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Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Happy Father’s Day! Just a few days ago, my wife, Jennifer, informed me that my children think that I am a very strict father. I would emphasize not wasting any food, not taking after-school curriculum for granted, and refusing to buy things they want when window shopping. They expressed to their mother that their father sees money as more important than caring for them. I was very disappointed that this is the impression I have given my children. I also told my wife that if she agreed with them and did not correct their view and defend my view on good stewardship, then I would also be equally disappointed in her. At the same time, I also examined my own heart whether my emphasis on good stewardship and expectations on my children to take up their own responsibilities by doing their part in practicing piano, completing homework, and learning to distinguish needs from wants were unreasonable. What went wrong? The scripture did tell us to be good stewards over all the good gifts the Father in Heaven has blessed us with, didn’t it? I could quote many Scriptures, such as being faithful (Luke 16:10), being a good role model (Titus 2:78), contributing to the family (Matthew 25:14-30), etc… But the Scripture also warns parents not to provoke children to anger (Ephesians 6:4), avoid actions that would embitter or discourage their children (Colossians 3:21). This requires us to be very careful not to cherry-pick Bible verses to magnify our own thoughts, words, and actions. This way is the way of self-agenda, self-expectations, and self-focused rather than God’s will, God’s expectations, and God-centered.

As I reflect on the comment my children made, I cannot help but ask the Lord how my family can reflect closer to God’s original design. God pointed me to Ephesians 4:17-32, especially verses 29- 32, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The Lord revealed that while my thoughts are not wrong on the principles of the Biblical teachings, how I present to others on the Biblical teachings to others is equally important.

As you know, the church is made up of imperfect people trying to follow Jesus. Even though we do not want to admit it, each of us has inherited unhealthy patterns while growing up. When each family with various family backgrounds gathers at church to relearn how to live like Jesus Christ, our church community can be quite conflicted. This requires each follower of Christ to be aware of our sinful pattern and be committed to intentionally practicing Christlikeness. Perhaps we may give ourselves excuses that we are weak and unable to change our old sinful pattern. However, we are called to grow into our new identity in Christ. There will be times our fellow brothers and sisters will offend us. I pray that each of us can speak truth with love, gentleness, and patience in Christ without fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” We must strive to uphold the teaching of Jesus and truly abide with Christ.

The leadership team needs your feedback and observation to help with the discernment process of how we can best serve. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” If there is something God has put into your heart, please do not hesitate to talk with the pastoral team. We, as the pastoral team, would love to pray and walk alongside you and see how we can empower more people to serve. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of the pastors.

In Christ,
Pastor Peter Chong

 

親愛的弟兄姊妹們，

父親節快樂！就在幾天前，我的妻子Jennifer告訴我，我的孩子們認為我是一個非常嚴格的父親。我會強調不浪費任何食物，不把課後課程視為理所當然，拒絕在逛街時購買他們想要的東西。他們向母親表示，父親認為金錢比照顧他們更重要。我非常失望，這是我給孩子們留下的印象。我還告訴我的妻子，如果她同意他們的觀點，不糾正他們的觀點，不捍衛我對聖經勸勉要做好管家的看法，那麼我也會對她同樣失望。同時，我也省察了自己的內心，我強調要做好管家，並期望我的孩子們通過盡自己的一份力量來承擔自己的責任，練習鋼琴、完成家庭作業和學習區分需求和願望，這是否不合理。哪裡出了問題？ 文確實告訴我們，要做好管家管理天父賜給我們的所有美好禮物，不是嗎？我可以引用許多經文，例如忠心(路加福音16:10)、做一個好榜樣(提多書2:78)、為家庭做出貢獻(馬太福音25:14-30)等等... 但聖經也警告父母不要惹孩子生氣(以弗所書6:4)，避免做出會讓他們的孩子感到痛苦或灰心的行為(歌羅西書3:21)。這要求我們非常小心謹慎，不要挑選聖經經文來放大我們自己認為的思想、言語和行為。這種方式是自我議程、自我期望和以自我為中心的方式，而不是上帝的旨意、上帝的期望和以上帝為中心的方式。

當我反思我孩子們的評論時，我忍不住問主，我的家庭如何才能更接近上帝最初的設計。神向我指出以弗所書4:17-32，尤其是29-32節，「污穢的言語一句不可出口，只要隨事說造就人的好話，叫聽見的人得益處。不要叫神的聖靈擔憂；你們原是受了他的印記，等候得贖的日子來到 。一切苦毒、惱恨、忿怒、嚷鬧、毀謗，並一切的惡毒(或作：陰毒)，都當從你們中間除掉；並要以恩慈相待，存憐憫的心，彼此饒恕，正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。」主啟示說，雖然我的想法在聖經教導的原則上沒有錯，但我如何向他人展示聖經的教導也同樣重要。

如你所知，教會是由不完美的人組成的，他們試圖跟隨耶穌。儘管我們不想承認，但我們每個人在成長過程中都繼承了不健康的模式。當每個具有不同家庭背景的家庭聚集在教會，重新學習如何像耶穌基督一樣生活時，我們在教會裏可能會時常有爭論。這要求每個基督的追隨者都意識到我們的罪惡模式，並致力於有意識地實踐基督的樣式。也許我們可以給自己找藉口說我們軟弱，無法改變我們過去的罪惡模式。然而，我們被呼召在基督里成長為我們的新身份。有時我們的兄弟姐妹會冒犯我們。我祈禱我們每個人都能在基督裡毫無恐懼地以愛、溫柔和耐心說真話。提摩太後書1:7 說：「因為神賜給我們，不是膽怯的心，乃是剛強、仁愛、謹守的心。」我們必須努力維護耶穌的教導，並真正與基督結連。

領導團隊需要您的反饋和觀察，以幫助辨別我們如何才能最好地事奉。傳道書3:1 說：「凡事都有定時，天下萬事都有定時。」如果神有什麼放在你心裡的，請不要猶豫，與教牧團隊交談。作為教牧團隊，我們很樂意為您祈禱並與您同行，看看我們如何賦予更多人服侍的能力。如果您有任何問題或疑慮，請隨時與其中一位牧師聯繫。謝謝。

在基督裡，
張俊德傳道

 

亲爱的兄弟姊妹们，

父亲节快乐！就在几天前，我的妻子Jennifer告诉我，我的孩子们认为我是一个非常严格的父亲。我会强调不浪费任何食物，不把课后课程视为理所当然，拒绝在逛街时购买他们想要的东西。他们向母亲表示，父亲认为金钱比照顾他们更重要。我非常失望，这是我给孩子们留下的印象。我还告诉我的妻子，如果她同意他们的观点，不纠正他们的观点，不捍卫我对圣经劝勉要做好管家的看法，那么我也会对她同样失望。同时，我也省察了自己的内心，我强调要做好管家，并期望我的孩子们通过尽自己的一份力量来承担自己的责任，练习钢琴、完成家庭作业和学习区分需求和愿望，这是否不合理。哪里出了问题？ 文确实告诉我们，要做好管家管理天父赐给我们的所有美好礼物，不是吗？我可以引用许多经文，例如忠心(路加福音16:10)、做一个好榜样(提多书2:78)、为家庭做出贡献(马太福音25:14-30)等等... 但圣经也警告父母不要惹孩子生气(以弗所书6:4)，避免做出会让他们的孩子感到痛苦或灰心的行为(歌罗西书3:21)。这要求我们非常小心谨慎，不要挑选圣经经文来放大我们自己认为的思想、言语和行为。这种方式是自我议程、自我期望和以自我为中心的方式，而不是上帝的旨意、上帝的期望和以上帝为中心的方式。

当我反思我孩子们的评论时，我忍不住问主，我的家庭如何才能更接近上帝最初的设计。神向我指出以弗所书4:17-32，尤其是29-32节，「污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。不要叫神的圣灵担忧；你们原是受了他的印记，等候得赎的日子来到 。一切苦毒、恼恨、忿怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒(或作：阴毒)，都当从你们中间除掉；并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。」主启示说，虽然我的想法在圣经教导的原则上没有错，但我如何向他人展示圣经的教导也同样重要。

如你所知，教会是由不完美的人组成的，他们试图跟随耶稣。尽管我们不想承认，但我们每个人在成长过程中都继承了不健康的模式。当每个具有不同家庭背景的家庭聚集在教会，重新学习如何像耶稣基督一样生活时，我们在教会里可能会时常有争论。这要求每个基督的追随者都意识到我们的罪恶模式，并致力于有意识地实践基督的样式。也许我们可以给自己找借口说我们软弱，无法改变我们过去的罪恶模式。然而，我们被呼召在基督里成长为我们的新身份。有时我们的兄弟姐妹会冒犯我们。我祈祷我们每个人都能在基督里毫无恐惧地以爱、温柔和耐心说真话。提摩太后书1:7 说：「因为神赐给我们，不是胆怯的心，乃是刚强、仁爱、谨守的心。」我们必须努力维护耶稣的教导，并真正与基督结连。

领导团队需要您的反馈和观察，以帮助辨别我们如何才能最好地事奉。传道书3:1 说：「凡事都有定时，天下万事都有定时。」如果神有什么放在你心里的，请不要犹豫，与教牧团队交谈。作为教牧团队，我们很乐意为您祈祷并与您同行，看看我们如何赋予更多人服侍的能力。如果您有任何问题或疑虑，请随时与其中一位牧师联系。谢谢。

在基督里，
张俊德传道