Spiritual Poverty in a Rich Land

In the West, Sichuan province is noted for its hot, fiery cuisine. Those who like it hot will want to pop into any Chinese restaurant that says, “Sichuan (aka Szechwan) style.” Ask the waiter to bring an extra glass of water, or even a fire extinguisher! In China, this province is called the “rice bowl,” and the “Land of Abundance,” because of its fertile land and abundant harvests.

Historically, Sichuan has been called the “Heavenly Kingdom” because of her prosperity. The Red Basin of Sichuan was one of the first parts of China to be settled. This happened in the 5th century BC. This area that is now in south–central China was often an independent kingdom. At one time it was a center of Thai culture. Later it was influenced by India when traders came there via Myanmar and Yunnan. The region was first incorporated into China during the Qin Dynasty in 221–206 BC. Its captured wealth was so great that it was instrumental in financing the takeover of the rest of China! Because of her potential for a great agricultural harvest, the new Chinese rulers quickly began an irrigation project that still functions today. Though this remote province has had many names through the centuries, it first came to be called Sichuan province during the Song Dynasty of AD 960–1279.

During the early 20th century, Sichuan province remained intact though it was divided between several warlords. In the early 1930s, the communists took over much of the northern part of the province. During the war with Japan from 1937–45, Sichuan province enjoyed boom years as industrialists, workers, and traders arrived from eastern China to establish enterprises. In 1955, this province doubled in size when land to the west was added.

The communist era hasn’t been very good to Sichuan province. The people there suffered tremendously during the Cultural Revolution of 1966–76. This province suffered even more during Deng Xiaoping’s experiments with economic reforms in the late 1970s. As they continue to dissolve communes, the agricultural economy continues to suffer today.

Though the economy of this province is diverse with agriculture, forestry, mining, and manufacturing all making contributions, agriculture has always been one of Sichuan’s strongest industries.

Unfortunately for the people who live there, the farmers of China’s “rice bowl” are having more problems as we push into the 21st century. The “Land of Abundance” is home to farmers who, according to a July 5, 2001 article in the San Jose Mercury, are in some cases being taxed more than they earn in a given year. According to this article, “China’s countryside, home to about 900 million of the nation’s 1.27 billion people, is in turmoil. Agricultural prices are falling, rural businesses are failing, and taxes are rising sharply, often to pay for bloated and corrupt local governments. While China’s urban coastal regions thrive, much of the countryside has fallen far behind, and farmers’ protests are increasing…. Locked into poverty by an apartheid–like household registration system that prevents them from legally moving to the cities, the rural poor are a potential time bomb for the central government. Experts say that China may have the most unequal distribution of wealth of any developing country. The income gap between urban and rural residents is almost certain to widen with China’s upcoming entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), which would expose farmers to competition from agricultural imports.”

In an article published in June of last year, the Christian Science Monitor points out that China is in a state of transition to a more competitive market economy. During this time, unproductive factories are closing, leaving millions unemployed. Farmers are losing jobs and land as the agricultural sector modernizes.

What will these tragedies mean for the spread of the gospel?
One thing to remember is that there are over 111 million people in this inland province. That is more people than there are in all but a handful of countries. Sichuan province also has a large number of unreached people groups. What is China going to do with 111 million unhappy people from many different languages and cultures? Already many are moving to Chengdu, Sichuan’s huge capital city.

If the rural poor manage to escape to Chengdu, they might be reached with the gospel more easily than if Christians had to reach them in remote villages. The current problems may also provide China’s Christians a chance to use community development projects to help the rural poor to make a living. Thirdly, it will make the people more open for change. The peoples of China already know that communism doesn’t work. Will the continuing problems give the rural poor more reason to look elsewhere for deliverance?

Pray that God will use China’s Christians to help Sichuan province’s rural poor to earn a living and to hear of their true Savior. Pray that leaders from each of Sichuan’s unreached people groups will soon have a chance to hear about the abundant life that Christ offers. Pray for Christian efforts to plant strong churches among every people group in Chengdu.

ODE TO INTERCESSION, AND A CALL

Who will ever know,
this side of eternity’s shores,
all the stories,
of all the courageous soldiers,
the brave men and women,
bold before their Master,
from the first century church
to the present, the twenty-first,
and who will continue to stand in the future,
beyond, until the Lord’s return.
The cloud of witnesses
who served their
Higher Country,
the Kingdom of God in the best,
most effective way: on their knees,
with folded hands or simply
crying out their pleas for His grace,
in all places, all walks of life?

They fought the good fight,
the fight of faith,
in screams and shouts,
in silence,
at three in the morning,
at high noon,
in cars,
in airplanes,
in offices,
in crowded elevators,
on innumerable battlefields,
on lonely,
windswept beaches
and perhaps,
even,
in outer space.

They prevailed.
God gave them victory.
They drove back the darkness,
made the path straight for the light,
tore down empires of evil,
toppled the tyrants,
oppressors
and purveyors of bigotry
and hate,
brought justice,
salvation and peace.

God is so pleased,
He beams with joy
as He honors them.

It’s not too late,
there’s still a chance
to be part of it
and win the crown
the medals of valor
in the New
Jerusalem.

Who will join, even
so belatedly as today,
this glorious band,
this tiny band?
Who will pray?