Brother Fang is a Christian from a southeastern coastal city who works in an office. After becoming a believer, he has gone through many prayers and reflections on his faith.
American TV shows opened his heart, tears in his sleep soothed his troubled heart
Fang was brought to church by his friend. He received his first Bible as a welcome gift, and it felt like a book of myths to him at the time.
For a while, Fang had been watching an American TV series called "The Bible," which took its story from the heart of the Bible. It was this TV series that gradually opened Fang's closed heart and led him to attend Bible classes at a church near his home.
Expected the church to be more accessible and focus on individual discipleship
At first, Fang learned about the Christian faith systematically in the church. But as he began to feel the rigidity of the church system, he began to work on his personal spiritual growth, spending more time in devotion. He describes his practice this way, "It is not to talk big, but to practice small things, to be the subtle influence where I can, by making changes myself."
Fang therefore believes that churches need to be more accessible so that people can reach them easily. At the same time, the focus of church development should not only be on growing the size of the church, but also on growing the spiritual lives of individual believers. Fang hopes that when the church provides spiritual guidance, it can pay more attention to the differences of individuals in their understanding, views, situations, etc. so that the church can build a dynamic relationship with these believers.
Prayer is like an umbilical cord and the hand of God
Over the years, Fang has developed a very regular prayer life. Every morning before he goes to work, every day at lunchtime, and every night before he goes to bed.
He learned about prayer from watching Western movies and TV shows, where a prayer is said before meals and the main character prays when he gets into trouble.
After Fang became a Christian and received discipleship training from the church, he understood the importance of prayer. But he soon found that praying made him feel very uncomfortable; when he sat and talked with his eyes closed, he felt rejection throughout his whole body. He said, "People are self-centered and only do what they want, but unfortunately, prayer is not one of those things. But our faith tells us to let go of our control and surrender to the Lord."
Fang also emphasized that he is self-centered and a rational person, but he also knows the importance of prayer, "Prayer is like an umbilical cord. Your life is nourished by prayer; and without prayer, your life withers away. Because of pride, people are always in an unstable state, so it is important to be in constant prayer. Continuous prayer is like the Lord's hands that keep us from falling; when we are stable, our hearts are soothed. Prayer also helps to build a stronger foundation in one's faith; one's spiritual life would be much stronger and grow faster."
Fang confesses, "After coming to faith, I feel the most obvious difference is that being a Christian allows you to grow."
Fang is a well-read person who likes to think, and he has spent time studying Buddhism, Taoism, and other religions. He believes that the main ideas of these religions, which have much in common with the Christian faith, also teach their followers to do good. However, from his personal experience, Christianity gives you the ability to grow, while the other religions do not. They can be called some of the most profound philosophical thoughts of mankind, but they cannot help the lives of their followers grow because they have no channel for prayer, and their followers can only try to think through the teachings until they understand them, which is very difficult. Whereas the Christian faith is very simple, believers can pray directly to God and have an immediate connection with Him.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
方弟兄是东南沿海城市的普通职场人，在信仰之后，他有很多个人祷告与信仰思考。
美剧撬开了心门，梦中的眼泪安稳了踌躇的心
方弟兄是在朋友的带领下，去了教堂。作为新人他收到了人生第一本圣经，总体感觉像本神话书。
有段时间，方弟兄、刷到一部叫《圣经的故事》的美剧，这部剧提炼了圣经里的核心经典故事，也逐渐撬开了方弟兄紧闭的心门，就在自己住所附近有一家教堂参加了慕道班学习。
建立信仰个人与环境都很重要，希望教会能更加开放、重视个性化栽培
起初，方弟兄在教会中接受了系统性的信仰学习；后期，因为感受到教会体制的固化，他便回归到了自己个人的信仰操练中，花更多时间来个人灵修。他这样形容自己的信仰操练：“不是说一些大话，而是在小事上践行。通过自身的改变，潜移默化去影响自己力所能及的范围。”
所以，方弟兄觉得教会要更加开放，以提供给人可以接触机会。同时，教会发展不仅仅是追求人数的增长，更要关注对个人灵性生命的培养。他期待教会在牧养中能更加重视人与人在认知、理解、状态等多方面的个体差异，形成教会与动态的互动关系。
祷告像脐带，也像上帝的手
这些年来，方弟兄已经有了非常规律的祷告生活。每天早晨出门上班前，每个夜晚睡觉前和中午休息时。
关于祷告的启蒙认识是他从西方的影视作品中，例如饭前祷告、男主角遇到头疼的事就祷告等等这类场景中得来的。
而在有了信仰并接受教会牧养后，他逐渐理解了祷告的重要性。但他很快就发现祷告这件事极不自然。自己闭着眼睛坐在那里说话的时候，甚至连身体都在排斥。他说：“人很自我，只有自己认可的事才会去做，可惜祷告不是。但信仰的教导是让人放下自我，学会交托给主。”
方弟兄也不断强调自己是个很自我、理性强大的弟兄，但他说到祷告非常重要， “祷告就像脐带。祷告，生命就会被滋养；而没有祷告，生命就会坠落。因为人性的骄傲，人很容易变得不稳定，所以要保持祈祷的状态。持续性的祷告就像主的手，永远把人托住；让人的状态平稳，对人心的安抚作用非常大。就个人经历而言，祷告会使信仰建造得更牢固、成长更快、更有力量。”
他告白说：“在信仰之后，我觉得信仰最不一样的就是，能叫人拥有鲜活的生命力。”方是一个博览群书又喜欢思考的人，他曾经也花时间了解过佛教、道家等各种宗教思想。他认为宗教的精华与基督信仰有很多内容是相通的，也会教导人行善。但就他个人的经历而言，基督信仰是有生命力的。其他宗教只能称为人类很高深的智慧，但个人生命在它上面建立不起来。因为其他宗教都没有祷告的渠道，只是让人去悟，这个难度很大；而基督信仰很简单，可以去祷告，就能与上帝直接建立联系。
访谈|一位普通基督徒弟兄：美剧撬开心门后，经历的祷告和思考
Brother Fang is a Christian from a southeastern coastal city who works in an office. After becoming a believer, he has gone through many prayers and reflections on his faith.
American TV shows opened his heart, tears in his sleep soothed his troubled heart
Fang was brought to church by his friend. He received his first Bible as a welcome gift, and it felt like a book of myths to him at the time.
For a while, Fang had been watching an American TV series called "The Bible," which took its story from the heart of the Bible. It was this TV series that gradually opened Fang's closed heart and led him to attend Bible classes at a church near his home.
Expected the church to be more accessible and focus on individual discipleship
At first, Fang learned about the Christian faith systematically in the church. But as he began to feel the rigidity of the church system, he began to work on his personal spiritual growth, spending more time in devotion. He describes his practice this way, "It is not to talk big, but to practice small things, to be the subtle influence where I can, by making changes myself."
Fang therefore believes that churches need to be more accessible so that people can reach them easily. At the same time, the focus of church development should not only be on growing the size of the church, but also on growing the spiritual lives of individual believers. Fang hopes that when the church provides spiritual guidance, it can pay more attention to the differences of individuals in their understanding, views, situations, etc. so that the church can build a dynamic relationship with these believers.
Prayer is like an umbilical cord and the hand of God
Over the years, Fang has developed a very regular prayer life. Every morning before he goes to work, every day at lunchtime, and every night before he goes to bed.
He learned about prayer from watching Western movies and TV shows, where a prayer is said before meals and the main character prays when he gets into trouble.
After Fang became a Christian and received discipleship training from the church, he understood the importance of prayer. But he soon found that praying made him feel very uncomfortable; when he sat and talked with his eyes closed, he felt rejection throughout his whole body. He said, "People are self-centered and only do what they want, but unfortunately, prayer is not one of those things. But our faith tells us to let go of our control and surrender to the Lord."
Fang also emphasized that he is self-centered and a rational person, but he also knows the importance of prayer, "Prayer is like an umbilical cord. Your life is nourished by prayer; and without prayer, your life withers away. Because of pride, people are always in an unstable state, so it is important to be in constant prayer. Continuous prayer is like the Lord's hands that keep us from falling; when we are stable, our hearts are soothed. Prayer also helps to build a stronger foundation in one's faith; one's spiritual life would be much stronger and grow faster."
Fang confesses, "After coming to faith, I feel the most obvious difference is that being a Christian allows you to grow."
Fang is a well-read person who likes to think, and he has spent time studying Buddhism, Taoism, and other religions. He believes that the main ideas of these religions, which have much in common with the Christian faith, also teach their followers to do good. However, from his personal experience, Christianity gives you the ability to grow, while the other religions do not. They can be called some of the most profound philosophical thoughts of mankind, but they cannot help the lives of their followers grow because they have no channel for prayer, and their followers can only try to think through the teachings until they understand them, which is very difficult. Whereas the Christian faith is very simple, believers can pray directly to God and have an immediate connection with Him.
- Translated by Joyce Leung
Testimony: American TV Show Opens My Heart
