生命比使命更重要 — 張傳華

        基督教講「生命」，不是指肉身的壽命，乃是指人生的本質。信仰所注重的是人生的本質多過生活的素質，一般世人的思想層次多放在物質的層面。基督徒因神的救恩，整個人已「心意更新而變化」，思想層次應高過物質層面。可惜在這個時代的基督徒與非基督徒的分別愈來愈少，這個分別不是在心思意念上，而是在人所能看見的行為上。

        教會、福音機構、宣教機構都強調要完成使命，很多到宣教工場去的宣教士，的確是把自己的生命甚至家庭都擺上。但是在本地的信徒們，必須建立滿有基督香氣的生活來見證主耶穌。有些生活行為和品格很不像樣的基督徒，就成為傳福音的攔阻，叫人不想考慮相信耶穌。

        馬太福音五章13-16節提到基督徒是「世上的鹽」，基督徒若失了味，一定給不信的人踐踏。14節提到基督徒是「世上的光」，要照亮這個黑暗的世界。14節再提到基督徒是「城」，指基督徒的行為不能隱藏的，因為城是造在山上，人可以看見的。城是由不同的建築物所組成，指教會是有合一的見證。可惜今日的教會，有分裂、口講愛，心卻充滿仇恨，且出現政治性的手段彼此對付。最後15節提到基督徒是「燈台」，若不為主發光，必從原處被挪去。基督徒在世上沒有「生命」，如何去完成「使命」？

Life is more important than the Mission — Rev. Galahad Cheung

        Christianity talks about “life”, not the life of the fresh but the essence of life. The faith focuses on the essence of life more than the quality of life. The general thinking of the world is more on the material aspects. Because of Christian salvation, the whole person achieves “renewing of mind for changes”. The ideological level should be higher than the material level. Unfortunately, the differences in this era of Christians and non-Christians are less and less. This distinction is not on the mind and heart; can be seen in the behavior of people.

        Churches, gospel institutions, mission agencies stress the need to accomplish the mission. The missionaries in fact chance their lives and even families. Local believers must establish a life full of the aroma of Christ to witness the Lord Jesus Christ. Some life characters and actions of some Christians have become a hindrance to the gospel and make other people not to think about believing in Jesus.

        Matthew 5:13-16 mention that Christians are the “salt of the world”, if become tasteless will be trampled underfoot by non-believers. Verse 14 mentions that Christians are the “lights of the world” to illuminate the darkness of the world. Verse 14 mentions again that Christians are a “City”. The behavior of Christians cannot be hidden because a city set on a hill is visible. A city comprises different buildings, implying the church is the witness of unity. Unfortunately, today’s churches are divided, mention about love by words of mouth but their hearts are filled with hatred and apply political means to deal with each other. Finally, verse 15 refers Christians as lights, if not shine for the Lord will be thrown out. How could Christians without “life” accomplish the Mission?

作者簡介：張傳華1975年畢業於伯特利神學院，獲神學學士學位。1985年獲建道神學院教牧學碩士，2008年獲建道神學院教牧學博士。1983年3月13日按立為牧師。曾任銅鑼灣潮語浸信會佈道所、灣仔浸信會、九龍城浸信會事奉、加拿大多倫多愛證浸信會主任牧師。現任美加華人浸信會聯會總幹事。1975年畢業至今，事主40年。