Comments on: Viet Nam http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2003/10/23/viet-nam/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:43:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Missy http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2003/10/23/viet-nam/#comment-1302 Missy Fri, 24 Oct 2003 17:06:02 +0000 http://ss75.shared.server-system.net/~benedictionblogson.com/?p=577#comment-1302 Doug, I'm a children's pastor and that's how we do it! Seriously, it's always struck me how Christianity thrives under persecution. Facing jail for your faith will make you a serious Christian real quick. And it sure puts the arguement on what color to paint the walls into perspective real fast, too, doesn't it? Doug,

I’m a children’s pastor and that’s how we do it!

Seriously, it’s always struck me how Christianity thrives under persecution. Facing jail for your faith will make you a serious Christian real quick. And it sure puts the arguement on what color to paint the walls into perspective real fast, too, doesn’t it?

]]> By: Doug http://www.benedictionblogson.com/2003/10/23/viet-nam/#comment-1301 Doug Fri, 24 Oct 2003 04:43:13 +0000 http://ss75.shared.server-system.net/~benedictionblogson.com/?p=577#comment-1301 Bene - you hit it on the head! The Vietnamese Christians are not distracted by the trappings of western Christianity. That is not to say there aren't a lot of beautiful (and in some cases new) church buildings, but their emphasis is on God. But, the government is loosening up - notice that a new Cardinal was just added to the Roman Church from Viet Nam. For years, the government insisted it would appoint any Cardinal or Archbishop. But the Vatican held out. Seminaries are now allowed to open, but the number of students is restricted. The government is rightly afraid of evangelicals - but the Roman Catholic population (about 10% of the country) is growing more restive too. So - next time your congregation celebrates the Lord's Supper - could you do it with Kool Aid and soda crackers? Bene - you hit it on the head! The Vietnamese Christians are not distracted by the trappings of western Christianity. That is not to say there aren’t a lot of beautiful (and in some cases new) church buildings, but their emphasis is on God. But, the government is loosening up - notice that a new Cardinal was just added to the Roman Church from Viet Nam. For years, the government insisted it would appoint any Cardinal or Archbishop. But the Vatican held out. Seminaries are now allowed to open, but the number of students is restricted. The government is rightly afraid of evangelicals - but the Roman Catholic population (about 10% of the country) is growing more restive too.

So - next time your congregation celebrates the Lord’s Supper - could you do it with Kool Aid and soda crackers?

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