牧者心聲
培育生命 承傳使命
陳劍雲牧師
2024 年 10 月 19 日 / 20 日
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最近在南韓首爾舉行的第四屆洛桑大會已經結束，有與會的香港代表發現，好些在大會中討論的議題，過去香港的教會和神學界都有涉獵，可見香港在神學學習的資源上十分豐富，能幫助教會更全面理解福音在個人生命、社群需要和受造世界等方面的意義。我們實在要為上主透過神學教育給信徒生命和教會使命的賜福，獻呈感恩。
有一位在大學時期信主的弟兄，他初信主時的教會生活並不穩定，直到在研究院的時候，因著宿友放在枱面的屬靈書籍蒙聖靈光照，才覺醒到生命惟有交在耶穌的手裡，才能活出愛和豐盛的生命。當他重返以往參與的地方教會之後，神又透過崇拜講道的信息，讓他聽到上主的呼召——「你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄」（路二十二32）。於是，他在受洗的同一年，就開始修讀神學院的晚間神學課程。進修期間，他認識了年紀相約的肢體，有些是在教育、醫療等領域工作多年、事奉經驗很豐富的弟兄姊妹。學習研讀聖經的方法，以及透過聖經神學、教義神學和教會歷史去整理和反省信仰，使他有很大得著。此外，同學間也常坦誠分享生命成長的故事，彼此一同面對靈命和事奉上的掙扎，令他更渴慕成為一個可以陪伴信徒成長和事奉神的牧者。於是，完成這個文憑課程的兩年後，弟兄在教會牧者的印證和群體的支持下，正式接受全時間的牧職訓練。如今弟兄在堂會牧職事奉已有20多年，在主裡經歷了很豐富的恩典。（弟兄姊妹，「猜猜他是誰」！）
神學教育為信徒提供的，不只是傳遞知識和授予作工的技能，更是幫助人從渴慕神到認識神、接受上主在生命中的工作，以至生命可以獻呈，作成主的工。在香港，神學教育已經相當多元化和普及化，除了培訓蒙上主呼召作牧職事奉和投身差傳的信徒，神學院更在基督教輔導、靈命導引和職場使命等多方面，幫助信徒整合信仰與生活，追求生命成長、靈命進深，和在日常生活中見證天國。而地方教會在真理教導、靈命培育和帶動信徒事奉方面所給予的幫助，是使信徒能夠辨識上主的呼召，並為回應此呼召作好準備、打好基礎。不是所有信徒都踏上牧職或到異地宣教的路，但所有人都有上主的呼召，要在所行（doing）與所是（being）上，尋求神、經歷神，走成聖與事奉的路。
The Fourth Lausanne Congress recently held in Seoul, South Korea, had concluded. Some Hong Kong delegates found that quite a number of topics discussed at the congress have in fact been explored by the churches and the theological education sector in Hong Kong before. We can see that Hong Kong's theological education resources are abundant and are able to help churches more comprehensively understand what the gospel means to individual lives, the needs of communities and the creation as a whole. We are indeed grateful to the LORD for His blessings for believers' lives and church mission through theological education.
There is a brother who gave his life to Christ in his university days. When he first believed, his church life was unstable. While doing his postgraduate studies, he was enlightened by the Holy Spirit through some spiritual books that his roommate placed on the desk. He came to realize that only if we entrust our lives to Jesus could we live out love and an abundant life. And when he returned to his local church, the LORD let him hear His calling through a sermon, "And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32). So, in the same year that he received his baptism, he started to take an evening course in a seminary. In the course of studies, he came to know some brothers and sisters of roughly the same age. Some of them had years of experience working in education, medical and other sectors. They also had rich experience in serving the Lord. They learned Bible study methodology and how to consolidate and reflect on their faith through Biblical theology, doctrinal theology and church history. He benefited profusely from the course. Course members also often frankly shared their stories of growth in life and faced the struggles of spiritual life and serving together. All of this deepened his yearning to become a pastor who would walk with believers as they grow and serve God. On completion of the two-year diploma course, the brother, with pastoral recommendation and the support of the church, started full-time training to become a pastor. Now, this brother has served as a church pastor for more than 20 years. He has experienced abundant grace in the Lord. (Brothers and sisters, can you guess who this brother is?)
What theological education offers to believers is not just knowledge and skills to work for God, but also help the believer to grow from desiring God to knowing Him. He will learn to accept the works of the LORD in his life so that his life can be dedicated to the LORD for His work. In Hong Kong, theological education is greatly diversified and readily accessible. In addition to training up believers called by the LORD to become pastors and missionaries, seminaries also offer courses on Christian counseling, spiritual direction, workplace missions and much more. The courses help believers integrate their spiritual and daily lives, seek deeper spiritual growth, and testify to the Kingdom of God in everyday life. Local churches, on the other hand, help believers by teaching the truth, nurturing spiritual lives and mobilizing believers to serve God. All this helps believers discern the LORD's calling and build the foundation for them to respond to His calling. Not all believers become pastors or overseas missionaries. However, all of us have the calling from the LORD to seek and experience God in our doing and our being on the path of sanctification and ministry.
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