The Role and Responsibilities of Women in Building Healthy Churches
Biak Ṭha Hnem
Khrihfabu
Biakamthar ah church timi biafang cu Ekklesia, a sullam cu aa pummi, kawhmi, vawlei cungin Bawipa duhnak tuah dingah le a mah sining zulding ah a dang tein kawhauh mi tinak a si.[1] Biakinn nganpi zong khi Khirfabu timi cu a si lo. Khrih a zummi hna pumpak cio nih Khrih pum chungah an i pehtlaihnak in sermi bu tuhi Khrihfabu cu a si. Participation by commitment.[2] Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza nih cun Khrihfabu cu "discipleship of equal" Khirh zultu sinak aa ruang tein ngeihnak hmun a si a ti.[3] Efesa 1:22-23; IKor. 12:12-13 ah chun Khrih pum tiah a chim. Eph. 2:19; I Tim. 3:15; 1Pet. 2:5). Eph. 2:19 ahcun Pathian in chungkhar nan si tiah a ti.
Adela Williams nih, "Ramdang mipem mi nu hna cu khual phunhnih ah kan cang. Ramdang mi kan si caah kan umnak ramnih khual in an kan zoh. Pa nih hruaimi Khrihfabu chungah khual in an kan zoh than,"[4] tiah a timi hi lainu sining a khen ngai rua hlah maw ti ah ka ruat. Mi tamdeuh cu refugee in US an phan, ramdang mi, khual an si caah holh thiam lo le an nunphung, sining i hrawm khawh lonak tampi a um. Cun pa lawngnih hruaimi Khrihfabu ah khual bantuk in ruah an si than. Khrihfabu chungah hin nu le pa karlak lawngah khual lungput a um siloin Khrihfabu chungah US ram a phan hmasami pawl nih hnuphan pawl cu mithar le khual zoh in zoh a si than hoi tikah mi tampi cu member an laknak Khrihfabu ah member tlingin cohlan an si ko buah khual ah chiah an si i an mah te zongin khual ah an i ruat. Hi lungput le sining hi damter lo in hi tin aa chiah ko ahcun caan a sau tikah Khrihfabu ah ngam lo nak a chuah pi khawh. Khrihfabu a dammi a si khawh nakhnga zeidah hruaitu nih ruah awk le hmaithlak awk a si ti hi ruah lo awk a tha lo mi a si.
I. A ngandam lomi Khrihfabu Sining
CBCUSA ramchung pastor cheukhat biaruah nak ka ngeih hna tikah a tlangpi in an chimmi cu a dam lomi Khrihfabu sining cu Khrihfabu chungah dawtnak a um lo, thleidannak, remlo nak a um, thawhlawm a zor, aa pummi an tlawm, Pathian bia ngeih duhnak lungput a tlawm. Nu le pa karlak ah rualran nak (equality) a um lo, mihlun le mithar karlak ah thleidan nak a ngan.[5]
Stephen A Macchia nih tuchan Khirhfabu kan damlo nak a ruang tampi a tialmi mi lakah laimi Khrihfabu caah a si ve ko tiah ka ruah mi pawl ka hun chuahpi;
1. Damnak kan tahnak tahfung hi lenglei lawngin a si tawn caah chunglei in kan dam lo; member tam le thawhlawm tamin Khrihfabu damnak kan tah tawn. A rak si lo. Chunglei nunah Khrih thisen in thlenmi Khrihfa kan si taktak ding hi a biapi ngaingai mi a si.
2.Cun Khrihfabu nih a tuan taktak dingmi rian a tloh; Jesuh Khirh nih a kan fialmi cu a mah zultu serding kha a si (Mathai 28:19) nain zultu ser leiah Khrihfabu kan tuanmi a um tuk lo. Thildangdang kong tu biapi ah kan ruah tikah Jesuh zultu sernak caan kan ngei lo.
3.Inntek tuanvo laknak (hospitality) a tlawm chinchin; Khrihfabu chungmi si hna seh, mileng a rak i pummi sihna seh chonhbiak le an caah caan peknak a tlawm. Cucaah inn chungkhar lungput a um kho lo. Member zong mileng a ra mi zong khualtlung lutput he Khrihfabu an rak fuh. Khrihfabu ah an thilrit an thum kho taktak lo.
4.Pawngkam vawlei thancho ning le sining zohchih in thlen le sersiam duh lonak; Nihin vawlei pi a than cho tuk tikah nifatin in vawlei cung sining aa thleng. Cu aa thlengmi hoihin Khirhfabu ah i sersiam ve duh lo. Lenglei thancho nak nih Khrihfabu chung sining a lonh tuk tikah Khrihfabu chung ummi zumtu hna caah chan a dawi kho ti lomi chanhlun Khirhfabu ah aa cang.
5. I thithruainak leiah chambau nak; Thithruainak a derthawm tikah thancho nak lei panh kho lo in kan tum chuk.
6. Aa thleng tukmi chan sining ah aa thleng lomi thithruai nak le Pathian thangthat nak program hman peng, cun net working lei derthawm nak.
7. Mipi nih pumpak thancho nak an kawl tuk tikah Khirhfabu ah i peknak caan an ngeih ti lo.[6]
Laimi zong thanchonak ram an phak tikah ngeihchiah kawlhawl nak lei rumro ruah a si cang. Inn chungkhar, fa le ca le Khrihfabu ca tiang caan ngei kho lo in rian an tuanmi hi Khrihfabu ngandam lonak a hrampi pakhat a si ve. Technology a san tuk mi le a rantuk mi zong nihihn Khirhfa mi tha a thut ter a si. Biakinn chuah le pumkhomh live in pumh aa ham deuhmi Khrihfa tamtuk um zong hi dam lonak phunkhat a si ve. [7]
II. Khrihfabu aa thokkaa hrimhrim nu cu khual dirhmun ah chiah an si
Khrihfa biaknak cu Judah biaknak chungin hrinmi a rak si caah cu Judah biaknak chungah hramthuk piin a rak thla cang mi a si. Judah biaknak cu pa nih hruaimi le milu relnak hmanhah nu cu telhlo an rak si caah "cung leiin tangleiah" hierarchical leadership system in hruaimi a si. Cu system cun nihin tiang kal a si caah tampi aa remh cang ko buin thithruainak hi kapkhat lawngin a kal peng rih mi a si. Khrihfabu kipah nu awan theih khawh a si tuk lo.
Hong Kong feminist Theologian Kwok Pui-Lan nih cun Rome hruaitu Constantine (AD 312) nih meithal he a rammi dihlak Khrihfa ah a can ter hna thawk in Asia ah a rak phanmi Missionaries hna chan tiangin Khrihfabu tungtlang le hmanthlak cu Rome cozah nih rampi uknak ah a rak tuahning bantuk in nawlngeihnak vialte pa cungah chiahmi hruainak a si.[8] Margaret Y.Macdonald zong nih Khrihfabu tungtlang cu Rome vawlei; a sang deuh, a niamdeuh timi nunphung chungah hram a bunhmi a si caah a hramthok tein pa nih hruaimi, hruainak phung suaimi a si. Khrihfabu aa thoknak vawlei hrimhrim ahhin nu le pa thleidannak hram a rak i bunh diam cang a ti.[9] Nihin laimi Khrihfabu i hruaining zoh tikah an chimmi hi elawk um loin a hmanmi a si. Khrihfabu thithruainak tungtlang ahhin pa lawng aa tlum khomi hruainak deuhin a kal. Khrihfabu tamdeuh ahcun Khrihfa u pa ah nu telh an si lo. Khirhfa u pa ah nu an thim hnanak bu hmanh ah pakhat te a si loah pahnih te, i tel ve ko hna seh ti phun a si. OB members zong ah nu i tel a si tuk lo. Nu cu nubu chung cawlcang tu lawngah khumh dih an si. Miller nih, “Khrihfabu chung ah Women ministry nih tuanding in aa tinhbik mi le kalpi bik mi cu fa le zohkhenh, chungkhar ah nupi tha si ding le va le hruainak tangah dai tein i ap khawh ti bantuk lawngte an si i hruaitu va si ve nak ding caah nu hna hrimhrim hi Khrihfabu nih timhtuahnak serpiak an si lo."[10] Nu cu Khrihfabupi thithruainak chung lubaan ah an um lo caah pa ruahnak lawng tein i thithruai a si. Nu nih ruahnak tha an ngeihmi chimphuannak hmunhma a um lo. An thilti khawhnak hmannak hmun zong a tlawm tuk. Nihin laimi Khrifabu ah nu le cu inn tamhnak, chiah sawsawh mi tluk lawngin hman an si. Inn tamhnak nih inn cu a dawh ter ve nain tamh lo zongah a poi lomi a si.
Khrihfabu lungput ah “Men are created to lead and women are created to submit”[11] pa cu hruaitu caah ser an si i nu cu pa hruainak tangah a um dingah sermi an si, timi ruahnak nih Khrihfabu hi a uk. Cu ideology cun Khrihfabu aa hlikphuak kho lo. Official tein tial a si lo nain thinlung, ruahnak ah mah cu aa seng chih peng. Nu si caah i tel khawh lonak hmunhma a tamtuk tikah nu a cheukhat caah cun Khrihfabu cu Letty M Russel biabang, “ Khrihfabu in chuah taktak le khrihfa pakhat ka si caah a si kho lo, a si nain a chungah luh taktak zong kaa harh tuk fawn a ti.”[12]
Cu ti siah Khrihfabu chungah nu caah hmunhma a um lo ahcun an chuah tak lai maw (Exodus model-going out)? A siloah Khrihfabu hi zei tin i hraui zongah a poi lo a sining poah in um ko seh tiah (Home paradise model-the Church is my home and I stay)[13] dah ti a si lai? Hi bahalnak pahnih ningin a si kho lo. Zumtu caah Khrihfabu loin mah lawngum khawh a si lo. Khrih pum a simi Khirh ah u nau hna he i hawikomh hrimhrim a herh. Cun a tu ningin va si ko seh ti zong ah le member a cheutluk a um ve mi nu hna khual thinlung he Khrihfabu ah an luhchuah cu a dammi a si fawn lo. Cucaah Khrihfabu i hruaining le kalpi ning cu zohthan hrimhrim a herh. Russell nih Hans Kung bia a charmi hi ruah lo awk a tha lo. Hans Kung nih, " Ecclesiology is a response and call to constantly changing historical situations. It is necessarily subject to continual change and must constantly be undertaken anew. Thus, it is possible today that ecclesiology is by its nature not only talking back to tradition but also talking back and forth between tradition and its historical context."[14]
III.Nu le pa kongah aa dangmi pomning
(a) Nu cu Tlamtlin tertu (Complementary)
Complement means a thing that complete or brings to perfection[15].Hi zumhnak nih a tlangpi aa tlaihmi cu nu cu pa caah tlamtlin tertu an si ti hi a si. Cherhchan an lakmi Bible ca cu Gen.1-3 chungin; Adam cu Pathian nih a ser hmasa, ahnakruh pakhat in nu cu pa bawmtu ah a ser, pa nih nu cu Eve siseh tiah min a pek. Nu nih Pathian chimning loin nawl a buar i tukforh nakah a tla. Cucaah a hramthok tein Pathian nih minung a ser hnain pa cu chungkhar caah lutlai, hruaitu le nawlngei tu sinak rak pek mi an si. Cu bantuk thiamthiam in Pathian mibu hna tonnak Khrihfabu hruainak zongah pa cu lutlai an si awk a si.[16]
Biakamhlun chung zongah chungkhar ah siseh, mibu hruainak le biaknak bu hruaitu zapi te ah pa cu hruaitu an si. Cucaah tlangbawi rianzong Aron le a tefa, pa hna lawngnih an rak tuan (Exo.28; Lev.9). Nu hruaitu cheukhat Deborah, Miriam, Huldah te hna an rak um ve nain hawihlei cuang (exceptional) pawl lawng an si. Craig Blomberg hna nih cun, " Pa cu Pathian nih zungzal caah inn chungkhar le Khirhfabu hruaitu ah a chiah mi a si. Cun Khirhfabu ahcun nu nih zeidang rian vialte a tuan khawh ve ko nain a lubik highest authority cu a tlai kho lo. Pa nih a tuan hrimhrim awk a si."[17] Zeicatiah nu i a tuankhawh mi le a thluak nih a phak khawhmi cu pa nak in a niam deuh. Bible Scholar CLarice J.Martin chimmi lakin Barr nih, "Pa uknak tangah nucu rikhiah piak i chungah hranhram in khumh (subjugate) an si. Cun cu bantuk ruahnak nih a hrinmi cu minung lakah mah sining he aa lo lo deuhmi phun cu niam deuh in zoh le zei ah rel lonak (racism, classism, sexism) te hna hi a chuah ter chih."[18] Cu lawng si loin thazang thawngnih thazang der deuhmi vuakden nak (domestic violence) te hna tiang zong a hei hrin chih mi a si.
Khrihfabu hruainak dihlak cu pa nawlngeih nak tangah um ter dih a si. Nu cu hruaitu an si ve zongah pa a hruaitu siloin pa an i tel lonak lawngah hruaitu an si dingin Bible nih a kan cawnpiak mi a si tiah an ti. Chungkhar zongah pa cu lutlai an si. Zei catiah Ephesa 5:22-25 ah nupi hna Bawipa tang i nan i dor bantuk in nan va le tangah i dor u.Khrih nih Khrihfabu cungah nawl a ngeih bantuk in va le zongnih an nu pi le cungah nawl an ngei ve. Va le cu nawlngei tu ti an si i nupi le cu va le nawlngeihnak tangah aa dor dingin ruah le cawnpiak an si.
Cun ITimote 2:11 Nu cu cawnpiak tu si loin a cawngtu an si awk a si. Cun an cawn tikah daite le toidornak lungthin ngeiin an cawnawk a si. Cawnpiaktu si awkah ka duh hna lo. Pa cung i nawlngei tu si ding zong ka duh hna lo....Adam pei ser hmasa a si kha...hlenkhawh mi cu Adam a si tung lo. Nu kha pei a si i Pathian nawl zong a buar kha.
Titus 2:3-5 Nutar deuh pawl kha, nan umtuning ah mi hmaizah a thiammi nan si awk a si, na ti hna lai. Mi congoih hmangmi le mizuram an si awk a si lo. Nu no deuh pawl kha, an vale le an fale dawt an thiam nakhnga le, mah le mah aa uk khomi an si nakhnga le a thiangmi an si nakhnga le innchungkhar khuasak ṭha tein a zohkhenh khomi an si nakhnga le an vale bia a ngaimi an si nakhnga, thil ṭha nan cawnpiak hna lai, tiah nutar deuh pawl cu na chimh hna lai. Cuti an tuah ahcun Thawngṭha cu mi nih an thangchiat kho lai lo.
Hi zumhnak cu Council of Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) nih December 1987 ah Danver, Messachusetts ah dirkamhnak ca an rak tial i November 1988 ah Wheaton, IL ah cauk in an rak chuah. Cu an ca ahcun hiti hin an tial;
Bible nih a kan cawnpiak bantuk in a tanglei hna hi kan pom hna;
1. Adam le Eve cu Pathian nih a mah mui lo in a ser hna. Pathian hmaiah aa tlukmi an si nain pa a sinak le nu a sinak ah aa dangmi an si (Gen.1:26-17; 2:18)
2.Pa sinak le nu sinak nih a chuah pimi aa dangmi riancu Pathian hrimhrim nih serchih mi a si. (Gen.2:18,21-24; ICor.11:7-9; ITim.2:12-14)
3. Sualnak chungah an tluk hlan tein chungkhar ah Adam cu lutlai ah Pathian nih tuanvo pekmi. (Gen.2:16-18,21-24; ICor.11:7-9).
4. Sualnak ruangah nu le pa karlak ah a ummi pehtlaihning aa thleng (Gen.3:1-7, 12,16),Chungkhar ah pa nih lutlai a sinak cu dawtnak le velngeihnak he chungkhar hruai ding si loin uktu, pentu sinak in a hman. Nu nih pa hruainak le duhning tangah lungtling toidor tein a zulh lai, aa ap lai.
5. Biakamhlun he Biakamthar he pa nih tuanding le nunih tuanding tiah fiang tein rian dang veve pekcia an si (Gen.1:26-27;2:18; Gal.3:28). Pa cu chungkhar ah siseh Pathian mibu hna hruainak ah siseh hruaitu, lu tuanvo pek a si. (Gen.2:18;Ehe 5:21-33; Col.3:18-19; ITim.2:11-15)
6. Khrih thisen nih Pathian chiatserh nak cu a thlen; chungkhar ah pa nih mah duhnak le bongal tuk in hruai si loin dawtnak le zawnruahnak he a nupi a zohkhenh lai. Nupi le zong nih va le duhnak doh le el siloin lunglawm te le lungtling tein a va hruainak ah aa ap lai. Ephe.5:21-33; Col.3:18-19; Titus.2:3-5; IPet.3:1-7). Khrihfabu chungah nu zong pa zong Pathian nih aa ruang tein khamhnak a pek hna, a sinain hruaitu sinak le cawnpiaktu sinak cu pa lawng rianpek an si (Gala.3:28; ICor.11:2-16; ITim.2:11-15).[19]
Bible nih pa cu hruaitu ah Pathian nih a chiah i nu cu a pa hruainak a zultu dingah a chiah timi cu a hman taktak ko hnga maw? Bible chungah teh nu hruaitu an um bak lo maw? Pa bantuk in Bible chung nu hna hi Pathian nih a Khrihfabu caah a rak hmang ve hna lo maw? Bible chungah nu cu tuanvo cheukhat (a niamdeuh mi) taktak lawng maw a pek tak hna? A thami, a dingmi le luatter tu Pathian nih nu cu a niamdeuh vak in ser taktak seh law cu Pathian cu biakawk tlakmi le remnak Pathian kan ti kho hnga maw? Hi biahal nak pawl hi ruah lo awk a tha lo mi an si.
Hi lungput hi laimi Khrihfabu ah catial in kan pom ti cu a um lo nain practical ah kalpi mi a si ti u sih law kan palhtuk lai lo tiah ka ruah. Hlan tein khualah aa ruatcia mi le rak ruahcia mi hna kha pa bawmtu lawng nan si timi cawnpiak nak pek tikah an ei khawhding a har hringhren. Hi lungput le pom ningnih hin khual chinchin ah a can ter khawh hna. Khrihfabu cu an thilrit thumhnak si loin an phorh a rih tertu le thleidan nak a umnak hmun ah a cang khomi asi.
(b) Nucu pa he aa tlukmi (Egalitarianism)
Believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.[20] An zumhnak ah Pathian nih nu he pa he aa tluk tein a mah mui kengin sermi an si (Gen.1:28). Pathian hrimhrim nih kan mah mui keng in minung kan ser lai tiah a ti (Gen.1:27). Rian a pek mi hna zong aa lo, "sermi vialte uk ding le zohkhenh ding" (Gen1:26,28) a si. Sualnak an pil hnu zongah nu cu nau nganfah nak fak piin ing tuar dingah dan a tat i pa zong chungkhar cawmken nakah rethei ngaiin riantuan ding dan a tat ve. An in mi dantat nak aa dang nain dan pek ciocio an sinak ah an i khat. Cun thlarau lei zongah an pahnih tein sertu Pathian an chonhbiak khawh veve, an pehtlaih khawh ning aa tluk (Gen1:28; 3:9,13,16-19). Gen.2:18-20 ah nu cu pa "bawmtu" timi zong a niam deuh tinak a si lo. Bible nih a hmanmi bawmtu biafang voi 19 lakah voi 15 cu Pathian cu a ka bawmtu a si tinak ah hmanmi a si. Pathian cu a ka bawmtu a si kan ti tikah Pathian cu bomh a herhmi minung nak in a niam deuh kan ti nak a si lo. Minung sal a si tinak zong a si lo.
Pa cu hmasa deuh ah a ser caah a sang deuh ti a si ahcun hmasa poahpoah hi an sang deuh tinak a si hnga. Tahchunhnak ah Tipil petu Johan cu Jesuh Khrih hlanah a chuak ko nain Jesuh Khrih nak in a sinak sangdeuh a ngei tinak a si lo. Mary le nudang pawl zongnih Jesuh Khrih a thawhthannak thawngtha an theih hmasa caah zultu lakah a nganbik ti an si hlei fawn lo. ITim 2:13 ah Adam pei ser hmasa a si kha timi nih pa hruaitu sinak le nu zultu sinak a chim duhmi a si kho hrimhrim lo.
Cucaah chungkhar zohkhenh nak ah nupi le he pasal le he an rian aa tluk, thitumh nak zong hi partnership tu Bible nih a cawnpiak mi a si deuh. Jesuh Khrih nih cucu fiang ngaiin a langh ter. Pahnih an si ti lo pakhat an si cang (Mark 10:8).Marriage relationship is a functional oneness, not hierarchical twoness.[21] Nu zong Pathian nih a hman i a sining nih a tlinh ko ahcun hruaitu lutlai Khrihfabu chungah a si awk a si. Rian i pek tikah nu sinak pa sinak ruangah si loin an thilti khawhnak zoh in rian pek ding a si. (ability base not gender base.). Kamkhat lawngin pa biapi tuk i chiahmi hruainak kan papek tuk sual ahcun kap tampi in nu caah fahnak pek an si theu.[22]
A tlang piin hi zumhnak nih cun equal right kha biapi ngaingai ah a chiah. A hrampi ah an lakmi cu Gala.3:28 cucaah Judah mi le Jentile mi, sal le luatmi, nu le pa karah zeihmanh thleidan nak a um ti lo. Khrih Jesuh he nan i pehtlaih nak thawngin pakhat nan si dih cang.
Hi pomning hi laimi Khrihfabu nih catlap cungah tial i an dirpi mi cu a si nain a taktak ah an cohlan khawh rih lo mi ruahnak a si. Aa tlukmi sinak fak ngaiin an thlir ve tikah biahalnak a um kho mi cu a zeitindah chungkhar le Khrihfabu hruai a si lai? Hi zumhnak nih nu cu khual sinak in inntek sinak leiah a luh pi nain tialnak sawsawh tianghin khual lungput a ngei cang mi hna thinlung a thlen khawh ding zumh a har ngai.
(c) Pomning pahnih zohtinak
Anmah zumhnak tha a petu Bible cacang kha fak ngaingai in an thlir veve. Pathian bia Bible bia ciocio biapit ter deuh mi an ngei. Bible nih zeidah a kan cawnpiak timi nak in an pommi/ dirhmun dirkamh tu caah Bible an hman veve ti hi fiang ngaiin a lang. Mah duhmi chimnak caah Bible cherhchan lak cu tih a nung ngaingai mi a si. Khirhfa mi kan nunnak ah zumhnak lei zong nuncan ziaza zeizong te kongah thlalang bantuk in kan i bih mi cu Pathian bia, Bible a si. Cu ruangah Reformation father pawl nih "Bible Lawnglawng" tiah an rak ti phahnak cu a si. Hiti an chim tikah Bible lawng kan rel lai i cadang kan rel lailo tinak a si lo. Bible lawnglawng ti buah a reltu hna an thannak Khirhfa zumhnak le pomning nih an hrilhfiah mi a kal pi peng thotho. Cu nih a langh ter micu Almee bia bang Bible chimning te bakin ti mi hmanh ahkhin catial tu pa nun a tuam cia cangtu nunphung le thannak hmunhma a um cia cang a ti. "Biblicist does not mean Biblical."[23]
Hi kong he pehtlaiin Feminist Theologian hmaisuang, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza nih nunih Bible an rel tikah nun nak caah paw a khim ter khomi changreu ah ruah in an rel tawn nain ruah nain caan tampi ah Bible bia cu khai awk a tha lo mi lung an si theu a rak ti phah.[24] Mary Daly zongnih, "If God is a male than male is God,"[25] tiah a rak ti phah ve. Zeica tiah nu caah Bible dang a um hlei lo i pa ca zongah Bible dang a um hlei ve lo. Khrihfa mi nih an ngeihmi Bible pakhat hi zumtu Bible reltu hna nih anmah le sining hoih cio in rel a si. Caan tampi ah mah sining he aa lo lomi sining dang a ngeimi hna caah namneh nak (oppressive interpretation) ah aa chuah tawn. Cucu a si awk a si lo Bible hi sermi minung hna luatnak (liberative interpretation)tu a si deuh awk a si. Bible a tuamtu nunphung, catialtu ruahnak tuamtu a hawng hawh hnuah sullam a ngeimi a si lai. ICor.11:2-16, ITim.2:12. Ephesian, 5:22-33. Hi cakuat hna ahhin nu niam deuh vak in hmuhnak biafang hmuh khawh an si. Bible chung cakuat reltik ah ca kuatu nih a rak kuat lio hna an chanah a kuatmi hna an herhmi, an buaimi hoih in tial a rak si tawn. Cu caah hi cakuat pawl reltik ah Miller nih a ti bangin a cabia a lengin a tuamtu a hawng, a phaw hawh piak ta lo ahcun nihin Khrihfabu caah sullam an ngeih ding tluk in a ngei kho ding a si lo.[26]
Bawipa ta a simi Khrihfabu chung rian hi cung-tang in zoh ahcun a sangdeuh le a niamdeuh an um peng. Russel nih hi kong he pehtlai in pa nih hruaimi Khrihfabu cu siangpahrang rawleinak cabuai he a tah chunh. Cu bantuk cabuai ahcun mi pipa tiah ruahmi caah thutnak chiahpiak peng (permanent) an si. Cu cabuai cu thleidannak cabuai a si.[27] Sihmanhseh law Pathian kawhnak hi title/power/rumra ngeihnak caah si loin service/tuan khawhnak ca tuah rian pek a si. Service a pe kho deuh mi pohpoh nih hruaitu cu an tuan awk a si ko i nu a si caah pa a si caah tiah thleidannak ngeih ding cu a si hnga lo. Cun khat leiah aa tluk dihmi an si caah tiah title/sinak cu pe cio hna sehlaw a tuan taktak kho lo mi caah cun sullam ngei lo a si than hoi ko hnga. Brekus nih a ti bang, "Khrihfabu i a rian cu Pathian thawngtha karh ter, Pathian a rian tuan kha a si. Nu nih pa fialmi riantuan le pa nih nu fialmi rian va tuan kha a si lo a ti ( Galatians 1:1, 10)[28].Dawtnak le u patnak he Khrih pum a simi, Pathian inn chungkhar a simi, Khrihfabu caah riantuan ti ding tu a si. A thiamnak, a hngalhnak nih a tlinh i Pathian nih a thim vemi a si ahcun nu a si zongah Khrihfabu lutlai tu Senior zong a tlaih khawh ko lai i Chairperson zong a tuan ve ding a si ko. A sinain pa dihlak nih lutlai rian hi an tuan kho dih ve lo. Cu bantuk thiamthiam in nu dihlak zongnih tuan khawh phun a si lo. Dorothy A. Lee nih a ti bang, " The Church has the right to be served by those best fitted for service."[29] Aa tlakbik mi minung nih hruaitu cu an tuan awk a si ko. Nu sinak pa sinak nih tuanvo peknak ah a donh awk a si lo. Khrihfabu chungah nu/pa siloin Pathian muicuang minung an sinak zoh tuin hruaitu thim le tuanvo i pek awk a si.
Cun minung hi sining phunhnih chungah a thangmi an si. Pakhatnak cu nu hrinnak in nu/pa an sinak nih a pek mi sining (sexuality) an ngei i a dang sining pakhat an ngeih mi cu an thannak pawngkam nih si termi, cucu nunphung le cawmkeng nih cawmken ning hoih in sining ngeih a si. Tahchunhnak ah "nu nih mah bantuk tuahding", " pa nih mah bantuk tuahding" tiah nunphung nih a si termi gender role zong chiah piak an si. Nu sinak (female nature) in Pathian nih a mi pakhat a sermi a si ahcun cu sining cu thlen khawh lo mi (transgender tuah kha chim duhmi a si lo) in born nature a si caah thlafatin thi a ngei i pasal a ngeih tikah nau a pawi i nau hnuk dinh mi a si. Cucu Pathian pekmi nature a si. Pa zong Pathian nih cithlah tuah a ser hna caah cu an ngeihmi ci cu nu nih aa ngeih kho ve lo. Pathian nih a ser chihmi a nature a si ve. A sinain zohkhenh an sinak (nurture) nunphung le sining tu hin ningcang lo deuhin nu sinak le pa sinak cu cawnpiak le chimh an si tawn. M.Elizabeth Lewis Hall nih a tialmi cu nunphung cheukhat nih pa cu a tuaktan khotu an si i nu cu thinlung a nemmi an si, pa cu an puarhrang lai i nu cu nem tein nunding ti mi pawl nih hin hngakchia an chuah kaa in cawnpiak an si.[30]Cu caah thlen khawh lomi nature si loin thlenkhawh mi nurture, nu sining, pa sining hrilhfiah ning hi remh khawh a si ahcun Bible hrilhfiah tik le rel tikah midang namneh nak le zomhtaih nak si loin a dammi hrilhfiah an si lai i Khrihfabu chungah thleidan le khual sinak thinlung vial te hi a damh kho deuh men hnga.
IV. Khrihfabu Hruaining
Letty M.Russell nih 1960 lio hrawngah missionary structure an rak kalpi mi hruaining phun li a langh termi cu ; family type structure, permanent community structure, permanent availability structure le task force tiah a then hna.[31]
(a) Chungkhar- Khrihfabu cu inn chungkhar bantuk in khua an sa i an i hruai. Chungkhar i a ummi hna cu duhmi, duhlo mi, tar le mi no, mirang le minak sining dihlak i theih dih an si. Hmaitonh tein i zohkhenh, i tuamhlawm le i dawt kha biapi bik ah an chiah. Member pawl sining an i thei, an i daw i theihthiam nak a um. A sinain chungkhar hruaining Khrihfabu cu minung 100 hrawnghrang caah cun a tha ngai nain member tammi caah cun a tlamtlin kho lo. Chungkhar hruaining Khirhfabu ah a poi tawnmi belte cu cawmhau mi tefa, tu le fa tamtuk an um ahcun cawmtu caah zohkhenh a har ngai kho mi a si (Hawikom Khrihfabu).
(b) Permanent Community Structure- Protestant Church cheukhat le Roman Catholic ah hmuh khawh bik an si. An i pumh kel, an tuah kel, caan hman kel ning tein kal a duh mi thlen a duh bak lo mi an si. A caan ah nun an i hrawm, a caan ah eidin i hrawmnak zong an ngei. An zumhning, an i hruaining tharchuah an duh lo. An umnak community chung te lawngah khua an sa. (Thlen aa tim bak lomi Khrihfabu).
(c) Permanent Availability Structure- Hi Khrihfabu pawl cu an mipi herhnak ah zeitik poah ah caan a pe kho pengmi an si. Zeitik caan poahah zei bantuk poahah an member chung minung an herhnak ahcun an bomh peng hna. An mah bomhnak a herhmi poah zuan hnawh i bomh kha an i zuam.Hruaitu le member ration zoh thiam lo ahcun hruaitu caah burnout a fawi te mi a si. (911 Khrihfabu)
(d)Task Force-Hi hna pawl cu a um cia mi si loin thil pakhatkhat tuah duhmi an ngeih ti ruangah hmunkhat ah an i pum, an i kom. Tahchunhnak ah mihar bomh an herh caah phaisa kawlnak an tuah. An cawlcang, an tuan ti hna i an i tinhmi an lim ahcun an chuak tak dih.(Riannih a funtom mi hna)
A ngandam mi Khrihfabu tiah a tlamtling taktak mi cu Vawlei cungah a har ngai ko lai. Nain damnak lei a panh mi Khrihfabu nih an i zuam mi cu Khrih cungah bunhmi Khrihfabu a si. Cun Macchia nih a chimmi hi ka lungtling tuk a chimmi cu, “Healthy growth is a process, it requires risk taking, life style change and ongoing evaluation."[32]Thlennak tuah hi nikhat, caankhat ah zeitik hmanh ah a tlamtling kho bal lo. Thlen duhnak thinlung neih tu ahcun thlen khawhnak lam a um zung zal. Byrd nih Khirhfabu cu Jesuh sining a cawngmi sianginn a si awk a si a ti.[33] Jesuh Khrih nih misual he miding he thleidang loin a cohlan hna, a thisen sunglawi in kan sualnak a tawl i a kan khamh. A khamhnak chungah telh chih dihmi kan si. A mah sining lo chin lengmang in kan thannak le kan cawnnak sianginn a si ahcun khual sinak a um ti hnga lo.
V. Biakamthar le Nu
Pathian cu zeizong vialte cungah nawl ngeimi, zeizong te a sertu Pathian a si caah a khamhnak kongah hin phun tampi in a duh ahcun rian a rak tuan khawh ve ko. A sinain nu, Mary paw chung theng tein thlakua chung pawi a rak si, Mary nih a hrin i hnukthlum in a rak cawmken. Mary cu Jesuh Khrih i a pakhat nak a saya le Jesuh Khrih zultu hmasabik zong a si.[34] Luke 11:27b ah nu pakhat nih mipi lakin nangmah an hringtu le hnukthlum an dinh tunu cu thluachuak nu a va si dah, tiah a rak ti phah. Jesuh Khrih a riantuannak zongah nu tampi an i tel. Cun a thawhthannak thawngtha hrimhrim a thei hmasabik tu cu nu hna an rak si ko (Mark 16:1; Mat.28:1; Lk.24:1 le Jh.20:1). A chuahnak, a thawhthannak in a thawhthan hnu tiang nu hna a pawngkam ah an um, an zulh, an tah i a thawngtha karhnak ding caah rian an rak tuan.
Hlanlio zultu hna chanah Biakinn an rak ngei lo. Cucaah mi si kho deuh mi nih an inn cu Pahtian biak tinak le hawikomhnak hmun ah an rak hman ter tawn hna. Cu bantuk cu house Churches tiah kawh an rak si. Rome chan lio ahhin mirum le sifak tiah an rak i cawh lulh hna. Mirum deuh nih siannak he sifak pawl an sia a remnak dingah rak bomhchanh an si. Cu hna pawl cu patron tiah an rak kawh hna i bomhchanh a hau mi sifak deuh pawl cu client tiah ti an rak si. Client tampi a ngeimi poah cu an chanah mithmai a ngeimi le tihzah mi an rak si.[35] Jerusalem um, John Mark a nu, Mary zong a inn cu pumhnak rak tuahnak hmun ah hman a rak si (Lamkaltu 12:12; 14:16). Loadicea khuami Nympha zong nih a inn ah Khrihfabu a pumhpi hna (Col.4:15), Lydia (Lam.16:11-15,40), Euodia and Syntyche zong Paul nih (Phil.4:2-3) an kong a tial tikah synathleo, biafang a hman. A sullam cu (Fought together with me side by side) ka sir leiin keimah he tangin riantuan mi timi biafang a hman. Mah biafang hi Paul cakuat ah voi 12 a hman i mah biafang a hman tik poahah zumtu sawsawh caah siloin hruaitu caah a hman zungzal ti zong hmuh khawh a si.[36] Lydia, Mary le Nympha hna hi an mah inn ah Khirhfabu pumkhomh nak le hawikomh nak sponser a rak pe tu hna, an pawngkam ah tihzah ngaingai mi nu an si ti a fiang. Priscilla le Aquila hi Paul he neihniam tein riantuan ti an rak si (Lam.18:18-19), a va min chim hmasa loin a mah min a hmasa ah chim a sinak zoh tikah a mah tuhi hruaitu deuh dirhmun a ngeimi a si lai ti zong zumhmi a si. Cun Phoebe zong Cenchreae khuaah Khrihfa upa a rak tuanmi a si (Rome.16:1-2).
Nu cu biakinn chungah a lu aa khuh lai (ICor.11:2-16) Paul nih ca a kuat tik hna ah a cakuat mi cohlang tu Khrihfabu hrehning hoih in a tial tawn ti cu kan theih dih mi asi. Nu tha an si theihhngalh nak caah lukhuh a fial mi hna hi a si. Hlawhhlang nu (Number 5:18), thinghmui mi (Lev.13:45) nih midang he an i lawh lonak ah samthlah buin an um tawn. Cun Korin khua cu sipuaizi thatnak hmun a si caah minung tampi cawhhrup in an umnak hmun a si. Minung an tam bantuk in an biaknak zong a tam. Cucaah Corin nu hna cu biaknak hlawhhlang nu pawl (pagan temple ah a kal mi hna) he an nun aa khah lo nak hnga cawnpiak nak tu a si.[37] Pumh caan ah dai tein um ding (ICor.14:34-35), pumhnak chungah ningcang loin Pathian biaknak hmunah a ummi hna siknak a si i v.33 chungah zeicatiah Pathian nih a kan auh cu ningcang lo piin umawk ah si loin daite le remte in um awk tuah a si. Cawnpiaktu si loin a cawngtu an si awk a si (ITim 1:6-7) a cung le a tang hun rel chih tikah a fiang micu hi cakuat a tial hrawng ahhin cawnpiaknak hmanlo a rak um (ITim 1:6-7' 4:1; 6:20-21), Cu ahman lomi cawnpiak nakcu vahvaih a huam mi nuhmei pawl ruangah a karh tiah ruah dawh a si (ITim.5:13). Cu pinah present tense (I do not permit) timi a hman i ca a kuat lio i hnahnawhnak chuah pitu nu hna kha a ti mi hna a si lai ti cu a fiang ko. Khat leiah Timothy a rak cawnpiak tu cu a pi Lois le a nu Zunis an si ti zong fiangten a langh ter (IITim.1:5). Vawlei cung nu zapi caah siloin khuakhat, bu pakhat chungah a rak ummi nu hna cawnpiaknak a si caah universal truth phun cun lak awk a si lo.
ITim.5:9-10 chungah cun cawmtu a ngei lomi nuhmei pawl hmanh Paul nih an zawn a ruah hna i Khrihfabu ah an tuan dingmi rian zong a chimh hna. Kum 60 cung a si lai, cun va pakhat lawng a rak ngei bal mi a si lai, fa a rak cawmkeng bal mi zong a si lai i khualtlung a dawmi le Pathian mi hna an ke a tawl piak mi, harnak a tong mi hna a bawm tawnmi le thiltha tuannak leiah min ngeimi. Cu bantuk sinak a ngei i cawmtu a ngei lomi hna cu Khrihfabu nih zohkhenh ding rian a fial hna (ITim.5:4,16).
A tlangpi cun an nunphung ruangah langhngan in nu cu Jesuh Khrih zultu an rak si hna lo nain a kapkip in Jesuh Khrih riantuannak le a Khrihfabu caah an rak cawl i an thinlung dihlak in rian a tuan tu nu hna hi khual lungput an ngei ti awk an tha lo. Inntek lungput he Khrih ca le a thawngtha karhnak caah aa pumpe mi an si.
VI. Khrihfabu Hruaitu Rian- Khrihfabu i hruainak kongah a herhning in remh, chap, zuh nak tuah lengmang a herh. Cawnnak lei le theihhngalh tamnak leiah than peng a herh fawn. Mipi awan zong ngeihpiak khawh zuam a herh. Cun thithruai nak ah gender, age balance a um le um lo zong ruahchih a herh. Hi zawn belah hruaitu ah nu pakhat tal i tel seh tiphun kha chim duh mi a si lo. Margaret D.Kamitsuka chimmi hi ruahphu a si, “Inclusion is no solution, empathy is no solution.”[38] Zangfahnak ruangah hei telh ve sawsawh nih damnak taktak a chuah pi lai lo. Minung tlingah pom i thim ve dingtu khi chim duhmi cu a si. Cun a chunzan in aa thlengmi vawlei ah Khrihfabu cu a um caah hruaining, Bible hrilhfiah ning, Pathian biakning te hna zong zohthan lengmang a herh.
MacAurthur nih "Khrihfa bu ah member cu an karh nain Khrih zultu taktak an tlawm chin. Zultu sernak ah thazang chuah deuh a herh a ti. Zultu ser tikah Bible biain cawnpiak, a nunnak ah cu Bible bia aa nunpi khawhnak hnga bomh le nifa a nunnak ah Khrih lo chin lengmang in a nun aa thlen khawh nak hnga zohkhen,"[39] hna hi hruaitu nih biapi tein tuanding mi an si a ti. Cun member thar ngeih tikah Khrihfabu nih a pommi zumhnak, tuahser nak vial te tha tein chimh cawnpiak nak ngeih khawh i zuam ah cun mihlun, mithar thleidan nak le khual lungput zong a tlawm deuh lai.
Khrihfabu ah Nucu Khual an si lo
Laimi Khrihfabu nih kan tuah tawnmi tipil innnak le Bawipa zanriah i hrawm tinak, thenhra thenkhat peknak, chiatthat i hrawmnak, khualtlung mileng zohkhenhnak le Pathian in chungkhar sinak hna hi zumtu dihlak nih kan fian i kan i nunpi khawh ahcun Khrihfabu chung khual sinak um loin a dammi Khrihfabu sinak ah karhlan khawh a si deuh hnga.
(a) Tipil innak
Baptist nih upa, lungfim cangmi (zumhnak a ngeimi) lawnglawng hi tipil inn nak a pek. A ruang cu a nu le a pa, a pawngkam mi ruangah si loin a mah tein a lung a fimcang i a zumhnak aa thleh khawh cang hnu lawngah tipil inn cu a si. Jesuh Khrih cu khamhtu le bawipa ah a cohlan a si ahcun, cu a hrinthan nak, Jesuh Khrih a cohlan nak langhter nak ca dingah tipil in nak cu a lak i Khrihfabu ah member tling in a hung um. Tipil inn nak ahhin gender thleidan nak nih lai a rel lo i a zumhnak cungah aa hngat mi a si. Biakam hlun chan ahcun Pathian biakamh mibu chungah an hung luhnak ca ding ah cuarpar tannak an rak tuah ter hna. Cu nih cun pa a si mi poahpoah, cuarpar aa tanmi poahpoah cu Pathian mibu chungah luh khawhnak ding hmelchunh nak caah cuarpar tan an si. Khirhfabu member tling sinak hmelchunhnak tipil inn nak ahhin thleidan nak a um lo. Pumpak zumhnak le pumpak biakamnak in fehter mi a si caah member tling a si ciocio mi cu Pathian in chungkhar Khrihfabu chungah puitling an si dih(ICor.12:13; IPet.3:21).
(b) Bawipa zanriah hmannak
Hihi nan caah ka khuaimi pum a si, nan sinah ka rat than hlan tiang i lak u law ei uh, hihi nan caah ka thletmi thisen a si biakam nak feh tertu a si i lak u law ding u. Bawipa zanriah hmannak nih a phuanmi cu Bawipa pum pakhat mi cu vialte caah a khuai i cu a khuaimi pum aa hrawmmi an si. A thisen a thletmi a dingtimi an si (Luke 22:19-20). Bawipa thisa aa hrawmmi nih cun nunnak biakam thar chungah a nungmi mibu sinak hmelchunh nak a langh ter(Hebrew 9:18-28). Thil pathum a langh ter; Jesuh nih kan caah zeidah a rak tuah (ICor 11:26; John 16:20), nihin ah a mah he hawikomh in a nungmi kan sinak (IKor.10:16; Kalati.2:20; Rome 6:4) le hmailei caan ah kan caah a tuah te dingmi langhter chungnak (Mathew 26:29; Luke 22:18; Mark 14:25) kong chimtu a si. A mah a zum i tipilnak a ing mi vialte cu a cabuai ah cun aa tlum dihmi an si.
(c) Thenhra Thenkhat pek
Khrihfabu member dihlak nih tuah hrimhrim ding le Pathian zongnih a kan fialmi a si Malakhi 3:10. A herhning in cawnpiak nak le chimphuan nak ngeih lengmang ah ah a tha fawn.
(d) Chiatnak thatnak i hrawm tinak
Khirh pum chung ah pumkhat sinak aa hrawmmi Khrihfabu ah chiatnak le thatnak ton tikah i zuan hnawh, i bomh chanh le i umpi nak zongah thazang chuah chinchin a herh (Rome 12:15). Lungkuai mi va hnemh, aa lawmmi sinah vaa lomh ve tiang lawng si loin i hawikomh caan hrimhrim zong a si chih awk a si.
(e) Midang cohlan/khualtlung dawt (Hospitality)
Midang dawt le midang caah tluninn onh timi hi a hramthok tein Pathian hrimhrim nih a rak tuah cang mi a si. Bible cu Pathian nih minung hna caah umtonak serpiak nak Eden dum in aa thok i thihhnu ah va um tenak hmun in a dong mi a si. Biathlam 21:1- Khi hnuah Van thar le vawlei thar kha ka hmuh hna. Van hmasa le vawlei hmasa kha an lo cang I rili kha a um ti lo. Cucaah sertu Pathian hrimhrim hi midang a cohlang tu, khual a dawtu Pathian a si. Midang cohlannak nih umnak hmun ah lungdi riamhnak, tinhmi i hrawm khawhnak le ngeitu thinlung ngeihnak vialte hi a chuah pi.[40] (Hebrew 13:2; Rome 12:13; IPet.4:9; Matt. 5:13-16). Khrihfabu cu Pathian inn chungkhar a si caah pakhat le pakhat i cohlannak hmun hrimhrim a si awk a si. Mi pakhat cohlan cu a cohlang tu pa/nu nih a nunnak chungah hei khumh a si i a mah chungkhar nan si tiah hngalh ternak tuah a si.[41] Lot zong Vancung mi nih an rak tlun i Soddom khuami pawl nih a khual pawl cungah thil thalo tuah an rak timh lioah a khual pawl cungah that lonak tuah lo dingin a rak ven hna Gen.19:1-11. Cun Paul zong nih Khrih nih an cohlan hna bangin, Pathian nih sunparnak a hmuh nakhnga pakhat le pakhat i cohlang uh tiah Rome 15:7 ah zumtu hna cu thazang a pek hna. Christiane nih khualtlung dawt tikah ralrin bel a herh a ti cucu boundary ngeih a hau a ti. Khualtlung mileng dawtnak ah ri le mumal a um lo ahcun Khrihfabu sinak a tlau lai i Khrihfabu cu social service organization[42] ah chuah sual a fawi a ti.
(f) Pathian in chungkhar
Rev. Dr. Lal Cung Awi nih a DMin dissertation ah Pathian inn chungkhar a tuamtu paruk a tial mi cu dawtnak ah hrambunh, lungkhah nak (unity as core nature), pehtlaih nak, Khrih ah siningthar (Eph 1:4) a ngeimi si i hngalhnak, thlen a herh tikah thlennak a cohlang kho mi sinak le Pathian thangthat tinak in Pathian he i tonnak hmun a sinak hna hi Pathian inn chungkhar sining chungah aa bunh mi an si. Thlennak kongah pakhat le pakhat i zumh (trust) a um lo ahcun thlennak tiang a phan kho lo.[43] Cucaah Khirhfabu cu Pathian inn chungkhar a si. Chungkhar pakhat chung umti dingah i lawh dih le sinak i khah dih a herh lo chungkhar chung khuasa mi vialte nih inntek sinak lungput ngeih dihtu a herhmi a si.
Biadongh nak
Khrihfabu cu Khrih kong cawnnak sianginn, Khirh pum, Pathian inn chungkhar a si caah Khrih ah nunthlennak a ngei mi hna hmunkhat ah thazang lak tinak hmun, cawntinak hmun, Pathian thangthat tinak hmun, i bomhchanhnak hmun, pekchanhnak hmun le tuantinak hmun a si. Cu chungah pa an um i nu zong an um, hngakchia zong an um i mino, u pa, tar zong an um. A sualkho mi a palh khomi minung lawng te an umnak a si bantukin Pathian dawtnak le tlanhnak a herhmi lawng te zong an si. Nu sinak pa sinak ah, i dannak ah hram bunh loin Pathian chungkhar khat, Khirh pum chungah nge cio sinak le Khrih nun lo chin lengmang dingin cawnnak sianginn si nakah hram a bunh ahcun a dammi Khrihfabu a si ko lai. Member dihlak an mah le an talents hoih cioin cu Khrih pumpi a thancho khawh nak hnga a cawl cio ding, aa pe cio ding an si. Jesuh Khrih bia pahnih tehi Khrihfabu thithruai nak cioah lam hruaitu si hram seh tiah saduhthah nak ka ngei.
Mi nih kan cungah tuah hna seh ti nan duh bantuk khan midang cu zongah va tuah ve u. (Matthai 7:12a)
Bawipa na Pathian cu na lungthin dihlak le na ruahnak dihlak le na nunnak dihlak in na dawt lai. Na innpa cu nangmah naa dawt bantuk in na dawt lai. (Matthew 22:37,39).
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42Ibid.,63.
43Lal Cung Awi, Household of God: Bridging the Generation gap in Chin Churches in the United States (Unplublished D.Min Dessertation, 2022),49-72.
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CBCUSA -Central Area Bible Conference ah chimmi asi
