When a Chinese Megachurch Became a Target
Picture a grand place of worship: gray walls, soaring turrets, a bold red cross that bleeds into the skyline. That was the Jindengtai “Golden Lampstand” Church in Linfen, Shanxi. Thousands of faithful gathered there—about 50,000 souls—before the troops came.
Why it was demolished
The Communist authorities love a tidy city. Anything that isn’t on the government’s official list gets the boot. In 2009, the housing department halted the church’s construction when it was almost finished. The church never finished the paperwork to “register” with the state. That was the dealbreaker.
In late 2017, a “city‑wide campaign for illegal buildings kicked into motion. A local official, who didn’t want to be named, said the church had been built in secret by a Christian farmer who offered land under the alias of a warehouse. The official blasted the project as a covert move.
Demolition day: an explosive affair
When demolition crews arrived, military police brought in massive explosives to tear it down. The church, a symbol of faith for a local community, became a dust cloud. According to Bob Fu, president of ChinaAid Association, the destruction felt “Taliban/ISIS style persecution” for a peaceful house of worship.
- Unit: 50,000 congregants.
- Reason: refusal to register with state authorities.
- Method: explosives under the structure.
China’s broader religious crackdown
Just weeks after the demolition, Beijing was set to roll out new, tighter regulations on religious practice effective February 1. These laws aim to place every church under direct state supervision and limit foreign influence.
“It’s not just about one church,” said a US State Department report from 2016. “In 2016, China physically abused, detained, arrested, and even tortured members of both registered and unregistered religious groups.”
What does this mean for believers?
China officially recognizes the freedom of belief, yet practical freedom is a different story. Catholics number over 5.7 million (minus the “underground” group that follows the Vatican), while Protestants reach 23 million, not counting unregistered churches. Churches that stay discreet and do not stir trouble can avoid the police’s eye, but unauthorized building can trigger a swift, sometimes brutal, response.
Linfen officials didn’t reply to our calls. The city’s silence, however, speaks louder than any statement—other churches are being demolished one by one.
Final thoughts
When the church fell, it didn’t just vanish—it left a message of the challenges faith communities face under an Iron Curtain that watches every stone. If you want to keep the lights going, it’s gotta be a little bit more political than architectural.
