SARS scourge in SAR

by Tony Lambert

The SARS virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) has been causing panic in the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) as it spreads around the globe. The virus attacks the lungs and causes pneumonia but there is no known vaccine which can cure the disease. It causes the lungs to swell pressing against the chest wall and preventing oxygen from reaching the blood, thus suffocating the victim. Even those who recover (the majority) require weeks in the hospital. Scientists initially thought SARS was spread by droplets through sneezing or coughing but now experts believe it may also be spread by water or sewage systems. A World Health Organization expert has said, "SARS is the most significant outbreak of a disease through air travel in history." Sources close to WHO believe that livestock in southern China may be the source of the virus: "In some areas in Guangdong people live very close to animals: pigs, chickens and ducks are everywhere." (Lateline News, 1 April)

SARS is believed to have started in neighboring Guangdong province in southern China in November 2002 but only became public in February 2003. By that time it had spread from south China to Hong Kong. The virus is extremely infectious and is easily spread by air travelers. Cases have been reported in 20 countries including Canada, the UK and Singapore where those affected have been placed in strict quarantine. By mid-April the worldwide death toll had risen to 150 out of some 3,000 known cases (a 4% death rate). By April 12 58 deaths and 1,300 cases had officially been announced in China. (Daily Telegraph, 12 April)

However, it is Hong Kong which (apart from China where the spread of the disease is still not clearly known) has been most severely affected. People attending church services have been wearing masks as have people traveling on the crowded MTR (underground railway). Some churches have stopped their meetings altogether. Tourism has been badly hit as many are staying away.

OMF has been forced to cancel some of its programs including a summer English program. At our Singapore international headquarters some important meetings have also been canceled or postponed.

The U.S., British and Canadian governments are now advising their citizens to postpone visits to Hong Kong and south China. The Spring Trade Fair in Guangzhou has been badly hit as hundreds of foreign business executives decided to stay away. (SCMP, 11 April)

To combat growing panic, a booklet called SARS is Not Terrible has been published on the Mainland and its first edition of 100,000 copies sold out. The author states that few people have died and outlines certain measures to avoid contracting the illness, such as avoiding crowded places, wearing masks and the “positive prevention” of eating various types of hot cereal and meat dishes. (SCMP, 7 April) The authorities have forbidden the state-run media and all Internet chat-rooms from discussing the spread of SARS to quell panic and protect China’s image as a safe tourist and foreign investment destination. (AFP, 7 April)

In Beijing in April hospital staff were saying they were treating many more patients suspected of having contracted SARS than their government was prepared to admit. (Daily Telegraph, 10 April 2003) A nurse at one hospital said: "The situation is much worse than the newspapers say," and claimed that at least six doctors and nurses in that one hospital have been infected. One Bejing hospital has been forced to shut down because of SARS. A prominent doctor claimed there were 106 known cases in Beijing - more than five times the figure publicly admitted. (AP, 7 April) The U.S. has reduced its diplomatic presence in Beijing and all U.S. consulates in China because of the SARS virus. Non-essential staff and dependents were offered free flights out of China. (Reuters, 3 April) The World Economic Forum has postponed until the autumn a meeting of business and government leaders originally set to meet in Bejing in April.

The welfare of China’s people as well as many overseas Christians working within China as teachers, doctors, professionals etc. is a continuing concern and a focus for our prayers.

ANOTHER KIND OF VIRUS…

Heresies and cults are just as deadly on the spiritual plane as SARS is on the physical. There are at least 18 known indigneous cults active in Mainland China. They include:

Lightning from the East
Three Grades of Servants (Sanban Puren)
Disciples (Mentu)
New Testament Church
Shouters
Lord God cult (Zhu Shen Jiao)
... and many others.

News of the activities of these cults continues to pour out of China. Here are just a few examples:

“In Shenyang, and every area in Liaoning province in northeast China, God is adding daily to his church those who should be saved, to both Three Self and house churches. But the Lightning from the East cult is everywhere, forcing people to join and seeking to destroy God’s church. Those who are very young in the faith and are unclear about the Bible have been deceived by them.”

"Here is Guangdong we have a sect which says no Christian should be baptized in water. If they do they cannot be saved! They also oppose the Trinity. They say that every day a brother should eat 'The Bread of Life' - just a few grams of rice. One of their deacons said that Jesus was just a man who became a soldier, married and had a son. They say there is a new Jesus called Sanshu (Third Uncle). After I heard this I didn't know whether to laugh or cry! I preached the real Jesus to him from the Bible but he opposed me. Many brethren were deceived by him."

“Here in Sichuan we have many followers of Lightning from the East. They especially attack the house churches. Already two meetings have been taken over by them. The house-church leaders have now become their backbone leadership. They always meet in secret, locking the doors for several nights and days. They attack Christ and uphold their ‘female Christ’. They often send people to our meeting to steal people, but when we find out we drive them away. We also have the Disciples. They overstress signs and wonders. When they pray they shut the door and turn out the lights. They say that their miracle rice will increase. I’m not sure of all their teachings. Then there is the heresy of Mr. Tu who used to be a church worker but became proud and preaches Christ according to his own ideas and has gone off the rails more and more. Every believer has to be baptized seven times. They have lots more followers than we who preach the true gospel. I urge all Christians to be on guard. Just in our small corner so many false Christs have sprung up—not to mention Falungong.”

Like various kinds of cancer, the cults differ from each other but often show remarkable similarities. In general, these cults:

1) Deny the authority of the Bible.

2) Deny the authority of Jesus Christ by placing the cult leader's authority effectively higher.

3) Maintain iron control over their followers, sometimes even brainwashing them (this is particularly true of Lightning from the East).

4) Allow their leaders to live an immoral lifestyle.

5) Extort large sums of money from their gullible followers.

6) Disrupt existing churches and make disciples by stealing weak members from them.

7) Mix some Christian teaching with a good dose of superstition and traditional Chinese folk-religion.

The only real answer to the cults is for Christians (whether Chinese or overseas) to be soaked in the teachings of God's Word and to walk in the Spirit close to Jesus Christ. The cry is heard throughout China for solid Bible ministry and Bible-based theological training.