Christianity is a Western Religion? God is a Western God?

Presentation on theme: "Christianity is a Western Religion? God is a Western God?"— Presentation transcript:

1 Christianity is a Western Religion? God is a Western God?
By Global Christianity, Dec, 2011 Christianity is a Western Religion? God is a Western God?

2 What about Chinese People? (Culturally Chinese 華人)

3 God is Chinese? Chinese New Year chinese culture & Christian Faith

4 God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters
God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters 中國文字 God in Chinese New Year 農曆新年

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6 帝 上 上帝 ShangDi = Supreme God Hebrew 希伯來文至高神：El Shaddai
 1.God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 上 帝 上帝 ShangDi = Supreme God Hebrew 希伯來文至高神：El Shaddai

7 Beijing TianTan 天壇 (Altar of Heaven) 上 帝

8 Chinese are ShangDi-worshippers
華人是「祭天、拜上帝」的民族 Chinese are ShangDi-worshippers Place for Animal sacrifice

9 帝 祭天＝敬拜上帝 Make Offering to the Heaven = Worship the Supreme God 上 皇天上帝
 Beijing TianTan 天壇 (Altar of Heaven) 祭天＝敬拜上帝 Make Offering to the Heaven = Worship the Supreme God 上 帝 皇天上帝 The Supreme God & Emperor in Heaven

10 帝 上 1. God in Ancient Chinese Traditions
書經 The Classic Book of Documents 舜：肆類於上帝 （舜向上帝獻祭） Shun (a legendary tribal leader / ancestor) : gave burnt offering to ShangDi (God) (2255 BC) 上 帝 史記：古者天子夏躬親禮祀上帝於郊，故曰郊。 (在古代，夏朝的天子是親自、敬畏的到郊野為上帝獻祭，因此稱為郊祭) 孔子Confucius 在《禮記．中庸 Book of Rituals》中說：「郊社之禮，所以事上帝也。」(在郊野敬拜獻祭，是為了事奉上帝) The ancient emperors go to the wilderness humbly to give offering to worship ShangDi (God)

11 This is the songs they sing/read to ShangDi God
于昔洪荒之初兮.混蒙.五行未运兮. 太初时期, 一切都是洪大而荒無啊, 蒙蔽混沌的, 五行还未运行啊 In the Beginning, everything was big & formless, unclear & void, it was before the planets (or the rules) were set. 两曜未明.其中挺立兮.有无容声.神皇出御兮. 两大星(太阳和月亮)也未发光. 其中所挺立的啊, 无声无形. 但祢这全能的神明, 在祢的大能中出现啊 It was before the Two heavenly bodies (Sun & Moon), everything was formless and soundless, but You the Supreme Heavenly God came!

12 始判浊清.立天立地人兮.群物生生. 首先将混浊与清洁分开. 祢立定了天, 立定了地, 创造了人啊. 万物开始生生不息
创造了人啊. 万物开始生生不息 You separated darkness & light (or void vs. order), You set the Heaven and the earth, you created men, and all the living creatures for them to continue to thrive. 創Gen 1 1起初，　神創造天地。 2 地是空虛混沌，淵面黑暗；... 4 　神看光是好的，就把光暗分開了。  1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep… 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  From Article: 中国皇帝举行“祭天大典”之处

13 This is the songs they sing/read to ShangDi God:
帝垂听兮.义若亲.子职庸昧兮. 无由申册表荷鉴兮.泰号式尊. 上帝, 要垂听我们啊, 就像父一样亲. 我, 祢的孩子, 平庸愚昧啊! 无法表明全部理由. 只能写成书册, 呈上感谢，願祢鑒察, 祢的名为大, 形象尊贵. Heavenly God, please listen to us, like a father who is intimate; I, Your son, is not capable nor wise, cannot express all the prayers and reasoning. I can only write my thanksgiving in this book for you to search & examine, Your Name is great, your image is royal.

14 奇妙的创造主, 我仰望祢. 祢(所居住)的穹苍是何等的浩大.
仰惟玄造兮.于皇昊穹 奇妙的创造主, 我仰望祢. 祢(所居住)的穹苍是何等的浩大. The Amazing Creator, I look up to (worship) you, how great is your dwelling place. 大礼钦崇.臣惟蒲柳兮.蝼蚁之衷. 伏承眷命兮.职统群工.深怀愚昧兮. 借这样盛大的仪式, 我敬虔地尊崇祢. 祢的仆人我, 只是一介草柳, 蝼蚁之心, 但却得蒙祢恩惠之道, 委命我掌管帝国, 我深知自己无知蒙昧 Through this grand ritual, I exalt You. I am just Your servant, like a grass or willow, lowly like an ant, yet it is because of your grace, you appointed me to govern this Kingdom, I know I am unworthy.

15 Chinese are ShangDi-worshippers
華人是「祭天、拜上帝」的民族 Chinese are ShangDi-worshippers Place for Animal sacrifice

16 祭牲是一个特选没有杂色的牛犊, 必须是 一岁的、头生的、没有残疾. 用水洗淨，用火燒在壇上。 The burnt offering must be a yr-old first born pure calf with no defect. Exodus出埃及記 12:5 要無殘疾、一歲的公羊羔 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.  Leviticus 利未記 27:26a 惟獨牲畜中頭生的，無論是牛是羊，既歸耶和華。 No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the LORD; whether an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s

17 聖經利未記 Leviticus 1:2-9 2 你曉諭以色列人說：你們中間若有人獻供物給 耶和華，要從牛群羊群中獻牲畜為供物。
3 他的供物若以牛為燔祭，就要在會幕門口獻一隻沒有殘疾的公牛，可以在耶和華面前蒙悅納… 8 亞倫子孫作祭司的，要把肉塊和頭並脂油擺在壇上火的柴上。 9 但燔祭的臟腑與腿要用水洗。祭司就要把一切全燒在壇上，當作燔祭，獻與耶和華為馨香的火祭。 2 When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the LORD… 8 Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 9 You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD.

18 资离明珍币嘉肴兮. 于祝诚均登巨照兮. 把珍贵的玉帛和上好的肉祭啊, 呈献在上帝面前. 我们以诚实的祷告, 放入火中, 焚烧. We present you God the precious jade & the best burnt offering, with our sincere prayer, into the fire, burning. 达立清九垓四表兮.莫不昂膜. 愿这缕缕的烟雾上达苍天. 全地都在仰望祢啊! Hope this burnt offering is like a smoke/incense reaching the highest heavens. All earth / creatures reveres you!

19 God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters
God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters 中國文字

20 今年好 煩惱少 不得打官司 做酒醰醰好 做醋醰醰酸 養豬大如山 老鼠隻隻死 今年好煩惱，少不得打官司； 做酒醰醰好做醋，醰醰酸； 養豬大如山老鼠，隻隻死。

21 天 Shang = Above Da = Big Tian = Person Heaven, Heavenly
Heaven & Supreme God same (ShangDi 上帝) = Big Person from Above Not just a location, but a person, a being 對古人來說，「天」不是地方而已，是有位格的 「從上面來的大人物」

22 The Perfect One from Above
Shang上 = 二 Above Shi 十 = | Ten (perfect) Shi = God 神 The Perfect One from Above 從上面來的完美的那個

23 禁 婪 Jing Lan Forbidden Greed 2 Trees 2 Trees God woman
創世記 Genesis 2:9 耶和華　神使各樣的樹從地裡長出來，可以悅人的眼目，其上的果子好作食物。園子當中又有生命樹和分別善惡的樹。 The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

24 弗 Fu/Fo No, Negate 2 Trees w/ a snake 創世記 Genesis 3:1b 蛇對女人說：
「　神豈是真說不許你們吃園中所有樹上的果子嗎？」 He (the Serpent) said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

25 蛇 它 She snake foot? snake it 創世記 Genesis 3:15 God said to the serpent：
你的後裔和女人的後裔也彼此為仇。女人的後裔要傷你的頭；你要傷他的腳跟 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel

26 祭 hand blood God Ji Offering to God

27 羔 義 gao yi lamb righteous, just sheep sheep me (hand + knife) fire
羅馬書 Romans 3:23-24 因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了　神的榮耀； 如今卻蒙　神的恩典，因基督耶穌的救贖，就白白地稱義。 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  約翰福音 John 1:36 他(約翰)見耶穌行走，就說：「看哪，這是　神的羔羊！」When he (John) saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

28 God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters
God in Ancient Chinese Traditions 中國上古的習俗 God in Chinese Characters 中國文字 God in Chinese New Year 農曆新年

29 「年獸」的傳說 “Year”Monster
相傳在遠古，人們常受到一種名叫「年」的怪獸威脅。每年的最後一天，牠都會下山吃人吃牲畜（或傳說天神放牠下山一天），因此，每到除夕這天，所有人都要逃往深山，以躲避「年獸」的傷害。 The “Year” Monster will come down to harm men & animals one day each year. 結果有神仙教導：在門楣貼大紅紙、穿紅衣，屋內點蠟燭, 屋外燒竹子啪啪響。原來年獸最怕紅色及火光、炸響。 An angel teaches them: put red at the door post, light all the candles indoor and light up the bamboo to make noise outdoor – as the monster is afraid of red color and the noise. 從此每年除夕，家家貼紅對聯、燃放爆竹；人人穿紅衣；戶戶燭火通明、守更待歲。初一一大早，還要走訪親友道喜問好，慶祝「過年」，沒有被年獸吃掉。 This marks the beginning of the spring couplet doorposts & firecracker. Congratulate each other to “pass another year” without eaten by the Year monster.

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31 猶太人的逾越節 Passover 猶太人Israelites：上帝的子民 people of God
與華人的相似處 Similar to Chinese people: 用陰曆 Use Lunar Calendar 祭天 Worship the Supreme Being 注重祖先 Ancestor is very important 注重紅色 Red Color is important

32 Exodus 出埃及記 12:1-5 1耶和華在埃及地曉諭摩西、亞倫說： 2 你們要以本月為正月，為一年之首。 3 你們吩咐以色列全會眾說：本月初十日，各人要按著父家取羊羔，一家一隻… 5 要無殘疾、一歲的公羊羔，你們或從綿羊裡取，或從山羊裡取，都可以。 1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household... 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats 

33 Exodus 出埃及記 12:7-12 7 各家要取點血，塗在吃羊羔的房屋左右的門框上和門楣上。 … 12 因為那夜我要巡行埃及地，把埃及地一切頭生的，無論是人是牲畜，都擊殺了，又要敗壞埃及一切的神。我是耶和華。 13 這血要在你們所住的房屋上作記號；我一見這血，就越過你們去。我擊殺埃及地頭生的時候，災殃必不臨到你們身上滅你們。 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. … 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

34 Exodus 出埃及記 12:14-16 14 你們要記念這日，守為耶和華的節，作為你們世世代代永遠的定例。 15 你們要吃無酵餅七日。頭一日要把酵從你們各家中除去；因為從頭一日起，到第七日為止，凡吃有酵之餅的，必從以色列中剪除。 16 頭一日你們當有聖會，第七日也當有聖會。這兩日之內，除了預備各人所要吃的以外，無論何工都不可做。 14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance. 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

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38 逾越節Passover 農曆新年 CNY 猶太陰曆正月 First Lunar Month
先除酵 Starts with cleaning the house/yeast 血塗在門楣與兩旁 blood on all doorframes 注重紅色 red important 房內有火, 點蠟燭 light fire, candle indoor 全家人一起守歲 whole family stay up Pass-over 安息不工作 Rest 華人陰曆正月 First Lunar Month 先大掃除 Starts with cleaning the house (除夕) 貼春聯門楣與兩旁 red on all doorframes 注重紅色 red important 房內有火, 點蠟燭 light fire, candle indoor 全家人一起守歲whole family stay up 過「年（獸)」pass-the year 安息不工作 Rest

39 農曆新年 Chinese New Year 感謝上帝為我們所做的一切 Thanks Jesus for the sacrifice (逾越節羔羊＝耶穌 Jesus is the lamb) 感謝上帝帶領我們平安度過過去一年 Give thanks to God for this past year 運氣、財氣、吉利、命運都在上帝手中 God controls all the “luck” and “blessing” 感恩祖先，但祖先沒有能力保守我們 Appreciate & pay respect to our ancestors, but we know they have no power to protect us 珍惜家人、朋友 Treasures friends & family 安息，恢復與上帝親密關係 Rest, Sabbath 享受歡樂之餘，不做上帝可能不喜悅之事 Enjoy, but do not do anything which God may not be please

40 Happy Chinese New Year!

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42 過年習俗 與宗教相關 與宗教無關，民間習俗 純娛樂

43 過年習俗 與宗教相關 辭年/辭歲/送年： 供桌上擺設五牲及各種年粿供奉諸神，然後祭拜祖先，以感謝一年來諸神及祖先的保佑，並祈求來年平安。
在神案前會排三堆橘子、二碗「春飯」，上插一對「飯春花」，並擺上年粿及紅棗。紅棗表示年年好。 尾牙：每月初一、十五或初二、十六都會祭拜土地公，稱做「做牙」，而一年當中最後一次「做牙」，也就是農曆十二月十六日，商家為了酬謝土地公一年來的照顧，所以祭品比平常多，而祭拜之後同時可以犒賞員工。 年初五：迎接財神到家裡、店裡

44 華人是「祭天、拜上帝」的民族

45 1.「年獸」的傳說 2. 一年之初討吉利 起源 過年習俗 與宗教相關 與宗教無關，民間習俗

46 華人是「祭天、拜上帝」的民族 聖經利未記1:2-9
在中國古代堯舜的時代，直至商周為止，中國人不拜神像、偶像，中國人只「祭天」。舜即位後，立刻在圜丘獻牲祭物敬拜上帝。 明、清開始，恢復如中國最早的時候，在圓形圜丘上，由皇帝到壇上代表全國百姓，向上帝禱告和獻上祭物。 祭物包括無雜色、完美無瑕疵的公牛。宰殺公牛或公羊後，用水洗淨，用火燒在壇上。 聖經利未記1:2-9 2 你曉諭以色列人說：你們中間若有人獻供物給耶和華，要從牛群羊群中獻牲畜為供物。 3 他的供物若以牛為燔祭，就要在會幕門口獻一隻沒有殘疾的公牛，可以在耶和華面前蒙悅納… 8 亞倫子孫作祭司的，要把肉塊和頭並脂油擺在壇上火的柴上。 9 但燔祭的臟腑與腿要用水洗。祭司就要把一切全燒在壇上，當作燔祭，獻與耶和華為馨香的火祭。

47 華人是「祭天、拜上帝」的民族 在天壇中並沒有任何的偶像、神位。 而是如中國古代，四書五經中的禮記所寫的：
「命大史排列大小諸侯的次序，使其如數獻上犧牲，來供給皇天上帝、社稷祭祀之用」（第四部16節） 以及「燔柴於泰壇，祭天也」

48 卒 Zu death Yi, cloth Hand?

49 猶太人的逾越節 Passover Exodus 出埃及記 11: 你要傳於百姓的耳中，叫他們男女各人向鄰舍要金器銀器。 3 耶和華叫百姓在埃及人眼前蒙恩，並且摩西在埃及地、法老臣僕，和百姓的眼中看為極大。 4 摩西說：耶和華這樣說：約到半夜，我必出去巡行埃及遍地。 5 凡在埃及地，從坐寶座的法老直到磨子後的婢女所有的長子，以及一切頭生的牲畜，都必死。 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.”  3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) 4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well.