Prayer Request 10/3 - 10/9

Tuesday
When people in China think of the arrival of Christianity, what comes to their minds is the Opium War, killing of missionaries, various unequal treaties, and invasions of China by Western powers. As the government fans the nationalistic passion in China, people begin to resist all things foreign. The rise of nationalism is a double-edged sword for believers in China and affects the missionary efforts of churches there. May the Lord give us humility and help us not to consider that Chinese are somehow superior or brag about that China will be a nation with the greatest number of Christians.
Wednesday
Historically, Christianity and missionaries were intricately associated with foreign aggression in China in the 19th century. The Communist Party continues to remind and reinforce young people of this chapter of modern Chinese history. We pray for young believers that they can appreciate the contribution and sacrifices of early missionaries in China. We also pray that God will give them the burden to share the gospel in foreign lands and call some of them to be cross-cultural missionaries.
Thursday
After Christianity arrived in China, believers were forbidden to worship their​ ancestors and​ told they​ could not worship other deities. This was in opposition to the traditional Chinese practices and customs, and inevitably created great tension and even clashes. Some Christians are short on patience, even being extreme in putting down Chinese folk religions, denouncing them as of the devil. We pray for wisdom for believers, not to engage quickly in vigorous debate with unbelievers, but rather pray for the Holy Spirit to soften hardened hearts.
Friday
In Confucius' hometown of Qufu, there are people who oppose the construction of a Christian church because they insist on defending Confucianism rather than upholding religious freedom. Obviously there is a conflict of Chinese and Western civilization already happening in China. ​Many intellectuals in China harbor resentment and even hostility toward Christianity. We pray specifically that Christian intellectuals will live a good life, have a good testimony, and be able to attract others to come to know Jesus Christ.
Saturday
The revival of Sinology has a strong nationalistic undertone and is actually aimed at stemming the invasion of Western culture. Since Christianity and Western culture are so closely linked, it has naturally​ become a target for those who support the so-called "New Confucianism". ​​We pray that believers in China​ ​will be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks them to give the reason for the hope they have and especially how they personally overcame the idea that "Christianity is a foreign religion".
Sunday
There are extremists who hate Christianity as a "foreign religion" and want to expel it from China. Based on the growing enthusiasm for nationalism, it is likely that interest in Sinology will also continue to grow. W​e praise God for the efforts and sacrifices made by all of the foreign missionaries to China during the past two centuries. We pray that churches in China will learn the meaning of "to give is better than to receive" and the Lord will help Christians there to overcome the stereotype that Christianity is a foreign religion.​
Monday
Churches in China need to counter the impression that Christianity is an alien religion and look for ways to contextualize​ it within the Chinese culture. This issue has actually been around for several hundred year but it is up to us and future generations to find the ultimate solution. We​ pray that churches in China will maintain a good reputation, believers there will be able to live out God's love and be bright lights in a society that worships money and is corrupt.


星期二
許多中國人把基督教與鴉片、帝國主義三者聯想在一起。提到基督教就想到鴉片戰爭、不平等條約及帝國主義的侵略，以致對西方產生極度反感。民族主義的復興，自然點燃排外的情緒。民族主義的抬頭，對中國的基督徒而言，是個兩刃的劍，也影響中國教會宣教的意識。求主教導當代中國基督徒怎樣才能像當年的基督徒那樣，成為神國的祝福。又賜教會有謙卑，不是自認為華人比其他民族優秀，或以中國是基督徒的大國來自傲。
星期三
基督教和宣教士在19世紀是外強侵略中國慘痛歷史的一部分。官方不斷向年輕人提醒和強化這段近代史。「鴉片戰爭」這段歷史背後的宣教士是一群雲彩般的神的見證人，肉身雖然死了，仍然用信心不斷對我們說話。我們為這一代的年輕信徒禱告，求主讓他們看到早期西國傳教士在中國社會、人心各個層面的貢獻和擺上。求主也將傳福音的負擔賜給他們，能回應成為跨文化宣教士的呼召。
星期四
基督教進入中國後，要求信徒不能拜祭祖宗，不能膜拜神靈，與中國文化傳統的習俗背道而馳，觸動了中國人內心裡最不可觸碰的部分，很自然的就遭到激烈的反對和抵制。一些基督徒缺乏忍耐，又或太激進，指責別的宗教都是邪神魔鬼。求主賜弟兄姊妹有智慧，不要與未信的人作無謂的激辯，而是先祈求聖靈動工，軟化人心。
星期五
在孔子的家鄉曲阜，堅持儒家文化的人反對在市內興建一所教堂。他們認為捍衛孔子，優先於宗教信仰自由。所謂的「東西方文明的衝突」在中國已經浮出水面。不少中國的知識份子對基督教仍然有強烈的反感和敵視。我們要特別為知識份子的肢體禱告，求主幫助他們有與新生命相稱的生活，在社會中站起來，為主作美好的見證，引人來到主前。
星期六
很多國學的推動帶有強烈的民族主義，不少人復興國學的目的在於抵制「西方文化的侵略」。以西方文化背景進入中國的基督信仰，成了國粹派（新儒家）的攻擊目標。我們弟兄姊妹禱告，求神讓他們裝備好自己，隨時隨地可以向人分享自己擁有永生盼望的緣由，也能解釋為什麼他們選擇相信主耶穌，這位超越歷史、文化、種族隔閡的救主。
星期日
有些中國人痛恨外來「洋教」，甚至要將基督教從中國趕出。近年來民族主義的抬頭，令國學復興更加興旺，也加深排斥基督教的意識。求神興起更多中國的年輕信徒，預備自己為神使用，讓基督信仰擺脱刻板的「洋教」印象，使中國成為能「施」而不是單單「受」的教會，將福音傳給境內或其他國家的未得之民。
星期一
對教會來說，若想消除「洋教」形象，可能要在不違反信仰的前提下與傳統文化相結合。這個幾百年來沒有得到解決的問題，需要我們這代以及後代繼續摸索下去。求主賜智慧和分辨力給牧者，知道如何牧養弟兄姊妹，既能符合中國傳統文化要求，又不會在聖經原則上妥協。我們又為教會在中國裡有好形象禱告，求主幫助信徒能活出神的愛，成為明燈指引現今崇拜金錢與權位，喪失道德、公義底限的社會。