Chinese Christian forum?

[Lanolin]

Just wondering there's an Indian, Arab and Filipino forum but no Chinese Christian Forum. Just wondered if there might be one, if there are enough on this site. I mean its the biggest population on. earth and many of us speak English esp those of us who emigrated to English speaking countries.

Also there's a lot about the culture that people can learn from. I just think there are many misconceptions about Chinese and Chinese Christians in particular.
I'm second generation and I just think it would be nice to have one since other cultures have theirs, and it would be. safe space to talk about beliefs and issues Chinese Christians may have.

 

[ciicii]

I am not chinese but i would also be really interested in this to know more about the culture of Chinese and Christian families tbh

 

[Lanolin]

I wouldn't know where to put this thread, maybe family forum but what do you want to know about?
I'm just not sure how it will be received esp with some posters seeing China as their enemy and slurring on Chinese people in general. I hate that kind of ignorant racism.

 

[ciicii]

I wouldn't know where to put this thread, maybe family forum but what do you want to know about?
I'm just not sure how it will be received esp with some posters seeing China as their enemy and slurring on Chinese people in general. I hate that kind of ignorant racism.

oh I'm sorry I didn't know.
I really like the asian culture. I kind of got interested when I needed recipies that fit my palet and like more asiain techniques that kept the flavors simple.

I didn't realize that kind of stuff was still happening I am so sorry.
I am not sure though honestly all i know are thing from tv shows like k-drama, j-dramas and Chinese movies, so I have always wanted on know what the actual culture is like and how in "conflicts" with Christianity.

Like I have always imagined it is really hard to hear God's word in China since they often change scripture and persecute believers, and also there is a huge tie to family and ancestral merit so like how does that work?

Sorry for the wordy question they are sort of all over the place but I genuinely do not even know where to to start since I know nothing other than it would be really hard since I assume you still want to speak with your family.

... can you just tell me everything XD

 

[Lanolin]

lol sure, where do I start...
Well Chinese have their folk traditions and superstitions and there's Chinese philosophy as well. It is very family orientated society, I mean the Han Chinese are the biggest population on earth!!

Thanks to good food and breeding like rabbits.

Ok I am Chinese diaspora so I can't speak for the Chinese IN China, but from what I know, the conflict between Chinese and Christianity has been because its seen as a foreign religion and after all, the Bible hadn't been translated into Chinese into much much later, so any missionaries would have had to communicate the scriptures in Chinese ( which they didn't as far as I know) and they had to live out their religion as well.
Because China had its own kingdoms and was never part of the Roman Empire, Christianity, which was mandated by Roman Emporers Constantine, never made much inroads. There was little trade until the silk Road but Chinese society was such that it didn't think it needed anything from the West.

Part of the conflict has been that the leader(s) of the country determines the religions of its subjects or at least, has a big influence. Anyway ...so buddhism got to China via India, otherwise the leaders followed after Confucious, who was more of a philosopher on the way people ought to live, kind of like the Greek/Roman philosophers were for mediterranean at the time. There is also daoism or Taoism which is more like a spiritual philosophy. And of course there's ancestral veneration, and different dieties. And this has been going on for thousands of years like the Chinese had complete dynasties since way back. It is one of the worlds oldest civilisations.

It resisted other foreigners trying to take over and colonise it - it had to keep the Mongols away - Great Wall of China anyone? The Manchus and the Japanese tried ruling it but they never got far..and so there was little contact with the West or even the Middle East apart from trade which was mostly one way. The Chinese kingdoms were very self contained. It wasn't united until very late it had a lot of different kingdoms and warlords. Chinese called it the Middle Kingdom and thought themselves the centre of the everything! lol The emperors had to rule kindly and there was a kind of acknowledgement they had to have the 'mandate of heaven'. Chinese also had a creation history which is a bit different from the one in the Bible. A lot of people have their own myths and legends.

So anyway a bit of history...and I don't claim this to be in any way a complete one!!

 

[ciicii]

Well Chinese have their folk traditions and superstitions and there's Chinese philosophy as well.

Yes I have read some Chinese philosophy, not a lot I will admit. But even watching Chinese influences on my feed when they bring up some philosophies. I have always seen some resemblances to Proverbs. So I wasn't sure.

Even the idea that Christianity did not come to china until much later, my original though was about the apostles who had gone into Asian, but yeah asia is such a huge place, that it probably didnt' reach up to Chinese teritories.

seen as a foreign religion

This is just me thinking out lou and thank you so much for this at least I have some spot to start looking into now. But I am wondering (and you can answer fi you would like, but I am just typing out loud) why budhism was accepted despite being foreign but Christianity was not.

On a spiritual level I know it is because it is the truth and there will always be rebelion against the truth.

JOHN 15:18
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

I've heard of daoism and Taoism before as well but never looked into it. I gues I have alwsy been confused becuase the history of China from what you have told me kind of reiterates my thoughts of how there is a strong respect for tradition and family. And that is such a strong thing that the Lord has always prioritized, so it has never made sense to me why more Chinese people wouldn't natural see the truth in Christianity and salvation.

Anyway thank you so much I want to do more research and if it's okay come with more questions whenever I have them for more opinions. Like how did you come to Christ?

I know you do not live in China so does yoru family follow traditional Chinese culture or were you raise in a Christian home?

Thank you again so much for being so honest with me and giving me your time btw

 

[Lanolin]

Its ok I like to discuss it and I've never really had the chance to delve into it that much with someone, though a lot of people are curious, its hard to explain to people just as soon as you meet them the whole history of your family's ancestors and where they are from!!!

It's easier if you a christian you can just give them a Bible, tell them to read it, and say you've been adopted into Jesus family. The history is all there in one volume.

I will address it further , but just to say, there is cultural Christians and then there's more the born again kind of Christian, and because I wasn't brought up or raised Christian (but in a Christian based country) I'm sort of the born again type. I mean a lot of the values of Christianity are the similar to traditional Chinese culture and Confucianism, and its we have our customs and traditions just as the Jewish people have theirs, even if is been handed down for generations for so long that we won't even know where it came from or why. As a child you just grow up immersed in it and don't really question the way you are raised or the faith or lack of of your parents because you don't really have a choice.

I think nowadays with globalisation and evangelisation people come to Christ because they are drawn to Him not just because their parents or surrounding culture or education is Christian. Also there is such a thing as a 'Rice Christian' so I will explain that as well. It will take a lot of posts to do so. So be patient it will take some time to get my thoughts down and make it understandable.

 

[ciicii]

Its ok I like to discuss it and I've never really had the chance to delve into it that much with someone, though a lot of people are curious, its hard to explain to people just as soon as you meet them the whole history of your family's ancestors and where they are from!!!

It's easier if you a christian you can just give them a Bible, tell them to read it, and say you've been adopted into Jesus family. The history is all there in one volume.

I will address it further , but just to say, there is cultural Christians and then there's more the born again kind of Christian, and because I wasn't brought up or raised Christian (but in a Christian based country) I'm sort of the born again type. I mean a lot of the values of Christianity are the similar to traditional Chinese culture and Confucianism, and its we have our customs and traditions just as the Jewish people have theirs, even if is been handed down for generations for so long that we won't even know where it came from or why. As a child you just grow up immersed in it and don't really question the way you are raised or the faith or lack of of your parents because you don't really have a choice.

I think nowadays with globalisation and evangelisation people come to Christ because they are drawn to Him not just because their parents or surrounding culture or education is Christian. Also there is such a thing as a 'Rice Christian' so I will explain that as well. It will take a lot of posts to do so. So be patient it will take some time to get my thoughts down and make it understandable.

Oh wow okay yeah I will be waiting take your time. I am curious about the 'rice christian'

And yeah I agree that there is a difference between people born again and people who are 'cultural Christians' which is harmful. I think giving out bibles to others is god, but I think about the Ethiopian Eunuch in Act 8

Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

I have always been inspired to actually know where people are coming from to share the faith best I can in the format God has given me but with as much understanding as possible. Like recently I have found a lot of evangelist who have growing passion to evangelis to specific groups of people. Like impact ministries: https://www.youtube.com/@ImpactVideoMinistries

He makes great videos to help people answer tough questions, but his physical missionairy work he has felt called to help people in japan.

I want to see more of that, like people specializing in stuff like that. So that we can ask like Philip "do you understand what you are reading" and actually serve and help if the answer is no.

 

[Lanolin]

I think you need to make friends with people first as nobody likes being preached at or bludgeoned with the Bible and told they are wrong and believe a bunch of lies and this new religion is better than what they already have. Which is how a lot of religious evangelists behave. Convert or go to hell! Sort of thing

Gentiles (non Jewish) were never under the Mosaic law in the first place, so the concept of sin and breaking the laws specific to them in the Old Testament won't wash. Many cultures have their own code of conduct which is binding on them as a society (which can work..or not) and would not have heard or felt the need for a god or God. Or their concept of God is different. So people can argue and apologetic all they like but unless a person is more intellectual, it's not going to have any 'impact' on ordinary folk who are just trying to get along and live a decent life.

If someone can understand or is interested in reading the Bible it does help, but it takes the Holy Spirit to illuminate it for that person. I just thought it was a bunch of stories, boring, and hard to read. Before I had the hunger to know God. It made no sense to me. Who can really relate to God in the spiritual if they can't see Him? He's scary in the Old Testament. He destroyed his own creation in the flood! He cursed Adam and Eve because they were naughty and didn't do what He said.
This is why Jesus is important in the bridge between us and God.

But even the New Testament can be confusing for a first time believer. I mean what are all these letters to the churches in the Bible that don't seem to exist anymore? Why didn't Paul write to China, or go to Asia? (The holy spirit actually told them they couldn't go there)

I questioned God a lot when I was confused about this. Didn't He care about us? Why was I placed on this earth, in a country where I am always seen as 'other'. As that is the very first thing people ask me 'where I am from?' like I'm fresh off the boat lol.

 

[ciicii]

I think you need to make friends with people first as nobody likes being preached at or bludgeoned with the Bible and told they are wrong and believe a bunch of lies and this new religion is better than what they already have. Which is how a lot of religious evangelists behave. Convert or go to hell! Sort of thing

Yeah I agree with that. I actually had someone who tried to evangelize to me a few months ago and it was so demoralizing. It is hard to believe someone cares when they just give you demands but don't bother to hear what you have to say or about you as a person. It can definitely turn people away. Even if the evangelist is just eager or excited.

As for apologetics I think that actually does work but only if it is real apologetics and they also focus on learning about the person. idk if you have heard from David wood, I like him though because it is the same thing. the concept of sin is not the same for people in the muslim faith and culture, so saying God died for your sins and you need forgiveness means nothing. But David has spent his life learning the language reading the book and everything so that he can actually debate and answer questions. That's kind of my inspo (the concept XD not the debating I'd rather evangelism through Christian fiction and stuff like that)

He's scary in the Old Testament.

I can see how some people can view it that way. Honestly for me I saw it as the opposite, that he was a loving God who allowed to give people more time and negotiate with the few that followed him to save people that were willing to listen even though they didn't honor him.

But I do get it, it is all based on the person tbh. I love seeing different testimonies and perspectives like yours though viewing the scripture originally as a scary God and still coming to Him anyway. And yes the conclusion of Christ as our bridge is key for sure, it shows that with his own sacrifice we are not worthy. - AMEN <3

But even the New Testament can be confusing for a first time believer. I mean what are all these letters to the churches in the Bible that don't seem to exist anymore? Why didn't Paul write to China, or go to Asia? (The holy spirit actually told them they couldn't go there)

I questioned God a lot when I was confused about this. Didn't He care about us? Why was I placed on this earth, in a country where I am always seen as 'other'. As that is the very first thing people ask me 'where I am from?' like I'm fresh off the boat lol.

Oh my goodness I never thought of how that could make you or anyone else feel I am so sorry. But thank you for sharing that perspective! that is a very delicate topic. I know that The Lord had his mission and made sure to go where he needed, but I also know the Lord says

Before he comes everyone is to hear the gospel Matthew 24:14.

I know you are answering my own questions and you are just being honest with me so I won't try to answer and honestly I do not know, but even someone Chinese coming to Christ for the first time, I can see how this question could easily bring a sense of rejection that would be hard to overcome, especially if there is no one there to answer their question and you are alone with God who you feel you barely know.

Again thank you so much for sharing this insight with me

 

[Lanolin]

S'ok

Hard to rebel against the truth if nobody even bothered to tell you the truth/gospel to begin with.
Sometimes it can be distorted, ever wonder why people join cults? I don't think anybody really thinks 'Im just going to join a cult today'
People get lured in if they don't know the truth already, or people only tell you some or part of the truth.

Sometimes, action speaks louder than words. Esp if those words need to be re-translated over and over into a different language each time. It will come out different from what you intended...thats the thing with Chinese whispers, esp for those that don't really have a good grasp of the language.

A Chinese student if they are to read and write Chinese, has to learn thousands and thousands of characters, by memory or sight because it's a pictograph, not a phonetic language (sounds link to letters) like English is. And if looking up words/characters in a Chinese dictionary, you need to go by the number of strokes in a character.

Also there's different regional dialects in Chinese like Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Fujian etc. They can be completely different like almost another language like French is to Spanish, even if it's written the same. So unless you make the effort, you must learn some Chinese or you will only reach out to those who speak English...and most people in China will not speak English because they won't learn it in school. It's only in the big cities or places like Hong Kong where people could learn to read, speak and write English, because that used to be governed by the British.

I find it silly if missionaries go to another foreign country, then expect the locals/natives to learn THEIR language. If they go there, they'd most often go to teach English, and for sure lots of Chinese want to learn as it helps them go overseas etc. But yea it is what it is.

 

[ciicii]

S'ok

Hard to rebel against the truth if nobody even bothered to tell you the truth/gospel to begin with.
Sometimes it can be distorted, ever wonder why people join cults? I don't think anybody really thinks 'Im just going to join a cult today'
People get lured in if they don't know the truth already, or people only tell you some or part of the truth.

Sometimes, action speaks louder than words. Esp if those words need to be re-translated over and over into a different language each time. It will come out different from what you intended...thats the thing with Chinese whispers, esp for those that don't really have a good grasp of the language.

A Chinese student if they are to read and write Chinese, has to learn thousands and thousands of characters, by memory or sight because it's a pictograph, not a phonetic language (sounds link to letters) like English is. And if looking up words/characters in a Chinese dictionary, you need to go by the number of strokes in a character.

Also there's different regional dialects in Chinese like Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien, Fujian etc. They can be completely different like almost another language like French is to Spanish, even if it's written the same. So unless you make the effort, you must learn some Chinese or you will only reach out to those who speak English...and most people in China will not speak English because they won't learn it in school. It's only in the big cities or places like Hong Kong where people could learn to read, speak and write English, because that used to be governed by the British.

I find it silly if missionaries go to another foreign country, then expect the locals/natives to learn THEIR language. If they go there, they'd most often go to teach English, and for sure lots of Chinese want to learn as it helps them go overseas etc. But yea it is what it is.

Yeah there are definitly ups and downs, I do see a lot of more missionaries though from the country helping out. I have faith that it will be spread everywhere (the gospel) since Christ said he will not come back until that happens.

And yes I understand the cult reference too I have an interest in how people create cults, love bombing and all that. It is really scary what we can get used to after enough time has passed.

Thanks for your insight though, you seem to have thought about it a lot ... are you interested in doing any mission work?

 

[Lanolin]

Oh no, I'm already doing Bible in schools but don't tell the atheist Principals.

 

[ciicii]

Oh no, I'm already doing Bible in schools but don't tell the atheist Principals.

I pray for the best then