牧者心聲
聚也好 散亦安 跟恩主 逆風行
張穎新牧師
2023 年 7 月 22 日 / 23 日
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這幾年出現的移民潮，確實影響不同堂會的事工方向和牧養生態。感恩的是，無論是教會、神學院或基督教機構，非但沒有故步自封，反而勇於面對「散、聚」的議題，甚至往往能發揮創意和具有前瞻性，以及具備情感輔導的關懷向度，好讓留下來的人，或是散居的人，都能夠深思上帝與人同行的靈性支援。
使徒彼得撰寫前書時，身處以巴比倫為代號的羅馬城（彼前五 13），而他修書的對象卻是那些蒙揀選、散居在今天土耳其一帶的地方教會（彼前一 1）。行文內容清晰可見彼得的牧者心腸絕非曲高和寡，而是體察民情，明白當代信徒的現實困頓，從而提供屬靈養分給那些面對「散或聚」的人，好讓他們學主榜樣，在苦難中持守正直和行善的心志。
面對劇變世代，彼得前書還有三點亮光。首先，無論是聚或散，都要認定自己在上帝面前的身分。一方面，我們是客旅和寄居的異鄉人，這世界誠然絕非我家，因我們不曾擁有世界，而是在世而不屬世的基督跟從者。另一方面，我們是被上帝分別為聖的蒙恩者，因基督曾領我們出黑暗入光明。既然天上的基業為我們存留，我們就可以坦然無懼活出信仰賦予的非凡生命。
其次，世界政治和經濟局勢越趨不明朗，戰亂和迫害亦未有緩和跡象，基督徒無論是聚或散，都會面對如火般的考驗，以及崩壞的世情，直接衝擊我們此時此刻對上帝的信心。在前景迷茫、人際疏離、悲觀失望的多重夾擊之下，我們確實需要上帝賜下能力和盼望，好讓我們莊敬自強，突破困局。基督徒為信仰受苦，既是我們要面對的實然，亦是基督信仰教曉我們要付上的代價和殊榮。
最後，無論是留下來的人，抑或選擇離開的人，都要面對生存和生活的課題。彼得有很好的提醒：萬物的結局近了，你們要警醒禱告，彼此切實相愛，互相款待，不發怨言，各人要照所得的恩賜彼此服事（彼前四 7-10 節錄）。基督徒的任務仍是要在或順或逆、或苦或甜的境況中，一心為善，緊記上帝的召命，並以愛心彼此守望。我們要靠著上帝那活潑的恩言，見證上帝原來已領我們前行，亦同時常讓我們成為憐恤別人的同行者。
聚也好，散亦安，也無風雨也無晴；
跟恩主，逆風行，路縱崎嶇應葉聲。
Follow the Gracious Lord against All Odds
The emigration tide that has emerged in recent years has indeed impacted different churches’ ministry directions and modes of pastoring. But thanks be to God, churches, theological seminaries and Christian organizations are not complacent or stagnant. Rather, they boldly tackle the issue of “dispersion and gathering.” Often with creativity, being forward-looking, and offering care in emotional counseling, they help both who stay and who are dispersed to ponder deeply on the spiritual support in God’s walk with man.
The Apostle Peter was in Rome, coded as Babylon (1 Peter 5:13), when he wrote the first epistle. He was writing to the chosen people in the local churches scattered among what is now Turkey (1 Peter 1:1). It can be clearly seen from the content of the epistle that the shepherd’s heart of Peter was not high-sounding or pretentious. Rather, being observant of people’s life situations and understanding the real-life difficulties of contemporary believers, he provided spiritual nurturing to those facing “dispersion or gathering” so that they would learn from the Lord and persist in being upright and doing good even in suffering.
Facing an era of drastic changes, the Book of 1 Peter offers three points of light. First, whether gathered or dispersed, we need to be sure about our identity before God. On the one hand, we are sojourners and exiles. This world is surely not our home. It has never been ours. We are Christ followers in and not of the world. On the other hand, we are grace receivers consecrated by God for Christ has led us out of darkness and into His light. Since an inheritance is kept in heaven for us, we can, without hesitation or fear, live out an extraordinary life endowed by our faith.
Secondly, politics and economy around the world is getting increasingly uncertain, and wars and persecutions have no sign of easing. Christians will face tests like fire whether we are gathered or dispersed. The tests are coupled with a broken world, directly impacting our faith in God at this very moment in time. Amid uncertainties for the future, interpersonal alienation, pessimism and despair, we do need strength and hope from God so we can stand firm with dignity and strength to break through the predicament. Suffering for our faith is a fact we as Christians need to face. It is also the cost and honor that our Christian faith has taught us.
Finally, whether those staying or those who choose to leave have to face lessons on survival and life. Peter has a good exhortation: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply…Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…" (1 Peter 4:7-10). It remains Christians’ mission to do good through good times or bad, through sweet or bitter circumstances. We should remember God’s calling and keep watch over one another in love. With God’s lively words of grace, we will testify that God has led us forward and has also empowered us to walk with others with compassion.
It is good when we are gathered and there is peace when we are dispersed. There is calmness from within. And as long as we follow the Lord against all odds, we will go forward even when the path is rugged.
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