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That’s another reason that I think wearing a cross is not such a good luck charm.
I would question the general idea that persecution hinders Christianity
Matthew 10:23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.Lord have mercy. Yes, I can imagine you don't. My position: to what extent a person is willing to face the persecution of others for her faith is up to that person. After all, there is only one Lord of the conscience and no one can decide what the Lord has laid on another's heart.
Christian martyrdom is a complex subject. Should one flee or not (see article below)? In the early church some people even sought out martyrdom, and so others spoke against such "voluntary martyrdom."
I would not say that giving up the body for the faith is bad. I would say one should not seek it, at least not all at once. God made life for the sake of life in the divine Presence. If we are meant to live, then seeking death is a bit counter-intuitive. Nonetheless, being willing to die under the assurance that God will raise one to new life, that is (hopefully) the outcome of a robust faith. If we are dying to self day-by-day, then fear of death should decrease, proportionally. Nonetheless, most of us are not presented with the opportunity to die-to-self all in one fell swoop.
I pray for your students, and for you. I hope they can avoid the harshest of human malevolence. It's heartbreaking they cannot live this life of faith in peace.
To Flee or Not to Flee? Matthew 10:23 and Third Century Flight in Persecution in: Scrinium Volume 14 Issue 1 (2018)
I would say "flee", but Trump and others are not making it easy to stay here and on "paper" the Communist are not persecuting Christians.
Some have non-Christian wives still in China and one is an engineer who worked for a defense contractor and cannot leave for 3 years. Some areas are save than other areas, so each is unique.
When the Romans fed Christians to the lions (per Eusebius), that was persecution. Persecution hindered or restricted Christianity. It did not totally eliminate Christianity. How well do those 100 million Chinese know the Bible?I would question the general idea that persecution hinders Christianity, the best estimates show over 100 million Chinese Christians most in the unrequested Churches and it is growing fast and maybe even faster since persecution increased.
No, Christianity doesn't give the believer "good luck." Here is a video that may be of help.The friends are ignorant of Christianity and all other religions, but heard and most people seem to belief they are all superstitions. Lots of believers in: idolatry, Buddhism and other religions (including Christianity), seem to be very superstitious. What I have heard is: Christianity and any superstitious belief, they think if: you pray to them, give to them, belief in them, and/or obey them you will have good luck.
Does Christianity give the believer: “Good luck” or what does it do?
These friends and family members, do not know who Jesus is, so what should they say? Most of my class prior to our study did not know who Jesus is. Some got a Bible prior to my first class and started reading Genesis and Exodus and were very confused.
I want my students who might return home to China next year to say: I am a Christian and I am not superstitious nor is Christianity a superstition, but how do they back that up?
I would say those 100 million know the Bible far better than those who graduate from a Christian school with a minor in Bible like myself. Up until about last year you could buy a bible for $2.00 from any registered church and you could purchase one on line. Other Christian books were band.When the Romans fed Christians to the lions (per Eusebius), that was persecution. Persecution hindered or restricted Christianity. It did not totally eliminate Christianity. How well do those 100 million Chinese know the Bible?
They do not need their faith questioned?No, Christianity doesn't give the believer "good luck." Here is a video that may be of help.
Ultimately, it is up to the students to know what it is they believe about their faith in Jesus Christ. They need to understand that Jesus is God in the flesh and why God had to come to earth to die for sins and be resurrected from the grave. Trying to discuss Christianity is too broad a subject. Jesus is the foundation of Christianity. Therefore, the students need to be able to define what is the Gospel (i.e. Colossians 2:13; Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)? The Gospel is sin, death, forgiveness, and the restoration of the life of God. Do they believe this and can they explain it? The next thing is to ask them is if they know their identity in Christ? This is being able to explain the inheritance (Hebrews 9:15) they have received as a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I believe trying to address supposed superstitions and idolatry will lead to endless rabbit trails that will take the conversation away from what is really important; talking about Jesus, who He is, and what He offers a person that no other religion or religious icon offers. Furthermore, there is idolatry and superstition in Christianity. Acknowledging this is more an admission of the failings of man, not the faith. Keep the focus on Jesus Christ as much as possible.
Here is a helpful video explaining the Gospel.
I pray this helps. Grace and Peace
I didn't say to question their faith as if they are not Christians. I said to ask them what they believe about their faith. There's a difference. The entire Bible is where we find information about Jesus. Maybe that is why they are struggling to find the answers they seek. But, suit yourself. I am only answering your questions to the best of my ability. I pray you find the answers you seek. Grace and Peace.They do not need their faith questioned?
The four gospels is where we find information about Christ and I am using Luke with cross referencing the others when needed.
The general perception in Communist China is the all religions are just superstitions and that is where their friend and they start. No one can support the idea Christianity is a superstition, but they do not know.
What happened to $2.00 Bibles two years ago? I have a free copy of a public domain World English Bible on my tablet computer. In 2018 I read about a pastor being arrested in China. His mega church was blown up. A hundred members of his church were arrested. That is not happening in America where you claim people do not understand the Bible. I am not a fundamentalist, but found some good in the Bible in spite of cruel OT passages that can not be in agreement with Christ.I would say those 100 million know the Bible far better than those who graduate from a Christian school with a minor in Bible like myself. Up until about last year you could buy a bible for $2.00 from any registered church and you could purchase one on line. Other Christian books were band.
They study 10 plus hours per week I would say from what I know. Remember they double every few years, but that means splitting up and have two house churches instead of one, so each member is trained to teach others.
The consistency between the house churches all over China is thanks to the government. A long time ago the government put out a long list of what registered churches could not teach and made it public, so that became the list of what the unregestered churches taught. Christ died because of your sins, Christ is the son of God, adult immersion baptism, communion weekly, and so on.
I must have confused you: None of my students are Christians right now and “faith” is a vague concept to them. How might you show the difference between “faith” in a good luck charm and faith in Christ?I didn't say to question their faith as if they are not Christians. I said to ask them what they believe about their faith. There's a difference. The entire Bible is where we find information about Jesus. Maybe that is why they are struggling to find the answers they seek. But, suit yourself. I am only answering your questions to the best of my ability. I pray you find the answers you seek. Grace and Peace.
The Communist are wanting more information about everyone buying a Bible, so sales dropped. Yes, you can get it free on line bible, but the communist block those sites and most Christians in China do not have a computer or a connection.What happened to $2.00 Bibles two years ago? I have a free copy of a public domain World English Bible on my tablet computer. In 2018 I read about a pastor being arrested in China. His mega church was blown up. A hundred members of his church were arrested. That is not happening in America where you claim people do not understand the Bible. I am not a fundamentalist, but found some good in the Bible in spite of cruel OT passages that can not be in agreement with Christ.
These policies are Marxist atheism. American companies located production facilities in China when they were more liberal. In 2018 Xi proclaimed himself chairman for life. Chinese students learned artificial intelligence in US colleges. The Chinese police state is using artificial intelligence and big data to try to eliminate religious activity. 2000 years ago Jesus had to teach in parables as some of his ideas were opposed by the Herodians and chief priests.The Communist are wanting more information about everyone buying a Bible, so sales dropped. Yes, you can get it free on line bible, but the communist block those sites and most Christians in China do not have a computer or a connection.
If that was he or another mega church pastor, who said after his church was plowed under: “Now we can go back to really growing.”
I was talking on line years ago with a house church member about qualifications for leaders and he said to be considered for the eldership in his group of Christians you had to spend at least a year in prison and come out stronger than you went in.
OK. So what should I say to my students?These policies are Marxist atheism. American companies located production facilities in China when they were more liberal. In 2018 Xi proclaimed himself chairman for life. Chinese students learned artificial intelligence in US colleges. The Chinese police state is using artificial intelligence and big data to try to eliminate religious activity. 2000 years ago Jesus had to teach in parables as some of his ideas were opposed by the Herodians and chief priests.
In general, I would suggest showing them that faith has an object and that real or true faith is responding to truth. Many think faith is believing in something in the absence of any evidence. Thus, when people cling to "good luck" charms or "superstitions" there is usually no evidence or anecdotal evidence at best to support their belief. It is more a wanting something to happen instead of expecting it to because you have proof that it has happened. The object of a Christian's faith is Jesus Christ. Then, as evidence, you have to show them things you believe they would respond to about His existence, ministry, and life.I must have confused you: None of my students are Christians right now and “faith” is a vague concept to them. How might you show the difference between “faith” in a good luck charm and faith in Christ?
The Islamic group study individually and privately, they fear even their class mates.Follow the truth wherever it may lead you.
Pray for God to lead you.
Soviet communism collapsed in 1990 with socialist republics breaking away from Russia.
The Islamic areas may be more difficult to reach, but occasionally someone there learns about Jesus’ teachings. Miracles have happened.
I agree.In general, I would suggest showing them that faith has an object and that real or true faith is responding to truth. Many think faith is believing in something in the absence of any evidence. Thus, when people cling to "good luck" charms or "superstitions" there is usually no evidence or anecdotal evidence at best to support their belief. It is more a wanting something to happen instead of expecting it to because you have proof that it has happened. The object of a Christian's faith is Jesus Christ. Then, as evidence, you have to show them things you believe they would respond to about His existence, ministry, and life.
Superstitions, in my opinion, have a basis in fear; especially fear that outcomes in life will not go your way and you have little to no control of the circumstances. Therefore, we are deifying "good luck" charms and being superstitious in hopes to tap into some mysterious, unknown force that will work things out in our favor. The root of it all is having unrealistic expectations about life and misplaced dependencies on people, places, and things that have no real power.I agree.
Also I was thinking superstitions are not what you worship as the creator of the universe, but is more about fait and the here and now. I do want to show Christ to be real, Logical in Godly logic and the truth, which superstitions are not.
There are elements of superstition since we a believing in the supernatural, wanting change, believing in supernatural making changes around us and there is a knowledge others do not have.
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