話說這次我去參加個教會的週年慶... 其實真的是替他們所帶出來的"影響力"是聽起來覺得不錯... 然而, 當我坐在位置上聽著台上的MC, 或是其他牧者們的"祝福"... 我其實小小捏把冷汗. 怎麼說呢... 只能以我目前的認知跟瞭解 - 暫且分析為『教會受社會上對"成功"的定義影響太深』, 以至於把教會"增長"的"成功"劃上於教會的大小, 小組長/區長的多寡等為教會的"成功"是否. 對我而言, 這真的很可怕.....
另外, 當天... 說真的, 我從頭到尾開始聽到站在台上的人 (regardless if they were pastors, reverends, announcers, or MC) 任何在台上講話的人 (雖然每個教會的流程不同, 但這天是慶祝週年, 所以可想而知除了牧師外, 還有很多人之前在台上說話/報告等) 都沒有講到"榮耀歸與 神"~! 真的..... 這點是讓我最最傻眼的 @@ 因為... 這會不會太business-like? 都是聽到像是恭喜貴教會... 感謝大家的參與... 感謝大家過往的努力, 都是因為你們... 此教會過去這幾年在台灣教會界帶出的影響力.... 牧師成為許多教會的領袖.... 甚至有牧師誇此教會牧師為"國家的英雄人物/政治人物"等...... 我可以看到其他教會或是代表此教會感謝會友及熱切鼓勵的心, 但是... 真的沒什麼人將至高的榮耀歸給 神~! 甚至是從影片中出於其他牧者的口, 我也沒聽到. 這點讓我真的滿痛心的.... 是否不知不覺中我們都漸漸倚賴自己的能力勝於看到 神的恩典與保守使我們能走到如今的光景? 沒將最當得的榮耀歸給至高者? 不過好加在主任牧師上台後第一句就有說感謝 神, 榮耀歸給 神, 雖然只是短短一句... >< 連表妹近年來不常參加主日的, 一開始聽到講員的開場白也說客套話很多... there's a fine line between 'celebrating a milestone in joy with all the saints' and 'praising people for the glory of whatsoever just about the atmosphere...'.
也為了迫切得到這個"成功定義"下的期望"人數", 教會會定下"目標" - 要有小組長200位, 區牧xx位, 區長xx位等. 牧師說到8件事是希望未來幾年看到的, 甚至最後牧師說: "讓我們禱告至少這8件事, 在2005年前能成就".. i wonder, are we setting the goals and 'forcing' God to accomplish what we want? not that i don't see eye to eye with the mission to save the lost souls... but how do we/people, as leaders, instead of 'manipulating' the power we have (SO many believers under the leader) and trying so hard to match up with the megachurches, thinking that THEY have the better strategy to "make disciples"... but neglect the fact to steadily leading people to Christ with the church's own cultures; not going after only quantity, but quality as well? it's like - we ask and plead God for what we want, trying to speed up what we might not yet 'capable' of, just so we look good from the outside, or make people feel we ARE in progress... doing sth tangible that you can hold on to...
i was half appalled by the crowd's unity... not that it's entirely a bad thing, i also hope that the leader is leading with a servant heart.... because i truly believe that disciples are made/trained, not born... but on the right path. their unity just made me quiver... i agree that most 'famous/well-known' pastors somewhat have charisma, but this doesn't make him/her the 'only say... final say.' 因為講得東西很重要... 如果弟兄姊妹只習慣說"amen", 那是否都不能質疑或表意見嗎?
前幾天聽到王霖牧師說, 他在台灣牧會學到的許多事, 其中一樣是, 每個人一生會遇到很多"老師", 但只會有一個真正的"屬靈老師"... 一個真的不在利益下告訴你什麼是最好的, 最中肯的建議... 想想, 我真是認同他所分享的...! 他說以前他以為跟不同人接觸, 以為只是那一段時間對他的幫助的, 可能會以當時的觀點 (特別是教會的需要) 來輔導他... 但他現在發現, 要用 神整個大國度的眼光來輔導一個人... 真的對這人有益, 真正能幫助他在屬靈生命上成長的建議. i thank God for my previous cell group leader, who has subtly taught me this 2-3 years ago when i was under her leadership. i couldn't really pinpoint what made her different from all my previous leaders before.. now i do. she has a heart for God's kingdom... not for her or the church's benefits, but... for Christ's. and even now, we're in different continents.. yet i still trust her and ask for her advice on things.. cuz i know she cares, wherever i am, whatever i do. more than a friend, she's a spiritual support to me! (:
alrighty... enough of this... i ask God for mercy on me, to bear with patience and with hope... because i know God cares more than i do, and He sure has His ways of handling this... my part is to be humble, pray as He prompts me to, and ... walk with integrity whenever i got reminded by the Holy Spirit for my own blind spots... thanks for not quitting on me, Lord. You are my God! and i will worship You alone....
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