Churches affiliated with China’s state-sanctioned Three-Self Patriotic Movement have effectively been required to sing a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) anthem before the closing benediction in Sunday worship services, according to recent reports. The mandate has sparked serious concern, as it is viewed not merely as a formal adjustment but as a deliberate shift intended to displace God from the center of worship and replace Him with loyalty to the Communist Party.
Voice of the Martyrs Korea (VOM Korea), led by Hyun Sook Foley, and its partner organization ChinaAid, have issued warnings that this requirement is part of the Chinese government’s newly unveiled “2025 Church Music Ministry Blueprint.” The plan centers on developing new hymns that reflect “Chinese characteristics,” while altering existing worship songs to align with socialist and communist ideology.
The plan was officially launched on May 7 at a meeting in Beijing, where around 40 key church leaders gathered under the direction of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement and the China Christian Council. During the meeting, the government urged churches to use only approved songs through a designated mobile app and to exclude any worship music that does not conform to communist values.
What makes the situation particularly alarming, critics say, is that this goes beyond a musical update—it fundamentally alters the spiritual structure of worship. “Christians are now being forced to stand and sing hymns to the Communist Party and praise communist heroes before they are allowed to worship Jesus Christ,” said Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid. “This is a blatant form of persecution that strikes at the heart of the Christian faith.”
The blueprint also mandates the formal establishment of music teams within churches and encourages them to organize music concerts featuring “Sinicized” worship music. This follows years of increasing control, including the installation of CCTV cameras and facial recognition systems in church buildings to monitor attendance, and stringent internet censorship restricting access to Christian materials. The latest measure expands this control into the realm of worship music.
VOM Korea President Hyun Sook Foley voiced deep concern over this development, noting, “The Chinese government has long controlled worship services, seminaries, sermons, and even the architecture of church buildings. But believers could still learn true theology through traditional hymns. Now, they are trying to cut off even that last remaining avenue.”
According to Foley, since 2021, the Chinese government has banned Christian music apps like Praise Hymn Net and Song of Songs, limiting content to government-approved platforms only. “This is an attempt to block theological education through traditional hymns and inject communist ideology into worship,” she said.
Yet even in the face of such oppression, hope remains. “With the rise of internet surveillance, radio broadcasts have become a lifeline for Chinese Christians to access traditional hymns and the Word of God,” Foley emphasized.
“Voice of the Martyrs Korea broadcasts two 30-minute radio programs each day across China. These broadcasts feature sermons from house church pastors and Scripture readings and are the most effective means of sharing the gospel while avoiding internet censorship.”
Foley added that they are now considering including traditional hymns in future broadcasts. “We will stand with the Chinese church so that they do not have to abandon the hymns that believers around the world have sung together for centuries,” she said.
Originally published by Christian Daily Korea, translated and edited by Christian Daily International staff.
