International missionaries face new restrictions spreading Gospel in China

 By Diana Chandler - Posted at Baptist Press:

BEIJING (BP) – The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) enacted new restrictions on foreign missionaries there May 1, preventing them from preaching, evangelizing and establishing various religious organizations among other activities without official government approval.

Establishing schools, appointing clergy, using the internet to conduct illegal religious activities and producing, selling or distributing Bibles and religious audio-visual products are among activities punishable by law for foreigners and Chinese nationals that aid them, according to the rules posted online by China’s National Religious Affairs Administration.

The rules are among the latest in the Communist nation’s drive to Sinicize Christianity and other religions under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.

The CCP cited national unity in justifying the rules, International Christian Concern (ICC) said in a press release, a common reasoning for restrictions that are in essence a cover for religious persecution there.

“The CCP has long viewed independent religious activity with suspicion, arguing that religious loyalty is at odds with the ultimate loyalty demanded by the Communist Party,” ICC said. “The government labels independent religious activity as cultish and extremist, regardless of its theological roots, and demands that all Christian religious activity take place within the confines of state-run churches.”

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