Just a Random Thought on the Chinese Words for Church
Was waiting for the bus to return to the office this afternoon when two old ladies sitting just a foot or so away were discussing how they could get to a certain destination. They were conversing in Mandarin, but for the sake of readers who do not understand the language, I've taken the liberty of translating much of the conversation into English, except for the keywords.
Old lady #1: You know, it's near that 教堂 (pronounced "jiao tang", which is Mandarin for "church")? We just have to alight there.
Old lady #2: That 教堂?
Old lady #1: Yes, that 教堂...
They must have repeated the words "教堂" half a dozen times or more, and the words soon echoed in my brain.
教堂... 教堂... a hall where teaching takes place.
For those who speak and write Chinese: yes, although the church is known as 基督教堂 (pronounced "ji du jiao tang") which, translated directly, means "Christianity (基督教) Hall (堂)", people usually refer to churches as just 教堂.
Funny how when we hear people mention churches it means a hall for teaching (and learning), yet most churches today don't teach God's Word...
Just saying.
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