Being the Lord’s Disciple in Everyday Life

Ho Man-chiu and Dr. Andres Tang

　　In a trice, I finished the two-year program of Master in Christian Studies. In a trice, I have to leave the Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary (HKBTS).

Began School with a “Problem Awareness”

　　I can still remember one of the reasons that I decided to enroll this course was due to my participation in a theological thinking workshop held by Prof. Andres Tang in the “Theonous” Bible Conference. It was in 2016. Prof. Tang led the participants to reflect on what theology is required in the current social and political context of Hong Kong. He commented that churches in Hong Kong are unable to respond to the present social situation because we have not made a serious effort to think about those issues. The Church’s inability to make a response is indeed a consequence of reaping what she sowed in the past. However, it is better than nothing if we are aware of the problem now and begin to think. Thus I began school at HKBTS with this “problem awareness”; hopefully I would be able to think about those related questions for the Church with those who share the same concern.

Start with the Basics

　　In fact, these are not easy questions to sort out. Moreover, the theological studies in these two years were quite hectic that I did not have much time to reflect and ponder on those issues. Yet, I know that “equipping myself with the basics” is really important. Also, every practice of faith in the Church and among believers should be examined and restrained by theology. For this reason, although I seemed not to counter “directly” the above-mentioned problems of Hong Kong churches in the past two years, I still believe this two-year learning is immensely significant.

Communion with the Saints

　　First, I deeply realized the comprehensiveness and profoundness of theology and how it touches people. Having learned about how various theologians organized the gospel revealed by the Triune God in Jesus Christ, and expressed their results in theological statements, I am deeply touched. It is because these are the fruits of the theological reasoning of believers in history when they chased and engaged in the works of the Triune God in this realm. Also, these efforts are ultimately for witnessing and adoring God: God has never abandoned this world of suffering; He still works and delivers salvation in this world; and the Reality of God is revealed to us here and now through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whenever I think of myself actually joining all the saints in history, thinking collectively about how the Church can faithfully participate in the salvation work of the Triune God in, to and for the world, I know this is a tremendous blessing and this moves me profoundly.

“Doing Great Things” and “Everyday Life”

　　Moreover, in these two years, I realized that I have exaggerated the question “how the Church can respond to the current social and political context of Hong Kong.” I thought that only if we develop a “Hong Kong theology” or a certain kind of “local theology” could we be “responding” to the current situation in Hong Kong. This assumption is probably a symptom of being poisoned by Modernism with a tendency to pursue “greatness.” Such an approach which appears “down-to-earth” could be, however, quite “in the clouds”; because it may possibly neglect or bypass the faith practice of the Church and believers.

　　On the contrary, I become more and more convinced that Christian faith is not about greatness, or the so-called “doing great things”; instead, it could be rather “simple” — being faithful as the Lord’s disciple as we play our roles in everyday life. Of course, I am not saying that Christians should not “do great things”; if God sends you to “do great things,” go ahead. However, most of us are “ordinary people,” and everyday life is the context where we as “ordinary people” fight for our cause. For Christians, this means we can live as the Lord’s faithful disciples in everyday life. The world is full of “doublespeak”; Christians endeavor to talk about truth in daily life; we speak the truth because our God is the Truth. The world is heartless; Christians endeavor to take care of and love those who are not being loved in their daily life, for our God is Love. The world pays back evil with evil; Christians endeavor to accept and forgive one another in our daily life, for our God forgives us first. I believe the Triune God uses every Christian who faithfully tries to be the Lord’s disciple in their everyday life and through them influences the world subtly. This is, in fact, the everyday politics of Christians or being the Lord’s disciples. Maybe it is a more practical and “down-to-earth” approach in response to the current social and political situation in Hong Kong, and the Church has been commissioned to train faithful disciples.

　　In retrospect of these two years of theological training, I earnestly find that what I learned was yet essential basics. I am now searching for direction, and I will leave this to God’s guidance. Finally, thanks to God and HKBTS for granting me a chance to learn theology formally. No matter where I will be, may God help me to be His faithful disciple, glorifying Him and benefiting others!