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The sad fruit of China's one-child policy...

by David and Tim Bayly on February 26, 2007 - 4:19am

This from an E-mail a close friend just received from his eldest son who, following his graduation last year from college, is working for a multinational for a year in China:

Got your letter today. I have never been more proud of my family than when I opened up that letter standing in the backroom at the end of my shift last night with about 10 of my fellow (workers). As soon as they saw a picture (of our family) they all crowded around and proceeded to pass it around each staring intently expressing surprise at our large family. They all thought we had such a handsome family and were so impressed that we had five boys. They all thought (the second son) was the oldest and that (two others) were twins. It was so funny to see them add up the number of people in our family on their fingers. I was just thinking today how I have never seen so many three member families and it's sad to talk to them about being an only child, every single one of them wishes they had siblings.

Steve Mosher was (and is) right about China. How unutterably sad this childless nation and all its only-children are.

BTW, the young man is listening to the David Crowder Band and Hillsong, and he's reading Chesterton's The Everlasting Man.

Tags: 
Children are a blessing

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Comments

Submitted by Fred Greco on February 26, 2007 - 7:35am
Tim, There is more than that. China is also in a place now because of the one child policy and the preference for boys (and selective abortions/infanticides) that there the ordinary ratio of males to females is extremely skewed. I forget the numbers, but there are going to be something like tens (or hundreds) of millions more men than women of eligible marrying age. That translates into roving gangs of young men with no ability to settle down (there is no one to marry); and that means violence. Violence in the countryside, and potential war mongering. The next 25 years of our relationship with China do not bode well -- BUT (Ephesians 2:4) God is at work in China through the gospel and the Church!

Submitted by Light M. on February 26, 2007 - 10:00am
Fred, I think the figure you are looking for is 30 million - that is, there are potentially 30 million women missing from an entire generation. Frightening indeed for the ramifications. I can't imagine growing up without siblings, aunts, uncles or cousins. Our church has a program where we do a missions trip to China for two weeks each year to teach leadership skills to Chinese college students. We use "literature" (including scripture) during discussions about "good character." One family in our congregation went with three of their young adult children. The fact that they ALL have red hair, and were siblings, caused even more than the usual stir of excitement wherever they went. Apparently, the Chinese people are not in the least shy. :) What's very interesting is that it seems a number of elderly grandparents in China are evangelizing their grandchildren. These grandparents are the last of the generation evangelized by some of the great missionaries of the early part of the 20th century.

Submitted by Tim Bayly on February 26, 2007 - 11:20am
Not just China, but also India--scores of millions of dead little girls.

Submitted by Josh on February 26, 2007 - 3:21pm
It may be God's blessing. What if God put it in the hearts of Chinamen to implement this policy to protect the rest of the world from a country that is by far the largest communist nation in the world. The Bible has example after example of God using death and destruction in order to accomplish His will.

Submitted by Chantal on February 27, 2007 - 11:43am
Way to go on the compassion Josh--and on the archaic and offensive term "Chinamen". The correct term is "Chinese". We can--and still--should grieve over China's policy limiting children, because God's Word says children are a blessing--no matter whether if they are from a communist country or not, have believing parents or not, etc etc. Get my point?

Submitted by Josh on February 27, 2007 - 2:29pm
"Way to go on the compassion." I'm merely pointing out that God sometimes allows these things. I don't think that means I'm dismissing His compassion. Chinamen, Chinese, what's the difference? I'm polish and people call me all sorts of things. You got to get over it and quit being offended so easily at some point in your life.

Submitted by Chantal on February 28, 2007 - 6:17am
Josh, It has nothing to do with being offended. It's simple decency and manners, which I am sure you are capable of.

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on March 2, 2007 - 2:20pm
Of course everything that happens is "allowed" by God. However, what is happening in China and India is still evil. God is not the author of evil. God does allow men and women to exercise their wills contrary to His. He also holds us responsible and guilty for our sinful actions. This is a great human tragedy. May God have mercy on this world where people, both men and women, think that they have the power of life and death over their own children; or where governments believe themselves to have the right to restrict birth rates. We show ourselves to be fools, but God is not the Author of such foolishness. May many turn to Christ and find His grace. May this great evil be repented of. BTW, we hear about the girls being aborted, and that is horrific. We should be shocked and outraged. The boys who have been aborted are no less human, and their deaths are no less significant. I believe that Chantal will get my point. Josh, I'm afraid that you are wrong in your reaction. Just admit it like a man. :-)

Submitted by Josh on March 2, 2007 - 6:22pm
First, Donna L. Carlaw, why the constant need for the full name? Are you representing someone as a lawyer here? Yes, the killings in China do seem evil to us. But how do you claim to know its not God's will? Certainly there are examples in the Bible where God destroyed people through the actions of other people. I'm sure there were followers of God who said, "That David sure is evil for killing Goliath, murder is evil." But wasn't that God's will? Also, I'd be careful if I were you about questioning a man's manhood on this site. A woman speaking against a man in the way you did could lead to a whole post about how evil you are for doing the biblically woman thing and remaining silent on such matters. Hmmm.

Submitted by David Gray on March 3, 2007 - 12:45am
>Yes, the killings in China do seem evil to us. But how do you claim to know its not God's will? Certainly there are examples in the Bible where God destroyed people through the actions of other people. Yes, and those doing evil were punished for it. Haven't you read what God said to the nations that he used to chastise Israel? >I'm sure there were followers of God who said, "That David sure is evil for killing Goliath, murder is evil." But wasn't that God's will? I doubt any of God's followers were that foolish at the time. And since when is killing as part of war murder?

Submitted by Robert on March 3, 2007 - 6:17am
Josh, It is often a sign that I am losing an argument when I become defensive and start using ad hominem (ad feminem?). Horror, she is a woman; more horror, she uses her middle initial; most horror, she might be a lawyer. Furthermore, as it is a sign of biblical femininity to know when and where to be silent it is also a sign of biblical masculinity to know when to shut up. Jesus was even silent at times. I hear Donna's comments on a blog as personal conversation overheard by a few. A blog is not a church. She might be a Priscilla speaking to an Apollos when she and her husband took Apollos and "explained to him the way of God more accurately" (Acts 18:27); or an Abigal speaking some wisdom to David to keep him from greater foolishness. David had the good sense to praise her for her discretion and to follow her wise counsel (I Samuel 25).

Submitted by Josh on March 3, 2007 - 8:15am
Looking at the history of comments on this blog it appears this is not the first time "christians" have told someone to shut up or shut their mouth. You guys can't handle being challenged without yelling shut up and plugging your ears. Christ said to go to all the nations and spread the gospel so that people may be saved. Not to sit on blogs all day patting each other on the back while preaching to the chior and excluding others and telling them to shut up. O YE HYPOCRITES! You surely do not lead others to Christ sitting in your blog temples like the Pharisees!

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on March 3, 2007 - 8:43am
Josh: First, Donna L. Carlaw, why the constant need for the full name? Are you representing someone as a lawyer here? >>>> Josh! You are so suspicious. :-) No, I'm not an attorney. I'm just a concerned lady. I see two errors. I see that you do not have a complete understanding of the nature of evil and how God's will relates to that subject. I also see the error of making the abortion horror into a gender issue - i.e., a woman's issue. It is a human issue which affects both men and women. Even more than that, it is an issue of God's glory being trampled to the ground by arrogant men and women who believe themselves to have the power of life and death over other human beings. Call me Mrs. Rex Lee Carlaw if you prefer. I'm not a feminist. My Christian feminist friends who post on this blog will get a huge laugh out of the very idea that I am a feminist. I got kicked out of the sisterhood awhile ago... ...and as I have heard some godly Christian men argue very persuasively, there is a huge difference between being a male and being masculine. One's biology makes a person a man or a woman. It is the development of certain character qualities which make a man masculine or a woman feminine. I am working on my femininity, but it's not easy. I am biologically a woman, and seek to become more the woman that God wishes for me to be. We cannot do better than that. We need to follow His call to the higher qualities of our humanity. So, Josh, I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to. I pray that God will continue to guide all of us into His truth. I take back the reference to being a man. I did not mean to hurt you. You may have already been hurt enough by insensitive females. I am sorry to have been one more. I meant no offense. God bless, Josh, and please take care, Mrs. Rex Lee Carlaw

Submitted by David Gray on March 3, 2007 - 12:09pm
>Not to sit on blogs all day patting each other on the back while preaching to the chior and excluding others and telling them to shut up. What are you doing here then?

Submitted by Donna L. Carlaw on March 5, 2007 - 6:57pm
Mrs. Carlaw/Donna L. Carlaw: So, Josh, I am sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to. I pray that God will continue to guide all of us into His truth. I take back the reference to being a man. I did not mean to hurt you. You may have already been hurt enough by insensitive females. I am sorry to have been one more. I meant no offense. God bless, Josh, and please take care, Mrs. Rex Lee Carlaw>>>> Josh, I was wondering if you accept my apologies. I wonder if you saw this. I always wonder when an apology is given and not responded to. Are you still upset? How can this be settled Biblically? God bless, and please take care, Donna L. Carlaw

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