It may come as a surprise to many... but my formative years were spent in a Cantonese-speaking Methodist church in a 'kampung' called Pasir Pinji.
That's where I learnt how to ride the bicycle, bind principalities, impart the gift of tongues, claim healings, pray down revival, etc.
(It's a long way from an English-speaking Presbyterian in the heart of Subang!)
Being a Sunday School teacher, teenagers have been subjected to the unbearable heaviness of my pasar-malam Chinese sermons... I pity their long-suffering.
(Well, I had not been bitten by a radioactive spider during those days... hehe)
Even then, I was once 'cautioned' by my fellow teachers for being too allegorical with my bible interpretation. For example, I'd go,
"What does this text mean to you?"
"Hmm... that's right... and what do others think?"
"Yup, you are right also..."
"It can also mean that, yes..."
Basically i wanna encourage them to share, but it turned out that I gave the impression that the bible meaning depends on the 'reader's response'.
It's probably due to influence by Paul Tan and Watchman Nee, rather than Derrida, I assure you!
Came across an interesting thought by Sam Ling:
"Revival does not have to be anti-intellectual. The Reformation in the 16th century, the Puritan movement in the 17th century, and the Great Awakening were three outstanding examples where the place of the mind, regenerated and controlled by the Holy Spirit, had a proper place in a Christian’s search for the knowledge of God.
The Chinese church, however, is the child of the later, anti-intellectual type of revivalism; she is only a remote great-grandchild of the Reformation and the Puritan vision of the Christian life. There is currently a revival of Puritan studies, an encouraging trend to the careful observer...
As the 21st century dawns, the Chinese church needs a biblical, balanced, and comprehensive vision of man’s soul before God."
See Full Article
Sam Ling also wrote a book, that moved me to tears, called "Chinese Intellectuals And The Gospel" where he called the mainland Chinese intellectuals - "most strategic mission field".
That's where I learnt how to ride the bicycle, bind principalities, impart the gift of tongues, claim healings, pray down revival, etc.
(It's a long way from an English-speaking Presbyterian in the heart of Subang!)
Being a Sunday School teacher, teenagers have been subjected to the unbearable heaviness of my pasar-malam Chinese sermons... I pity their long-suffering.
(Well, I had not been bitten by a radioactive spider during those days... hehe)
Even then, I was once 'cautioned' by my fellow teachers for being too allegorical with my bible interpretation. For example, I'd go,
"What does this text mean to you?"
"Hmm... that's right... and what do others think?"
"Yup, you are right also..."
"It can also mean that, yes..."
Basically i wanna encourage them to share, but it turned out that I gave the impression that the bible meaning depends on the 'reader's response'.
It's probably due to influence by Paul Tan and Watchman Nee, rather than Derrida, I assure you!
Came across an interesting thought by Sam Ling:
"Revival does not have to be anti-intellectual. The Reformation in the 16th century, the Puritan movement in the 17th century, and the Great Awakening were three outstanding examples where the place of the mind, regenerated and controlled by the Holy Spirit, had a proper place in a Christian’s search for the knowledge of God.
The Chinese church, however, is the child of the later, anti-intellectual type of revivalism; she is only a remote great-grandchild of the Reformation and the Puritan vision of the Christian life. There is currently a revival of Puritan studies, an encouraging trend to the careful observer...
As the 21st century dawns, the Chinese church needs a biblical, balanced, and comprehensive vision of man’s soul before God."
See Full Article
Sam Ling also wrote a book, that moved me to tears, called "Chinese Intellectuals And The Gospel" where he called the mainland Chinese intellectuals - "most strategic mission field".
Comments
My reading of the early German Pietist concurs with the above statement ... when there's too much "head" stuff being tossed around, we need to get more "heart". But when there's a lot of "heart" let's not forget the "head".
I see some interesting tension in the Malaysian Chinese church scene (as a "Mango"!) There are some developments that puzzle me e.g. in some groups advocating so called "sacred music" which is more "western classical music" (in reaction to the "praise & worship" trend). I found reading the premier free magazine the Bridge also keeps me in touch (in fact I was interviewed for an article once), and I do keep a little awareness of what's vibrating there from a fellow Chinese speaking Lutheran pastor. This does not seem any trend towards liberalism (apart from overreaction maybe) but there's signs of movig towards fundamentalism (even in the name of pseudo-intellectualism or more precisely a strict conservatism) that can be unhealthy.
I find it interesting that Stephen Tong and co seem to have a substantial influence on the Chinese church ... maybe there's a vacuum that's filled by them. I personally would like to see our own people providing theological leadership in this area.
But that's my two cents.
xie xie
Amen, loving God involves Head + Heart + Hands...
Actually I'm quite at home worshipping at one of those Handel's Messiah concerts, as well as AYA Christmas@thePark type of rallies... though age is catching up. maybe it has to do with the more conservative folks tend to have a bias towards 'high art' (versus popular art)
Yup, I remember going for Stephen Tong's rally in Life Chapel, organised by UM. The place was packed and all of them are youths, listening to stuffs ranging from philosophy to theology to music to painting to history in Mandarin, all in one sitting... and I thot, "There's hope yet for the church!"
hmm, many local leaders are locked in an otherworldly spirituality, if that's wat fundamentalism is.. so ST does fill in a gap by emphasizing the 'cultural mandate' of Genesis. (so far, i dun think even our English counterparts have even attempted something as comprehensive as those occasional 'consultations')
But one fundamentalist fren would think ST is 'too intellectual' also lar... heheh... "why isn't he church planting?"
But I think it's wise, else he'd be perceived as sheep-stealing. But my one complaint is, the rhetoric against charismatic excess is robbing him of a wider audience....