作者：黃嘉生牧師
今年是美國遠東廣播中文事工部成立的30週年，我們由衷的感謝上主使用，讓我們在向萬國萬民傳福音的大使命上能盡一份心力。正如香港遠東執行主任盧炳照牧師的文章中所提及，當年香港首屆主任林本立牧師為了顧及香港在1997年回歸之後能繼續發展福音事工，將中文廣播事工擴展世界各地。他自己則回到美國遠東總部，與創辦人鮑曼博士商討在美國成立中文事工部。總部欣然贊同，但經費必須由中文部自行籌募。1988年2月，林牧師與師母正式開始了中文事工，隨後環繞美國開車68天，歷經57個城市，穿越23州，領了56個聚會分享中文福音廣播的異象。創啟之時，只有林牧師、師母兩位同工，租用了當年在蒙特利公園市的第一間錄音室。同年4月在芝加哥也開始了東部錄音室的中文事工, 在首任盧家馼牧師和接任的何述珍主任帶領下，大家同心製作中文福音節目，持續對中國同胞廣播，傳講耶穌基督的好消息。(芝加哥遠東於2001年一月加入總部一同服事。)
慶祝30週年正如孔子曰：『三十而立』，那麼究竟我們的『立』其意義和目標是什麼呢？孔子自己在論語堯曰篇裡的解釋:『不知命，無以為君子也。不知禮，無以立也』這裡的『禮』不單是『繁文縟節』而更是做人處事、待人接物的規矩道理，所以孔子的『立』著重在“人與人”之間的關係。到了宋代理學大師張載，則提出了氣度恢弘的【橫渠四句】『為天地立心，為生民立命，為往聖繼絕學，為萬世開太平』。所以『立』不單是『自立』，更是要『…己欲立而立人…(論語 庸也)』。
可是我們基督徒是神的兒女，要如何來應用『為天地立心，為生民立命』呢？其實在華人傳統的觀念裡常會引用【老子】『天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗』(不仁指不偏袒，芻狗指草扎的祭品)，而誤解人生。其實這裡的天地指天空與土地，是物質宇宙，自然並沒有好惡。但是聖經裡告訴我們『自從造天地以來，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見，但藉著所造之物就可以曉得，叫人無可推諉。(羅1:20) 』原來在物質宇宙之上，還有創造天地的永恆之神。而永恆之道就是『太初有道，道與神同在，道就是神。這道太初與神同在。萬物是藉著他造的；凡被造的，沒有一樣不是藉著他造的(約1:1-3) 』這一位。因為物質宇宙為神所創造，祂又特別創造人，有神的形象，並賦予人有管理地的責任。所以人的生命有非常重要的目的與意義。我們基督徒的『立人』是要使世人認識這位創造天地萬物的真神，並且人與神的關係。
那麼『為生民立命』呢？在聖經中繼續教導說：『生命在他裡頭，這生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗裡，黑暗卻不接受光。(約1:4-5) 』;又教導說『道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿的有恩典有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。(1:14) 』所以要『為生民立命』是因為許多人並不認識這位『生命之光』，仍然生活在黑暗裡，不明白真理，尚未經歷過天父恩典的美好。在普世華人當中，已經認識這位『道成肉身』天父獨生子耶穌基督的更是少數。因此我們的使命，更是要使『生民』得到這位『充充滿滿的有恩典有真理』的『生命之光』。那麼『為往聖繼絕學，為萬世開太平』不就是『你們要去,使萬民作我的門徒…凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守(太28：19-20)』，和『因為他自己是我們的和平，使雙方合而為一…(弗2：14)』嘛！
今年香港遠東也正慶祝60大壽，我們美國遠東中文事工部則紀念30週年。我們與台灣、加拿大的遠東中文部共同秉承了73年來創辦人鮑曼博士『藉廣播，傳基督，到地極』的遺訓，同心同行，與我們所有的支持夥伴與義工們，共同實踐耶穌基督所交託的大使命，世代傳承直等到祂來。
This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the US FEBC Chinese Ministry. We thank our Lord for allowing us to devote our hearts and efforts to the Great Commission of bringing the Gospel to all nations. As Rev. Raymond Lo, current Director of FEBC Hong Kong, mentioned in his article, it was Rev. John B. Lin, the first Director of FEBC-HK, who conceived of the idea of US FEBC Chinese ministry to ensure operation continuity after Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997. He successfully convinced FEBC co-founder Dr. Bowman to establish the self-funded Chinese ministry in the US. It was Rev. and Mrs. Lin who started the ministry as its first coworkers. They drove to 57 cities in 23 states in 68 days, sharing the vision of Chinese Gospel broadcasts to 56 congregations. They rented the first studio in Monterey Park. In April of 1988, the FEBC Chicago studio went into operation for eastern US regions under the direction of Rev. Kenneth Lo, who was later succeeded by Sister Bonnie Ho. Together we produced Chinese language programs to bring the Good News to millions in China. (FEBC’s Chicago office joined the US Chinese office in 2001.)
At our 30th anniversary, we are reminded of Confucius’ famous quote, “At 30 I knew where I stood.” But where are we standing and what do we stand for? Confucius elaborated in his own way: “Without knowing destiny, it is not possible to be a gentleman. Without knowing the rites, it is impossible to establish a stand.” The “rites” here not only refer to the ritualistic rules, but also to the norms in relationships and conduct. It appears that Confucius emphasized interpersonal relationships in his “Stand.” The Song dynasty Neo-Confucius philosopher Zhang Zai stated in his famous Four Sentences to further define Stand: “To establish a conscience for the universe, to create living for the people, to restore the lost teachings for all past sages and to instate peace for the generations to come.” Therefore Stand does not only imply self-establishment, but also includes establishing others.
As children of God, how are we Christians to “establish conscience for the universe and create living for the people?” There is a misunderstanding in the Chinese tradition in quoting Lao Tze as saying “Heaven and Earth heartlessly regard everything as straw men.” While heaven and earth as the material world may be indifferent, the Bible clearly teaches that “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Rom 1:20) Above all worldly things is our eternal God, the Creator of the universe. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3) God created the material world and He created mankind in His own image to take care of the world. This is the purpose and meaning of human life and where we Christians must stand and establish: to help the world return to and reconcile with its creator, the only true God.
Now what is “creating living for the people?” The Bible teaches: “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5) And “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) We need to “create living for the people” because many do not know the “light of life” and live in the darkness, having never tasted the goodness and the grace of God. In Chinese communities around the world only a small minority have known Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, the Word made flesh. Therefore our mission is to bring all nations to “the light of life,” “full of grace and truth.” To Christians, “to restore the lost teachings for all past sages and to instate peace for the generations to come,” is no other than “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Mt 28:19-20), and “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one …”! (Eph 2:14)
As our co-workers in Hong Kong celebrate their 60th anniversary, we at FEBC’s US Chinese Ministries are commemorating our journey of 30 years. Following our founder Dr. Bowman’s vision “Christ to the World by Radio” he established 73 years ago, we are one in heart and action with FEBC Chinese coworkers in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Canada, and with supporters and volunteers all over the world, in fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, from generation to generation until He comes again.