Mancunian
- 2012-12-13
Everyone at my school knows that I am a Christian, so do a lot of people in town.
Fair enough, you seem to be spiritually on-tap to help the cause when needed. There does have to be more militant preachers around though, if it can be accepted as true that the final days will not pass until the message has been carried to all sequestered parts; so, lots of dangers lurking and in store for your more evangelic brothers.
This modernistic jolly band of accepting friends of all persuasions doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me; you either accept that the only path to God is through Jesus, or you do not; and if you don't accept it ,you really should not claim to be a Christian. I know you haven't said that, I have just bunged it in, in the true spirit of 'rant' for ballast, as it were.
I hope you have a gay yet relaxing Christmas. cheers&beers.
juanisaac
- 2012-12-13
Everyone at my school knows that I am a Christian, so do a lot of people in town. So I guess I'm not trekking down such a safe road as you think I am. Safe would be just to say nothing. But I am a professional teacher and not a professional preacher. I've heard of this saying "If you don't stand on a soap box, support the ones that do." I support financially and with prayers those that are called to do that. Notice though that a "soap box" is better used outside than inside. If I had a teacher of Arabic, in their class I expect to be taught Arabic and not be indoctrinate into becoming a Muslim either. Muslims are also commanded to spread their faith. The Chinese are best suited to change themselves. I have known of Christians who come to China and three months later get deported for standing in the middle of the road. How much of an impact do you think they had? However, a person who stays longer and mentors individuals can do much greater good. I am not telling people not to spread their faith, just to pick their spots better- that's it. In China, you have to know how to do it with a long impact than just a few months stay. I am not an expert at this. But I've know American pastors who come to China and visit churches to preach, then when everyone goes home is where the Christianity gets spread.
It is good that you read the bible, even though you are an agnostic. When Paul was confined to house arrest in Rome, he preached in his house do he not? He did not get onto a balcony or run into the street to do it, but he still did it within the situation he was put in.
Mancunian
- 2012-12-12
Have you ever thought of sharing your faith in private, one on one with people who are interested? I myself am Christian, and the school I teach at know it. In the class I do not promote Christianity because it is not my job. I was hired to teach English, and that is what I do. Outside of class I've had people ask me what I believe in and I do then open up to them as to what I believe. I've even had people ask me to give them my bible, and I do because they want one. I've found that those who approach you are the ones really interested, and the vast majority of my students are not. You are thus doing your job and sharing your faith. You can then stay at your job longer and can reach people. You are really setting yourself to be a target for the PSB.
I should say, that I am a total agnostic. I have however made sure I have studied the Bible to support my views; whether, atheist, agnostic, Christian, you should know your onions. How I understand what the Bible requires and says is that there is an unavoidable imperative for Christians to spread the word, even at risk to themselves. With that in mind I do have a huge amount of respect for Mormons and Jehovah' Witnesses, who do make a nuisance of themselves to spread that word. Forgive me, I am not trying to be nasty, I am just trying to understand.
What you are plying(or rather not plying) is a sort of cosy, self-gratifying message which I cannot detect in the New Testament. Nice and safe though, one is unlikely to be confronted with the tedious task of removing thorns from Lions.
I regard that lady poster as no pedestrian; although, I would say extremely deluded.
juanisaac
- 2012-12-11
Have you ever thought of sharing your faith in private, one on one with people who are interested? I myself am Christian, and the school I teach at know it. In the class I do not promote Christianity because it is not my job. I was hired to teach English, and that is what I do. Outside of class I've had people ask me what I believe in and I do then open up to them as to what I believe. I've even had people ask me to give them my bible, and I do because they want one. I've found that those who approach you are the ones really interested, and the vast majority of my students are not. You are thus doing your job and sharing your faith. You can then stay at your job longer and can reach people. You are really setting yourself to be a target for the PSB.
Agree With San Migs
- 2012-12-09
Bible study in any kind of a school in China is enough to bring down the wrath of the PSB rather quickly.
I don't mean to belittle Judy Archer and truly I am not but I find it very hard to believe that she was "allowed" to conduct Bible study classes in her home and at school. Very, very hard indeed and I have been working in public schools here in China for almost ten years.
Once, in Wuxi, Jiangsu, in a private junior middle school / middle school, they decided to have morning prayer as they were all evangelical (white) Americans from the Bible belt. Oh, they had them alright for about one month until the local PSB got word of it. They were all sacked, to the very last one, over a period of time, and an entirely new team was brought it under the strict aegis of the local PSB. Indeed they were sacked -- and deported.
Not recommended here at all, not at all.
San Migs
- 2012-12-08
They encouraged diversity and I appreciate the fact that they allowed me to teach Bible studies at the school and in my home.
This sounds like GW claptrap to defend the school to me.
It is against the law for a foreign expert to do that, you can lose your job, and your Z visa be revoked. Bibles are not even allowed to be imported INTO China, although customs might overlook 1 for personal reading. I think you are talking rubbish here!
judy archer
- 2012-12-08
I've just read the posts regarding Shenzhen Shiyan Public School and would like to respond. I taught at the school for almost four years. It's a large school with about 6,000 students, grades K-12. I taught briefly in Kindergarten, then the high school for a year and then the International Department for the next few years. I found the school to be a wonderful place to work and teach...very laid back...no micro-managing of the foreign expert's work. It was probably the most stress-free place I've ever worked. It's a boarding school so it has a more 'family' feel to it than a non-boarding school. So yes, I too, sometimes refer to the school as 'we'. No, I've never been part of management but I still feel like I have family and certainly close friendships at Shiyan School. It's located in what's called the 'experimental zone' of China and that area really can't be compared to all of China as a whole. They encouraged diversity and I appreciate the fact that they allowed me to teach Bible studies at the school and in my home. Management, the local staff, the foreign teachers, and the students - wonderful people...great memories.