China and Bhutan — the Similarities
Even though these two countries border each other, I doubt that many people ever use them in the same sentence. They are just about as polar opposite as two countries can be.
China, of course, is the most populous nation in the world. While large portions of the nation are rural, millions of citizens live in massive cities, with access to all of modern technology. For hundreds of years, China was on the cutting edge of development, and though Communism has taken some of that edge off, China continues to be one of the most developed nations in technology and military.
Bhutan, on the other hand, is tiny nation, about half the size of the state of Indiana, nestled in between India and the Tibetan part of China. There is not one single stoplight in the entire country, and estimates are that up to 90% of Bhutanese citizens are engaged in agricultural work. While the Bhutanese economy has been described as "underdeveloped," the natural beauty of the country is praised in glowing terms.
Despite their differences, both nations take a similar approach to Christianity–persecution. Both countries have long histories of anti-Christian sentiment and hatred from the majority religions. China's atheistic communism and Bhutan's ardent Buddhism walk hand in hand in this respect. And both countries are ruled by totalitarian governments with the power to carry out their agendas. Christians in Bhutan, for instance, face the very real prospect of having their citizenships stripped away from them, and their means of livelihood taken by force. Surrounded by poverty, they have no place to turn.
Whether living in a huge nation or a small, whether surrounded by highrises or the Himalayan plateaus, these brothers and sisters need our prayers.
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