Posted on 12/02/2005 6:48:46 AM PST by Esther Ruth
Evangelist Luis Palau Regrets Remarks on Religious Freedom in China Patrick Goodenough, CNSNews
An American evangelist has apologized for saying during a recent visit to China that the religious freedom situation there was better than expected, and for saying that "underground" Christians should register with church associations set up by the communist government. Luis Palau, an Oregon-based evangelist, paid a week-long visit to China earlier this month, his fifth to the country. His trip coincided with a visit by President Bush, and Palau was invited to attend a church service in Beijing with the president and First Lady. In an interview with the official China Daily, recorded the day before the church service but published subsequently, Palau said there was more religious freedom in China than people abroad imagined. He also called for unofficial churches in China to register with the government bodies. In response to Palau, a U.S. spokeswoman for the South China Church said in a statement that 16 of the denomination's leaders were currently in prison in China, and more than 1,000 of its pastors, evangelists and believers had been jailed since 2001. Palau said he regretted some of his comments. "It's not my role as an evangelist to suggest that churches in China should register," he said. "My role is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ."
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Palau, who has zilch experience with China issues, got royally deceived by his Chicom hosts. It sounds like they took him on a tour of foreigner churches which don't have to bastardize their gospel so long as they don't let Chinese citizens in.
I have not formed any personal attachment to this man, but I am not going to quicly attack him just because he makes a mistake and then owns up to it. Yes, he regrets "some of his remarks." We do not know what other remarks he gave, just the ones this article talks about. Are you going to judge the remarks that we don't know he gave? Would you rather he denied giving vile advice instead of own up to it? He did not see the official churches as fake when he was there. You are judging him for something that he said he regrets doing. Where is the forgiveness?
But honestly, how could he not know the real deal about what is happening to Chinese Christians?
The truth about what is going on there is well-known.
He says it was better than EXPECTED.
A tour of foreigner churches, his hosts telling him these are house churches, would do that. Had Luis been able to ask a few questions it would have blown the cover, but I doubt he got to hear anything more than a few rousing choruses of "Blessed Assurance" and the like.
"An American evangelist has apologized for saying during a recent visit to China that the religious freedom situation there was better than expected, and for saying that "underground" Christians should register with church associations set up by the communist government."
He apologized for saying this. What is there not to understand?
"In response to Palau, a U.S. spokeswoman for the South China Church said in a statement that 16 of the denomination's leaders were currently in prison in China, and more than 1,000 of its pastors, evangelists and believers had been jailed since 2001."
This is what satan wants covered up. He preyed upon a mind that was not properly prepared to go into a godless country. Yes, this is Mr Palau's fault. He should know about spiritual persecution and wound up a bad influence on our president.
""Palau said he regretted some of his comments. "It's not my role as an evangelist to suggest that churches in China should register," he said. "My role is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ." "
If your role is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, then the people will come to realize what is fake and what is not.
Oh please. It's like trying to defend Walter Duranty's reporting on the Soviet Union as a worker's paradise.
You are judging him for something that he said he regrets doing.
No, I am pointing out that weaseling out of his responsibility by saying "It's not my role" is neither an apology nor is it good example.
Self-proclaimed evangelists have an even greater responsibility to tell the truth "in season and out of season."
He has first given vile advice and then he has followed it up by saying: "At first I supported apostasy. But now I have no comment. Not my role."
Absolutely pathetic.
A real Christian would tell real Christians in China to continue to witness to Jesus without fear or favor, and he would call upon the Chinese government to stop persecuting the churches.
And his response is: "It's not my role."
Some evangelist.
Because one of the key features of the Chinese persecution is that the Chinese government says it permits Christianity by allowing the official front churches while ruthlessly persecuting Christians who refuse to submit to communism.
Every single persecuted Christian has been presented with the decision: "Either submit to the state church or go to prison."
It is an essential feature of the Chinese government's persecution and it has been for more than 40 years.
He responding by saying he regretting calling for the churches to register, and he shouldn't have done so.
That's a half-truth. He starting by saying that Christians should submit, and he ended by saying that he shouldn't have said it because it wasn't "his role."
Wrong! He shouldn't have said it because he should have said the exact opposite! He should have spoken up for the oppressed Christians of China.
Instead of doing the right thing, he washes his hands and says "not my role."
Maybe you've got some other agenda and you just see this as your opportunity to slam this man of God.
Nice headfake.
The question here is precisely whether or not he is a man of God or a fame-obsessed showman.
If your role is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, then you have an obligation to denounce the Chinese government for its persecution of your Christian brothers.
He hasn't done so.
He is a fine man. He just made a mistake. I forgive him for that based on his superlative record as an evangelist.
A fine man, by definition, would vociferously condemn the persecution practiced by the Chinese government in direct, unambiguous language.
Whether you forgive him, as nice as that is, is immaterial since he didn't injure you.
I am sure that the persecuted Christians of China - whom he injured grievously - pray for him and forgive him.
That doesn't remove his obligation to now undo the damage he did.
I agree with all you've said in this thread. I wonder what happened. So very strange all of it.
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All of this makes me think of Jesus being tempted by the devil for some reason, reminded we have a Lord who knows what we go through in regards to temptations. Also reminds me over and over again how strong the temptation can be and desire to win the approval of men and place men before God as an idol in seeking their approval.
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