牧者心聲

「力行使命」這四個字，會讓你有甚麼感受？AI 指出，現今信徒難以力行使命的主因，包括社會氛圍複雜、教會對使命的理解不一、人手與資源不足，以及在某些議題上容易陷入進退兩難的處境。面對「時間貧窮」和人生種種「不可抗力」的因素，我們難免感到無力，甚至無言。

不少信徒都表示，自己已經難以再抽出時間和空間去關心其他人和事；又因為自覺在工作和生活上的見證未夠好，不敢表明基督徒的「真正身份」，更遑論傳福音、領人歸主。可是回想一下，從「我哋呢班打工仔」到「做到隻積咁嘅樣」，再到「奴隸獸」變成「社畜」，似乎每一代都同樣面對「時間貧窮」的挑戰。奇怪的是，今天不是已有智能手機、極速網絡，甚至有 AI 幫我們加快處理事情嗎？我還記得 30 多年前，公司已慷慨地為我提供手提電話、手提電腦、VPN 和無限長途電話費等，讓我七天 24 小時隨時候命。那時，我要與地球另一端開會至凌晨二時，早上六時又要與另一端開會，每天只能睡四至五個小時，壓力很大。不過，艱難的日子卻是我與神最親近的日子，也是我最能經歷祂奇妙看顧的日子，更是我在教會承擔最多事奉的日子。

我想起北宣家的使命宣言：「以神的愛燃點生命，實踐施比受更為有福的生活。」力行使命的第一步，在於我們是否先與神建立關係，讓生命得著更新，從而讓神成為真正的上司、一家之主。這樣，我們才能避免忙、忘、亡——忙碌、忘恩、陣亡。一位擔任跨國銀行行政總裁的弟兄，謙和地分享他的座右銘：「信仰必須在職場中為主發出光芒。」信徒當然仍會軟弱、犯罪，待人處事上也可能會失見證；但若我們謙卑抓住上主的愛與大能，盡心努力，不斷改進和成長，這不正是一個更具人性、更美麗的生活見證嗎？

耶穌曾說：「你們這些偽君子有禍了！你們把薄荷、蒔蘿、孜然獻上十分之一，卻忽略了律法上更重要的事，就是公義、憐憫、信實；這些是你們必須做的，雖然那些奉獻的事也不可丟棄。」（太二十三 23）力行使命，必須先由生命開始，然後自然延伸到生活；同時謹記在社會中秉行公義、憐憫與信實，因為在神眼中，這些遠比單單獻上的祭物更重要。

來吧，讓我們從生命開始，力行使命，為主作見證！

  What feelings do the words “mission-driven” or “faithfully living out the mission” (力行使命) evoke in you? AI points out that the main reasons believers today find it difficult to live out the mission include the complexity of the social climate, differing understandings of mission within the church, insufficient manpower and resources, and the tendency to fall into dilemmas on certain issues. In the face of “time poverty” and the many “force majeure” factors in life, we inevitably feel powerless, and even speechless.

  Many believers express that they already find it difficult to make time and space to care about other people and matters. Also, because they feel that their witness at work and in life is not good enough, they do not dare to reveal their “true identity” as Christians, let alone share the gospel and lead others to the Lord. Yet, if we think back, from “working folks like us” (「我哋呢班打工仔」) to “work our fingers to the bone” (「做到隻積咁嘅樣」), and then from “enslaved creature” (「奴隸獸」) to “shachiku” or “corporate slave” (「社畜」), it seems that every generation has faced the same challenge of “time poverty.” Strangely, do we not already have smartphones, high-speed internet, and even AI today to help us handle matters more quickly? I still remember that more than thirty years ago, my company generously provided me with a mobile phone, a laptop computer, VPN, and unlimited long-distance call credits, so that I could be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At that time, I had to attend meetings with people on the other side of the world until 2 a.m., and then have meetings with other people on another side at 6 a.m. Each day, I could only sleep for four to five hours, and the pressure was immense. However, those difficult days were also the days when I was closest to God, the days when I most deeply experienced His wondrous care, and the days when I took up the most ministries in church.

  I am reminded of the mission statement of the NPAC family: “To light up our lives with God’s love and live out the practice of ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” The first step in faithfully living out our mission lies in whether we first establish a relationship with God and allow our lives to be renewed, so that God becomes our true boss and the head of our household. In this way, we can avoid the progression of busyness, forgetfulness, and downfall—being busy, forgetting grace, and falling in battle. A brother who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a multinational bank humbly shared his motto: “Faith must shine for the Lord in the workplace.” Believers will, of course, still experience weakness and commit sin, and we may also fail in our witness in how we deal with people and handle matters. Yet, if we humbly hold on to the love and power of the LORD, do our utmost, and continue to improve and grow, is this not a more human and more beautiful witness of life?

  Jesus once said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matthew 23:23). To faithfully live out the mission, we must first begin with life itself, and then let it naturally extend into our daily living. At the same time, we must remember to practice justice, mercy and faithfulness in society, because in God’s eyes, these are far more important than offerings alone.

  Come, let us begin with life, live out the mission faithfully, and bear witness for the Lord!