My Journal

A matter of privacy? A couple of days ago, I learned that the reason the pastor is very adamant about no photos or videos of church members in public viewing (online) is due to fact more than just the general privacy issue.

It is because in China, Christian persecutors could gain access to these sites and identify their targets who have returned to China.

I thought of this issue for a while. A bit challenging, but my conclusion is: I can certainly abide by this rule. However, it doesn't mean that it is right. I have no need to post these photos not because I don't want to be a rebel, but simply because there really is no necessity to post them despite every right I have to post them.

In regards to the principle, I would say it is an unbiblical one. Because in Roman times, the true Christian value is not just against unwisely exposing the faith of Christians in hostile public, but also to not deny their faith by suppressing evidence or proofs of testimony. Jesus says: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven...deny me before men, him will I also deny...(Matthew 10:32).

The first thing to identify a Christian is as simple as just asking the Christian, not to find photos to prove it or not, if the Christian did not lie of his/her identity. And if churches or pastors are teaching their China visiting members to lie back home, it is despicable.

If it were me, I would keep praying, find a wise, righteous solution, which often times is revealed by God at the right time, at a time that shows God's glory. The wicked hates this. They want to know the solution right away before calling it "God's glory". They want it their own way (so that they will be "blameless" in public) before calling it "God's way".

I predict patent trolling will be the new form of Western Gospel Evangelism. This is why I cannot associate with any "ministry" that does not preach to strangers actively. What they do now is: support others (but not themselves) to preach, act as if they like to preach themselves, preaching to only friends and people they like, assuming that they are preaching by welcoming curious parties at churches, and not believing that it is what they are required to do.