以下这篇短文，乃这星期教会周刊的文章。
新加坡最大规模的城市丰收教会（City Harvest Church）被人举报滥用公款，而遭到新国慈善总监和商业事务局联手介入调查，这新闻让许多人大为吃惊！据悉，不只是教会本身被调查，也包括与教会有商业来往的直接或间接公司。这到底是一场误会，抑或教会当局的有行政偏差，还是刻意滥用公款，这还有赖执法机构去调查。无论如何，身为普世教会的一份子，我们仍旧为这样的事情而感到悲伤。这件事，也让我有一些联想（联想，就未必是与这件事情有直接关联的）：
- 罪的影响是很大的，上帝的教会不会自动幸免；
- 不要对任何试探（包括金钱、权利、性等）掉以轻心，要记住主耶稣教导我们的祷告文：不要叫我们陷入试探，救我们脱离凶恶（或恶者）
- 教会领袖要更加谨慎，成为上帝教会的好管家；
- 教会财务需要透明化，行政要经得起批判；
- 任何重要决定都必须是群体（执事会）决定，并群体承担（没有马后炮或事后孔明）
- 多为教会的圣洁祷告，并操练圣洁生活。
愿上帝怜悯我们，并帮助我们活得更有基督的样式，而上帝的名，将从我们身上得着荣耀！
9 comments:
恐怕今天的教会不再被意识为“上帝的教会”，而是“我的教会”。
我需要为教会付出、需要为教会发展着想、需要想尽办法实现教会的异象，以至于我也可以用不择手段达到，反正我是为教会而作的。
或者圣经真理不再是我信仰的粮食了。
当我为所事奉的教会开设部落格的时候，选用了“上帝的教会，我们的家”这样的标语，所想的，就正如这位朋友所担心的！
参http://srcmc.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-post.html
这是基督徒群体的共业，不是某一个牧师的错。一个字……贪钱！
影思及各位，我是在CHC信主及成长的一员， 请大家在不知情的壮况下莫随意做出批评！
请你们自己来本教会参与各项事奉At least three mths only u comment about the roles of City Harvest!
This is a church that really impacting the world today!
sorry for my bad Chinese :)
please read message by Rev Dr Kong Hee of City Harvest Church at http://www.konghee.com/www/2010/06/reflections/#more-4363
有时候觉得遗憾，有些基督徒为敏感课题在这里留言及回应，但却不敢以真面目见人，到底是为何呢？
Dearest Pastor Teng,
罗马书第8章28节说：“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处。
I don't think you will be happy enough if Christian outside your church who knew nothing about Sg Rambai Methodist church inside out giving comments and pinpointing here and there.
Singapore is a small island where news are lacking, and CHC is a mega church with 33k members, impacting and influecing the Spore island currently. This is the reason why this church is easily highlighted in news when small matter raised up.
Dear all bro & sis from Sungai Rambai Methodist Church and Pastor Teng, I got your link from a forum this morning, please allow me to share something about my thoughts on City Harvest Church. Thank you.
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What is City Harvest Church all about? Who is Pastor Kong Hee to me? Why do I defend him so vigorously? Greek Philosopher, Ovid declares “Happy is he who dare courageously defend what he loves”. I love God, my family and City Harvest Church (in the right order that Pastor Kong has taught us) Though there might always be critics and naysayers that will deride and dismiss what City Harvest Church and what you have done, or may even pour scorn and derision at what Sun is doing through the Cultural Mandate, the fact is the sacrifices and price that Sun and you paid for the ministry of City Harvest Church have made a profound difference in my life.
I came to City Harvest Church 12 years ago when I was just a teenager. Growing up in a very poor single-parent family, the world did not have very high expectations from me; nor I of the world. But all these changed when I encountered God through your ministry. Your teachings on dreams and visions, on excellence, on attitude, on the balance between law and grace, on Spiritual disciplines, on the Cultural mandate, on loving God and loving people, on building a church without walls, on having a heart for missions, became, in time, my Spiritual DNA. In these 12 years of growing up in City Harvest Church, I also had the opportunity to be mentored by great men and women of God, the leaders in the Church, many of them personally mentored by you.
And in City Harvest Church, I learnt commitment, sacrifice and trust in God. In these 12 years, I probably would have attended more than 750 services, 700 cell group meetings, 450 leaders meetings, countless bible studies, a 6-month long full-time School of Theology, and probably gave tens of thousands to God through tithes, offerings and building funds. I also served actively in ministry. A year in the Children’s Church and more than 8 years as a Cell Group Leader.
In the eyes of the world, they may feel that it is silly to invest so much time and money. But yet City Harvest Church has made the world of a difference in my life. Here in City Harvest, I found God. I found meaning, purpose and a sense of destiny. Here in City Harvest, I found my family. I found a spiritual family who loves and accepts me. I found friends who I know I will grow old with. I found a beautiful girl, and convinced her to marry me 4 years ago. We have a good-looking boy who just turned 20 months.
Here in City Harvest, I found that your teachings are real. Real because they work when I apply them. I gave my first building fund. And I got a Scholarship to do my Masters. I sought first the Kingdom of God and all His righteousness. And I was promoted every single year, since I started work. I kept serving, kept giving and kept trusting. And I received a Scholarship to do my PhD.
How did I change from a person who the future holds no hope to a person who has hope for the future. To me is clear. City Harvest Church. Your ministry. The fruit of your vision, sacrifice and commitment changed my life.
But I believe I am not the only one. Thousands upon thousands of lives in City Harvest Church and in our 46 affiliated churches have been transformed by your ministry. So yes, the critics might continue their onslaught. The naysayers could continue their insinuations. Perhaps, It does not matter. We are not here to impress our critics, but to do what God has called us to do. Regardless, Despite, To love God wholeheartedly; to love people fervently
For this is what City Harvest Church. Has taught us and shown us. No matter what the critics say. No matter what the verdict says. Thank you Pastor Kong, Sun and Pastor Tan. If asked if you have made any difference? If asked if who benefited from your actions? Please mention me. You have changed my life. And my wife, and my son.
亲爱的匿名者/VLF，
批评别的教会并不是我的风格。若仔细读我的短文，相信你们会明白。身为普世教会的一份子，我们期望总教会都能够健康的成长，并以生命见证基督，这是我的祷告。
然而，我也不会拦阻大家在这里的留言。当然，若是大家都能用真面目，那是我更欢迎的。毕竟，这是责任感的表达！
愿上帝赐福大家！
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