Journey of a Thousand Miles
[Mu Yi & Xing Yi] Conclusion
Taking the "Third Route"
2019年9月，新學年才開始，紐約某高中的一群學生發生爭執，其中一名遭刺傷。當他躺在地上，大量失血時，大概有50名學生圍觀。許多人拿出手機，不是打電話求救，而是照相、錄影，po上社群媒體。1
From media reports and daily life, injustice seems to have become the norm. However, what is even more chilling is the "Bystander Effect" - the more people gather, the less it matters to oneself.
《神國》雜誌自2018夏季刊起，由「基督豐榮團契」會長吳淑儀執筆，開始【慕義&行義】專欄。52期〈第3雙眼睛，第三條路線〉一文中，吳淑儀從個人觀察、省思、親身經驗，挑戰讀者不僅以真理的「第三雙眼睛」看見教會內外的不公義，更看到主耶穌走出的「第三條路線」─十架的路：
“Jesus not only wept with those who wept, but He himself bore the pain in order to atone for us who suffer from sin, and to call us to comfort the suffering of the world with God’s comfort.”
這些由種族、性別、階級歧視造成的不公義，世代積累，深植社會文化中；這些不公義所造成的苦難，或者發生於近在咫尺的「隱蔽之地、隱藏之民」中（參考56期〈The invisible gospel workshop〉），或者成為國際關注的難民危機（參考55期〈I am a stranger and you invite me to stay〉）。或隱蔽或公開，都是真實的苦難；或遠或近，神都已在那裡。
How can you and I, as followers of Christ, turn away and ignore it?
▲In the face of injustice, what is even more chilling is the "bystander effect" - the more people gather, the less it matters to oneself.
Show mercy and kindness
From the gospels and historical records, it is not difficult to find examples of "putting yourself within the realm of justice."
The protagonist in the parable of the "Good Samaritan" in Luke's Gospel did not plausibly condemn the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders when faced with the injustice of racial discrimination, nor did he lament the inability to reverse the hostility that had existed for generations. He chooses to receive the hurting with mercy and kindness.
第二世紀基督徒佳立德（Callistus），組織「守望生命」（Life Watches）。這群人巡查羅馬城中的垃圾堆，要拾回遭遺棄的新生兒，交由基督徒家庭收養。2 在輕賤生命的不公義中，他們沒有站在廣場為無助的嬰兒辯護，沒有默然放棄不能改變的文化。他們選擇以憐憫和恩慈維護弱小的生命。
Today, there are also many organizations and individuals who choose to respond to the injustices in society and culture with acts of compassion and kindness.
吳淑儀參與的「基督豐榮團契」在柬埔寨接連設立了「豐榮女兒之家」、「豐榮婦女之家」、「豐榮女子學校」、「豐榮社區中心」，要以整全的福音抗衡人口販賣。除了把受傷的女子救出火坑，更給予她們受教育的機會，得以開始尊嚴的生存。在柬埔寨歧視、傷害婦女的社會文化中，猶如燈塔在暗夜中發光。（詳細內容請參考54期文章〈公義與憐憫：同一銀幣的兩面〉。）
本刊藝術企編周蘭惠受邀前往臺北的「珍珠家園」，為曾從事性工作的一群阿嬤上繪畫課（詳見本期文化單元〈Grandma Pearl paints life〉）。雖只是短暫駐留，她以自己的專長帶給處於社會金字塔底層、受人鄙視的阿嬤們一點歡樂，許多尊重。周蘭惠說：「這是一件『做對』的事。」
▲The road to "doing justice and loving mercy" may be difficult and long, but I hope Christians will walk humbly with God and take the first step.
act humbly
God spoke to His people through the prophets: "O man, the Lord has shown you what is good. What does the Lord require of you? To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. ” (Micah 6:8)
Jehovah God’s instructions are so clear that the Lord Jesus himself became human and practiced “doing justice and loving mercy.” As followers of Christ, how can we excuse ourselves for not understanding it, and what excuses can we have for not doing it?
After years of observation and personal participation, Wu Shuyi eloquently pointed out that the biggest challenge is not the seemingly unchangeable injustice that permeates social culture, but rather lies within the four walls of the church, among Christians. She saw that the church seemed to care more about the righteousness and law of individual Christians' spiritual lives and whether they all had "correct beliefs" than the suffering and oppressed people in the world. Think about the hypocrisy and self-righteousness that Jesus accused the Pharisees of. How much of it can be traced in churches and Christians today?
When issues of social justice arise, how do Christians deal with them? After examining how to interpret God’s word, should you use the Bible as a stone to throw at others, or as a cup to hold water? When victims of injustice appear around you, do you say to them: "I pray for you, go in peace", or do you share the pain with them and identify with the oppression and contempt they suffer?
When Christians pursue spiritual depth and growth, the results they can see are more powerful preaching, more exciting Bible studies, more exciting songs and worship, or more active participation in the crowd and weeping with those who weep. ? In addition to distributing gospel tracts and evangelistic meeting invitation cards, have you given time and effort to accompany the suffering people with kindness and seek justice for the persecuted people?
"Following Jesus" may be the ambition of many Christians. However, have you and I ever carefully examined where Jesus’ footsteps went? Christians who are devout and love the Lord are willing to “follow” them to where?
John Chapter 9 records Jesus healing a blind beggar. When religious leaders were obsessed with "right and wrong," the righteous and holy Lord Christ chose to find those who were expelled outside the temple.
Are you and I willing to "walk humbly with God" and go beyond the four walls of the church to find those who have been excluded from the temple?
▲The hot food supply station provides hot food and friendly care to the homeless. (Picture provided by: Lu Rendi)
Walk on the least of your brothers
The source of mercy and kindness is the gospel, and the abundant spiritual life of Christ flows out and is manifested in serving the oppressed, the sick, women, the poor, Gentiles and other people on the margins of the gospel. Wu Shuyi said this in the article "Where Is He" in the 53rd issue: "Social care is rooted in spiritual deepening, and spiritual deepening is commended in caring actions!"
The gospel of the kingdom preached by the Lord Jesus is a subversive gospel and a gospel full of action.
However, looking at the injustice in today's social culture is like wildfire. In front of the raging flames, what can you and I do? Just start with the bucket of water in your hand, start from the side.
Randy Lewis, who lives in Palm Beach County, South Florida, said he never understood how there could be hungry people in such a wealthy land. Until one Saturday afternoon 14 years ago, he came to the park near his home, joined a group of young people, and handed out burritos to the homeless. Life will never be the same again.
The "Burrito Project" currently uses the spacious and well-equipped kitchen of the nearby Palm Beach Chinese Christian Church to prepare dozens of burritos every Saturday morning, along with clean clothes and toiletries, and distribute them to children. The homeless and working poor in the town (working poor, also known as the working poor and the working poor, refer to those who have regular jobs, but the salary is not enough to sustain their lives), and care about their lives when the homeless receive bread and meals. Encourage them with the Word of God. The team has sent out nearly 50,000 burritos so far.
The ministry gradually expanded. Lu Rendi and a group of committed Christians also set up a hot food supply station on Tuesdays, inviting homeless people from nearby towns to come and enjoy it. They contacted about 250 homeless people every week. He kept thinking about how he could serve these homeless people besides providing food, so as to truly help them.
近幾年陸仁笛和另一位有相同異象與心志的夥伴，成立「南佛州安棲所」（South Florida Sanctuary）機構，積極籌款並申請政府補助，為的是建造一處能提供遊民沐浴、餐飲、醫療，以及職能訓練的安棲所在。3 期盼在供應基本需要後，能幫助遊民朝自立邁進，因為他們需要的，不單是夠溫飽的生活，更是受肯定、有價值的人生。例如他們為遊民募集工裝靴（work boots），好讓他們能穿上安全、耐用的鞋子，加入勞動生產之列。
As far as Lu Rendi knows, many homeless people suffer from drug and alcohol addiction, and many suffer from mental illness but do not receive appropriate medical care. Palm Beach is an affluent area, but just a few streets away from the ocean-view mansions and new suburban communities, you can see a completely different scene. Poverty may be the result of individual unwise choices, or it may be the injustice caused by systemic oppression. The homeless phenomenon in big cities such as Los Angeles has received renewed attention recently. How to deal with and solve the problem has become a topic of debate among residents, politicians, media, etc.
Lu Rendi said sincerely: "I don't know what the authorities of big cities with thousands of homeless people living on the sidewalks are going to do, but I know what individual Christians who want to live according to God's will can do." He suggested that in Put some snacks and bottled water in the car, and give them a kind look and a word of encouragement when handing them to homeless people on the street.
Matthew 25:40 is printed on the T-shirts of Anqi Sheng: "As you have done these things to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done them to me." Lu Rendi said that this was something he and his colleagues did. workers’ beliefs. Aren’t these homeless people the youngest brothers among us? They are real people, and they can feel cared for while being served.
For Lu Rendi, there is no greater encouragement than seeing the homeless people he has served for many years not only starting to live on their own, but also coming back to thank their co-workers and willing to join the service.
▲Lu Rendi (right) reminds Christians: homeless people are real people and the youngest brothers. (Picture provided by: Lu Rendi)
[Muyi & Xingyi] The column has come to an end, but God’s instructions have not stopped nor changed. How can you and I, as followers of Christ, take the first step to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God" when we put down the magazine?
1. New York high school students gathered around to watch the victim (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/nyregion/ny-teen-murder-oceanside.html).
2. Christians who “watch life” rescue abandoned babies (reference:https://world.wng.org/2000/06/a_new_opportunity).
3. For more information about "South Florida Safe Shelter", please go onlinehttps://www.southfloridasanctuary.com/.
For all the articles in the [Muyi & Xingyi] column, please refer to the cultural section of issues 52-57 of the magazine online.http://www.shen-guo.org/culture.html.
Linda Pang, writer, Sunday school teacher, loves to study and share God’s words.