"If a church aims to attract new members, it can’t just put a great effort into delivering sermons or other ministries like receptions or visitations. More significantly, the church needs to showcase internal harmony and unity with other churches amidst these conflict-laden times," said a pastor.
Recently, Zhao Tianguang (pseudonym) from East China gave an interview to the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper. He shared his faith journey, saying he uses a culture of honor rooted in the family to promote harmony and unity within his church and among varied types of churches.
Regarding governance, the patriarchal, oligarchic, dictatorial, and clique-driven approaches prevail in some rural and urban churches. At times, the lack of harmony within a church has diverse negative impacts on its followers. Zhao's church values the Charismatic movement, with members trained in diverse theological training systems, yet it remains undivided. Worship in his church is vibrant and expressive, as they emphasize encountering God and flowing in the Holy Spirit while maintaining church order. Simultaneously, they focus on applying a culture of honor anchored in the family.
Zhao believed, "The reason for the church division may be different theological ideologies or an excessive emphasis on the Charismatic movement, which disrupts church order. Ultimately, the church should value pastor's and believers' inner lives, not just their spiritual gifts. Humans have gifts but also sinful tendencies. Often, it's these tendencies that cause division, not the spiritual gifts. When a church comprises members with spiritual gifts and theological knowledge yet lacks unity, it's because believers' lives are problematic."
One of Zhao's core pastoral principles is a culture of honor rooted in the family, where pastors and believers respect and love each other, similar to the relationship between parents and children. Pastors assume the role of parents in the church, transmitting the love and truth of the Heavenly Father.
He emphasized, "The culture of honoring the elderly is crucial. When pastors learn to honor all spiritual elders they encounter, God is pleased, and blessings flow from the elders to the younger ones. Even if elders aren't outstanding, they also should be honored, as they remain channels of blessings to younger members within the church."
"One reason for church division is that pastors highlight their differing pastoral ideologies or the disparity in theological and charismatic levels. The culture of honor breaks this human-centric 'comparison culture,' promoting harmony and unity. Churches should be uncombative, just like piano keys, which produce sounds when touched and remain silent when untouched. Mutual honor resolves internal church divisions."
Zhao observed that after the pandemic, many pastors expressed a desire for harmonious relationships and rejected the isolated church development trend. Zhao's family, upon recognizing these needs, invites them to worship together and have meals. So, Zhao cultivates a culture of honor to achieve internal and external harmony within the church.
Firstly, when seeking external harmony for his church, he humbles himself to initiate contact and visits pastors to mend strained relationships. He admits his immaturity and inadequacies, seeking forgiveness and showing honor to them.
Secondly, for elders or peers, Pastor Zhao serves and accompanies them with respect. For instance, Zhao's family calls their spiritual elders parents, treating each other with honor. Believers refer to him and his wife as parents too.
Lastly, Pastor Zhao's family entrusts new positions for ministry, providing trust, support, and guidance, akin to parents watching their children grow and appreciating their progress with advice and encouragement.
Zhao admitted, "To restore a family culture within the church, pastors should focus on establishing a relationship with God. Charismatic churches previously lacked theological preparation, while evangelical churches with good theology lacked the filling of the Holy Spirit. When the church values the charismatic movement without establishing proper order, harmony is lost. Order alone is sometimes insufficient; there must be Christ's love. A culture of honor can achieve this harmony."
This pastor cited an example, "Once, a senior female pastor who embraced the culture of honor gathered discordant pastors, humbly washing their feet. Through this process, many pastors shed tears of repentance, coming into unity. Hence, we believe that a culture of honor can resolve conflicts in the church."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
教会若想得到世人的见证，她的影响力不会只是停留在牧师的一场证道里，也不会只是局限在牧者同工的接待、探望等事工上。更为重要的，是教会需要在充满纷争的时代中，给世人看到教会内部以及教会与教会之间的和睦与合一。
教会在治理方面，家长制、寡头制、独裁制、山头主义也流行在一部分农村和城市教会中间。有时教会的不和睦，会给信徒带来诸多负面的影响。
近日，笔者见到一位来自华东的赵天光牧师（化名），他分享了自己信仰一路走过来，通过以家为载体的尊荣文化促进了自己教会的内部以及多间不同类型教会之间的和睦与合一。
赵所带领的教会是看重灵恩的，同工们也有来自不同的神学培训体系，但他的教会并没有分裂的问题。赵牧师教会的敬拜赞美是非常活泼释放。他的教会强调要在礼拜中遇见上帝，进入到圣灵的水流之中，遵守教会秩序。同时，注重以家为载体的尊荣文化的应用。
对于一些教会分裂的案例，赵牧师认为：“无论是因为神学理念不同而分裂，还是因为过度强调灵恩破坏教会秩序而造成分裂，其实本质是教会需要看重牧者自身和信徒的内在生命。教会应该要让他们在生命和恩赐两个层面都有所追求。人是有恩赐，但也有罪性。往往是人的罪性带来分裂，而不是属灵恩赐本身。当有属灵恩赐和神学知识，为什么教会会不合一，是因为信徒的生命出了问题。”
赵牧师的牧会理念之一是以家庭为载体的尊荣文化作为核心，也就是牧者与信徒的关系是父母与儿女般彼此尊荣的关系。在教会里，牧者是父母的角色，是传递天父爱与真理的通道。
赵牧师强调说：“教会里的尊荣文化是很重要的，当教会牧者学会尊荣所有他所见到的属灵的长辈，上帝就会将祝福通过长辈流淌到晚辈。即便长辈没有那么优秀，也要去尊荣，因为他仍然是教会里晚辈祝福的通道。”
“教会分裂的一个原因是，教会牧者之间相互比较各自牧会理念的不同或神学与恩赐的高低。而尊荣文化打破了这种以人为本的“比较文化”，促进和睦与合一。教会与教会之间，教会内部之间，就好像是一架钢琴的琴键，有被按到的就发声，没有被按到的，安静就可以了。懂得彼此尊荣，教会里面分裂的情况就会得到解决。”
赵牧师观察到，疫情之后，很多牧者发声想要建立和睦关系。他们表示，不愿再在走以往孤立发展教会的路线。赵牧师的家庭看到这些牧者的需要后，就会与邀请他们一起聚会，一起吃饭。在教会的内部与外部和睦上，赵牧师是这样实践以家为载体的尊荣文化理念的。
首先，当赵牧师在做自己教会外部的和睦工作的时候，他会先谦卑自己，主动与对方联络。他会去拜访过去因关系不和睦的教会牧者。他先承认自己过去不成熟、做的不合适的地方，希望得到对方的原谅，赵牧师会传达 他愿意尊荣对方的心意。
其次，对自己所带领的教会而言，无论是长辈还是同辈，赵牧师也都是带着尊荣彼此的心去事奉和陪伴。例如，在赵牧师的教会里的信徒会称呼他们夫妻为父母。同样，赵牧师的家庭也会呼他们的属灵长辈为父母，彼此尊荣相待。
最后，赵牧师的家庭会放手给新人事奉的位置和信任及支持。像父母看着自己的儿女一样，在旁边看着他们成长，欣赏他们的长进。也会在必要时，给予建议和劝勉。
赵牧师坦言：“教会要恢复家的文化，注重与神关系的建立。注重灵恩的教会以往缺少神学装备；福音派神学装备很好，但是缺少圣灵充满的火热。当教会重视灵恩以后，如果没有建立正确的秩序，就会失去和睦；但是只是有秩序有时又不够，还需要有基督的爱在其中。尊荣的文化就可以成就这个和睦的关系。。”
赵牧师举例子说：“曾经有一个领受尊荣文化的老姊妹牧者，她召集了当时不和睦的一些牧师见面，她谦卑地为每一位牧者洗脚。这个过程中，很多牧者流下了悔改的眼泪，最终促进了这些牧者们的悔改和合一。因此，我们相信，以家为载体的尊荣文化是可以消灭分裂教会的病毒。”
华东一牧者：以家为载体的尊荣文化 可以消灭分裂教会的“病毒”
"If a church aims to attract new members, it can’t just put a great effort into delivering sermons or other ministries like receptions or visitations. More significantly, the church needs to showcase internal harmony and unity with other churches amidst these conflict-laden times," said a pastor.
Recently, Zhao Tianguang (pseudonym) from East China gave an interview to the Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper. He shared his faith journey, saying he uses a culture of honor rooted in the family to promote harmony and unity within his church and among varied types of churches.
Regarding governance, the patriarchal, oligarchic, dictatorial, and clique-driven approaches prevail in some rural and urban churches. At times, the lack of harmony within a church has diverse negative impacts on its followers. Zhao's church values the Charismatic movement, with members trained in diverse theological training systems, yet it remains undivided. Worship in his church is vibrant and expressive, as they emphasize encountering God and flowing in the Holy Spirit while maintaining church order. Simultaneously, they focus on applying a culture of honor anchored in the family.
Zhao believed, "The reason for the church division may be different theological ideologies or an excessive emphasis on the Charismatic movement, which disrupts church order. Ultimately, the church should value pastor's and believers' inner lives, not just their spiritual gifts. Humans have gifts but also sinful tendencies. Often, it's these tendencies that cause division, not the spiritual gifts. When a church comprises members with spiritual gifts and theological knowledge yet lacks unity, it's because believers' lives are problematic."
One of Zhao's core pastoral principles is a culture of honor rooted in the family, where pastors and believers respect and love each other, similar to the relationship between parents and children. Pastors assume the role of parents in the church, transmitting the love and truth of the Heavenly Father.
He emphasized, "The culture of honoring the elderly is crucial. When pastors learn to honor all spiritual elders they encounter, God is pleased, and blessings flow from the elders to the younger ones. Even if elders aren't outstanding, they also should be honored, as they remain channels of blessings to younger members within the church."
"One reason for church division is that pastors highlight their differing pastoral ideologies or the disparity in theological and charismatic levels. The culture of honor breaks this human-centric 'comparison culture,' promoting harmony and unity. Churches should be uncombative, just like piano keys, which produce sounds when touched and remain silent when untouched. Mutual honor resolves internal church divisions."
Zhao observed that after the pandemic, many pastors expressed a desire for harmonious relationships and rejected the isolated church development trend. Zhao's family, upon recognizing these needs, invites them to worship together and have meals. So, Zhao cultivates a culture of honor to achieve internal and external harmony within the church.
Firstly, when seeking external harmony for his church, he humbles himself to initiate contact and visits pastors to mend strained relationships. He admits his immaturity and inadequacies, seeking forgiveness and showing honor to them.
Secondly, for elders or peers, Pastor Zhao serves and accompanies them with respect. For instance, Zhao's family calls their spiritual elders parents, treating each other with honor. Believers refer to him and his wife as parents too.
Lastly, Pastor Zhao's family entrusts new positions for ministry, providing trust, support, and guidance, akin to parents watching their children grow and appreciating their progress with advice and encouragement.
Zhao admitted, "To restore a family culture within the church, pastors should focus on establishing a relationship with God. Charismatic churches previously lacked theological preparation, while evangelical churches with good theology lacked the filling of the Holy Spirit. When the church values the charismatic movement without establishing proper order, harmony is lost. Order alone is sometimes insufficient; there must be Christ's love. A culture of honor can achieve this harmony."
This pastor cited an example, "Once, a senior female pastor who embraced the culture of honor gathered discordant pastors, humbly washing their feet. Through this process, many pastors shed tears of repentance, coming into unity. Hence, we believe that a culture of honor can resolve conflicts in the church."
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Pastor: 'Family-Based' Culture of Honor Can Handle Disunity in Church
