繁體中文 / English / 简体中文

 

「11他所賜的，有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有牧師和教師，12為要成全聖徒，各盡其職，建立基督的身體，13直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識神的兒子，得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量，14使我們不再作小孩子，中了人的詭計和欺騙的法術，被一切異教之風搖動，飄來飄去，就隨從各樣的異端。」(弗4:11-14)

有關牧者的職責，保羅在以弗所書4章11至14節有很清楚的描述。首先，牧職是神的恩賜 (弗4:11)，是照基督所量給各人的 (弗4:7)；目的是成全 (原文指裝備) 聖徒 (即會眾)，各盡其職，建立基督的身體 (弗4:12)，使信徒的靈命成熟，不被異教及異端欺騙 (弗4:13-14)。根據上述經文的教導，牧者不應及不可能履行教會所有的事工和職務，而是要裝備所有信徒，與他們一同各盡各職，建立教會。

對保羅而言，教會就是基督的身體，牧者和信徒都是身體的不同部分，都有基督所量給各人的恩賜，都有他們的職分。在羅馬書12章5至8節，保羅更進一步提醒我們，「5我們這許多人，在基督裏成為一身，互相聯絡作肢體，也是如此。6按我們所得的恩賜，各有不同。或說預言，就當照著信心的程度說預言；7或作執事，就當專一執事；或作教導的，就當專一教導；8或作勸化的，就當專一勸化；施捨的，就當誠實；治理的，就當殷勤；憐憫人的，就當甘心。」各人要專一、誠實、殷勤、甘心的服事。一方面我們不能對其他肢體說: 「我用不著你。」(林前12:21)，另一方面，我們也不能對同作肢體的牧者和領袖說: 「我全用著你。」

執事會亦認同牧者、領袖和信徒互為肢體的道理，因此時常提醒牧者和部長，要建立良好的溝通，緊密的隊工。因此無論是CM、EM、MM、KFM事工，在牧者的屬靈領導下，由各部門去推動、執行及落實各項事工。牧者不應在執事部門不知情下推動、執行及落實任何事工，信徒也不該期望牧者擔起所有推動、執行及落實事工的責任。牧者的角色尤如教練，是裝備和訓練信徒落場比賽，而不是牧者去為會眾參賽。

舉一個近期發生的例子，去年11月的退修會中，胡牧師提出分區牧養的可能，有執事部長不認同，也有部長及信徒積極的回應，並且組織。面對這相反的意見，胡牧師向執事會和會友部表明此項目是一個試驗性事工，結果今年1月31日成功舉辦了一次。但因為參與者都已經有忙碌的事奉，故沒有考慮有第二次及定期的聚會，以免他們疲於活動。而其他區域的會眾，因沒有積極配合的組織行動，故最終決定暫時擱置。由此可見，事工若沒有執事部門的推動、執行及落實，和會眾的配合，即使牧者有多努力，成效也不彰。而另一個成效不彰的例子是禱伴計劃，只是牧者未有輕言放棄而已。

9月5日教會將有事工退修會，牧者們非常期待你的出席和參與，一同檢討及探索頌主堂未來的方向和事工，一同仰望及等候聖靈的導引和加力，讓明天的頌主堂變得更成熟像基督，一同在社區中榮耀神。如你對本牧函有任何看法，歡迎與胡牧師 stephen.woo@bethelmb.org 分享。

胡志雄牧師

 

"11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming." (Ephesians 4:11-14, NIV)

Regarding the responsibilities of pastors, Paul gives a very clear description in Ephesians 4:11–14. First, pastoral ministry is a gift from God (Ephesians 4:11), given according to the grace Christ has apportioned to each one (Ephesians 4:7). Its purpose is to equip God’s people (i.e. the congregation) for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12), enabling them to grow toward spiritual maturity and not be deceived by pagan beliefs or heresies (Ephesians 4:13-14). According to the teaching of these passages, pastors should not, and cannot, carry out all the ministries and duties of the church by themselves. Rather, they are to equip all believers so that together they may each fulfill their own role and build up the church.

For Paul, the church is the body of Christ, and pastors and believers are also different parts of that body. All have gifts apportioned by Christ, and all have their own roles. In Romans 12:5-8, Paul further reminds us: “5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Each of us is to serve with devotion, generosity, diligence, and cheerfulness. On the one hand, we cannot say to another part of the body, “I don’t need you!” (1 Corinthians 12:21). On the other hand, neither can we say to pastors and leaders, who are also fellow members of the body, “I need you to do everything.”

The Deacon Board also affirms the truth that pastors, leaders, and believers are members of one another. For this reason, it often reminds pastors and ministry heads to build good communication and close teamwork. Therefore, whether in the CM, EM, MM, or KFM ministries, under the spiritual leadership of the pastors, each department is responsible for promoting, carrying out, and implementing its ministries. Pastors should not promote, carry out, or implement any ministry without the knowledge of the deacons, departments, and believers should not expect pastors to shoulder all the responsibility for promoting, carrying out, and implementing ministries. The role of a pastor is like that of a coach: to equip and train believers to enter the field and play the game, not for the pastor to play the game on their behalf.

To give a recent example, at last November’s retreat, Rev. Woo raised the possibility of district-based pastoral care. Some deacons and Department heads did not agree, while other Department heads and believers responded positively and helped organize it. In view of these differing opinions, Rev. Woo explained to the Deacon Board and the Membership Department that this would be a pilot trial ministry. As a result, one gathering was successfully held on January 31 this year. However, because the participants were already busy with ministry service, a second gathering or regular meetings were not considered, so that they would not become exhausted by too many activities. In other districts, because there was no active organizational support, the project was eventually put on hold. This shows that if a ministry does not have the cooperation, promotion, execution, and implementation of deacons, departments and congregations, its effectiveness will be limited no matter how hard the pastor works. Another example of limited effectiveness is the prayer partner plan, though the pastoral team has not given up on it lightly.

On September 5, the church will hold a ministry retreat. The pastoral team very much looks forward to your attendance and participation, as we review and explore together the future direction and ministries of Bethel, and as we look to and wait upon the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. May tomorrow’s Bethel become more mature and more Christlike, and may we glorify God together in the community. If you have any thoughts about this pastoral letter, you are welcome to share them with Rev. Woo at stephen.woo@bethelmb.org.

Rev. Woo

 

「11他所赐的，有使徒，有先知，有传福音的，有牧师和教师，12为要成全圣徒，各尽其职，建立基督的身体，13直等到我们众人在真道上同归于一，认识神的儿子，得以长大成人，满有基督长成的身量，14使我们不再作小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异教之风摇动，飘来飘去，就随从各样的异端。」(弗4:11-14)

有关牧者的职责，保罗在以弗所书4章11至14节有很清楚的描述。首先，牧职是神的恩赐 (弗4:11)，是照基督所量给各人的 (弗4:7)；目的是成全 (原文指装备) 圣徒 (即会众)，各尽其职，建立基督的身体 (弗4:12)，使信徒的灵命成熟，不被异教及异端欺骗 (弗4:13-14)。根据上述经文的教导，牧者不应及不可能履行教会所有的事工和职务，而是要装备所有信徒，与他们一同各尽各职，建立教会。

对保罗而言，教会就是基督的身体，牧者和信徒都是身体的不同部分，都有基督所量给各人的恩赐，都有他们的职分。在罗马书12章5至8节，保罗更进一步提醒我们，「5我们这许多人，在基督里成为一身，互相联络作肢体，也是如此。6按我们所得的恩赐，各有不同。或说预言，就当照着信心的程度说预言；7或作执事，就当专一执事；或作教导的，就当专一教导；8或作劝化的，就当专一劝化；施舍的，就当诚实；治理的，就当殷勤；怜悯人的，就当甘心。」各人要专一、诚实、殷勤、甘心的服事。一方面我们不能对其他肢体说: 「我用不着你。」(林前12:21)，另一方面，我们也不能对同作肢体的牧者和领袖说: 「我全用着你。」

执事会亦认同牧者、领袖和信徒互为肢体的道理，因此时常提醒牧者和部长，要建立良好的沟通，紧密的队工。因此无论是CM、EM、MM、KFM事工，在牧者的属灵领导下，由各部门去推动、执行及落实各项事工。牧者不应在执事部门不知情下推动、执行及落实任何事工，信徒也不该期望牧者担起所有推动、执行及落实事工的责任。牧者的角色尤如教练，是装备和训练信徒落场比赛，而不是牧者去为会众参赛。

举一个近期发生的例子，去年11月的退修会中，胡牧师提出分区牧养的可能，有执事部长不认同，也有部长及信徒积极的回应，并且组织。面对这相反的意见，胡牧师向执事会和会友部表明此项目是一个试验性事工，结果今年1月31日成功举办了一次。但因为参与者都已经有忙碌的事奉，故没有考虑有第二次及定期的聚会，以免他们疲于活动。而其他区域的会众，因没有积极配合的组织行动，故最终决定暂时搁置。由此可见，事工若没有执事部门的推动、执行及落实，和会众的配合，即使牧者有多努力，成效也不彰。而另一个成效不彰的例子是祷伴计划，只是牧者未有轻言放弃而已。

9月5日教会将有事工退修会，牧者们非常期待你的出席和参与，一同检讨及探索颂主堂未来的方向和事工，一同仰望及等候圣灵的导引和加力，让明天的颂主堂变得更成熟像基督，一同在社区中荣耀神。如你对本牧函有任何看法，欢迎与胡牧师 stephen.woo@bethelmb.org 分享。

胡志雄牧师