牧者心聲
信仰生活的相聚與期待
譚廣海牧師
2023 年 8 月 5 日 / 6 日
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過去數月教會全面開放場地，重啟事工與聚會，為弟兄姊妹加增不少相聚的機會。我們坦誠分享，彼此聆聽信仰生活的需要，在共聚見面的過程中，返回教會參加實體聚會的弟兄姊妹偶爾會感歎說：「今時不同往日，出席教會團組的人數不多，難以聚合，大家對籌劃傳福音、見證基督的愛，不能有太多期待！」不知道你對此感受有何回應？
我想起先知耶利米，他在母腹中已被分別為聖，年輕時耶和華的呼召已臨到他，他蒙神差遣向列邦宣告「拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆，又要建立、栽植」的信息（耶一 4-10）。事實上，今次的疫症已將不少國家及社會的慣性模式重新設置（reset），我們的生活雖已復常運作，但一切已不再如舊、甚至面目全非。同樣，在疫後重啟信仰生活、復還全貌的過程中，我們有不少感慨與失落。
過去在北宣家內的相聚誠然好得無比，今日教會雖沒有熱鬧的氛圍，但我們對神的敬拜與事奉，仍需有所期待！昔日主耶穌不論在任何境遇中，都沒有與天父失聯，依舊緊連於一，祂宣告祂在天父裡面、天父也在祂裡面，住在祂裡面的天父一直作工（約十四 10）。祂又勉勵門徒說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，我所做的事，信我的人也要做，並且要做比這更大的事」（十四 12）。
為此，我們或可在團組中發起尋羊行動，連繫久未見面的團友組員，鼓勵他們重返教會聚會；我們也可像今年暑假眾多的短宣隊一樣，重新帶著基督馨香之氣，前往新舊區域的福音禾場，協助當地宣教士的工作，經歷與印證神同在的真實。執筆之時，我已聽到多隊短宣隊完成事奉，他們有人分享說：「當地教會在三年疫情中蒙神眷佑，弟兄姊妹在信仰上亦有成長；無論是升學或投入社會工作，都看到神的恩典伴隨左右，跨過不少困難，實在要將榮耀歸給神。」
或許舊有的信仰生活已面目全非，我們或要從頭開始，但在神眼中，我們仍是尊貴的，祂是我們的力量，在生命得著保存、期待信仰復興之時，我們當知道神要使我們成為萬國之光，施行救恩直到地極（賽四十九 5-6）。我們既被主合成一群、作祂的器皿，就要期待為祂作大事，成為見證福音的夥伴。誠願在重啟信仰生活的路上，我們能如詩人所言：「我們的心沒有退後；我們的腳也沒有偏離你的路。」（詩四十四 18）
The recent months have seen the church opening up all venues and relaunching ministries and meetings, allowing brothers and sisters more opportunities to gather together. We candidly shared and listened to one another concerning the needs for our faith life. While meeting together, brothers and sisters who attend in-person meetings would sometimes express: “The times have changed. There are now fewer who attend in-person fellowships and groups at church and it is difficult to gather people. We cannot expect much about plans to share the gospel and testify to the love of Christ!” How would you respond to such a sentiment?
I am reminded of the prophet Jeremiah. He was already set apart in his mother’s womb. The LORD’s calling already came to him when he was young. He was sent by God to proclaim to nations "to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:4-10). As a matter of fact, the current pandemic has reset the usual operation modes in many countries and societies. Although our lives have resumed normalcy, everything has changed and is never the same again. Likewise, as we relaunch our faith life after the pandemic in the hope of restoring the old face, we are bound to face some disappointments and despair.
Past gatherings in the NPAC family were certainly great. For now, even though we do not have large numbers of people, we must still look forward to our worship of and service to God! In the past, the Lord Jesus was never disconnected from the Father whatever the circumstances and they were closely connected as One. He proclaimed that He was in the Father, and the Father was in Him. The Father living in Him was always doing His work (John 14:10). He also exhorted His disciples: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…" (14:12).
As such, perhaps we can launch a sheep finding exercise in our fellowships or groups, reconnecting with our long-lost members and encouraging them to return to church meetings. Like the numerous short-term mission trips this summer, we can again take the aroma of Christ to old and new mission fields to support the work of local missionaries, and experience and testify to the presence of God. At the time of writing, I heard that a number of short-term mission teams have completed their service. Some shared, "God has blessed and kept the church in the field during the past three years. Brothers and sisters have also grown spiritually. Whether they are pursuing further studies or starting work in society, they could see God’s grace with them, helping them overcome lots of difficulties. All glory be to God indeed."
Perhaps the faith life of old has become totally different and we may have to start afresh. But in the eyes of God, we are still honored, and God is our strength. While our lives are preserved and we look forward to faith revival, we must know that God will make us a light for the nations so that His salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:5-6). As the Lord has brought us together as one community to be His vessels, we should look forward to doing great things for Him and being partners in the work of the gospel. On the path of relaunching our faith life, may we be as the psalmist puts it: "Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path" (Psalm 44:18).
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