The same officials also are forcing pastors to affirm traditional Chinese beliefs—such as ancestral worship—that conflict with Scripture, writes Michael Foust, Christian Headlines Contributor.

Christian Headlines says that at issue is the approval of pastors within the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, the government-approved Protestant body that faces severe restrictions.

Pastors who failed a test on communist beliefs weren't approved.

The Christian Headlines article says that last year the Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs in Henan province—the third-largest province with 94 million people—began applying Communist Party membership standards to screen Three-Self preachers, according to Bitter Winter, an organization that monitors religious liberty.

The assessment included two parts: a sample sermon and a questionnaire.

Bitter Winter told Christian Headlines the Bureau said pastors should write a sample sermon that must include "national policy, traditional culture and the core socialist values" in the text. Christian doctrines such as eternal life, Heaven and Hell were prohibited from being included.

"The preachers are worried that churches in China will eventually become the CCP's political propaganda agencies," Bitter Winter's Jiang Tao wrote.

One pastor was told to prepare a sermon on the subject, "Christians must love their country."

Bitter Winter said that to gauge a pastor's political standing, the questionnaire included questions about Chinese and communist beliefs. A pastor only passed if the answers corresponded with the beliefs of the government.

The question, "How do you regard tomb-sweeping and offering sacrifices to ancestors?" would need to include the answer, "This is part of China's traditional culture; Christians can sweep tombs and offer sacrifices to their ancestors; it is not against the Bible."

The question, "Why are minors not allowed to go to church?" should be followed by the answer, "This is a national policy; not letting children enter churches is to ensure their physical and mental health."

In one major city, Xinzheng (population 600,000), only 58 out of 100 pastors passed. In Luolong district, nearly 50 out of 80 pastors failed the assessment.

"The test for a preaching certificate is used to examine participants on their political thinking. Government officials don't understand the Bible," one pastor told Bitter Winter. "As long as you flatter the Communist Party and support it, you can pass the assessment. Otherwise, no matter how well you can talk about the Bible, it would still be useless."

Another pastor, who is in his 80s, said: "The government's goal of training young preachers is to indoctrinate and infiltrate them, so that they use the CCP's methods when giving sermons at gatherings, and, in the end, they will become more than willing to serve the CCP." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

'The Way, The Truth and The Life': Direct Descendant of Muhammad Now Follows Jesus

Food for Thought: The Rich Do Not Get Rich at Expense of the Poor [Video]

Mamdani Erases Little Italy ... and (Of Course) the Jews

A Lesson from King David, and a Call to Prayer from Give Him 15

Prayer Alert: Israel Has Informed the US of Another Specific Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

Marco Rubio Steps in After Tim Walz Pardoned Illegal Alien Child Rapist before Deportation

Prosecutors Present Texts of Alleged Confession by Tyler Robinson in Hearing for Charlie Kirk Murder

'The Resurrection and the Life': Navy Vet Comes Back to Life After Family Prays

Are Weight Loss Medications Right for You? Pros and Cons of GLP-1s

Company Issues Voluntary Recall of This Specific Kind of 'Pedigree' Canned Dog Food

Prayer Alert: Hundreds of Thousands of Acres Burn as Fires Spread in West

HHS Announces $281 Million to Expand Addiction and Mental Health Programs

Results: In Turkey, Trump Ordered a Trade Halt with Spain, Now They've Suddenly Agreed to Boost NATO Payments

As Billboards Promoting 'Birth Tourism' Pop Up Along Border, Trump to Ask SCOTUS to Reconsider 'Insane Decision' in Birthright Citizenship Case

Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories Suddenly Disappear as Video Evidence is Shown in Court

Donnie Wahlberg: 'The Most Important Thing I Ever Did Was to Give My Life to Christ'

'Fourth of July Miracle': Missing 4-Year-Old Found Alive after Walking Nearly Five Miles Along Oregon Coast

Christian Hollywood Star Exposes the Perverse, 'Demonic' Fraud Inside Foster Care System

Brazilian Judge Sentences Parents to Prison for Homeschooling Their Daughters

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court Again over Obama Contraception Mandate