Is it important to become a church member? Is it necessary?     

           Every time when I ponder this question, I always ask myself another two questions: Do I need a home?  Is a home important to me?  Looking back on my past, from childhood to adulthood, a home has always been the place I have grown up in.  In my early childhood, my parents provided me with food, clothing, shelter, education, etc.  These are important and essential for one’s growth. My siblings also protected and cared for me.  They helped me with my school work when I needed it.  When I became a teenager, my parents started to give me some responsibilities, e.g. doing house chores, shining shoes for my father, and so on.  Today, when I am a parent, my role has changed.  The responsibilities of a parent are different than a child.  Parents have the responsibility to protect and provide for the needs of their children.  When their children encounter difficulties and challenges, the parents will always support, teach and correct them with patience.  They will try their best to instill in them good ethics, and guide them to walk on the right path. Then the children are to shoulder their own responsibilities when they grow up.  This cycle repeats itself from generation to generation.     

           Is there a difference between a spiritual home and an earthly home? I think the only difference is that in an earthly home, parents are the heads of the family, and different homes have different heads of the family.  In a spiritual home, only God is the head.  Although there are thousands of spiritual homes in the world, they all have the same head, who is God.  However, family life is similar.  There are parents in a spiritual home but they are not the heads of the family.  They are the pastors, elders, and deacons who are more mature spiritually.  They teach the truth and shepherd. 

            Much like an earthly home, in a spiritual home members are at different maturity levels.  Those who are more mature are to care for and protect the younger ones, and help them grow in maturity during difficult times.  They are to help them take on the responsibilities of the family, and pass the baton from generation to generation.  Only family members are willing to devote themselves to their family, spend time with the family, take up responsibilities, and even be willing to sacrifice for the family.  People at home are family members, not outsiders.      

            I would like to encourage every brother and sister who has made BAC his or her spiritual home, to join the church as a member soon.  You are no longer an outsider, nor even just a church member, but a family member of BAC indeed.  Together let us all, as family members, build up Burnaby Alliance Church! 

            加入教會,成為會友... 重要嗎﹖需要嗎﹖

            每一次當我想到這個問題的時候,我總會問自己兩個問題: 我需要一個家嗎﹖家對我來說是重要的嗎﹖回顧自己的人生成長過程,從幼年至今,都是在家中成長的。幼年的時期,父母在家中,給予衣食住行及教育等等,這都是在成長過程所需要,同時亦是十分重要的。而哥哥姐姐們亦給予自己不少的保護及照顧。有功課不明白時,亦可向他們請教。到自己青少年時期,父母給予自己一些家的責任,幫助做家務,替父親擦鞋等等。時至今天已為人父母的時候,在家中的角式轉變了。成為家長後的責任,與以前作兒女時的責任,是有所不同的。家長有責任保護及供養兒女成長時的一切需要。兒女在成長的過程中,遇到困難及挑戰時,父母總會忍耐地扶持,教導及指正,盡力操練他們的道德品格,以致他們一生能行在正確的路上。當兒女漸漸成長時,便要負上一些家中的責任。這一代建立下一代,循環不息,是天公地義的事。

            教會這個屬靈的家,與地上的家,是有分別的嗎﹖我認為唯一的分別, 就是在地上的家,父母是一家之主,不同的家,都有不同的一家之主。而屬靈的家,卻只有神是一家之主。世界上雖然有千萬個屬靈的家,卻都是有著同一個一家之主,就是神。而對家庭生活來說,卻是十分相近。屬靈的家中有家長,這些家長不是一家之主,而是帶領著這個家的牧者,長執等,他們的屬靈生命,是較成長成熟的一群。他們是在屬靈及真理上作教導和建立的。而家中亦有不同屬靈年齡的弟兄姊妹。屬靈生命較成長的,照顧保護較年輕的,與他們同渡困難的時刻,協助他們一同成長成熟。繼而幫助他們承擔家中的責任,一代一代地建立下去。只有家人才會願意投身於這個家,為家人付上時間,為家人負上責任,甚至願意為家人作出犧牲。在家中的都是家人,不是外人。

           願意在此鼓勵以本宣家為屬靈的家的每一位弟兄姊妹,盡早加入教會成為會友。對本宣家來說,你不單止是一個會友,而是本宣家的家人,不再是一個外人。讓我們成為家人後,都願意同心合一地建立本宣家。 

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