随着基督教在全球的传播，尤其是近些年在‘亚、非、拉’等地域的普及，国内教会的一部分优秀牧者在多年牧养事工的经历中逐渐意识到一个问题，那就是，西方基督教思想在近现代的传播虽取得了群众的广泛认可，但在社会生活中的深度和广度与其他发展中国家的传播相比仍有很大的拓展空间。因此，改变现有福音真理传播模式并在中国东方文化背景和社会发展模式下扎根、实践基督教信仰的理念是国内基督徒和教会同工需要深思的问题。回顾历史，我们可以从传教士如利玛窦和李提摩太等人身上汲取智慧，他们在传播福音的过程中注重理解和尊重东方文化，这为我们提供了宝贵的借鉴。

1. 历史的启示

利玛窦的榜样：

• 利玛窦（Matteo Ricci）是明末清初来华的耶稣会传教士，他在传播福音时，注重理解和融入中国文化。
• 他学习中文，穿着中国传统服饰，尊重民俗礼仪，甚至将基督教教义与中国儒家思想结合，写出了《天主实义》等书籍，这些举措大大增加了福音在近代中国各阶层的接受度。

李提摩太的努力：

• 李提摩太（Timothy Richard）是19世纪末和20世纪初在中国传教的重要人物之一。他不仅致力于传播基督教，还在中国的社会和教育领域做出了巨大贡献。
• 他参与了多项社会改革，帮助中国建立了现代化教育体系，创办了许多学校，并在艰苦的年代帮助建立了燕京大学，这所大学后来成为中国高等教育的先锋之一，许多杰出的学者和领导人都曾在接受教育。他们不仅关注宗教教育，更重视培养具有现代科学知识和人文素养的全能人才，是中国现代教育的典范。

爱丁堡会议的启示：

• 1910年召开的爱丁堡世界宣教会议是基督教宣教史上的一个重要里程碑。会议强调了在传福音过程中尊重和理解不同文化的重要性，主张各国福音应当与当地文化相结合，而不是单纯地移植西方文化。会议上讨论了如何在全球范围内有效传播福音，并提出了尊重各地文化、尊重本地教会自立自主发展的重要性，为全球宣教工作提供了新的视角和方法。
• 爱丁堡会议提出了在传教过程中尊重和理解本土文化的重要性。与会者认识到，传教工作不能简单地将西方的基督教文化移植到其他文化背景中，而是需要在尊重当地文化的基础上，将福音信息与当地文化相结合。一些宣教士提出“文化不是魔鬼，宣教应该尊重不同地区文化”的观点尤其需要中国教会重视。

2. 将圣经真理融入中国文化

理解中国文化的精髓：

• 中国文化有着深厚的哲学、伦理和道德基础，如儒家思想中的“仁义礼智信”，道家思想中的“道法自然”，以及佛教中的“慈悲”和“智慧”，随着短视频的流行，这些思想流派的讲座也层出不穷，有众多追随者和实践者。
• 在中国几千年以来的历史长河中，尤其是唐朝以后，儒释道对中国文化沿袭和社会治理起到了不可忽视的作用。建议教会同工深入学习和了解这些文化，汲取其中精髓，在传福音时便能理解持有这些文化元素民众的认知基础和界限，将福音真理融入其中，以便信众更好地理解和接受福音。避免固步自封，不加分辨地将传统文化一‘踢’了之。

结合实际生活解释圣经教导举例：

• 在面对家庭冲突时，可以引用《以弗所书》4:26-27：“生气却不要犯罪，不可含怒到日落，也不可给魔鬼留地步。”指导门徒如何在家庭冲突中保持冷静，通过沟通和祷告解决问题，避免让愤怒破坏家庭关系。
• 《以弗所书》4:29说：“污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。”解释如何在工作场所和家庭生活中应用这段经文，鼓励门徒用言语造就他人，建立和谐的人际关系。

3. 教会在日常敬拜中的宣贯

敬拜与教导：

• 教会在敬拜中应注重教导信徒如何在日常生活中实践信仰。例如，通过讲道和查经，帮助信徒理解如何在工作、家庭和社会中活出基督的样式。
• 在每一次的敬拜中，教会可以分享实际的见证，展示信徒在生活中如何面对挑战和困难，如何在各个领域中荣耀神。

日常生活中的省察：

• 教会应教导信徒在日常生活中进行自我省察，识别并纠正自己的错误并按圣经教导辨别哪些行为和思想情感属于‘罪’的范畴，哪些是撒但的捆绑和束缚等等。例如，在处理工作和家庭事务时，是否有不符合基督教教义的行为和态度，如何借助圣经真理纠正。
• 提供一些具体的例子和方法，帮助信徒更好地省察自己的行为和思想。例如，每天晚上可以花几分钟时间回顾一天的生活，反思是否有需要改正的地方，并向神祷告求赦免和帮助。

历史神学家的学习：

• 信徒需要学习历史上一些伟大的神学家的著作，例如奥古斯丁、马丁·路德、约翰·加尔文等。他们的著作提供了深刻的神学思想和实践指导，有助于信徒更好地理解和应用圣经真理。
• 教会可以组织读书会或学习小组，带领信徒共同研读这些神学家的著作，分享心得和体会。

结语

    无论是哪一种敬拜聚会形式（公开的、私下的），教会同工在多年’国内特色‘或单纯‘西化’模式下传福音的过程中一定有很多困惑，究其根本还是应注重结合中国的东方文化背景下民众的思维模式和接受能力，并将圣经真理与社会实践紧密结合，尤其是当下大数据AI产品对我们日常生活和工作的巨大影响、关系到民生的社会热点话题等等均须加以关注。
    学习利玛窦和李提摩太等前辈的智慧，紧跟时代发展的变化，逐渐让中国的基督徒和普通信众在自身文化和社会背景下，更好地接受基督教的教导，并在当代中国的政治、经济、文化和各种公序良俗中，践行信仰，成为新时代门徒大使命的实践者，在信仰和文化的交汇中，见证神的荣耀，荣耀神的名。

让我们一起为此祷告！

（如有建议敬请留言讨论，邮箱：[email protected]）

Encouraging the Practical Application of Biblical Truth in Conjunction with Eastern Cultural Backgrounds

As Christianity spreads around the world—and especially in regions such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America in recent years— a number of outstanding pastors in domestic churches have gradually come to realize something important from years of ministry experience. Although Western Christian thought has gained widespread acceptance among the masses in modern times, there remains significant room for expanding its depth and breadth in social life compared to its propagation in other developing countries. Therefore, rethinking the current model of Gospel transmission and rooting the practice of Christian faith in China’s Eastern cultural context and social development model is an issue that domestic Christians and church coworkers must seriously consider. In reflecting on history, we can draw wisdom from missionaries such as Matteo Ricci and Timothy Richard, who in their efforts to spread the Gospel took care to understand and respect Eastern culture—a valuable lesson for us today.

1. Lessons from History

The Example of Matteo Ricci:

• Matteo Ricci was a Jesuit missionary in China during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In spreading the Gospel, he emphasized understanding and integrating into Chinese culture.
• He learned Chinese, adopted traditional Chinese clothing, and respected local customs and rituals. He even sought to combine Christian doctrines with Confucian thought—authoring works such as the “The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven”. Such initiatives greatly enhanced the acceptance of the Gospel among various classes in modern China.

The Efforts of Timothy Richard:

• Timothy Richard was one of the prominent missionaries in China in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Not only did he devote himself to spreading Christianity, but he also made significant contributions to China’s social and educational fields.
• He participated in numerous social reforms, helped establish a modern educational system in China, founded many schools, and, during difficult times, aided in establishing Yenching University—which later became one of the pioneers in Chinese higher education, educating many distinguished scholars and leaders. His example shows that attention must be paid not only to religious education but also to the cultivation of well-rounded talent with modern scientific knowledge and humanistic qualities—a model for modern education in China.

Insights from the Edinburgh Missionary Conference:

• The 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference was a milestone in the history of Christian missions. The conference emphasized the importance of respecting and understanding different cultures during the propagation of the Gospel, advocating that the message of the Gospel should be integrated with local culture rather than simply transplanting Western cultural forms.
• Discussions at the conference addressed how to effectively spread the Gospel on a global scale, underscoring the importance of respecting local cultures and fostering the autonomous development of local churches. Some missionaries at the conference famously stated that “culture is not the enemy; missions should respect the cultures of different regions.” This perspective is particularly important for the Chinese church to heed.

2. Integrating Biblical Truth into Chinese Culture

Understanding the Essence of Chinese Culture:

• Chinese culture is underpinned by deep philosophical, ethical, and moral foundations—such as the Confucian values of “benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith,” the Daoist concept of “following the natural way,” and the Buddhist emphasis on “compassion” and “wisdom.” With the popularity of short videos, lectures on these philosophical schools are emerging continuously, attracting many followers and practitioners.
• Over thousands of years, especially since the Tang Dynasty, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism have played indispensable roles in shaping Chinese culture and social governance. It is recommended that church coworkers deeply study and understand these cultural traditions, drawing from their essence so as to better appreciate the cognitive foundation and boundaries of people who uphold these cultural values. This approach facilitates integrating the truth of the Gospel into that cultural framework—rather than outright rejecting traditional culture without discernment.

Explaining Biblical Teachings in the Context of Everyday Life – Examples:

• When facing family conflicts, one might reference Ephesians 4:26–27: “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Such a passage can guide disciples on how to stay calm in the midst of family strife, using communication and prayer to resolve issues so that anger does not destroy family relationships.
• Similarly, Ephesians 4:29 states: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” This can be explained as practical instruction for the workplace and home—encouraging disciples to use their words to edify others and help establish harmonious interpersonal relationships.

3. The Church’s Role in Daily Worship and Instruction

Worship and Teaching:

• In worship services, the church should emphasize instructing believers on how to practice their faith in everyday life. For example, through sermons and Bible studies, disciples can be helped to understand how to embody the example of Christ in their work, family, and social interactions.
• Every time the congregation gathers, practical testimonies should be shared to show how fellow believers have met challenges and difficulties in life while glorifying God in various spheres.

Self-Examination in Daily Life:

• The church should teach believers to engage in regular self-examination, to identify and correct errors, and to use biblical teachings to discern which behaviors or attitudes constitute sin, or are the result of Satan’s bondage and influence. For instance, when handling work or family matters, one should examine whether actions and attitudes align with Christian doctrine, and how biblical truth can be used to set things right.
• Providing concrete examples and methods—such as setting aside a few minutes each evening to review one’s day and reflect on areas in need of change, followed by prayer for forgiveness and help—can assist believers in developing a habit of self-examination.

Learning from Historical Theologians:

• Believers should study the writings of great theologians from history, such as Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin. Their works offer profound theological insights and practical guidance, helping believers to better understand and apply biblical truth.
• The church can organize book clubs or study groups in which believers read these theological works together, sharing insights and experiences.

Conclusion

Regardless of the form of worship—whether public or private—church coworkers have undoubtedly encountered many challenges while transmitting the Gospel under either a “domestically distinctive” model or a purely “Westernized” approach. Fundamentally, the emphasis should be on integrating the mindset and receptive capacity of people shaped by China’s Eastern cultural background with biblical truth, and closely linking that truth with social practice. This is especially important when considering the profound influence of big data and AI products on our daily lives and work, as well as the need to address current social issues related to people’s livelihoods.

By learning from the wisdom of predecessors like Matteo Ricci and Timothy Richard, and by keeping pace with the changes of our times, we can gradually enable Chinese Christians and ordinary believers to better accept the teachings of Christianity in light of our own cultural and social backgrounds. In contemporary China’s political, economic, cultural, and ethical landscape, we should practice our faith and become active practitioners of the Great Commission in this new era—bearing witness to God’s glory at the intersection of faith and culture, and ultimately bringing honor to His name.

Let us pray together for this!