Interview: Luis Palau on 'A Friendly Dialogue Between a Christian and an Atheist'

NEW YORK - When Luis Palau shares the word of God, he's usually speaking before a live audience of thousands at one of his contemporary evangelistic festivals worldwide. But in his new book, Palau sits down in a one-on-one conversation with an atheist, who is also a Chinese diplomat, in hopes of making a positive step toward bringing the Good News to a country known for its repressive policies on religion.

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First released in China, A Friendly Dialogue Between a Christian and an Atheist is the first-ever book between a Chinese diplomat, Zhao Qizheng, and a Christian evangelist, Luis Palau. For the Chinese, the book touches on the basic beliefs of Christianity as explained by Palau. For the West, it offers a unique perspective on Christianity and the philosophy of religion as seen from Chinese culture and beliefs.

Dr. Palau spoke to The Christian Post, while he was in New York City for the book's launch in the United States, about the obstacles he faced while preaching the Gospel in China, why he thinks talk about eternity "stirs up the Chinese soul," and what he hopes to do in China before the 2008 Summer Olympics.

CP: As a Christian evangelist, you've traveled to many countries to preach the Gospel. I wanted to know what are some of the unique challenges you've encountered when preaching God's word in China?

Palau: In China?

CP: Yes.

Palau: Actually, in the opportunities I've had to preach in the open doors, in churches, and in talking one on one, I haven't found any obstacles, as far as my message. Nobody in China has ever checked – what are you going to say, or you can't say this. Or some people in America say that you can't give an invitation to give your life to Christ. I've done it every single time. Everywhere. And every time, some have given their life to Christ.

In Beijing, the last time, the last few times, I had many people stand up and shout, "I believe!" out loud. And there's been the president… Nobody's ever stopped me. So I haven't encountered.

What I'm trying to get now, which is in process, is permission [for rallies]. I've been very open about it so this is no sort of a secret of sorts. From the first day I went to Shanghai – the first time in 2000 – I pointed out the highest part of the region there. I said I wanted to see that part, we were very high. Looking at that park, I want to see that part with half a million Chinese and I'm telling them about Jesus Christ. So I've been very open that I wanted to have rallies. That permission we're still working on. So that I would suppose would be an obstacle.

CP: What are some of the holdbacks?

Palau: I don't know! I know that they have said to me, "Be patient. Keep coming back. In China, we'd like to befriend a person, get to know them, trust them. Then we start asking….giving things."

And at this point, I think we're very close now to having a public rally in one of the major cities.

CP: Which cities would you hold it in?

Palau: Well, naturally, for me I start at the top. Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing…what is it called down South? Hangzhao? Which is seven and a half million people! And most westerners have never heard of it. It’s just about an hour south of Shanghai. I think what I was told by those who know is probably start on the outside and keep coming closer to the center. So, we're looking forward to it any day now.

CP: Well, the 2008 Summer Olympics is going to be held in Beijing and that’s going to a big opportunity. A lot of human rights groups have used that as a platform to bring up issues … from Darfur to North Korean refugees to underground churches. So will you be using that event or that time for any kind of…

Palau: I believe you ask for permission, from my perspective as a foreigner coming to a foreign country, like I do in the states or anywhere else, you ask permission to hold rallies. I don't think it would be helpful for me. But I have asked officially from people here and over there, any person can go in there and take Bibles, as long as they're not selling them, but if they're giving them away, they can take all the Bibles they want. And I think that's going to happen. And I think that's very valuable. I'm encouraging people to book their flights because it's going to be jammed and to get a hotel and bed and breakfast because it's going to be jammed with people. But they're going to be free, they're not going to be stopped, to express the Gospel, to preach.