北米のブラザレンの問題点を指摘した手紙のオリジナル（1）

翻訳のオリジナルテキストです。ご参考までに。

Dear Fellow Workers:

I am sending this email to a handful of “seasoned” workers just for your thoughtful consideration and prayers as you seek to serve the Lord. I am not expecting a response or a debate. Please receive it for information only. Out of the blue a young married mother in her late 20’s sent me an email expressing her great concerns for the future of assemblies as we know them. We have all received emails expressing concerns from time to time, but I thought this sister’s concern was expressed fairly, orderly and respectfully given her  intense feelings. She is mourning the loss of a number of people who have left the assembly. She is mourning over a number of things and is pleading for believers in leadership positions to seriously consider the true health of assembly testimony in North America today. As for herself she says she is a “Hebrew of the Hebrews”, raised in the assembly and committed to the assembly because of the truths she values. She rates her and her husband as “conservative” amongst their peers and then asks the question: “if we are feeling this way, how must others be feeling!” She says this: I really don't think older folks realize how precarious the future of the assemblies are. They are sitting comfy cozy in an environment that caters to their needs, but people my age look around and realize that in 20 yrs when all these people are in the glory, there's only going to be a  handful of us left! We're the ones that will bear the consequences of elders'  decisions today, and frankly, many of us are not cool with that! What she then shared with me was the email (below) that she recently sent to an older brother in the  assembly who is not on the oversight but is deeply respected. He had spoken at a midweek meeting and asked the question from the pulpit: “Why are so many young people leaving? Why does the teaching not seem to stick?” One of his concerns was: why is it when sisters leave and go somewhere else, they no longer wear a head covering? Why are the truths we taught them not sticking? So that is the context for the email (below) she wrote to him after the meeting. In an orderly way, this burdened young sister seeks to address some of the major issues facing assembly testimony today from her generation’s perspective. It is long but I think it is an orderly and fairly thorough assessment of the “state of the nation” in many, many assemblies. If it hasn’t surfaced in your town yet, I am quite sure the sentiments are lurking just below the surface. Even if you and I may be shocked at some of the things in the email, I think you will agree that the issues raised are worth very, very serious consideration. 

 

I am sure the reading of her email will leave you with a burdened heart, but if you have been getting the pulse of believers between the ages of 20-40, this sister is certainly not an isolated exception in her concern. And one more thing, this young sister is not related to me or any one in our extended family nor is she a personal friend of anyone in our extended family circle. One more qualifier, she mentions a speaker at a conference whom she felt was getting through to the young people. To my knowledge none receiving this email, including the sender, were among the speakers at that conference.

Warmly in Christ, (Anonymous)

 

Below is the email she sent to the older brother in her local assembly whom she deeply respects and  loves.