Luis Palau Says Chinese Churches Should Register Themselves

The Christian Post ^ | 11-21-05 | The Christian Post

[Terriergal]

“First of all, I would not call them ‘underground’ churches, but ‘unregistered.' ‘Underground’ has the connotation that you are hiding, and that is not how it is," he said. “Personally, I would encourage the unregistered churches to register and receive greater freedom and blessings from the government."

[Terriergal]

This is abominable. I would heartily exhort everyone not to fall for this. Palau has been abandoning the true Gospel little by little over the last few years in favor of a 'seeker sensitive, self-esteem gospel' and this is just the next step in his progressive denial of reality. Shameful. This is a slap in the face of those who are still facing extreme persecution in China for their faith in Jesus.

[EternalVigilance]

I agree.

Registering would be a fatal mistake.

[Terriergal]

I like the quote "Even in the United States you can’t get away with defying order," immediately preceded by:

“For example, in the U.S. you have to register to pay taxes and get your tax returns,” he said. “For clergy, only when they register would they receive the benefits from the government as clergymen. The U.S. did this for the sake of keeping order. In Argentina, our churches registered with the government.”

And if there are laws that do stand on biblical truth, Christians should be able to stand for their faith. However, faith should not be used as a pretense to defy the law, he said.

Fancy bit of equivocation there. What about all the ministries and churches that refuse tax exempt status in the US? I would assume that he would frown on house church or the disobedience to the oppressive laws that occurred in the founding of this country, then.

It seems more and more like prominent preachers are not 'finishing well.' Billy Graham has been wishy washy, even (remember his coddling Bill Clinton!) Joel Osteen can't preach about sin and judgement, neither can Rick Warren and all his cronies. TBN preaches a gospel of prosperity and fulfillment if you just have enough faith (never mind Jeremiah and all the others who suffered and still today those who suffer daily for their faith!)

[Terriergal]

BTW TBN has made similar noises about China.

[EternalVigilance]

*gag*

[Celtman]

FYI, there are also "unregistered" churches in the USA.

[farmer18th]

This man has become--in this instance--an unwitting servant of the Devil and a rather inglorious public idiot. May true Christians in his organization have the courage to rebuke him.

[twntaipan]

Registering with the state church should seem unthinkable to any evangelical from a free church background.

[farmer18th]

Registering with the state church should seem unthinkable to any evangelical from a free church background.

These guys amp up the praise band, pad the sanctuary pews, hob nob with politicians, and seeker-tickle their way into comfortable retirements. They are a blemish on Christianity.