Manna issue 80 - Breaking Through the Barriers of Preaching the Gospel 打破傳福音的阻礙
Are we barriers or channels? 我們是阻礙，還是傳福音的管道呢？
Based on a sermon by Jung-Yu Ho—Chang Xing, Taiwan
依據台灣 Chang Xing (長興教會?) 何榮裕傳道講道
In one of his final epistles, Apostle
Paul encourages Timothy to preach in
season and out of season (2 Tim 4:2).
Our Lord Jesus also encourages us
with His actions during His ministry.
Whether through a simple breaking
of bread or to stop in the middle of
a crowd to ask, "who touched me,"
He consistently taught and preached
to His audience, thus leaving behind
an important legacy: to be always
ready to preach at any time and in
any place.
在最後書信的其中一封，使徒保羅鼓勵提摩太，
無論得時不得時，時機對不對，都要傳道。(提後 4：2)
我們的主耶穌也用祂傳福音的言行，鼓勵我們。
無論是一個簡單撥餅的行為，還在站在人群之中，停下來問說，"誰碰到了我"，
祂一直不斷地向祂的聽眾，施行教導，並宣福音給他們，
因為在祂的身後留下了很重要的事蹟及記載：
總要時時準備好，在任何時間，任何地點，都要傳福音。
Mark 2 records one such healing
and teaching event. A crowd had
gathered in a particular house to hear
Jesus. The place was so packed that no
one could enter, let alone a paralytic
lying on a bed. Nevertheless, his
four friends took it upon themselves
to help this man reach Jesus. They
carried him, on his bed, to the roof of
the house and lowered him to Jesus.
馬可福音第二章記載了，這樣又醫治人，又教訓眾人的例子。
有一大群人聚集到一間房子裡面聽耶穌講道。
因為這個房子很擁擠，所以沒有任何人可以走的進來，
更不用說，一個躺在床上行動不便的人了。
雖然這樣，他的四個朋友自作主張，幫助這個病人來到耶穌面前。
他們一起抬著病人和床，走到屋頂上，從屋頂把他放到耶穌面前。
If we associate this incident with
evangelism, we can say that the
paralytic had to overcome a number
of obstacles before he could reach
Jesus. These obstacles, or barriers,
come in various forms, from physical
obstruction like the crowd or the roof
that hindered his passage to Christ, to
verbal criticisms of Jesus by the scribe
who could hinder the faith of those
listening to Him.
若我們把這事件和傳福音，連起來看，
我們可以說，這個行動不便的病人，在他可以來到耶穌面前之前，他一定要克服一連串的困難和阻礙。
這些阻礙或限制，會以各種不同的面向的方式在他面前呈現，
例如物質上的阻礙就是有一群人擋在那裡，又要爬到屋頂上，
這些事情都會阻擋他通往耶穌的路，
又或者是，那些文士對耶穌的批評，也會影響到這些聽道之人的信心。
In their own ways, the different
characters from this story, from the
owner of the house to the scribes
seated before Jesus, can represent
examples in preaching, from the
negatives—the obstacles or barriers
to evangelism—to the positives—
breaking through barriers.
他們用自已的方法，是這個故事之中，不一樣的角色，
從屋主到坐在耶穌前面的文士，
都是傳福音時所會遇到的情況，
有負面的 - 傳福音所會遇到的困難和限制，
有正面的 - 就是努力衝破阻礙。
BARRIERS 阻礙
First, let us look at barriers that were
created: the crowd, the scribes, and
possibly, even the paralytic himself.
首先，讓我們看看那些會遇到的阻礙：
有人群，有許多文士，又或者，甚至這個行動不便之人自已，也是一種阻礙。
The Crowd 人群
The crowd had gathered, as a
natural response to what they might
have heard regarding the miracles
performed by Jesus. At a time before
any live media coverage, anyone who
wanted to see Jesus had to approach
Him in person. While it might seem
good that many had come to see Jesus,
Mark 2:4 records that these people
had become a hindrance because the
paralytic and the four men carrying
him “could not come near [Jesus]
because of the crowd.” This suggests
that this crowd stopped short of
coming to seek Jesus as the paralytic
had. Although it is commendable that
they wanted to see Jesus, their action
was not what Jesus wanted; they were
just curious and wanted to witness a
sensational event; they did not have
any intention of believing in Him. This
does not align with what the Lord
wants from those who seek Him: to
believe in Him and acknowledge their
need for Him.
人潮集中，是因為他們可能聽到有關耶穌會行神蹟的事，這是人們很自然的反應。
在一個還沒有任何現場媒體報導的年代之前，
任何想要看耶穌的人，就要自已親自跑到祂那裡。
雖然有許多人跑來看耶穌，看起來事情發展的很好，
但馬可福音二章4節記載，這些人變成一種阻礙，
因為那個癱子和四個抬他的人，
4因為人多，不得近前。
這就暗示了，這群人突然出現來看耶穌，就如同這個癱子一樣。
雖然他們會來看耶穌，是一件很值得嘉獎的事情，
但是他們所帶的行動，並不是耶穌所想要的；
他們只是很好奇，想要自已親自見識這個非常轟動的事件而已；
他們心中並沒有任何念頭想要來信耶穌。
這種行為，和主耶穌內心對這些來尋求祂的人，所抱持的期待的並不符合：
也就是耶穌要他們來相信祂，認知到他們有需要耶穌。
Moreover, the crowd was in the
same house as Jesus, and in a way,
we could associate the house and the
crowd, metaphorically, to the church.
Such a reading brings two things to
mind. If a church congregation is
not united in its efforts to seek Jesus
and worse, fail to allow others to
seek Him, the church will tragically
become a barrier to those who need
Jesus. The crowd, too, can also be
likened to a church congregation
with members who do not exhibit
exemplary behaviors and do not lead
Christ-like lives; instead of shining for
Christ in the way they live their lives,
their conduct becomes a barrier to
evangelism, putting off those who
may wish to reach out to Jesus.
不僅這樣，人群和耶穌一起待在同一間房子，
若以某種方式來看待這樣的事情，
我們可以把房子和人群作一些有關聯性的推論，也就是隱隱約約代表了教會。
這種解讀的方式，從心中帶出了兩種想法。
若是教會的信徒，沒有同心合意地努力尋求耶穌，
更糟的是，妨礙了別人來信耶穌，
很慘的是，教會就會變成了一種阻礙，讓那些需要耶穌的人不能信主。
人群也是一樣，可以和教會信徒作出連結，
而那些行為上，不能成為好模範的人，不能活出基督樣式的人；
反過來，他們在生活上不能為主發光，他們的行為就變成傳福音的一種阻礙，
影響了那些想要親近耶穌的人，不能前來就近主。
The Scribes 文士
This is the second group that hinders
the preaching efforts: the scribes who
were seated before Jesus in the house.
Despite being placed in the best seat
to listen to the words of Jesus, these
scribes challenged the message: “Who
is this who speaks blasphemies? Who
can forgive sins but God alone?” (Lk
5:21) They failed to make good use
of their prime position to maximize
their learning; instead, they remained
ignorant and did not believe.
這是第二個會影響福音工作努力的群體：
有許多文士在屋內坐在耶穌面前。
雖然坐在最好位置的座位上來聆聽耶穌的話，
這些文士卻對耶穌的福音產生質疑：
這說僭妄話的是誰？除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？(路 5：21)
他們沒有好好利用自已最好的位置，讓自已學到最多的東西；
反而，自已仍然是那麼的無知，而且硬心不信主。
The group of scribes can be likened
to some “long-timers” in church who
have listened to many sermons but
are concerned only with the sermon
speakers’ presentation style and with
the quality of sermons. Worse, they
focus their attention on finding faults
with what they hear. They do not
allow the word of God to reach their
hearts and transform their way of life.
這群文士可以連結到，教會裡面那些已經信主很久的"老信徒"，
他們已經聽了許多的道理，但只會關心講道者的表達風格和方式，以及道理好不好聽。
更慘的是，他們只集中注意力在找出自已聽到道理中的一些錯誤。
他們不能讓神的話直達內心，產生力量來改變他們的生活方式。
The Paralytic Man 行動不便的人
The third character who is a barrier
to preaching, some might say rather
controversially, is the paralytic himself.
In this reading, let us step away from
taking the man as someone in need
of Jesus and instead, take him as
someone who is already a member
of the church. In the house of God,
being a paralytic would mean that
we are not only unable to help others
or bring others to church, we need
others to help us.
第三種阻礙傳福音的角色是，這或許有些爭議，
但有些人會說，就是這位行動不便的病人自已。
在這段經文中，讓我們稍為離開一下，
不要把這個人當成是一個有需要耶穌幫助的人，
相對的，我們把他當成一個有已經信主的教會信徒。
在神的家中，若是變得行動不變，不良於行，就代表了
我們不只自已不能幫助別人，也不能把人帶來教會，反而需要別人來幫助我們。
The paralytic needed four men to
bring him to Jesus. This translates
into effort and manpower resources.
In church, if members are weak and
need others’ support, then the church
resources will be spent taking care of
them.
不良於行的人，需要有四個人來抬他，把他帶到耶穌那裡去。
也就是說，這裡的意思，就是要其他的努力和人力付出，才能把他帶去。
在教會裡面，若信徒變得軟弱，需要別人的幫助，
那麼教會的資源就會花在這些人身上。
If the paralytic could get up, walk,
and work, then the efforts of his four
friends could be utilized elsewhere.
From the perspective of the church,
if every member is healthy and fit,
church resources can be channeled to
outreach work: preaching the gospel
and saving souls.
若這個不良於行的人可以再站起來，行走，工作，
那麼這四個朋友的付出，就可以用在其他的地方。
若以教會的觀點來看，
若每個信徒很健康，身體狀況良好，
教會的資源就能用在其他向外拓展的工作上：到處傳福音，拯救更多的靈魂。
Hence as members of the church of
God, we have to ask ourselves: are we
like a paralytic who requires constant
care and attention from others? Or
are we like the four men who were
able to work together to serve God
and bring others to His house?
因此，身為屬神教會的信徒，我們一定要問自已：
我們是不是像一個行動不便的人，需要別人不斷的關心和照顧呢？
我們是不是就像那四個人，可以一起同心工作來服事神，把更多的人帶入神的家中呢？
CHANNELS 傳福音的管道
Characters who overcome barriers to
achieve their goals are the owner of
the house and the four men.
可以克服困難，達成自已目標的角色是，屋主和那四個幫忙的人。
The Owner 屋主
The owner gives us a positive example
of breaking through barriers to provide
a channel to the preaching work.
This unnamed owner of the house
supported the work of evangelism
by offering his house to Jesus, thus
providing a venue for others to gather
and for Jesus to preach to them. The
owner demonstrated his love when
he allowed the four men to tamper
with the roof of his house in order to
lower the paralytic before Jesus. This
house owner therefore presents to us
a good example of someone who is
willing to make sacrifices in his service
for Jesus.
屋主是我們一個正面的好模範，他可以找出一個管道來幫助傳福音。
這位不具名的屋主，支持福音工作，獻出自已的房子給耶穌用，
提供了一個合適的場地給大家在這裡聚集，也給耶穌用來傳福音。
當允許那四個人來毀損自已的屋頂時，這位屋主展現了自已的愛，
為的就是把那個行動不便的病放在耶穌面前。
所以，這個屋主就是我們的一個好模範，
代表的就是，有人會願意犧牲自已，獻出自已對神的服事。
The Bible records many similar
examples of such self-sacrifice for
us to emulate. One such case is the
couple Aquila and Priscilla, who
similarly offered their house as a
venue for the church to gather.
聖經也記載了許多相同的故事，這些犧牲自我的典範，都值得我們來效法。
類似這種例子的故事，就是亞居拉和百基拉夫婦，
他們同樣提供自已的房子，成為教會信徒聚會集中的場所。
Even though the owner did not
personally carry the paralytic to Jesus,
he still offered a precious service by
opening his home to others to come
to know Jesus. His gesture illustrates
the many ways available to us to
serve God in the work of preaching.
即使這位屋主自已並沒有來幫忙抬病人到耶穌那裡去，
他仍然獻出自已寶貴的付出，打開家中的大門讓其他人來認識耶穌。
他的作為就是一個很好的例子，讓我們知道，
在服事神，傳福音的工作上，有許多方式是可行的。
The Four Men 四個幫忙的人
Finally, the four men who carried the
paralytic before Jesus can epitomize
the ultimate spirit of breaking through
the barriers of preaching, by bringing
others to Jesus. These four men had
to devise a way to get through the
barriers—the crowd and the roof—in
order to bring the paralytic before the
Lord. Yet, despite these challenges,
they did not give up. Instead, they
persevered and demonstrated their
love for the paralytic. By going the
extra mile to help the paralytic, they
manifested their faith in Jesus and His
power to heal the paralytic.
最後，那四個幫忙抬病人到耶穌面前的人，可以作為一種代表，
他們有最終極的決心要打破一切困難來傳福音，把其他人帶到耶穌面前。
為了把病人放在主面前，這四個人想出了一個可以穿越困難的方法，困難就是人群和屋頂。
然而雖有這些挑戰，他們並沒有放棄。
反而他們心中保有對病人的愛心，並且實際行動展現出來。
因著他們特別的付出來幫助這位病人，
他們也展現了自已對耶穌的信心，
最後讓耶穌可以展現大能，把病人醫治好。
As God’s workers, we too must
have such faith. It is not only those
who seek after God who need faith,
the workers who help to bring them
to church also need faith.
而身為神的工人，我們也一定要有這樣的信心。
不只是那些尋求神的人，需要有信心，
而那些幫忙把人帶到教會的信徒，也要抱有堅定的信心。
CONCLUSION 結論
From the examples of the characters
recorded in the healing of the paralytic,
we learn how we might unwittingly
become barriers to the preaching
work, and how we can break through
these barriers and guide those
seeking the true path towards Jesus.
In short, we should shun the former
and emulate the latter—to be faithful
workers of Jesus.
從醫治癱人故事中，這些角色就是很好的例子，
我們知道了，自已可能在不知不覺之中，變成了傳福音的一種阻礙，
並且知道，我們到底要怎麼穿越這些困難和阻礙，
來帶領這些想尋求真正得救的人來歸向耶穌。
總之，我們應該要避免自已成為前者，成為一種阻礙，
效法後者，成為對耶穌有信心的工人。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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