This year, I have decided to do something different.
I went without internet for the Christmas Day :) (It is a very special thing for an internet/Facebook/email addict like me... haha!) I remember a couple of months ago, I read this article about taking a Sabbath on the internet. After thinking about it for some time, I have decided to do it on Christmas Day.
I just took a rest, watched some TV (what? watch TV?? I seldom really sit down and watch TV, usually I surf the net while the TV is on...) and read BOOKS!! haha! I really love reading, but now most of the stuff I read is from the internet browser... :P or ebook reader...
As a result, I had a lot of catching up to do today, so many emails/ news/messages from Facebook/Google Reader/Plurk/Fan Forums...
Read a lot of Christmas related posts today from the blogs I'm following. I have been telling different people to separate consumerism from Festival Celebrations. (Not just Christmas actually... it's such an unhealthy thing to do for ourselves and the earth itself. I know it's hard to resist, because of the various sales promotion... I bought something in Christmas as well...)
Some people suggested we should separate Christ from Christmas. (Don't get crazy when you read this sentence, I think their logic is pretty sound.)
John Stackhouse: Happy Holidays will do nicely
安於沒有聖誕的聖誕節
And some thinks we should rethink Christmas. It's not a celebration of the birthday of baby Jesus. I agree.
Once Again: Christmas is NOT Jesus’ Birthday
In case you miss the point in the article above, here's a quote from the article itself.
"The theological and spiritual dangers of trivializing and sentimentalizing the incarnation—and Jesus—are far greater than any supposed benefits of further including children and making them feel part of the celebration."
What is Christmas for you? Whether you are a Christian or not, I think it's sad if it's merely a shopping season for you. If you are not a Christian, it should be a time for being with family and friends, showing your love, instead of just about shopping for Christmas gifts.
紀念日 (A non-Christian related Christmas post)
聖誕節送大禮
I didn't even go Christmas carolling this year, many people asked me why. I'm beginning to wonder, whether Christians really go Christmas carolling to spread the good news (even if I disregard the fact that good news is very much distorted these days...), or if they go because of the need to feel the festivities without feeling guilty about it (by celebrating in some non-Christian ways)??
And for me (like some others), Christmas is not as peaceful as it is often portrayed. With so many disasters (human and non-human), Christmas represents Jesus' coming into this world, and our hope for God's intervention in the world, His justice and will on earth as it is in heaven.
不安夜
《十月圍城》
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Christmas
I found THE best Christmas post I have ever read, I think...
This is what I think we should do to tell people about the Gospel. And also what we should not do.
Basically the whole thing is good, I don't want to copy everything here.
"In the Christian family itself, the prosperity gospel makes a mockery of the very savior it claims to proclaim. Western Christians plunge into the pagan celebration, spending thousands on themselves and their children. We spend enough on our lights to save thousands upon thousands of lives. But those lives are in the darkness of Advent’s waiting. Our “lights” are nothing more than an extension of that darkness. They have nothing to do with the true light that comes to the world...
Ironically, after 2,000 years of offering our Savior to others, we- Christians- need one more than ever. When we mark ourselves has “having” Christ more than “needing” Christ, we miss the Spirit of the Advent season."
Read the whole article to find out how we're missing the true Spirit of Advent.
Really need time to reflect on this in this Christmas.
This is what I think we should do to tell people about the Gospel. And also what we should not do.
Basically the whole thing is good, I don't want to copy everything here.
"In the Christian family itself, the prosperity gospel makes a mockery of the very savior it claims to proclaim. Western Christians plunge into the pagan celebration, spending thousands on themselves and their children. We spend enough on our lights to save thousands upon thousands of lives. But those lives are in the darkness of Advent’s waiting. Our “lights” are nothing more than an extension of that darkness. They have nothing to do with the true light that comes to the world...
Ironically, after 2,000 years of offering our Savior to others, we- Christians- need one more than ever. When we mark ourselves has “having” Christ more than “needing” Christ, we miss the Spirit of the Advent season."
Read the whole article to find out how we're missing the true Spirit of Advent.
Really need time to reflect on this in this Christmas.
Calling
Read this here on iQuest today
「召命（calling）就是你最深情的喜悅與世界最深切的需要交會之處，這交會處有一個精彩的故事。」
Sounds so good, prompted me to think about it for about 5 seconds, about my own calling...
Then suddenly remember what I heard in today's class of Old Testament Theology (last class today, this course is great and I have a lot of questions in my mind now, but no time to think about it, because I still haven't finished my homework, and the upcoming exam yet, anyway, back to the point)--> our true calling doesn't necessarily make us happy, just look at Jeremiah
「召命（calling）就是你最深情的喜悅與世界最深切的需要交會之處，這交會處有一個精彩的故事。」
Sounds so good, prompted me to think about it for about 5 seconds, about my own calling...
Then suddenly remember what I heard in today's class of Old Testament Theology (last class today, this course is great and I have a lot of questions in my mind now, but no time to think about it, because I still haven't finished my homework, and the upcoming exam yet, anyway, back to the point)--> our true calling doesn't necessarily make us happy, just look at Jeremiah
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Prayer of Oscar Romero (1917-80)
It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
It is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
Of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about,
we plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
In realizing that. This enables us to do something,
And to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
But it is a beginning, a step along the way,
An opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
Between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
7 Nov 2009
From one of the sharings from the morning assembly from CGST, the teacher talked about what being a fan is like. You'll go and share his work with people and admire his work (even though everyone looks at the same thing, you see them differently.) hahaha!! :) For a crazy fan like me, I hope one day I'll feel the same towards the Gospel. However, during this week I do think God uses me in different and unexpected ways, even through my addiction, hahahahaha!!
Psalms 4:4
When you are disturbed (or angry), do no sin, ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
God, help me remember this.
From the book Sacred Rhythm,
Intercessory prayer is not primarily about believing we know what someone else needs
and then trying to tell God what the answer is. It is not about wrestling some result from God. Intercessory prayer is more about recognising that we do not know how to pray for others-- or ourselves for that matter-- but the Holy Spirit knows.
Psalms 4:4
When you are disturbed (or angry), do no sin, ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
God, help me remember this.
From the book Sacred Rhythm,
Intercessory prayer is not primarily about believing we know what someone else needs
and then trying to tell God what the answer is. It is not about wrestling some result from God. Intercessory prayer is more about recognising that we do not know how to pray for others-- or ourselves for that matter-- but the Holy Spirit knows.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Be not righteous overmuch
Ecclesiastes Chapter 7
[15]In my vain life I have seen everything; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing.
[16] Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?
[17] Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time?
[18] It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
Where is the line drawn in being righteous overmuch?? I think if there is such a line, I may have crossed it sometimes...
When should I insist that something should/should not be done...
[15]In my vain life I have seen everything; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing.
[16] Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself?
[17] Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time?
[18] It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all.
Where is the line drawn in being righteous overmuch?? I think if there is such a line, I may have crossed it sometimes...
When should I insist that something should/should not be done...
Friday, October 30, 2009
Gospel without boundaries
A few months ago I went to South America , and I was partly stunned and also admired the ingenuity of Jesuit missionaries in fusing traditional Incan religion with Catholicism. Throughout the whole trip, I thought about what is acceptable in spreading Christianity, where the line should be drawn in mixing “pagan” religious customs with Christianity. (I am well aware that our own brand of “Christianity” is already a mixture of multiple pagan traditions, just that most of us don’t even realize it.)
We often set boundaries on what is or is not acceptable in Christians. Last night during the missions class, the example the teacher shared was about a polygamist in
Salvation analogy exist in many cultures, they may represent revelation of God in some of the traditional customs or folklore, an example the teacher used was a tribe that was waiting for their "saviour" which was just like the missionaries who came.
Mission is not only to evangelize, but also to know God better, in the ways through which He reveals himself.
We should open our minds to observe and listen, and recognize the local traditions/customs that direct people towards Christ’s particularity. The church can also broaden its knowledge on God in the process, and we can recognize the universality in revelation.
Apart from people from another culture, she also talked about different people in our own community.
If there were no young people in church, we would have done a lot to recruit more, but then how come we don’t ask why there are no/few disabled people in our church? Is it really because there are none in our district? Or because of the physical constraints that they cannot come?
The concept of the disabled God has been proposed, Jesus still carried the marks from the crucifixion after resurrection. Hence, despite the impairment, the disabled are still made in God’s image. The cause of their suffering may be due to isolation or exclusion rather than the physical disability itself. Rather than healing the physical problem, the church should heal their social dysfunction. (She gave an example of a charismatic church that had no idea what to do about a disabled kid, after failing to "heal" her after repeated prayers.)
And we are interdependent with the disabled, they are not subjects of our assistance/pity alone.
Apart from the physically disabled, what about ex-drug addicts, and those suffering from mental illness?
Recognise our calling in our own community, and do not just focus in spreading the Gospel in our own social circle.
(Since this is derived from my notes, so may be a bit brief and difficult to understand... hmm...)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Notes on Sermon about Psalms Chapter 1
Ps.1
[1] Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
[3] He is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
[4] The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
[5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
[6] for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
v1 walk-> stand -> sit
This is an unconscious process (to sin/to become wicked)
counsel/plan: isolated
way: life direction
seat= assembly: become one of them
v2 "in the Lord's law delight, in the Lord's law meditates"
This is written in contrast within "not in" for v1
The time is day and nite!
v3 In Palestinian wilderness, trees grow only next to streams. Growing of fruit takes time.
Computer/TV (vs Bible/sermon) make us experts in wasting time, they also make us more self-centred, just do according to what one likes (e.g. remotes control)
Now we tend to receive the messages that we like, rather than according to whether they are true or not.
Efficiency becomes the utmost important.
However, we forget a lot of things need time: our 修養, relationships
The time we give to others are usually less than what we require of ourselves.
Jesus' parable on 70x7 time, it's about the one who is doing the forgiving.
What we reap depends on what we invest.
v4 The ungodly are like chaff. Chaff and tree--> both plants, but tree has life and roots.
We don't usually see the roots of the trees, but they are very important.
Chaff moves, only because it was moved, not because it has life.
Time, investment, where you’re immersed in--> what you reaps
Everything needs time, but the world tell us: we have no time to wait for the fruits.
Learning the lesson--> I'm way too addicted to the computer world.
[1] Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
[2] but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
[3] He is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
[4] The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
[5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
[6] for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
v1 walk-> stand -> sit
This is an unconscious process (to sin/to become wicked)
counsel/plan: isolated
way: life direction
seat= assembly: become one of them
v2 "in the Lord's law delight, in the Lord's law meditates"
This is written in contrast within "not in" for v1
The time is day and nite!
v3 In Palestinian wilderness, trees grow only next to streams. Growing of fruit takes time.
Computer/TV (vs Bible/sermon) make us experts in wasting time, they also make us more self-centred, just do according to what one likes (e.g. remotes control)
Now we tend to receive the messages that we like, rather than according to whether they are true or not.
Efficiency becomes the utmost important.
However, we forget a lot of things need time: our 修養, relationships
The time we give to others are usually less than what we require of ourselves.
Jesus' parable on 70x7 time, it's about the one who is doing the forgiving.
What we reap depends on what we invest.
v4 The ungodly are like chaff. Chaff and tree--> both plants, but tree has life and roots.
We don't usually see the roots of the trees, but they are very important.
Chaff moves, only because it was moved, not because it has life.
Time, investment, where you’re immersed in--> what you reaps
Everything needs time, but the world tell us: we have no time to wait for the fruits.
Learning the lesson--> I'm way too addicted to the computer world.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
We are Ready to Listen
Healing, sovereign God,
overmatch our resistant ears
with your transforming speech.
Penetrate our jadeness and fatigue.
Touch our yearnings by your words.
Through your out-loudness, draw us closer to you.
We are ready to listen.
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann, from Awed to Heaven, Rooted to Earth
overmatch our resistant ears
with your transforming speech.
Penetrate our jadeness and fatigue.
Touch our yearnings by your words.
Through your out-loudness, draw us closer to you.
We are ready to listen.
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann, from Awed to Heaven, Rooted to Earth
Another prayer from Walter Brueggemann
You are the God who is simple, direct, clear with us and for us.
You have committed yourself to us.
You have said yes to us in creation,
yes to us in our birth,
yes to us in our baptism,
yes to us in our awakening this day.
But we are of another kind,
more accustomed to “perhaps, maybe, we’ll see,’
left in wonderment and ambiguity.
We live our lives not back to your yes,
but out of our endless “perhaps.”
So we pray for your mercy this day that we may live yes back to you,
yes with our time,
yes with our money,
yes with our sexuality,
yes with our strength and with our weakness,
yes to our neighbor,
yes and no long “perhaps.”
In the name of your enfleshed yes to us,
even Jesus who is our yes into your future. Amen.
From Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Walter Brueggemann
You have committed yourself to us.
You have said yes to us in creation,
yes to us in our birth,
yes to us in our baptism,
yes to us in our awakening this day.
But we are of another kind,
more accustomed to “perhaps, maybe, we’ll see,’
left in wonderment and ambiguity.
We live our lives not back to your yes,
but out of our endless “perhaps.”
So we pray for your mercy this day that we may live yes back to you,
yes with our time,
yes with our money,
yes with our sexuality,
yes with our strength and with our weakness,
yes to our neighbor,
yes and no long “perhaps.”
In the name of your enfleshed yes to us,
even Jesus who is our yes into your future. Amen.
From Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, Walter Brueggemann
And Then You
A very good prayer I just read on the web
And Then You
We arranged our lives as best we can,
to keep your holiness at bay,
with our pieties,
our doctrines,
our liturgies,
our moralities,
our secret ideologies,
Safe, virtuous, settled,
And they you -
you and your dreams,
you and your visions,
you and your purposes,
you and your commands,
you and our neighbors,
We find your holiness not at bay,
but probing, pervading,
insisting, demanding.
And we yield, sometimes gladly,
sometimes resentfully,
sometimes late… or soon.
We yield because you, beyond us, are our God,
We are our creatures met your your holiness,
by your holiness made our true selves.
And we yield. Amen.
Walter Brueggemann from Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth
And Then You
We arranged our lives as best we can,
to keep your holiness at bay,
with our pieties,
our doctrines,
our liturgies,
our moralities,
our secret ideologies,
Safe, virtuous, settled,
And they you -
you and your dreams,
you and your visions,
you and your purposes,
you and your commands,
you and our neighbors,
We find your holiness not at bay,
but probing, pervading,
insisting, demanding.
And we yield, sometimes gladly,
sometimes resentfully,
sometimes late… or soon.
We yield because you, beyond us, are our God,
We are our creatures met your your holiness,
by your holiness made our true selves.
And we yield. Amen.
Walter Brueggemann from Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth
Justification
Wanted to buy this book for some time, but waiting for another of my fav author's book (which is scheduled for release in late September), so that I can save on the shipping...
NT Wright Chinese Intro
Chinese intro about NT Wright and New Perspective on Paul
When I tried to introduce his ideas to my fellowship last year, it was so difficult, because really not much Chinese material available...
認識賴特(N.T. Wright)
新保羅觀 New Perspective on Paul
When I tried to introduce his ideas to my fellowship last year, it was so difficult, because really not much Chinese material available...
認識賴特(N.T. Wright)
新保羅觀 New Perspective on Paul
Monday, July 27, 2009
Worship and work must be one!
I have been reading a Bible study book on justice and mercy. The lyrics of this song was quoted for reflecting what we meant by worship nowadays. Do we worship to get a good "feeling" of "being spiritual"? What do we mean by worship? Are we worshipping God or worshipping the worship itself??
This song is originally written in Sri Lanka. "Worship and work must be one." We are committed to serve humanity and seek a just and healing society.
(Biblical references: Isaiah 1:10-17,, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:1-8)
Lyrics:
Worship the Lord!
Praise the Creator, the Spirit, the Son,
raising our hands
in devotion to God who is one!
Raising our hands as a sign of rejoicing,
and with our lips our togetherness voicing,
giving ourselves to a life of creativeness,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Praying and training that we be a blessing,
and by our handiwork daily confessing:
we are committed to serving humanity,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Called to be partners with God in creation,
looking to Christ for each day’s inspiration,
we must be ready for risk and for sacrifice,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Bringing the bread and the wine to the table,
asking that we may be led and enabled,
truly united to build new communities,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Now in response to the life you are giving,
help us, Creator, to offer our living,
seeking a just and a healing society,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Listen to the song here.
This song is originally written in Sri Lanka. "Worship and work must be one." We are committed to serve humanity and seek a just and healing society.
(Biblical references: Isaiah 1:10-17,, Amos 5:21-24, Micah 6:1-8)
Lyrics:
Worship the Lord!
Praise the Creator, the Spirit, the Son,
raising our hands
in devotion to God who is one!
Raising our hands as a sign of rejoicing,
and with our lips our togetherness voicing,
giving ourselves to a life of creativeness,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Praying and training that we be a blessing,
and by our handiwork daily confessing:
we are committed to serving humanity,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Called to be partners with God in creation,
looking to Christ for each day’s inspiration,
we must be ready for risk and for sacrifice,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Bringing the bread and the wine to the table,
asking that we may be led and enabled,
truly united to build new communities,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Now in response to the life you are giving,
help us, Creator, to offer our living,
seeking a just and a healing society,
worship and work must be one.
Worship the Lord…
Listen to the song here.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
19/7/09 Ming Pao 誰要做海嘯後的靈性導師？
【明報專訊】靈修，就是靈性的修養或操練。教徒有規律的抽出時間獨處，進行默想、祈禱、讀經等等宗教活動，就是刻意抽離凡俗的生活，進入神聖的時空，好以更新的自我再次返入紅塵。於是靈修在本質上就是對現世生活作出異議，甚至是反抗一切現世的價值主張，哪怕這些價值主張披上宗教的外衣。四世紀的沙漠修士湧現，就是對基督教成為國教後，迅速庸俗化的強力回應。
八十年代以前，香港教會提供的靈修指導材料選擇很少，七八十年代引起風尚的，是由當時基督教的年輕領袖蘇恩佩推介翻譯傅士德（Richard Foster）的《屬靈操練禮讚》，配合她領導的「突破」運動，以「逆流而上、抗衡文化」為軸心，向消費主義、資本主義、個人主義開戰，提出以基督教傳統中不同的操練——靜默、禁食、簡樸、研究、服侍、慶祝等等由內在至外在、由個人的自我意識至群體服務等多角度的操練指南。當時的「突破」更屬意推動簡樸，隨後譯出了傅士德的《簡樸生活真諦》。
同期廣為信徒關注的，是由溫偉耀引介、荷蘭籍天主教神父盧雲（Henri Nouwen）一套靈修方法為核心的屬靈操練。比起「突破」針對文化抗衡的靈修取向，盧雲更為關注發達資本主義社會的邊緣人，例如《負傷的治療者》The Wounded Healer指受苦經驗是牧養工作的前提、《奉耶穌的名》認為廿一世紀的領袖的試探是「成為相關、受歡迎、有權勢」，《羅馬城的小丑戲》則延續自《從幻想到祈禱》中，着重獨處、獨身、禱告及默觀等基督教大公傳統的靈修核心，其中談及羅馬城的大而又空蕩蕩的教堂，盧雲更指出它們的無用之用，跟今天主導社會的積效主義、「資源增值」，大異奇趣。
值得一題的是教會社會也同樣重視的「加爾各答的天使」德蘭修女，她體驗的「在窮人身上看見基督」呼喚中產階級信徒關注貧窮人，要信徒在身體力行中進行靈修。
以上注重聆聽內心聲音、獨處、默觀、勞動、服侍等等在八九十年代在教會廣為學效的靈修方法，在廿一世紀的香港，忽然銷聲匿迹。
九七後的靈性狀况
九七前信徒的靈性操練主要針對教育、社會工作及醫療等，三種外國傳教士來華所必要開展的福音預備工作。八十年代主導的靈修方法，非常配合這些行業的工作倫理（work ethic）。九七後香港的大學畢業生大多投入金融服務業，相應興起了所謂「職場神學」，針對他們出版的靈修書是《市井聖徒》。與八十年代以前的《荒漠甘泉》形式相似，同樣是個人角度的信仰反省，可以說是後者的「潮」版。
在金融服務業工作的信徒，由於靈修時間少，能夠閱讀的聖經經文短，提供的思考空間更有限，結果是長期對於聖經解讀能力的虧空。最近我接觸的大專生中，有已返教會十年經驗的，居然不知聖徒保羅是誰。教會極須進行信徒聖經知識調查，以確認及面對信徒靈性知識貧乏的事實。
由商界主導的教會活動
另外，佔據信徒緊迫的時間表的，是一系列企業文化主導的大型教會活動／運動。以往教會辦的大型活動只有兩類，佈道會與培靈會，簡單而言，就是找一些能言善道的牧師，向教會內（培靈）及教會外（佈道）講道。九七後忽然出現了眾多新型的聚會﹕國慶祈禱會、耶穌大巡行、千人祈禱分享會、全球公禱日等等。而舊有的大型佈道會，更有成為政府慶回歸的活動之一者。這些活動都轉由商界主導舉辦、設計，以及由商界領袖甚至是官員演說，帶出的信息已不再關乎內心敬虔、犧牲、服務；相反主要的信息是（新自由主義經濟中）逆境自強、如何成功、在工作（特別是金融服務業）的挑戰中「經歷神」。靈修變相成為支持信徒逆境自強（無論社會和工作環境多麼糟糕），甚至成功取得更多名和利的動力，擁抱主流價值。
還有，九七前的教會領袖大多是神職人員，即或沒有什麼高深神學理論，牧會起碼廿年以上。九七後香港卻出現新的靈性指標，只要是有社會身分，特別是企業及政治身分，立時成為大型聚會的站台人。於是黃仁龍在禁毒報告書引一段時空錯置的箴言、曾俊華誤引一位德國神學家，本來無非為其工作加強基督教對政府的合法性，效果卻是進一步對基督教進行挪用，抽空教會的知識基礎，改造了基督教的靈性。
重拾古典屬靈操練
新的教會「話事人」長於籌辦各種event，以保險業為例，筆者一位剛畢業入行一年的友人，已可以兩三日內動員200人籌辦嘉年華會。這種動員及組織類似大球場級數的活動的能力，是傳統教會組織的什麼領袖訓練，所望塵莫及的。
配合教徒缺乏教導聖經、教會對（中國）市場的渴求、九七後「類國教」位置的失落、中產教徒在M型社會的焦慮，古老的獨處、默想已顯得奢侈，研究聖經、堅持真理甚至會「危害」人際關係，今時今日已顯得不合時宜；反而靈活、服從、忍耐、服務、追求卓越等，成為了主流社會輕易挪用的靈性質素。然而，經歷金融海嘯的衝擊，中產信徒可有新的靈性導師？是要堅持跟隨社會的「成功人士」的靈性？還是要回到（抗衡資本主義的）古典的屬靈操練？又還是基督教要來一次徹底的社會Vs.神學對話，結合大公教會的智慧與本地進步思維，建構新一代公義、參與、可持續的靈性？
文 吳國偉（大公神學工作室）
八十年代以前，香港教會提供的靈修指導材料選擇很少，七八十年代引起風尚的，是由當時基督教的年輕領袖蘇恩佩推介翻譯傅士德（Richard Foster）的《屬靈操練禮讚》，配合她領導的「突破」運動，以「逆流而上、抗衡文化」為軸心，向消費主義、資本主義、個人主義開戰，提出以基督教傳統中不同的操練——靜默、禁食、簡樸、研究、服侍、慶祝等等由內在至外在、由個人的自我意識至群體服務等多角度的操練指南。當時的「突破」更屬意推動簡樸，隨後譯出了傅士德的《簡樸生活真諦》。
同期廣為信徒關注的，是由溫偉耀引介、荷蘭籍天主教神父盧雲（Henri Nouwen）一套靈修方法為核心的屬靈操練。比起「突破」針對文化抗衡的靈修取向，盧雲更為關注發達資本主義社會的邊緣人，例如《負傷的治療者》The Wounded Healer指受苦經驗是牧養工作的前提、《奉耶穌的名》認為廿一世紀的領袖的試探是「成為相關、受歡迎、有權勢」，《羅馬城的小丑戲》則延續自《從幻想到祈禱》中，着重獨處、獨身、禱告及默觀等基督教大公傳統的靈修核心，其中談及羅馬城的大而又空蕩蕩的教堂，盧雲更指出它們的無用之用，跟今天主導社會的積效主義、「資源增值」，大異奇趣。
值得一題的是教會社會也同樣重視的「加爾各答的天使」德蘭修女，她體驗的「在窮人身上看見基督」呼喚中產階級信徒關注貧窮人，要信徒在身體力行中進行靈修。
以上注重聆聽內心聲音、獨處、默觀、勞動、服侍等等在八九十年代在教會廣為學效的靈修方法，在廿一世紀的香港，忽然銷聲匿迹。
九七後的靈性狀况
九七前信徒的靈性操練主要針對教育、社會工作及醫療等，三種外國傳教士來華所必要開展的福音預備工作。八十年代主導的靈修方法，非常配合這些行業的工作倫理（work ethic）。九七後香港的大學畢業生大多投入金融服務業，相應興起了所謂「職場神學」，針對他們出版的靈修書是《市井聖徒》。與八十年代以前的《荒漠甘泉》形式相似，同樣是個人角度的信仰反省，可以說是後者的「潮」版。
在金融服務業工作的信徒，由於靈修時間少，能夠閱讀的聖經經文短，提供的思考空間更有限，結果是長期對於聖經解讀能力的虧空。最近我接觸的大專生中，有已返教會十年經驗的，居然不知聖徒保羅是誰。教會極須進行信徒聖經知識調查，以確認及面對信徒靈性知識貧乏的事實。
由商界主導的教會活動
另外，佔據信徒緊迫的時間表的，是一系列企業文化主導的大型教會活動／運動。以往教會辦的大型活動只有兩類，佈道會與培靈會，簡單而言，就是找一些能言善道的牧師，向教會內（培靈）及教會外（佈道）講道。九七後忽然出現了眾多新型的聚會﹕國慶祈禱會、耶穌大巡行、千人祈禱分享會、全球公禱日等等。而舊有的大型佈道會，更有成為政府慶回歸的活動之一者。這些活動都轉由商界主導舉辦、設計，以及由商界領袖甚至是官員演說，帶出的信息已不再關乎內心敬虔、犧牲、服務；相反主要的信息是（新自由主義經濟中）逆境自強、如何成功、在工作（特別是金融服務業）的挑戰中「經歷神」。靈修變相成為支持信徒逆境自強（無論社會和工作環境多麼糟糕），甚至成功取得更多名和利的動力，擁抱主流價值。
還有，九七前的教會領袖大多是神職人員，即或沒有什麼高深神學理論，牧會起碼廿年以上。九七後香港卻出現新的靈性指標，只要是有社會身分，特別是企業及政治身分，立時成為大型聚會的站台人。於是黃仁龍在禁毒報告書引一段時空錯置的箴言、曾俊華誤引一位德國神學家，本來無非為其工作加強基督教對政府的合法性，效果卻是進一步對基督教進行挪用，抽空教會的知識基礎，改造了基督教的靈性。
重拾古典屬靈操練
新的教會「話事人」長於籌辦各種event，以保險業為例，筆者一位剛畢業入行一年的友人，已可以兩三日內動員200人籌辦嘉年華會。這種動員及組織類似大球場級數的活動的能力，是傳統教會組織的什麼領袖訓練，所望塵莫及的。
配合教徒缺乏教導聖經、教會對（中國）市場的渴求、九七後「類國教」位置的失落、中產教徒在M型社會的焦慮，古老的獨處、默想已顯得奢侈，研究聖經、堅持真理甚至會「危害」人際關係，今時今日已顯得不合時宜；反而靈活、服從、忍耐、服務、追求卓越等，成為了主流社會輕易挪用的靈性質素。然而，經歷金融海嘯的衝擊，中產信徒可有新的靈性導師？是要堅持跟隨社會的「成功人士」的靈性？還是要回到（抗衡資本主義的）古典的屬靈操練？又還是基督教要來一次徹底的社會Vs.神學對話，結合大公教會的智慧與本地進步思維，建構新一代公義、參與、可持續的靈性？
文 吳國偉（大公神學工作室）
Ming Pao 19/7/09 走在窮人運動路上﹕基督信仰反思
【明報專訊】金融海嘯席捲全球，香港亦不能倖免，政府除了天天粉飾太平，或猶如雙面先知般一邊預言失業率將會上升，另一邊則推出壓低工資的財政預算案。面對困局，政府只懂小恩小惠式派糖，為七一降溫，又或靠強迫學生驗毒轉移市民視線。金融海嘯的出現是資本高度累積和金融市場瘋狂發展的後果，香港的堅尼系數不斷上升，已是發達國家中數一數二貧富懸殊的地區。面對危機中的經濟體系和資源分配，基督教有何回應？金融海嘯對基督徒的靈性生活，又有何啟示？
提及基督教和經濟制度的關連，很容易想起韋伯的《新教倫理與資本主義精神》。按韋伯的分析，基督新教之所以引發資本主義的出現，是由於信徒不確定自己能否得救，因此透過累積財富以獲取地上成就，讓自己受上帝祝福，使救恩有多一點的確定。相反，當代香港大部分信徒十分確定自己將會得救，不過，與韋伯分析的基督教相同的，是香港社會的信仰個人化傾向，對個人靈魂能否得救的重視，積極地傳狹義的福音，領人歸主，並在大風大浪中自求多福，甚或向上流社會招手以求教會在逆境擴充，遺忘了上帝救贖的普世面向。
舊約財富分配的啟示
在《聖經》舊約古以色列的社會中，就有「禧年」的理想社會構想（《利未記》第25章，《申命記》第14章），解決資源過分集中於某一群人，造成特權階級和貧窮人缺乏基本生存權利的問題。每逢禧年，即每四十九周年之後，為奴者可以得自由和釋放，欠債的得到豁免，賣出的產業可以贖回，土地停耕休養生息，其間自然而生的果實和農作物任何人都可以享用。在古代社會，人們可能因天災人禍而要變賣土地甚至為奴，以換取金錢渡過難關，禧年的設立正好讓他們在終其天年之內，有重獲新生的機會，整體社會的財產分配，結構性地阻截財富無限積聚，既拉近貧富差距，也讓貧窮不會世代延續。
不少現代社會的政府也建立了健全的財富再分配制度，以縮減貧富懸殊和平衡市場分配中的不平等。近年香港卻反其道而行，例如幾年前取消遺產稅，讓富者愈富貧者愈貧，貧與富跨代延續下去；又實行高地價政策，不論自住還是營商，土地是市民最高的開支之一，人們為土地（租金或供樓）勞碌，甚至面對金融海嘯老闆乘機裁員、工作環境日益惡劣的情况下，也只能啞忍。香港經濟起飛至今也快五十年了，如果來一個禧年，人人皆有自己的物業，基本生存所需得以解決，就不會被資本家剝削和奴役，甚至要跨代供樓，青少年一出生便要為上一代的居住權賣身。
窮人為本的福音
耶穌作為基督教的靈魂人物（教內稱之為神的兒子），是窮人運動的推動者。他一出道就宣告福音是為解放貧苦大眾和受壓逼者而設的，「主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人。差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，報告神悅納人的禧年」（《路加福音》第4章 18至19節）。耶穌叫少年財主變賣家財分給窮人然後跟隨他（《馬太福音》第19章 16至24節），又說貧窮的人有福，因為上帝的國是他們的（《路加福音》第6章 20節）。耶穌出身低下階層，傳道時亦常與社會最底層的大眾在一起，並且挑戰當時宗教及政治領袖對信仰的理解，最經典的例子是耶穌衝擊聖殿，他不滿宗教領袖「教商勾結」，將聖殿變成賊窩（《馬可福音》第11章15至19節）。然而耶穌被膏的時候，似乎不認同門徒賙濟窮人的建議（《馬太福音》第26章 6至13節），耶穌回答「窮人常與你們同在，但你們不常有我」，其實是呼應舊約（《申命記》第15章11節）「原來那地上的窮人永不斷絕」，意思就是賙濟的方法不能從根源上鏟除貧窮。
賙濟的方法並不可取，原因是救濟和慈惠這類模式，並沒有從根源上解決貧富懸殊的結構性問題。香港政府在政策上一方面優惠資本家和投資者，另一方面又缺乏保障勞工和消費者的相關法例，如集體談判權、最低工資最高工時立法和反壟斷/公平競爭法等，小市民、消費者和勞工議價能力相對薄弱。政府並不積極扮演資源再分配的角色，對民間提出的全民退休保障和失業緩助金充耳不聞，安全網就只有被污名化了的綜援。從前遍地機會的香港不再，社會流動漸漸緩慢起來，資本集中於最富有的人手上，窮人再努力工作也不夠餬口。如果不能改變現時社會資源分配的結構，再多的救濟只能暫緩燃眉之急，甚至成為資本家建立形象的手段，而沒有實質幫助窮人脫貧的效果。這樣看來，如果基督再來到香港的話，形象應該與「長毛」相像，而不是那些慈善家。
普世救贖Vs.個人化的信仰
德國神學家默茨（Johann Baptist Metz）指出，基督教的救贖不只是個人靈魂的得救，更重要的是整個社會形態的救贖。近代基督教神學將信仰私人化是一大失誤，將宗教看成非政治更是不可能，因為「非政治」本身就是一種政治的立場，讓信徒以為宗教無關政治，不去過問現存政權及社會資源分配不公義的問題，實在是「對上帝的拯救事業一種直接的放棄」。另一名德國神學家莫特曼（Jurgen Moltmann）亦指出，耶穌之死本身就是一政治事件，耶穌被羅馬官處死、跟隨者殉道等，十字架這刑具本身就提醒受壓逼和為奴者的受難意識，而這樣的意識絕對與現世政權有關，激發人們參與政治解放的行動。十字架就成了批判現世政權的危險回憶（dangerous memory）。
對比起財政司司長在本年度財政預算案結語中引用一位德國神學家的話，試圖為他那份不理人民死活的預算案增加認受性，實在是對德國神學界一個極大的侮辱。德國在二次世界大戰時侵略其他國家、國內設集中營及屠殺猶太人，造成神學界中極大的震撼，信徒和神學家們無法不正視這樣的現實。教會在希特勒政權下默不作聲，就等如默許暴力和屠殺。又由於歐洲的殖民擴張及種種不平等的經濟及政治條約，剝削欺壓第三世界人民，讓默茨提出歐洲神學必須是「一種在政治上敏感的悔改神學」。特區政府若真的重視「一個道德社會的最終考驗，端視我們給予下一代一個怎樣的社會」的主張，就請為下一代營造公平、適合生存和有未來有盼望的環境。資本不要再被操控在一小撮人手上，下一代也不需要再為土地和基本生活保障而愁苦和受控制，青年人也不用在金融海嘯的時候遭受月薪四千元的待遇，更毋須活在無盼望無出路的社會，靠賭、毒麻醉自己，然後還要被懲罰。
普世教會合一運動
這些問題早在大公教會的議事日程。為了回應經濟制度上種種的不平等，普世教會協會（World Council of Churches）在1978年舉行名為「政治經濟、倫理與神學﹕當代的挑戰」會議，並成立經濟事務諮詢小組研究相關課題，其後確立社會的經濟制度，應以「公義、參與、可持續」為重要原則。公義即任何經濟或科技發展均以人民的基本需要為首要理由；參與即確認窮人有權參與就業問題的決策，否則將不可能有公義的財富分配制度；可持續就是要顧及環境資源的限制，不無窮無盡地發展經濟，破壞環境後最終財富卻落入少數人手中。
《聖經》中的先知一方面強調社會資源需要公義地分配，貧苦大眾也能獲得生存的基本所需；另一方面為社會提供真實的盼望，靠的就是貼近貧窮人的社會分析、結構性地解決貧窮問題的決心，以及不畏強權和既得利益者的勇氣，並前瞻社會未來應走的路。金融海嘯對靈性生活的啟示，就是重新回憶耶穌被釘十字架的危險記憶，並走在耶穌和先知解放受壓迫者的路上，跟隨耶穌窮人運動的腳蹤，以解放被壓迫者和謀求窮人的福祉為己任；重拾禧年制度的精神，於現世尋求更公義的財富分配制度，一起參與上帝對整個人類社會拯救的事業。
文 劉劍玲（香港基督徒學生運動執行幹事）
提及基督教和經濟制度的關連，很容易想起韋伯的《新教倫理與資本主義精神》。按韋伯的分析，基督新教之所以引發資本主義的出現，是由於信徒不確定自己能否得救，因此透過累積財富以獲取地上成就，讓自己受上帝祝福，使救恩有多一點的確定。相反，當代香港大部分信徒十分確定自己將會得救，不過，與韋伯分析的基督教相同的，是香港社會的信仰個人化傾向，對個人靈魂能否得救的重視，積極地傳狹義的福音，領人歸主，並在大風大浪中自求多福，甚或向上流社會招手以求教會在逆境擴充，遺忘了上帝救贖的普世面向。
舊約財富分配的啟示
在《聖經》舊約古以色列的社會中，就有「禧年」的理想社會構想（《利未記》第25章，《申命記》第14章），解決資源過分集中於某一群人，造成特權階級和貧窮人缺乏基本生存權利的問題。每逢禧年，即每四十九周年之後，為奴者可以得自由和釋放，欠債的得到豁免，賣出的產業可以贖回，土地停耕休養生息，其間自然而生的果實和農作物任何人都可以享用。在古代社會，人們可能因天災人禍而要變賣土地甚至為奴，以換取金錢渡過難關，禧年的設立正好讓他們在終其天年之內，有重獲新生的機會，整體社會的財產分配，結構性地阻截財富無限積聚，既拉近貧富差距，也讓貧窮不會世代延續。
不少現代社會的政府也建立了健全的財富再分配制度，以縮減貧富懸殊和平衡市場分配中的不平等。近年香港卻反其道而行，例如幾年前取消遺產稅，讓富者愈富貧者愈貧，貧與富跨代延續下去；又實行高地價政策，不論自住還是營商，土地是市民最高的開支之一，人們為土地（租金或供樓）勞碌，甚至面對金融海嘯老闆乘機裁員、工作環境日益惡劣的情况下，也只能啞忍。香港經濟起飛至今也快五十年了，如果來一個禧年，人人皆有自己的物業，基本生存所需得以解決，就不會被資本家剝削和奴役，甚至要跨代供樓，青少年一出生便要為上一代的居住權賣身。
窮人為本的福音
耶穌作為基督教的靈魂人物（教內稱之為神的兒子），是窮人運動的推動者。他一出道就宣告福音是為解放貧苦大眾和受壓逼者而設的，「主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人。差遣我報告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由，報告神悅納人的禧年」（《路加福音》第4章 18至19節）。耶穌叫少年財主變賣家財分給窮人然後跟隨他（《馬太福音》第19章 16至24節），又說貧窮的人有福，因為上帝的國是他們的（《路加福音》第6章 20節）。耶穌出身低下階層，傳道時亦常與社會最底層的大眾在一起，並且挑戰當時宗教及政治領袖對信仰的理解，最經典的例子是耶穌衝擊聖殿，他不滿宗教領袖「教商勾結」，將聖殿變成賊窩（《馬可福音》第11章15至19節）。然而耶穌被膏的時候，似乎不認同門徒賙濟窮人的建議（《馬太福音》第26章 6至13節），耶穌回答「窮人常與你們同在，但你們不常有我」，其實是呼應舊約（《申命記》第15章11節）「原來那地上的窮人永不斷絕」，意思就是賙濟的方法不能從根源上鏟除貧窮。
賙濟的方法並不可取，原因是救濟和慈惠這類模式，並沒有從根源上解決貧富懸殊的結構性問題。香港政府在政策上一方面優惠資本家和投資者，另一方面又缺乏保障勞工和消費者的相關法例，如集體談判權、最低工資最高工時立法和反壟斷/公平競爭法等，小市民、消費者和勞工議價能力相對薄弱。政府並不積極扮演資源再分配的角色，對民間提出的全民退休保障和失業緩助金充耳不聞，安全網就只有被污名化了的綜援。從前遍地機會的香港不再，社會流動漸漸緩慢起來，資本集中於最富有的人手上，窮人再努力工作也不夠餬口。如果不能改變現時社會資源分配的結構，再多的救濟只能暫緩燃眉之急，甚至成為資本家建立形象的手段，而沒有實質幫助窮人脫貧的效果。這樣看來，如果基督再來到香港的話，形象應該與「長毛」相像，而不是那些慈善家。
普世救贖Vs.個人化的信仰
德國神學家默茨（Johann Baptist Metz）指出，基督教的救贖不只是個人靈魂的得救，更重要的是整個社會形態的救贖。近代基督教神學將信仰私人化是一大失誤，將宗教看成非政治更是不可能，因為「非政治」本身就是一種政治的立場，讓信徒以為宗教無關政治，不去過問現存政權及社會資源分配不公義的問題，實在是「對上帝的拯救事業一種直接的放棄」。另一名德國神學家莫特曼（Jurgen Moltmann）亦指出，耶穌之死本身就是一政治事件，耶穌被羅馬官處死、跟隨者殉道等，十字架這刑具本身就提醒受壓逼和為奴者的受難意識，而這樣的意識絕對與現世政權有關，激發人們參與政治解放的行動。十字架就成了批判現世政權的危險回憶（dangerous memory）。
對比起財政司司長在本年度財政預算案結語中引用一位德國神學家的話，試圖為他那份不理人民死活的預算案增加認受性，實在是對德國神學界一個極大的侮辱。德國在二次世界大戰時侵略其他國家、國內設集中營及屠殺猶太人，造成神學界中極大的震撼，信徒和神學家們無法不正視這樣的現實。教會在希特勒政權下默不作聲，就等如默許暴力和屠殺。又由於歐洲的殖民擴張及種種不平等的經濟及政治條約，剝削欺壓第三世界人民，讓默茨提出歐洲神學必須是「一種在政治上敏感的悔改神學」。特區政府若真的重視「一個道德社會的最終考驗，端視我們給予下一代一個怎樣的社會」的主張，就請為下一代營造公平、適合生存和有未來有盼望的環境。資本不要再被操控在一小撮人手上，下一代也不需要再為土地和基本生活保障而愁苦和受控制，青年人也不用在金融海嘯的時候遭受月薪四千元的待遇，更毋須活在無盼望無出路的社會，靠賭、毒麻醉自己，然後還要被懲罰。
普世教會合一運動
這些問題早在大公教會的議事日程。為了回應經濟制度上種種的不平等，普世教會協會（World Council of Churches）在1978年舉行名為「政治經濟、倫理與神學﹕當代的挑戰」會議，並成立經濟事務諮詢小組研究相關課題，其後確立社會的經濟制度，應以「公義、參與、可持續」為重要原則。公義即任何經濟或科技發展均以人民的基本需要為首要理由；參與即確認窮人有權參與就業問題的決策，否則將不可能有公義的財富分配制度；可持續就是要顧及環境資源的限制，不無窮無盡地發展經濟，破壞環境後最終財富卻落入少數人手中。
《聖經》中的先知一方面強調社會資源需要公義地分配，貧苦大眾也能獲得生存的基本所需；另一方面為社會提供真實的盼望，靠的就是貼近貧窮人的社會分析、結構性地解決貧窮問題的決心，以及不畏強權和既得利益者的勇氣，並前瞻社會未來應走的路。金融海嘯對靈性生活的啟示，就是重新回憶耶穌被釘十字架的危險記憶，並走在耶穌和先知解放受壓迫者的路上，跟隨耶穌窮人運動的腳蹤，以解放被壓迫者和謀求窮人的福祉為己任；重拾禧年制度的精神，於現世尋求更公義的財富分配制度，一起參與上帝對整個人類社會拯救的事業。
文 劉劍玲（香港基督徒學生運動執行幹事）
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Evangelism and the Kingdom of God
Evangelism and the Kingdom of God
What is meant by evangelism? Converting people into accepting Jesus as their personal saviour??
Yes, and no.
This article divides evangelism into 4 aspects.
1. Conversion evangelism
2. Discipling evangelism
3. Justice evangelism
4. Culture evangelism
Go and bring the "good news" to the world!
What is meant by evangelism? Converting people into accepting Jesus as their personal saviour??
Yes, and no.
This article divides evangelism into 4 aspects.
1. Conversion evangelism
2. Discipling evangelism
3. Justice evangelism
4. Culture evangelism
Go and bring the "good news" to the world!
My experience of visiting women who came from China
I have shared about the visit last Sunday on my other blog, since more people read that blog...
http://booksntravel.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/women-from-china-part1/
http://booksntravel.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/women-from-china-part2/
I think these people are the one being despised now, just like tax collectors in Jesus' days maybe??
http://booksntravel.wordpress.
http://booksntravel.wordpress.
I think these people are the one being despised now, just like tax collectors in Jesus' days maybe??
Friday, July 10, 2009
False Dichotomies in Mission
One of the points discussed in this article by Christopher Wright, I think this first point is the most neglected in evangelical churches now...
We have tended to separate the individual from the cosmic and corporate impact of the gospel, and to prioritize the first. That is, we put personal salvation and individual evangelism at the centre of all our efforts, (and of course individual evangelism is an essential part of our commitment.). But Paul’s order of the gospel message in Ephesians, and Colossians 1:15-26, is Creation (all things in heaven and earth, created by Christ, sustained by Christ and redeemed by Christ), then:, church (with Christ as head), and then individual Gentile believers: ‘and you also’. All of this, says Paul, is ‘reconciled through the blood of Christ shed on the cross’. So we are not saved out of creation, but as part of creation that God has redeemed through Christ. The church is not just a container for souls till they get to heaven, but the living demonstration of the unity that is God’s intention for creation, in itself a ‘preaching’ to the principalities and powers because of what God has accomplished and proved in the creation of ‘one new humanity’ in Christ. All this we learn from Ephesians and Colossians, but we still tend to put all our emphasis on getting individuals saved.
We have tended to separate the individual from the cosmic and corporate impact of the gospel, and to prioritize the first. That is, we put personal salvation and individual evangelism at the centre of all our efforts, (and of course individual evangelism is an essential part of our commitment.). But Paul’s order of the gospel message in Ephesians, and Colossians 1:15-26, is Creation (all things in heaven and earth, created by Christ, sustained by Christ and redeemed by Christ), then:, church (with Christ as head), and then individual Gentile believers: ‘and you also’. All of this, says Paul, is ‘reconciled through the blood of Christ shed on the cross’. So we are not saved out of creation, but as part of creation that God has redeemed through Christ. The church is not just a container for souls till they get to heaven, but the living demonstration of the unity that is God’s intention for creation, in itself a ‘preaching’ to the principalities and powers because of what God has accomplished and proved in the creation of ‘one new humanity’ in Christ. All this we learn from Ephesians and Colossians, but we still tend to put all our emphasis on getting individuals saved.
The bad result of this weakened theology is that Christians evangelized by such a truncated version of the biblical gospel have little interest in the world, the public square, God’s plan for society and the nations, and even less understanding of God’s intention for creation itself. The scale of our mission efforts therefore is in danger of being a lot less than the scope of the mission of God.
This second point is important, but I think a significant portion of Christians do realise its importance, even though they may not be able to do it, but for the first point, I don't think many have even realised their problem...
We have tended to separate word and deed, or proclamation and demonstration, and to prioritize the first. But again, both are essential and integral to the presentation of the gospel, and to bringing about the obedience of faith among all nations...
The bad result of this separation is that our evangelistic efforts are sometimes derided by the world, because people discern the hypocrisy of those who talk a lot but whose lives don’t support what they say. Lack of integrity in this area has been identified by various researches as the major obstacle to the acceptance of the message of the gospel.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Reflection on China Trip (May 09)
I have never wanted to go on medical mission trips.
The reason I went on this trip is because I have wanted to explore options on how to serve people in need, especially those who are neglected by most.
That was why I went to visit this leprosy village.
Many of these people were scarred by their disease, not just physically, also psychologically. Many of them were treated badly as they were lepers. I heard a story that one was almost killed by her own parents as a kid after she contracted the disease. Most were isolated in these villages for their whole lives.
They hadn't seen children in years (they were thrilled when some volunteers brought their own kids there to visit them last time), and they were excited when volunteers brought them to a restaurant.
The leader asked if we thought it was worth it, for over 10 of us travelled for 6-7 hours (and spent several hundred dollars) in order to visit a few surviving residents in the village. In my heart, I immediately answered yes, it was definitely worth it.
God never evaluates if a mission is "worth it" by the number or the statistics. It's the people that He values, and God is especially concerned about the poor, the neglected, the oppressed.
While I was in the village, an old man asked me about the pain in his leg. In that moment, I really don't know what to do. I think there may be some infection, I'm not sure. I touched him, that was the only I could think of then. I thought touching him while trying to check out his pain probably could help a bit, not because I could heal by touch like Jesus, but because it showed that I care, and I am not afraid of touching him. However, I don't know what else I can do, and then a preacher who was with us prayed for the old man.
I don't know what I am expected to do here, and I'm still thinking about it. I know if God wants to heal the old man, He can, but I don't know if I'm so brave as to be able to pray for the man like that. What if he did not get well? What would he think? At that moment, I just prayed to God, "Please heal him."
Then the next day, we went to take a look at Leung Fat's home, he was the first Chinese Christian and pastor. I was not used to doing this kind of "sightseeing" or even "shopping" during mission trips because my ex-church pastor would never allow these to happen in mission trips (which is a good thing, I think). However, God used even that sightseeing bit during sharing with staff in the hospital we visited in the afternoon.
I was told to give a talk on the treatment of pain to the staff in the hospital, actually this was kind of outside my expertise. I know a bit, but not a lot. Then to my surprise (and shock), someone asked a question!! On the management of a "real life case"!!! When he started talking about the case, and when I talked to the patient, I started to recall stuff I should have forgotten and then offered to seek answers for him after I come back to HK from others. That was when I realised God really uses you in places where you're not good at, and it's His power that accomplish things. Where you are weak, He is strong.
The reason I went on this trip is because I have wanted to explore options on how to serve people in need, especially those who are neglected by most.
That was why I went to visit this leprosy village.
Many of these people were scarred by their disease, not just physically, also psychologically. Many of them were treated badly as they were lepers. I heard a story that one was almost killed by her own parents as a kid after she contracted the disease. Most were isolated in these villages for their whole lives.
They hadn't seen children in years (they were thrilled when some volunteers brought their own kids there to visit them last time), and they were excited when volunteers brought them to a restaurant.
The leader asked if we thought it was worth it, for over 10 of us travelled for 6-7 hours (and spent several hundred dollars) in order to visit a few surviving residents in the village. In my heart, I immediately answered yes, it was definitely worth it.
God never evaluates if a mission is "worth it" by the number or the statistics. It's the people that He values, and God is especially concerned about the poor, the neglected, the oppressed.
While I was in the village, an old man asked me about the pain in his leg. In that moment, I really don't know what to do. I think there may be some infection, I'm not sure. I touched him, that was the only I could think of then. I thought touching him while trying to check out his pain probably could help a bit, not because I could heal by touch like Jesus, but because it showed that I care, and I am not afraid of touching him. However, I don't know what else I can do, and then a preacher who was with us prayed for the old man.
I don't know what I am expected to do here, and I'm still thinking about it. I know if God wants to heal the old man, He can, but I don't know if I'm so brave as to be able to pray for the man like that. What if he did not get well? What would he think? At that moment, I just prayed to God, "Please heal him."
Then the next day, we went to take a look at Leung Fat's home, he was the first Chinese Christian and pastor. I was not used to doing this kind of "sightseeing" or even "shopping" during mission trips because my ex-church pastor would never allow these to happen in mission trips (which is a good thing, I think). However, God used even that sightseeing bit during sharing with staff in the hospital we visited in the afternoon.
I was told to give a talk on the treatment of pain to the staff in the hospital, actually this was kind of outside my expertise. I know a bit, but not a lot. Then to my surprise (and shock), someone asked a question!! On the management of a "real life case"!!! When he started talking about the case, and when I talked to the patient, I started to recall stuff I should have forgotten and then offered to seek answers for him after I come back to HK from others. That was when I realised God really uses you in places where you're not good at, and it's His power that accomplish things. Where you are weak, He is strong.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
M & J Conference (1 May)
After my trip to Peru, I started seriously thinking what I can do to "help".
That's why I have attended the M & J Conference earlier this month.
Apart from the keynote speech, conclusion and discussion, each of us can attend two workshops.
I have chosen the following two workshops.
> Planning and preparing for relief work overseas
> Strawberry growing in Afghanistan - doing community development in war-ravaged countries
M & J stand for Mercy and Justice, which is quoted from the most frequently quoted verse from Micah (6:8). =P
Integral Mission is one of the concepts introduced to me. When we talked about mission, it's most often about evangelisation, saving the "soul" but integral mission is about body AND soul!
The Keynote Speech is delivered by Rev. Kennedy Dhanabalan. The title is Reflecting God's character in our lives.
God's throne is founded on righteousness and justice.
Psalms 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee.
Old Testament World is the same as what we see in the modern world.
Amos 2:6-8 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they that trample the head of the poor into the dust of the
earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same maiden, so that my holy name is profaned; they lay themselves down beside every altar upon garments taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
Amos 2:6-8 "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Micah 6:6-8 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
God is righteous and just, He revealed His Holiness in His commitment to justice and righteousness. If we want to be Holy, we need to reflect God's righteousness and justice.
In his ending speech, he mentioned the purpose of our mission is being like Christ. However, what is meant by being like Christ?
During Christmas, we sing lullabies to put baby Jesus to sleep, in Easter, we raise him from dead and send him up to heaven. We want our Jesus to be either asleep or high in heaven???!!!
In the first chapter of Mark, Malachi 3:1 was quoted."Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." What is the context of this??
We need to check the previous verse, Malachi 2:17. You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Every one who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
The answer to the question: where is the God of Justice? The answer is in the verse quoted by Mark.
How did Jesus do justice?
Rev. Kennedy Dhanabalan divided what Jesus did into 2 aspects.
1. Justice in the social arena (Status of women/Samaritans, the poor and the marginalised)
2. Justice in the economic arena (Caring for the poor)
I like his quote from a Latin American Jesuit priest (I forgot who said this), "if I give food, they called me a Saint; if I ask why they do not give food, they called me a Communist." I guess this is partly why Jesus got crucified.
Check this out, it's interesting, I have also posted this on the right hand column, see how rich you are, and think about what kind of good you can do.
That's why I have attended the M & J Conference earlier this month.
Apart from the keynote speech, conclusion and discussion, each of us can attend two workshops.
I have chosen the following two workshops.
> Planning and preparing for relief work overseas
> Strawberry growing in Afghanistan - doing community development in war-ravaged countries
M & J stand for Mercy and Justice, which is quoted from the most frequently quoted verse from Micah (6:8). =P
Integral Mission is one of the concepts introduced to me. When we talked about mission, it's most often about evangelisation, saving the "soul" but integral mission is about body AND soul!
The Keynote Speech is delivered by Rev. Kennedy Dhanabalan. The title is Reflecting God's character in our lives.
God's throne is founded on righteousness and justice.
Psalms 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne;
steadfast love and faithfulness go before thee.
Old Testament World is the same as what we see in the modern world.
Amos 2:6-8 Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes -- they that trample the head of the poor into the dust of the
earth, and turn aside the way of the afflicted; a man and his father go in to the same maiden, so that my holy name is profaned; they lay themselves down beside every altar upon garments taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of those who have been fined.
Amos 2:6-8 "I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and cereal offerings, I will not accept them, and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Micah 6:6-8 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
God is righteous and just, He revealed His Holiness in His commitment to justice and righteousness. If we want to be Holy, we need to reflect God's righteousness and justice.
In his ending speech, he mentioned the purpose of our mission is being like Christ. However, what is meant by being like Christ?
During Christmas, we sing lullabies to put baby Jesus to sleep, in Easter, we raise him from dead and send him up to heaven. We want our Jesus to be either asleep or high in heaven???!!!
In the first chapter of Mark, Malachi 3:1 was quoted."Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." What is the context of this??
We need to check the previous verse, Malachi 2:17. You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Every one who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"
The answer to the question: where is the God of Justice? The answer is in the verse quoted by Mark.
How did Jesus do justice?
Rev. Kennedy Dhanabalan divided what Jesus did into 2 aspects.
1. Justice in the social arena (Status of women/Samaritans, the poor and the marginalised)
2. Justice in the economic arena (Caring for the poor)
I like his quote from a Latin American Jesuit priest (I forgot who said this), "if I give food, they called me a Saint; if I ask why they do not give food, they called me a Communist." I guess this is partly why Jesus got crucified.
Check this out, it's interesting, I have also posted this on the right hand column, see how rich you are, and think about what kind of good you can do.
I'm the 31,849,353 richest person on earth! Discover how rich you are! >> |
Monday, May 25, 2009
Reflections on Peru Trip
I have been back for more than 2 months, but still haven't really write this up...
That was the first time I have ever been to South America. It was a very precious experience, Latin America is really unlike any of the places I have visited. I went there to see Machu Picchu, Amazon and various different touristy places, but then I also ended up experiencing a culture that is very different from what I have ever seen before.
Latin America Christianity is very different from "Christianity" that I know of.
I thought I could accept different kinds of Christianity, I can accept icons, statues, rituals we commonly seen in Orthodox or Catholic Christianity, but the Catholicism in Latin America seems to be beyond my limit of acceptance. Some of these people here act no different from those in Wong Tai Sin Temple...
I was shocked when I first saw Virgin Mary pictures hanging in mirrors in cars, some even with bells, (I could only take this picture, since it was difficult to get a good pic in moving cars). I don't know exactly why they put the pic up, I don't think it's there to remind them to pray. =P It's like those we see in taxis in Hong Kong or China... just that the picture is different with a different idol...
You can also see these everywhere, this picture is taken in a restaurant. I don't think these look any different from idol worshipping we see in Hong Kong or China...
Take a look at the dress of Virgin Mary. It was deliberately made into the shape of a mountain, so that the people can worship the mountain when they worship the Virgin Mary...
The Jesuit church we visited in Arequipa, The various symbols used like suns, seashells are all from the Incan culture. Where's the limit here? In merging local culture with Christianity to gain acceptance of local people?
Our Christianity is already influenced a lot by various culture, we may not even realize it, for example, Jesus' birthday- Christmas is the birthday of Apollos. What if this merging makes it easier for local people to accept it? What should we choose? Preserving our version (which may not even be the original version of Christianity), or introducing local people to a form of Christianity that is easier for them to accept?
I've been reading about Christianity in Latin America since I came back, I don't think there is any answer for this. Different people have different concepts regarding what "Christianity" really is. Even older people in our churches don't worship Jesus the way we do, they have their own preconceptions about Jesus from their previous religions.
How do we define if something is "acceptable" and not??
In Pucara, a stop on the way from to Puno to Cusco. I saw this elderly lady wearing really shabby clothes, since she was the only beggar, we decided to give her 2 soles (equivalent to HKD 5), she looked so grateful to us, bowing and thanking us (even though we didn't know what she was saying). I think she must have really needed that money. The money we splurge on this trip may be equivalent to 10 years of income for people living here, for this old lady, maybe what she can't earn even in her whole life.
I saw so many beggars, some are sick, apparently with no money to get treated.
What can we do to help?
That was the first time I have ever been to South America. It was a very precious experience, Latin America is really unlike any of the places I have visited. I went there to see Machu Picchu, Amazon and various different touristy places, but then I also ended up experiencing a culture that is very different from what I have ever seen before.
Latin America Christianity is very different from "Christianity" that I know of.
I thought I could accept different kinds of Christianity, I can accept icons, statues, rituals we commonly seen in Orthodox or Catholic Christianity, but the Catholicism in Latin America seems to be beyond my limit of acceptance. Some of these people here act no different from those in Wong Tai Sin Temple...
I was shocked when I first saw Virgin Mary pictures hanging in mirrors in cars, some even with bells, (I could only take this picture, since it was difficult to get a good pic in moving cars). I don't know exactly why they put the pic up, I don't think it's there to remind them to pray. =P It's like those we see in taxis in Hong Kong or China... just that the picture is different with a different idol...
You can also see these everywhere, this picture is taken in a restaurant. I don't think these look any different from idol worshipping we see in Hong Kong or China...
Take a look at the dress of Virgin Mary. It was deliberately made into the shape of a mountain, so that the people can worship the mountain when they worship the Virgin Mary...
The Jesuit church we visited in Arequipa, The various symbols used like suns, seashells are all from the Incan culture. Where's the limit here? In merging local culture with Christianity to gain acceptance of local people?
Our Christianity is already influenced a lot by various culture, we may not even realize it, for example, Jesus' birthday- Christmas is the birthday of Apollos. What if this merging makes it easier for local people to accept it? What should we choose? Preserving our version (which may not even be the original version of Christianity), or introducing local people to a form of Christianity that is easier for them to accept?
I've been reading about Christianity in Latin America since I came back, I don't think there is any answer for this. Different people have different concepts regarding what "Christianity" really is. Even older people in our churches don't worship Jesus the way we do, they have their own preconceptions about Jesus from their previous religions.
How do we define if something is "acceptable" and not??
In Pucara, a stop on the way from to Puno to Cusco. I saw this elderly lady wearing really shabby clothes, since she was the only beggar, we decided to give her 2 soles (equivalent to HKD 5), she looked so grateful to us, bowing and thanking us (even though we didn't know what she was saying). I think she must have really needed that money. The money we splurge on this trip may be equivalent to 10 years of income for people living here, for this old lady, maybe what she can't earn even in her whole life.
I saw so many beggars, some are sick, apparently with no money to get treated.
What can we do to help?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
I Offer My Life
I learnt this song in the M & J Conference I attended earlier this month. I love this song, especially the highlighted parts of the lyrics. God can use all my pain, all my regrets, and everything I have been through...
(Verse 1)
All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Bridge)
What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life
(Verse 1)
All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Verse 2)
Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, alll of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Bridge)
What can we give
That you have not given?
And what do we have
That is not already yours?
All we possess
Are these lives we're living
That's what we give to you, Lord
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life
Lord I offer you my life
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Weakness in Christians, fellowship in ppl over 30
Read these two articles recently.
iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians
I hear of those who are depressed. Where do they turn for help? How do they admit their hurt? It seems so “unChristian” to admit depression, yet it is a reality for millions and millions of human beings. Porn addiction. Food addiction. Rage addiction. Obsessive needs for control. Chronic lying and dishonesty. How many pastors and Christian leaders live with these human frailties and flaws, and never seek help because they can’t admit what we all know is true about all of us? They speak of salvation, love and Jesus, but inside they feel like the damned.
...
有時覺得，三十過後的教會團契生活，內容總離不開一種治療性(therapeutic)的訴苦禮儀：你一言，我一語，你說說你的工作壓力，我講講我的子女 負擔，並在互相認同當中得著安撫與麻醉，每週重複上演。其中的互相關懷卻缺乏了基督裡的自由與能力，是可悲的、蒼白的、頹廢的。
iMonk 101: When I Am Weak: Why we must embrace our brokenness and never be good Christians
I hear of those who are depressed. Where do they turn for help? How do they admit their hurt? It seems so “unChristian” to admit depression, yet it is a reality for millions and millions of human beings. Porn addiction. Food addiction. Rage addiction. Obsessive needs for control. Chronic lying and dishonesty. How many pastors and Christian leaders live with these human frailties and flaws, and never seek help because they can’t admit what we all know is true about all of us? They speak of salvation, love and Jesus, but inside they feel like the damned.
...
Lutheran writer Herman Sasse, in a meditation on Luther’s last words, “We are beggars. This is true,” puts it perfectly:
「大鑊」之年買「大」「小」Luther asserted the very opposite: “Christ dwells only with sinners.” For the sinner and for the sinner alone is His table set. There we receive His true body and His true blood “for the forgiveness of sins” and this holds true even if forgiveness has already been received in Absolution. That here Scripture is completely on the side of Luther needs no further demonstration. Every page of the New Testament is indeed testimony of the Christ whose proper office it is “to save sinners”, “to seek and to save the lost”. And the entire saving work of Jesus, from the days when He was in Galilee and, to the amazement and alarm of the Pharisees, ate with tax collectors and sinners; to the moment when he, in contradiction with the principles of every rational morality, promised paradise to the thief on the cross, yes, His entire life on earth, from the cradle to the Cross, is one, unique grand demonstration of a wonder beyond all reason: The miracle of divine forgiveness, of the justification of the sinner. “Christ dwells only in sinners.”
有時覺得，三十過後的教會團契生活，內容總離不開一種治療性(therapeutic)的訴苦禮儀：你一言，我一語，你說說你的工作壓力，我講講我的子女 負擔，並在互相認同當中得著安撫與麻醉，每週重複上演。其中的互相關懷卻缺乏了基督裡的自由與能力，是可悲的、蒼白的、頹廢的。
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Biblical Approach to the Economic Crisis
From A Biblical Approach to the Economic Crisis by Walter Brueggemann
Given the current failure and challenge, it seems clear that our society must move to an alternative way in economics. In broad outline, this is a move from autonomy to covenantal existence, from anxiety to divine abundance, and from acquisitive greed to neighborly generosity. This move is the characteristic move of biblical faith. In the New Testament it is the road of discipleship when Jesus summons, “Follow me.” He wills his listeners to an alternative way in the world that has acute economic implications.
Given the current failure and challenge, it seems clear that our society must move to an alternative way in economics. In broad outline, this is a move from autonomy to covenantal existence, from anxiety to divine abundance, and from acquisitive greed to neighborly generosity. This move is the characteristic move of biblical faith. In the New Testament it is the road of discipleship when Jesus summons, “Follow me.” He wills his listeners to an alternative way in the world that has acute economic implications.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What can I do? (Part 2)
From the book I'm reading now:
The Secret Message of Jesus- by Brian McLaren
Highly recommended book on what the kingdom of God/ Gospel means!!
The kingdom of God, then, is a revolutionary, counter-cultural movement-- proclaiming a ceaseless rebellion against the tyrannical trinity of money,sex and power. Its citizens resist the occupation of this invisible Caesar through three categories of spiritual practice. First, they practice a liberating generosity towards the poor to dethrone greed and topple the regime of money. Second, they practice a kind of prayer that is a defiant act of resistance against the prideful pursuit of power, pursuing forgiveness and reconciliation, not retaliation and revenge. Finally, they practice fasting to revolt against the dominating impulse of physical gratification-- so that the sex drive and other physical appetites will not become our slave drivers. And all of these are practiced covertly, in secret, so they aren't corrupted into an external show "as hypocrites do".
The Secret Message of Jesus- by Brian McLaren
Highly recommended book on what the kingdom of God/ Gospel means!!
The kingdom of God, then, is a revolutionary, counter-cultural movement-- proclaiming a ceaseless rebellion against the tyrannical trinity of money,sex and power. Its citizens resist the occupation of this invisible Caesar through three categories of spiritual practice. First, they practice a liberating generosity towards the poor to dethrone greed and topple the regime of money. Second, they practice a kind of prayer that is a defiant act of resistance against the prideful pursuit of power, pursuing forgiveness and reconciliation, not retaliation and revenge. Finally, they practice fasting to revolt against the dominating impulse of physical gratification-- so that the sex drive and other physical appetites will not become our slave drivers. And all of these are practiced covertly, in secret, so they aren't corrupted into an external show "as hypocrites do".
Sunday, February 15, 2009
What can I do? (Part 1)
Since I have quite a lot of free time now, so I'm actively searching what I can do on two matters that concerned me the most (apart from donating money)- environmental protection and poverty.
I found this.
Instead of ordinary fasting in Lent, think about
Carbon Fast
Also
Praying
maybe volunteering? still thinking and praying...
I found this.
Instead of ordinary fasting in Lent, think about
Carbon Fast
Also
Praying
maybe volunteering? still thinking and praying...
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Paul Williams lecture on global financial crisis (CGST January)
I have attended this lecture on the financial tsunami in January.
Apart from explaining the current situation from an economist's point of view, Paul Williams also quoted Leslie Newbigin:
"Just as a society believes in the future saves in the present in order to invest in the future, so a society without that belief spends everything now and piles up debts for future generations to settle."
He suggested solutions for the current situation from a Christian point of view might be:
**Practise Jubilee and Sabbath
Jubilee -deliverance, liberty, restoration of debt, forgiveness
Sabbath -discipline on addiction, consumption pattern, focus on God
Enjoy what's been given to us
He mentioned that the church's disapproval of debt in history until the Reformation (because of trade), and we may need to recover our disapproval.
Romans 13:8
"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. "
He used the example of the YMCA hotel where he stayed in this trip, (the one just next to the Peninsula, with similar views). YMCA, being a Christian organisation has different vision. It's not that Christians cannot make a profit, but they do not try to maximize profit. With that view, they can probably charge a lot more for the rooms, but they do not. Doing things in a God honoring way doesn't necessarily mean losing money.
There was a question from the audience about investments Christians should make. He said we can't change the world but can work to change it. We can choose equity instead of debt, investments with relational elements: sharing risks with someone we know. (In the Old Testament, they could charge interest from foreigners, because they were not in relation with them, so it didn't matter.)
What can we do now? What should we do now? Not in the sense of how to regain what we have lost, but what we, as Christians, can do to change the world, now that we realise the old ways didn't work all that well.
Apart from explaining the current situation from an economist's point of view, Paul Williams also quoted Leslie Newbigin:
"Just as a society believes in the future saves in the present in order to invest in the future, so a society without that belief spends everything now and piles up debts for future generations to settle."
He suggested solutions for the current situation from a Christian point of view might be:
**Practise Jubilee and Sabbath
Jubilee -deliverance, liberty, restoration of debt, forgiveness
Sabbath -discipline on addiction, consumption pattern, focus on God
Enjoy what's been given to us
He mentioned that the church's disapproval of debt in history until the Reformation (because of trade), and we may need to recover our disapproval.
Romans 13:8
"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. "
He used the example of the YMCA hotel where he stayed in this trip, (the one just next to the Peninsula, with similar views). YMCA, being a Christian organisation has different vision. It's not that Christians cannot make a profit, but they do not try to maximize profit. With that view, they can probably charge a lot more for the rooms, but they do not. Doing things in a God honoring way doesn't necessarily mean losing money.
There was a question from the audience about investments Christians should make. He said we can't change the world but can work to change it. We can choose equity instead of debt, investments with relational elements: sharing risks with someone we know. (In the Old Testament, they could charge interest from foreigners, because they were not in relation with them, so it didn't matter.)
What can we do now? What should we do now? Not in the sense of how to regain what we have lost, but what we, as Christians, can do to change the world, now that we realise the old ways didn't work all that well.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Prayers- Inauguration of Obama
Like many people in the world, I watched the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama last night. I only watched till Obama finished his speech, because there is a 13 hour difference, and I was already really tired.
As a result, I have only watched the Rick Warren's prayer live on TV. When I listened to his prayer, I thought this is how one should pray.
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one." And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama,
the wisdom to lead us with humility,
the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans--united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you--forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone--forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve--forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
However, what I didn't know was that the second person leading the prayer in the ceremony is an openly gay bishop. Lots of controversy on the web because some of the TV stations did not aired his prayer, but I actually like his prayer a lot. A prayer is a prayer for me, is it really that important who is saying the prayer? I think whether a prayer reflects God's will is more important??? or whether it is sincere???
Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
As a result, I have only watched the Rick Warren's prayer live on TV. When I listened to his prayer, I thought this is how one should pray.
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one." And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama,
the wisdom to lead us with humility,
the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans--united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you--forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone--forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve--forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
However, what I didn't know was that the second person leading the prayer in the ceremony is an openly gay bishop. Lots of controversy on the web because some of the TV stations did not aired his prayer, but I actually like his prayer a lot. A prayer is a prayer for me, is it really that important who is saying the prayer? I think whether a prayer reflects God's will is more important??? or whether it is sincere???
Welcome to Washington! The fun is about to begin, but first, please join me in pausing for a moment, to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with tears – for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women from many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.
Bless us with anger – at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Bless us with discomfort – at the easy, simplistic “answers” we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth, about ourselves and the world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.
Bless us with patience – and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be “fixed” anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.
Bless us with humility – open to understanding that our own needs must always be balanced with those of the world.
Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance – replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences, and an understanding that in our diversity, we are stronger.
Bless us with compassion and generosity – remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable in the human community, whether across town or across the world.
And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.
Give him wisdom beyond his years, and inspire him with Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for ALL the people.
Give him a quiet heart, for our Ship of State needs a steady, calm captain in these times.
Give him stirring words, for we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.
Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.
Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.
Give him the strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.
And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking FAR too much of this one. We know the risk he and his wife are taking for all of us, and we implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand – that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Reflections after my 11 day Israel Egypt tour
Since everyone is asking me about the most memorable experiences during my 11 day Israel Egypt trip, I should write it down for myself and for you all. =)
When someone talks about Holy Land Pilgrimage, you may expect the most special part to be visiting places like Via Dolorosa. For me (it’s not exactly a pilgrimage for me anyway=P), it wasn’t Via Dolorosa, or any other places where Jesus or other Biblical characters had been to. (!)
1. St George Cathedral, Jerusalem
This wasn't even on our itinerary, this is just a church across the road from the hotel where we stayed. And it was where a small bunch of us had our Christmas Eve service. It is an Anglican church. (This is not the first time I’ve been to an English speaking Anglican church, I’ve been to a few in the UK.)
Instead of listening to the babbling of the chairperson (chairperson saying whatever he wants to say is a regular occurrence in my church service, sadly), I just love the liturgy based service. The whole service was beautiful. Plus I love being able to kneel down during the prayers.
The prayers are simple and prepared. For Anglicans who are used to them, they may be boring, but for me, these simple prayers were powerful. “We pray for the sick… and those in Gaza...” when spoken slowly allowed myself time for reflection. They did what prayers should be doing. Instead of forcing God to do our will, they help me to align myself with God’s will, to reflect on how God’s kingdom could be here and now.
It’s especially poignant for me when they spoke about their ministries serving people in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, that’s when I thought this is what God’s kingdom would be like. Peace for all.
2. Church of St. Simon the Tanner
Let me start by posting the history I found on the web about this church. It's pretty much what I heard during the tour.
We had to change into a small van to get through this garbage town because our tourist bus simply could not fit into these alleys.
There’s a legend here Simon the Tanner’s prayer of moving the mountain was answered here, however, what struck me the most is the population they serve. Jesus served the poor, the oppressed, and the despised. However, in Hong Kong, most of the churches are typically middle class. The people who are poor, oppressed, despised simply weren’t being served by the church. When I visited this church, my first thought was that, this is what a church is meant to be like! And these people's world has been changed by this church, and this priest. This is what it meant for a mustard seed to grow into a big tree.
3. Of course, the good brothers and sisters I met on the trip are unforgettable!! We had a lot of fun together! And we had some deep sharing as well. And thanks to Facebook, we could keep in contact through the internet, and hopefully face-to-face soon. =)
When someone talks about Holy Land Pilgrimage, you may expect the most special part to be visiting places like Via Dolorosa. For me (it’s not exactly a pilgrimage for me anyway=P), it wasn’t Via Dolorosa, or any other places where Jesus or other Biblical characters had been to. (!)
1. St George Cathedral, Jerusalem
This wasn't even on our itinerary, this is just a church across the road from the hotel where we stayed. And it was where a small bunch of us had our Christmas Eve service. It is an Anglican church. (This is not the first time I’ve been to an English speaking Anglican church, I’ve been to a few in the UK.)
Instead of listening to the babbling of the chairperson (chairperson saying whatever he wants to say is a regular occurrence in my church service, sadly), I just love the liturgy based service. The whole service was beautiful. Plus I love being able to kneel down during the prayers.
The prayers are simple and prepared. For Anglicans who are used to them, they may be boring, but for me, these simple prayers were powerful. “We pray for the sick… and those in Gaza...” when spoken slowly allowed myself time for reflection. They did what prayers should be doing. Instead of forcing God to do our will, they help me to align myself with God’s will, to reflect on how God’s kingdom could be here and now.
It’s especially poignant for me when they spoke about their ministries serving people in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Palestine, that’s when I thought this is what God’s kingdom would be like. Peace for all.
2. Church of St. Simon the Tanner
Let me start by posting the history I found on the web about this church. It's pretty much what I heard during the tour.
I have heard tales of an amazing work taking place among the garbage workers of Cairo since I was an undergrad. So it was very encouraging to read this article from the February Lausanne World Pulse: Transforming Lives in Cairo's Garbage Villages.
Villagers collect garbage from city apartments and recycle it. They are the most despised group of people in Egyptian society. They are not paid by the government; however, they receive small tips from the people whose garbage they collect. The rest of their income comes from recycling garbage. It is one of the most ecologically efficient operations in the world as 90%of the garbage is recycled. But the human cost is terrible. Muqattam, now a thriving town of 30,000 began in 1970, when a community of several thousand Coptic garbage workers were forcibly resettled in an abandoned quarry at the foot of a small mountain.
Thirty years ago, Fr. Samaan, a Coptic Orthodox priest "gave up his job in the city to become an ordained priest in the garbage village. When he began, the village had no churches, schools, electricity, water, medical care or markets. It was just garbage, people and pigs. When thousands were brought to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, the first thing they wanted to do was build a church—and Father Samaan became their priest. Today, the garbage collectors are filled with love and motivation from God. This is what changed their village. The village is a bustling, hopeful community of thirty thousand people. They still collect garbage; however, they now have three schools, a hospital and many churches.
Blessing in Caves
The churches are located in caves that were blocked by rubble. It was only when one small cave was discovered that residents realised they were surrounded by caves. While that first cave was being converted into a chapel, residents found another one that is now used for church services of up to four thousand people. They soon realised that another cave could be transformed into an enormous amphitheatre to seat fifteen thousand people. “Regular church services are held there and people come from all over Cairo—not just from the garbage village—to worship with other Christians,” Rebecca explains. “It is the only place, other than the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, where Christians can meet in large numbers in Egypt.”
Father Samaan now pastors the largest church in the Middle East and one of the best known in Egypt: St. Simon the Tanner Coptic Orthodox Church in the Mokattam garbage village.
The cave churches have become something of a tourist attraction as you can understand when you see this series of pictures of this extraordinary place and its extraordinary community.We had to change into a small van to get through this garbage town because our tourist bus simply could not fit into these alleys.
There’s a legend here Simon the Tanner’s prayer of moving the mountain was answered here, however, what struck me the most is the population they serve. Jesus served the poor, the oppressed, and the despised. However, in Hong Kong, most of the churches are typically middle class. The people who are poor, oppressed, despised simply weren’t being served by the church. When I visited this church, my first thought was that, this is what a church is meant to be like! And these people's world has been changed by this church, and this priest. This is what it meant for a mustard seed to grow into a big tree.
3. Of course, the good brothers and sisters I met on the trip are unforgettable!! We had a lot of fun together! And we had some deep sharing as well. And thanks to Facebook, we could keep in contact through the internet, and hopefully face-to-face soon. =)
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