社區：同來合一
倘若你覺得上週的每週一話有些挑戰，我可以理解。我常被主顯給我看的事物挑戰，直到我有機會徹底檢視它們。我的目標是傳揚天國的福音，而不是提倡多層次傳銷，儘管我對其有很高的敬意。即便如此，當我說直銷人員『在某些方面』比教會領袖還瞭解『一些』天國原則，總造成很大的爭議。我不介意以事實來造成爭議，這就是事實。
我得承認，有許多直銷團契並沒有將教會視為他們生活的主要社群。照理說不該如此，這卻是事實，要是這些人能在教會找到像在直銷團體一樣的團契與門訓，也不會變得如此。對於向我們顯示我們需要看見的重要事物，我們不應予以譴責。
許多基督徒所需要的真實團契與門訓生活，無法在教會中得到。我曾參與大型傳銷公司的董事會，感覺上更像查經班而非商業會議。我很喜歡，也深受啟發，我的盼望是教會能成為我們所蒙召的社區。社區（Community）這個字是由共同與合一所組合而成（common-unity）。這本是我們應成為的樣式，我們本應成為『造在山上的城』， 這座城是由各式各樣的社區結合在一起的。
一般而言，目前的教會離所呼召的樣式還很遠，但一定會到達那樣的境界，雖然不會一步登天，但正朝著對的方向前進。儘管過程時而艱辛，但此用意是為了幫助我們成為聖潔國度的公民。過程中有許多惱怒、挫折，也要應付很難相處的人，就像那些人也必須應付我們一樣，這對真正基督徒的成熟都是不可或缺的。雖然能到達目標是何等美好，但這卻是要到達那裡的唯一路徑。
布瑞格·哈特（Brig Hart）是最成功的直銷商之一；有一次我問他何為多層次傳銷的成功基礎所在，他的回答對教會迫切需要的天國原則，是極為關鍵的洞見。他說當人們一加入他們的事業，他們馬上讓這些人看見所能成就之事，接著讓他們看見他們目前在哪裡，下一步要怎麼做，才能朝向目標前進。藉此方式，每個人隨時都知道他們的旅程進行到哪裡。
在你的基督徒生涯中，你是否可以回答這些問題？
你知道什麼是你在基督裡所能達到的？
你知道現在走到哪裡了嗎？
你知道旅程的下一步嗎？
這些對新信徒而言都應當是最基本的。
偉大的使徒保羅在腓立比書三章13-14說：『他不是以為自己已經得著了；他只有一件事，就是…向著標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召他來得的獎賞。』當然他所說的不是得著拯救或永生，這在他相信十字架的救贖時就已經得著了。他所說的是從上面來的『崇高呼召』，當時他已接近生命的盡頭，在他寫此書信時，他不認為自己已經得著，這即是他所謂的『當跑的路』。你看見此崇高的呼召嗎？你是否像保羅一樣正專一尋求它呢？
倘若我們看見了自己崇高的呼召，我們就會這樣做。倘若主沒有向我們顯明，我們要如何看見呢？主會顯明給那些關切到來祈求、尋找並叩門直到開門的人。
(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 15, 2012)
Community: The Common-Unity - The Path of Life, Part 8
Week 15, 2012
If you were a little challenged by the last WFTW, I understand. I’ve been challenged often with things I’ve been shown until I had the chance to thoroughly check them out. My goal is to preach the gospel of the kingdom, not promote multilevel marketing, though I do have a high regard for it. Even so, I always cause a lot of controversy when I say that “in some ways” multilevel marketers understand “some” principles of the kingdom better than many church leaders do. I don’t mind causing controversy with the truth. This is the truth.
I readily admit that for many the multilevel fellowships have displaced the church as the central society in their lives. It is not supposed to be that way, but it is, and it wouldn’t be if these people could find the same level of fellowship and discipleship that they are finding in some multilevel marketing groups. We should not condemn that which is showing us something important we need to see.
Christians need real fellowship and discipleship that many are not able to get in their church. I’ve sat in board meetings of large multilevel companies that were more like a Bible study than a business meeting. I loved it, was edified, and my hope has been that the church would become the community we are called to be. Community comes from the words common-unity, which is what we are supposed to be. We are supposed to be “a city that is set on a hill,” and a city is multiple communities bound together.
In general, the church is now far from what it is called to be, but it will get there. It will not get there in one step, but the process is moving in the right direction. The process is hard at times, but this is designed to help make us into the citizens of this holy nation we need to be. The process, which includes a lot of irritations, frustrations, and dealing with other difficult people like those who have to deal with us, is essential for true Christian maturity. Getting to the goal will be wonderful, but this is the only path for getting there.
I once asked Brig Hart, who was one of the most successful multilevel marketers, what he thought the basis of the success of multilevel marketing was. His answer was a crucial insight into a kingdom principle the church must have. He said that when someone comes into their business, they are immediately shown what they can achieve. They are then shown where they are and then what the next step is toward their goal. In this way, everyone knows where they are in their journey at all times.
Can you answer these questions about your Christian life? Do you know what you can attain in Christ? Do you know where you are now? Do you know the next step on your journey? These should all be basic for a new believer.
The great Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14 that he did not feel he had yet attained, but “this one thing I do, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus…” (KJV). Certainly he was not talking about being saved or having eternal life, which he attained the moment he believed in the atonement of the cross for his salvation. He was talking about a “high calling,” which even near the end of his life, when he wrote this Epistle, he did not think he had yet attained. This is what he said he was “running the race” for. Do you see this high calling? Are you in pursuit of it with the singleness of mind that Paul had?
If we saw it we would. So how do we see this if it is not revealed to us? It is revealed to those who care enough to ask, to seek, and to knock until the door is opened.