牧者心聲
在使命中靈活應變
潘建堂牧師
2022 年 7 月 9 日 / 10 日
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靈活變化而解困：近日本港發生供電意外事故，以致「應變」一度成為城中熱話，民眾紛紛關注各負責部門對基建事故的應變能力和態度。「天」，固然「有不測之風雲」，並非每件事我們都可以預計，然而「應變」卻是不可或缺，對於重要的事情，我們務須作出合理的部署。所以，「靈活應變」一直是許多組織追求的管理質素，也是我們日常生活中不可少的能力，目的是在遇到障礙或困難時，能夠調校慣常的做法，以達致原本的目標和意義。
就如疫情發生後，眾教會的各類聚會都遷到線上，使教會運作不致完全停頓。這種靈活的處理，源於我們對信仰生活的堅持和熱心，也是我們信仰理念的靈活表達，使我們或聚或散仍能連於基督。
靈活變化而適應：在多變的世局和環境中，教會的靈活應變，不純粹是為了在臨時或突發處境中應付事變，或預先存備一些應變資源（例如為某些事工預先製作「急救包」），而是因應福音和弟兄姊妹成長的需要，給予適切的回應。因此，無論是佈道的策略、事工的組織、信仰表達的文化、牧養的模式等等，都需要不斷調節以適應新的處境。
其實歷代教會的發展過程就是不斷尋求最適切的方式去回應各種挑戰，而許多堅實的教義、感動人心的宣教委身精神、與及百花齊放的屬靈追求方式，也都是在這背景下孕育出來的。宣道會的四重福音便是為了回應當代的宣教需要，於是藉著福音四個核心內容去招聚各方宣教士，一起在重大的信仰原則下，靈活地回應各地方的福音呼聲。
靈活變化而更新：「不要效法這個世界．只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」（羅十二 2）我們的變化不是效法世界，而是堅持在不同的處境之中，以不同的表達方式彰顯同一個福音的大能，又讓身處多變世界之中的弟兄姊妹得到既適時又適切的餵養。
我們需要秉持宣道會的精神，讓福音更能流暢地透過當代文化表達出來，使福音更能廣傳，繼而在新一代的信徒當中，按他們的文化思維孕育出新一代的信仰表達方式，使福音不但活下去，更能夠活出來。
事實上，無論是甚麼方式，時代都不斷在變。因此我們不能不順應環境，從解困到適應，從適應到更新，把我們內裡的寶貝（福音）表明出來，讓福音在不同時代中照常顯大。
Flexibly adjust to resolve difficulties: "Emergency preparedness" has become the talk of the town recently when the power supply problem erupted. The public is concerned about the capability and attitude of the departments concerned in response to infrastructural incidents. A storm may emerge out of the clear blue sky and not everything can be predicted by us. Nevertheless, "flexible adjustments" are indispensable. We must put in place reasonable measures to prepare for crucial matters. Flexibility and ability to cope are management qualities sought after by many organizations, which are also necessary for our daily lives. We need to be able to adjust our usual practices when obstacles or difficulties arise so as to attain the original goals and significance.
It is just like churches' moving meetings to online platforms when the pandemic strikes. This has kept the operation of the church going. Such flexible management really stems from our insistence and zeal for faith life. It is also a flexible expression of our faith so that we can remain connected to Christ whether we gather in one location or are scattered.
Flexibly adjust to adapt: In a constantly changing world and environment, flexible adjustments of the church do not merely mean coping with emergencies or stocking up contingency resources (like preparing "first aid kits" for certain ministries). It is also to provide appropriate responses to the needs for the gospel as well as the growth of brothers and sisters. Therefore, everything from evangelism strategies to the organization of ministries, or from the culture of religious expression to modes of pastoring, we need to continually adjust to suit the new contexts.
Indeed, the church down the ages has always sought the most suitable ways to respond to various challenges. This was how a lot of sound doctrines, moving missional commitments and all sorts of spiritual pursuits have come about. The fourfold gospel of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) was also developed in response to contemporary missional needs. Under the banner of the four core aspects in the content of the gospel, C&MA recruited missionaries to flexibly respond to the gospel needs of different places together according to the key principles of faith.
Flexibly adjust to renew: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2) We do not conform to the pattern of the world when we adapt. On the contrary, we insist on magnifying the all-surpassing power of the same gospel with different means of expression in changing contexts. We insist on providing appropriate and timely pastoring to brothers and sisters in a changing world.
We need the spirit of the C&MA to let the gospel come through more fluently through contemporary culture so the gospel will be spread far and wide. Then the next generation of believers will be able to develop new-generation faith expression in accordance with their culture. Then, the gospel will not only live but it will also be lived out.
Regardless of how, the times keep changing. Therefore, we must take heed of the environment. And from resolving difficulties to adaptation, from adaptation to renewal, let us show clearly the treasure (the gospel) in us so it will be magnified in different times as always.
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