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Dear Brothers & Sisters,

The world we are currently living in has become more dangerous than ever. With nation against nation, people against people, and family members against family members, conflicts often lead to war, violence, and broken relationships. Conflicts happened because certain core values, beliefs, and ideologies were violated. Why do churches somehow suffer the same fate as the rest of the world in conflict? Would you not agree that conflicts arise due to the fact that members of the church could not see eye to eye on many issues? Many Christians today do not realize how much we been heavily influenced by the culture surrounding us. Whether we realize it or not, as we gather together in the church, each of us may unconsciously bring something into the church contrary to the Biblical teachings, such as life philosophy, expectations, life experience, core values, and cultural influences, etc.

Apostle Paul, who had a dual identity as a Jew and a Roman citizen, understood the constant struggle with identity more than any of the other disciples. People are different due to their upbringing. It is not something anyone can change overnight. Apostle Paul gave a really good insight through the analogy of the relationship between Jesus and his church in Romans 12:5, “so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Again, he also wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 that even though each part of the body looks and functions differently, each body parts are submissive to the authority of the head. With this analogy, it is clear that the only way for the church to avoid the same fate as the world is to be submissive to the leadership of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul did not ask Christians to write off their cultural identity. He was calling Christians to bring our thoughts, plans, and agendas at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ so he may transform us through teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3).

Many Christians mistakenly believe that church unity means everyone is in full unison on matters and issues. No, there will always be differences of opinion due to our upbringing and sinful nature. We must not forget that we are still in the process of being sanctified. What are we to do with our differences? Most people would rather avoid conflict at all costs. However, a church without any conflict is unhealthy. Would you not agree that it is through conversations that we know where everyone is situated spiritually? When concerns and issues are simply swept under the rug until no one can ignore the accumulated problems anymore, the sudden blow-up becomes a point of no return. This is how church division happens! People chose to leave the church because the differences have become so great that reconciliation becomes impossible. When members of the church constantly deal with relational problems, the calling and purpose of the church are lost. When people carry their pain into another church, more churches will be destroyed when someone triggers it similarly. In other words, going to another church will not fix anything but spread the problems like an infectious disease. It is better to learn how to deal with it rather than avoid it.

Then, how should we go about our differences? The first thing we all must do is examine our motives. Are ministries in the church aligned with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? The second thing we must do is see conflict as an indicator of the church's spiritual health. Satan uses conflict to divide people. God uses conflicts to let us know something is not aligning with God’s will. Jesus established the church so that imperfect sinners can come to learn the way of God and practice how to listen to God’s voice through prayers and study the word of God. Didn’t Jesus command all his disciples to gather and wait for the Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24, 14:16-17; Acts 1:4-5,13-14)? For this reason, Christians cannot grow unless they learn how to overcome differences in the community of Jesus Christ. If we learn to see conflicts as opportunities in becoming more like Jesus, would you not agree that it should be a desirable thing? Would you not agree that when our attitude changed from negative to positive, we no longer fear conflicts and shun disagreements? I pray that Bethel will begin to put away hostilities and listen to one another with respect so that greater discernment in the Lord is possible (Philippians 2:1-4). 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，

我們目前所處的世界已變得比以往任何時候都更加危險。國與國、人與人、甚至家庭成員之間的衝突，往往導致戰爭、暴力和關係破裂。衝突的發生，是因為某些核心價值、信仰和意識形態遭到了侵犯。為什麼教會在衝突中也會遭受與世界相同的命運呢？你是否同意，衝突的產生是由於教會成員在許多問題上無法達成共識？今天的許多基督徒並沒有意識到我們深受周遭文化的影響。無論我們是否察覺，當我們在教會聚會時，每個人都可能下意識地將一些與聖經教導相悖的東西帶進教會，例如人生哲學、期望、生活經驗、核心價值和文化影響等。

使徒保羅擁有猶太人和羅馬公民的雙重身分，他比任何其他門徒都更了解身分認同的恆久掙扎人因成長背景不同而有所差異，這並不是一朝一夕就能改變的。保羅在羅馬書12:5中透過耶穌與教會關係的比喻提供了很好的見解：「我們這許多人在基督裡成為一個身體，互相聯絡作肢體也是如此。」此外，他在哥林多前書12:12-27中也寫道，儘管身體的各個部分外表和功能不同，但每個部分都服從元首的權威。透過這個比喻可以清楚看到，教會避免重蹈世界覆轍的唯一途徑就是順服耶穌基督的領導。保羅並沒有要求基督徒放棄自己的文化身分，他是在呼籲基督徒將我們的想法、計畫和議程帶到主耶穌基督的腳前，讓祂透過教導、責備、糾正和義的訓練來改變我們（提摩太後書第3章）。

許多基督徒誤以為教會合一意味著每個人在所有事務和問題上都完全一致。不，由於我們的成長背景和罪性，永遠都會存在意見分歧。我們絕不能忘記，我們仍處於成聖的過程中。面對分歧我們該怎麼辦？大多數人寧願不惜一切代價避免衝突。然而，一個沒有任何衝突的教會是不健康的。難道你不同意，正是透過對話，我們才能了解每個人在屬靈上所處的狀態嗎？當憂慮和問題被掩蓋，直到無人能忽視累積的問題時，突然的爆發就會演變成無法挽回的局面 。 這就是教會分裂發生的原因！人們選擇離開教會，是因為分歧已變得如此巨大，以至於和解變得不可能。當教會成員不斷處理人際關係問題時，教會的使命和目的就會喪失。當人們將痛苦帶到另一間教會時，一旦有人觸發類似的痛苦，更多的教會將會被摧毀。換句話說，去另一間教會並不能解決任何問題，反而會像傳染病一樣散播問題。學習如何處理它，而不是逃避它，才是更好的做法。

那麼，我們該如何處理分歧呢？首先，我們必須檢視自己的動機。教會的各項事工是否與馬太福音28:19-20的大使命相符？其次，我們必須將衝突視為教會屬靈健康的指標。撒旦利用衝突來分裂人，而神利用衝突讓我們知道某些事情與神的旨意不符。耶穌建立教會，是為了讓不完美的罪人能來學習上帝的道，並實踐如何透過禱告和研讀神的話語來聆聽上帝的聲音。耶穌難道沒有命令祂所有的門徒聚集並等候聖靈嗎（約翰福音4:23-24，14:16-17；使徒行傳1:4-5, 13-14）？因此，除非基督徒學會如何在耶穌基督的群體中克服分歧，否則就無法成長。如果我們學會將衝突視為變得更像耶穌的機會，難道你不同意這應該是一件令人嚮往的事嗎？難道你不同意，當我們的態度由消極轉為積極時，我們就不再害怕衝突，也不再迴避分歧嗎？我祈求頌主堂 (Bethel) 能開始放下敵意，以尊重的心彼此傾聽，從而在主裡能有更大的分辨力（腓立比書2:1-4）。如果您有任何問題或疑慮，請隨時與其中一位牧師聯繫。

在基督裡，
張俊德傳道

 

亲爱的兄弟姊妹们，

我们目前所处的世界已变得比以往任何时候都更加危险。国与国、人与人、甚至家庭成员之间的冲突，往往导致战争、暴力和关系破裂。冲突的发生，是因为某些核心价值、信仰和意识形态遭到了侵犯。为什么教会在冲突中也会遭受与世界相同的命运呢？你是否同意，冲突的产生是由于教会成员在许多问题上无法达成共识？今天的许多基督徒并没有意识到我们深受周遭文化的影响。无论我们是否察觉，当我们在教会聚会时，每个人都可能下意识地将一些与圣经教导相悖的东西带进教会，例如人生哲学、期望、生活经验、核心价值和文化影响等。

使徒保罗拥有犹太人和罗马公民的双重身分，他比任何其他门徒都更了解身分认同的恒久挣扎人因成长背景不同而有所差异，这并不是一朝一夕就能改变的。保罗在罗马书12:5中透过耶稣与教会关系的比喻提供了很好的见解：「我们这许多人在基督里成为一个身体，互相联络作肢体也是如此。」此外，他在哥林多前书12:12-27中也写道，尽管身体的各个部分外表和功能不同，但每个部分都服从元首的权威。透过这个比喻可以清楚看到，教会避免重蹈世界覆辙的唯一途径就是顺服耶稣基督的领导。保罗并没有要求基督徒放弃自己的文化身分，他是在呼吁基督徒将我们的想法、计画和议程带到主耶稣基督的脚前，让祂透过教导、责备、纠正和义的训练来改变我们（提摩太后书第3章）。

许多基督徒误以为教会合一意味着每个人在所有事务和问题上都完全一致。不，由于我们的成长背景和罪性，永远都会存在意见分歧。我们绝不能忘记，我们仍处于成圣的过程中。面对分歧我们该怎么办？大多数人宁愿不惜一切代价避免冲突。然而，一个没有任何冲突的教会是不健康的。难道你不同意，正是透过对话，我们才能了解每个人在属灵上所处的状态吗？当忧虑和问题被掩盖，直到无人能忽视累积的问题时，突然的爆发就会演变成无法挽回的局面 。 这就是教会分裂发生的原因！人们选择离开教会，是因为分歧已变得如此巨大，以至于和解变得不可能。当教会成员不断处理人际关系问题时，教会的使命和目的就会丧失。当人们将痛苦带到另一间教会时，一旦有人触发类似的痛苦，更多的教会将会被摧毁。换句话说，去另一间教会并不能解决任何问题，反而会像传染病一样散播问题。学习如何处理它，而不是逃避它，才是更好的做法。

那么，我们该如何处理分歧呢？首先，我们必须检视自己的动机。教会的各项事工是否与马太福音28:19-20的大使命相符？其次，我们必须将冲突视为教会属灵健康的指标。撒旦利用冲突来分裂人，而神利用冲突让我们知道某些事情与神的旨意不符。耶稣建立教会，是为了让不完美的罪人能来学习上帝的道，并实践如何透过祷告和研读神的话语来聆听上帝的声音。耶稣难道没有命令祂所有的门徒聚集并等候圣灵吗（约翰福音4:23-24，14:16-17；使徒行传1:4-5, 13-14）？因此，除非基督徒学会如何在耶稣基督的群体中克服分歧，否则就无法成长。如果我们学会将冲突视为变得更像耶稣的机会，难道你不同意这应该是一件令人向往的事吗？难道你不同意，当我们的态度由消极转为积极时，我们就不再害怕冲突，也不再回避分歧吗？我祈求颂主堂 (Bethel) 能开始放下敌意，以尊重的心彼此倾听，从而在主里能有更大的分辨力（腓立比书2:1-4）。如果您有任何问题或疑虑，请随时与其中一位牧师联系。

在基督里，
张俊德传道