恩典的重價和輕省

February 16, 2012 at 11:42 pm · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

最近在香港買了潘霍華（Dietrich Bonhoeffer）的經典作《追隨基督》（The Cost of Discipleship），讀了一大半。潘氏的著作不容易懂，但其中文譯本大大地消除了「難懂」這個障礙。而潘氏的神學很實用，每讀畢一課，每每令人有所反省，尤其是心態上的反省。

潘氏是德國二戰前期的牧師。德國是宗教改革之鄉，馬丁路德（Martin Luther）以「因信稱義」的教義為要點，希望改變當年天主教教會的腐敗之風。德國也是不少哲學思想的發源地。到了納粹黨上台的時期，德國的教會已經墮落，「因信稱義」教義使人覺得福音是廉價和垂手可得，神學變成大家爭辯的學術問題，對人的生活了無影響。《追隨基督》便是在這樣的環境下寫成。

其實潘氏數十篇文章，基本上圍繞一個主題：基督的恩典是重價的，我們不可以把它看輕。書本的英文名字可譯作「作門徒的代價」，追隨基督的代價之大，看看潘氏被納粹德國處死殉道便知。

跟隨基督需要無比的決心。稅吏馬太放下為自己帶來巨利的職業，立刻回應耶穌的呼召；彼德和安德烈一聽到衪的呼召，便立刻拋下自己的魚網跟隨耶穌。到了路加福音第九章末段，有人主動說要跟隨耶穌，衪以一句說話暗示這人不明白跟從衪的代價；耶穌呼召另一人的時候，這人開出跟隨衪的條件。後來耶穌遇見一個年輕的財主，耶穌叫他變賣所有家產跟從衪，但這人「憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的家產很多」。這年輕的財主完全明白耶穌的呼召，可是他不願意也沒有決心服從。當時的德國人和現代很多基督徒，如潘氏所說，連這個青年財主經歴過的掙扎也沒有。

當中還有不少課章很有應用價值，如寛恕、八福、主禱文、報復等，潘氏跟據福音書的經節，探討我們基督徒該行的。

與其說這本著作是神學著作，倒不如說是對現代基督徒的當頭捧喝。

可是，潘氏的著作令人卻步，使人覺得作基督徒很難。雖然不是很多人讀過他的著作，可是每當有弟兄姐妹說「太難了」時，心裏就感到難過，因為他們的意思是「太難，我不做了，當個普通的信徒算了吧。」事實上，我們說要信耶穌的一刻，便是跟隨衪，衪沒有區分低級信徒和高級信徒。

就在這時，一位親戚送給我一本書，這本書以截然不同的角度看待福音，然而同樣重要：倪柝聲（Watchman Nee）的《基督是一切屬靈的事物》（Christ is All Spiritual Things）。倪氏跟潘氏可說是同期的人，在烽火連天的民國時期在中國到處奔波傳道，在反基運動、排外和傳統中國社會思想的影響下，作一個基督徒不容易。而很多初信主滿懷熱心事奉的人們，在重重困難下，不少人都灰心而退下來，屬靈生命大受打擊。

倪氏這本書很薄，很快看完，傳達的信息也很簡單：要有好的基督徒生活（或結好果子），我們不是靠一己之力，而是單單仰望基督。這個簡單的信息好像很容易明白，但也好像很抽象。而我們覺得抽象，是因為我們沒有真正經歴神，我們信主後依舊用自己的邏輯為神作工。可是神會用不同的方法把我們打碎，然後再重新建立我們。這些經歴，加上我們平日讀經、靈修，終會使我們和神有密切關係，我們便自然變得喜樂、有愛心、有忍耐，最後潘氏所說的東西我們也因著神的恩典而做到。

一個強調福音的寶貴，一個強調基督的擔子是輕省的，看似矛盾但卻並行不悖。

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2011 NYC VBS Reflection

September 3, 2011 at 12:13 am · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged , , , ,

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”  William Carey

I thank God for the opportunity to be part of the VBS team sent to Brooklyn, NY this August.  It is a great privilege and responsibility to co-work with brothers and sisters in representing Christ and touching lives with truth and love in a very hands-on way.

Although this is not my first time serving at First Evangelical Free Church (FEFC), I can never take for granted that God is always moving in new ways and touching lives of different people.  No two experiences are the same.  It gives me great excitement, motivation and also renewed energy when I see that changes are being made as the needs change.  I cannot help but sense God is in charge, and His wisdom and creativity are beyond our understanding.  What a wonderful thought!  Such comfort and encouragement!

Just as one of our team leaders has shared during the trip, God has assembled a great team of believers!  We complimented each other unimaginably well!  Although we were quite severely short-handed, He has prepared and brought together the necessary gifts that fitted the tasks perfectly.  No human wisdom or endeavor could have analyzed the situations beforehand, forecasted the possible outcomes and prepared for them so well as our Wonderful Counselor.  When we were able to utilize the gifts God has given us and faithfully perform our duties, we became the gears in God’s great machine, running full speed ahead!

One of the advantages of revisiting the same missions field is having the opportunity to see God working in the lives of those who we have had the chance to serve.

This trip was extra special for me, as I got to meet several students I had taught before.  These are the children whom I had prayed for and shared Christ with.  “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.”  Psalm 126:5.  I get to see one of the students graduating high school, and going to start college this fall.  It is a joy to see her growing and helping out in church, and now attending a Christian college.  Another student, who was quite a handful before, started attending church and joining the youth group after VBS in years passed.  I saw him, along with couple other passed students, came back in the afternoon and helped with cleaning up the church.  So, as we ministered to our students this year, I am more convinced than ever that God WILL work in their lives.  They did not end up in this VBS by chance, but by His divine providence.  Even if they did not seem receptive at the moment (like the male student I mentioned before), I have full confidence that the Word of God will accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.  Even though not every encounter is rosy, and one did bring tears and great sadness to my heart, God had quickly reminded me that His eyes are indeed on the sparrows, and I know that He is watching this little one.

Visiting Rebecca and Grace, missionaries working at the Dorcas Center, always brings me great encouragement and inspiration.  As one of the team members has shared, looking at their old picture on the Dorcas website brought tears to his eyes.  It is a testament of their dedication to God and their love for the people of New York.  Those who know them personally would know that they have a very different working style.  Having worked with others who have very different styles than myself, I could imagine the amount of love and patience they have for each other.  Yet in their obedience to God, He has made a dynamic duo that can compliment and support each other, breaking hard grounds together, shedding tears and celebrating His blessings together for more than 20 years.  When I think about the 20 years they have labored, many of those with my own eyes, I am taught again the meaning of love, gentleness, forbearance, obedience and perseverance.  There is much to learn, but I know it is possible.  I get to see it in action.

It is such a blessing to be used by God.  I get to see His hands moved in people’s lives.  I also get to learn, not only by instruction, but through experience, that God is faithful, all-mighty, loving and wise.  “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Psalm 34:8.  He is faithful to finish the good work He has started, He is able to save, He loves us, and His plan is wise beyond our imagination.

With these, we can expect great things from God, and we should attempt great things for God!

-Kit

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Trials and Faith

July 10, 2011 at 1:46 pm · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged , , , ,

Some time ago we read about James 1:2-3: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” Actually how do we turn sufferings or trials into joy and faith? It is easier to say than to do.

Recently I read A Grief Observed, written by C. S. Lewis after the tragic death of his wife. He gave a brief account of how he felt about the sensation of grief. He had doubted the goodness of God, and asked where God is in this tragedy.

There are many streams of thoughts throughout the text that I am yet to understand, probably because I am not at that stage of life yet. But I would bring out my favorite quote following:

“Feelings, and feelings, and feelings. Let me try thinking instead. From the rational point of view, what new factor has H.’s death introduced into the problem of the universe? What grounds has it given me for doubting all that I believe? I knew already that these things, and worse, happened daily. I would have said that I had taken them into account. I had been warned – I had warned myself – not to reckon on worldly happiness. We were even promised sufferings. They were part of the programme. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accepted it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not in imagination. Yes; but should it, for a sane man, make quite such a difference as this? No. And it wouldn’t for a man whose faith had been real faith and whose concern for other people’s sorrows had been real concern. The case is too plain. If my house has collapsed at one blow, that is because it was a house of cards. The faith which ‘took these things into account’ was not faith but imagination. The taking them into account was not real sympathy. If I had really cared, as I thought I did, about the sorrows of the world, I should not have been so overwhelmed when my own sorrow came. It has been an imaginary faith playing with innocuous counters labelled ‘Illness,’ ‘Pain,’ ‘Death,’ and ‘Loneliness.’ I thought I trusted the rope until it mattered to me whether it would bear me. Now it matters, and I find I didn’t.“

I believe a lot of Christians can identify what Lewis talked about here.

Sufferings are “mid-term exams” for Christians. We all think that we know about sufferings and how good God can turn them to be. We read the Bible daily. We pray frequently. We serve in church. We sing praises to Him on Sundays. But the sufferings test us how much we are really prepared, how much we have really advanced in faith, and how much we know about Him. Can we stand strong in sufferings?

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擺脫虛妄

May 28, 2011 at 12:42 am · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

多年前跟數位團契弟兄姐妹一起閱讀John Piper的Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die（《五十個耶穌降世受死的原因》），那時並沒有讀完。最近心血來潮又拿起來讀，還是覺得十分精采。

當中第二十八個原因是「教我們脫離祖傳妄行」（To Free Us From the Futility of Our Ancestry）。Piper引了彼得前書第一章十八至十九節作為主題經文：「知道你們得贖、脫去你們祖宗所傳流虛妄的行為，不是憑著能壞的金銀等物，乃是憑著基督的寶血，如同無瑕疵、無玷污的羔羊之血。」課中一開始便說到人類用兩種方法去解釋他們與祖先的糾結：先祖的咒詛和現代心理學關於家庭影響的理論。誠然，我們無時無刻都受外在環境影響，如政治局勢、民族習性、潮流文化、教育系統、家族傳統、親子關係、朋輩壓力等，這些東西對我們的影響可以是正面的，也可以是負面的。通常我們較易知道好的影響，壞的影響卻察覺不到，而發現時已太晚了。

要減輕自身經歷帶來的不良影響，如彼得所說，靠的不是金銀珠寶。Piper舉了好幾個例子，說明富有的人往往最容易受家族傳統影響而導致家庭破裂。耶穌也說過富人進天國比駱駝穿針眼更難。

耶穌在十架的工作的其中一個目的就是讓我們可以擺脫這些來自祖宗和世俗的綑綁。人有神的形像，祖宗傳下的東西不會盡是虛妄，但人的罪性卻為這些東西加上了虛妄的成份。有些人因為童年遭遇而自我形象極低，有些人從小就是眾人焦點以致自信心過重，有些人受家庭影響容易以酒精或毒品逃避問題，有些人因父母離異而對婚姻缺乏信心，有些人拘於傳統而不敢嘗試新事物，有些人囿於意識型態而對某些群體懷有偏見，有些人不甘被人看不起而不斷追逐名利，有些人看了家人的色情刊物而染上性癮，有些人從小受溺愛而欠缺責任心……這些其實都十分表面，我們還有很多隱而不見甚至不可言詮的問題。耶穌在十架的工作不光是救我們脫離永死，他也要我們在地上活得更好。要活得更好，我們就要擺脫這些虛妄的行為，而這擺脫的過程其實是成聖過程的其中一面。

信主其實就是將我們的固有觀念一百八十度的扭轉過來。當我們察覺自己的問題時，我們便要禱告和及時處理。你有這些問題嗎？有，一定有。你認識你自己嗎？你知道自己的弱點麼？改變和成聖的過程可能十分痛苦，我們可以選擇放棄，寧願過一個悲劇的人生，或者順服和忍耐直至改變成功。這有點像戒毒，可能一樣困難；不過我們看到那麼多人福音戒毒成功，可見要擺脫虛妄的行為，靠著基督的寶血就可以了。

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Jiffy Lube Time

April 26, 2011 at 9:00 am · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged , , , ,

In 1979, Jiffy Lube® pioneered the first drive-through oil change service. The slogan at the time was “In. Out. On your way.” The sale pitch was all about convenience and speed. No appointment is needed. In a few minutes, your cars would be ready to go with all fluid changed, checked, and refilled.

During one of the lessons in the Counseling Sunday School, the lecturer described the quiet time many Christians spent with our Lord as “Jiffy Lube Time”. We have the urge to be close to God, we want to be like Him more, we want to hear His voice and guidance; yet our desires have not been reflected on our timetables. While we are busy juggling among our day-to-day activities, sometimes we can only afford to put aside a couple minutes a day to have a “quick checkup”, “drive-through service” type quiet time to refresh, recharge and reposition our mind and soul. We read the bible, study the word, pray to Him, listen to Him; then we say to God, “I only have couple minutes, I really have to go”. I wonder how often we would say hi to the Jiffy Lube technicians; not to mention we probably never ask their names. With the “Jiffy Lube” quiet time, we might be truly enlightened from the Word, but that “ding” moment probably won’t sustain till sunset. It is really hard to develop a close relationship with God (or anyone) through only “quick checkup” and “drive-through service”. Surely the Jiffy Lube service would ‘keep my ride alive’, but I would probably praise my car’s performance than giving credits to the Jiffy Lube technician. When my car breaks down, the technician would probably be the last person comes to mind. (Oh nevermind, I forgot to ask his name).

Several years ago, my friend referred a mechanic to me, and it did not take very long before he knows my car inside out. Whenever I noticed any little problems with my car, he was always the first person I called. Sometimes I would just stop by his shop after work and he would teach me random wisdom about car maintenance. I am thankful to have a friend, more than a mechanic, to call upon on car issues. We are all blessed to have God, more than a powerful God in the history book, to call upon on everything in our lives anytime and anywhere. But that intimate relationship does not just happen if we only swing by His place a couple minutes a day.

To know You is to never worry for my life
To know You is to never give into compromise and
To know You is to want to tell the world about You
‘Cause I can’t live without You

All this life could offer me
Could not compare to You, compare to You
And I count it all as loss
Compared to knowing You, knowing You

“To Know You” by Casting Crown 

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Comments on “The Four Loves”

January 4, 2011 at 10:19 pm · Filed under sharings, writing ·Tagged ,

Love is undoubtedly the core teaching of the Bible. Jesus said the greatest commandment in the Old Testament is to love our God, and then to love our neighbors as ourselves. In the famous I Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul wrote the immortal nature of the kind of unconditional love that all Christians should bear (in the context of the Corinthians overemphasizing the significance of gifts). But it is only one type of “loves” in the Scripture.

In this past summer, I read one of the most popular works of C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves. In Greek, there are four words that can be translated to the word “love” in English. C. S. Lewis wrote a chapter for each of them. These four loves are affection (storge, στοργή), friendship (philia, φιλία), eros (eros, ἔρως) and charity (agape, ἀγάπη). The love that the Apostle Paul described was charity.

While we are commanded to love, we often fail to do so because it is very hard for humans to love unconditionally. In fact, only God is capable of loving unconditionally. He is the Ultimate Giver of love. He commands us to love Him, although He does not need to be loved. Perfect charity can only be found in Him. For human love, as C. S. Lewis pointed out, there are always components of need and appreciation.

Need-love refers to loving because of a need. For instance, affection contains much of it. Affection grows out of familiarity, especially within a family. We love our family, because we can hardly live without it, or in other words, we need it. Eros undoubtedly has the need nature. In loving one’s husband or wife, we give but we satisfy our physical and emotional needs at the same time. Friendship also has a need in nature in terms of social connection.

Appreciative-love is another aspect of human love. In friendship, people get together because of mutual appreciation of common interests. In eros, we love someone because of one or a few strengths of him/her that we genuinely appreciate.

C. S. Lewis described the natures of the four loves. Indeed, except for charity, our loves must possess the natures of need and appreciation. (But I don’t want to overemphasize the presence of need as one can think of self-indulgence). Even when we say we love God, part of it means we need the Lord. With our limited capacity and fallen nature, we need His grace and love so that we can come to Him. Recognizing and accepting the fact that we need the Lord is a kind of humility that we know where we are and helps us love the Lord. Without loving Him, we cannot be who we are and have a normal relationship with Him. Only in this way we can love unconditionally (charity) to an extent close to how God loves us.

However, Lord loves us unconditionally without the need nature. He does not need to redeem us from the slavery of sins. But out of His love (charity) towards us, He sent His Begotten Son to the world and to die for our sins.

We have just celebrated Christmas. Let us appreciate what kind of love He is having towards us.

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