China

[Overtime_man]

An interesting thread.

From a Christian view, man is lost without Christ. Therefore, China needs Christ.

Christianity= organized religion, which often gets ugly when people's political leanings get involved. Sometimes Christ gets left in the backgroud. Christianity cannot save anyone.

Christ= the essense of Christianity, God, love and man. You can have Christ without all of the BS that can come with Christianity. Christ can save all people; Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Confusists, Buddists, etc. There is no limit.

Religion does not save. Christ, and only Christ, saves.

As a Christian, I agree with everything that Breetai has said here. The Christian world view does indeed hold that man is lost without Christ, and therefore it is my belief that China does "need" Christ...in exactly the same way that large parts of formerly Christian nations such as the USA and the UK "need" Christ.

However, those who would like to see that need fulfilled in China and other places abroad should pay heed to what Dialogue has said, as she made some very good points. The Chinese are understandably indignant about Westerners coming to their country, ignoring their traditions and culture, and proceeding to preach to them about how to live their lives. If any progress is to be made, I think it will only come about when mission trips abroad are conducted in such a way as to treat the local inhabitants with more respect than they currently are receiving from western missionaries. Personally, I'm in favor of using native missionaries whenever possible, as I think it addresses some of the concerns raised by Dialogue and, well...in my humble opinion, they're just much more effective than western missionaries.

And as an aside, I've often wondered why so many western missionaries are "called" to Japan, China, Costa Rica, or other tourist type destinations, but so few seem to be interested in going to places like Liberia or the Middle East. Wonder why that is...

 

[Breetai]

...I've often wondered why so many western missionaries are "called" to Japan, China, Costa Rica, or other tourist type destinations, but so few seem to be interested in going to places like Liberia or the Middle East. Wonder why that is...

Valid point, but isn't it sort of difficult for Christians to get a visa to work in those countries as missionaries?

On the flip side, I know a fair number of missionaries that have willingly ended up in some not-so-desirable places in Africa.

 

[Overtime_man]

Valid point, but isn't it sort of difficult for Christians to get a visa to work in those countries as missionaries?

On the flip side, I know a fair number of missionaries that have willingly ended up in some not-so-desirable places in Africa.

As for obtaining visas for missionary work, I'm definitely not an expert, so I can't really make an definitive statement. However, since people seem so eager to break the law in China by getting involved with house churches, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be just as eager to break the immigration laws of middle eastern countries by doing missionary work without the proper visa.

Your point is well taken though, Breetai. There are indeed missionaries who, having been called by God, have selflessly put themselves into less than desirable conditions. I actually know a few, and am continually impressed with the hardships that they're willing to endure. However, what I was pointing out is that these days those types of western missionaries seem to be few and far between, and a new breed of "tourist missionaries" have sprung up in their place. Folks, if you have reoccurring thoughts that God is leading you to do missionary work at Club Med in the Caribbean, the chances are pretty good that you've mixed up God's will with your own desires.

 

[Tashie]

I feel God is calling me to house churches in China, i feel he's calling me to places where i know it will be hard and scary. But i dont care! I know God is calling me to help those who are in prison and those who's families are suffering. I may be only 15 but i know.

My life right now isn't easy or comfortable and in a way i feel its Gods way of preparing me - even though i know it will be no-where near as hard.

But i feel Gods shown and told me a number of things. Age doesn't matter ...yet!

 

[Breetai]

Your point is well taken though, Breetai. There are indeed missionaries who, having been called by God, have selflessly put themselves into less than desirable conditions. I actually know a few, and am continually impressed with the hardships that they're willing to endure. However, what I was pointing out is that these days those types of western missionaries seem to be few and far between, and a new breed of "tourist missionaries" have sprung up in their place. Folks, if you have reoccurring thoughts that God is leading you to do missionary work at Club Med in the Caribbean, the chances are pretty good that you've mixed up God's will with your own desires.

You won't see me arguing that point!!!

 

[Tashie]

*laughs* .. looks stupid as im sat in a libary!

 

[Machjo]

I feel God is calling me to house churches in China, i feel he's calling me to places where i know it will be hard and scary. But i dont care! I know God is calling me to help those who are in prison and those who's families are suffering. I may be only 15 but i know.

My life right now isn't easy or comfortable and in a way i feel its Gods way of preparing me - even though i know it will be no-where near as hard.

But i feel Gods shown and told me a number of things. Age doesn't matter ...yet!

I thought the evangil taught you to obey your government. This would seem to suggest that now god is asking you to ignore the evangil.

I'll tell you what. At the moment, you're free to go to officially sanctionned churches here in China. Now I undertand that you might not like such churches bebause they are controlled by the government.

However, nothing in Chinese law requires you to join these churches and, as long as you don't organize, you're certainly free to get together with friends in slmall groups to pray or study the Bible. Heck, I even have religious quotes on my name card, and have now got a T-shirt made with them likewise. If it's done in good taste and you ware wise about it, you're certainly free to procelitize in China. Let's put it this way; don't do anything which might cause someone enough concern to report you to the authorities, accusing you of aggressive procelitism, and you'll be fine. It is legal to teach your faith in China as long as it doesn't contstitute aggressive procelitism.

So now, considering that you can in fact teach your faith legally in China, why would God be calling you to violate his law about respect for authority by joining house churches? Not only would this violate the law of the gospel, but also show the Chinese people the utmost disrespect. I'll tell you what; if a Baha'i started procelitizing aggressively in China, I myself would report him to the authorities so as not to allow him to ruin it for the rest of us who want to see our religious freedoms grow, not shrink, in China in the next decade. I intend to stay here long term. So if you also engage in house churches, I'd report you too.

 

[Grl4Christ987]

我是在學習被簡化的和繁體中文過程中。我集中主要於繁體中文雖則。但对您的信念的评论，它否认谁的依据基督真正地是因此因此这不是基督教姐妹宗教。并且象为中国政府认可任何宗教，是否这是基督教或回教或什么有您只被认可以三自已爱国教会运动的形式，不是在地下"非法" 教会里。

 

[angeloffaith]

I feel God is calling me to house churches in China, i feel he's calling me to places where i know it will be hard and scary. But i dont care! I know God is calling me to help those who are in prison and those who's families are suffering. I may be only 15 but i know.

My life right now isn't easy or comfortable and in a way i feel its Gods way of preparing me - even though i know it will be no-where near as hard.

But i feel Gods shown and told me a number of things. Age doesn't matter ...yet!

hi Tashie that is a awesome note you reading thank you mam
and asia is mine fav. the people there are beautiful
take care now
God bless you always

 

[Tashie]

I thought the evangil taught you to obey your government. This would seem to suggest that now god is asking you to ignore the evangil.

I'll tell you what. At the moment, you're free to go to officially sanctionned churches here in China. Now I undertand that you might not like such churches bebause they are controlled by the government.

However, nothing in Chinese law requires you to join these churches and, as long as you don't organize, you're certainly free to get together with friends in slmall groups to pray or study the Bible. Heck, I even have religious quotes on my name card, and have now got a T-shirt made with them likewise. If it's done in good taste and you ware wise about it, you're certainly free to procelitize in China. Let's put it this way; don't do anything which might cause someone enough concern to report you to the authorities, accusing you of aggressive procelitism, and you'll be fine. It is legal to teach your faith in China as long as it doesn't contstitute aggressive procelitism.

So now, considering that you can in fact teach your faith legally in China, why would God be calling you to violate his law about respect for authority by joining house churches? Not only would this violate the law of the gospel, but also show the Chinese people the utmost disrespect. I'll tell you what; if a Baha'i started procelitizing aggressively in China, I myself would report him to the authorities so as not to allow him to ruin it for the rest of us who want to see our religious freedoms grow, not shrink, in China in the next decade. I intend to stay here long term. So if you also engage in house churches, I'd report you too.

I dont mean to join their churches but i do mean to visit them and help them ?*if i can* I beleive (and i know this is biased cause i live in England so im sorry) that these house Churches are doing what Gods called them to do because by making the decision to be house churches they are making the decision to do what God wants. These churches can preach whatever God wants, they can worship to what ever God wants whereas legal Churches can only do and say what the government wants.

 

[milanobmw]

china is a ideal place for tour and cross-culture,but there is shortage for right and enough christian guidance and religious support

 

[xBladesx]

Hi everyone! I'm also chinese but I stay in South Africa

chinese is a ideal place for tour and cross-culture,but there is shortage for right christian guidance and religious support

I agree. I've heard The Church and christians who are open about their faith are persecuted in China.

I spite of that they continue to grow from strength to strength. I personally think they (the christians in China) are an inspiration to us all!

 

[outcast2]

no persecution? it's really incredible! only chinese officers could say that. i used to worship in a so-called house church(i.e. the underground church)in nanking city, and the truth is that: in most metropolises, the persecution of christians and of house church is relative slightly, but the urban house church is still under strictly monitor, and a few priests have been arrested for a long time; in most rural areas except zhejiang province, christians' living conditions are rather worse than those live in city, in some case, they can not keep their worship regularly, even the congregation is illegal.

 

[Trumpy]

I just got back from a trip to China. I went to teach English as a senior middle school, however I will admit I had an alternative motive. First off I would like to remind everyone that Christianity is not a Western invention, in fact the Christianity we believe was started in Asia (the Middle East is infact part of Asia).

I will not say that the Chinese need Christianity because we say so. However when I was there I could tell that many of the Chinese desire and need a love and a joy that they will not find anywhere else besides through Christ. I found it to be a society that was deprived of love for the individual. I know the Chinese have a societal mindset but I also know they want to be loved as a person.

My trip was one of the most amazing things I've ever done. It was not because I got to shove the gospel down anyone’s throat. It wasn't because I got to "save" anyone. It wasn't because I changed the course of China forever. It was amazing because I got to fall in love with 16 Chinese students with a love that only the Father to give. And every one of them have told me that it has impacted them.

As for the house churches thing, I will agree that it is against the cause to go to them. For one it is against the law and respecting the law is respecting the people. And for two, everyone in the house church is already a Christian so to break the law and disrespect the people won’t help you to reach and interact with the non-christians.

I think although China may not be in need of Christianity in the western sense, they are desperately in need of Christ. They are in need of the love, self worth, joy, and the life they can have through Him.

 

[Artos]

A good VCD/DVD to get is THE CROSS IN CHINA. It has a lot of stuff on China especially the 2nd and the 4th VCD/DVD.
Can go to Google/Yahoo and search for it.

 

[xBladesx]

Another Good one is China Cry, about a pregnant, christian chinese woman in Communist China and all the persecution she went through for The Lord.

 

[milanobmw]

china is a great country. due to the character of western media, they always stare at the negative effection. therefore, i can understand your people's biased consideration.
anyway, seeing is believing expect for cultural shock, lol..

 

[milanobmw]

no persecution? it's really incredible! only chinese officers could say that. i used to worship in a so-called house church(i.e. the underground church)in nanking city, and the truth is that: in most metropolises, the persecution of christians and of house church is relative slightly, but the urban house church is still under strictly monitor, and a few priests have been arrested for a long time; in most rural areas except zhejiang province, christians' living conditions are rather worse than those live in city, in some case, they can not keep their worship regularly, even the congregation is illegal.

unfortunately, friends, i m from nanking city. pls give more details about what u said. maybe i can help you. coz my parents still live there. otherwise,i think u are involved in a fake christian situation which is against the social beings.

 

[desmondchow]

Indeed China needs Christ. They are deprive of loving each other. What Bahai? Since when this religion came about? Ask yourself about human existence first and who created you? And for non-christians who feel uncomfortable being arrowed here, we are giving you a clear message that you need to thoroughly check your own beliefs before you leave this world or you will still end up in the hades like non believers.

 

[BobMiller]

, we are giving you a clear message that you need to thoroughly check your own beliefs before you leave this world or you will still end up in the hades like non believers.

Hey that is not politically correct!/sarcasm

Either: Jesus was a liar, a nobody, a ordinary Jew, and a false prophet.

or

Jesus was/is God almighty, who was prophesied to come, to suffer, die, and be resurrected.

You decide!