Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Prayer Request 10/29 - 11/4

Tuesday
It is strictly forbidden to discuss religiously sensitive words in Chinese classrooms. For example, when a student makes a sentence, the word "pray" cannot be paired into "prayer", and teachers will enforce usage of any words with religious meanings. Christian parents want their children to love the Lord, but they have other priorities for their children, academic and other pursuits, and quickly lose the impetus to help children develop habits of prayer and Bible reading. We pray that we will honor the Lord more than our children.
Wednesday
In China, the new textbook for the sixth graders has deleted all religious references. For example, “Bible” and “Book of Prayers” were deleted and changed to "found a few Portuguese books." We pray that believer parents will remember, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph 6:4) and spend time to communicate with their children and take an interest in their spiritual growth.
Thursday
Christian phrases in several renowned Russian short stories mentioned in school textbooks, like "church worship," "God Bless," and "I’ll pray for you" were deleted from textbooks in China. Other references to God were changed to "lao tian ye", a generic term for a deity. Many Christian parents falsely think their children are adequately prepared spiritually, but in fact, they are wrong because their children do not have healthy spiritual lives and have already drifted away from God. We pray for keen awareness for parents, have a good parent-child relationship and always pray for them.
Friday
The Chinese government has also deleted any words in dictionaries with religious references. The new Student’s Dictionary no longer has the word “freedom”. Unfortunately, many naive Christian parents still think children should have the freedom to decide whether they should believe in Jesus Christ. We pray for His mercy so believer parents will diligently raise their children to know God and make it their greatest desire and utmost responsibility to teach them.
Saturday
History textbooks did not escape revisions in China. Previous references to the mistakes made by Chairman Mao were deleted in the newly revised junior-high school history textbook. Parents’ attitude and their expectations determine how children behave and the path they will take the rest of their lives. We pray believers parents will expect their children to love the Lord the whole lives, above all things. We pray that Christian parents will expect their children to love the Lord above all else during their whole lives.
Sunday
The historical references of the uprising against the tyranny of the late Qin Dynasty (200 AD) were scrubbed from all textbooks. The Chinese government does not want the people to imitate such rebellion and ordered the deletion of all such historical stories for students. Christian parents should not pray for their children only when they are sick or encounter difficulties, rather we pray that parents will make it the priority to pray that children will not follow the way of the world and have the boldness of Daniel and learn from their parents and seek blessing from God.
Monday
The story of the "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang Uprising" in the late Qin Dynasty (200 AD), is a story once told to all children in China, praising their sense of justice and bravery to rebel against tyranny. We pray that believer parents will teach their children the Biblical worldview and ethics, and to have faith that God will protect them to love Him, even in the secular society and atheistic education system.

星期二
中國課堂教學已經嚴禁討論與宗教有關的敏感字詞,例如當學生組詞作句的時候,「禱」字組詞不能配對為「禱告」,有學生被老師嚴斥這是宗教詞語,不能使用。有些信徒父母期望孩子愛主,可是同時又希望他們功課好,技能多。課外活動一多,就放棄了屬靈習慣的建立,讀經、禱告和敬拜。求主親自吸引我們,好叫我們愛慕主過於愛世界,把主放在人生的首位。
星期三
政府在新版小六語文課本裡,多篇外國名著裡有宗教有關的字詞遭刪改,例如:英國的《魯濱遜漂流記》提到主角找到三本很好的「聖經」、「祈禱書」等,被刪改為「找到了幾本葡萄牙文書籍」。願神提醒家長,尤其是父親們,「你們作父親的,不要惹兒女的氣,只要照著主的教訓」,按聖經的要求好好地跟孩子有美好的溝通,尤其關心他們的靈命培育和成長。
星期四
在的新編課本中,著名俄國短篇小說提及的「做禮拜」、「求上帝保佑您」、「我會為您禱告上帝」等宗教用語全被中國教育部門刪掉。當中的「我求您看在基督的面上」和「看在上帝面上」被改成「看在老天爺面上」。許多信徒家長以為孩子受了很好的教育,其實他們有可能都被世俗的價值觀污染了,也沒有健康的靈命,心裡已經開始遠離神。求主憐憫我們,讓家長警覺並留心孩子的思維與表現,保持良好的親子關係,並不斷為子女的靈命禱告。
星期五
政府不許可在字典、詞典等工具書有宗教相關的字詞,例如中國人民教育出版社出版《新編學生字典》為「自」做解釋時,刪除了「自由」這個舉例。可惜不少信徒家長也認為孩子該有選擇信仰的自由,放任他們自己做決定。求主提醒信徒家長,雖然神願意人因甘心而選擇敬畏神,卻不希望父母任憑子女走世界的路。祂的心意是要父母殷勤教養出認識神並樂尊主為首的後裔,且以此為親職的最高目標。
星期六
在學校的歷史教材內容也被篡改。中國教育部撰寫的新版初中歷史教材,將原先提及毛澤東在「文化大革命期間所犯的錯誤」刪除了。一般而言,孩子的表現如何,都根源於家長們的態度;家長對子女的期望也反映在自己的言行上,進而影響孩子一生的道路。求主光照信徒家長,對子女最大的期望,就是他們能一生委身於主、愛主和尊榮父神。
星期日
政府擔憂並防範人民仿效歷史中的民衆起義抗爭事件,下令在所有教科書中刪除提及反抗秦朝暴政及類似人民向政府質疑的歷史故事。有些信徒家長只在孩子生病或遇到困難時才向主禱告,求神校正這種功利主義的心態。求神提醒父母要列「為子女禱告」是親職中首要的優先任務,教導子女有像但以理剛強勇敢的志向,不隨從世俗;並且知道父母對神有堅定的信心是他們的榜樣,也是蒙神喜悦賜福的。
星期一
秦朝末年 (公元 200年)的「陳勝、吳廣起義」被視為中國民間家喻戶曉、充滿正義與勇敢反抗暴政的歷史事蹟。由於被認定是官逼民反,挑戰當權體制的典型歷史事例,因而在教科書中刪除這一歷史內容。求主幫助信徒家長以基督教的世界觀和倫理觀來養育兒女。更求神保守孩子處在混亂又似是而非的世俗環境中和無神論的教育體系裡,仍然能信心堅定,持守愛主愛人的真道來行事為人。

No comments: