| 簡体版 | |
|
|
|
| |
|
紐西蘭大地震
2010年9月紐西蘭基督城發生一場7.1級大地震，結果奇蹟般無人傷亡。當時Andrew Strom牧師有感動：眾教會應舉辦一場公開的敬拜讚美聚會，將感謝榮耀歸給神。這構想獲得市議會、廣播電台和音響公司的全力支持，但眾教會牧師卻反應冷淡，不願參與。反而是世俗音樂團體後來聯合辦了一場免費的大型音樂會，吸引了兩萬人參加。 幾個月後，2月22日基督城又發生一場6.3級大地震，這次死傷慘重，數百人葬身在瓦礫之中。當初反對在城市廣場公開舉辦敬拜讚美活動的聖公會大教堂主任牧師，其一百多年歷史的教堂尖塔，也在這次地震中被震垮（見上圖）。 以下是Andrew Strom牧師在第二次大地震翌日所發的信，讓我們看見神一方面是滿有憐憫恩典，一方面也是輕慢不得的。當教會麻木懈怠，錯過神所賜的良機時，所造成的虧損是何等巨大。從這些災難，我們也更看見：主再來的腳步愈來愈迫近，我們是否預備好迎接新郎了呢？ 基督城的可怕震撼 -- Andrew Strom 昨天我驚聞紐西蘭基督城發生了另一場大地震。兩個月前我們才剛離開那座城市，其中我們有許多親愛的友人。去年第一場地震中無人死亡，但這一次似乎死傷了許多人。 我想在此分享我們在基督城期間所遭遇的一些事，這些事使我在離開當地時，心裡十分不安和擔憂。但在分享的同時，我也得非常謹慎，以免引起誤會，因為這次地震實在帶來極大的傷痛。 你們有些人都知道，去年那場地震之後，我在基督城所希望做的主要工作之一，就是在該市籌辦一場大型、公開的敬拜活動，為這7.1級大地震中竟然無人喪生，將榮耀讚美歸給神。雖然基督城有成千上萬的福音派基督徒，我發現並無人在籌畫這類活動。我深深感到這事的重要性，就是我們必須為這無人喪生的神蹟公開榮耀神。在這城市受創之際，顯然一場撫慰人心的敬拜活動，對人會很有幫助，甚至許多非基督徒也可能參加。很可悲的是，竟沒人要這麼做，這令我感到不安。 過去我曾籌辦過大型活動，所以基督教電台認識我，很快就同意免費宣傳這場活動。音響器材公司也同意用極低的價格，提供絕佳的音響服務。基督城市議會也鼎力相助。一切看來都順利，但接下來我們卻遭遇到基督教領袖們的反對。 該市五旬節派的主要領袖之一告訴我說，他不會對此活動提供任何支持，我們可以把他排除在支持者之外。接著我親自找基督城大教堂的主任牧師，他對我說，我們不能用基督城的主廣場為眾教會舉辦敬拜活動。（今天這人的大教堂倒在廢墟中。它逃過了第一次大地震，卻沒躲過這一次。） 我又致電基督城的許多著名牧師和敬拜團隊，說我們已經獲得電台、市議會和音響公司的支持。結果毫無反應。敬拜團隊沒有興趣，牧師們無人回電。（也許你會認為，地震後他們非常忙碌。但請記得：沒人喪生，而且基督城在短短數週後，就可說完全恢復正常運作。） 我簡直無法了解。基督城的福音派基督徒，竟然對神的保守不作任何公開表示--不為這場奇蹟般的倖免公開敬拜神，不公開把榮耀歸給耶穌。連世俗的新聞和政客都稱這是一件「奇蹟」，到處都是內心受到創傷的民眾，我們不用大腦想都知道，該舉辦這活動。難道神在保護那麼多人免受傷害之後，不值得眾人公開讚美祂嗎？ 事實上，這道理清楚到用膝蓋想就能明白，以致連不信主的人都決定要自己來。一些頂尖樂團和音樂家從紐西蘭各地來到基督城，在公園裡為這受創的城市舉辦一場免費音樂會。電台為此大力宣傳，結果吸引了兩萬人參加。當然，這是一場世俗的音樂會，不是基督教的。基督城的五旬節派、靈恩派和福音派基督徒，可說完全沒有公開發聲。 在教會沒有提供一些起碼的支持之下，我深感自己不能再勉強行事。最後我們設法為遊民舉辦了幾場戶外演唱會，並參與發放一些「關懷包」，但我心裡非常失望。事實上，我不僅失望，更是驚慌和深深不安。我甚至告訴一些朋友說，當神如此明顯的拯救你們的城市之後，居然沒人公開讚美神，這是「很危險的」。這是我強烈的感受，我也為基督身體的光景深深難過。但我不能再做甚麼了。 2010年12月17日我們全家離開基督城，12月28日搭機飛往澳洲。相信要好一陣子之後，我們才會再回去。 我心繫著基督城的人們，也心繫著受到今日教會忽視的世人。這真是過去這些年來，我在教會圈子中所目睹「錯失的最佳良機」之一。基督城是我所見過最美的城市之一，其中的人是我們所親愛的。我的朋友啊！我們的思念和禱告與你們同在。願神在這些黑暗的日子裡，祝福並保護你們！ Andrew Strom 敬上 AWFUL SHAKING in CHRISTCHURCH -by Andrew Strom It was with terrible sadness that I learned yesterday of another huge earthquake hitting the New Zealand city of Christchurch. It has only been 2 months since we left that city and we have many dear friends there. The first earthquake last year had no fatalities but this one looks to have many dead and injured. I want to share a few things about our time in Christchurch that left me quite disturbed and concerned when we left. But I want to be sensitive because of the terrible sadness associated with this new quake. As some of you know, one of the main things that I hoped to do in Christchurch after the first quake was to organize a large open worship event in the city - to praise and glorify God that nobody had been killed even in a huge 7.1 earthquake. I found that no such event was being planned, but there were thousands of evangelical Christians in Christchurch, and I felt very strongly that it was important for us to publicly glorify God for the miracle of surviving such a disaster with no-one killed. The place was traumatized and it was obvious that a sensitive Worship event would do much good - and even many non-Christians would likely attend. But sadly it was not to be. And this is the disturbing part. I have organized large events before, so the Christian Radio network knows me - and quickly agreed to promote the event for free. The PA sound people also agreed to supply excellent sound for a very low cost. And the Christchurch City Council couldn't have been more helpful. Everything was looking good. But then we ran up against the Christian leaders. One of the main "networking" Pentecostal leaders in the city told me that we could count him OUT of any support for the event. Then I spoke personally with the Dean of Christchurch Cathedral who told me that we could NOT use the main Square in Christchurch for a worship event for the whole Body. (Today this man's Cathedral lies in ruins. It had survived the first quake, but it did not survive this new one). I called a number of prominent pastors and worship bands around Christchurch. I said we had the support of Radio, the Council, the sound and everything. No response. Worship bands not interested. Pastors not returning calls. (You might think they were busy after the quake - but remember no-one died and Christchurch was up and running pretty fully after only a couple of weeks). I simply couldn't understand it. The evangelicals of Christchurch had made no public acknowledgement of God at all - no public worship for this miraculous escape - no public glorifying of Jesus. Even the secular News and the politicians were calling it a "miracle". People were traumatized everywhere. Wasn't it a "no-brainer" that we should be doing such a thing? Doesn't God deserve public praise after protecting so many people from harm? In fact, it was such a no-brainer that the secular people themselves decided to do something. A number of the top bands and musicians from New Zealand came down and gave a free concert in the park for the traumatized city. It was heavily advertised on Radio - and 20,000 people showed up. Of course it was a secular event - not Christian. The Pentecostals, Charismatics and Evangelicals of Christchurch had made virtually no public sound at all. I felt strongly that I could not push things any further without some basic support from the church. We managed to hold a couple of outdoor concerts for the homeless, and got involved with distributing "care packages" and things, but I was so disappointed. In fact I was more than disappointed - I was alarmed and deeply disturbed. I even told some friends that it was "dangerous" to offer no public praise after God has just so obviously saved your city. I felt so strongly about it - and deeply saddened for the state of the Body of Christ. But I could do nothing more. On December 17, 2010, my family departed from Christchurch. On December 28th we boarded a plane for Australia. I believe it may be some time before we ever return. My heart truly goes out to the people of Christchurch - and to all the world so poorly served by the church of our day. This was truly one of the worst "lost opportunities" that I have ever witnessed in all my years with the church. And Christchurch was truly one of the most beautiful cites I have ever seen. The people are so dear to us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, my friends. May God bless and protect you all in these dark times. -Please comment on this article at the website below- http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/ Yours with great sadness, Andrew Strom |
