The
Jury’s still out in Ho Chi
Min City:
It’s an interesting time to
watch Vietnam. Celebrations marking
the 30th anniversary of the end of
the war were quickly followed by
a signed agreement on religious freedom
with the US government. It was enough
to make us all really believe for
a better, less corrupt, more open
nation, perhaps even one that would
allow believers to meet and worship.
Can you imagine that!
Much has been promised. How many
churches have been forced to close
down over the last 30 years? Hundreds
perhaps? Probably many thousands.
The pledge of a communist government
to not only re-open such churches
but in addition to actually grant
permission to conduct public worship,
is nothing short of spectacular.
A different policy – and one
that has been widely practiced in
Vietnam as well as in India, China,
Laos and North Korea to name but
a few – is the forced renunciation
of the Christian faith. Now the Vietnamese
government are to prohibit such a
measure. For those who have been
affected throughout 30 years of Communist
command, this is simply stunning.
Of, course, such policy changes
lift the lid on the brutal regime
believers have been surviving in.
These have been difficult decades
to say the least. Take these three
elements together, throw in the church-burnings,
the beatings, torture and poisonous
gas attacks and add in the perpetually
droning loud-speakers with government
warnings against all things Christian,
and imagine yourself in that kind
of a suffocating scenario. Perhaps
you can begin to appreciate how blessed
you are.
What’s so remarkable about
this manifesto for government change
is the timing of the promises. The
Christian message has long been perceived
and portrayed across Vietnam as an
imperialist, American strategy for
change, a subversive attempt to rid
Vietnam of its Communist structure
but to do it all through the back
door. To be celebrating 30 years
of victory over the Americans and
at the same time to promise enhanced
freedom to Christians, does not seem
to add up.
The one thing that can be counted
upon is Vietnam’s unstoppable
church. Despite Churches being closed,
bibles burned and pastors persecuted,
the Lord is still operating in a
special way in Vietnam. AsiaLink
have been spending time with indigenous
leaders, pastors and evangelists
in Northern Vietnam. This is home
to the majority of Vietnam’s
tribal groups - the hill peoples
- and seat of the government’s
most intense harassment. Many have
moved southwards to escape the more
vitriolic persecution.
The North is also home to a vibrant
Christian awakening, not least among
the Hmong people. These are the faithful
ones who are unable to gather together
more than a few at a time. We shared
and prayed together, testifying to
God’s goodness and encouraging
one another. They told of how the
government broadcasts denounce Christians
making wild accusations and blatantly
lying about the lives of believers.
Loudspeakers boom incessantly across
the city. We smiled as these same
brothers and sisters told of how
God turned these broadcasts around
for His own glory. Before the broadcasts
many had never heard of Jesus Christ.
Now they are asking “Who is
this Jesus? Where can we find a Church?” Many
have come to the Lord.
At times it would appear the government
is softening its stance against Christians.
Ho Chi Min city has promised much.
However, promises are habitually
made simply to allay the voices of
dissent particularly if sanctions
are looming or trade agreements the
enticing carrot. Either way, change
will not come overnight – should
it come at all. The persecution of
Christians has become a way of life.
It’s a part of Vietnam’s
cultural fabric now and will be a
knotty problem to undo - all the
way down to grassroots level.
Interesting times indeed! Perhaps
lasting change is just around the
corner in Ho Chi Min city. How will
it all pan out? For now, we’re
in the ‘wait and see’ mode.
Andrew Dudgeon
AsiaLink UK |
