山道期刊
總第三十二期（2013年12月）
| 主題： | 浸信宗之信仰與體制 包括專題文章五篇、討論文章二篇及書評五篇 |
| 頁數： | 186 |
| 售價： | HK$100 |
| 專題文章 | ||
| 鄧紹光 | 殊異的浸信會──對一些原初 / 基本洞見的勾畫 | Abstract |
| 張智理 | 浸信會堂會體制──基督主權下的責任 | Abstract |
| 劉振鵬 | 浸信會的政教關係──宗教自由與政教分離的歷史與神學反思 | Abstract |
| 吳國傑 | 堂會自治、協作事奉：浸信宗堂會關係的理念與實踐 | Abstract |
| 鄺振華 | 浸信會聯合宣教團體組織模式的轉變與爭議：一個堅持自願原則的範例 | Abstract |
| 討論文章 | ||
| 曾思瀚 | 美國基要派如何利用聖經：評古德恩的《從聖經看政治》 | Abstract |
| 張漢強 | 從畢德生看牧職與牧養 | Abstract |
The Distinctiveness of Baptist: A Sketch of the Primary and Basic Insights
Andres S. TANG
This paper aims to give a sketch of the primary and basic insights of the Baptists. Against the background of identity crisis, both theological and Christian identities, in the modern world, Baptists in America and Great Britain are involved in the reflection of the distinctiveness of the Baptists among various Protestant denominations. It is true that Baptists share the understandings of Christian faith with the Protestant in broad sense. However, through a reflection of the crisis Baptists are facing, ecclesiology emerges as its unique contribution to the Protestant Church. Baptism, on the one hand, is emphasized among Baptists for its individual, personal relation with Jesus Christ. On the other hand, it is the immersion into the local church represented by the Christian’s immersion in the water. These two pillars of Baptist ecclesiology are grounded in the following two confessions: Jesus Christ is the Lord and the covenant of walking together. Indeed the covenant of Jesus Christ the Lord to the Christian requires him/her to walk with the other Christian. This kind of ecclesiology helps the Baptists to face the crisis of theological uniqueness and the crisis of Christian atomic individualism in the modern secular world.
Baptist Local Church Polity: Responsibility under the Lordship of Christ
Jerry E. JUERGENS
Baptist local church polity is the form of governing whereby each local church is governed by members of the congregation alone. These members are the final human authorities in the church on matters of faith and practice. Baptists trace their foundation for this polity to the pattern of church governance described in the New Testament. This New Testament pattern of church governance is held to be normative for Baptist churches today. A survey of Baptist history from the seventeenth century (the period of Baptist beginnings) to the present time shows that Baptists have always practiced and advocated congregational polity. This Baptist tradition of local church congregational governance may be traced in historical documents such as adopted church, associational, and convention confessions of faith. Other historical sources presenting this Baptist distinctiveness are church manuals, individual books and articles in Baptist history that almost always name congregational polity as the Baptist way. Four current challenges to traditional Baptist congregational polity have arisen from different Baptist groups. One outgrowth of the powerful conservative resurgence among Southern Baptists is the movement downplaying the importance of the individual church member in favor of the authority of community. A second criticism of congregational polity arises from a movement known as the Re-envisioning of Baptist faith and life. In their document, “The Baptist Manifesto,” they suggest an alternative way to govern the church for Baptists. Third, Baptist megachurches are too large to provide for all members to participate in church decisions, thus an alternative to traditional congregational polity must be found. Finally, the increased role of Baptist elders in decision making and as authority figures who bypass congregational authority have increasingly been adopted in some churches. This Baptist generation is searching for a congregational polity that is responsible to the Lord Jesus Christ through individual freedom and community cooperation in Baptist church faith and practice.
Baptist Practice of Church-State Relations: A Historical and Theological Reflection of Religious Liberty and Church-State Separation
Vincent C. P. LAU
Religious liberty and church-state separation have been regarded as two closely interwoven distinguishing features of Baptist faith. In fact, they always appear simultaneously in the related writings and seem to be interchangeable sometimes. What are the definitions and relationships of these two concepts? The aim of this essay is to observe the historical role and theological meanings of Baptists’ history of struggling for religious liberty and church-state separation. Firstly, the origins and definitions of religious liberty and church-state separation are scrutinised. Secondly, a Baptist theology of church-state relations is introduced. Finally, the issues of church-state relations and social participation of Hong Kong Baptist churches today are examined.
The Independence and Interdependence of Local Churches: Baptist Concept and Practice of Church Relationship
Nathan K. NG
This article seeks to explore the Baptist concept and practice of church relationship. For Baptists, “Christ is the Lord” is always the core belief. All church practices are designed for it. Baptists emphasize the independence of local churches in order to prevent any external authority, political or denominational, from interfering Christian communities regarding the way of following and obeying the will of Christ. Baptists suggest the interdependence of local churches in order that Christ’s people may be organized to cooperate for the extension of the Lord’s Kingdom. Associations or conventions are never the true authority in Baptist churches. They are just means to discern, to promote and to achieve the mission of God. The actual Lord is always our Jesus Christ.
Transformation and Controversy of the Formation of Baptist Missionary rganizations: A Model of Baptists’ Upholding of Voluntary Principle
Chun-wah KWONG
Baptists emerged from the English Protestant Reformation in the early seventeenth century. They were associated with the Puritan Separatists who came to believe that the Church of England was a false church and that true Christians should separate themselves from it. Because of their emphasis on religious liberty and voluntary principle, Baptists resisted any interference from the government or from established national churches. Even when they willingly united for missionary ministry, they obstinately upheld the autonomy of local churches and voluntary membership. In the early nineteenth century, when the southern Baptists in America proposed an overarching convention model for the Baptist national organization for missionary ministry, a controversy broke out.
Baptist historians like H. Leon McBeth and Robert G. Torbet put the emphasis on the autonomy of local churches in their study of this controversy. The author of this paper, on the other hand, argues that the autonomy of local churches is a part of Baptist polity based on theological convictions. Voluntary principle is one of the essential elements of these convictions. Therefore, any discussion of the controversy must take this principle into consideration. This paper reviews the history of Baptists’ formation of national organizations for missionary ministry in England and America, with an emphasis on how voluntary principle, as one of the significant considerations, brought about a struggle in the process of their formation. The strengths and weaknesses of different organizational models for missionary ministry will also be discussed.
A Critical Assessment of Wayne Grudem’s Politics—According to the Bible
Sam TSANG
Wayne Grudem has been a revered figure in the West for his contribution to systematic theology. This article examines his hermeneutics especially because his book is related directly to political issues of the day. As children of the Western missionary movement, Hong Kong Christians also need to rethink how the evangelical West has often read its own colonial ideology into the Bible and call it the biblical solution to political issues.
The View of Pastors’ Identity and Responsibilities by Eugene H. Peterson
Romeo CHEUNG
This article aims to introduce Pastor Peterson’s view of pastors’ identity and responsibilities. Peterson is a well known pastor, especially among Chinese Christians. He has written over thirty books. In this article, I select the books which are related to pastors’ identity and responsibilities, and try to sort out his views on these issues . In the last part the of article, I reflect on Hong Kong pastors’ identity and responsibilities from his points of view. I believe Pastor Peterson’s insights can help us, as pastors, to reorientate ourselves and help us discover the true meaning of a pastor
