2019年复活节受洗见证

1. 崔霖

大家平安，我是崔霖，大家一般都叫我Lin。感谢主，让我今天能够受洗，并站在这里来做一个见证，也感谢大家见证我的受洗。

我是在2014年的夏天去了加拿大的Hamilton读一年的高中。其实我在2014年来到加拿大之前从未接触过教会，但是感谢主的安排，在我来到加拿大的第一天，去学校参观的时候，认识了我们的一个负责Volunteer的老师。感谢主在我们一家寻找落脚之处的时候让Melissa老师出现在我们面前。因为Melissa老师家里还有空余的房间，我们顺理成章地住进了Melissa老师的家里。Melissa老师是一位很有信心的基督徒，所以在她多次邀请我们周日和她一起去教会以后，我们也跟着去体验了一下。虽然当时去的是英文堂导致我们一家都听不懂有些可惜，但是第一次去教会给我留下的印象极好。说起来那时正是我在国内刚刚高考完，做什么都很浮躁的一段时间，但神奇的是在教会那短短几个小时我的内心出奇的平静。除此之外，我见到的每个人都有着发自内心的喜乐与热情。当时的我深受国内无神论的影响，对基督信仰有着极深的偏见。但通过那次经历以及Melissa老师平常的言行，让我对基督信仰大有改观。此后认识的其他基督徒朋友也都是值得信赖的人，让我渐渐地对于基督信仰有了新的定位和理解。我发现自己听到陌生人提及他们信仰基督时总会放下几分戒心，因为从我当时的认知来看，基督徒一般是不会怀有恶意的。虽然仍旧不理解他们的信心，不理解为什么他们对耶稣基督有那么深刻的感情，有的朋友提到耶稣基督受难甚至会感动得流泪，但我对基督信仰也开始有些好奇起来。

上了大学，课业压力渐渐大了，所以去年的冬天我回国休息了一个学期。新学期即将开始，我登上了飞往多伦多的飞机。这时我突然需要做出一个重要的决定。在我特别迷茫而矛盾的时候，我开始了一个我当时并不明白的祷告。我把头靠在前面的椅背上，心里默默地想：我该怎么做？就在那时，我突然心里一阵奇异的感动，心里的一个想法突然强烈起来。那一瞬间我在黑暗的机舱里不受控制地泪流满面，我知道这就是给我的提示。现在想来，心里的那个声音，应该就是圣灵在做工。而我在飞机上的默祷也得到了回应，即使当时对基督还不够了解的我尚且不知道那就是祷告。正如罗马书8章26-27节所说：“我们的软弱有圣灵帮助；我们本不晓得当怎样祷告，只是 圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。鉴察人心的，晓得圣灵的意思，因为圣灵照着神的旨意替圣徒祈求。”感谢圣灵的帮助，让我做出了正确的决定。

学期开始，我在学期初的一个晚上的公交上遇见了Ken。在Ken邀请我参加下一周UWMCCF的团契时，我抱着“反正也没什么事，索性就去看一看”的想法同意了。那一学期UWMCCF查经的主题是“情绪”，讨论了很多在基督里对情绪的看法以及应对情绪的方法。这在任何时候都是很“有用”的话题，就这样我参加了一个学期的团契，对基督信仰也有了一些零散的理解，发现基督信仰是与我的价值观是基本吻合的。于是在学期结束，UWMCCF暂时没有团契的时候，我自然地跟着团契认识的朋友们来到了我们林肯路教会，听了几次证道，也听牧师谈了基督信仰的一些基本理念。

接下来是去渥太华做co-op的四个月。感谢主的安排，我租的住处对面就是一个小教会。那个教会的成员平均年龄比较大，并不像林肯路教会这样富有活力，但大家的思想都很成熟，信心也很强大。听过他们对基督信仰的思考，我也渐渐有些意动，只是碍于“我还不够了解圣经，没有全面了解基督信仰”的想法，不知道该不该接受这样的信仰。后来渥太华教会的Anthony叔叔带我去听华欣牧师的布道会，在途中我向他说起我的困扰。他告诉我，只要是认同基督的基本教义，就可以先信主再详细了解。当天晚上华欣牧师在布道会上讲了耶稣基督对我们的爱，和他通过爱荷华大学卢刚事件女校长的兄弟对卢刚父母以及其他华裔学生的包容和爱，相信了这种无私的爱的经过。我有所感触，当晚在华欣牧师的带领下做了决志祷告，决定一生跟随主，寻求主，荣耀主。

后来，Anthony叔叔经常会给我讲解一些基本教义和概念，让我对基督信仰的理解与日俱增，也越来越认同。在这四个月内，其实还发生了一些小事。比如有一周我想进行祷告，却对应该如何祷告有些困惑，在没有问过任何人的情况下，那个周末我就在一次团契中看到了一个针对性的视频。在工作中遇到的难题，只要祷告就会很快得到解决。值得一提的是我有一次做presentation之前非常紧张，因为我并不擅长presentation。神并没有让我的presentation直接得到一个好结果，却令我的内心平静，还让一个平日特别挑剔的全职员工来安慰了我。工作结束的时候，我也惊喜地发现那次presentation并没有影响我的评价。

现在我也渐渐发觉，神并不只是永远满足我的一切所求。如雅各书4章6节所说：“神阻挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人”。每当我有所骄傲，或是我所求的与神的意愿想违背的时候，神总是有办法让我恢复一颗谦卑的心。我现在的灵还处于比较弱小的阶段，经常有不懂的地方，也经常软弱，但是感谢主拣选了我，还常常通过我身边的朋友帮助我，帮我解答疑惑，让我常常自省。感谢主的看顾，也感谢我身边的朋友们。从今天起，我愿意成为主的儿女，成为一个新造的人，一心依靠祂。愿所有的赞美与荣耀，都归于主！

谢谢大家！

2. John

Good morning brothers and sisters, my name is John. I apologize for not speaking in Chinese, but it’s because I invited several of my English friends here. Today is a new day in my spiritual life because I am getting baptized, and here is the story of why and how I became a follower of Jesus.

I’m a visiting scholar at the University of Waterloo, I never expected to have any connection with Jesus Christ and Lincoln Road Chapel. I didn’t expect because I didn’t know that it was Jesus directing me here.

How did Jesus do this? The first week at UW, I realized that my colleagues and I lived in a small and closed circle. We almost had no interaction with the locals; we went to school together, sat in class together, shopped at Chinese markets together… as though we were living in China. But that was not our goal of being in Canada. As Study Monitor, I took on the responsibility of finding the door to let us outside, to build connections and get into the local culture. On WeChat, I connected with Ray Marshall and I was invited to the Chinese Canadian Friendships picnic at Waterloo Park. There I met with most of my new Canadian friends for the first time. I went back to our group with information about Ray and Kelly, about ESL and Bible classes at Lincoln Road Chapel. So, my original purpose for coming to Lincoln Road Chapel was to help my colleagues build a connection with the local community while improving our English skills. But when the first time I came here I met with Debbie and Rosy, who are members of the English church downstairs. I was deeply impressed by their warm, genuine smiles. I didn’t know why they were so happy at that time, but I wished that I could smile just like that, and now I know that their smiles are a reflection of real joy and peace in their heart.

In the following months, I was constantly touched by the Bible, the stories of my new friends and Christian songs. Now I will share one of these stores with you. The touching story is about Sylvia. Sylvia used to be the one who helped Ray prepare meals for big events here. Last Thanksgiving Day, I was one of the helpers preparing Thanksgiving dinner with her. I asked Sylvia a question in the kitchen, “Are you one of the leaders in Ray’s group and your responsibility is cooking?” She said “No”, she was also a volunteer just like me who loves cooking, and she believed that God gave her this talent to help others. I was astonished by what she said. Because I know cooking Chinese food is not an easy job, and cooking for dozens and hundreds of people for several years is a huge workload for a 69-year-old woman. Because of Sylvia, I was hungry to know what kind of great God Jesus is, who could give a person such strength and faith. I wanted to know more about Jesus. So, I started to learn the Bible with Ray on Tuesday and Friday nights and asked if I could attend church on Sunday for I didn’t know whether non-Christians were allowed. Ray answered “Yes, of course”, so I went to the English church with Ray.

But later my marriage problems began. I shared my problems with Joy, who used to be here, but she had arrived in China two weeks before. Coincidentally, or by Divine plan, that Sunday Pastor Li was talking about marriage from the perspective of Jesus. So, Joy invited me, and since then I have been coming here every Sunday morning.

As for the marriage problems I mentioned before. It was God who rescued my marriage! The day before I left for Canada I decided to register our marriage with my wife to give her a sense of security and a promise to be faithful. But we constantly argued on WeChat video since I came to Waterloo. We couldn’t agree with each other on insignificant household matters, because I was a dogmatic person; insisting right is right and wrong is wrong. But actually, I was wrong. I was wrong to not care about hurting my wife’s feelings, regardless of how right I felt I was. One day after a huge quarrel, I said some harsh words that really hurt her heart. My wife said very seriously, “Let’s break up”, meaning to divorce, and angry emotions overwhelmed my mind. I agreed. But after calming down, I regretted my words and actions. I didn’t know why I said mean words to the one I love. I felt so terrible. So, I talked with Joy, to get help and advice, and she prayed for us. And on that Sunday, I came to this Mandarin church and after listening to Pastor Li’s sermon, I felt remorse. I realized how stupid my words and actions had been. I had spent almost 30 years searching for my missing rib, and we said “Let’s divorce” so easily, without thinking. When I returned to my apartment, we had a very long and peaceful talk and apologized to each other. From then on, we seldom quarrel. At this year’s Spring Festival, my wife came, I brought my wife here, and we said our vows in front of Jesus, and attended the Sunday worship here together. All these changes were because of Jesus.

Next, I would like to talk about how Jesus gives me the faith to follow him. When I decided to become a Christian, I thought of the challenges I could face when I return to China. For instance, if I don’t tell my colleagues and leaders about my religion, is that a lie to Jesus? Should I pray before every meal in front of my family or colleagues? Will my wife support my stance? All these difficulties are like strong enemies pulling me back and causing apprehension. So I shared my worries with Ray, Kelly, and Joy who prayed for me. I tried to pray by myself to tell God what I was thinking. Every time after I prayed to God I felt so peaceful, like pouring out my burdens to a close friend. I got strength and wisdom from God and from my brothers and sisters. I got all the answers I wanted. So, I asked God to help me to be a faithful follower of Jesus.

In the end, I would like to cite the Parable of the Sower from Mark chapter 4. I hope I will be one of the seeds sowed by Jesus, not on the road or among the thorns or in the shallow rocky ground, but planted in fertile soil.

3. 王歌

4. Samuel

受洗特别感谢在我属灵道路上引领我的姑姑，Lucy阿姨和我爸爸。

我了解基督教主要是受到父亲的影响，我的父亲在我六岁左右成为了一名基督徒，这件事曾经让我非常不解。因为在那之前，我受的教育已经让我形成了对科学的崇拜。我清楚的记得我上学前班之前，父亲就已经和我讲过高斯被罚从1加到100的故事。一天上课，数学老师突然说谁能算出1加到100谁就能马上出去玩。果不其然，我用等差数列求和公式迅速算出了答案，几乎疯玩了一节课。

我的家中有很多本圣经，我也曾听过一些传道的录像，但我却从心里强烈的反抗着我父亲的信仰。我曾经相信人类凭借科学的力量可以掌控物质世界的一切，我也曾经相信信仰不过是人类发展历史中可怜又可悲的过渡期。我狂妄地相信着人类的理智已经让宇宙中再也没有存在上帝的可能性。我慢慢长大，随着我学习的知识越来越多，我的反抗感却越来越弱了，我开始正视这个问题，为什么我爸选择了基督教信仰？

隐隐约约，我开始质疑崇拜科学的合理性，我开始思考科学是真理还是只是探索真理的工具。科学的缺陷在于是一门基于归纳的学科。学者倾向于将规律总结为优美的公式达到数学上的简洁之美。但毕竟总结建立在数据和经验之上。对甚至尚不明了基本粒子的人类来讲，科学家所做的好像是在探索上帝的图书馆。图书馆中的书来自世界各地，用着不同的语言书写，人们看不懂书中写的是什么，他们不知道基本语法和单词含义，但他们模糊的感觉到字母的排列遵循着一些规律。被发现的规律并不牢固，因为只要一例反例就能将之前的所做全部推倒。因为它依靠的是曾经的经验，而不是公理。

科学终归是工具与方法，作为信仰，在被神赋予的灵魂面前，它是缺乏理想和诗意的。万物皆有规律，这正是耶和华存在的最好证据。上帝正是无垠宇宙中最杰出的数学家和几何学家。我们亚不是以主宰者的心态查明这个世界的规律，而是应该抱着学徒的心谦卑又愉悦地学习上帝给我们留下的这个美丽的世界。

我开始学习《圣经》，故事的开篇神创造了世界和人类，但亚当和夏娃背离了他，于是他将人类逐出了伊甸园，但他却没有完全放弃拯救人类，他一遍遍的施行自己救赎的计划，但人类却依旧走向堕落，最后神甚至让自己的独子替人类而死，以此赎下人类的罪过。在人没有外力阻碍的情况下，会自动地走向堕落，人生而有罪，这一观点在《荀子》《蝇王》中都有描述，我是一个很喜欢小孩子的人，在与小孩子接触的过程中，也观察到，小孩天性趋利避害，会常常将事物描述为对自己有利的里面。小孩的谎言很容易识破，因为其中欠缺逻辑，这种行为在欠缺约束的情况下，并不一定会随时间而变好。除了不诚实外，孩童也常常表现出恐惧，软弱，嫉妒，缺乏同理心，缺乏信心。因为没有掩饰，所以这些弱点在孩子身上格外醒目。当然我们不应该因为孩童这种有罪的天性而不喜爱孩童，因为他们表现出来的不美好的部分也是我们自己的掩饰的天性。

因远离至高公义，中国社会也在步入堕落之中，理性主义没有让中国社会变得崇尚理性，唯物主义反而让拜金主义盛行，在以前，如果有人说钱是万能的，估计会被看为堕落，庸俗，鼠目寸光。而现在，追求财富已经成为中国社会的风气，论述钱并非万能反而很可能被贴上自命清高，虚伪的标签。当然，在我看来，金钱本身作为流通手段，没有永恒价值。但是当人们把钱放在万能位置时，就不会遵守道德准则。例如汶川地震时的豆腐渣工程，奶粉中的三聚氰胺，官员的贪腐。

因不断地政治运动的冲击，中国文化中作为道德支柱的传统消失，社会进入由金钱和权力支配的丛林状态。人类的罪性被放出潘多拉盒子，到处蔓延滋长。如果基督教可以在中国大力传播，这些问题很可能被大大改善。

在《圣经》中，神和人不止一次的立约，约在基督教文化中非常重要，于此同时，与神的约也是法律以外阻止堕落的强大力量。17世纪的荷兰因为海上贸易而称霸一时，当时荷兰人以守信而著称，有一个故事：荷兰人巴伦支的商船误入了北极圈，在严寒和饥饿之下，整艘船的人在死亡边缘徘徊，船员相继病倒，最后甚至船长巴伦支也死了。尽管船上的货物是衣服和药品，船上的荷兰人却没有动用任何船上的货物。

试图用某种主义和类似宗教的组织来左右人的思想是必定会失败的。人的主义学说和宗教有本质上的区别，真正能改变人心的是基督信仰的真理。我们求神能做奇妙的工，让基督信仰在中国自由地发展，成为同胞的祝福。

这些思考是神给我的我最想要的礼物。历史进程中，基督徒扮演了促进人类社会发展的重要角色。基督徒也应在祖国的发展中起到积极的推动作用。我真心祈祷神的荣光可以照向神州，神护佑中国，也保守所有中国大陆的基督徒。