二○二一年十月十六日／十七日
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我們都是「寄居者」
周曉暉牧師
其實，每一名基督徒都應該知道，自己有著「寄居者」的身分。
順境時，活得寫意，我們不會多想這問題；在逆境中，在世道、文化與價值觀急遽轉換時，信徒才會越來越體會這世界非我家，越發醒覺到基督的教會在地上根本就是一個「寄居」的群體。
「寄居者」有兩個面向。一是朝向未來終末，另一是處在此時此際。「寄居者」最盼望的，是有朝一日能返回家鄉，不再寄居。基督徒會盼望未來，那天家美境，將是上主為我們預備在終末時的家園。心靈越能對焦著這個未來，就越能在幻變的世情中擁抱有家可回、再度相見的不變盼望，這樣，我們就越懂得如何活在此時此際。
當寄居者認清身分，便能敏銳地發現，今天周遭的思潮、文化、習俗和意識型態，確與我們的信仰有難以協調的地方。
情況就如一個生活在基督化家庭環境的少年人，自小在教會、在基督教學校裡成長，如今要出外，進到一個全然陌生、且非常世俗化的地方留學。在碰撞的價值觀、令人難以置信的當地習慣、勢不可當的流行文化中間，稍一不留神，本應得著福音的生命，就會被這氛圍急劇同化或異化，隨之產生質變。
那麼，他應該成為怎麼樣的人呢？隨流還是「企硬」？他該如何為人生定位，為生活定調，為自己的生命作大大小小的抉擇？原來，自小所學的聖經，能為他提供一個實在的選項（在這些處境中還是有選擇的），讓他明辨是非，也守住真理界線。畢竟，實踐信仰是需要有根有基的。
今天的信徒也是如此，文化與思潮連番大浪似的向我們覆蓋過來。北宣家的五年總綱「持定使命、進新領域」，就是源於一個體會：這世代正急速地改變了教會的生態環境，悄悄地，將你我重新安置去一個新的「寄居」處境。現在的時空，變得非常陌生。
那麼，你應該成為怎麼樣的人呢？你大可不必四處求索，只要打開你家中的聖經（或手機裡的聖經 App），生存之道，早就在上主給你的寶貴話語中。這一季，北宣家選讀了幾卷被稱為「大公書信」（或「普通書信」）的新約書卷：約翰貳書、彼得前書、猶大書和彼得後書。求主指教北宣人，在真假難分的時候，仍知道如何竭力持守真道，並在所寄居的新領域中，與神、與人重新結連。
Pastor's Sharing We Are "Sojourners"
Rev Arnold Chow
Every Christian should, in fact, know that we have the identity of "sojourners".
In good times when life is smooth, we seldom think about this. However, in difficult times when morals, culture and values face abrupt changes, the believer realizes all the more that this world is not our home. He begins to wake up to the notion that the church of Christ is fundamentally a community of “sojourners” on earth.
The "sojourners" has two perspectives. One looks to the future and the end. The other is the here and now. The ultimate hope of the "sojourners" is that one day, he can go home and end the sojourn. Christians look forward to the future. The splendid heavenly home is the home the LORD has prepared for us in eternity. The more our hearts are focused on such a future, the more we can cherish in an ever-changing world the unchanging hope for a home where we can one day return and meet again. This gives us a better idea how to live the present.
When the sojourner has a good grasp of his identity, he will notice that the thoughts, culture, customs and ideologies around are really incompatible with our faith.
It is like a teenager from a Christian family who grows up in the church and Christian school from young. Now he has to go and study in a totally unfamiliar and highly secularized environment with different values, unbelievable local customs and an overwhelming popular culture. If he is not careful, his life and faith can easily become assimilated and tainted by the environment.
Then, what kind of people ought he to be? Does he follow the trends or "stand firm" against them? How should he position his life, choose his lifestyle and make his daily decisions, big and small? In fact, the Bible, which he learns from young, offers a concrete option for him (still there are options in these situations) and allows him to discern right from wrong and stand firm within the boundaries of the truth. After all, the practice of faith requires good foundation.
The same for today's believers. Culture and thoughts come to us like roaring billows. NPAC's five-year plan "Steadfast Mission in New Horizons" originates from one understanding: The being of the church is rapidly changed by the present era. Quietly, you and me have been relocated to a new context of sojourn. The present time and space have become very unfamiliar indeed.
Then, what kind of people ought you to be? You do not need to look far for an answer. Just open the Bible in your home (or the Bible app on your mobile). The way to live has long been given to you in the precious word from God. This quarter, the NPAC family will study selected passages from the Catholic Letters (or the General Epistles) in the New Testament: 2 John, 1 Peter, Jude and 2 Peter. May the Lord teach brothers and sisters in NPAC to strive to stay in the truth at a time when it is hard to tell right from wrong, and reconnect with Him and with man in the new horizons of our sojourn.
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