I suspect that if the U.S. would treat the Chinese government as though it were the tyranny it most certainly is, that would be helpful. Because of China’s economic might we ignore its human and civil rights abuses. Its economic power has been obtained at the expense of U.S. jobs and the abuse of the Chinese people. This situation is to the advantage of ours and China’s elite ruling classes only. The U.S., with an unpricked conscience, looks the other way while a handful of Americans, whose influence on our foreign policy is way out of proportion to their numbers, are unjustly enriched by the exploitation of others.

The members of the body of Christ in the U.S. seem benumbed when it comes to the agony of the body of Christ in China. Even though we are free to do so, we do not loudly and unashamedly assert our views in the public square regarding this matter. What is needed is policy regarding China that serves the “common good.” No, the “common good” is not code for “big government.” Subsidiarity, not centralized federal power, is for the “common good.” For Christians, the pursuit of the “common good” has to include that of our nation as well as the nations we trade with. How can it be any other way if the body of Christ is universal?

So, what can be done? Christians can include a Christian understanding of the “common good” in what we are working to obtain politically, and add to our political agenda the implementation of a policy towards China that reflects the basic decency and fairness of most Americans.

If nothing else, prayer.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

When any member of a body is wounded the whole body reacts to it. It is not like the foot is indifferent to an injury to the hand, or the hand indifferent to an injury to the eye. The whole body reacts when any member is wounded.

This should be true of the body of Christ as well. Sadly, this often isn’t the case. Pointing out such things as what is happening to Christians in China, as you have done, is the beginning of correcting this sad situation.

Thanks