(Changchun, Jilin – July 2, 2024) Three churches in Jilin, China, registered with the government, participated in the early National Day performance jointly organized by religious circles in the county. The performers also sang “red” songs that are patriotic. More than 100 churches in the county watched the performance.

According to a news report from the Gospel Times, a Christian news portal in China, on June 21, 2024, a grand cultural performance was held at the Nanguan Church in Nong’an County, Changchun City, Jilin Province, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China this year. This was not an ordinary religious performance but a meticulously planned large-scale event named “Prosperous Birthday, Dream with the Nation,” organized as part of a major county-wide activity by the United Front Work Department of the Nong’an County Committee to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

The entire church was adorned with red flags, a red Tiananmen Square backdrop, bringing about a vibrant “red” atmosphere in the church, the report said.

A troupe of Christians were in red dresses began the program with a song and dance performance “Glorious China,” Subsequently, the programs “Glorious Chinese Dream” and “Abundant Blessings for China” were staged in turn.

The report also said that programs such as “Love My China” and “China in full bloom” conveyed the religious community’s respect and inheritance of China’s excellent traditional culture, and expressed Christians’ love for the country and for their religion, and their commitment to glorify God and benefit others. The songs “Navigating the New Era” and “To Sing the Most Beautiful Song To Mother” express the believers’ expectations for the new era and their loyalty to the Party, and are filled with aspirations for a better life and firm confidence in the country’s development.

Finally, the performance of “Prosperous Great China” embodied the deep emotion for the motherland and the firm dedication to faith.

The report said that the performance to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China was held in a Christian Church, making a positive contribution to promoting core socialist values and the Sinicization of Christianity, displaying a favorable image of the Christian community and highlighting the glory of God.

The church’s choir spent two months rehearsing for this performance.

Three churches participated in the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Religious circles from all over the county and congregations of about 100 Christian churches attended and watched the performance.

Various forms of celebratory activities took place to further inspire the broad masses of Christians to be guided by the core socialist values and to put into practice the love for the Party, the country, and socialism through concrete actions.

The main purpose of the event is to promote the “sinicization of Christianity.” It is not cultural assimilation but political domestication. Although it is said to glorify God, it is actually a tactic of “hanging out a sheep’s head while selling dog meat,” to ensure that religion submits to the regime established by the Chinese Communist Party.