牧者心聲
揭開主基督向眾教會的說話
周曉暉牧師
2024 年 10 月 5 日 / 6 日
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或許我一生人只會出席一次洛桑世界福音大會。
今年是福音派先賢葛培理牧師（Rev. Billy Graham）發起洛桑福音運動的50週年，222個國家及地區超過5000名代表雲集在韓國首爾仁川，舉行50年來的第四次大會。大會揭開序幕的一刻，我心感動不已，能與這麼多不同地方的聖徒一同讚頌主名，彷彿預嘗了啟示錄所述將來各邦、各族、各語言的聖徒齊集在寶座和羔羊面前敬拜讚美的場面。
這一季，我們會研讀的啟示錄一至五章。「啟示」的原文就是「揭開」。過去曾聽過很好的比方：「揭開」就像一個人首次到餐廳吃馳名的「煲仔飯」，未入餐廳，已瞥見廚師在窄巷的爐頭上猛火炊煮這款菜色。當侍應將煲仔飯端過來，飯的焦香味會從煲蓋氣孔滲出，打開煲蓋時，可隱約聽到飯粒和配料熱得滋滋作響。「啟示」就像是這種打開煲蓋的過程。
啟示錄的寫作手法與別不同，因為作者將未來要發生的事，以象徵符號表達，而且作者也不是完全按照時間順序刻劃事件。因此，若有人把啟示錄用來解讀當下重大的時事，是危險的。2000年的教會歷史已經讓人知道，將啟示錄當為預言書來讀，只會落入胡亂對號入座的困局。
簡單而言，父神是藉著基督啟示祂所定的計劃，在每一幕看似沒有轉圜餘地、壞到不能再壞的地步，神是早已知道和掌握，從開局到最後，祂都看透一切。縱使跟隨基督的人身處時勢動蕩、信心飽受試煉的年日，啟示錄仍呼籲我們要注目的，並非末日那些景象，而是正向教會說話的耶穌基督。
正如煲仔飯，餡料醬汁飯粒通通都不是我們預備的。預早知道揭開時會發生甚麼事，也不會改變煲仔飯製作的過程。揭開啟示錄，第一章開宗明義說明這是主耶穌基督對眾教會——即是對你和我——所說的話。啟示錄的應許、提醒、以至責備，仍是今日眾教會要聆聽的。願我們都虛心「聽基督，行主言」。
自從1974年的洛桑世界福音大會，斯托得牧師（Rev. John Stott）主筆的「洛桑信約」持續挑戰世界各地眾教會及各界基督徒，要忠心堅忍，且要致力同心，為要使主基督的聖名傳遍世界各國、各族、各領域。下週是北宣家的堂慶，願我們不沉浸在一方的小小成果，反而懷著廣闊的胸襟，與眾教會一同承擔未竟的福音使命。
My attendance at the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization might well be my once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Movement launched by evangelicals' forerunner Rev. Billy Graham. More than 5,000 delegates from 222 countries and territories gathered in Seoul Incheon, Korea, for the movement's fourth congress in 50 years. It touched my heart the moment the congress officially opened. Praising the name of God with so many saints from various places was like a foretaste of what is to come when, as portrayed in Revelation, saints of every nation, people and language gather before the throne and the Lamb to worship and praise God.
This quarter, we will be studying Revelation 1-5. The word "reveal" in the original language means "disclose." I have heard a very good analogy before: "Revealing" is like someone who, for the first time, tries out the acclaimed claypot rice at a restaurant. Just before he enters the restaurant, he can already see the chef cooking the dish on a red-hot furnace on the sidewalk. And when the server brings the pot, the aroma of the crust comes seeping out from small openings on the lid. When the lid is opened, he can hear a sizzling sound from the rice and other ingredients. "Reveal" would be like the act of lifting the lid of the rice claypot.
The writing style of Revelation is unique in the sense that the author used symbols and signs to represent what would happen in future, and he did not portray events strictly according to the chronological order. Therefore, it will be dangerous if someone uses Revelation to interpret major current affairs. Two thousand years of church history has taught us that reading the Book of Revelation like one of prophecies and matching the scenes with current events can only end up in a deadlock.
Simply put, God the Father is revealing His plan through Christ. For all the scenes where there is no turning point, which are the worst-case scenarios, they are all known to God and under His reign. From the beginning to the end, God knows everything. Although the followers of Christ see turbulent times and their faith meets with trials and tribulations, the Book of Revelation exhorts us to fix our eyes not on the scenes of the last days but on Jesus Christ who is speaking to the church.
Just like claypot rice, none of the toppings, the sauce or the rice are prepared by us. It will not change the preparation process if we know in advance what will happen when we lift the lid. Open the Book of Revelation, and the first chapter clearly states that it is what the Lord Jesus Christ says to the churches, that is, you and me. The promises, the reminders and the admonitions are what the churches today still need to listen to. With humble hearts, let us "Obey Christ and Walk Out His Words."
Ever since the Lausanne Congress in 1974, the Lausanne Covenant, with Rev. John Stott as its chief architect, continues to challenge the churches and believers worldwide to be faithful with perseverance, and to endeavor with one heart to spread the name of Christ the Lord throughout the nations, the peoples and the frontiers. It will be the NPAC family's anniversary next week. May we not be engrossed in some small fruits in one place but with broad-minded vision take on the unfinished gospel mission together with all churches.
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