But perhaps the biggest and most destructive force is not
found among the corrupt and ignorant leaders of American Evangelicalism. No,
the worst offenders and enemies of the Kingdom of Truth (with regard to China)
are found among the dissident Chinese who have sold out to become agents of the
American Beast. 'God's Double Agent' as Bob Fu likes to call himself
immediately comes to mind.
Apart from the obvious disappointments in Bob Fu's
endorsement of Campus Crusade's bogus gospel presentation and potentially
destructive Word-denying evangelistic methods such as 'The Jesus Film', Fu
presents himself as 'God's Double Agent', a heroic advocate for Chinese
Christianity. It would be far more accurate to refer to him as 'America's
Agent'. His 2013 book seems to have been crafted specifically for an American
audience, even (embarrassingly at times) pandering to Western stereotypes about
the Chinese.
I feel compelled to say it again... Who will deny the evil of
the Beijing government and its persecution of Christians? And yet, to
understand why Beijing is the way it is, the history must be reckoned with,
something Fu has no interest in doing and in fact seems to dismiss it,
embracing a Western narrative when dealt with at all. Why would Maoist China
want Protestant congregations to function within the Three-Self Patriotic
(TSPM) apparatus? The reasons (though theologically unacceptable) are obvious
and yet Fu's great umbrage seems to flow primarily from what he perceives to be
the TSPM's Anti-Americanism.
I was disheartened to read not only of the influence of
Dominionist thought on Fu and his associates but the persistent politicisation
of the Church and attempts to litigate every battle. Reading his book, I found
little cause to wonder at Beijing's opposition to him and their fear of the
Underground Church. Don't misunderstand me. The gospel will always be offensive
and governments like the present day authoritarian-oligarchical regime that
rules China will always hate Biblical Christianity but in this case Fu and
those like him are giving Beijing reason to fear.
They are openly advocating for the transformation of not only
Chinese culture but its political order and they do this hand-in-hand with US
political forces and whatever other Western dominated internationalist
organisations they can recruit. Frankly they give credibility to Beijing's
accusations about foreign influence, collaboration and the potential for a
fifth column.
It was hard not to be repulsed at Fu's near messianic
devotion directed toward 'leader of the free world' George W. Bush, even while
ignoring his lies, violence and overall agenda of blood and moral degradation. Bush's
professed Christianity must be reckoned as obscene by anyone governed by New
Testament doctrine. Fu misleads not only his readers but the Christians of
China with regard to American Christianity and the professed religion of its
many 'Evangelical' politicians.
Fu, represents the worst forms of 'Going down to Egypt for
help' and has done so in collaboration with organisations like the Voice of the
Martyrs. The latter (also known as VOM) has undeniably done some good around
the world and provides a platform for persecuted Christians to speak. Contrary
to both Evangelical and Confessionalist forms of Prosperity Theology, VOM
embraces the call to take up the cross and yet schizophrenically is also willing
to work hand-in-hand with the centres of US power and seems eager at times to
use American might to back up its agenda.
Either these leaders are disqualified in failing to
understand what they're doing and the contradictions they have embraced or they
have willingly blinded themselves with regard to what calling on the United
States means in terms of geopolitics. They are calling on the most powerful
military and economic empire in world history to come to the aid of the Church
by means of threatening other nations with punitive action.
The United States, contrary to the perceptions of the
American public is known as a warmongering and violent nation, one which
overthrows governments, bombs with impunity and pursues aggressive policies in
order to promote its financial markets and strategic goals. In many of these
countries, apart from certain elite classes that have ties to the American
apparatus, the United States government is often loathed and feared. American culture
is seductive to be sure and yet its power is menacing. It is a strange and
perverse spectacle to observe the morally compromised, decadent and corrupt
Western Church call upon the diplomatic and military might of the Empire to
fight its battles, all the more when it is confused about its own identity and
has in many instances confounded Church and nation. These same ecclesiastical
leaders who feed off the American system, that in many cases has placed Third World
populations in difficulty, the system that has fomented the wars and social
strife, now presume to speak with moral authority and call on (what can only be
described in Biblical terms) bestial powers to promote, protect and defend the
Church of God? Something is amiss.
This is in complete opposition to both the explicit doctrine
and certainly the ethos of the New Testament. It actually gives occasion for
foreign governments to persecute Christians, to resist and resent their growth.
The offense is no longer due to the gospel but is instead political. This
undermines and destroys the witness of the Church.
And despite Fu's many references to Reformed Christianity and
his contacts with figures in that world, he candidly admits that he holds to
the same Charismatic doctrine espoused by groups like VOM.
Fu has devoted himself to the cause of Christianity in China.
His ChinaAid has become a leading voice in the West for the persecuted Church
and yet the organisation is clearly working with and alongside of powerful
elements within the US state.
I wrote to them in March of 2018 and said:
...I am concerned when
I look at the members of your advisory board and your partnership with the
National Endowment for Democracy.
Anyone versed in modern
American history and international relations will necessarily raise an eyebrow
as it looks like your organisation is effectively a front for US diplomatic
initiatives and a promoter of its policies vis-à-vis Beijing. Such
relationships are part of what could be described as chapters in an old
playbook oft utilised by the US State Department and some of the folks at Langley.
In no way do I mean to
advocate for or defend the polices of the CPC but at the same time it is more
than a little troubling to equate Christian Kingdom building with the policy
goals of Washington. Additionally the wedding of Chinese unregistered churches
with American policy let alone American money is not only troubling but bound
to increase pressure upon them. There are many Christians who believe firmly in
the reliability of the Scriptures and yet do not believe the American
Republican Party represents either the views or values of the New Testament.
And yet it would seem your organisation has forged close ties with the American
Right. Would you agree?
Do you have any
position papers that deal with these issues or can you perhaps offer some
comment or response?
Thank-you,
I received a rather generic response which dismissed all my
concerns and argued that ChinaAid has always sought 'bi-partisan' help, as
indeed Fu came to the United States under the Clinton administration. Well
despite completely avoiding the issues I raised, an appeal to bi-partisan
relationships with the American political order hardly exonerates ChinaAid from
the charges of Deep State collaboration and the influence of US money. And
despite this rather lame defense, Fu is clearly anti-DNC, slamming Obama, and
ever heaping praise on the GOP.
Ironically for all the good someone like Fu seeks to do, he
in fact is 'Exhibit A' for Beijing's case against unregistered Churches. For
all the 'good' Fu is doing he is in fact their worst enemy. He is the very 'proof
of a conspiracy' Beijing is looking for and his organisation (a front for a
host of figures and organisations connected to American Deep State machinations
and politics) is exactly why the CPC wants to crackdown on unregistered meetings
and keep tabs on contacts, money and all the rest.
I was deeply disturbed by Fu's book and put off by not only
his activist philosophy but his very spirit of humble pride. In his work there
were other clues about the power and magnitude of American Evangelical money
and the pervasive (and indeed pernicious) influence of Dominionist Theology,
issues that extend beyond Bob Fu. It was a worthwhile if discouraging read.
While Fu celebrates his many victories, they are shallow and
short-term. Instead he is becoming a catalyst for persecution. Had Fu released
CPC documents in a non-political context, had he based his organisation
somewhere other than the United States (and Midland, Texas at that), if he
declined opportunities to participate in forums orchestrated and produced by
Right-wing think-tanks like the Hudson Institute, perhaps Beijing would be less
concerned.
But instead Bob Fu and those like him are the very reasons
Beijing is coming down all the more on its underground (and even dissident
TSPM) Christians.
Do we need to be afraid of the truth? Sadly, most American
Christians have been blinded by affiliation with and great affection for
Right-wing politics, its narratives, doctrines and worldview. Misled by the
false teachers that sit atop the Evangelical (and Confessional) spectrum, the
average church-goer is left in a state of ignorance. Unfamiliar with what the
New Testament actually teaches, they are easily led astray by leaders
professing to teach Biblical Worldview but instead preach a philosophy which is
often little more than a pagan ethos utilising Christian language and concepts.
Machen's 'Christianity and Liberalism' comes to mind. In that work Machen
rightly indentifies theological liberalism as a wolf in sheep's clothing,
another religion that has appropriated the language and terms of Christianity
even while denying its substance.
Indeed, the New Testament speaks of those who have a form of
godliness but deny the power thereof. Modern Dominionist Theology despite its theologically
conservative costume and Biblical trappings is a close cousin and leads in the
end to the same kind of destructive redefinition of the Christian faith.
These wolves, these false teachers run wild in the Church
making merchandise of the flock. They have little concern for the truth as
indeed they and their 'ministries' and 'denominations' are intimately wed to
the American financial system and the military order that flows from it. They
are not interested in truth, not in the least. And they've done their work and
even now have spawned a new generation of sycophants and lackeys that have
abandoned discernment and instead live by proffering the party line.
Christians that want to understand something of the world and
have a context in which to understand the global Church will need to look
beyond the various 'worldview' ministries that dominate the Evangelical and
Confessional scene. The developing story in China is tremendous. I would like
to hear about it, but to do so I must turn away from the very people who should
(above all) be telling the truth. Instead they promote the lies and get rich in
the process. Consider this warning the next time you consume 'Christian' news.