Christians Blacklisted in China

I've read from a Christian magazine that some time last year the Chinese Government secretly released a document entiled, "Notice on Strict Background Check on Applicants for the Olympic Games and the Test Events." The said document includes a list of 43 types of people in 11 categories who will be barred from the Olympic Games this coming August. One of the 11 banned categories of people is "Religious extremists and religious infiltrators," which defined as:

1. Members of illegal religious organizations both in China and abroad.
2. Members who have been caught by Chinese authorities for engaging in illegal religious activities.
3. People who have given illegal sermons.
4. People who illegally distribute religious publications and video/audio materials.
5. People who have illegally established religious organizations, institutions, schools, sermon sites and other religious entities.

Some critics say that China will go to great lengths to keep out potential "troublemakers" during the games.

TROUBLEMAKERS? Christians are making lots of troubles in China according to them. But this is not a shocker at all. Things like these have been going on for so many years, even centuries. And China is not the only country that "hates" Christians.

So what are they going to do if they capture these so-called "troublemakers"? If China will go to "great lengths" to keep out "troublemakers", this must mean that those who will be captured will receive harsh punishments, right? Let me guess - house arrest, imprisonment, torture or maybe even death!

You might not hear about it in the news, but many Christian evangelists and missionaries are imprisoned in China and many other countries today for preaching the word of God.