China prints 43 million copies of the Bible in 25 years… Is it enough?

The issue of “Bibles in China” is a very important issue and there are many voices contributing to the ‘discussion.’

According to a recent report by China’s official religious governing authority;

China printed more than 43 million copies of the Bible between 1981 and 2006. Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council, stated on July 6th, that China’s religious freedom is fully ensured.

According to Cao, the China Christian Council (CCC) and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (TSPM) held the “Bible Ministry Exhibition of the Church in China” in Hong Kong in 2004; Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York in 2006; and will be held in Germany’s Cologne and Bavaria this year.

China’s government wants the outside world to be impressed by the number of Bibles they’ve printed. However, some are reporting that there is actually a severe shortage of Bibles in China.

Christians across China are reporting a shortage of Bibles, even in cities where Bibles were previously readily available.

There are reports of ongoing house-church raids and arrests, and an unprecedented number of foreign Christians have been expelled from China in recent months.

Still others are coming out and speaking straight to this Government sponsored exhibition, calling it nothing more than propaganda;

“Those who know well about the operation of Chinese government and its sanctioned religious organizations should acknowledge this exhibition is nothing but a PR campaign to cover up the religious persecution image in the U.S.,” CAA stated.

President of CAA Rev. Bob Fu pinpointed the self-contradiction of the Chinese government as saying, “It’s rather ironical that Beijing House Church pastor Cai Zhuohua is serving for three years sentence in the Chinese prison for printing Bibles in China since last year while the propaganda message of this Bible exhibition is that there is freedom to print Bibles in China.”

With the number of Christians in China increasing daily, the need for Bibles is also increasing. Without access to the Bible, China’s Christians will be severely limited in their ability to grow in their faith. For many Christians around the world, it’s hard to comprehend what it’s like to not have access to a Bible… not even ONE!

How many Bibles are on YOUR bookshelf?

• Please pray that the Word of God will make it into the hands of Chinese all across China who want a copy, but don’t have access.