Aug 21=22, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

In our last article we have seen that the “paradigm shift” of the Early Church was from seeing and doing things from “the Earthly Kingdom” perspective to “the Heavenly Kingdom” perspective.  Honestly speaking, you and I often will see and evaluate our situations using our own perspectives, and therefore respond accordingly, it is only natural. In the field of counseling and psychotherapy, we often encourage people in their crisis and difficulties to do what we call “reframing,” that is to look at the situation with a different angle and perspective, seeing things with a more positive attitude, and respond accordingly.

But “paradigm shift” is going further to leap beyond our familiar framework, not just “think outside the box” as it were, but to go into a new mindset and new worldview and values, beyond traditional thinking and limitations, moving towards a brand-new goal and greater ideal. In the Early Church, we have seen how this means moving from “Judaism” to the “Christian faith,” from seeking for “peace and order” to pursuing “Kingdom mission,” from looking for “relief from suffering” to looking at “suffering for Christ,” from depending on “self-reliance” to “victory in Christ.” It is true that the situations we are in are much different from the situation of the Early Church, but we today can continue this “paradigm shift” started then, remembering and reinstating the timeless principles, continuing this type of renewal, striving to complete the Great Commission of Christ, ushering in the Kingdom of God!

The Early Church received in the Great Commission which was “The final command, the first concern.” (James Hudson Taylor IV)  Let us review  these timeless principles of the Great Commission and become partners in the gospel together. Allow me to summarize them in 7 major principles (following the 7 progress reports found in Acts), and follow them as the guiding principles of our Church in our “Return to Church”:

1. Loving one another: Learning to love one another in the Lord (2:43-47)
2. Spreading the Word: Learning to evangelize with the power of the Spirit (6:1-4, 7)
3. Living in the Spirit: Learning to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the Spirit (9:31)
4. Manifesting God’s power: Learning to manifest God’s power amidst trials (12: 24)
5. Engaging in missions: Learning to do cross-cultural missions and strengthened in faith (16:5)
6. Growing amidst suffering: Learning to witness for Christ as the Lord prevails (19:20)
7. Persevering to the end: Learning to serve faithfully loving God and men (28:30-31)

We will (from October) study the account of Dr. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, where he carefully reported on the progress of the Early Church and outlined the reasons for its growth. As the pandemic (hopefully) near its end, and as many parts of the world are in chaos and at a crossroad, let us seize the opportunities before us to extend the Great Commission received in the paradigm shift of the Early Church, applying its principles in building God’s Kingdom on earth. (To be continued)

Aug 21=22, 2021
李耀全牧師

初期教會的「典範轉移」乃由「地上的國度」轉到「天上的國度」來看事與物。坦白來說，我們自然從我們的處境看事物，從自己的角度評估我們的處境，更是從自己的角度作出回應。這是人之常情，是無可置疑的。從認知心理輔導與治療的角度，我們會鼓勵人面對各樣的困惑時作出「框架重整」(Reframing)，也就是嘗試從不同的觀點與角度理解和分析處境，從更正面的角度看不如意的事與物並作出行動回應。

但「典範轉移」是當我們進一步跳出我們慣常使用的範圍，不單思想如何跳出我們的框架(think outside the box)而進一步從一個嶄新的思維與價值觀，超越固有的元素與阻制，邁向一個更新的目標與理想。上文已指出昔日的門徒要從「猶太教」轉移到「基督信仰」，由「國泰民安」的渴求轉移到「天國使命」的追求，由「脫離苦海」的努力轉移到「為主受苦」的服侍，及由「自力更生」的心態轉移到「靠主得勝」的志願。今日的處境與昔日完全不一樣，但信徒與教會可以從昔日這「典範轉移」的開始，傚法謹記其恆久不變的原則，延續實踐這思維的更新，邁向大使命的完成，迎向天國的來臨！

初期的教會承接了教會的元首主耶穌基督在「典範轉移」中的大使命，是主「最後的囑咐，最先的關注」(戴繼宗牧師)。讓我們重溫這些千載永固的原則，今日再努力「同心合意、興旺福音」！容許我把這些大原則撮要成為七大點(按使徒行傳教會七分期發展滙報)，作為今日教會在疫情後重開的重要準則與指南：

1. 主內相愛：在恩主裡彼此相愛(2:43-47)
2. 努力傳道：靠著聖靈努力傳道(6:1-4,7)
3. 敬虔渡日：因靈激勵敬虔渡日(9:31)
4. 彰顯神能：在試煉中彰顯神能(12:24)
5. 憑信宣教：跨界宣教信心堅固(16:5)
6. 苦中成長：勇敢見證主道得勝(19:20)
7. 致死忠心：忠心侍主愛主愛人(28:30-31)

我們將會十月起從使徒行傳看作者路加醫生仔細的記載，他把教會增長的秘訣淋漓盡致地報告而突顯其大原則出來。願我們在疫情將結束之際，在世事政局時勢轉移的轉捩點，把握時機，延續初期教會的「典範轉移」不變的原則，建立天國，在地如在天！(待續)

Aug 07-08, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

The two-years of pandemic, a year and a half of quarantine, the pervasiveness of the virus, together with the accompanying anxiety and pressure, have made us all anxious and unable to live life as usual.  The picture of the church full of brothers and sisters and its joyous atmosphere are now like a distant memory.  Many of us are longing to return to those days. Yet, when we receive the news that the ban is gradually lifted, we have mixed emotions. While it seems to us that we are at the end of the tunnel, we are reminded that we need to be cautious – planning the reopening of the church with a prudent approach.   This is seemingly more difficult to carry out the work than closing down the church in the past, as we need to take care of the wellbeing of the individuals and family members as recommended by the officials.  Now we are attempting to re-open the church in an orderly manner with one united common approach, which is harder than we can imagine: because we need to take into consideration of individual’s concern and the different needs of each family.  While the church needs to have one approach towards the re-opening of the whole church, we also need to carry out the plan as applied specifically to each congregation.  But one question remains to answer: when can the church be reopened safely?

At the same time, because of the political turmoil in Asia seen in the past few years, especially the political atmosphere in Hong Kong, we have seen another wave of immigrants similar to what we saw before 1997.  Many immigrants have chosen Vancouver as their new home, as the city is one of the popular destinations for Chinese people.  Now, as the pandemic is gradually under control and our church is preparing to reopen in the near future, are we ready to safely open the door of our church, welcome new immigrants, and help them to live well in the new place they called home? I hope that these new immigrants not only will be living well here but also having the opportunity to learn about our Savior Jesus Christ.   Can the church seize the opportunity to live out and share the gospel?

In the early days, the early church started from scratch to fulfill the great commission left by the Lord Jesus before His ascension. It was an unprecedented mission! Before discussing any specific, the believers at the time were facing a “paradigm shift.” The disciples of Jewish religion (known as Judaism today) who had always believed in Jehovah God, had to suffer a great impact in their lives after following Jesus for more than three years.  First of all, we must remember that the backgrounds of the disciples were very diverse. In addition to different career backgrounds (such as fishermen, tax collectors, etc.), there were also people with different political views, such as Simon the Zealots (the activists), and tax collector like Matthew (equivalent to today’s government workers). Moreover, all the Jews at that time were looking forward to a “Messiah” who could save them from the regime, the Roman government. In other words, they were looking for a “savior” who could bring about political reform or revolution.

But Jesus led his disciples more than three years of living a nomadic life. The disciples saw that Jesus had supernatural powers, could heal the sick, casted out demons, calmed the stormy seas, and attracted thousands of followers to listen to his preaching. But what puzzled the disciples was that Jesus’ message was not about “restoration” or “revolution.” After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples for forty more days, but the message continued to be about the Kingdom of God! A earthly kingdom becoming the Kingdom of God (heaven).

Finally, the disciples could not help but ask Jesus, ” Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? ” (Acts 1:6). Jesus answered the “wrong” questions of the disciples by commissioning the disciples with the great commission: ” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). To fulfill this mission, it is easier said than done. In addition to facing political shocks, they were categorized as “heretics” or “cults” by the Jews and they were forced to be dispersed (became the diaspora)! They were in crisis! Who could claim that “hope is in the future “?!

Today we are facing challenges posted by the pandemic and the influx of new immigrants.  These are new challenges resulting in the new normal.  In facing the new challenges and the new normal, we need to have a paradigm shift.  How are we going to turn challenges to become opportunities?  (To be continued…)

His servant,

Pastor Simon Lee

Aug 07-08, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹，

長達兩年的疫情，年半的隔離，病毒無孔不入的殺傷和天天的心理焦慮與壓力令您我都坐立不安，無法如常地生活。從前主日教會人頭湧湧，喜氣洋洋的氣氛已是遙遠的回憶，成了不少信徒心中的渴求與祈盼。在漸漸解封之際，喜悅與疑慮參半，我們如何平行信心邁進與小心起步，仿佛比禁制令時之困惑更難克服。之前只是一同面對疫情的恐慌，現時卻要面對個別人士與家庭不同的處境與挑戰作統一的對策，故此各有不同回應的程度與速度。到底教會何時才可以安全的重開？

與此同時，因為過去數年亞洲政治動盪，尤其是香港社會的變化，又帶動了另一輪像97前的移民潮，目的地包括溫哥華我們這個華人聚居的城市。當疫情漸漸受控，我們教會又預備不久將來重開，我們是否準備好安全地打開我們教會的大門，歡迎新的移民，幫助他們能早日在此安居樂業呢？更希望這些新來的朋友不單是找更好的生活，亦因移居加拿大認識我們的救主耶穌基督，得著豐盛的生命。到底教會是否能把握時機，同心合意，興旺福音？

昔日初期教會由零開始要實踐主耶穌在升天前留下的大使命，那是史無前例的任務！在討論任何實體或具體任務之前，當時的信徒面對的是一個「典範轉移」(paradigm shift)。一直信奉耶和華神的猶太人(今日稱為猶太教)的門徒，跟隨耶穌三年多後令他們的生命受到很大的衝擊。首先我們要記得門徒的背景非常參差，除了有不同的職業背景(如漁夫、稅吏等)，更有不同政見的人士，例如激進派(奮銳黨)的西門和為當權者効力收稅的馬太(今日的公務員)。再者當時的猶太人受盡羅馬政府管轄之苦都一致期盼一個能救他們脫苦海的「彌賽亞」，故此，尋救的乃是一位能帶來政改甚至是政變的「救世主」！

但耶穌卻帶領門徒渡過三年多住無定處的生活。門徒眼見耶穌的是有超自然的能力、能醫病趕鬼、平靜風浪、能吸引數以千計的追隨者聽他宣道。但令門徒百思不解的是耶穌宣講的並不是「光復」或「革命」的信息。耶穌在復活後向門徒顯現有四十天之久，但論述的仍是「神國的事」(徒1:3)！何時人的國度變成神的國度呢？

最後門徒不能自禁地問耶穌「主啊，你要在這時候使以色列復國嗎？」(徒1:6)。耶穌像答非所問，並頒發給門徒「典範轉移」的大使命：「可是聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必領受能力，並且要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地、撒瑪利亞，直到地極，作我的見證人。」(徒1:8)。要實踐這使命，談何容易，除了面對政治的衝擊外，他們還要被自己人看為「叛教徒」或「異端」，被逼四散！危機重重！誰說「明天會更好」？！

今日我們在面對疫情的打擊，與來自香港被逼移散的人之挑戰，我們面對的困難與挑戰並與昔日不一樣，但無論是新常態或新處境，我們都是面對著一個「新典範」，我們能否把「危機」轉為「契機」呢？(下期續)

主僕，

李耀全牧師