第24期
靠着
神 神的恩典，不难
2020流年不利，农历新年随着武汉肺炎暴发， 中国实行封城，虽然相隔千里但心中仍有些许不适。 年初二一早醒来，篮球巨星科比飞机失事讯息铺天盖 地轰炸社交网络；将这消息告诉刚睡醒的儿子，喜爱 NBA的他一脸惊讶地怀疑，真的假的？随后，又接到 故乡侄儿去逝的噩耗，便从新山赶回实兆远奔丧。 一路长途跋涉让我感觉到今年的农历新年特别没劲儿。 忙碌的工作开始将之前的郁闷一扫而空，然而 防不胜防的病毒静悄悄地向全球扩散，我国也捲入 其中。正当大家为二十二位确诊病患全数痊瘉而欢呼 之际，偏偏这时的政坛又起波澜。千辛万苦盼来的 开明新政府，谁知两年后竟然如此轻易的倒台；看着 食指，那象征公民权益的紫色印记彷佛还没退尽， 难过得数夜辗转难眠。更痛的是疫情重新来袭，每天 三位数的确诊病例让人心惊胆战，新政府随之宣布 实行为期十四日的行动管制令。 很多人梦寐以求的退休生活提前到来；曾经说好 的无所事事睡到自然醒的日子终于来了；过去想要的 无忧无虑吃吃喝喝追剧看书的时候也到了，但是为何 还是开心不起来呢？到底是怎么一回事儿？原来， 当中缺少了自由。任何事情一但没有了自由就变质了。 哥林多前书10：23说：“凡事都可行，但不都有益处。 凡事都可行，但不都造就人。 ” 神给我们绝对的自由去做任何事情，只是我们 需要有智慧地去选择做有益处和造就人的事。很多人 曾经问，神为何不直接除去所有的恶，让我们一生都 平平安安，该有多好。其实不然，那种一成不变的 生活可能极其无味，神知道我们一定会像现在一样 埋怨。当年不也是如此吗？摩西带领百姓离开埃及 为奴之地不好吗？每天降吗哪不必忧愁吃什么不好吗？ 每天喝着击打盤石凿出甜美的山水不好吗？每天无需 工作悠哉悠哉不好吗？不好，毎天哀声叹气，怨声 载道。后来更制造金牛犊膜拜，惹怒了神，结果面对 刑罚滞留旷野四十年。美国联邦宪法特别例入自由， 所以美国警察是没有权力检查人民身份证的，因为这 举动侵犯了人民的自由。每个国家对于罪犯的惩罚都 是先夺取他的人身自由，再将他关在监狱里，因为 失去自由是极其痛苦的一件事。
文：王则瑞
疫情让我们明白，自由并非理所当然的，它随时 随刻都会离开我们，可能是透过天灾，可以经由人祸， 甚至出于病毒，无人知晓。请珍惜和感恩神赋予我们 的自由，单单只做可荣耀神的事情。 因为疫情困坐愁城，二十四小时全天候面对面， 夫妻间的摩擦在所难免。我的某位好友更是在行动管 制期间和太太吵架，就直接搬去工厂里住。两个多月 的时间里，把工厂收拾得干干净净。我问他何时回家？ 他却说不回了，现在一个人也不差，反正孩子都大了。 我还有两个年过半百的朋友，一个整年、一个两年多 都和太太吵架，之后再也没有沟通。二人共同生活在 同一屋檐下，每天脸黑黑的过生活，是多么的难受。 如果你正好在行管令期间与另一半发生摩擦， 不管谁对谁错，我们都得回到圣经的教导，好好疼爱 妻子，好好顺服丈夫。身为男人，我与弟兄们做一些 分享。作为一家之主的男人，无论对错，先放下身段， 谦卑自己向太太认错，这不容易但是做得到。女人 柔情似水，几句甜言蜜语就能将她溶化，一束鲜花 保证花到怨除，我二月送给太太的花她晒干后如今 还掛在客厅，多么值得啊！再加上一份小礼物肯定 让她回心转意。对自己所爱的人低声下气不是一件 羞耻的事情，一家人开开心心比什么都珍贵。做妻子 的，如果丈夫肯认错，妳就原谅他吧！虽然他不是 什么好东西，但毕竟还是自己选的，为了家和万事兴 也好，为了孩子着想也罢，跟随圣经，顺服丈夫， 可好？ 也许你正面临工作的压力、经济的重担、失业的 困扰，请不要灰心丧志，将你的愁苦交托给神，因为 耶稣应许说：“凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来， 我就使你们得安息。” 可能你也面对家庭的难处， 夫妻间出现裂痕、与孩子的关系紧张、婆媳间产生 误解，但不必难过，因为我们还有神可以依靠、我们 还有牧师同工可以信任、我们还有弟兄姐妹随时可以 伸出援手。勇敢地把你的烦忧说出来，让我们一起 想办法解决，因为在主里我们是一家人。 疫情已经让大家倍感难受，所以我们自己必须 快乐起来，靠着神的恩典，不难。
Issue #24
By
, it’s Not Hard Written by: Alvin Wong Translated by: Dorcas Yeoh
Year 2020 didn’t go very smoothly. With the Coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan during the Chinese New Year, China had ordered the city to be locked down. Although China is thousands of miles away, there is still some discomfort in my heart. As I woke up early on the second day of the new year, the news regarding basketball superstar Kobe Bryant's plane crash bombarded every single social media. As I told the news to my son, who just woke up and is a big fan of the NBA, he couldn't believe his eyes: Is it really true? Later, upon receiving the bad news of my nephew’s death in his hometown, I rushed back to Sitiawan from Johor Bahru for the funeral. The long journey made me feel that this year's Chinese New Year is particularly demotivating. As the busy work schedule began to wipe away all the gloom, an overwhelming virus quietly spread around the world, affecting our country too. Just as everyone was cheering for the 22 patients to be cured, Malaysian’s political world was in turmoil again. Who would know that two years on, the previously new and enlightened government, which we have been waiting so long for, fell from power so easily. I felt uneasy and recalled about democracy as I gazed at my index finger, as if the purple electoral ink still remained. The current new government then announced a 14-day movement control order (MCO) due to the resurgence of the pandemic and the alarming number of triple-digit confirmed cases every day.
Many people's dream retirement life has come early. The once promised days of doing nothing and sleeping until waking up have finally come. The carefree time of eating, drinking, catching up on dramas and reading books has also arrived, but why are we still not happy? What’s going on? It turns out that there is a lack of freedom. Everything is spoiled when there is no freedom. 1 Corinthians 10:23 says: "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial; everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying". God gives us absolute freedom to do anything, it's just that we need to have the wisdom to choose to do what is beneficial and edifying. Many people have asked why God doesn't just remove evil and let us live our lives in peace. If he did that, wouldn’t that be wonderful? In fact, that’s not true. An unchanging life can be extremely boring, and God knows we would still be grumbling as much as we are now. Wasn't it like that back then? Was it bad for Moses to lead the people out of slavery in Egypt? Isn’t it great to have manna from the sky and not having to worry about what to eat? Isn’t it nice to savour sweet mountain water? Isn’t it nice to be able to relax without having to work every day? No. They still sighed and complained every day. Later on, they even made a golden calf to worship, which angered God and resulted in 40 years of living in the wilderness as a punishment. The U.S. federal
constitution specifically includes freedom, so the U.S. police do not have the authority to check people's ID cards, as this violates people's freedom. Every country punishes a criminal by taking away his freedom of life before putting him in prison, because the loss of freedom is extremely painful. The pandemic has taught us that freedom is not something we should take for granted. Freedom can leave us at any moment, through natural disasters, man-made disasters, or even through viruses. No one knows. Therefore, do cherish and be thankful for the freedom God has given us, and do only those things that glorify Him. Because of the pandemic, it is inevitable that couples will have friction as they have to face each other for 24 hours a day. One of my best friends had a fight with his wife during the MCO period, so he moved into the factory to stay. Within two months, he cleaned up the entire factory. When I asked him when he was going home, he said he had no intention of returning as he is good to be alone, moreover his kids are old enough. I have two other friends in their middle age, one who fought with his wife for an entire year and the other for over two years, and then they never communicated again. It's indeed very uncomfortable to live under the same roof with another person while putting up a sour face every day. If you happen to have friction with your other half during MCO, no matter who is right or wrong, we need to get back to the biblical teaching which talks about husbands loving their wives and wives submitting to their husbands. As a man, I would like to share something with my fellow brothers. As a man who is the head of the family, no matter who is right or wrong, he should first put his pride down and humble himself to confess his mistakes to his wife. It is not easy, but it can be done. A woman's tenderness is like water, a few sweet words can melt her heart, whereas a bouquet of flowers can get rid of her grudge. The flowers that I gave my wife in February are still placed in the living room, isn’t that worth it? Adding a small gift will definitely bring her back to her senses. There is no shame in being gentle and forgiving to the
one you love, as a happy family is more precious than anything else. As a wife, if your husband is willing to admit his mistakes, you should forgive him. Although he may not be the best, after all, he's still the one you chose. Therefore, whether it's for the sake of your family or your children, follow the Bible and obey your husband, okay? Perhaps right now, you are dealing with stress from your work, financial burdens, or unemployment. However, do not be discouraged and lay your sorrows unto God, for Jesus promised: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." You may be facing family difficulties, rifts between husband and wife, tension with your children, misunderstandings between in-laws, but do not be dismayed. We still have God to rely on, pastors and church co-workers we can trust, and also brothers and sisters who are ready to lend a helping hand. Be brave to speak up about your worries so that together, we can find a solution. In Christ, we are one family. The pandemic has been extra tough on everyone, so let's choose to be happy. By the grace of God, it's not hard.