Son, Christ, with Falun Gong. In their darkened and hardened consciences, all are ranked at the same level. Fallen and lost souls, unable to discern basic orientations or differentiate absolute from relative concepts, naturally equate the true God with false gods—despite the clear contrast between truth and lies.
Those who loosely accuse us of being a “cult,” tell me, what is the standard for “orthodoxy”? To those accusing us of “illegal preaching” or being an “illegal religious group,” what law have we breached? Is that legal standard legitimate?
The legitimacy of a called and commissioned preacher lies in whether he aligns with the Bible, whether he is called and sent by God, whether his teachings are from God’s Word, and whether he testifies to Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. A legitimate church first aligns with God’s Bible and will. God’s shepherding and grace are among them, acknowledging Christ as their Redeemer even in persecution. Their Lord acknowledges them before the Father and all the angels.
From a societal standpoint, the law is a basic boundary. Those without religion don’t understand religion; they only see its fruits. Do these people become more law-abiding or more sinful because of their religious beliefs? Thus, the law defines the fruit of religion, not its essence; the actions of religion, not its doctrines.
Police officers who spoke with me mentioned this. They said many religions that worship ghosts bring evil—yes, from this we can distinguish orthodoxy from cults. Religions that worship the true God are orthodox, characterized by righteousness, love, faithfulness, and mercy. Not only does God judge the world’s sins, but He also sacrifices Himself to save souls dead in sin. Worshiping false gods and demons is what is called a “cult”—the world’s evil exists because it is under the power of false gods and idols!
In facing religious judgments, we, as humans, must judge God. This is an extremely serious matter. Such a mistake in judgment, if made towards people or things, can cause great upheaval. How much more so if we misjudge God, who was crucified, and face corresponding judgment and punishment? Most importantly, we must recognize that we are human, not God. Our judgment of God is merely an acknowledgment, not a decision!
January 19, 2021
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