摘要

教會研究在中國日漸普及。有關教會研究的論文和書籍的出版、研討會的召開、相關的研究單位及機構的成立如雨後春筍。雖看似百花齊放，但有關政教關係的研究仍舊乏善可陳。由於中國早期的學者缺乏機會了解及探討基督教與其政治方面的神學立場，故這不足之處實可理解。此外，政教關係的理論及實踐，於西方社會經歷了過千年的試煉及調整，與中國的情況實大相逕庭。在十九及二十世紀，兩個制度的對立無可避免會帶來衝突與誤解。

政教關係的研究是較好的途徑以評價傳教工作和華人基督徒，以及華人及中國政府對基督教來華的回應。從歷史層面分析，並非所有的傳教士及華人信徒都遵從聖經中約定的正確政治立場。此外，中國政府、士紳及中國人亦可能因情緒的鼓動而忽視已建立的法律及制度。所以，政教關係的研究是一有效的工具以審視教會及屬世社會的優劣。由此，政教關係的研究確實可為中國基督教研究史帶來新的視野並反映出中國教會史的獨一及顯著性.

The Relationship Between Church-and-State：
Another Approach to Studying Christianity in China

Prof. Peter Wang Chenmain, Ph.D.
Graduate Institute of History
National Central University, Taiwan

Abstract

Church Studies has become more and more popular in China. Its popularity can be seen from its abundant publication of articles and books, organization of numerous conferences, and formation of many academic societies and institutes all over China. Yet, even with such a hundred-flowers-blooming phenomenon, there has been a notable deficiency in the study of the relationship between Church-and-State. This is understandable because the early generation of Chinese scholars did not have an opportunity to understand Christianity and its theological aspects in politics. Furthermore, the relationship between Church-and-State, which has been tested and adjusted both in theory and practice for more than a thousand years in the West, has a completely different picture in China. The clash of these two systems was doomed to bring about many conflicts and misunderstandings in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

An approach that studies the relationship between Church-and-State is a better instrument to evaluate Christian missions and Chinese Christians, as well as the reaction of native people and government of China. As history shows, not all the missionaries and Chinese Christians followed the right standpoint in politics as stipulated in the Bible.  Moreover, the Chinese government, the gentry and local people might also be trapped in emotional agitation without appealing to established laws and regulations. Therefore, the study of the relationship between Church-and State will serve as a useful tool to examine the merits and defects both in the church and the secular world. Based on this approach, we are sure it will bring new light to the long history of Christianity in China and will also reflect unique and distinguished part of Chinese church history.