The run-up to the Olympics has been clouded by protests over China’s treatment of Tibet. Should Christians care?

In this Salvationist series, Captain Amy Reardon, Christian Education Director, Northwest Division, U.S.A. Western Territory, and Dr James Read, Executive Director of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre in Winnipeg, dialogue about moral and ethical issues.

Dear Amy,

What do you make of the “Free Tibet” protests that have interrupted the Olympic torch run this year? They certainly caught my attention. I’m sure you took note, too. But were they a good tactic in the service of a good cause?

As a Salvationist, I’m proud of our forebears who were thrown in jail for being a public nuisance. It seems I’ve not caught the same spirit myself, however. When I was a teaching assistant at UCLA we went on strike. That’s the only time I’ve carried a placard in a demonstration. I’m not sure this should be a point of pride. I think it may be cowardice.

Dick Pound is a Canadian whose name you may recognize as the former head of the anti-doping squad for the Olympics. He’s gone on record as opposing the protestors’ call for governments to boycott the Beijing Games because that would be unfair to the athletes. Maybe so, but it would be naive to think that the Olympic Games are about pure sport and athleticism. They’re political from the get-go. And don’t forget that they are also big business. Huge dollars are on the line for corporate sponsors and for countries like the U.S.A. and Canada that trade with China. 

So I think the protesters are right to get us asking whether tolerating the oppression of a few million Tibetans is too high a price to pay for “fairness” to young athletes and black ink on the corporate bottom line. But I’m so ignorant as to what really is at stake, Amy.
It seems to me that we should be trying to find answers to these questions. I absolutely believe that The Salvation Army and Salvationists should be more outspoken about human rights and social justice. People sometimes counter this with the claim that the Army is (or should be) apolitical. This is simply wrong. We never have been. Never could be. Being non-partisan is our policy, and that has proven its wisdom over time. But politics is bigger than party politics. Almost every human being is part of a structured community that has rules for the use and distribution of power. Since that’s the core meaning of politics, we can’t really be apolitical. 

What’s more, as Christians we can’t simply yawn when the talk turns to human rights. The right to food, clothing, shelter, personal security (all aspects of a right to life); the right to religious freedom; the right to an opportunity to develop one’s God-given talents—these are values that have Christian roots. If we ignore them, I think Jesus’ word of correction should reverberate in our heads: “You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.… You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:23-24).

The tough part for me is when we get down to specifics. I want to take the New International Version’s translation of Galatians 4:18 to heart: “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good.” Discerning the good purpose about which to be passionate is essential, but it’s also tough work. 

It’s a no-brainer to say that oppression and cultural genocide are wrong, but do those terms fit what the Olympic protesters are campaigning about? What is the situation in Tibet and China? What made the Dalai Lama go into self-imposed exile? What is the Dalai Lama himself advocating? Why should Christians support a non-Christian culture?

I hope you have some wisdom you can pass along, Amy. Either about discernment in general or about the specific issues of Tibet and the Beijing Games.
Jim

P.S. What’s your favorite Olympic event? Despite the shame that Ben Johnson brought on the Canadian team back in 1988, track—especially the men’s 100-metre race—still excites me.

Dear Jim,

What is the Christian response to the fact that the Olympics are being held in Beijing this summer? That seems to be the main issue. You’ve raised other critical questions, but I’ll focus on this one, because the answers to the others could fill a book.
The controversy over Beijing arose afresh because of the March 2008 violence in Tibet, where a number of protestors were killed. (The Chinese government says 22 were killed; the Tibetan monks claim it was many more.) The exact aim of the protests is somewhat unclear. Many want complete political liberation for Tibet. Others, such as the Dalai Lama, are only requesting cultural autonomy, which would include religious freedom. 

I am convinced that Christians should defend free access to all religions, because only complete religious freedom inspires genuine faith. True commitments to Christ would be rare if Christianity were the only option the government allowed. Because we believe in our God-given free will, we should promote each human’s right to adhere to their chosen faith. Of course, we believe that only Christ is the way, the truth and the life, but we endeavour to persuade—not coerce—others to believe the same. 

Fingers have long been pointed at China for its human rights record. Even beyond the Himalayan region it governs, China’s trade and foreign policy has had a destructive effect. For example, China has supplied arms to Sudan, which have enabled that country’s militia to persecute the people of Darfur. Some assumed that frustration with China over this issue would result in protests of the Olympics. If there were such protests, they did not receive international attention. However, according to the New York Times (March 8, 2008), China did put pressure on the Sudanese government to reduce its violence. Hypocritical, don’t you think? Why not pull the log out of their own eye first?

Other human rights abuses may be closer to our hearts, such as the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in China. The Voice of the Martyrs’ website (www.persecution.com) reports many Christians in China are imprisoned merely for expressing their faith. In July 2007, Chinese pastor Li Mei and nine other church leaders were jailed for leading worship and showing the Jesus film. Li Mei was tortured and beaten so badly that she required a hysterectomy. Pastor Wang Weiliang and seven of his church leaders were arrested in 2006 and remain in prison. Yet Christians of the free world remain tight-lipped. Why don’t we protest these abuses? Is it because they are so far away and we are so safe? Is it because we in the Christian Church have glorified persecution and view these victims as hyper-godly for their suffering?

Jim, you mentioned that Salvationists should be politically active, protesting injustice as they find it. I agree. But when it comes to advocating for people persecuted for their faith, I am ashamed of our track record. Why have we not clamoured for the freedom of Christians in China? Why has it taken a group of Tibetan monks to get us to think about these things? We now wonder if we should take a stand against the Olympics, but my question is: What took us so long? Micah 6:8 commands us “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with [our] God.” Justice doesn’t just occur. It requires action on the part of those who are capable. Can Li Mei protest for herself? She cannot. Can I write to my elected representative, draft a petition, write a letter to the editor of my newspaper or stage a demonstration? I can.

The Chinese government has a long rap sheet. Their denial of basic human rights is a matter of historical fact. Because of this, I see our current concern as hypocritical. When China was first announced as Olympic host we scratched our heads and said, “Really?” We didn’t jump up and down about the injustices that government perpetuates. In contrast to our lukewarm response, I found this impassioned reaction on BBC’s Sports Talk: “As a Tibetan exile that was kicked out of my country nearly 50 years ago, I feel utterly devastated by this award. I cannot believe that the International Olympic Committee can reward nepotism, brutality and savage occupation. The IOC has once again proved that human rights are only a side issue when it comes to a multi-billion dollar business venture. Will humanity ever come to our aid?”

Unfortunately, our concern for human rights is a dollar short and a day late. I don’t think a boycott of the Olympics can have any impact at this point. But here’s a lesson learned—when you see injustice, fight it. Don’t sit on your hands. In the name of Christ, fight! We are the privileged ones—the people who live in free lands and who have a voice. There are many ways we can express our opinions and work for change. If we don’t do it, who will?
Amy

P.S. I love gymnastics! I must confess, sometimes I am so moved by the beauty of the gymnasts’ movements that I get a bit weepy and praise God for the wonder of his creation.

Tibetan activists are confronted by police during a “Free Tibet” protest in Jakarta, Indonesia