Manna issue 77 - Editorial 編輯的話
Integrating Faith with Life 用生命來整合信仰
by Shawn Chou
If someone asked us whether we professed any religion, we may instinctively reply, “I believe in God” or “I’m a
Christian.” At such a reply, how often does the questioner demonstrate a desire to find out more about our faith?
若是有人問我們，我們是不是有公開承認信任何宗教，我們可能發自內心回答，"我信神"，或是"我是一個基督徒。"
一聽到這種回答的時候，發問的人到底有多少程度上，想要了解有關更多我們的宗教呢？
A True Jesus Church member was once asked by her colleagues, “How are you always able to remain so joyful
and caring toward others despite your busy workload? “ Her selflessness and diligence at the workplace had clearly
impressed her colleagues and soon led to a conversation about how her faith enabled her to be so exemplary.
有一個真耶穌教會的信徒，有一次被她的同事問到，
"到底為什麼你可以總是保持一顆喜樂的心，雖然你有很忙碌的工作負擔，但卻還可以關心別人呢？"
她在工作場合中的無私和努力，已經很明顯的給她的同事好印象，並且很快導致了一個對話，
有關她的信仰如何讓她可以作得這麼好，可以讓別人學習。
Jesus gave us this principle to live by, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father in Heaven” (Mt 5:16). In order to shine for Jesus, we must integrate our faith into our lives, rather
than separate the two. Faith is not something we practice only once a week. In this issue, our writers look at how our
faith must be infused into every part and every moment of our lives.
耶穌給了我們一些生活中可以採用的原則，
"16你們的光也當這樣照在人前，叫他們看見你們的好行為，便將榮耀歸給你們在天上的父。" (太 5：16)
為了可以為主發光，我們一定要在生活中，把信仰整合進來，而不是把這兩件事分開來。
信仰並不是我們每個星期才來實行一次的事情而已。
這本期裡，許多我們的作者在考查，如何一定可以把我們的信仰，注入到我們生活中的每個部份和每個時刻裡。
The term “faith” sometimes feels too abstract to grasp, let alone manifest in our lives. But if we think about it, faith
consists of three crucial elements: biblical knowledge, belief, and practical application of God’s will.
"信仰"這個詞，有時候會讓人感到很抽象，很難掌握，更不要說是要在我們的生活中展現出來了。
但是若我們來思考這個問題，信仰是由三個重要的成份所組成的：
聖經的知識，相信聖經，以及跟據神的旨意來實行聖經裡面的教導。
First, biblical knowledge forms the foundation of our faith—it allows us to know God and His will. Without a solid
foundation, we will easily deviate from the truth and always remain a spiritual infant. We live in a world where the lines
between right and wrong are increasingly blurred. Satan relentlessly tries to tempt us to cross the boundary between
holiness and sin. To overcome these, we must be well-grounded and steadfast in God’s word. We must find time to read
the Bible, listen to sermons, and study the Bible with others to better know God and His teachings.
首先，聖經知識是組成我們信仰的根基 - 它讓我們了解神，知道祂的旨意。
若是沒有穩固的根基，我們會很容易偏離真理，或是總是保持在屬靈嬰兒的狀態。
我們活在一個世界，其中對與錯的界線，逐漸變的非常模糊。
撒旦無情地試著想要引誘我們來跨越聖潔和罪惡的界線。
為了可以勝過這些引誘，我們一定要打好根基，持守神的話。
我們一定要找時間來讀聖經，聽講道，和別人一起來研讀聖經，讓我們可以好好了解神，和祂的教訓。
However, if our faith only consists of biblical knowledge, we are like the scribes and Pharisees. We know the minutest
statute and regulation but understand little of the intent behind God’s commands. We spend much time studying the
Bible, but do not truly believe God’s word or use it to improve ourselves. The second critical element is thus belief in
God’s truth. The author of the book of Hebrews warns us, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to
them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Heb 4:2).
然而，若是我們的信仰，只由聖經的知識所組成，我們就像文士和法利賽人一樣。
我們只知道最小的條文和律例，但是對誡命背後的神真正的用意，了解很少。
我們花許多時間來學習聖經，但是卻沒有真的相信神的話，也沒有用它來改變自已，讓自已變得更好。
第二個重要的成份就是，要相信神的真理。
希伯來書的作者給我們警告，
"2因為有福音傳給我們，像傳給他們一樣；只是所聽見的道與他們無益，因為他們沒有信心與所聽見的道調和。"
(來 4：2)
Finally, we must translate our Bible knowledge and belief into a walk worthy of our calling. We must apply God’s
word to our daily life and live for the Lord; not just once a week in church, but at all times and wherever we are. For
example, two writers share on how we can apply our faith in our workplaces and at home.
最後，我們一定要轉換自已的聖經知識和信仰，改變成符合我們受到神呼召的生活方式。
我們一定要在自已每日的生活中運用神的話，為了主而活；
並不是只有每個禮拜一次到教會去而已，而是在我們所有的時間裡，或是無論我們在那裡，都以神的話為主。
例如，有二個作家分享了我們應該如何，可以在我們的工作場合，以及家中來運用我們的信仰。
“Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on
the rock; and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Mt 7:24–25)
24所以，凡聽見我這話就去行的，好比一個聰明人，把房子蓋在磐石上；
25雨淋，水沖，風吹，撞著那房子，房子總不倒塌，因為根基立在磐石上。
(太 7：24-25)
This is often the hardest part of all; we need personal resolve and reliance on God’s Spirit to carry out God’s
commands. Hence, prayer must be another pillar of our daily routines—we need to ask God to help us put our faith
into action. If we can make our faith an integral part of our lives, we will see God working in our lives. Moreover, the
more we trust and experience Him, the more we develop a solid foundation, able to withstand any circumstance.
這通常是全部最困難的部份；我們需要有個人的決定，並且依靠神的聖靈，來實行神的誡命。
因此，禱告一定是我們日常貫例中另一個重要的支柱 -
我們需要求神來幫助我們，讓我們可以把信仰實行出來。
若我們可以把自已的信仰和生活整合在一起，我們就會看到神在生活中動工。
不只如此，若是我們更加信賴和體驗到祂，我們就可以建立一個更加穩固的根基，可以抵抗任何環境的挑戰。
In short, knowledge, belief, and action are the three core elements of faith that must coexist and reinforce each other.
First, we learn about God, next we believe in Him, and ultimately, we become doers of His word. Then, the more we
apply His word, the closer we draw to Him and understand Him. And the more we understand Him, the stronger our
belief and trust in Him. When all these work together, our lives will be a song of faith that will touch those around us.
總而言之，知識，信心和行動，是三個信仰上最核心的元素，他們一定要同在存在，並且相互補強。
第一，我們學到有關神的事，再來，我自相信了祂，到最後，我們成為實行祂話語的人。
然後，我們運用了更多祂的話語，，我們就可以更加靠近祂，了解祂。
我們越加了解祂，我們的信心就會更加堅固，更加信賴祂。
當這些重要的元素都一起工作時，我們的生活就會成為一首信心的歌曲，就可以感動那些我們身邊的人。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
留言列表
