仍然活在当今社会的中国基督徒，很多都面临着两难的困境，他们既渴望逃离压迫与不公，又担心面对自由所带来的挑战和责任。这种困境可以类比于以色列人在离开埃及为奴之家的经历：他们厌恶被奴役，但同时也害怕离开熟悉的环境去追求‘素未谋面’的自由。这种矛盾源于内心对改变的恐惧和悔改的惰性。

“躺平”的年轻人和倒地无人扶的老人

    现在的很多年轻人，包括我们的孩子、亲朋好友的孩子，以及邻舍的孩子，生活在一个被盲目追逐和竞争所塑造的环境中。近代70年以来的三、四代人所谓的奋斗和折腾，给后代留下了一大片“信仰的旷野”和生存环境的巨大压力，导致很多年轻人选择“躺平”，以逃避这种卷到极致的环境。人们埋头于自己的生计，并以此为由放弃了奋斗，心甘情愿地成为社会的弃儿，社会风气的麻木化，互助精神缺失，走在马路上摔倒了没有人敢扶，有毒食品比比皆是，这一切难道不是这几代人自己一手造成的吗？在这样的现实下，如果他们的父母一代（尤其是50-70年代的人）不做出改变，那么这些孩子们将面临与他们父母同样的困境，无法摆脱这片“统一僵化思想”的旷野生活循环。

    许多年轻人的父母虽然声称是基督徒，却碌碌无为，也未能在信仰和行动上树立正确的耶稣门徒榜样，反而做了这个时代下‘沉默的大多数’样式的帮凶。此外，教会往往不关心政治和社会热点，缺乏对社会正义的关注，也没有为孩子的属灵生命树立正确的价值观和生活标准。这种现状使得年轻一代即便有幸走进了教会却在看到牧者胆怯的作为后更加迷茫，无所适从。

父母一代的责任：悔改与做基督门徒

    对于50、60和70年代的人来说，你们的时间真的已经不多了，被奴役的太久后几乎忘记了做‘自由人’是何物。不从内心的“埃及”走出来，那么你们的孩子也可能在这片强权的旷野中迷失。作为基督徒，父母一代必须首先悔改，成为真正的基督门徒，活出基督的样式，成为自由人。正如圣经所教导的，“所以你们要完全，像你们的天父完全一样”（马太福音5:48）。这种完全并不是没有缺陷，而是在信仰和行动上追求卓越，勇于承担使命。在行动上成为孩子们的属灵榜样，通过自身的实际行动，展示基督教信仰的力量和美好，帮助自己的孩子和邻舍的孩子从“躺平”中走出来，迎接真正的自由。

1、践行主道：关心邻舍疾苦

    在强权统治下，践行主道并不是一件容易的事。然而，作为基督徒，我们必须牢记基督的教导：关心和帮助那些受苦的人，如果做不到，至少不和这样的人群抢夺资源。正如使徒约翰所言，“我们若说我们爱神，却恨我们的弟兄，就是说谎话的；不爱他所看见的弟兄，就不能爱没有看见的神”（约翰一书4:20）。

    成为新时代的使徒约翰，意味着要积极参与社会公益事业，关注民众疾苦，不要去做岁月静好的那批人。这不仅是对基督教信仰的实践，也是对社会正义的呼唤。基督徒可以通过参与志愿服务、推动社区建设等方式，体现出基督的爱与关怀。

2、号召人们悔改：传播福音的使命

    悔改是基督信仰的重要内容，也是每一个基督徒的使命。在现代社会中，许多人被物质和权力所迷惑，忽视了灵魂的救赎。我们有责任通过言传身教，引导人们认识到自己的罪过，寻求上帝的宽恕与救赎。

    传播福音不仅仅是传递信息，更是通过自身的行为，展示基督教信仰的力量。正如使徒保罗所说，“我是为福音的缘故，与你们同工，为使你们与福音有分”（哥林多前书9:23）。以自己的实际行动，成为福音的活生生的见证，让更多人看到信仰的力量，从而悔改归向上帝。记得耶稣如何要求他的门徒传福音吗？“门徒就出去传道，叫人悔改，”(马可福音 6:12 和合本)，从自己做起。从悔改自己做起。

3、福音广传的新中国愿景：悔改后的美好未来

    当越来越多的人愿意真正悔改，走出内心的“埃及”，相信中国将迎来一个新的时代。这个时代将是一个充满爱与关怀的社会，人人互相关心，社会公益事业蓬勃发展，基督徒在各个领域中发光发热，成为社会正义的推动者和灵魂救赎的使者。

    在这个新中国中，年轻人不再被迫“躺平”，而是充满希望和力量，勇敢地追求自己的梦想。父母一代通过自己的信仰和行动，为孩子们树立了榜样，帮助他们找到生命的意义和方向。正如圣经所言，“你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父”（马太福音5:16）。这一代人不必再劳心劳力地牺牲自己的财利，把儿女送到其他国土上生活，因为这个新中国才是我们的家园。

    这一代人有责任改变这种现状，把失去的勇气、错过的爱心一件件找回来，重新建立起信任和互助的社会氛围。那时，我们才能真正从内心的“埃及”走出来，建立一个充满爱与正义的福音中国。

结语

    成为效法基督的自由人，是这一代中国基督徒的使命和义不容辞的责任。无论是在强制国标规范下，还是在日常生活中，都应当以信仰为指引，勇敢地面对后半生的挑战，正如新时代的使徒约翰一样，坚定这份信仰，不要成为这片旷野‘倒毙’的那批人，应成为这个时代公义的追随者和践行者，携手我们的后代和家人、邻舍，一起追随迦勒和约书亚走进福音中国。

    让我们一起为此祷告！

（如有建议敬请留言讨论，邮箱：hu0023@husiradmin

The Time to Become Free Is Nearly Gone: The Mission of Apostle John in the New Era

Many Chinese Christians today still face a dilemma. They long to escape oppression and injustice, yet they also fear the challenges and responsibilities that come with freedom. This predicament is comparable to the experience of the Israelites when they left Egypt. They despised slavery, yet they were afraid to leave the familiar environment in pursuit of an “unseen” freedom. Such contradictions stem from a deep-seated fear of change and a resistance to repentance.

The “Lying Flat” Youth and the Abandoned Elderly

Today, many young people—our children, the children of our friends and neighbors—live in an environment defined by blind pursuit and fierce competition. The so-called “struggle” and relentless efforts of the past three to four generations over the last 70 years have left behind a vast “wilderness of faith” and enormous pressures on daily life. As a result, many young people choose to “lie flat,” rejecting the all-consuming, competitive nature of society. People bury themselves in earning a living, giving up the struggle and willingly becoming society’s outcasts. Society grows apathetic, mutual support is lacking—and on the streets, when someone falls, no one dares to help; toxic food products abound. Is it not these very generations that have created such a situation? In this reality, if the generation of parents (especially those born in the ’50s–’70s) do not initiate change, then these children will face the same entrapments, trapped in a cycle of a “uniform, rigid mindset.”

Sadly, many of these parents, though proclaiming themselves as Christians, have achieved little. They have neither set a proper example of true discipleship in both faith and action, nor have they resisted joining the “silent majority” that conforms to the times. Moreover, the church itself often avoids political and social hot topics, lacks concern for social justice, and fails to provide a correct set of values or life standards for the spiritual upbringing of children. The net result is that even if young people find their way into the church, they become even more confused upon witnessing the timidity of their pastors, feeling lost and directionless.

The Responsibility of the Parental Generation: Repentance and Living as Disciples of Christ

For those born in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, time is truly short. Having been enslaved for too long, many have almost forgotten what it means to be free. Until you break free from the “Egypt” in your heart, your children might also get lost in this vast wilderness of authoritarianism. As Christians, the parental generation must first repent and become true disciples of Christ—living in His image and becoming free. As the Bible teaches,

“Therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

This perfection does not imply flawlessness but rather the pursuit of excellence in both faith and practice, courageously accepting the mission entrusted to us. In doing so, parents can become spiritual role models for their children. By demonstrating the power and beauty of the Christian faith through their actions, they can help their children and even the neighborhood’s children break out of “lying flat” and embrace genuine freedom.

1. Living the Way of the Lord: Caring for One’s Neighbors

Under authoritarian rule, living out the gospel is not easy. Yet as Christians, we must always remember Christ’s teaching: care for and help those who suffer; if you cannot help, at least do not compete for resources with them. As Apostle John reminds us,

“If anyone claims, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For whoever does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (1 John 4:20)

Becoming the Apostle John of our new era means actively participating in social welfare initiatives and addressing the pain of the people rather than being content with a quiet, uneventful life. This is not only the practice of our Christian faith but also a call for social justice. Christians can participate in volunteer service and community-building efforts to embody the love and compassion of Christ.

2. Calling for Repentance: The Mission of Proclaiming the Gospel

Repentance is a core element of the Christian faith and an essential mission of every believer. In modern society, many are blinded by materialism and power, neglecting the salvation of their souls. We have the responsibility, by both word and deed, to lead people to recognize their sins and to seek God’s forgiveness and salvation. Gospel proclamation is not simply about transmitting information but about showing through our actions the transformative power of faith. As the Apostle Paul stated,

“I have become all things to all people, that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:23)

Start with yourself. Remember how Jesus commanded His disciples to preach, “So they went out and preached that people should repent.” (Mark 6:12, NKJV). Begin with your own repentance.

3. A New China Vision of Widespread Gospel: The Promise of a Repentant Future

When more and more people are willing to genuinely repent and leave behind their inner “Egypt,” China will usher in a new era—a society full of love and care where everyone looks out for one another; where social welfare flourishes and Christians shine in every field as champions of justice and ambassadors of spiritual salvation.

In this New China, young people will no longer be forced into “lying flat” but will be filled with hope and strength, courageously pursuing their dreams. The parental generation, through living out their faith, will set a proper example and help their children find the meaning and direction of life. As the Bible instructs,

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

This generation must change the current situation and reclaim the lost courage and love, reestablishing trust and a spirit of mutual support. Only then can we truly emerge from the “Egypt” of our hearts and build a Gospel China imbued with love and justice.

Conclusion

Becoming free people who emulate Christ is the mission and inescapable responsibility of this generation of Chinese Christians. Whether under strict national standards or in everyday life, our faith must guide us to face the challenges of our latter days with courage. Like the Apostle John of this new era, hold fast to your faith and do not become another casualty in the wilderness. Instead, be the followers and doers of justice in our time—uniting with our descendants, families, and neighbors as we follow the footsteps of Caleb and Joshua into a Gospel-filled China.

Let us pray together for this transformation!