THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF CHRISTIAN WITNESS IN CUBA Patrick Hsu

The call for Christians into worldwide missions begins with Jesus Christ himself. Not only has Christ sent his people into the far reaches of the world to preach and teach the Gospel, but this sending follows after the Fathers sending of Christ himself into the world in order to redeem it (John 17:18). When Jesus said to his disciples you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8), he gave them the mandate to take the Gospel out into the world; to places that are near and to places that are fareven places that seemed impossible to reach. The Roman world of the early Church, however open it might have initially been to the followers of The Way, soon grew hostile to the Gospel. It became clear that faithful disciples of Christ could not, in good conscience, utter the phrases Christ is Lord and Caesar is Lord without being greatly conflicted. Those two statements are incompatible with one another. Two thousand years later, Christians continue to have their sights set on placesnew horizonsto deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some nations are more receptive to the Gospel than others. And like Ancient Rome, in some of these nations, Christians experience great persecution. Cuba may be one of these nations. But it is not

enough to simply dismiss Cuba as a place that is hostile to Christianity. There are great challenges, but there is also great opportunity for Christiansparticularly for Canadian Christiansto discover one way they might live out their role in Christs missionmandate to the Church. As a nation under the communist dictatorship of the Castro regime, some Christians find themselves in the same predicament as the disciples in the early Church. Dictatorships often oppose ideologies that undermine their attempts to gain the full allegiance of their subjects. Christ is Lord might be as threatening to Castro as it was to Caesar. Occasionally, reports come out of the country describing churches that are under attack from the government.1 Pastors are constantly in danger of imprisonment or deportation. Churches fear evictions from their places of worship, and parishioners risk persecution, even death. To say the least, Cuba can be a dangerous place to be a witness for Christ. But in spite of these challenges, there may also be great opportunity in Cuba. Since the election of Raul Castro in 2009, there is some evidence of improving conditions for religious freedom, when he promised to move the country away from some of the old communist policies, especially toward religion.2 Like the Chinese government, it seems like the Cuban government is beginning to see the contribution

1 2

http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=press&id=1596 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2012/March/Harvest-of-Souls-Cuba-Church-StagesComeback/

religion makes to society. The Church is also making inroads in the public schools, where they have been given permission to teach children the basics of moral principle. . . . Some locals attribute this to economic reasons. The government sees the Church as a cheaper way to carry out social programs.3 But for whatever reason it might be, the Church has been given room to influence a generation. And this has the potential immeasurable impact. In considering Cuba as a potential mission field, Canadian Christians may have a special opportunity (and responsibility). Because of the complicated relationship between Cuba and the United States of Americaespecially the restriction Americans traveling to Cubamakes it unlikely that many American missionaries would set foot on Cuban soil. Canada, however, does not have such restrictions. Canadians have an opportunity to fill a need that the leading nation of the free world is unable to fill. Of course, one can never downplay the role and sovereignty of God in situations like these. God is able to break down all barrierswhether they be political, financial, geographical, or anything else. Canadian Christians are not Cubas only hope for hearing the Gospel, but we may well be called to respond to a need that has a slightly greater void than it would have had, if the USA wasnt so restricted. And so begs the question, is Canada willing to respond?

Ibid.

The challenges of bearing witness in Cuba dwarf in the sight of Gods call to all disciples to be witnesses to the nations. Where God is involved, His people will make an impact. Rome, once hostile to Christianity, eventually became a Christian empire which facilitated the spread of the Word to the far reaches of the world. However difficult it might be to proclaim the Gospel in a nation that has traditionally been distrusting of Christians, and however untrustworthy some reports of religious freedom might be (especially in light of reports proving the contrary), we carry out our work under Christs authority. For he said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:18-20). This assurance of Christs enduring presence is enough for us to go, in confidence, under Christs authority that covers alleven CubaFor God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things [including Cuba!] . . . by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col. 1:1920). Amen.