中國基督教

透過信徒、牧者、事工同工與研究者的觀察,了解中國境內基督教的歷史、信仰生活與當代處境。

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The Sanjiang Church Incident

On April 4, the western press began reporting on a church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province that was surrounded by thousands of parishioners who were blocking a crew sent to demolish the church. As reported, local officials had initially ordered that the cross be removed from the church, and later said the church was built illegally and had ordered its destruction. The story was a hot topic both inside and outside of China, and has come to be known as The Sanjiang Church Incident.

金色陽光從中國層疊的喀斯特山峰間透出,山巒倒映在平靜的河面上,一名船夫站在小舟上,形成寧靜的山水景色。

看見戴德生生命裡的榮美

在明尼亞波利斯(Minneapolis)舉辦的「渴慕神」(Desiring God)牧者大會上,主持人約翰・派博(John Piper)分享了戴德生(Hudson Taylor)的一生,講題為「戴德生的事奉:活在基督裡」。 他在開場時提醒我們:「戴德生的生命中有許多榮美之處,值得我們去領略,也能讓我們學習如何常在基督裡,並領受關於信心、禱告、順服以及受苦的寶貴功課。」 派博在信息中提出了三點具體的期許,這既是他的目標,也是他的禱告: 戴德生對生命豐盛的追求,與中國內地會(CIM)留下的屬靈產業之間有著極深的連結,蘊含著極其珍貴的指引。這份信息與每個人息息相關——特別是你如果正渴慕經歷那份「出人意外的平安」(腓立比書四章7節),並期盼生命能突破局限,結出豐盛的果實。這也正是我對這篇信息的期許:願上帝引領你更深地體會與基督的聯合,並激勵你為了祂的榮耀,擁有前所未有的勇氣去冒險與開拓。 當戴德生寫下那句著名的名言:「請放心,照著上帝的方式做上帝的工作,必不會缺少上帝的供應」時,他所指的供應涵蓋了所有層面——不僅是資金,也包括健康、信心、平安與力量。這也是我的禱告:願你能看見並經歷生命中全新的可能性——擁有更多的信心、喜樂、平安與愛,以及遵行祂旨意所需的一切資源;哪怕有時候,上帝的旨意是讓我們在分文全無中前行。 這一切都源於你與基督的聯合。正如戴德生最喜愛的其中一節經文所說:「我的上帝必照祂榮耀的豐富,在基督耶穌裡,使你們一切所需用的都充足。」(腓立比書四章19節)因著這份應許,我祈願你能放下對自身種種不足的焦慮,為了基督的榮耀,勇敢投入某個計畫或夢想。在戴德生的生命中,「常在基督裡」帶出了偉大的行動、冒險、紀律與捨己;而這一切,都由極大的平安與喜樂所支撐。這就是我為大家所做的禱告。 派博隨後回顧了戴德生的生平故事,並特別提到: 戴德生一生曾十次往返中國。根據我的計算,他待在海上航行的時間總計約有四、五年之久。這對偶爾在機場遇到延誤兩小時就焦躁不安的我們來說,或許是個深刻的提醒:他在這世上真的只是個「客旅」。 派博也剖析了那場導向「生命豐盛」的「危機」,並探討為何這段體驗能為他的生命結出如此長存的果子。他歸納出三個原因: 1. 他一生浸透在聖經中,並全然順服聖經。 2. 他視受苦為上帝的作為,為的是讓他與基督的聯合更深邃、也更甘甜。 3. 不論是在苦難中,還是在與基督的聯合裡,他都全然擁抱上帝絕對的良善與主權。 派博在結尾處,留下了一份應許,也提出了一項挑戰: 無論上帝是像帶領戴德生那樣——給你一個足以翻轉生命的覺醒時刻,還是隨著時間引領你漸漸深耕,都請不要就此滿足。要追求保羅在腓立比書二章15節、四章11-14節所展現的,那份不發怨言、無可指責的知足;這既是他在腓立比書第四章的親身經歷,也是他在以弗所書三章19節所發出的祈求:「叫神一切所充滿的,充滿了你們。」 永遠不要停止這份渴慕與追求。如果戴德生今天就在這裡,他會對你說:這份全然滿足的生命,本就屬於你。去支取它,享用它。然後,勇敢追逐那個高舉基督的夢想,並為此傾盡所有。 歡迎前往渴慕神(Desiring God)網站,觀看或下載本篇信息的完整影片與文字稿。 編者按:本文原為英語;中文版由華源協作團隊翻譯並編輯。

A Nestorian Grave Site

In the historical news department, the Catholic news service UCA recently wrote about the discovery of a gravesite in Henan Province that is believed to be a burial site of the Nestorians, the earliest Christians to reach China in the Tang Dynasty.

Unmasking China’s “Official” Church

China's "official" churches (those operating under the auspices of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement) are fairly often associated with terms such as "restrictive," "government-sanctioned," or even "Communist-controlled." Granted, one does not have to look too far within China's religious bureaucracy and its associated policies and practices to find evidence that would justify such notions. Unfortunately, however, the perception of the official church which these labels create tends to mask much of what is actually happening on the ground in TSPM-affiliated churches.

What Day Is This?

I'm already two weeks into my current episode of jet lag, so I know there is no excuse. However, I still find myself waking up in the morning and wondering, "What day is this anyway?"

Coming to Terms with the Church

An article that appeared last month in China's official press raises interesting questions about how the church in China is viewed by both the Chinese state and society.

The Church in China: Asking the Wrong Questions?

The church in China is often viewed through two prevailing and related paradigms. The "persecuted church" paradigm positions the church and the Chinese government in perpetual opposition to one another, while the "Christian China" paradigm sees Christianity as bringing a new moral order to China and foresees the day when the church will usher in political change.

Victor Plymire: A Faith Worth Imitating

This article looks at a few key events in the life of Victor Plymire, a pioneer missionary to Tibet in the early 20th century. My prayer is that this brief glimpse into his life will enlarge your view of God so that your faith would be strengthened and you might pursue God with renewed determination. Additionally, I hope that you would see the tremendous value of history and biography for the Christian life and the Church universal.