Hill Road Journal

編者的話

Andres Tang

　　自從新冠肺炎疫情肆虐，整個世界就迅速進入網上生活。人們在網上購物、娛樂、工作、上課，甚至參與教會聚會，於是出現了「虛擬教會」、「虛擬崇拜」等現象，其中極具爭議的是「虛擬主餐 / 聖餐」，這是可以料想的。今期《山道期刊》以「虛擬禮儀」為主題，邀請了不同宗派的學者參與討論，包括信義宗、聖公會、浸信會、五旬宗等，希望可以為這課題作出一些基本的梳理，供日後進一步探討。主題文章共五篇，有〈線上聚會中的教會禮儀：教會論與聖禮神學觀點重訪〉、〈傳統 vs. 現代——禮拜更新的挑戰〉、〈探索「虛擬聖禮」概念：聖公會對虛擬聖禮的討論〉、〈網上恪守主餐的可行性──一個浸信會的神學思路〉、〈徘徊在虛實之間：五旬宗對「虛擬禮儀」的回應〉。以下逐一介紹。

　　葉沛森的〈線上聚會中的教會禮儀〉不囿於一隅，追尋新教不同宗派──甚至羅馬公教──對網上聚會的看法及做法。作者指出，雖然過去電台和電視的佈道、聚會並沒有引起激烈的爭議，但是禮儀涉及信仰的本質，不得不對網上禮儀倍加謹慎。事實上，網上禮儀涉及好幾個層面，包括：在禮儀中的參與、教牧施行的必要性、線上禮儀的有效性、線上禮儀是否等於現場實體的禮儀等等；這連串課題須要釐清。葉沛森的勾畫揭示了我們討論網上禮儀時不能忽略的面向。羅永光則以〈傳統 vs. 現代〉為題，指出禮儀更新並非新事，反之乃是基督教會時常要面對的挑戰。不過，今日教會面對的，乃是前所未有的世界：「虛擬世界」。那麼，教會崇拜──特別是禮儀──可以是虛擬的嗎？羅永光除了分析及整合當前各方的論據，還特別指出馬丁路德的崇拜改革，是一個很重要的參考點，並因而不同意把崇拜去物質化，變成極端的「虛擬」崇拜。

　　李富豪在〈探索「虛擬聖禮」概念〉一文指出聖公會從「施恩器具」的觀點來理解聖禮，特別是聖餐和洗禮。洗禮中的水和聖餐中的餅及酒，雖然是外在記號，但在牧師祝謝之後，參加者領受的就分別是赦罪之恩和基督的身體及寶血了。《公禱書》要求牧師施行聖餐時以其肉身之手封餅及酒作出「拿起」、「祝謝」、「擘開」、「遞給」的動作，但「虛擬聖禮」是否能夠跟《公禱書》一致呢？劉振鵬則站在浸信會立場上討論問題。〈網上恪守主餐的可行性〉從記念耶穌這一踐行出發，論證在神學上是容許網上恪守主餐。他討論了可以怎樣從聖經及神學思考網上崇拜，並且分析浸信會對主餐的神學立場，以及浸信會群體在網上恪守主餐的可行性。最後李天鈞的〈徘徊在虛實之間〉，從五旬宗的角度回應「虛擬禮儀」的問題。這篇文章首先介紹五旬宗怎樣理解「虛擬禮儀」中的「虛擬聖餐」，然後探討當代五旬宗對聖禮及禮儀的看法，當中尤其強調聖靈的工作。最後，五旬宗對「虛擬禮儀」的看法可以引申發展，有助建立其數碼神學。

　　本期又收錄了一篇討論文章，從聖經和兩約之間的文獻探索彌賽亞的真正意思，還有四篇書評，涉及聖經和神學的範疇。讀者可依目錄按圖索驥，擴闊自身對信仰的了解。

Liturgy in Online Gatherings: Revisiting Perspectives from Sacramental Theology and Ecclesiology

IP Pui Shum

In response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, churches have employed information technology to conduct religious activities online, including prayer meetings, group fellowship, worship services, and even the administration of sacraments. Drawing from recent literature and insights from authors with diverse denominational backgrounds and from the Roman Catholic circle, this article revisits concepts and practices related to liturgy in online gatherings. While the transmission of worship services or Masses through radio and television broadcasts is not novel and has not caused significant controversy in the past, the unique characteristics of online gatherings gatherings have directly influenced the manner liturgy is performed and participated in. Given that liturgy encapsulates to some extent the essence of faith, the liturgical adjustments induced by online gatherings necessitate cautious consideration. The article explores various aspects, including the phenomenology of participation in the liturgy, the proper discharge of pastoral duties, the validity of “online sacraments,” the equivalence of “online sacraments” to their traditional counterparts, and the mutual shaping of liturgical practices and among participants.

Traditional vs. Modern: Challenges to the Renewal of Worship

Pilgrim WK LO

"Traditional worship is no longer appropriate; reform and renewal are a matter of course." This seems to be a common challenge faced by Christian churches. Liturgical renewal is not a new topic. However, what we are facing today is a world that no one has ever imagined—a “virtual world.” Can or should church services be held virtually? The author approaches this issue with an open attitude. In addition to synthesizing and analyzing the current discussions on this topic, the author believes that Martin Luther's worship reform is of great reference value and does not agree with “dematerialized” worship, that is, “polarized” virtual worship.

Exploring the Concept of Virtual Sacrament: An Anglican View

LEE Fu Ho William

This paper explores the feasibility of “virtual sacraments” according to the Anglican understanding of sacraments, particularly in the context of the Eucharist and baptism, by examining the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion. Anglican theology views sacraments as means of grace with active participation of the Holy Spirit. For instance, concerning baptism, the Thirty-Nine Articles state that people properly baptized become part of the church and receive forgiveness of sins. Water, the external symbol of baptism, is administered by a priest (the celebrant) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, accompanied by prayers of thanksgiving. Water holds sacred significance in baptism, serving as the primary medium for cleansing of sins. In the Eucharist, though the bread and wine remain unchanged materially, through the Real Presence of the Holy Spirit, the recipients (the people) actually partake in Christ's body and blood. The Book of Common Prayer seems to require the celebrant priest to physically “take,” “bless,” “break,” and “give” the body and blood of Christ to the congregation. Does the practice of “virtual sacraments” align with Anglican theology, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Thirty-Nine Articles? Should “virtual sacraments” be considered valid alternatives during times of crisis, such as a pandemic? This paper aims to explore and discuss these questions.

The Feasibility of Online Lord's Supper: A Baptist Theological Thread

Vincent CP LAU

The outbreak of novel coronavirus in 2019 has turned into a pandemic. Governments all over the world took various measures to prevent the spread of the virus which had far-reaching effects on all aspects of human life, inevitably including religious life and activities. In February 2022, in response to the severity of the pandemic, the Hong Kong government ordered all churches to be closed for two weeks, and access to churches was banned. Due to the prohibition, all kinds of church meetings, including Sunday worship service and fellowship, were forced to cease. In order not to give up their Sunday worship services and meetings, churches in Hong Kong continued to live stream their Sunday worship services and held online fellowship through video conferencing.

According to Baptist tradition and practice, the Lord's Supper is usually held during Sunday worship service. The Baptist theology of the Lord's Supper is a theology of remembrance or memorialism, so theologically it should be possible for Baptists to practice an online Lord's Supper. remembrance without bread and wine. The discrepant practice of the Lord's Supper among Baptists might be derived from the ambiguity of the concept of online worship service and their unfamiliarity with the proper understanding of Baptist theology of the Lord's Supper.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility of online Lord's Supper in Baptist churches from a Baptist theological perspective. The conclusion is that it is biblically and theologically acceptable for Baptists to observe online Lord's Supper in Sunday worship service amid pandemic as a legitimate resolution to the dilemma. The paper consists of three parts: first, an exposition of the biblical and theological considerations of online worship; second, an analysis of the Baptist theological position on the Lord's Supper; and finally, a discussion of the feasibility of conducting the Lord's Supper online in the Baptist community.

Hovering between Virtuality and Reality: A Response to Virtual Litugy from Pentecostal Perspectives

LEI Tin Kwan

This article focuses on responding to the discussion of “virtual liturgy” in online worship services from Pentecostal perspectives. First, it begins with the most frequently debated topic of “virtual communion” in the virtual liturgy, and shows how Pentecostal view of the Eucharist influences their stance on “virtual communion” and even “virtual sacrament.” This is followed by a survey of the turn of sacramentality and liturgy within the current Pentecostal theological studies, and the examination of whether there will also be a turn in the position of “virtual liturgy” within this development. Furthermore, with the studies on the experience and work of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament and throughout the worship, particularly from the understandings of mediation and embodiment, it shows that the work of the Holy Spirit is hovering between virtuality and reality, and this aspect is a unique insight in the Pentecostal view of the sacrament and liturgy. Finally, the Pentecostal view on “virtual liturgy” can lead to more attention and responses to the development of the virtual and technological world in both theory and practice, including embracing and constructing the theory of digital theology, as well as promoting more active and positive feedback on the practice of “virtual liturgy.”

From the Hebrew Bible to the New Testament: Reflecting on the True Meaning of Messiah

WONG Tin Sheung

Many people understand the Messiah mostly from the perspective of the New Testament. As a result, they often regard the Old Testament passages as typology of Jesus Christ. There are two problems with this approach: first, it ignores the contexts of the Old Testament passages; second, they understand the passages solely from the perspective of the New Testament while ignoring the theological development in the intertestamental period.

The purpose of this article is to investigate, with the perspective of the Hebrew Bible as the starting point, the development of different messianic concepts during the Second Temple period, and thereby identify those messianic concepts which were prevalent at the time of the New Testament and were revealed in Jesus Christ. The Messiah as shown by Jesus Christ becomes believers' basis of hope in any situation.