A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (January 31, 2010)

<Futurology, Soothsaying, fortunetelling, and Biblical Prophecy> (10)

Now it is time for me to share about the future of China from my personal perspective based upon my biblical understanding.

Although the Bible never directly mention anything about “China” or Chinese” just like the Bible also never mentions anything of America, but it doesn’t mean, China, Chinese, or America are ignored by God or not included in the plan of God. On the contrary, the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ have been given to Chinese people since the beginning of China was built up. This is the beauty of God.

China or Chinese people or Chinese culture can be traced from long time ago. Although we cannot have direct evidence from science or archeology to build up the connection between the biblical genealogy and Chinese ancestry, yet, by culture and ways of sacrificial worships one can find some similarities between these two, and there is no problem between Chinese culture and biblical tradition “which one comes first?” or “who did copy from whom?” It seems that both co-exist together but they did not know each other. The only answer to the question of their similarities is: because both come from the same origin – the same revelation from God to the same original ancestries.

Let me share with you four examples. First of all, it is interesting that Eve, the first woman’s name of human beings her Hebrew pronunciation is very similar to the first woman’s name in Chinese traditional legend. Furthermore, the Chinese writing of “SHIP” consists of two parts: boat (or ark) and 8 human beings, which implies Noah’s ark with 8 family members. Thirdly, Chinese word, “CAVE” means “8 persons under the same roof – it means the same family, stay at the same hole.” Again, it implies the story of Noah’s family, after the flood, they might stay in a cave for a period of time. The last one, the Chinese writing of “RIGHTEOUSNESS” literally means: “a LAMB covers on the top of ME.” It is very biblical. I agree with most of the Chinese and western scholars when they say that these similarities between biblical description and Chinese culture are not accidental, but because they share the same origin – the revelation of God to the same ancestry. And Chinese ancestors taught their descendants never forget the origin by inventing Chinese words to remind them.

Furthermore, when one talks about Chinese culture, one knows that it never came down only from one line or one tradition. Instead, Chinese culture is the same as another cultures which came from many resources and lines they mingled and interweaved together. For example, among Chinese tribes, “Han people” is the largest, strongest and most powerful tribe. But today no one dares to say that he or she is “a pure Han” person. It is because Han people have intermarried with countless other tribes. It is just like “Jewish people”, no one dares to claim that he or she is one hundred percent “pure Jew.” Likewise, the Jewish tradition also is a result of mingling and intertwined with other traditions and cultures together. I like one of the most famous Chinese emperors, Tang-Thai-Tsong (Lee, Shu-Ming), the second emperor of Tang Dynasty (A.D. 627-649.) He claimed himself was a good combination of “Han” and “Hu” (northern tribal barbarian.) I believe that in the future, more mingles and intertwines will be found between the east and the west, and more beautiful people and cultural sparkles will be created because of this kind of encounters and joins in marriages; for, after all, we are all from the same origin.

When we understand this, we need to give thanks to our God, because in the past several thousands of years God has given Chinese many wise men, philosophers, and prophets who received good inspirations from God to provide good teachings and ethical norms for the Chinese people to follow. Although they were not perfect, yet, they still provided good guidance for Chinese, so that the entire people would never move over too much to cause curses from God and perishes.

Furthermore, God must love Chinese very much that is why He gives so many Chinese people. So far, the Chinese population still remains No. 1 among all nations. Therefore, we, as Chinese Christians, need to ask a very important question: “Why God, you create so many Chinese people?”  I believe it is not only because of He love. I am convinced that He has another reason and purposes that we Chinese Christians need to ask and pursue for. Let us continue to discuss this subject next Sunday, by God’s grace (to be continued…)