Just read Alex's History with Stephen Tong

It's from Facebook. I'll keep a copy.

By Alex Tseng (on FB):

我曾經是個唐迷,19歲開始擔任唐崇榮牧師在溫哥華專屬的司琴及司機,也是受他的影響而開始學習改革宗神學。近年來我與唐牧師許多糾葛,在華人教會內帶來的餘波,遠比我想像的要大。昨天與一位亦師亦友的長輩通話,他勸我要專心走神給我的路,不要再陷入過去這些糾葛當中。這段對話對我非常重要。在放下過去的同時,我認為自己應該對「唐迷」這現象作個交代。

所謂「唐迷」,不光是尊敬、肯定唐牧師的貢獻,更會把他當成明星追捧。就像天王歌手的死忠歌迷會蒐集他的每張唱片、成天在網路上看他的視頻、家裡貼滿他的海報,許多唐迷也是這樣追捧唐牧師。只要有人批評唐牧師半句話,唐迷就會出來為唐牧師辯護。他們甚至聽了唐牧師所有的錄音、讀了他所有的書,整理出各種網路版本的「唐崇榮牧師經典語錄」。

我當年固然沒有到彙整「唐牧師語錄」的程度,但也是個不折不扣的唐迷,甚至一度在房間裡貼他佈道會的海報。與大部份唐迷不同的是,我從19歲就有幸與唐牧師近距離接觸。連續幾年,每次他來溫哥華,我與他除了睡覺時分開,幾乎是形影不離,且無話不談。雖然我不會像許多唐迷一樣,跟批評唐牧師的人吵架,但我會替唐牧師解釋,也會覺得這些人是因為不理解唐牧師,才批評。甚至我心裡會想:「有一天你們會明白的。」

對唐牧師的崇拜,使我在讀神學院前很長一段時間,在神學上的努力都以得到他的認可為目標。我也真有幸得到他的賞識,甚至一度幾乎得到他的重用,卻因錯綜複雜的緣故而沒有參與他的事工,這部份我就不多講了。總之,「愛得愈深,傷得愈深」這句俗話,似乎很能解釋唐牧師至今不願見我的情緒,以及我時不時失控而在網路上批評他的現象。

在放下這些過往的同時,我想提出一些我的觀察。在此我不提出個人的評論,也不是要批評唐牧師,而是放下所有的糾葛,持平地描述我個人自19歲以來,在「歸正福音運動」的圈子裡打滾所觀察、所經歷的一些現象--當然我的觀察也不一定完整而全然正確。在這裡提出我的經歷與觀察,算是對跟我有類似「唐迷經歷」的人(不論是正在經歷或已經走出來)的一個交代,也供華人改革宗圈子裡的人反思。

如上所述,我曾經是唐迷,也認識很多唐迷。我過去所認識的大部份唐迷,現在都已經走出那個階段了。這些人包括十多年前跟我一起參加歸正學院的唐迷們--我還記得當時我們如何被唐牧師在辛勞的事奉中展現出的所謂「歸正精神」感動到流淚啜泣。然而,我們後來學習改革宗神學,愈來愈發現他的 "squeezism" 並不符合神在聖經中顯明的旨意,也看見其實他的思想與事工在許多最根本的地方與改革宗神學格格不入。

例如,當年我主編《信仰與生活》復刊後的內容時,讀到當年趙中輝牧師當年翻譯的一篇文章,原作者是我後來在神學院的恩師,J. I. Packer。編輯這份刊物時,我還在讀大學,每年都熱心參與、協助唐牧師的佈道會。但當我讀到這篇文章時,我才明白,唐牧師那句名言「神學要歸正,傳福音要亞米紐」,其實是錯誤的割裂。這篇文章題為「清教徒的佈道觀」(http://www.crca.com.cn/show.aspx?id=1400&cid=5)[working link] [Chinese Summary],指出唐牧師那種大型佈道會背後的神學其實是亞米紐主義(關於這點,其實唐牧師自己都承認),而改革宗其實並非如唐牧師所言,不愛傳福音、傳福音沒果效。其實改革宗特有的佈道法,是更有長遠果效的。那篇文章幫助了許多唐牧師領入門的改革宗學子看見他的神學與佈道並非我們過去想的那麼偉大。儘管不會再「迷」唐牧師,我們仍肯定他的貢獻。

然而,雖然許多從前的唐迷不再迷唐,但唐牧師特有的那種領袖魅力仍會一直吸引新的唐迷。就我觀察(這是我這篇分享的重點),早期的唐迷以及加入唐牧師事工的人,多為社會菁英、知識份子,但愈到晚期,「唐迷」這族群有愈來愈反菁英、反智的傾向。

早期唐牧師所吸引的青年,大部份是社會菁英(其實唐牧師「精益求精」的精神,很容易在大型運動中變質為菁英主義,而這是中生代歸正福音運動以及我這一代非常警惕的:我並不認為高舉所謂『菁英』的意識形態,合乎改革宗對聖經的領受),而早期加入佈道團的同工,更是菁英中的菁英,例如陳佐人博士、李健安博士、樓建華博士、楊達明長老、陳孝鋁弟兄、梁旭輝弟兄、比較後來加入的宋文勝教授等。這些菁英,有些至今仍在佈道團,有些已經離開。

重點是,就連現在仍在佈道團的這些早期華人同工,其實都不是所謂的「唐迷」。他們在理智、良心、對聖經的見解上都有很清楚的個人領受,不會盲目追捧唐牧師。當然,唐牧師在印尼的歸正福音教會當中,也有一群老臣,他們的情況比較複雜。不論如何,單就華人界而言,唐牧師早期吸引的年輕人,的確大部份是有識之士。

反觀近幾年,唐牧師在華人界所吸引的,愈來愈多是在社會上比較找不到成就感的年輕人(能夠深入草根群眾,本身當然是好的);當然也有一些是比較優秀的,但愈來愈少。與他們接觸後,我發現他們會因自己有份於「歸正福音運動」而自豪,感覺自己雖不是世界的菁英,卻是神國的菁英。事實上,「歸正福音運動」的確為參與者帶來一種「神國菁英」的自豪感。我比較不清楚唐牧師在印尼的教會是否也有類似情況(他在雅加達的教會的確有很多年輕的社會菁英,但印尼語世界與華人界的處境不同),至少在華人界,我近年所認識的唐迷及佈道團後進同工,的確有愈來愈盲目追捧唐牧師的反智傾向。

唐牧師的神學事工,也有類似的現象。

從早期開始,許多唐迷受到唐牧師的呼召而去讀神學,至今亦然。我自己在其中。然而,現在受唐牧師影響而去讀神學的唐迷們,似乎愈來愈高舉一種反智的意識形態。

在過去,唐迷當中決定從事牧職或神學工作的,很多都去讀西敏神學院,也有的去讀美國的改革宗神學院,或者一般的福音派學院,達拉斯、維真都有。這些都是世界頂尖的神學院,讀起來很辛苦,而且早年這些神學生的經濟條件,普遍不如今日。

我們這一批,以及比我稍年長的一批,剛進神學院時或許還是唐迷,但神學院讀出來後就不再迷唐了。儘管我們仍然會尊敬他,但不會再追捧他。不論如何,我們都是受他影響而決定研究改革宗神學,並且帶著破釜沉舟的決心報考頂尖的神學院。雖然我家境可謂寬裕,但我是全職在教會擔任教牧(包括每週講道)、領兼職的薪水,又教鋼琴,並領恩福基金會的獎學金作為生活費,又靠不定期的奉獻,才得以給付維真學院昂貴的學費。

再更早一批人,與唐牧師的年紀只相差一代,甚至不到半代。嚴格來說,他們從來都不是「唐迷」,而一直就只是很尊敬唐牧師、肯定他的事工,因而願意追隨他的人。他們真的是華人改革宗神學發展最關鍵的一批人。

那一代人與唐牧師的互動更深,也成為唐牧師數十年神學事工的中流砥柱。他們主要都是華人,包括李健安牧師、陳佐人牧師,以及與唐牧師較為若即若離的林慈信牧師。他們雖然最終都堅持走自己的路,但也一直與唐牧師保持同工關係。

在印尼方面,唐牧師的神學事工發展得比較慢,但後來也培養出一些人才,例如Benjamin Intan、Billy Christanto [Kristanto],以及唐牧師的兒子文廉。較之前面提到的華人同工,這些印尼神學工作者對唐牧師更加忠心耿耿,遵循唐牧師為他們所安排的路,而不開闢自己的路線。但他們也是敢批評唐牧師的有識之士,並不是盲目追捧唐牧師的粉絲。

反觀現在,唐牧師身邊那些去讀神學院的華人同工,以及受唐牧師影響的年輕人,很少有足夠恩賜及決心,去頂尖的神學院接受精良的訓練,也很少明白唐牧師的思想與改革宗的出入何在。現在,年輕唐迷神學生們已經不再匯聚於西敏等校,而更多是選擇去讀一些訓練並不非常扎實的神學院。他們畢業於這些不算精良的神學院後,卻經常以神國菁英自居,其菁英心態較之早年那些畢業於頂尖學府的神學工作者經常遠有過之,並非因他們自身的恩賜或影響,而是因他們認為自己作了正確的選擇--追隨唐牧師。也因此,只要不與唐牧師合作的,他們都看不上眼;膽敢反對唐牧師的,他們會貼上各樣的屬靈標籤。

印尼方面,唐牧師的神學院雖然跟西敏以及阿姆斯特丹自由大學建立了合作關係,但我聽說反而很久都沒有像Billy Christanto或唐文廉這樣的人才出現了。

反而有一位極其優秀的年輕神學人,生長於雅加達,是位印尼華裔,從來就沒有加入過唐牧師的教會。他在美國讀了大學,西敏神學院畢業,現為愛丁堡大學博士候選人。此人二十多歲,已經發表了多篇重量級國際期刊的專文,恐怕連華語及韓語神學界都少有跟他一般優秀的神學人。此人知悉唐牧師的事工,但他並無意願參與歸正福音運動,儘管他跟唐牧師許多同工都建立了不錯的關係。

簡言之,不論在華語界或印尼語界,早年唐牧師身邊吸引了較多的優秀神學工作者,而唐牧師早年也影響許多人才帶著破釜沈舟的決心去讀頂尖的神學院。反觀近年,年輕優秀的神學工作者愈來愈少願意參與唐牧師的神學事工。現在讀完神學去跟隨唐牧師的年輕人,許多並沒有學會唐牧師所提倡的 "thinking theologically",而單單是帶著擁護唐牧師的一種強烈敵我意識當作思想框架。

唐牧師身邊那些資深又優秀的同工,不會因我跟唐牧師的糾葛而否定我。他們都跟我維持很好的關係。然而,年輕的同工當中,可能只有一位到今天仍把我當成朋友,並且經常舉薦我的。從這點我們就可以看出,早期歸正福音運動的成員與後進的成員,有非常大的反差。

以上是我作為「前唐迷」,對「歷代唐迷」的觀察。簡言之,早期的唐迷多為社會及神學界的菁英,甚至許多追隨唐牧師的有識之士都不能算為「唐迷」;但近年來,「唐迷」這族群有愈來愈嚴重的反菁英、反智傾向。至於其中原因,我就不進行分析或評論。這些原因是多元而複雜的,可能跟唐牧師外在個人風格上的轉變有關,也可能跟社會文化的轉變有關。我僅將我從個人經歷出發所觀察到的現象提出,算是對各位作個交代,也供各位反思。

Posted in Reflection, Theologization | 1 Comment

Vocab: 挾洋自重 (成语)

Learned a new Chinese idiom from FB.

挾洋自重

Using foreigners to advance oneself.

Stephen Chan links this idiom to "崇洋".

I believe this idiom is a derogatory description. Those who argue otherwise is simply in denial.

My theory is: 挾洋自重的人是因为没人看出他们是挾洋自重,不然一定不会挾洋自重。

Posted in Vocabularies | Leave a comment

Health: Advice against Blowing Ear sometimes when Clogged

A friend (Li Zhi) brought attention to me about this during a subway ride. I've just looked into it.

Blowing ears by holding the nose may help alleviate ear clog when changing altitudes/air pressures, but it is not a good idea to do that for the following reasons:

  1. Causes infection from the throat to enter ears. (Some site suggested that it is ok to do this unless when the throat has infection/sick)
  2. Causes damage to the ear drums if blown too hard.

The suggested solutions are just yawning or swallowing.

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Make Binary Trees with Latex

Very easy.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Replacement

After switching carrier from AT&T to MetroPCS, ($220/mo vs. $107/mo), my Note 3 is finally malfunctioning. The SD card slot appears to have been messed up (I suspect it's the people at the MetroPCS's doing, when they tried to take out my sim card). Anyway, this phone has survived plenty, from seawater to other stuff. It's about time. This old phone cannot charge well (charging works with usb connection to PC but not with direct socket charge - phone would just jerk every 3 seconds or so). MiniSD Card content was hard to be read by phone, not to mention the PC could not detect the phone's content well.

So I ordered $240 Verizon replacement from Amazon. No good, coz it cannot root. The charging slot could be damaged as well (sudden reboots). I sent it back for full refund.

Then I got from ebay a $200 AT&T  white replacement. It came with Lollipop Android 5.0 version. So, in order to root it, I downgraded it to 4.4.2 (custom). Then rooted using Towelroot.

Unlocked phones are easy to be found. Rooted phones are not encouraged by sellers as they tend to void warranty.

Took a while to transfer data from old phone to new one. Using Smart Switch and the rest I had to manually update (Bible Study, Kindle, Email accounts, etc.)

I accidentally deleted Calendar Storage (which is required for any good calendar app) when I wish to replace the stock Calendar with google calendar. Had to copy the missing two files from my old phone (which is the exact same build: N900AUCUCNC2). (SecCalendarProvider.apk & .odex). Contrary to popular believe, these files are not located in system/app, but in system/priv-app. There is a reason we are told to copy these files to ext. card first, because for some reason, copying operation will fail if the files are copied to system folder from anywhere else. No installation necessary. It works right away (or maybe after a reboot).

It turns out I must have accidentally deleted Samsung Galaxy app. Thinking it was a bloatware. This somehow caused Samsung keep asking me to login to Facebook and fail. Installing the app solves it.

The other file I might have deleted by mistake affected the auto screen rotate feature. I definitely do not want Samsung Hub. But for some reason, it contains the required file for auto rotate. Simply place the file (libgnustl_shared.so) into system/lib and make permission rw-r--r--. Similar problem with stock email failing when opened from notification, restored My Magazine (3 files) to solve it.

Also, with the replacement, I was experiencing some new problem. The USB connection to the PC didn't work. It was odd, because in some handicapped way, my old Note 3 works with such USB connection, only that it doesn't always connect to PC right away (I have to reconnect it many times for it to work, the main suspect is the mini sdcard slot in the phone, which was the reason I am having a phone replacement). Then, after a long attempt to fix it (Install Samsung Kies, other USB drivers, etc.), the real solution that works: Replace the USB cable. For some reason, the USB cable stopped working with data connection, though it still charges the phone well. Perhaps the corrupted old phone had caused this.

And now my phone is flawless, for now.

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"Great people, but I still have to leave..."

A few days ago, I received a email blast from one of Redeemer's staff who is leaving the ministry. An excerpt of her message below. The point is, I've seen too much of these "great congregation, but I prayed and God is calling me to move on to something new". No wonder many people find Christians these days contradicting themselves all the time.

I am so grateful for your participation in our West Side congregation and all that God is doing in and through you. And I’m hopeful for all that God has in store for the future of the West Side. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I am writing to share with you the news that I’ve made the decision to move on from my role with the West Side team. After some months of prayer and discernment, it has become clear that God is bringing this season to a close for me. While I believe he’s inviting me to move towards something new, the next steps are still being made known. ~ Pamela

Posted in Reflection, Theologization | Leave a comment

American Mission Fundraising Campaign Update

After getting floods of mails recently from the Voice of the Martyrs, Prison Ministry (Angel Tree), etc., I grow sick to my stomach. I mailed these fundraisers back through the included reply mail envelope (especially when postage is not necessary) with the sentence "please take me off your mailing list".

Now the Christian "charity" organizations in the West love their idea of fundraising. I bet they even have a university degree just for this sort of thing. The reason I'm sick of this is because the thought that the secular charities probably have more integrity in their missions.

Christians do not do fundraising, period. It is not biblical. The illusion that St. Paul endorsed fundraising is a common scapegoat for fundraisers because they do not investigate further what Paul was doing.

I was convinced after looking up one of such charity (The Voice of the Martyrs) on a charity monitoring site called "charitynavitagor.org". The keyword I googled was "Voice of the Martyrs scam".

A careful read (historical ratings) shows me that over the years, VOM is spending less and less (from 91% in 2002 to 65% in 2015) on their mission and more and more in fundraising (from 2.5% to 23%), who gets the money? no doubt their staffs. We are talking about $41 millions annual revenue as of 2015.

This is not about whether they are greedy or not. This is about how they make it an organization that runs on fundraising. St. Paul's income came not from fundraising, I am sure of it.

This is not to say that these charities are worthless. They have their use, by God. But that's all about it. My criticism against them stands only against them and not God.

They ought to focus more on real personal fellowships in their ministries, rather than the profits gain via fundraising campaigns.

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List of New Tech Skills Worth Pursuing

Based on the online recruiter specs, I am compiling here a list of IT skills I would at least look up. Skills that have high frequency of mentions are preferable:

  1. PostgreSQL
  2. Ember/Angular
  3. configuration management (Chef, Puppet, Ansible,etc.)
Posted in Projects, Technical | Leave a comment

Common Attributes of Secular Atheists

There's one I noticed: They read too fast.

Thus, bypassing a lot of important points, making false conclusions. Yet, they are convinced of their standard by reading much and fast.

Posted in Theologization | Leave a comment

Security vs. Sharing

The funniest kind of security is the kind that which it's protecting is of no interest to anyone, or better, garbage to anyone.

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