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| [First written 9/15/2009]
Sponsor: Qendra Shqiptare Jeta e Re/Gospel Grace Ministries/NECP
Location: Mayfair-Conwell Baptist Church Building
Address: 3300 Tyson Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19149
Beginners: Monday, Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30pm, Saturday 9:30 - 11:00am
Intermediate 1: Monday, Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30pm, Saturday 9:30 - 11:00am
Intermediate 2: Monday, Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30pm
Advanced: Monday, Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30pm
Phone: (215)279-9000
Sponsor: Northeast Family YMCA*
Location: Northeast Regional Library
Address: 2228 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19149
Beginners: Tuesday & Thursday 3:00-4:30 (Sonia)
Beginners: Thursday & Friday 10:15-11:45 (Lorraine)
Beginners: Reading and Writing I Tuesday & Wednesday 4:30-5:30 (Helene)
Intermediate: Tuesdays 7-8:45 PM (Vy)
Intermediate: Tuesday & Wednesday 1:00-2:30 (Tiia)
Next Registration Dates: November 4 & January 5: 2:30 & 5:30 PM
Phone: (215)632-0100 Sponsor: Chinese Christian Herald Crusade
Location: CCHC Philadelphia Branch Office
Address: 1020 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111
Tuesdays 8:45-9:45am
Wednesdays 10:00-11:00am
Thursdays 9:00-10:00am
Fridays 10:15-11:15am
Phone: (215)259-3047
* YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association
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| We are close to have a new name for our multiethnic church replanting project. We are working on our core values. | | |
| This idea has come to mind. Let me just flush it out and let you help me think through it.
Contrary to the belief of many Chinese people, Buddhism is not indigenous to the Chinese culture. Buddhism was made in India. Since Hinduism has rejected the Buddhist innovation, the denial of the Self, India exported Buddhism to many South Asian countries and now also to America and Europe. I do hope that Chinese will come to see that Buddhism is not a religious prerequisite for ourselves. Taoism is indigenous to the Chinese culture; however, it was a recent invention in the Tang Dynasty. God has a more ancient relationship with the Chinese.
If one goes further back in history, the history of Christianity and the history of Chinese intersects. Christianity acknowledges the Book of Genesis as the Word of God. If this is so, I believe we can argue that Chinese must be one of those ancient cultures starting in Genesis. Readers can disagree with my logic here but since I am committed to the historicity of biblical revelation, I am being consistent with my belief when I argue from Scriptures the following points. Since all people are descendants of Adam and Eve, Chinese can find their origins in them. Similarly, since the whole human race finds its origin in the three sons of Noah after the Flood, Chinese must come from one of Noah's sons. According to some scholars, Chinese probably came from the Sinites, a tribe descended from Ham. Since the Bible established God as the Creator of all things, the Chinese must be one of the tribes that came down from the group dispersed by God at the Tower of Babel. These are consistent with the known historical fact that ancient Chinese used to be monotheistic, not polytheistic. This one God is T'ien (lit. Heaven). This idea of T'ien is consistent with the monotheism of the Old Testament in the Scriptures.
Therefore, I don't think it is too far fetch to say that Genesis 1-11 includes the Chinese people, thus historical to the Chinese people. We are also included as "Gentiles" and "Foreigners" in God's plan of salvation in later Scriptures after Genesis 11 though China did not produce a savior for the world nor will she save the world (contra 2012). Although God has not chosen Chinese to continue His plan of salvation since Genesis 12, nor did He give special revelation through us, what we have lost in the Fall can be recovered in Christ. Christianity is a truly indigenous and original religion for the Chinese people, thus our hope and desire.
I believe it is possible to demonstrate how the Chinese and the biblical culture are intimately related and compatible showing the common grace that we share with the Jewish counterpart in God's plan of salvation. What do you suggest we can say in this regard? | | |
| I observed my baby with interest. He likes to put things into his mouth and sucks them. He is selective though some of things he likes are obviously not edible. His favorites are strings and blankets.
However, he does like food especially cheerio. I gave him a piece of cheerio. He can pick it up with his hand and play with it. However, he is not able to put it in his mouth. He still expects me to put it in his mouth for him so that he can eat it. Certainly, he thoroughly enjoys cheerios when it is in his mouth; however, he is not able to feed himself. He needs to learn that he can put food in his mouth and how to do it.
This is a great revelation for me as I am discipling new believers. | | |
| I am pushed by ministry to think through this issue.
I think most of the time Chinese churches or Christians tend to emphasize what NOT to do on the issue of ancestor worship. We would talk about not participating in the rituals, not burning incense, not burning ritual paper money, not bowing to the photos, not placing the BBQ pork/duck before the photos, etc. The one primary theological motivation is that ancestor worship is demonic. Therefore, when the family is going through the rituals, the Christians in the family will refuse to participate. However, this makes the demonic too big and it isolates Christians from an intimate moment in the life of the family.
Therefore, here are what I suggest we should teach the Chinese Christians if their family is predominantly non-Christian and they perform the rituals.
(1) Jesus is the Lord of the universe and He holds the keys of death and hades.
(2) Ancestor worship is a form of idolatry especially when one asks the ancestors for protection.
(3) Praying to the dead is unbiblical.
(4) Christians are to honor their parents while they are still alive.
(5) If people do not burn incense to their parents while they are still alive, why should anyone do so after they have passed away?
(6) Dead people stay in hades and their souls will not walk around on earth.
(7) If (you think) a dead relative did answered your prayer, the one responding may not really be your relative but something else.
(8) For what reason will people become more powerful AFTER they are dead?
(9) Christian can participate in the ancestor veneration rituals. Just as Christian can be part of a funeral organized by Buddhists and the non-Christian family, ...
(i) instead of bowing to the ancestors, he will stand before the photos, and pray
(ii) he will not pray to the dead ancestors, but to God, praising Him for his family and petitioning on behalf of his family
(iii) he will not bow to the photos, burn incense, nor to burn paper money, etc.
(iv) he is free to eat the food that was offered to the ancestor for Jesus is the Lord of the food
Whether you are Christians or not, what do you think? | | |
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