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時代講場文章(至2017年2月14日)

「方舟神話」解構下的教會生態 (下)

崇拜成功

  麥格夫(Alister McGrath)於《福音派與基督教的未來》第六章「福音派的陰暗面」,一針見血指出為「名人崇拜」(Evangelical Personality Cult)。崇拜成功是當前教會的主流論述,這是不爭的現實;「方舟事件」正好反映現今華人教會(本港、台灣、美加澳等地)對「成王敗寇」的追捧。

  我們口說是順服真理,心底裡接受的是「成功神學」;凡能為神成就大事的,且在人眼前是成功的,不理其手段如何,我們自然地予以肯定。當福音派斥責靈恩群體追求「成功神學」,有時只是五十步笑一百步,我們當中不同樣盛行不同形式「好大喜功」的教會文化特色?

  為何「成功」論述在我們當中重要過「忠信」?一些教牧同工會因表現未夠成功而被勸退,一些老字號機構沒有採用「誇大失實」的籌款活動而陷於經濟困境,甚多有份量而讀者根本不認識的好書埋藏在書倉裡。我們要搞所謂「成功聚會」、「成功課程」或成功堂會;為何我們甚少有「失敗」研討會?若搞了,也不一定有人來,因為害怕標籤為「敗者」!

  有部份教牧一心只想建造堂會為「萬人教會」(千人堂會已是等閒之事),於是堂會使命是熱切領人歸主,務求會眾人數增多,就是神應許的成功了!華人教會崇拜成功,並把成功偶像化;於是有「名牧」在會上滔滔不絕講論是「我的……成功故事」、或是「我建立成功的堂會經歷」、或是「我經歷無數艱辛終於發現了方舟」。正因為我們骨子裡喜歡「成功故事」或「成功經歷」,我們要的是「名人」能推進福音事工果效;當黃毓民議員形像與行動難被接受,堂會或機構自然不敢找他再講信主見證了;司徒永富於基督教選委選舉成為票王,正說明了我們嚮往「成功論述」。

  我們的信仰漸漸討厭「失敗」與「貧窮」,「苦難神學」已失掉了市場,這正是教會界現有的生態。當我們把「成功」偶像化了,任何否定「成功」或辯明是非的言論,竟有機構視之為「言語暴行」與「造謠抹黑」!筆者剛於德慧文化五週年聚會分享這首詩:

  「我們不怕死
   可是我們怕討論
   我們的情緒非常熱烈
   誰要是叫我們冷靜的想一想
   我們就嘶他通他

   我們就大聲地喊
   滾
XXX
   無恥的陰謀家
   難道你們不知道
   我們只有情緒
   我們全靠情緒
   決不能用理智
   壓低我們的情緒 
   可是朋友們
   我們這樣可不行啊
   我們不怕死
   我也不應該怕討論
   要民主——我們就得討論
   要戰鬥——我們也得討論
   我們不怕死
   我們也不怕討論」

  這首詩不是網友塗鴉之作,乃是來自朱自清之《論雅俗共賞》 (一九四八年),應用於教會內某些群體也挺合適!

  崇拜成功的情意結使教內神學院、差會、機構與堂會等難以合作,不要高談所謂「合一」了!我們大多是「唯一派」(只看見本身事工拓展,看不見神國事工的進展),著意是本身成功,也不考慮或顧及其它群體的需要。本港成功的大型堂會與機構等,有責任幫助那些服事窮人的堂會或機構;這方面筆者欣賞是宣道會北角堂、香港浸信教會、崇真會救恩堂、播道會同福堂等。

結論

  「方舟神話」現象揭露現今華人教會是如此脆弱,任何有所企圖人士,無論是為利或為權,均能予取予攜,不受約制。當機構成了王國,毋須向外界交待其財務情況,也毋須有任何問責;堂會與信徒仍不理會地樂意奉獻支持,這現象說明了甚麼?捐獻者有知情權,當更多捐獻者要求機構提升透明度與問責性,方作捐獻;這類教育有助提升與改善現今存在若干機構之內的陋習。機構要面向教會與公眾,否則我們當中將不斷出現醜聞,所有基督教機構同樣在眾目睽睽之下,成為世人的笑柄!

  「香港及各地華人教會深受『美國製造』的福音事工影響;倘若教會領袖只抄襲劣品,誤以為『成功福音』才是追求的品牌,無論堂會或機構的運作,均以市場為導向,於是市場可見的ABC(Attendance出席率;Buildings物業;Cash現金) , 就成為量度成功的指標了!這就是福音派的『丟人現眼』,我們自以為成功,其實,我們已出賣了信仰的實質;實用主義取代了神學思考,『教會被擄巴比倫』就是我們悲劇的寫照!」(二○○七年,http://www.tiendao.org.hk/news/scandal.pdf

  求主憐憫我們不要盲從權威、不要濫用福音與不要崇拜成功!(全文完)

(轉載自香港教會網站。作者為香港教會更新運動總幹事。)

相關文章:胡志偉〈「方舟神話」解構下的教會生態〉(

http://www.christiantimes.org.hk,時代論壇時代講場,2011.11.18)

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舊回應8則


Hin / 2011-11-22 20:53:34.0

The usual tactic of MEDIA

Since last year, MEDIA has been blaming, accusing, twisting the challenges, questions and facts presented by different parties who showed concern and suspicion toward their claim of discovery.

Their strongest and most usual tactic is to blame these people for blaming them and badmouth these people for badmouthing them, just unbelievable! This kind of unbelievable act makes me to think of the name of a movie "The untouchable".

So far, not one exception: Dr. Price, Dr. David Liang, Dr. Andrew Snelling, Rev. Mark Chan (well, someone pointed out Rev. Wu is the exception, yes, then, one exception but I think it might not last too long), their tactic is kill all, silent all! It makes me think of the term "spiritual massacre"!

As they trying to kill more and to cover up more, more people will speak up and they just have to kill more and became the professional killer!

Covering one lie with another, proving one unproven fact with another will only make things worse, when will they wake up? I don't think they will for they have been drunk for a very long time and they are still drinking! The drink is very strong, it is called "self-deception"!

Now, they will say that I am hurting them and they are sad to see this happening in the church but they didn't realize that they have been hurting many in the first place and many just can't believe this happening in the church. Can they see it, no, I don't think so for they have been blind for a very long time. The blindness is very serious, it has a name and it is called "self-righteousness"!

張國棟 / 2011-11-22 11:29:09.0

影音使團的手段和操守

影音使團去年親手把自己的 C-14 dating 的報告交給 Dr. Andrew Snelling ,現在 Snelling 認為這並不足證方舟被發現,影音使團就在《號外二》攻擊 Snelling 的人格,更把自己一直倚賴的 C-14 dating 推說成不可靠!

有關分析,請參以下兩條片:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADAuw8Acl8U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8hUexzHW-w


《號外二》:http://www.noahsarkmovies.com/arkmovie/big5/extra.php

張國棟 / 2011-11-22 02:47:11.0

更正上帖裡的一個字

正確寫法為:現在,他們恃著一些有錢人在背後開水喉

張國棟 / 2011-11-20 16:01:22.0

不要再沉默!

「得寸進尺」這四個字,我覺得很恰當地形容過去五年來影音使團的態度。他們未搞得很大的時候,勉強還會與批評者有對話,在《時代論壇》對論。但可惜大家容忍的愛心太多,他們就有機會繼續搞下去。

搞大了一點,賺到多點錢,出了多點名,現在就越來越霸氣,動輒攻擊別人抹黑他們,也不屑來這裡發表言論,還要玩手段,暗示《時代論壇》斗膽刊登攻擊他們的失實文章。(不知情讀者請看看他們最近的那份《號外》。)

現在,他們恃著一些有錢人在背後開口喉,就對教內意見和牧者越來越不屑理會,說話也越來越離譜。

你每禮讓一步,他就搶前一步,得寸進尺。現在是時候,各位不滿的教牧和信徒認真考慮把自己的想法表達出來。影音使團現在愛把幾個多批評他們的人抹黑為在教內撒播謊言。那麼,請各位儘量寫一篇文章來表達自己怎樣想,長又好,短又好,議論又好,分享也好,讓我們以行動表示不滿,顯明究竟誰在抹黑誰,也免得敢言的幾個人被影音重點打擊。

耶利米 / 2011-11-19 23:46:45.0

喜見楊牧谷牧師的先知風骨再現.

謝謝.  喜見楊牧谷牧師的先知風骨再現. 主為自己的名留下七千人不肯妥協. 願主憐憫, 喚醒人心.

小傳道 / 2011-11-19 11:16:21.0

欣賞

欣賞胡牧師的風骨、牧者心。多謝胡牧師的文章,指出教會的核心問題。

Hin / 2011-11-18 16:14:28.0

Silence is a sin and this is our reason

As we read in the book of Ezekiel, God has warned us that if we see a problem, if we see a danger and didn't warn others, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE!

In the past 8 years, MEDIA has been manipulating, damaging the Christian public. I am almost sure they can't see their problem, if they do, I am just amazed at the wickedness of mankind. "Forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing," but if they do know what they are doing, we need to ask "Judge them, for they know what they are doing." Am I right?

Rev. Wu has spelled out something that is in my mind all along. The reason we are speaking "against" MEDIA is not out of jealousy, is not out of "minding other's business", is not out of "attacking our own brothers and sisters in Christ" but out of our love towards God, truth and our fellow Christians. If we let them go (not that we don't have the ability to bear with others, to believe in others), it will become a very destructive example and even become a tradition or practice for the Christian churches.
We can't let this happen nor go on (no matter we are successful or not and we need to do our part).

Also, we (me and many others) truly believe in God and believe in the ARK, we also long for people to believe in Christ, don't treat us as someone working and saying things against our Holy God and the outreach ministry. Absolutely no!

Remember Abraham, God has promised him to give him a son but he couldn't wait and then go his own way and have Ishmael, the problem stays even until now as a result. MEDIA wants to play God, wants to help God, wants to use God, that is bad, really bad.

We want them to stop so that they won't damage themselves anymore. For a member suffers, the whole body suffers. Repent and admit a mistake is not weakness but rather a very noble move and that is why I salute to Dr. David Liang for willing to take his words back for supporting MEDIA in the beginning, that is what I call honor and courage.

The longer MEDIA dwell on this false or unproven claim, the worst and more damage they will do to themselves and to the general public.

Thanks Rev. Wu for this article, I wonder how many can hear the alarm, how many can see the cliff in front of us! For those who have ears, let them hear!

忠信 / 2011-11-18 15:01:54.0

胡牧真大胆

西方教會有McGrath, Sider等神學家、 教會領袖著書立說, 直指教會內的問題; 華人教會就大都參加"畀面"派對, 頂多只在理論上指出"成功神學"的問題, 卻不敢指名道姓. 胡牧是例外, 希望他堅持下去, 不要被"河蟹".