I can’t help but wonder why God allows all this suffering in China to take place, especially in addition to the decades of suffering they’ve already endured. China doesn’t have a great track record with human rights; and in my opinion it was a mistake of the IOC’s to allow this communist country to host the 2008 Olympics. However, the past few weeks has turned the tide with the unexpected events that have fallen upon this country.
Next to Burma’s horrible response to their Cyclone disaster (see post here), China looks like the hero by letting in foreign aid, rescuing victims from fallen rubble, having a 3-day mourning period for victims, and now evacuating possible flood areas from “Quake Lake.” Maybe this tragedy has forced the government to wake up and see the need to help their people — that’s a step in the right direction, right?
I’ve always had sympathy towards people living in China. But now I can’t help but pray for this country every time I think of them. The earthquake has taken my mind off the upcoming Olympics (which is only a couple months from now), I wonder if the timing is an intentional act by God. Media-driven China hot topics (Tibet, “Genocide Olympics,” human rights, one child policy) have fallen off the top news tickers; it’s been replaced by heroic stories of earthquake survivors and rescue workers. But nonetheless — these hot topics remain in my heart.
Is God trying to tell us to be more sympathetic towards this country? Is this disastrous earthquake God’s way of allowing more human rights aids workers to be in country, therefore more changes could potentially be made? I read this morning that the earthquake damage could take up to 5 years to rebuild. Will these 5 years be like an awakening to China? Setting new building code standards and breaking down one child policy laws?
All I know is what I read on the news and what our organization is doing for this country. Like most of us, I can’t fly to China to help people. The only thing I have the power to do is ask God for protection, mercy, and relief for the people suffering in China.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26).
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
What do you think? Do you think the earthquake has opened up a wave of sympathy towards the country, that only a natural disaster could provoke?
Am praying for China and it’s people, especially Christians.
To the Excellent President Of China,
I hope that this earthquake has turned a few tables around for you. May God love you as you turn to Him. About the products-great work. May His Excellency have a good night and a good rest of the week.
I believe disaster relief will be an open door for more open evangelism in China. However, as you note, recent hot topics have been replaced in most media. Meanwhile, China continues to intensify its persecution of Christians. China Aid has reported that several house church Christians were arrested when they volunteered to assist earthquake victims. This will be an interesting topic to revisit periodically over coming months. But, I think it will take a collapse of the Chinese government and their communist system, much like what happened in the former Soviet Union, for open change to come to the Chinese people.
I believe there is overwhelming prayer for this country especially in light of the recent earthquake – before the focus was on the games now it is firmly on those who suffer at the hands of an opressive regime and this more recent tragedy- I have no doubt that God will be praised and glorifyied as more and more people come to Jesus .
I had a conversation with my cousin the other day about all the disaters going on and she is not a believer and said “you know I think it is nature way of population control.” and that kind of struck me because for a moment it sounded reasonable. But I went back to the word of God and to me it seems like everytime there was a “disater” in the bible it was God calling his people back to him and/or because of sin in the land, ie: the flood, soddom and gomorah. I can’t help but think that God is calling this communist country back to him… While it does not make the suffering any easier, it should give us hope that God and God only is in control! PS – I am moving to China in the spring so this has been near and dear to my heart.