Authorities Demolish Evangelical Mega-Church in China

(China Aid via AP)
In this image taken from video shot Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, by China Aid and provided to the Associated Press, clouds of debris billow during the demolition of the Golden Lampstand Church in Linfen in northern China's Shanxi province. Witnesses and overseas activists say paramilitary troops known as the People's Armed Police used excavators and dynamite on Tuesday to destroy the Golden Lampstand Church, a Christian mega-church that clashed with the government.

A well-known evangelical church has been demolished by the officials in northern China after the church collided with the government.

The mega-church, the Golden Lampstand Church, in the city of Linfen was destroyed on Jan. 9 by the paramilitary People's Armed Police forces. According to witnesses and overseas activists, the officials used excavators and dynamite to bring down the church.

Hundreds of policemen along with hired thugs demolished the church building and seized Bibles, according to India.com.

The government's move highlights long-standing tensions between Christians and Communist Party that strives for complete political and social power.

Many of the estimated 60 million Christians in China worship in independent communities like the Golden Lampstand. Also, there is an increasing popularity of non-state-approved churches, which angers the authorities.