Manna issue 80 - Against the Tide 抵擋潮流
Do not be conformed to this world. 不要效法這個世界
Based on a sermon series on “Overcoming Secularity” by Peter Shee—Singapore
根據新加坡 許彼得傳道 "勝過世俗"的一系列講道
DEFINING SECULARITY—A TALE
OF TWO AGES
世俗的定欺 - 兩個世代的故事
The word “secular” comes from the
Latin saecularis, relating to an age or
period, which is in turn derived from
saeculum which means ”generation.”
The Bible mentions two ages – “this
age” (cf. Heb 2:2) and the “next age”
or the “age to come” (Heb 2:5). The
former refers to our lives on this earth,
and the latter, to the future world
where we will spend eternity with
God in bliss.
"世俗"這個字，來自拉丁文 saecularis,
指的是一個年紀或時期，而反過來，
這個拉丁字 saecularis 卻是來自 saeculum 這個字，代表"generation 一個年代"。
聖經提到兩個年代 - "今世"(參考，來 2：2)及"來世"或"下一個世紀"。(來 2：5)
年者指的是我們在這個地上的生活，後者指的是未來的世界，
在神的祝福中，那時我們會和神永遠在一起。
The author of Hebrews urges us
to anchor ourselves to the things we
have heard lest we drift away (Heb
2:1–2). Such a warning hints at the
characteristic of “this age”—there are
whelming tides that may sweep the
unwary away and prevent his or her
entry into the “next age.” We must
always examine our mindsets and
check our behavior against the things
we have heard. We must clearly
discern: which age do we seek to
align ourselves to?
希伯來書的作者鼓鼓我們，要守住我們起初所聽的道理，以免我們隨流漂去。(來 2：1-2)
這樣的警告，就暗示了"今世"有一些特性，
有一些具有衝擊性的潮漂，會把那些不小心的人衝走，
讓他或她無法進來"來世"。
我們總要檢查自已的心思意念，確認自已的行為是不是有違背當初所領受的道理。
我們一定要很清楚的分辨：我們追求到的，那底是那一個世代，並且把自已方向調整走到那個方向？
DETERMINING OUR STATUS—A
PEOPLE OF THE NEW AGE
決定自已的身份 - 新世紀的人
God has not put the world1 to come
in subjection to angels (Heb 2:5–6).
Citing the Psalms (cf. Ps 8:4–6), the
author of Hebrews informs us that
Jesus Christ will rule the world to
come. And this world ruled by Christ
has already begun; the kingdom of
God has been inaugurated on earth as
His church and those who have been
baptized into the church of Christ are
His subjects. This is why Jesus tells us
not say the kingdom of God is here or
there, “[f]or indeed, the kingdom of
God is within you” (Lk 17:21).
我們所說將來的世界，神原沒有交給天使管轄。(來 2：5-6)
引用詩篇(參考，詩 8：4-6)，希伯來書的作者告訴我們，
基督耶穌將來掌管來世。
而且這個由基督所統治的世界已經開始了；
神的國度已經在地上正式開始成立了，
因為她的教會，和那些受洗進基督教會的人都是她的子民和臣僕。
這也就是為什麼，耶穌告訴我們，不要說神的國度在這裡，或是在那裡，
因為神的國就在你們心理。(路 17：21)
Jesus died for our sins and His
blood redeemed us from this age. His
resurrection marked the inauguration
of His messianic kingdom (Acts 13:33;
cf. Ps 2:6–7; Heb 2:5–8). Through
baptism, we identify with His death
and resurrection, escape from the
corruption of this age and enter into
His kingdom. As subjects of God’s
kingdom, we must first seek God,
His kingdom, and His righteousness
instead of the things of this age. The
same Spirit that raised Jesus from the
dead is now given to us to empower
us to obey God and walk according
to His righteousness (Rom 8:11–13).
If we persevere, resisting conformity
to this age, we show ourselves to be
true citizens of the heavenly kingdom.
耶穌為了我們的罪而死，祂的寶血救贖我們脫離這個世界。
而祂的復活正式宣告了，祂彌賽亞所要建立的國度，已經開始正式成立了。
(徒 13：33；參考，詩 2：6-7；來 2：5-8)
透過接受了洗禮，我們認同了和祂的死亡，以及祂的重新復活，
脫離了今世的敗壞，可以進入祂的國度。
身為神國度的子民，我們一定要先求神的事，神國和神義，
而不是去尋索今世的其他任何事物。
同樣的聖靈，讓耶穌可以從死裡復活，如今已經賜給我們了，
讓我們有能力順服神，跟據祂的公義可以行出好行為。(羅 8：11-13)
若我們可以好好堅守，抵抗隨追今世的潮流，
我們就可以表現出，自已是天國的真正子民。
DISCERNING OUR DESTINY—
FUTURE GLORY IN THE NEW AGE
考察自已的尊嚴 - 未來新世紀的榮耀
Jesus is the captain of our salvation
(Heb 2:10). He shall bring us, together
with other children of God, into glory
in the world to come. However, this
demands that we submit to Jesus as
captain and accept His absolute rule
in our lives; this requires us to reject
any affiliation to this present world.
耶穌是我們救贖的元帥。(來 2：10)
祂將帶領我們，和其他神的兒女，一起進入來世的榮耀之中。
然而，這需要我們，要能夠順服耶穌，
讓祂成為我們的元帥，在我們的生活中，接受祂對我們絕對的統治；
然而這需要我們可以拒絕任何與今世事物連繫。
God has deemed us worthy to
be called His people. However, we
must constantly remember that this
world is not worthy of God’s people
(Heb 11:38). Hebrews 11 is a list of
victors who had overcome the fiercest
battles in their lives. Despite intense
persecution—some were even sawn
into two—they maintained their faith
to the very end. These people of faith
could persevere because they stayed
away from a world that was not
worthy of them. They wandered in
mountains, deserts, dens, caves and
so on in order to avoid the corruption
of the world, and remained holy.
神已經認為我們，值得被稱為是祂的子民。
我們一定要時常記得，今世是完全不值得神的子民去追求的。(來 11：38)
希伯來書是一卷勝利者的名單，他們在生活中，已經勝過了最兇猛的戰役。
雖然有強烈的逼迫 - 有一些甚至被鋸成兩半，他們維持自已的信仰直到最後。
這些有信仰的人們，他們可以堅守下去，
是因為他們遠離這個世界，而這個世界並不配擁有神的子民。
他們在各各山中，沙漠，獸穴，洞穴和各式各樣的地方到處流浪，
為的就是避免受到今世的敗壞，並且可以一直維持聖潔。
Today, we may not be physically
removed from society. However, we
need to be spiritually separated from
this world and her values (2 Cor 6:17).
We must resist drifting along with
the tide of the world. Jn 17:14–17
provides many teachings on how to
be spiritually removed from this age—
we must not be influenced by the
world to sin together with them (v14)
and we must lead a holy life (v17).
今日，我們或許肉體上不能脫離這個社會。
然而在屬靈上，我們應該要與這個世界和其各種價值觀有所分離。(林後 6：17)
我們一定要抵抗，不讓自已隨從今世的潮流，而隨流失去。
約翰福音17章 14-17 節，提供我們許多教導，
讓我們知道要如何在屬靈上，與這個世界脫離 -
我們一定不要受到這個世界的影響，並且和他們一起犯罪，(14節)
並且我們一定要過著聖潔的生活。(17節)
BECOMING A LIVING SACRIFICE 成為活祭
I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable to God, which is
your reasonable service. And do not
be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. (Rom 12:1–2)
1所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，
是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。
2不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純金、可喜悅的旨意。
(羅 12：1-2)
Although we are still living in the
world, we must present our bodies
as a living sacrifice, i.e., we should
conduct our lives in a worthy manner,
holy and acceptable to God. Such
a sacrifice of our bodies “is our
reasonable service.” It is a conscious
act on our part to offer our entire life
as a continual worship of God. Only
by sustaining communion with God
can we remain secure and not drift
away with the tides of this age.
雖然我們仍然活在這個世界中，我們要把自已的身體當作活祭獻上，
也就是說，我們應該要用讓人配得榮耀的態度，好好過自已的生活，
讓神覺得你是聖潔的，是可喜悅的。
這樣一種用我們身體作為祭品的奉獻，就我們該獻上的服事。
對我們而言，這是一種有意識的行為，
要獻上我們全部的生命，成為一直持續不斷對神的崇拜。
只有一直維持與神交通，我們才能好好保護自已，
不會隨著今世的潮流而隨流失去。
There are three steps to presenting
our bodies as a living sacrifice to
God. First, do not be conformed
to this world2. Second, we must be
transformed by the renewing of our
minds. Third, we must prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. The following focuses on
the first step.
要把自已的身體當作活祭獻給神，有三個步驟。
第一，不要效法這個世界。
第二，我們一定要更新自已的心思意念，進而加以改變。
第三，我們要表現出何為神的善良、純金、可喜悅的旨意。
接下來，我們要集中在第一步驟。
NOT CONFORMING TO THIS AGE 不要效法這個世界
The Course of the World 世界的方向
The world that we live in is in rebellion
against God. In the Gospel of John,
Jesus repeatedly warns that His people
will always be at loggerheads with the
people of this world (Jn 14:14,16).
Being of God and being of the world
are two mutually exclusive categories;
we can only be of one or the other. If
we choose the former, then we must
be ready to stand against the world
and against the tide of secularity.
我們所住的世界，是與神對抗的。
在約翰福音裡，重覆警告我們，
祂的子民總會和今世的人民相爭鬥。(約 14：14，16)
要進與神親近，或是親近世界，是兩種互斥的分類；
我們只能選擇這一邊，或是另一邊的陣營。
若我們選擇了前者，那麼我們一定要準備好，
隨著起身來對抗這個世界，抵抗這個世俗的潮流。
The tides of this world are no gentle
ripples which lap and eddy around
us as we stand. Instead, the tides of
secularity are often huge waves that
rush in to sweep us out into the ocean.
Even as we strive to align ourselves to
God, the world strives—insidiously,
incessantly and relentlessly—to make
us conform to it.
今世的潮流並不是溫柔的漣漪，只會圍繞在我們所處的身旁，引起幾圈波紋或是少許的旋渦而已。
相反地，世俗的潮流時常是巨大的波浪，
會兇猛的衝進來，把我們掃出去帶到大海去。
甚至我們很努力要讓自已與神聯合，
但這個世界仍然奮力要讓我們去效法它。
[I]n which you once walked
according to the course3 of this
world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit who now
works in the sons of disobedience,
among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the
flesh and of the mind, and were by
nature children of wrath, just as the
others. (Eph 2:2–3)
2那時，你們在其中行事為人，隨從今世的風俗，
順服空中掌權者的首領，就是現今在悖逆之子心中運行的邪靈。
3我們從前也都在他們中間，放縱肉體的私慾，
隨著肉體和心中所喜好的去行，本為可怒之子，和別人一樣。
(弗 2：2-3)
Before we came to know the Lord
Jesus Christ, we were part of the
world, conformists to this age. Paul
warns us that there are three things
that threaten us and our salvation—
the devil (the prince of the power
of the air), the course of the world,
and our fleshly lusts. Our lusts draw
us towards the current of the world.
Through our lusts, the devil controls
us. If we can control or even eliminate
our desires, the devil will no longer be
able to sway us to walk according to
the course of the world. However, if
we are still conforming to the world
and walking according to our lusts, it
means that we are under the control
of the evil one to disobey God.
在我們認識主耶穌基督之前，我們是屬於這世界的一部份，效法這個世界。
保羅警告我們，會有三件事會對我們產生威脅，影響我們的救贖 -
魔鬼(空中掌權者的首領)，隨從今世的風俗，放縱肉體的私慾。
我們的私慾會吸引我們去接近世界的潮流。
因為我們有私慾，魔鬼就會控制我們。
若我們可以控制自已的慾望，甚至可以消滅自已的慾望，
魔鬼就不再可以讓我們有所偏離，依照這個世界的道路而行。
然而，若我們仍然效法這個世界，依照我們的慾望而行，
這就代表了，我們是處於惡者的控制之下，而不順服神。
Some argue that the world is
beautiful and ask what is wrong with
enjoying the world. It is true that God
created a good and beautiful world
(cf. Gen 1:3–25). However, when
the Bible says not to conform to this
world, the Bible is not referring to
the physical earth, but the ways of
the world or the course of the world.
Not conforming to this age means
not conforming to the world’s values,
mindsets, and ways of doing things.
Galatians 1:4 provides us with the
correct translation—“this (present
evil) age” as opposed to “this world,”
thus clarifying the distinction between
the physical creation and the ways of
the world. God created a wonderful
world to be inhabited by His children.
Tragically, since the fall of Man, “this
age” now occupies God’s world and
we have become corrupted. However,
the apostle Paul reminds us that Christ
has saved us from the corruption of
this age (Gal 1:4).
有些人會爭論，這個世界是這麼的美麗，
並且會問，去享受世界的一切到底有什麼錯呢？
是的，神創造了一個又好又美麗的世界。(參考，創 1：3-25)
然而當聖經提到不要效法這個世界的時候，
聖經並不是指著物質上的這個地球，
而是這個世界的作事的方法，以及這個世界大家所行的道路。
不要效法這個世界代表了，不要去效法接受這個世界的價值觀，心態，以及處事的方式。
加拉太書一章4節，給了我們一個正確的翻譯 -
它使用"今世(現在的惡者)"這個詞，相對於使用"這個世界"這個詞。
因此就可以在物質創造的世界和這個世界行事的方式之間，而有清楚的分別。
神創造了一個美好的世界，要讓祂的子民來居住。
很悲劇的是，因為人類的墮落，
"今世"如今佔據了神的世界，而我們已經變得敗壞。
然而，使徒保羅提醒我們，基督已經拯救我們脫離今世的敗壞。
(加 1：4)
Jesus Christ sacrificed His life on
the cross to deliver us from the
corruption in this age. We must
respond to this freely-given grace by
no longer conforming to the world
but conforming to the will of God,
our Father. This means being wise and
making prudent choices regarding
the things that affect our lives—our
friends, studies, career, and where we
live. Beware of making Lot’s choice.
耶穌基督犧牲了祂的生命，死在十字架上，
拯救我們脫離這今世的敗壞。
我們一定要回應這個白白得到的恩典，
不再效法這個世界，而是遵行我們天父，神的旨意。
這就代表了，要很有智慧，並且很謹慎的作出有關影響我們生活一切事物的選擇 -
我們的交友，學習，職業生涯，居住的場所。
要小心不要和羅得作出一樣的選擇。
Not of This World 不是今世
And their dead bodies will lie in the
street of the great city which spiritually
is called Sodom and Egypt, where also
our Lord was crucified. (Rev 11:8)
他們的屍首就倒在大城裡的街上；
這城按著靈意叫所多瑪，又叫埃及，就是他們的主釘十字架之處。
(啟 11：8)
This age that we live in is spiritually
Sodom because it is filled with
debauchery and immorality. This
world is spiritually Egypt because it
oppresses Christians and enslaves
people to sin. Do we still find the
world attractive? Do we still want to
conform to its ways?
我們所居住的今世，在屬靈上來說就是所多瑪，
因為其中充滿了墮落和不道德的事情。
今世就屬靈上來說也是埃及，因為它會欺壓基督徒，奴役人們去犯罪。
我們難道仍會覺得這個世界很吸引人嗎？
我們難道仍會想要效法這個世界的行事方式嗎？
We do not belong to this world
and that is why the world will hate
us (Jn 15:19). Moreover, our real
opponents are not human; our real
enemy is the spirit of the air. We do
not wrestle against flesh and blood
but dark forces (Eph 6:12). The prince
of darkness seeks to entice us over to
his side by appealing to our lust of the
flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life.
However, we must not compromise.
In fact, Philippians 2 tells us to make
our stand clear. We have to shine as
lights in the world and show ourselves
to be different from this age. The
world cannot receive the Spirit of
truth but He will abide with us forever
(Jn 14:16–18). Hence we do not seek
acceptance by the world; we have
overcome the world and those who
are of God hears us (1 Jn 4:5–6).
我們若不屬於這個世界，這就是這個世界會恨我們的原因。(約 15：19)
不只如此，我們真正的敵人並不是人類；
我們真正的敵人是空中掌權者惡靈。
我們並不是和有血有肉的敵人搏鬥，而是與黑暗的力量鬥爭。(弗 6：12)
黑暗的掌權者要尋索機會，引誘我們到他們那一邊的陣營去，
藉由述諸肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，今生的驕傲。
然而，我們一定不要妥協。
事實上，腓利比書二章告訴我們，要清楚表明自已的立場。
我們一定要在這個世上，像光一樣發亮，表現出自已和這個世界不一樣。
這個世界不能接受真理的聖靈，但聖靈卻會永遠與我們同住。(約 14：16-18)
因此，我們並不需要尋求這個世界來接受我們；
我們已經勝過這個世界；而那些屬神的人，就會聽從我們的話。(約一 4：5-6)
As Lot found out too late, this age
(or this world) may not gently invite
us to imbibe its values. At times, it
threatens and forces us to conform.
And often times, we—like Lot—have
long been corrupted by the views and
values of the society we live in. The
only solution according to the word
of God is to crucify (Gal 6:14). No
matter what threats we face, we have
to crucify the world. If the world does
not take “NO” for an answer, then
we have to crucify ourselves. In other
words, let us happily die in defiance
of the world and obedience to God,
rather than live in sinful conformity.
因為羅得發現的太晚，今世(或者說這個世界)
或許並不會溫柔地邀請我們好好接受它的價值觀。
時常是，它威脅和強迫我們去接受它的事。。
更有大部份是時候，我們就像羅得一樣，
長久以來就一直被我們居住社會的觀點和價值觀所敗壞。
跟據神的話，唯一的解決方法，就是要釘十字架。(加 6：14)
無論我們面臨什麼樣子的威脅，我們要把世界釘在十字架上。
若這個世界並不接受我們"拒絕"的回答，
那麼我們就要把自已釘在十字架上。
換句話說，讓我們因為反抗世界，順服神，而欣然受死，
而不是因為效法這個世界，並而過著犯罪的生活。
CONCLUSION—THIS WORLD WILL BE JUDGED
結論，這個世界要受審判
This world will eventually be judged
when Jesus comes again, signifying
the end of this age. John 16 tells
us that when Jesus comes again,
He will convict the world of sin and
righteousness, and the prince of this
age will be judged.
當耶穌再臨的時候，這個世界最後要受到審判，代表了今世的結束。
約翰福音16章告訴我們，當耶穌再來的時候，
祂會審判這個世界的罪惡和公義，
今世的掌權者也要受到審判。
Paul also tells us that we—the
saints—will judge the world (1 Cor
6:2). If we are going to be judges of the
world, how can we defile ourselves by
conforming to this world’s values? We
must thus carefully examine ourselves
and repent from inappropriate
behavior so that we will be worthy
judges and not end up being judged
with the world. James tells us that
friendship with the world is enmity
with God; it is spiritual adultery (Jas
4:4).
保羅也告訴我們，我們 - 就是聖徒 - 將要審判這個世界。(林前 6：2)
若我們要成為這個世界的審判者，我們怎麼能夠來效法這個世界的價值觀，來沾污自已呢？
因此我們一定要小心檢查自已，對不適當的行為要有所悔改，
這麼一來，我們才能稱作是合格的審判官，而不是到最後和世界一起受審判。\
雅各告訴我們，凡想要與世俗為友的，就是與神為敵了。(雅 4：4)
Demas was a good co-worker with
Paul (Col 4:14; Phm 1:24) but left
his ministry because he loved this
present world (2 Tim 4:1). We were
entangled with the world before but
now that we have been saved, we
have escaped the corruption of this
age. Let us be wary lest we entangle
ourselves again with the pollution
of this age and our latter end will
be worse than the beginning (2 Pet
2:20).
底馬是保羅的好同工，(西 4：14；門 1：24)
但因為他貪愛這個世界，而離開自已的福音事奉工作。(提後 4：1)
以前我們受到世界的糾纏或纏累，但如今我們已經得救了，
我們已經逃避了今世的敗壞。
讓我們小心謹慎，以免我們受次再到世界的纏累，受到今世的污染，
而導致了我們以後的結果，比起一開始的時候更加糟糕。(彼後 2：20)
Let us strive to be among the victors
of Hebrews 11. We are people who
have faith, who truly believe that
God exists and seek God (Heb 11:3).
Most importantly, as one of those in
Hebrews 11, we must remember that
the world is not worthy of us. Never
drift along with this world. Stand
against the tide!
讓我們更加努力，讓自已可以列在希伯來書11章的勝利者之中。
我們是有信仰的人，也是真正相信神是存在的人，並且會主動尋求神。(來 11：3)
最重要的是，身為是希伯來書11章裡面其中一個勝利者，
我們一定要記得，這個世界不配擁有我們。
不要隨從這個世界漂流而去。
要站立穩固，起來對抗潮流。
1 Greek: ο?κουμ?νη from which “ecumenical” is derived
rather than α??ν or κ?σμο?; the emphasis is thus on a new
world order.
希臘文：ο?κουμ?νη從普遍衍生而來，而不是 α??ν or κ?σμο?
因此強調的是新世界的秩序
2 & 3 Greek: α??ν meaning “age.”
希臘文：α??ν代表世紀
Lot: A Family Tragedy
羅得：一個家庭的悲劇
Lot chose to live in Sodom because it was a thriving city (cf. Gen 13:10–12).
But Sodom was also a place full of evil (cf. Gen 18:20–33) and full of the
thinking of this age. By choosing this depraved society to live in and bring up
his family, Lot subjected himself to unnecessary and continual bombardment
of evil. The community he lived with was evil and Lot was tormented daily
because his soul was righteous (2 Pet 2:8).
羅得選擇去住在所多瑪城中，因為這是一個興盛的城市。(參考，創 13：10-12)
但是所多瑪也是一個充滿邪惡的地方(參考 創 18：20-33)，充滿了這個世界的想法。
因為選擇了這個墮落的社會來居住，並且扶養長大他的家庭。
羅得自已屈服了，自已接受了那些沒有必要的邪惡一直轟炸。
他所居住的社區很邪惡，羅得每天都受到折磨，因為他內心的靈魂是公義的。
Despite Lot’s righteousness, he and his household suffered a tragic end. When
two angels visited Lot to save him and his family, all the men of Sodom wanted
to have sex with these two beautiful angels. The whole city came and knocked
on Lot’s door. Under intense stress and in his desire to save the angels, Lot
offered his virgin daughters to the men of the city in “exchange” (Gen 19:6–8)!
Later, Lot’s wife could not detach herself from the attractions of this age and
was turned into a pillar of salt. Besides losing his wife, Lot also lost his two
daughters to immorality. His two daughters made Lot drunk and committed
incest with him.
雖然羅得是公義的，他和他的家庭最後卻得到悲慘的後果。
當有二位天使來探訪羅得，要拯救他和他的家庭，
所有所多瑪的男人都想要強奸這二位美麗的天使。
整個城的人都跑來敲羅得的門。
因為受到很大的壓力，又加上他想要拯救天使，
羅得提出要用自已二位還是處女的女兒給城中的男子，來交換這二位天使的安全！(創 19：6-8)
後來，羅得的妻子無法讓自已脫世這個世界的引誘，結果變成了一根鹽柱。
除了他失去了自已的妻子，羅得也損失了兩位女兒，因為他們兩個變得道德敗壞。
他的兩個女兒讓羅得喝醉，並且和他發生亂倫的罪。
This tragic account should make us reflect on the choices we make. Like
Lot and his daughters, have our choices corrupted our moral values? Like
Lot’s wife, do we have such great attachments to this age that these will cost
us our life one day?
這個悲慘的故事，應該可以讓我們好好想想，要如何去作出自已的選擇。
就像羅得和他的女兒一樣，我們的選擇是不是有敗壞了自已的道德觀？
就如羅得的太太，我們是不是對這個世界有很大的依戀，
這些事物到最後會讓我們在一天之內，就賠上了自已的生命呢？
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
留言列表
