一個牧者對428的立場A Pastor's view to 428

Lau Sie Ngiu

作主耶稣门徒的意义－我对428黄绿诉求的立场

当下，428是马来西亚国内最引人注目的课题之一。428是净选盟3.0和绿色盛会3.0呼吁国民以静坐的方式，和平的向政府表达抗议的集会日期。抗议的是贪污腐败与莱斯纳稀土厂计划等。

基督徒应当如何回应呢？主耶稣门徒的立场是什么？我想从路加福音9:46-50节的记载与大家共同找寻答案。

首先，我们需要瞭解路加福音第九章是令读者百感交集的一章。因为道成肉身的主耶稣基督一方面多番彰显祂的荣耀和能力，另一方面却开始预言和教导门徒有关祂将会受难的事。圣子耶稣彰显祂荣耀的方式包括：赐给祂的门徒能力和权柄赶鬼医病（9:1-6）、用五饼二鱼餵饱五千人（9:12-17）、登山祷告时面貌改变充满荣光（9:28-36），以及赶鬼（9:37-43）。但主耶稣同时宣告，祂是预备为义受苦的基督：“人子必须受许多的苦，被长老、祭司长和文士弃绝，并且被杀，第三日复活…人子将要被交在人手里”（9:22,44）。

很可惜，由于门徒们太过期待耶稣能崛起成为政治性的基督，这使他们听不进耶稣要舍己，为世人之罪受难的教导。结果，他们的关怀不如主耶稣；耶稣是求利他（作万人的赎价），门徒却求利己。难怪，第46节记载“门徒中间起了议论，谁将为大”。

主耶稣找了一位被当时社会看为没有地位的小孩子站在祂旁边，然后语重心长的说：“凡为我名接待这小孩子的，就是接待我；凡接待我的，就是接待那差我来的；你们中间最小的，他便为大。”（9:48）主耶稣的意思是，作祂的“门徒”，不是以升官发财为念，也不争地位高低；作主门徒的意义是，求谦卑服事，为別人著想，特別是社会中那些没有地位的、无助的、被看为不重要的人。主耶稣说，这样作，便是接待了祂自己，甚至包括那位差祂来的天父上帝。

接下来，另一个争论来了！约翰说：“我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼，我们就禁止他；因为他不与我们一同跟从你。”（9:49）但是，耶稣指出，那个人信得正（因他奉耶稣的名），也作得对（奉耶稣的名去赶鬼），所以“不要禁止他，因为不敌挡你们的，就是帮助你们的”（9:50）。由此可见，作耶稣门徒的意义是，不争“宗派”而分裂（参林前1:11-13教会分裂的问题），反而应当抱着大公教会的精神（Catholic spirit），在正统信仰和荣耀益人的行事中，同心合一，兴旺基督的福音和扩展基督公义和谐的国度。

基於以上的分析来看，作主耶稣门徒的意义可总结如下：

1. 不争地位高低，只求谦卑服事，为他人著想（路9:46-48）；

2. 不争宗派而分裂，只求信仰正统，荣神益人（路9:49-50）。

在教会历史里，英国的年轻下议院议员威伯福斯（William Wilberforce, 1759-1833 A.D.）是作耶稣门徒的最佳榜样之一。他升官“发光”（太5:13-16），为被贩卖的千万黑奴著想，用二十多年时间，百折不挠的为争取废除奴隸制度而努力。曾经有反对他的人对他说：“一旦废止奴隸贩卖，每年马上会有超过五千五百位水手失业，一百六十艘船停工，将造成八十万英镑的损失！”

但威伯福斯认定上帝对他的呼召－从政作盐，革新腐败制度，荣耀上帝。再加上他得到当时上帝所重用的仆人卫斯理约翰的支持，更使他立志不屈不挠。卫斯理写信给威伯福斯说：“如果上帝与你同在，谁能抵挡你呢？他们比上帝强壮吗？啊！千万不要灰心，以上帝之名继续努力奋斗吧！”

威伯福斯和卫斯理约翰，以及上万名循道信徒（Methodists）当时都公开表态，反对奴隸贩卖制度。结果，1807年，议会终于通过废除此制度！

今天，在马来西亚，净选盟的八大诉求（清理选民册、改革邮寄选票制度、使用不褪色墨汁、自由与公平的媒体报导、最少21天竞选活动期限、强化公共机构、杜绝贪污、杜绝肮脏政治手段）和绿色盛会的诉求（要求政府终止莱纳斯稀土厂计划与确保所有发展符合地球宪章原则），对我来说，都合乎圣经的教导，特別是关乎公义和环保的原则。故此，靠主耶稣的恩典，我支持以上诉求，因作主稣门徒的意义是，利他（为下一代著想，为国家未来着想），荣神益人。

其实，在面对猖獗的邪恶时，保持沉默和不表明立场是危险的。主耶稣清楚的说：“不敌挡你们的，就是帮助你们的” （路9:50）；这显示，面对魔鬼和罪恶，立场要鲜明！愿以下的教会历史对我们说话：

有一位德国牧师名叫马丁.尼莫拉（Martin Niemöller, 1892-1984），他起初曾为了国家的缘故而支持希特勒（Hitler）。但是当他最后意识到纳粹主义的邪恶时，他开始反抗它；结果，他被囚了七年。战争结束后，他总结对邪恶保持沉默的危险：

起初他们［纳粹主义］追杀社会主义者，我不说话，因为我不是社会主义者。
后来他们追杀贸易工会成员，我不说话，因为我不是贸易工会成员。
之后他们追杀犹太人，我还是不说话，因为我不是犹太人。
最后他们要追杀我，但再也没有人站起来为我说话了。

English version:

The meaning of being the disciple of Christ – my stand in 428 Bersih 3.0 + Himpunan Hijau 3.0 (This English version of my article is done by sister Chui-Lian Phang)

Nowadays 428 is one of the hottest domestic topics in Malaysia. Bersih 3.0 and Himpunan Hijau 3.0 is calling the citizens to participate in the peaceful sit-down rally on April 28 to go against corruption, Lynas campaign, etc.

How should Christians respond to this issue? What kind of stand should Jesus’ disciples make? Let’s search for the answer from Luke 9:46-50.

Firstly, we need to understand that Luke 9 brings mixed feelings. On one hand, the incarnated Jesus Christ repeatedly displays his glory and power; on the other hand he started to prophesy and told his disciples about his future sufferings. The Son of Man displayed his glory in giving his disciples the power and authority to cast our demons and heal the sick (9:1-6), fed five thousand with five loaves and two fishes (9:12-17), his transfiguration when he was praying on the mountain (9:28-36), and driving away evil spirit (9:37-43). Nevertheless, he also predicted his sufferings: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life…The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” (9:22,44)

Unfortunately, the disciples paid no attention to Jesus’ words about the need for him to give himself for the sins of the world because they were looking forward to the political Messiah.They concerned about own benefits, unlike Jesus who sought the benefit of others (Jesus would give his life for the ransom for many). No wonder they argued about who would be the greatest (9:46).

Jesus took a little child (low in status in the society at that time) and had him stand beside him. He earnestly said to them: “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all – he is the greatest.”(9:48). Jesus was saying that to be his disciples is not about power, money, and status; the true meaning of discipleship is about humble service and caring for others, especially those who are low in status, helpless and seemingly unimportant. Jesus said that those who do so welcome him and the Father who sent him.

Then, another argument occurs! John said:”we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” (9:49) However, Jesus pointed that the man had the right belief (believe in the name of Jesus) and the right action (drove out demons in the name of Jesus), so “do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”This shows that disciples should not be divided according to denominations (Refer 1 Cor 1:11-13 about divisions in the church), but should be united in Catholic spirit, the right doctrine, glorifying God and being helpful to mankind, thriving the gospel of Christ and expand God’s kingdom harmoniously.

Based on the above analysis, the Lord’s disciples should:

1. Humbly serve God and care about others regardless of status (Luke 9:46-48);

2. Hold on to the right doctrine, glorify God, and be helpful to mankind (Luke 9:49-50).

In church history, a young member of parliament named William Wilberforce (1759-1833 A.D.) was a good example. He was shining as a light through his political position (Matthew 5:13-16), for thousands upon thousands of slaves. He fought for the abolition of slaves for twenty over years. One of his opposers said to him: “If the slave trade is abolished, five thousand five hundred sailors would lose jobs, one hundred sixty ships would stop operating, this would cause the loss of eight hundred thousand pounds!"

However, Wilberforce knew that God called him to be the salt in the politics and revolute the corrupted system to glorify God. Moreover, he received support from a great man of God – John Wesley, so he was very determined in his effort.John Wesley wrote to Wilberforce, saying: “If God is for you, who can be against you? Are they stronger than God? Ah, don’t be discouraged but continue to strive in the name of the Lord!”

Wilberforce, John Wesley, and tens of thousands of Methodists made public statement against slave trade. Finally, in 1807, the parliament finally approved the abolition of slave trade!

Today, in Malaysia, Bersih 3.0’s 8 demands (clean the electoral roll, reform the postal ballot system, use of indelible ink, free and fair access to media, minimum 21 days campaigning period, consolidate and strengthen public institutions, stop corruption and abuse of power and put an end to dirty political tricks) and Himpunan Hijau’s demands (request government to stop Lynas campaign and make sure that all the developments are in line with earth charter principles), to me, it’s in line with biblical teaching,especially in term of justice and environmental protection.Therefore, in the grace of God, I support the above demands, because disciples are meant to benefit others (for the sake of future generations and the future of the country) and glorify God.

In fact, in face of the rampant evil, being silent and not taking a stand is dangerous. Jesus Christ said clearly that: “whoever is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:50); this shows that we need to take clear stand in face of devil and evil! Hope the following church history speaks to us:

There was a Germany pastor named Martin Niemöller (1892-1984). He once supported Hitler for the sake of the country. However, when he realized that Nazism was evil, he began to oppose it; consequently,he was imprisoned for 7 years.When the war was over, he concluded about the danger of being silent in the face of evil:

Initially Nazi killed socialists, I was silent, because I was not socialists.
Then, they killed trade union members, I was silent, because I was not a trade union member.
After that, they killed the Jews, I still remain silent, because I am not a Jew.
Finally, they kill me, but no one is there to speak for me.