Recently, news of the deaths of two Chinese nationals abducted by the Islamic State in Pakistan has gone viral on the Internet. Feeling sorry for the murder of their countrymen, many Chinese people condemned the cold-blooded acts of ISIS. The issue has come as a bombshell to the Chinese Christian community who payed tribute to the devotion of the two young martyrs.
However, many significant aspects of the kidnapping and the murder have been left unanswered.
First, why did the "insider" spread the prayer request while later releasing a piece of false news? Soon after the two preachers were kidnapped on May 24, a letter titled "Urgent Prayer Request from Pakistan" was circulated in the Chinese Christian community.The letter that first exposed their missionary identity received extensive attention from Chinese Christians, being forwarded in Christian WeChat groups in the form of a picture.
Afterward, a piece claiming they had been released was circulated in the groups, claiming that the two returned to the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and were safe but were being detained... The publisher asked Christians to stop sharing the earlier prayer request for their "safety."
A week later, the Amaq news agency controlled by ISIS reported that the extremist group executed the two Chinese, which shocked Chinese Christians. It prooved that the "good news" was false, so why did the insider release it? Why did the "boss" of the abductees lie? It was inexplicable!
Second, how did the Korean church recruit the young Chinese people who were sent to evangelize in Pakistan? China's official newspaper failed to explain this, but it polarized public opinion. One comment by the Global Times blasted the Korean evangelization organization involved and asked that they be held responsible for the mission work carried out by the Chinese citizens who might be dead.
The third question is whether it was because Muslims are friendly to Chinese that the Korean church sent them to evangalize there. As far as this author is concerned, many people who engage in the Back to Jerusalem movement intentionally disseminate this kind of message to mislead Christians. They show the good yet cloud the problems to create a facade. There is no denying that many people in Muslim countries are peaceful and also kind to Chinese people. However, a portion of extremists hate "heathens" for obvious reasons. Several times China has warned its people not to travel to certain countries and areas to avoid danger. For this reason the saying is groundless that the popularity of Chinese in Muslim countries is advantageous to evangelism.
Fourth, did the young preachers' parents know that their children were in a dangerous foreign country in advance? Were they clear on all the facts of the issue and contacted timely after the incident? Did they start to deal with the issue's aftermath?
Fifth, were the 13 Chinese people told of the danger where they stayed? Why did the description from their local friend Elsa reveal that they didn't have any safety awareness? Were they enticed to go there?
Sixth, why did their boss publish the news after the two preachers were kidnapped? What is the background of the Korean church that sent them? Is it reliable?
Seventh, were other Chinese young people sent to other dangerous places? Is the organization related to the vision school subordinate to Korean Intercorp as claimed in a Christian WeChat group?
Eighth, why did the church send those inexperienced and incapable young people to such a dangerous place? Why did it forbid them to use smartphones there?
Ninth, rare messages from the Chinese Christian community have been verified as of now. Why hasn't the head of the Korean church explained everything to the families of the victims, the Chinese people, and particularly Chinese Christians, who have concerns about this matter?
Translated by Karen Luo
