夢幻的復興
對基督徒來說，「復興」這兩個字我們常常掛在口邊，也常常在歌詞中出現；但在現實中，我們有期望過教會真的會復興嗎？
最近我問一群學生，請他們預測他們所屬的團契，在五年後會和現在有何分別，特別是在靈性方面。結果，我得到的答案並不使我意外：就是他們也不期望會有甚麼分別；不大可能會變得更好，但有可能變得更差。
有從香港來的神學生告訴我他對溫哥華教會的觀察，就是我們都知道有問題，但我們似乎都不會有行動。於是，復興成為了一句口頭禪，一個沒有人會期望真的實現的夢幻(fantasy)。
其實，個人的生命也一樣。基督應許的自由和豐盛，仿似只是一個傳說。我曾經看過一篇諷刺性的文章，說到基督在十字架上為我們死，目的是為了叫我們每個星期日早上有節目和可以一齊去午餐，還有得到奉獻免稅額。但悲哀地，這竟然是很多人生命的現實，和他們對信仰的最大期望。
耶穌在畢士大池邊問那病了三十八年的人：「你要痊癒嗎？」面對這條問題，我們可能會不假思索地回答：「當然要。」但當我們計算跟隨基督的代價時，我們卻步了。我們喜歡聽到醫治是恩典，卻不願在捨棄生命中得生。我們喜歡罪得赦免，卻不願懇切而恆久的為自己、為教會、為國家認罪。
當信仰淪為一種叫人舒適的興趣，生命便不會得著真正的復修和更新。教會若只是一群享受生病的病人，復興便只會是一個在唱詩時叫我們獲得一刻快感的口號。
基督可以復修破爛的生命，可以復興破落的教會，問題只是我們願意與否。
原文載於「時代論壇」週報1120期
Labels: Reflection, 時代論壇
Reading this, I am reminded of a story told by Neil Cole in his book "Organic Church" (pp. xxiii to xxiv):
A short time ago, I was in Japan speaking in front of a church made up mostly of young Japanese people. My wife and I were the only Caucasians in the facility, perhaps in the entire city. I mentioned that the number of church members in Japan is less than 1 percent of the population of that country. They all nodded with a sigh that exposed their fatigue in light of this reality. I then mentioned that I had been there a few months earlier, and the percentage of church members was less than 1 percent then too; nothing had changed. Noting this lack of change, I asked, "What's wrong with you?" They laughed at the ridiculous expectation.
I went on and told them that I had been in Japan three years earlier and the percentage of Christians in Japan was less than 1 percent then. This time they did not laugh. I announced that ten years ago the percentage of believers in Japan was less than 1 percent. I then asked, "Do you know what the percentage of Christians in the population of Japan was one hundred years ago?" They were now near tears as I answered my own question: "Less than 1 percent." After a pause, I said, "There is something wrong with the way we are doing 'church' here in Japan." (At this point, I would like to comment that we Westerners are the ones who taught them how to do church.)
Posted by
Tim |
March 19, 2009 10:58 AM
what a sad story... we've so got used to not expecting anything...
Posted by
Alan Yu |
March 19, 2009 2:54 PM
Thanks for your sharing, I will keep this in mind :)
Posted by
CHOWMEIN |
March 19, 2009 3:34 PM