China's recent crackdown against human rights attorneys and advocates (more than 200 arrested and, or interrogated since July 9 of this year) and its continued campaign to remove crosses from church buildings (more than 1500) have created some people-powered responses that are now gaining some legs.
In China, a growing number of Christians are now participating in acts of civil disobedience. Some are strapping themselves to crosses to protect them from removal.
One of the most recent occured on July 22nd as a large groiup of Public Security Bureau officers (PSB) forcefully removed the red cross from a church compound at Yongqiang Chuangcun Christian Church, Longwan District, Wenzhou city, Zhejiang Province. In June, after government officials removed the cross from atop the church building,church members stood it up on the church grounds. They strapped themselves to the cross when the PSB came to remove it from the church compound.
Watch this video as other Christians weep and sing hymns as their cross is removed from Tengqiao Church, also in Zheijiang:
In response to this latest wave of persecution against Chinese Protestants and Catholics, some believers are making wooden crosses, painting them red, and are placing them atop their homes and along roadways.
Take a look here:
So, what should be done by the United States? Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled for an official state visit with President Obama in September.
Should Xi be given the red carpet treatment by the U.S. president? Listen to how Rep. Chris Smith (R) New Jersey, and China Aid President Bob Fu suggest America should respond:
Meantime, pray for wisdom for President Obama and other U.S. leaders. Pray for Chinese Christians, the human rights attorneys, and others who are now experiencing what may be the worst wave of persecution since China's Cultural Revolution.
Chinese government officials launched the crackdown because they fear Christianity and outspoken opposition from human rights advocates.
But this latest crackdown may actually be creating the very situation Beijing was hoping to prevent.