Reply #24: Not idiots.

[StoryTeller]

As I understand from a personal conversation with a leader of one of the unregistered Chinese churches, registered churches lack a significant amount of free speech. They basically become mouthpieces of the government. Not that unregistered churches particularly wish to spend time criticizing the government, but if they register, they are restricted as to what parts of the Bible they may teach from and are required to preach from their pulpits the official party line from the government. The "house church" movement does not necessarily condemn all registered churches, and they do acknowledge that there are some really excellent ones available. But they firmly believe that a church should not be the tool of any government. It seems to be a lesson some of our churches in America need to learn.