牧者心聲
網上網下．上網下網
曾敬宗牧師
2022 年 12 月 17 日 / 18 日
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疫情中，我們不得不投入網絡世界——學生要上網課；長者為著出入便利、以及與遠方親友聯繫，要學用智能電話；在院舍被隔離時，視像電話成為與家人見面傾談的惟一途徑；信徒可在家中參與網上崇拜和團契，收看不同的聖經講座⋯⋯現在防控措施放寬了，但我們每週眼見禮堂仍有許多空位，也想起很多久未見面的肢體，實在著急萬分。
人不能憑肉眼看見至聖至榮的上主，所以在舊約時期，神藉會幕和聖殿招聚以色列人舉行聖會（代上二十八 2；來九 1-5），讓人體會神與人同住同行，以度過出埃及入迦南的艱險日子。到了新約時期，神也藉教會叫信徒與基督聯合，在崇拜中透過不同的禮儀記念主、體驗真實不可見的主的臨在。聖經說：「我們不可放棄聚會，好像有些人的習慣（custom，生活模式）一樣；卻要互相勸勉。你們既然知道那日子臨近，就更應該這樣。」（來十 25，新譯本）經文將「放棄聚會」與「互相勸勉」作平行對比，提醒信徒在今日繁忙急迫、週日無休的生活模式中，仍要身體力行地到主面前聚集敬拜，在其中互相勸勉，好叫大家能共同面對末世的試探和挑戰，並藉著崇拜向世界宣認自己是分別為聖的群體。但在電視屏幕前，我們又怎能有這體現呢？網上崇拜委實令人較難投入，更遑論感受上主的臨在、肢體的同行與相愛勸勉。
過去牧養大專職青的時候，有人向我說，年輕人只喜歡網絡世界的見解，然而我卻發覺他們極渴想實在地體驗人生、建立真實的關係，這幾年更令大專生對上網課甚感厭煩。虛擬世界、元宇宙或許很吸引，但總比不上實體的生命接觸和關係建立。我兩個兒子雖然喜歡駕駛 Mario Cart（電視賽車遊戲），但當他們學會踏單車後，就愛上了真實的自由和速度感。無疑，隔離期間透過一部iPad見家人一面，確是可貴，但始終不及實在地握著親人的手，面對面說話。
「網絡世界」是一把兩刃劍，它可幫助分隔的人得著有限度的聯繫，也能引起人注意所傳遞的信息，教會倘能善用網絡世界，必能在網上有效下網打魚，接觸到難以接觸的一群。但不當的使用卻會影響信徒與神與人的結連，更會使人的信仰出現偏差。所以，如果你不是因著健康緣故而停留在網絡世界中，我懇切邀請你親身回來，與我們一起重新經歷上主的實在！
In the midst of the pandemic, getting involved in the online world becomes inevitable to us – students need to take classes online; seniors have to learn to use smartphones in order to go to places conveniently and to stay connected with family and friends who are far away; in quarantine facilities, video calls are the only means to see the family; believers can attend worship services, fellowship meetings and Bible talks online… Now, pandemic prevention measures have been relaxed but we still see many empty seats in the worship halls each week. We also think of brothers and sisters whom we have not seen for a long time. That we care very much.
Man cannot see the most holy and glorious LORD with our eyes. That was why in Old Testament times, God gathered the Israelites for sacred meetings at the tabernacle and temple (1 Chronicles 28:2; Hebrews 9:1-5) to let man understand that God dwelled and walked with them through the tough time from Egypt to Canaan. In New Testament times, God has believers unite with Christ through the church, to remember the Lord through various liturgy in worship services and experience the presence of the real albeit unseen Lord. The Bible says: "not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing [i.e. their custom], but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). The Scripture contrasts "giving up meeting" against "encouraging one another." This reminds believers that amid today's busy, intense schedules and a lifestyle with no rest throughout the week, we still need to gather before the Lord in corporate worship and, from there, encourage one another so we can face the temptations and challenges of the last days and proclaim to the world in worship that we are a consecrated community. But how can we experience this in front of the TV monitor? It is true that it is more difficult to engage believers in active participation in online worship services, let alone feeling the presence of the LORD as well as the companionship, mutual love and encouragement of brothers and sisters.
In the past when I pastored college students and working young adults, someone shared with me the opinion that young people are only interested in the online world. But I found that they are very eager to really experience life and build up real relationships. The last few years have even seen college students fed up with online tuition. Virtual reality and the metaverse may seem attractive but they are by no means comparable to the experience of connection in real life and relationship building. Though my two sons enjoy driving the Mario Cart (a TV car race game), they fell in love with the real sense of freedom and speed once they have learned to ride a bicycle. In quarantine, it is undoubtedly precious that one can see one's family on the iPad. But this can never compare with holding the hands of the beloved and talking with them face to face.
The "online world" has both advantages and disadvantages. It can help those separated to remain connected to a certain extent and draw attention to the messages shared. If the church uses this medium well, it can certainly help fish for man online effectively and reach those who are otherwise difficult to reach. However, if used inappropriately, it can affect the connection between believers and God as well as others, even leading to deviations in faith. Therefore, unless you are staying online solely for health reasons, I sincerely invite you to come back in person and experience once again the reality of the LORD together with us!
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