I walked past a shop and saw a box of medical masks for sale. It was “literally” a fire-house sale, downright throwing away price. Yet, no one bothers. I remembered how much it used to cost just to buy some. The government had to give the people free of charge to defray the cost of wearing masks. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government had to ‘encourage’ people to wear masks when they are out and about. Then it is mandated or else you will be breaking the law. The amount of grumbling was very loud from many sectors. After a little while, people got used to it. Now, it is DORSCON Green. There is no need to wear masks anymore. Yet there are some (I am not criticizing) who saw it fit to wear. I am fine with that. What is not fine by me is their judgmental glare at anyone not wearing a mask.

Human beings love to think they are the only one who knows. They will spend no time casting scorn of others who disagree with them. Well, too many issues. Let me just narrow it a little to our belief. Some will go on whatever social media talks and influences and believe that the world should be such. The confusion of Catholicism with Christianity is a clear example. They seem similar but are vastly different. Yes, we both believe in Jesus Christ, but Christians do not believe in Mary nor the Pope having the status of Jesus Christ. Taking beliefs from different religions and putting it into understanding Christianity will cause much confusion and misunderstandings. Lemongrass is not same as lemon, not even close.

Unless you are willing to take the effort and plough through the study of the bible, do not try to speak like an expert. Be humble in our learning of the scripture. Live out what we know and search for clear understanding in what we don’t. There are practices that are more of culture or tradition than scriptural. Do not mix the two. Christianity use to flourish in the West but never at any moment equate it as a West religion. The West believes less in Jesus Christ than you would imagine. Christ is for all and it is not western.

God bless,
In Christ’s service,

Barry Leong

我走过一间商店时，看到一盒口罩。就如“字面上”写的，这是火烧屋的削价，直落到最低抛售价。然而仍无人问津。我记得之前要付出高价才能买到一些，政府也因此要为民众提供免费口罩以减轻负担。冠状病毒疫情刚开始，政府必须“鼓励”民众在外出和活动的时候佩戴口罩，之后还成为强制性，否则将视为触犯法律，因此引起各部门怨声载道。不久之后，民众慢慢习惯了。现在，疾病暴发应对系统状况（DORSCON）已呈现绿色，我们无需再戴口罩了。但是仍然有一些人（我不是批评）认为继续佩戴是合宜的。我不认为有什么问题。我觉得有问题的是他们向不佩戴口罩的人所投注的批判性目光。

人总喜欢觉得自己是唯一的知情者。他们会不留余力的藐视与他们背道而驰的人。是的，太多问题了。让我缩小范围谈谈我们的信仰。有些人会浏览网络媒体的言论，然后受之影响也相信世界就是如此这般。最明显的例子就是天主教与基督徒之间的混淆。他们看来相似，实则差异甚大。是的，两者之间都相信耶稣基督，但是基督教却不相信马利亚和教皇也拥有耶稣基督的地位。以不同宗教的信仰来理解基督教是会造成很多混乱及误会的。香茅不是柠檬，它们甚至一点儿都不像。

除非你愿意用心思谨慎研读圣经，否则不要以专家的身份发言。要以谦卑的态度研读圣经。活出我们所知道的；对我们所不知道的，要探索以求更清晰的理解。有很多作法是基于文化或传统多于圣经，不要将两者混淆了。基督教曾在西方蓬勃发展，但却从未将之视为西方的宗教。在西方相信耶稣基督的人，恐怕比你想象中的更少。基督是属于所有人的，而非是西方人的。

上帝赐福，
在基督里同工，

Barry Leong