General Revelation in China – 中国的普遍启示

General Revelation in China – 中国的普遍启示

by Shawn Henry Potter and Lois Carol Potter
renatuspress@gmail.com

Christians understand that God reveals himself to every person everywhere through general revelation (reason and nature) and special revelation (prophets and scripture). God creates each person to enjoy a personal and loving relationship with him; and God pursues this relationship by revealing himself to each person in a direct and personal way.

General Revelation

When God gave his commandments (special revelation) through Moses to the people of Israel, he mentioned general revelation when he said: “This commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” (Deut 30:11-14)

King David also referred to general revelation when he sang: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.” (Ps 19:1-6)

And St. Paul further described general revelation when he wrote: “What can be known about God is plain to [everyone], because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” (Rom 1:19-20)

Malign Deception

Yet, Satan – the “father of lies” and the “great accuser” – tries to persuade the world that God does not love, or reveal himself to, everyone everywhere. He insinuates that, if some people on earth have no concept of the one, almighty, holy, just, and loving Creator of the universe, then this is evidence that the accounts of God in the Bible are myths.

It is sad to see that some people accept, and even participate in the perpetuation of, this lie. They sometimes cite the history of China as an example of a people who have never known or worshipped the one true God – even though proof to the contrary abounds.

General Revelation in China

In truth, the people of China, from earliest times, apart from any influence by western nations, have known and worshipped the one true God, whom they call in Chinese 上帝 (Shang Di), Supreme Lord. Evidence of this general revelation is found in the historical records of China.[1]

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the one true God is referred to by multiple names, including YHWH (I Am), Adonai (My Lord), and Elohim (God). We know all these names refer to the same one true God from context as well as contemporary commentary. For we also read: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deut 6:4) In a similar way, in ancient Chinese records, the one true God is referred to by multiple names, including 上帝 (Shang Di) Supreme Lord, 帝 (Di) Lord, and 天 (Tian) Heaven. Once again, we know all these names refer to the same one true God from context as well as contemporary commentary. For we also read:

上帝乃天之別名，神無二主。

Shang Di is another name for Tian. The spirits do not have two Lords.[2]

Fishermen on a Mountain Stream (c. 1049)

The following statements regarding the character of God – referred to as 上帝 (Shang Di) Supreme Lord, 帝 (Di) Lord, and 天 (Tian) Heaven – are preserved in the Chinese classics, written mostly before 450 BC as cited in the endnotes. Although China was not influenced by western nations at this early date, these statements correspond to Judeo-Christian revelations about God in the Bible. This appears to be a persuasive instance of general revelation – God revealed himself to the people of China through reason and nature. Did God also reveal himself to the people of China through special revelation (prophets and scripture)?

God Created All Things

于昔洪荒之初兮，混蒙，五行未運兮，兩曜未明，其中挺立兮，有無容聲，神皇出兮，始判濁清，立天立地人兮，群物生生。

Of old in the beginning, there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five planets had not begun to revolve, nor the two lights to shine. In the midst of it there existed neither form nor sound. You, O spiritual Sovereign, came forth in Your sovereignty, and first did separate the impure from the pure. You made heaven; You made earth; You made man. All things became alive with reproducing power.[3]

帝皇立命兮，群三才，中分民物兮，惟天遍該，小臣請命，用光帝陪，庶永配于皇穹哉。

When Di, the Almighty, had so decreed, He called into existence heaven, earth, and man. Between [heaven and earth] He separately appointed men and things. But Heaven has given me the Mandate. So, I, a servant of Di, pray for His enlightenment – so may I, a simple person, forever appear before Him who is in the highest heaven.[4]

God is Omniscient

崔天聪明，崔圣时宪，崔臣钦若，崔民从焉。

Heaven is all-intelligent and observing, let the godly [emperor] imitate Him, then his ministers will honor him and the people will be governed well.[5]

Along the River During the Qingming Festival (12th century)

God is Omnipresent

上帝是神，帝命式于九。

Shang Di is revered because His will extends to the nine limits [everywhere].[6]

God is Perfectly Righteous and Calls on People to Choose Righteousness

惟上帝不常，作善降之百祥，作不善降之百殃，闓崔淢，罔小，蔿邦崔廙，闓崔不淢，罔大，墍厥宗。

Only Shang Di is inscrutable. He will shower blessings on those who do good. He will pour down calamities on those who do evil. We must not neglect to do small acts of righteousness because it is by the accumulation of these that the nations celebrate. We must not neglect to avoid small acts of unrighteousness because it is by the accumulation of these that an entire generation is corrupted.[7]

Journey to Shu (bef. 1552)

God is Love

崔天惠民，崔辟奉天。

Heaven loves the people, the ruler should honor Heaven.[8]

God is Compassionate

嗚呼。天亦哀于四方民。其眷命用懋。王其疾敬德。

Oh! Heaven had compassion on people everywhere. His favoring mandate fell on our founding fathers. Let the king cultivate virtue and reverence.[9]

God is Faithful

誠者，天之道也。誠之者，人之道也。

Faithfulness is the way of Heaven, to be faithful is a man’s way.[10]

The Yongzheng Emperor Offering Sacrifice at the Xiannong Altar (18th century)

God Restores Repentant Rebels to Relationship with Him through Sacrifice

郊社之禮，所以事上帝也。

The ceremonies of the celestial and terrestrial sacrifices are those by which men serve Shang Di.[11]

帝王之事莫大平承天之序，承天之序莫重于郊祀。

To an emperor, the most important thing is to follow the principles of Heaven. In following Heaven, nothing is more important than the sacrifice at the border.[12]

郊所以明天道也。

The border sacrifice is the illustration of the way of Heaven.[13]

禮之所尊，尊其義也。失其義，陳其數，祝史之事也。故其可陳也，其義難知也；知其義而敬守之，天子之 所以治天下也。

That which is most important in performing the rites is to understand the meaning intended in it. If the meaning is lost, then the sacrifices are simply presented as a national celebration. Then subsequent generations will present the sacrifice but not understand its significance. The Son of Heaven [Emperor] who understands the meaning and practices it, he will be able to rule the nation.[14]

Conclusion

From ancient times, the Chinese people have preserved and promoted personal commitment to virtue – benevolence (仁), righteousness (義), propriety (禮), wisdom (智), sincerity (信), and filial piety (孝). This devotion is China’s response to God’s revelation as demonstrated by the cited records. We sincerely hope and pray that every person in China will similarly discover and respond to God’s special revelation (prophets and scripture) regarding the good news of Jesus Christ.

16 “因为上帝爱世人，甚至将祂独一的儿子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的人不致灭亡，反得永生。 17 上帝差祂的儿子到世上来，不是要定世人的罪，而是要借着祂的儿子拯救世人。 18 信祂的人不会被定罪，不信的人已经被定罪，因为他们不信上帝独一的儿子。

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.[15]

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[1] For further information about general revelation in China see: Chan Kei Thong and Charlene L. Fu, Faith of Our Fathers: Finding God in Ancient China (Singapore, Cru Asia Limited: 2007).

[2] Sima Qian, Historical Records (c. 109-91 BC), Vol. 28, Book 6, p.624.

[3] The Collected Statutes of the Ming Dynasty (c. AD 1368-1644), Vol. 82, p. 28.

[4] Ibid., Vol. 82, p. 29.

[5] Classic of History (c. 551-479 BC), Book of Shang, The Charge of Yue, Middle Section, beginning of paragraph 3.

[6] Record of Rites (c. 476-206 BC), Confucious, Xian Ju, verse 29.

[7] Classic of History (c. 551-479 BC), Book of Shang, Instructions of Yi, paragraph 8, verse 2.

[8] Classic of History (c. 551-479 BC), Book of Zhou, The Great Declaration, Middle Section, beginning of paragraph 4.

[9] Classic of History (c. 551-479 BC), Book of Zhou, Announcement of Duke Zhao, end of paragraph 10.

[10] The Doctrine of Mean (c. 476-206 BC), Chapter 20, verse 18.

[11] Ibid., Chapter 19, verse 6.

[12] Twenty-Six Histories (c. 109-91 BC), History of Han Dynasty Volume 25, History of the Border Sacrifice Volume 5, Part II, Paragraph 3, verse 2.

[13] Rites (c. 476-206 BC), Jiao Te Sheng (Border Sacrifice Animal), Section 1, end of paragraph 4.

[14] Ibid., Section 2, beginning of paragraph 3.

[15] John 3:16-18.