Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Prayer Request 3/29 - 4/4

Tuesday
China is coming across as being very smug recently as she shows off her new military capabilities. She has begun to project her power in Asia and elsewhere and directly challenge the domination of the United States which is commonly referred to as the Bruce Lee Syndrome". Bruce Lee was not only a master of kung-fu in movies and philosophy, he is also regarded as a nationalistic hero who defeats oppressive foreigners. Some believers naturally feel that God has given the churches in China the unique role to complete the evangelization of the world and in their zeal, they look down on the prior missionary efforts of Western nations and even those of the Korean people. We pray that believers will approach evangelism, not with ethnic and nationalistic pride but with humility and a repentant heart.
Wednesday
In recent years the number of scientific papers published by Chinese scholars has dramatically increased so that they surpass the number of those published by people in the United States. However, despite the volume of these "reseach results" very little is being quoted from them by other scientists which shows that the quality of their research is still not up international standards. It also presents an ethical dilemma when someone uses a sermon or Bible study materials from the internet as if it were his/her own. Let us pray for everyone who teaches in the churches in China. May the Lord give them an understanding of God's word, and conviction by the Holy Spirit of how to make the Scripture practical and applicable for their listeners.
Thursday
The quality of scientific research in China is not up to the international standard which is evidenced by the fact that research by China's scholars is rarely referenced by other scholars (ranked 100th in the world). The big problem is that so much of this "research" is fraudulent since many colleges reward the writing of scientific papers without requiring actual research. Many would say that Chinese believers have good testimonies but they are lacking in original and fresh theological thinking. The Chinese church is still young and is only beginning to have believers who are truly gifted with reasoning. Let us pray for all the seminarians and Bible scholars in China. May their study and writing become an influential force and their godly lives be an inspiration to all believers.
Friday
Some Chinese colleges and universities use various financial incentives to boost their ranking, enhance the image of the school, and increase their publications. Such drives lead to faculty members publishing as many fake scientific papers as possible without doing any reasearch. The ethical standard of professors and teachers is often neglected in the pursuit of a financial reward. In most Chinese house churches it is hard to actually count the number of members and the temptation (and tendency) to claim huge numbers is always there. Again, we pray for revival for all of the house churches, not merely in numbers but in individual spiritual growth and a healthy leadership structure.
Saturday
For college professors in China, the more papers or books they publish, the more money they receive from the school, the faster they get promoted and the better their tenures. Under such pressure, it seems that everyone is doing fake "research", buying results from other people, having someone else write the paper, or even publishing textbooks of poor quality knowlingly. There is a great deal of fake goods on the market, even basic nutritional items such as milk powders and cooking oils. We pray for genuine Biblical teaching, not just the promise of prosperity and healing for those who clamor for them but instruction on the true cost of discipleship and carrying one's cross as a follower of Christ.
Sunday
Experts believe that the current plight of the college education system in China stems from their trying so hard to become research institutions without doing good research. Many professors do not possess the ability or proper training to do research so the quality of their scientific papers reflects this deficit. One big need is the improvement in the moral standard of the faculties in colleges. It is a natural tendency to want to have more members and bigger buildings than the next person. Let us pray for those churches that have more than five hundred members. The majority of them are Three-self churches but few have full-time pastors. We pray for those members who are responsible for caring for the congregation and even do the teaching without a title or pay.
Monday
The one-child policy in China has resulted in the unique phenomenon of the stealing of children. It is very common for children to be kidnapped and it is unofficially estimated that about 70,000 children a year are sold on the black market. Anhui province is well-known as a region where there is large-scale kidnapping, then maiming them, and forcing the children to beg. We pray for divine comfort for those parents who have lost their only child because of kidnapping, illness, or an accident, and that a Christian may enter their lives to share Jesus' compassion with them. We also pray for all believers whose only child has been kidnapped by the god of this world so that he no longer walks with Jesus. May the Lord have mercy and bring them back to Him.


星期二
憑藉新增的國力,中國開始在亞洲及其他地方展現其影響力,挑戰美國超級大國的獨霸地位,此舉被稱為「李小龍症候群」。李小龍不僅聞名於其功夫電影和哲學,也因勇於對抗外國勢力而成為當代最著名、最受讚揚的中國民族主義者。一些信徒認定神賦予了中國教會完成福音遍傳全世界的獨特使命,甚至輕忽過去西方宣教士或近年韓裔教士曾付出的開荒努力。我們禱告求神讓信徒們摒除種族、國家的自負,懷一顆向神謙遜悔罪,向人柔和、虧欠福音債的心,投入宣教。
星期三
中國學者近年來發表論文數量驟增,最新的媒體數據顯示,科研論文數量已經超過美國,位居世界第一。然而據統計顯示:這些科研論文的平均引用率甚微,似乎真正達到國際標準的論文還是不多。在教會中負責教導的人,往往自覺江郎才盡時,則掙扎於是否把網路上的研經資料或講章引為己用。求主幫助每一位傳講神話語的人,都能憑聖靈所賜領悟和確據來明白神的話,讓自己先被神的真道建立,進而使聽的人更能活用經文,把神的話扎實的行出來。
星期四
中國學術論文發表目前的數量為世界第一,但被學術界引用的比例卻排在世界一百名之後,可見大部分論文尚未及國際水平。原因在於許多學校有高額的獎勵制度鼓勵論文發表,造成學者們不惜學術造假,剽竊論文、抄襲事件不斷。許多人都認為中國信徒有很好的見證,但在神學思想上仍有進步的空間。中國教會相對較年輕,有理性分析恩賜的信徒也開始產生。讓我們為神學生和聖經學者禱告,求神使他們的學習和著作大有能力,也藉個人的生活敬虔,讓眾信徒深受感化。
星期五
大學為追求排名,提高學校知名度,單純追求論文數量,紛紛出臺重獎措施,這些做法客觀上誘使一些學術素養不高的教師急功近利,發表虛構性論文,走向極端。教師的品德修養和師德,在利誘之下蕩然無存。中國家庭教會的實際人數並不容易統計,因為其中難免有許多虛報大數者。讓我們再一次為中國教會的復興來禱告,願神引導我們不單只看重人數增長,更在信徒的個人靈命和教會領導結構上茁壯成長。
星期六
部份大學教授不惜鋌而走險,弄虛作假現象層出不窮,發表論文多,代表學術成就大,自然得到獎勵多,職稱晉陞快,獲得提拔重用的機會也大。由此還衍生出購買者-仲介-槍手-出版機構等一條龍的「產業鏈」。中國市場上的贋品、假貨亦層出不窮,就連最基本的奶粉和食用油都能造假。我們為講台有純正的聖經教導來禱告,讓教會不一味偏重傳講人所愛聼的成功、財富和治病的應許;而是平衡整全地教導神的話,叫人真正明白救恩及做主門徒的代價,樂意背負十字架跟從主。
星期日
專家認為,當前中國一些大學辦學紛紛走「研究型」之路,這本無可厚非,但有的不做確實的研究,只追求論文數量。許多教授因缺乏實質研究的訓練與能力,只能濫竽充數。同時,加強教師品德修養、提高師德水準,也是當務之急。一般人常常以聚會人數多寡和建築規模大小衡量教會,希望自己的能領先於他人,是人之常情。我們為逾五百人的大教會禱告,他們多半是三自教會,會友雖多但全職同工少,關懷和教導工作常需會友們參與。求主記念祝福所有不受薪的服事。
星期一
中國一胎化政策的一個獨特可怕後果就是偷小孩拐賣的現象盛行。據估計,每年有七萬名兒童被綁架,在黑市上出售。安徽某地是長期大規模拐賣兒童、殘害兒童、逼迫兒童乞討的據點。懇求神安慰幫助所有失去孩子的父母,無論是因拐帶,疾病或意外,我們都求主撫平他們的傷痛。也求主為他們預備好接待福音的心,及能與他們分享基督恩慈的人。此外,我們也為被這世界拐帶而離開耶穌基督的道路之獨生子女和他們的父母禱告,求主憐憫並且挽回他們。

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