SLCCC 關於新冠病毒的聲明
鑑於民眾對新 Delta 變種和戴口罩規定的關注增多，SLCCC 的領袖團隊決定在此與會眾分享我們對此事合一的看見。
根據我們對聖經教導的理解及對當前事態的評估，我們認為，教會敬拜時是否應當戴口罩，完全屬於個人良心問題。因此，我們教會既不要求也不禁止戴口罩，我們也不會強烈建議會眾戴或不戴，以免有信徒被引誘去做違背自己良心的事，從而犯罪得罪神。另外，出於對順服神話語的強烈渴望，以及對弟兄姐妹屬靈狀況的真摯關切，我們不會停止實體敬拜聚會。詳細解釋如下：
第一，根據聖經教導，神在世上設立了不同種類的人類權柄，每種權柄都有自己的權限範圍。政府是社會生活的權柄（羅 13:1-7；彼前 2:13-17）；父母/丈夫是家庭生活的權柄（弗 5:22-6:4）；教會領袖是教會生活（包括教義、敬拜、行政等）的權柄 （來 13:17；帖前 5:12）。聖經對教會管理的教導，出現在寫給教會領袖的書信裡（提前、提後、多），而不是寫給社會權柄的信，因為教會生活不屬於後者的權限範圍。因此，順服政府的原則並不適用於教會生活。教會領袖可以選擇採納或不採納政府的建議，但他們無法順服政府，因為他們為教會生活所做的一切決定，從來就不在政府的權柄之下。
第二，我們秉持良心原則，即每位信徒都要按著自己的良心，而不是別人強加的規條，向神和祂的話語負責（羅 14；林前 8；林前 10:23-33）。我們的良心是由知識決定的（林前 8:7），包括對聖經及聖經外事物的知識；而每個人的知識是不同的，所以我們不能論斷或冒犯其他信徒的良心，基督已經為他死了（林前 8:11）。至關重要的是，我們都應有足夠的謙卑，認識到自己的良心可能會被不足或錯誤的知識誤導。然而，即使被誤導，每個信徒仍要按自己的良心向神交賬，要按自己的良心榮耀神（羅 14:5-6, 羅 14:23）。
第三，我們秉持愛心原則，即每位信徒都要按最佳可能相信彼此的動機（林前 13:7），並以自己想被人對待的方式來對待人（太 7:12）。對這個原則的應用就是，當你看到別的弟兄姐妹戴了口罩，你應當相信他/她這麼做是按他/她的良心來榮耀神並與彼此真誠相愛；當你看到別的弟兄姐妹沒戴口罩，你應當相信他/她這麼做是按他/她的良心來榮耀神並與彼此真誠相愛。若不這麼想，就誠然是違反了聖經明確的要求，也就是犯下了必須為之悔改的罪。
最後，但重要性絕不次於前，主明確要求他的教會經常聚會，一起敬拜、團契 （來 10:24-25；林前 11:23-26）。聖經的聚會都是實體的。使徒約翰兩次說他不願多用筆墨，而願當面談論（約二 12；約三 13-14）。保羅也表達了同樣的意願（帖前 2:17; 帖前 3:10）。當然，不是說弟兄姐妹隔著屏幕就完全無法彼此建造，但團契交通的質量難免是會打折扣的，尤其是考慮到聖經對信徒彼此切實相愛和親熱問安的教導（羅 12:10；林前 16:10；弗 5:19；西 3:16；帖前 5:26；彼前 1:22; 彼前 5:14；參約 13:34-35）。因此，我們對實體聚會的立場不會動搖，將持續以提供實體聚會的方式，爭取最大程度地服侍弟兄姐妹的屬靈需要。
最後，弟兄姐妹，請記住，神在掌權。既知道萬物的結局近了，就讓我們屬神的兒女越發彼此切實相愛（彼前 4:7-8）！
SLCCC 領袖團隊 2021 年 8 月 12 日
SLCCC Covid Statement
In light of increasing concerns over the new Delta variant and the mask requirement, the leadership of SLCCC would like to share our unanimous agreement on related issues with you in this written form.
To the best of our scriptural understanding and assessment of the current state, we believe that mask wearing in church worship services should be viewed entirely as a personal conscience issue. Therefore, our church will neither enforce nor prohibit it; nor will we make strong recommendations for it or against it, lest individuals be enticed to sin against God by acting against their own conscience. In addition, out of our earnest desire to obey God’s Word and genuine care for the spiritual welfare of one another, we will not stop offering in-person worship services. Detailed explanations are as follows:
First, the Bible teaches that God has instituted various types of human authority, each with their own spheres of authority. Government is the authority of civil life (Rom 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:13-17); parents/husbands are the authority of family life (Eph 5:22-6:4); and church leaders are the authority of church life (i.e., church doctrine, worship, and policy) (Heb 13:17; 1 Th 5:12). Biblical instructions on how church should be governed are found in letters written to church leaders (1 Tim; 2 Tim; Tit), not to civil authority, because church life is not within their sphere of authority. Therefore, submission to government does not apply to church gathering. Church leaders may or may not adopt the government’s recommendations, but they are never in submission because they are not under government’s authority to begin with when making decisions for church life.
Second, we affirm the conscience principle that each believer is bound in their own conscience only to God and to His Word, not to the impositions of men (Rom 14; 1 Cor 8; 1 Cor 10:23-33). Our conscience is shaped by what we know (1 Cor 8:7) both biblically and extra-biblically and we do not share the same knowledge, so no one should judge or violate the conscience of a fellow believer for whom Christ died (1 Cor 8:11). It is crucial that we must have the humility to acknowledge our conscience can be misinformed by insufficient or false knowledge. Even when misinformed, however, each believer is still accountable before God for how they have honored God with their own conscience (Rom 14:5-6, 23).
Third, we affirm the love principle that each believer is to assume the best of another’s motive (1 Cor 13:7) and to treat others the way we would want to be treated (Matt 7:12). That means, practically, that if you see a brother/sister wearing a mask, you should assume he/she is doing so to honor God with his/her conscience and out of his/her genuine love for one another; and if you see a brother/sister not wearing a mask, you should assume he/she is doing so to honor God with his/her conscience and out of his/her genuine love for one another. Failure to do so would indeed be a violation of clear biblical commands and a sin from which one must repent.
Last but certainly not least, the church is commanded explicitly by her Lord to gather regularly for worship and fellowship (Heb 10:24-25; 1 Cor 11:23-26). The only type of gathering in the Bible is in-person. Twice, the apostle John expressed his desire to “speak face to face” rather than to write everything in letter (2 Jn 12; 3 Jn 13-14). Paul also had the same desire (1 Th 2:17; 3:10). Not to deny that some edification can take place across the screen, it is nevertheless easy to see how the quality of our fellowship can be hindered, especially in light of the biblical teaching that we are to show warm brotherly affection in our greeting and loving one another (Rom 12:10; 1 Cor 16:20; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16; 1 Th 5:26; 1 Pet 1:22; 1 Pet 5:14; cf. Jn 13:34-35). Therefore, it is our unwavering conviction that we must strive to serve the spiritual welfare of our brothers and sisters by continuing to offer in-person services.
Finally, brethren, remember that God is in control. Let us press on in fervent love for one another, knowing that the end is near (1 Pet 4:7-8).
Leadership of SLCCC Aug 12, 2021