黃鳳萍於二〇二六年九月六日在聖馬田堂之講道
經課：以賽亞書55.12–末，詩篇96，歌羅西書1.15–20，馬太福音8.23-27
A Sermon preached at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 6 September 2026 by Vicki Wong
Readings: Isaiah 55.12-End, Psalm 96, Colossians 1.15−20, Matthew 8.23-27
今天崇拜的主題是「在基督裡的創造」。近日，英國聖公會訂立了一個新的周年節期，題目係「在基督裡的創造」，旨在提高各教會對保護自然環境的意識。鑑於環境危機日益迫在眉睫，這節期的主題的確是一個與我們息息相關的議題。
由於人類的無知和自私，加上工業化、城市化、過度生產和過度消費，我們的自然環境遭受到嚴重的破壞。聯合國最近發出警告，超強厄爾尼諾現象即將到來，並將影響更多國家。身為基督徒，我們該如何面對這個問題？從更根本的層面來說，人類該如何與受造物建立關係？
為什麼每年都要舉辦「在基督裡的創造」節期呢？
正如英國聖公會網站所公佈的，這節期將於每年九月的第一個主日舉行。這節期讓基督徒有機會，為上帝的創造和救贖而感恩，反思人類照顧自然世界的責任，並為大自然的更新禱告。
「在基督裡的創造」這個主題強調，創造是透過耶穌基督的位格和工作來進行的：萬物藉著基督被創造，靠著基督得以維繫，並最終在基督裡面得到更新。節期的目的是引導信徒在教會的使命中發揮作用，即「維護受造界的完整性，維繫並更新地球」。
在此背景下，我今日想和大家分享「在基督裡的創造」，以及人應該如何與受造界建立關係。
第一方面：在基督裡的創造是什麼意思呢？
舊約聖經，創世記第 1 章告訴我們，「起初，神創造天地」。新約聖經，歌羅西書 1:16 說：「天上地下的萬物都是靠他(耶穌)造的。」耶穌本身就是神。正如
巴西爾 (Basil)（莫特曼–Moltmann–引用）所指出的，聖父透過聖子耶穌創造了世界。[ 巴西爾係初期教會的相當重要的神學家。]
約翰福音 1:3 說：「萬物是藉著祂(耶穌)造的。」尼西亞信經也肯定了這一點－「全能的父，(衪是)創造天地的主」；與此同時:–「萬物都是藉著祂（耶穌）造的」。
傳統上，神學家和教會教導說，聖父上帝是創造者，他們可能想強調神是獨一真神。近年來，聖經學者們開始將基督也納入創造者之列。
第二方面：人類應當欣賞、尊重與愛受造萬物
當神完成創造之後，祂認為萬物「好」, 並且「甚好」。他欣賞並珍惜自己創造的成果。創造也彰顯了神的權能和榮耀。詩篇 19:1-2 說：「諸天述說神的榮耀，穹蒼傳揚祂的手段。」
亞西西的聖方濟是動物和環境的守護聖人。他曾對一群雀鳥講道，說：「鳥兒兄弟姐妹們 (Brother and sister birds)，你們應當讚美你們的造物主，永遠愛祂。祂賜你們羽毛做衣裳，翅膀讓你們飛翔，以及你們所需的一切。」雀鳥們留心聆聽了他的教誨。聖方濟亦撰寫了一篇優美的詩《太陽頌》，稱太陽和月亮為「太陽兄弟」(Brother Sun) 和「月亮姐妹」(Sister Moon)。
聖方濟視所有生靈為他的兄弟姊妹，是上帝大家庭的成員。他相信所有生靈都是上帝愛的創造，是一位最偉大的藝術家所創作的藝術品。
我們都知道，動物和寵物擁有智慧和個性。最近，有一部名為《寂靜的朋友》的電影上映，其中一個主演是香港著名演員梁朝偉。這部電影講述了樹木擁有“意識”，能夠“交流”，並對人類的行為“做出反應”。
讓我們祈禱求天父打開我們的眼睛，讓我們在大自然中看到祂的榮耀，並欣賞、尊重和熱愛萬物。
第三方面：人類應擔起管家的職責：
人被造之後，就被賦予了「治理」”Subdue”和「管理」”dominion”受造物的職責（創 1:28）。乍看之下，”Subdue” (征服), “dominion”(統治) —這些字詞似乎有些苛刻——它們似乎意味著「制伏」、「支配」或「操縱」。的確，「統治」很容易被濫用，作為不負責任的行為的藉口，變成剝削或奴役。但是, 事實上，「統治」可以以負責任的方式進行，而不是壓迫、奴役或剝削。在中文聖經中，“subdue”, “dominion” 被翻譯為「治理」、「管理」，語氣就溫和很多。不負責任的管理/ 領導關注的是領導者本身的利益，而負責任的管理/領導係關注被領導者的福利，並讓他們發揮自己最優秀的一面。
耶穌是世界的統治者，但他選擇成為卑微的僕人。耶穌凌駕於萬物之上（西 1:18），祂甚至掌管風和海（太 8:23-27）。他是自然界的主宰，連風和海都聽從他。然而，他卻選擇做卑微的僕人，他溫柔謙卑。在馬可福音 10:45，耶穌說：「人子來，不是要受人的服侍，乃是要服侍人。」耶穌為門徒洗腳，樹立了謙卑僕人的好榜樣。
讓我們效法耶穌：學習謙卑溫柔，愛護大自然。我們應成為自然界的負責任的管家和守護者，絕不是不負責任的壓迫者或剝削者。
第四方面：信徒應擔當受造界的祭司的職責
彼得前書 2 章提及，信徒係君尊的祭司。祭司是作為神與人之間的中間人，將信徒帶到神面前。人類墮落後，整個受造界都遭受咒詛苦、及面對苦難，它們面對虛空、奴役和死亡。羅馬書 8 章講及受造界正等待基督的救贖。正如我們的牧師 Dr. Sam Well 所指出的，作為基督的追隨者，我們也應當擔起受造界的祭司的職責，促使受造界得到復興/救贖，使其再次彰顯神的榮耀，並在敬拜神的過程中，同人類一齊去敬拜讚美神的榮耀。
作為受造界的祭司，我們應為宇宙萬物的更新和救贖禱告；努力保護和維護環境及生靈；化解受造界各實體之間的衝突和苦難；並限制人類墮落所造成的傷害。
最後，我們今天該做什麼?
過去，我們或許會怠慢，愛理不理，忽略環境問題。或許，作為城市居民，我們與萬物之間關係疏離。讓我們改變這種心態。
讓我們祈禱，願天父打開我們的眼睛，讓我們在大自然中看到祂的榮耀，並欣賞、尊重和熱愛萬物。讓我們也祈禱，願我們效法柔和謙卑的主基督，成為受造物的謙卑管家。並未，願意我們也當擔任受造界的祭司職責，促使受造界得到復興/ 救贖.
今天這個新的節期—「在基督裡的創造」—是一個好的開始：願意整個教會都能承擔起領導角色，對應生態危機；願意教會成員提高環保意識，齊心協力地關愛環境和受造之物；願意教會甚至發起更多集體或社區行動來對應這個問題。
讓我們也為萬物的復興禱告。我們渴望看見地球被修復和更新；願我們與天上地下的一切受造之物一同慶祝上帝的榮耀。
正如以賽亞書 55:12-13 所記載：
「你們必歡歡喜喜地出來，平平安安地領回。
大山小山必在你們面前歡呼，田野的樹木也都拍掌。
……
這要為耶和華留名，作為永遠的證據，不能剪除。」
阿們
Today’s service has a special theme: Creation in Christ. This is designated by the Church of England as a new annual festival, with the aim to raise awareness among churches about the care of our natural environment. This indeed is a most relevant topic for us, as the environmental crisis is becoming so imminent .
Due to human’s ignorance and selfishness, plus industrialization, urbanization, over productions and excessive consumption behaviors, our natural environment has been heavily exploited and badly damaged. UN just warned the coming of the supersized El Nino , warning more countries will be affected. As Christians, how should we address this issue? At a more fundamental level, how should human relate to creation?
Why is there an annual Festival of Creation in Christ?
As published in Church of England’s web page, the Festival is to be celebrated in churches on the first Sunday in September. It offers an opportunity for Christians to give thanks for God’s creation and redemption of the world, reflect on humanity’ responsibility to care for the natural world and pray for its renewal.
The title “Creation in Christ” emphasizes that creation is understood through the person and work of Jesus Christ: created through him, sustained in him and destined for renewal in him. The aim is to draw Christians to play their part in the church’s mission to “safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth”.
Against such a backdrop, I will talk about Creation through Christ, and how man should relate to creation.
Firstly: what is the meaning of ‘Creation through Christ’?
The Old Testament tells us that, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Gen 1:1) In the New Testament, Col. 1:16 says that: ‘In Him (Jesus), all things in heaven and on earth were created.’
Jesus himself is God. As pointed out by Basil, (quoted by Moltmann), God the Father created the world through the Son Jesus. [Basil is a notable theologian in early church]
John 1:3 says, ‘All things came into being through him’. This is affirmed by Nicene Creed— ‘the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth’; ‘Through him (Jesus) all things were made’.
Traditionally, theologians and churches teach that God the Father is the creator, probably stressing God as the only one true God. In recent years, scholars have shifted to include Christ as the creator as well.
Secondly: Man should appreciate, respect and love creation
After God completed creation, he considered it ‘good’ and ‘very good’. He appreciates his own works and value them. Creation also manifests the power and glory of God. Psalm 19: 1-2 says, ‘The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork’.
St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and environment. He once preached to a flock of birds, saying, ‘Brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always love him: He gave your feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need.’ And the birds listened to him attentively. He also wrote the beautiful ‘Canticle of the Sun’, which addresses the sun and the moon as ‘Brother Sun’ and ‘Sister Moon’.
St. Francis of Assisi viewed all living creatures as his brothers and sister, members of God’s family. He believed every living creatures were created by God’s love; and they are art pieces created by the greatest artist.
We all knows that animals and pets have intelligence and personalities. Recently, there is a movie called “Silent Friend”, one of the actors is Tony Leung Chiu-wai, a famous Hong Kong actor. The movie talks about trees having ‘consciousness’, and are able to ‘communicate’ and ‘have responses’ to human’s actions.
Thirdly: Man’s duty as stewards
After man was created, he was charged with the duty to ‘sub-due’, to ‘dominion’ over creation. (Gen 1:28) On the face of them, these words may seem harsh—they seems to mean: to ‘rule’, ‘dominate’, or ‘manipulate’. Indeed, ‘to rule’ may easily be misused to justify irresponsible actions, like to exploit or enslave. In fact, ‘ruling’ can be done in responsible way, not to oppress, enslave or to exploit. In the Chinese bible: ‘sub-due’ is translated as ‘治理’, i.e. to govern; ‘dominion’ as ‘管理’, i.e. to manage. Irresponsible dominion/leadership focuses on the benefits of the leaders, whereas responsible dominion/leadership focuses on the wealth fare of those being led, seeking to bring out their best parts.
Jesus is the ruler of world, yet he chooses to be a lowly servant. Jesus is pre-eminent over all things (Col 1:18) Jesus even commands the winds and sea (Matthew: 8:23-27) He is the Lord of nature; even winds and sea obey him. Yet he chooses to be a lowly servant; he is meek and humble. In Mark 10:45, Jesus says, ‘The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve’. Jesus has set up a good role model of a humble servant by washing his disciples’ feet.
Let us follow Jesus: to learn to be meek and humble, and to take care of nature. We should be responsible stewards and care takers of natural world; and never be irresponsible oppressors or exploiters.
Fourthly: Man as priest of Creation
1 Peter 2 points out that believers are ‘royal priests’. Priest serves as a bridge between God and man, bringing man closer to God. After man’s fall, the whole creation suffers—they face futility, enslavement and decay. Roman 8 says that creation is waiting for redemption by Christ. As our paster, Dr. Sam Wells has pointed out, as Christ’s followers, we should serve as priests of creation as well, facilitating restoration of creation, so that it reflects the glory of God again; bringing it to its fulfillment in worshiping God; that both man and creation will worship our God together and praise his glory.
The priests of creation shall pray for its renewal and redemption by Christ; endeavor to protect and conserve the environment and living creatures; to resolve conflicts and sufferings among entities of creations; and to limit the harmful effects of the fall caused by human.
Finally, What should we do today?
In the past, we might have been lay back and ignored the environmental issue. Perhaps, as city people, we are alienated from creations. Let us change our mind-set. Let us pray that God will open our eyes, to see his glory in nature, and to appreciate, respect and love creation. Let us also pray that we will follow Christ, our Lord, who is meek and humble; and be humble stewards of creation, be responsible care takers and managers of the natural world.
Today’s new annual festival is a good start: that the church as a whole will take up leadership to tackle the ecological crisis; that church members may have awareness and contribute concerted effort to care for our environment and living creatures; that the church may even initiate more collective or community efforts to address the issue.
Let us also pray for the restoration of creation. Indeed, we long to see that our earth will be restored and renewed; that we shall celebrate with God for his glory, together with all creations, in heavens and on earth.
–As Isaiah 55:12-13 reads:
‘For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace;
The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
…..
And it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off”
Amen