When will there be a turning point so that the whole world can go back to normal - the world in which we don’t often talk as good enough?
Human beings are different from animals. We live with goals. We may continue thinking when lying down. During the pandemic, many people have begun to reflect on the gains and losses of their past life. They think of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Some people died yesterday. They never saw the sun again this morning. The living people, however, are somewhat panicked and don't know which one will come first: tomorrow or the accident that will take their life.
Will the pandemic stop? Will a vaccine be successful? Will the economy recover? What is our future? What about our children's education? In whose hands is tomorrow? Is the road still under our feet?
If we are in such confusion, we need a turning point in our life. So who can bring us such a turning point? This is a question worthy of our consideration. This is the most important consideration. This is a philosophical consideration - perhaps the answer to this question may only be found in faith.
People walk so fast that they don't want to stop and think. We race against time and leave Jesus far behind. When the world experiences a stoppage in its normal activity as it has during the pandemic, we should not waste this opportunity. We can seriously reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Jesus, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His righteousness and love will never change.
We need to forget yesterday because it is useless to be filled with regret, but we can grasp today so that we can truly glorify God and witness to Christ in our relationship with people, things and God.
At the same time, because we believe in the ability of the Most High and His nature we can live with assurance because tomorrow is in the hands of our Lord.
By the grace of the Lord, let’s take advantage of the spiritual turning point in our lives and stop living our life so casually, and stop treating our faith casually.
Let's define the meaning of “church” first. The root of the original word “church” contains the meaning of calling and being called out. In the Old Testament, it especially referred to the gatherings of the Israelites to worship God. In the New Testament, it was Jesus who first mentioned the Church, referring to the group of people who went in and out with Him and admitted that He was the Lord in public and accepted the principle of the kingdom of heaven that he proclaimed.
From a broad perspective, the Church refers to all believers who have been called and are born by the Holy Spirit and belong to Christ's body from ancient times to the present, in heaven and earth. From a regional perspective, it refers to those Christians who gather in a certain area.
So, what is the relationship between Christians and Church? When the physical Church no longer meets, how can Christians live by themselves and become less dependent on the Church? Can the breadth and depth of Christian life support us to get through this difficult time smoothly?
Considering the above questions, the Church must honestly face and think about its role as it interacts with believers.
1. The churches that do it all.
This kind of church is really good during ordinary times, when everything is going well. Just bring yourself to every service. The whole church's organizational system is perfect, so you don't have to do anything when you are there. The church has arranged it all and you don't have to lift a finger.
However, such a church should be careful. Will perfect arrangements and good organisation delay the spiritual growth of the congregation? We often think that attending a service equals spiritual growth. Every time we come to a service, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but is that truly so? In that way, faith itself becomes only a religion and everything is superficially perfect.
2. The churches that treat you like a customer.
Such churches regard believers as customers and customers are always right. Even when customers are wrong, they need to be dealt with as if they are right.
The original intention of worship services is very good - caring and serving others, but Christians have been turned into customers. In our relationship to God, we are the object and God is the subject. In customer-oriented churches, believers are often placed in the main position. In order to retain customers, everything is people-oriented, and there is no bottom line because everything is open to compromise. The pastor dare not talk about sin with his or her customers, dare not ask customers to make commitments, and dare not mention punishment for their mistakes.
They forget that the root of meeting together is to help believers establish a connection with God, and then they can have a connection with each other. This connection is not to make believers feel comfortable, but to help believers know God and themselves. Know your own value and also know your own sins and offenses.
3. The churches that have an incorrect understanding of size.
Many churches have established overly complex organizational systems from top to bottom, not only mega churches but also many tiny churches with dozens of members who because they have misconceptions about size they individuals. They often regard the value of organizations higher than that of individual Christians.
Many such church leaders have a mysterious desire to become a mega church, always wanting to be bigger and stronger. This is certainly understandable from the perspective of sharing the gospel. However, we should not lose sight of the spiritual growth of each individual. If we pursue numbers and the organizational system of a large church, it is easy to ignore the needs of individuals. People's energy is limited, and so are the resources of the Church.
In this pandemic, we are forced to think about the feasibility of small churches. When mega churches are forced to press the pause button, we have to think; is it possible to have a small church of two or three people?
If parents always hold mobile phones, children will think that mobile phones are the most important thing in life.
We should make some changes. We should lead our families to read the Bible, sing hymns and pray for the world, the country, our neighbors, our friends and ourselves. Let every family member realize the value and significance of faith and tell children that Jesus is the most important person in their lives.
In the Church, there are many families that believe in God unilaterally so that we can't realize the significance of family to the Church. In fact, the family is the core and the most important component of the Church.
Every family should be a Church. Some of which are all Christians and some are friends of the Tao. Every family member can become a preacher, lead singing and teach because Jesus said, "Wherever two or three people meet in my name there I am among them."
If large-scale gatherings continue to stop indefinitely, it is both a challenge and an opportunity that we have to face. We have shouted "Everyone is a pastor" for 500 years, but this time we have a chance to truly practice this vision that the church has had.
It took us nearly two thousand years to bring people into the Church. Now, should we have a turning point and try to bring the Church into the crowd? Because the purpose of a worship service is to get closer to the people, but the worship service is not there for the purpose of people.
Families begin to turn over and churches are turned over. Only when the Church is revived again can it light up the world and illuminate the desperation that people feel.
Jesus Christ brought a turning point to the world 2000 years ago, changing the world from barbarism to civilization.
The turning point we need can only be pointed out to us by Him. Let us not waste the time of the whole world and the extremely heavy price paid for all mankind.
- Translated by Charlie Li
疫情下的思考：暂停聚会后 教会和个人信仰生命如何迎来转折
一、人生的转折
什么时候会迎来转折点，让整个世界恢复往日的样子——那个，我们常常吐槽不够好的世界。
人类不同于动物，我们活着有目标、躺下会思考。在疫情之下，很多人开始反思过往人生的得与失，反思昨日、今日与明日。
有些人在昨天就结束了一生，他们没能再见今晨的太阳。而活着的人，多少又在惊慌失措，不知道明天和意外哪一个先到。
疫情会止住吗？疫苗会成功吗？经济会恢复吗？我们的前途在哪里？孩子的学业怎么办？明天在谁的手中，路还在我们脚下吗？
如果我们正处在这种迷茫之中，我们的人生就需要一个转折点。那么，谁可以为我们带来这样的转折呢？这是值得我们去思考的问题，这是最重要的问题，这是哲学的问题——这个问题或许只能在信仰中找到答案。
人类走得太快了，以至于我们不愿意停下来思考这些。我们争分夺秒，把耶稣远远地甩在了身后。当世界以这样的方式踩下刹车，我们不应该白白浪费这样的机会，我们可以认真地理一理和耶稣的关系了。耶稣，他昨日今日直到永远都是一样的，他的公义和慈爱永不改变。
我们需要忘记昨天，因为后悔也没有用。但我们可以把握今天，让今天能够在与人的关系、与物的关系、与神的关系中，真正是来荣耀神，来见证基督。
同时我们因着相信那位至高者的能力，以及祂的本性，以至于我们能够活出有把握的明天，因为明天在我们主的手中。
让我们靠着主的恩典，把握住我们属灵的转折点，活出有属灵转折的生命，不再随随便便地过我们的人生，不再随随便便地对待信仰。
二、教会的转折
我们先给教会下一个定义。
教会原文字根含有呼召和被选召出来的意思，在旧约，特别指以色列人为了敬拜神而有的集合。在新约中，是耶稣首先提到教会，是指着那些与他同出入，并且在公众面前承认他是主，以及接纳他所宣告的天国原则的那一群人。
因此教会从宇宙性层面看，就是指古往今来、天上地下，所有被圣灵所召、所生，并归入基督身体之内的信徒；从区域性层面看，就是指那些在某个地区聚集的基督徒。
那么，基督徒和教会到底是什么关系？当实体教会停摆之时，基督徒如何自处，能不能走出对教会的高度依赖？基督徒的生命广度与厚度，能否支撑我们，平稳地度过这段艰难时光？
所以教会必须要诚实地面对和思考，自己在与信徒互动的关系中所扮演的角色。
1、包办一切
这种教会，平时就真的挺好的，什么都好。每次聚会只要带着耳朵去就行了。整个教会的建制非常完善，去了啥也不用干，教会都安排好了，一点心也不用操。
但是这样的教会要小心了，是否由于安排的太好了，而延误基督徒的属灵成长呢？我们常常会以为，只要参加聚会就等于属灵成长，每次都来聚会的都是属灵的弟兄姐妹。但真相如何呢？那样，其实信仰就变成了宗教，一切都是表象的完美。
2、服务顾客
教会把信徒当顾客，顾客就是上帝，上帝不会错，上帝怎么都对。
服务的初衷很好，给别人关爱，为他人服务，却把基督徒变成了消费者。在信仰关系里，本来我们是客体，上帝是主体。在服务型教会里，信徒往往被摆在主体的位置。为了留住顾客，一切以人为本，无底线地妥协。不敢谈罪，不敢谈奉献，有错也不敢惩戒。
忘记聚会的根本是生命的连接，是帮助信徒建立与上帝的连接，继而也能彼此有连接的关系。这样的连接，不是为了让信徒觉得很舒服，而是帮助信徒认识神、认识自己。认识自己的价值，也认识自己的罪恶过犯。
3、迷信组织
很多教会，自上而下建立了过于复杂的组织，不仅是那些巨型教会，很多几十人的小教会也迷信组织，而忽略了具体的人。常常把组织架构的价值看得高过个体基督徒。
很多的教会领袖都对巨型教会有谜之渴望，总想着做大、做强。这从福音的角度当然无可厚非。但却不应失去对每一个具体生命厚度的关注。我们过于追求教会的大，建制的完善，就容易忽视个体生命的需要。人的精力是有限的，教会的资源也是有限的。
在这次疫情中，就迫使我们思考微型教会的可行性。当大教会被迫按下暂停键，我们就不得不思考，两三个人的微型教会是有可能的吗？
三、家庭的转折
如果父母是一直抱着手机，那么孩子就会觉得手机是人类最重要的东西。
我们应该适当改变一点，带家人一起读读圣经，唱唱赞美诗，带他们一起祷告，为这个世界祷告、为国家祷告、为邻居祷告、为朋友祷告、也为自己祷告。让每一个家庭成员都能体会到，信仰对于我们的价值和意义，用这种方式告诉孩子，耶稣才是最重要的。
在教会里，父母单方信主的家庭居多，以至于我们体会不到家庭对教会的意义。实际上，家庭才是教会的核心，是教会最重要的组成单元。
每一个家庭都应该是一个教会，这样的教会里，有的全是基督徒，有的还有慕道友。每一个家庭成员都可以成为传道，成为领唱，成为教师。因为耶稣说：“无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。”
四、小结
如果大型聚会继续无限期叫停，这就是我们不得不面对的挑战，也是机遇。我们喊了500年“人人皆祭司”，这一次倒是有机会去真正实践这个教会愿景了。
我们用近两千年从把人带进教会，如今是否要迎来转折，开始尝试把教会带进人群。因为本来聚会就是为了进入人群，人却不是为了聚会。
一个个的家庭开始翻转，教会就被翻转。教会再一次复兴，才可能去点亮这个世界，照亮绝望中的人。
耶稣基督在2000年前，给这个世界带来了一次转折，将世界从野蛮带入文明。
而我们需要的转折，也一定只有他能给我们指明。让我们不至于浪费整个世界的暂停时光，和全人类付出的极重代价。
疫情下的思考：暂停聚会后 教会和个人信仰生命如何迎来转折
When will there be a turning point so that the whole world can go back to normal - the world in which we don’t often talk as good enough?
Human beings are different from animals. We live with goals. We may continue thinking when lying down. During the pandemic, many people have begun to reflect on the gains and losses of their past life. They think of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Some people died yesterday. They never saw the sun again this morning. The living people, however, are somewhat panicked and don't know which one will come first: tomorrow or the accident that will take their life.
Will the pandemic stop? Will a vaccine be successful? Will the economy recover? What is our future? What about our children's education? In whose hands is tomorrow? Is the road still under our feet?
If we are in such confusion, we need a turning point in our life. So who can bring us such a turning point? This is a question worthy of our consideration. This is the most important consideration. This is a philosophical consideration - perhaps the answer to this question may only be found in faith.
People walk so fast that they don't want to stop and think. We race against time and leave Jesus far behind. When the world experiences a stoppage in its normal activity as it has during the pandemic, we should not waste this opportunity. We can seriously reflect on our relationship with Jesus. Jesus, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His righteousness and love will never change.
We need to forget yesterday because it is useless to be filled with regret, but we can grasp today so that we can truly glorify God and witness to Christ in our relationship with people, things and God.
At the same time, because we believe in the ability of the Most High and His nature we can live with assurance because tomorrow is in the hands of our Lord.
By the grace of the Lord, let’s take advantage of the spiritual turning point in our lives and stop living our life so casually, and stop treating our faith casually.
Let's define the meaning of “church” first. The root of the original word “church” contains the meaning of calling and being called out. In the Old Testament, it especially referred to the gatherings of the Israelites to worship God. In the New Testament, it was Jesus who first mentioned the Church, referring to the group of people who went in and out with Him and admitted that He was the Lord in public and accepted the principle of the kingdom of heaven that he proclaimed.
From a broad perspective, the Church refers to all believers who have been called and are born by the Holy Spirit and belong to Christ's body from ancient times to the present, in heaven and earth. From a regional perspective, it refers to those Christians who gather in a certain area.
So, what is the relationship between Christians and Church? When the physical Church no longer meets, how can Christians live by themselves and become less dependent on the Church? Can the breadth and depth of Christian life support us to get through this difficult time smoothly?
Considering the above questions, the Church must honestly face and think about its role as it interacts with believers.
1. The churches that do it all.
This kind of church is really good during ordinary times, when everything is going well. Just bring yourself to every service. The whole church's organizational system is perfect, so you don't have to do anything when you are there. The church has arranged it all and you don't have to lift a finger.
However, such a church should be careful. Will perfect arrangements and good organisation delay the spiritual growth of the congregation? We often think that attending a service equals spiritual growth. Every time we come to a service, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but is that truly so? In that way, faith itself becomes only a religion and everything is superficially perfect.
2. The churches that treat you like a customer.
Such churches regard believers as customers and customers are always right. Even when customers are wrong, they need to be dealt with as if they are right.
The original intention of worship services is very good - caring and serving others, but Christians have been turned into customers. In our relationship to God, we are the object and God is the subject. In customer-oriented churches, believers are often placed in the main position. In order to retain customers, everything is people-oriented, and there is no bottom line because everything is open to compromise. The pastor dare not talk about sin with his or her customers, dare not ask customers to make commitments, and dare not mention punishment for their mistakes.
They forget that the root of meeting together is to help believers establish a connection with God, and then they can have a connection with each other. This connection is not to make believers feel comfortable, but to help believers know God and themselves. Know your own value and also know your own sins and offenses.
3. The churches that have an incorrect understanding of size.
Many churches have established overly complex organizational systems from top to bottom, not only mega churches but also many tiny churches with dozens of members who because they have misconceptions about size they individuals. They often regard the value of organizations higher than that of individual Christians.
Many such church leaders have a mysterious desire to become a mega church, always wanting to be bigger and stronger. This is certainly understandable from the perspective of sharing the gospel. However, we should not lose sight of the spiritual growth of each individual. If we pursue numbers and the organizational system of a large church, it is easy to ignore the needs of individuals. People's energy is limited, and so are the resources of the Church.
In this pandemic, we are forced to think about the feasibility of small churches. When mega churches are forced to press the pause button, we have to think; is it possible to have a small church of two or three people?
If parents always hold mobile phones, children will think that mobile phones are the most important thing in life.
We should make some changes. We should lead our families to read the Bible, sing hymns and pray for the world, the country, our neighbors, our friends and ourselves. Let every family member realize the value and significance of faith and tell children that Jesus is the most important person in their lives.
In the Church, there are many families that believe in God unilaterally so that we can't realize the significance of family to the Church. In fact, the family is the core and the most important component of the Church.
Every family should be a Church. Some of which are all Christians and some are friends of the Tao. Every family member can become a preacher, lead singing and teach because Jesus said, "Wherever two or three people meet in my name there I am among them."
If large-scale gatherings continue to stop indefinitely, it is both a challenge and an opportunity that we have to face. We have shouted "Everyone is a pastor" for 500 years, but this time we have a chance to truly practice this vision that the church has had.
It took us nearly two thousand years to bring people into the Church. Now, should we have a turning point and try to bring the Church into the crowd? Because the purpose of a worship service is to get closer to the people, but the worship service is not there for the purpose of people.
Families begin to turn over and churches are turned over. Only when the Church is revived again can it light up the world and illuminate the desperation that people feel.
Jesus Christ brought a turning point to the world 2000 years ago, changing the world from barbarism to civilization.
The turning point we need can only be pointed out to us by Him. Let us not waste the time of the whole world and the extremely heavy price paid for all mankind.
- Translated by Charlie Li
How Should Church, Believers Turn for Better During Temporary Closure?
