Xiao Ma, now a member of a Reformed church in S City, is a second-generation Christian. His grandmother took him to Sunday school when he was seven years old, but he did not think faith was important. It was not until he came into contact with a fellowship in college that he began to be curious about the Christian faith. After graduation from university, he went to study theology in a training class recommended by his mother church and got involved in theology for the first time. Ma changed his past attitude towards faith. After two and half years, he had some preliminary understanding of reformed theology.
After graduating from the training class, Ma went straight back to his mother church, where he served with awe as if everything was new. However, after being on duty for two years, reading all day and night, the only ministry he was involved in included sharing with senior fellowship members, and acoustically tuning the church hall; he even thought he was either too useless and lazy or not obedient and humble enough to serve the church.
Before Ma left the church, the pastor of the church said, "Brother Ma, you should increase your participation in church activities; I believe God will use you in the near future ". After that, with the decent suggestion of "go and practice more in the community", he invited Ma out of the pastoral group and back to the rank of lay believers.
Having graduated from university more than 4 years ago without any work experience, Ma is now 25 years old and is not a fresh graduate. Many companies hardly accept such a resume. So, "nothing" Ma could only start from scratch. However, he could not adapt to most part-time jobs. It was not a work problem, but the call to serve the church had been in his heart for a long time. Knowing that there was no separation between the holy and the secular and his secular work was also in service to God, he was still always unable to cope with it, hoping to return to the church.
Ma had complained and felt frustrated, but thanks to God's grace, he got reinvigorated and began to determine his position, charting a way forward. Through praying, seeking the advice of his spiritual elders, and integrating his own calling, he came to a final conclusion that he should adequately prepare himself. Even in such a situation, he would not be discouraged and must not let himself drift away.
He began self-equipping himself with theology - through books and free lectures online.
Opening a broader perspective than that of the Reformed theology, Ma found that faith was not what he had been taught, and the Reformed theology, while broad and profound, could still be improved.
Ma wished that the fellowship would be more interactive, rather than preacher-led and indoctrinating. The members should have their own thinking, instead of adding some half-understood cold concepts. However, the pastoral group responded, "Your suggestion is very good, we also hope to achieve this. But we are a big church, its feet are heavy, and the implementation takes time". So the proposal failed.
He also expected to post some of his understanding and reading experience in his WeChat moments, while the pastoral group suggested: "These books are lessons of heresy, posting them may harm the development of the church. It is good to humbly study the Reformed books and avoid falling into the snares of heresies."
Ma suggested that the fellowship group should develop and conduct training. Some warm-hearted brothers and sisters with theological foundations could be appointed to lead the group so that the preacher could have more time to do in-depth visits. The person in charge said that was a big project, and preacher's teaching should still be the main focus. But Ma wondered, was it not the job of a pastor or teacher “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12), and not just to plunge themselves solely into ministry?
There were many other things that often bothered Ma. For instance, he had long been in contact with the fellowship of the surrounding churches (which was based on orthodox truth and in accordance with the Bible), and had a good relationship with them. The church which he is at communicated the idea of being committed to the mother church, which upset him, and always wondered if he was not committed enough to the church, or not having enough church life.
When Ma saw that there was no real interaction between the members of the church, he concluded that they were just maintaining superficial relationships. The pastoral group scolded him and said, "How can you tell they are just portraying superficial congeniality; they are also on good terms behind the scenes, and everyone is very loving. You don't understand because you don't have a church life, so you have to repent. Don’t just be a bookworm. Young people and their elders can have no generational gap. We are all brothers and sisters, so you should try to fit in, love the elders and make friends with them. If you can't do that, then you still lack church life and should come more often to the gatherings, prayer meetings, and retreats. Greet more elders after the gatherings and leave the members with a good impression."
Another example, if a sister of the church becomes pregnant, she would be instructed to be fruitful and multiply. If a sister was abused at home, she would be told to be "patient." Ma stepped forward and said: "Isn't it good to have one child? What's the meaning of having ten with no decent upbringing? Since the sister was abused, why did the church tell her not to get a divorce?"
Ma most often heard the church preaching about loving the Lord and other people, being patient and humble; but were these things to be tolerated without principle? To these questions, the pastoral team responded, "Brother Ma, you really need to be humble. Liberal theology is killing people. You'd better be humble and study Reformed religion. Reformed theology is your permanent way out.”
Ma was lost in thought.
It’s hoped that these are all personal problems of Brother Ma, and not what needs to be improved in the church. Hope the church will become more and more upright.
Here is some food for thought: There are things that are theologically correct, but not necessarily said in the right way; Love always means to practically love each and every person.
- Translated by Sophia Chen
小马现在是S市一家改革宗教会的信徒，他是二代基督徒，自七岁时，由奶奶带其去教会参加主日学，当时并不觉信仰重要。直至大学偶然的机会接触到团契，才对基督教信仰开始好奇。而后，大学毕业就自荐去到母会所推荐的一家研修班进修神学，初涉神学学习，一改往日对信仰的态度，经过2.5年，对改革宗神学有一些初步的了解。
从研修班毕业的小马就直接回到了他的母会实习，抱着敬畏的态度进到教会的侍奉当中，仿佛一切事都是那么新鲜。可事实却是，整日整夜的坐班和读书，就这样过了2年，期间事工也只是给老年团契分享和调音室调音，甚至他自己都认为，是不是自己太过无用，太过懒散，或是不够顺服，不够谦卑去服侍教会呢？
在离职前，教会牧者给出的回应是：“弟兄，你不够有教会生活，多多参与教会活动，相信不久的将来，你必定会被上帝重用”，便将其请出了教牧团，回归平信徒的行列，美其名曰：“去社会多历练历练”。
大学毕业没有工作经验的小马，如今已是25岁“高龄”，毕业已有4年余，又不是应届毕业生，很多单位对于这样的履历实在是不好接纳，于是，“一无是处”的小马只能从头开始。打打散工，工作多半不能适应，倒不是工作问题，而是小马心中一直对神学有负担，服侍教会的呼召在其心中，久久不能散去，他知道不可圣俗二分，社会的工作亦是服侍上帝，可总是不能得心应手，盼望再回教会。
其间他也抱怨过，灰心过，但是感谢上帝，祂的恩典够用，以至于小马没有放弃治疗，他重新振作，开始确定自己的定位——之后的道路到底要怎么走，他祷告寻求，也请教过属灵前辈的建议，也综合自己的呼召，最终得出的结论仍然是：好好预备自己，哪怕是这样的光景，也不能泄气，切不可放任自流。
他开始自学装备自己的神学——通过读书和一切线上的免费讲座进行。打开比改革宗更宽广的视野之后，小马发现，信仰世界原来并不是之前领受的那般，改革宗神学虽然博大精深，可仍有其可以改进之处。
小马希望团契能够多一些互动，而不是传道人主导，灌输式填鸭。肢体间应该有自己的思考，而非一直增添一些似懂非懂的冰冷概念；而教牧团回应说：“你的建议很好，我们也希望可以达到这种理想的状态，但我们是一个大教会，它的脚很重，真正实施起来需要时间”就搪塞过去了，因此，此提议未果。
小马希望将自己的一些领受和阅读的心得发布在朋友圈，教牧团则建议：“这些书是异端邪说的教训，发在朋友圈可能危害教会的发展。最好是谦卑学习改革宗的书籍，避免落入异端的网罗。”
小马提议团契小组要发展，要做门训，可以把一些有神学基础热心的弟兄姊妹发展起来带小组，这样，传道人可以有更多的时间做深度探访的工作。负责人则说，这是个大工程，还是以传道人的教导为主。可牧师或教师的职责不是要成全圣徒各尽其职，建立基督的身体，而不只是自己一头扎进事工吗？（以弗所书4:12)
很多其他方面也时常困扰小马，比如，教会讲台输出要委身母会的观念，小马很苦恼，也总会怀疑是不是自己不够委身教会，不够有教会生活，可和周边教会的团契早有联系，认识并关系很好，可参与他们的团契（该团契基要真理正统，符合圣经）却成了不够委身。
小马看到教会肢体间气氛不对，都是表面和气，背地里并没有真实关系性的相交互动，教牧团就斥责说：“你怎么看出来他们只是表面和气，他们背地里关系也很好的，大家都很有爱心，是你没有教会生活，因此不了解罢了，你要悔改啊，小马弟兄，不能只是死读书，年轻人和长辈是可以没有代沟的，都是弟兄姐妹嘛，要合群，要爱他们，要和他们做朋友，像和同龄人一样亲密，你做不到就是你还缺乏教会生活，要多来参加聚会啊，祷告会，退修会什么的要多多参加，会后要多和长辈们打招呼，给人留下印象。”
又有教会的姊妹怀孕，就会听到生养众多的教导；有姊妹被家暴，就会听到说要忍耐；小马站出来说：“难道生养一个不好吗，只生不养，生10个又有什么意义？那位姊妹被家暴，为什么教会还劝她不要离婚呢？”
小马在教会听到最多的论调就是要爱主爱人，要忍耐谦卑，可发生这些事是可以无原则忍让的吗？关于这些话题，教牧团回应说：“马弟兄啊，你实在是需要谦卑啊，自由派神学真是害死人，你还是好好谦卑学习改革宗吧，归正神学才是你永久的出路。”
就这样，小马陷入了沉思。
但愿这些都是小马弟兄的个人问题，而不是教会有什么需要改进的地方，盼望教会能够越来越归正。
正经一刻：
有些话是神学正确的，
说的方式却不一定正确；
爱，总是爱一个个具体、实际的人。
在某改革宗教会经历的二三事
Xiao Ma, now a member of a Reformed church in S City, is a second-generation Christian. His grandmother took him to Sunday school when he was seven years old, but he did not think faith was important. It was not until he came into contact with a fellowship in college that he began to be curious about the Christian faith. After graduation from university, he went to study theology in a training class recommended by his mother church and got involved in theology for the first time. Ma changed his past attitude towards faith. After two and half years, he had some preliminary understanding of reformed theology.
After graduating from the training class, Ma went straight back to his mother church, where he served with awe as if everything was new. However, after being on duty for two years, reading all day and night, the only ministry he was involved in included sharing with senior fellowship members, and acoustically tuning the church hall; he even thought he was either too useless and lazy or not obedient and humble enough to serve the church.
Before Ma left the church, the pastor of the church said, "Brother Ma, you should increase your participation in church activities; I believe God will use you in the near future ". After that, with the decent suggestion of "go and practice more in the community", he invited Ma out of the pastoral group and back to the rank of lay believers.
Having graduated from university more than 4 years ago without any work experience, Ma is now 25 years old and is not a fresh graduate. Many companies hardly accept such a resume. So, "nothing" Ma could only start from scratch. However, he could not adapt to most part-time jobs. It was not a work problem, but the call to serve the church had been in his heart for a long time. Knowing that there was no separation between the holy and the secular and his secular work was also in service to God, he was still always unable to cope with it, hoping to return to the church.
Ma had complained and felt frustrated, but thanks to God's grace, he got reinvigorated and began to determine his position, charting a way forward. Through praying, seeking the advice of his spiritual elders, and integrating his own calling, he came to a final conclusion that he should adequately prepare himself. Even in such a situation, he would not be discouraged and must not let himself drift away.
He began self-equipping himself with theology - through books and free lectures online.
Opening a broader perspective than that of the Reformed theology, Ma found that faith was not what he had been taught, and the Reformed theology, while broad and profound, could still be improved.
Ma wished that the fellowship would be more interactive, rather than preacher-led and indoctrinating. The members should have their own thinking, instead of adding some half-understood cold concepts. However, the pastoral group responded, "Your suggestion is very good, we also hope to achieve this. But we are a big church, its feet are heavy, and the implementation takes time". So the proposal failed.
He also expected to post some of his understanding and reading experience in his WeChat moments, while the pastoral group suggested: "These books are lessons of heresy, posting them may harm the development of the church. It is good to humbly study the Reformed books and avoid falling into the snares of heresies."
Ma suggested that the fellowship group should develop and conduct training. Some warm-hearted brothers and sisters with theological foundations could be appointed to lead the group so that the preacher could have more time to do in-depth visits. The person in charge said that was a big project, and preacher's teaching should still be the main focus. But Ma wondered, was it not the job of a pastor or teacher “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12), and not just to plunge themselves solely into ministry?
There were many other things that often bothered Ma. For instance, he had long been in contact with the fellowship of the surrounding churches (which was based on orthodox truth and in accordance with the Bible), and had a good relationship with them. The church which he is at communicated the idea of being committed to the mother church, which upset him, and always wondered if he was not committed enough to the church, or not having enough church life.
When Ma saw that there was no real interaction between the members of the church, he concluded that they were just maintaining superficial relationships. The pastoral group scolded him and said, "How can you tell they are just portraying superficial congeniality; they are also on good terms behind the scenes, and everyone is very loving. You don't understand because you don't have a church life, so you have to repent. Don’t just be a bookworm. Young people and their elders can have no generational gap. We are all brothers and sisters, so you should try to fit in, love the elders and make friends with them. If you can't do that, then you still lack church life and should come more often to the gatherings, prayer meetings, and retreats. Greet more elders after the gatherings and leave the members with a good impression."
Another example, if a sister of the church becomes pregnant, she would be instructed to be fruitful and multiply. If a sister was abused at home, she would be told to be "patient." Ma stepped forward and said: "Isn't it good to have one child? What's the meaning of having ten with no decent upbringing? Since the sister was abused, why did the church tell her not to get a divorce?"
Ma most often heard the church preaching about loving the Lord and other people, being patient and humble; but were these things to be tolerated without principle? To these questions, the pastoral team responded, "Brother Ma, you really need to be humble. Liberal theology is killing people. You'd better be humble and study Reformed religion. Reformed theology is your permanent way out.”
Ma was lost in thought.
It’s hoped that these are all personal problems of Brother Ma, and not what needs to be improved in the church. Hope the church will become more and more upright.
Here is some food for thought: There are things that are theologically correct, but not necessarily said in the right way; Love always means to practically love each and every person.
- Translated by Sophia Chen
Some Controversial Issues Unfolding in a Reformed Church
