Watchman Nee is a name I have seen in
Christian literature for many years. After reading several of his
quotes, I decided it was time I learned more about him. After all,
everything I've read that was attributed to him, is amazingly
accurate and insightful. I knew he was a church leader and Christian
teacher who worked in China during the 20th century. I learned that
during his lifetime he published many books and established churches
throughout China and held many conferences to train Bible students
and church workers. Following the Communist Revolution, Nee was
persecuted and imprisoned for his faith. He spent the last twenty
years of his life in prison - until his death in 1972.
When I read of the "Religious
Affairs Bureau," I was curious about the title of such a
government agency in a Communist country, and did a bit of research
on it. This agency was charged with keeping religion under state
control. After the rise of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949
Christians came under great persecution. There were intensive
propaganda campaigns with threats of prison where Christians were
influenced to accuse one another. In 1956, there was a nationwide
effort to target church members. Some died in labor camps, and others
faced long prison sentences. The Religious Affairs Bureau began
twelve days of accusation meetings at a church Ne was sentenced to
prison on several false claims, and his co-workers were arrested and
forced to denounce Nee. Many mass accusation meetings were held
across the country to condemn the "anti-revolutionary sect of
Watchman Nee."
The lengths that Communist China
underwent to quash Christianity is profoundly sad and frightening. It
sure makes one appreciate living in the United States where we are
allowed to practice freedom of religion doesn't it?
