Break Down the Walls of Division

2023 Annual Member's Meeting 

Council For World Mission (CWM) 

Changhua Taiwan, June 10, 2023 

 Huang Po Ho 

 Director of Academy for Contextual Theologies in Taiwan

For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2.14) 

Introduction 

Rev. Dr. Jooseop Keum, General Secretary of Council for World Mission, Distinguished delegations of CWM member Churches, guests and my dear Taiwanese colleagues: It is a great honor to be invited for this opportunity to talk to this annual member's meeting of CWM in my beloved home country of Taiwan. Many thanks to CWM family and general secretary Dr. Jooseop Keum for the invitation.The theme of this annual meeting is "Break Down the Walls of Division" which is taken from the Biblical passage in Paul's letter to the Ephesians (Eph. 2.14), where Paul had tried to convince the Ephesians that they were brought into the Christian community as equals and one with the Jews. And pointed out that this new status of the Gentiles was the fruit of the work of reconciliation through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 

This theme of "Break Down the Walls of Division" not only brings us back to the central message of the Christian faith, which the theologies of modern ecumenical movement derived from, it also timely reflects our critical contexts in the geopolitical tensions and the threats from the rivalry between two empires, that have forced the world to face a potential world war. The theme also reflects the nature of CWM as a missionary body and its commitment to "Oikomene". The very title of "Council for World Mission" shows the pioneering ecumenism of this group. It was changed from its original name "London Missionary Society (LMS)", a sending organization to evangelize the world, into a common fellowship of all missionary partners. Over the years, CWM has implemented many inspiring programs to combat empires and economic globalization, and to decolonize different sociopolitical hegemonic forces and irrelevant Christian mission. The theme thus is duly and urgent. 

 

The Wall to the Gentiles 

A key phrase in this passage which draws our attention is "Break down the dividing wall", this dividing wall has been further described as a "wall of hostility". A dividing wall is created by hostility. We have to be reminded here that the audients of this passage were the Ephesians Gentiles, who were the recipients of the letter and were treated hostile by the Jews. In the former verses, Paul had counting the inferior status of the Gentiles, he said: 

And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air... Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called“uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (2.1-2a,11-12) 

According to Paul's perception, gentile Ephesians status were inferior and contrast to that of the Jews:

 1) The Gentiles were called the uncircumcised by those who had claim to that of circumcision.         Here was the first of the great divisions. 

 2) The Gentiles had no hope of a Messiah; 

 3) The Gentiles were aliens from the society of Israel, and was not the holy people (ho hagios'         laos). 

4) The Gentiles were strangers from the covenants on which the promises were based. 

5) The Gentiles were without hope and without God in the world. 

It is to these downtrodden people of gentile Ephesians that Paul address on this topic of Break Down the Walls of Division. The gentile Ephesians were the one to be segregated by the wall of division, which was built by the self justified superior Jews. Ephesians did not have the ability and power to destroy barrier, yet they were granted the opportunity to cross over the wall to join the Messiah community. Paul was here to remind them the fact that their identity of being a Christian, was not attained through their human efforts or achievement by paying their own prices, nor by the grace from the oppressive Jewish party, But "have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

In another word, the message that Paul constructed in these sentences, are not a command nor an instruction for the Ephesians to take actions to break down the wall, instead, he points out that it is the intention of God, and reminded those who have being segregated outside the walls, that this has been realized through the graceful events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The wall here that Paul pointed to was a symbolic expression of the curtain of the holy Temple, which was created by the Jewish community to segregate and preventing the Gentiles to approach closer to the holy sanctuary of the Temple. This curtain according to Paul was the dividing wall of hostility. he said: 

by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Accordingly, for Paul to Break down the wall was not the final purpose, instead the genuine purpose was to overcome discrimination and make peace between the Gentiles and the Jews, and to reconcile both of them to God. 

Walls Are Product of Human Spirituality 

Mission： Church in Formation 〔認同：在地宣教〕

本土神學文集第六冊命名為「認同：在地宣教」，英文則以Mission: Church in Formation來標示。試圖把宣教、認同、與教會三者連結起來。宣教是教會形成的激素與定型，甚麼樣的宣教產出甚麼樣的教會。教會因此不只是宣教的果子，也是持續宣教的動力。而宣教missio Dei是一種受差的行動，因此是道成肉身的實踐，真實的宣教必定是像耶穌道成肉身一樣的「認同的宣教」，也就是在地宣教。通過愛與認同，從事的在地宣教，毫無疑問地會建立起釘根本地的教會。本書透過反省筆者任職長老教會總會研發中心期間，主持台灣基督長老教會「21世紀新台灣宣教運動」研發的過程與內涵，以及期間面對全球化議題所做的基督教宣教的論述，配合早年出版之「本土神學與本土宣教」一書，以及年輕時在美國紐約協和神學院跟隨黑人神學家James Cone做研究時翻譯他的一篇短文「教會是甚麼」一起組成，時間前後跨越數十年，範圍涵蓋多層面向，希望從本土神學的角度，將神學理論與實踐結合，來呈現宣教的本質，也印證在地宣教的走向並期許教會能夠持續的本土化，來成為人民的盼望。

Contextual Theological Education

本書為本土神學文集系列的第五冊，命名為「希望．使命傳承／處境化神學教育」，主要是討論神學教育的處境問題。神學教育是西方大學教育的濫觴，也是西式教育典範。然而經過啟蒙運動的影響，由西方傳入第三世界的大學教育本質上是世俗化的教育，不涉宗教，甚或是排斥宗教的。然而，第三世界的神學教育基本上則是由宣教師引進的傳教專業訓練的教育，具有濃厚的宗派色彩，傾向把教會與世界兩分化，對科學與世俗社會採取排斥的態度。因此，神學教育在第三世界也就喪失了大學教育求真、求善、求美的使命，而變成為征服世界建立基督教王國為目標的殖民式教育。除了上述教育本質的問題外，傳統西方教育的分門別類，隔行如隔山，見樹不見林的專精取向，雖然在特定學術領域容易深入細微，卻也把學者訓練成隔行如隔山的知識割裂狀態。在全球化影響下，像第三世界這些邊緣、弱勢的教會與社會要如何從事神學教育乃成為一個難以克服的課題與巨大使命。本書即從這些關懷出發，試圖以本土神學建構的歷程來檢視第三世界、亞洲，而致台灣的神學教育工作。書中的內容涵蓋筆者多年在亞洲參與東南亞神學教育協會的經驗以及在台南神學院的教育與行政心得，試圖提供一個不同的進路與建議，讓在台灣與第三世界從事神學教育者的參考。也拋磚引玉讓教會有志之信徒、牧者能一起來關心與我們信仰密切關係的神學教育。

悲憫‧ 虛己的愛 -- 本土的倫理神學

倫理學狹義地﹝可﹞釋義為某種傳統、群體或個人所持有的道德原 則。廣義地說，社會裏的所有規範、習俗、制度、格言、禮儀、行 為標準、律法，都囊括在倫理的範疇內。 換句話說，倫理是社會中傳承的一套規範，用來維持並型塑理想的 人際、社會以及國際間的互動關係。倫理在本質上因此是具有導引、囿 限、甚至是綑綁的意涵。倫理的彰顯因此隱含有維護現狀，宰制未來的 潛在意思。在亞洲的基督宗教作為殖民歷史的宗教。其所引進的諸多基 督教倫理教導，雖絕大部分都分享有共同人性的普遍理想與期許，其在 不同時代、處境中發展出來的倫理規條，面對在地的、當代的新情境， 仍會出現許多不合時宜或以偏概全的缺失。本土神學的倫理學因此不在 於重述既存的倫理規範，而應著重於對不合時宜及以偏概全之傳統倫理 的糾正與重建。也就是用心於對傳統倫理的解構，來重建具解放性的倫 理。這也算是基督教倫理學的轉型正義。

懷念 鄭兒玉牧師 - 一位特立獨行的時代先知

 

鄭牧師與神學院同事

   

黃伯和 台灣本土神學研究中心 主任(前台南神學院院長，前長榮大 學副校長)  【適逢鄭兒玉牧師百歲冥誕，接蔡三雄牧師來信邀稿，謹記數則回憶以茲追念】

 

鄭兒玉牧師對我的神學生涯於公於私都扮演著無法言喻的影響。

作為第一代基督徒，在帶領我信主的傳道人鼓勵下，憑著信心決定在不依靠父母支助下進到台南神學院就讀。本來以為說利用新生訓練以及語言進修期間找個家教、工讀辛苦一點，應該可以撐下去。沒想到一個多月暑期進修時間都過去了，想找的工作卻毫頭緒。就在進修課程的最後一天，同學們都在收拾行旅準備回家度週末，迎接正式開學的神學生生涯。我則掙扎著註冊的學費與開學後的生活費仍無著落，考慮著是否應該放棄這個不成熟的信心抉擇。

就在離校前夕，同宿舍室友邀我到餐廳旁的桌球室打桌球，說是臨別前的交誼。就是這個時候鄭兒玉牧師差人到桌球室找我，說他的互談會需要工讀，問我願不願意幫忙。就這樣一個關鍵讓我留下來，展開了我一輩子的神學與神學教育旅程。在互談會、事工班的工讀讓我有機會向鄭牧師近身學習。幫他寫信(都是他逐句口授抄寫)、寄信(常常是晚上成功路郵政總局要關門前趕去寄送)、檔案整理、資料蒐集，以及事工班的行政協助等。鄭牧師是個急性子的人，跟他工作是隨傳隨到，事必躬親，而且每件事都講究時效，劍及履及。跟他工作雖然很緊張，但卻也養成我扎實的做事態度與成效。工作期間牧師娘的噓寒問暖，時而拿些衣物、食物幫助，在孤單旅外的遊子灰心、喪志時，這往往像針強心劑，讓艱辛的神學院生活得以持續。

鄭牧師是個歷史學者，史學的訓練讓他對週遭環境有過人的洞察力。他的執著、敢言，以及鞭辟入裡的觀點，讓他贏得教會內外人的敬佩與稱頌。他喜歡作詩，他的詩中屢屢使用出頭天的台灣俗語。這也影響了我後來在博士論文撰寫、擇材時受到他的啟發並選用了不少他的資料。鄭牧師在台灣戒嚴的年代，身影單薄卻言辭鋒利，他堅持公義，也關心弱小。在林義雄家遭滅門血案後，他奔走遊說把兇宅變成教會，為台灣歷史的創傷闢劃救贖的希望。他是我的老師，一位特立獨行的時代先知。