Why Do We Keep Supporting Bibles for China?

When it comes to Bibles for China, there are some frequently asked questions. We will try to answer a few in this post.

Christians in the West have been supporting Bible distribution in China for decades. When is it enough?

Answer: It will be enough when every believer, and every non-believer who wants to read one, has access to a Bible. The church still grows, and so does the need for Bibles. We haven’t caught up yet.   

How do we know they still need Bibles?

Answer: Because the leaders of the large networks keep telling us it is their number one need, especially in rural areas.

Can they not print their own Bibles? Even my English Bible is printed in China!

Answer: Yes, they can. But they are not allowed to. Only the government sanctioned Three-Self church can print a limited number of Bibles legally. That is why we support underground Bible printing in China. In this way, Bibles do not have to cross borders, which is risky and expensive. Though there is this underground printing capability, with our support they can expand their printing capacity to several hundred thousand per year.

I hear you can just buy a Bible in China if you want one.

Answer: Yes, in urban areas this is often possible. But they are only for sale in government approved Three-Self churches or their bookstores. Often, you first have to register your personal details with them, which is a security risk for underground Christians. And you cannot get the quantities of Bibles needed to meet the needs of the growing churches in rural areas. Even asking for so many would put a target on your back. You may just be able to get one or a few.

Also, it is good to remember that the Three-Self church cannot print as many Bibles as they want, they have to stick to government limits. And the government does not allow for the numbers which would meet the combined need of both the Three-Self churches and the house churches.

Also, getting Bibles to the remote areas is still difficult. Especially since it is no longer possible to buy Bibles through webstores.

If it is legal to buy and own a Bible, why do I hear reports of Bibles getting burned?

Answer: It is legal to buy and own a Bible, but gathering with believers outside of the Three-Self church is not. When a house church gets raided, usually all Bibles, hymnbooks and other materials are confiscated and destroyed. This is another reason why Bible distribution remains necessary. Christians who lose their Bibles in such raids need a replacement copy.

How about online Bibles?

Answer: China’s great firewall is quite effective in blocking Bible apps, Christian websites and other places where people could get a digital copy of the Bible. Digital surveillance makes searching for such content risky. The government also has backdoors built into smartphones so they can access content on people’s phones. But aside from technical difficulties and security issues, Chinese people also have a great respect for actual books and a physical copy of the Bible is preferred where possible.

Whereas we take our Bibles for granted, Chinese Christians do not. They know how much effort and sacrifice it took to make the Bible available in their language. They remember how for decades most believers did not have access to Bibles and those who did had to hide them carefully. They may have had to memorize long passages from scripture before they were allowed to get on the Bible waiting list, as only believers who demonstrated their dedication to the Word would be considered for one of the few copies that would become available. They may well remember the joy of holding their very own Bible for the first time. They have had the words of scripture comfort and sustain them through persecution. And they know that even now, their Bible can be taken away from them.

As long as there are still believers waiting for their own copy of Scripture, we will continue to help our Chinese friends print as many as they can in their underground printing operation. One day this door to provide Bibles may close. We want to work as long as it is day.