17. Manna issue 90 - Covid-19_A Spiritual Analogy 新冠病毒的屬靈比喻
Jessica Lau—Edmonton, Canada 加拿大愛德蒙頓 Jessica Lau
Throughout the Bible,
the Lord often uses something physical to depict what is happening spiritually.
Today, we can also draw many lessons for our faith
from the physical conditions of these uncertain and troubling times.
綜觀聖經，
主常用一些物質的事物，來描寫屬靈上發生的事情。
今天，我們也可以從這些不確定又令人不安時刻的物質狀況，
來為自已信仰吸取很多教訓。
Complacency 自滿
During this pandemic, many people ignore the dangers,
despite warnings from the government or health officials.
They feel that the risks have been exaggerated.
For example, many believed that COVID-19 is no worse than the flu.
However, we now know that it is much more deadly than the flu
and can cause lasting organ damage even for those who survive.
Similarly, we often hear of the dangers of sin
but ignore them or take them lightly
because we believe it will not affect our faith.
But the Bible tells us clearly that
“the wages of sin is death”
(Rom 6:23).
There is no such thing as a small, harmless sin,
just as there is no such thing as being a little bit pregnant
(Jas 1:15).
疫情期間，許多人忽略了危險，
儘管政府或衛生官員有發出警告。
他們覺得，疫情的風險被過份誇大了。
例如，許多人認為，新冠病毒並不比流感更可怕。
然而，我們現在知道，它比流感更加致命，
即使對於那些好運活下來的人而言，也可能產生永久性的器官損傷。
同樣的情況，我們經常聽到罪惡的危險性，
但卻忽略罪惡，或是太過疏忽，
因為我們認為，它不會影響我們的信仰。
但聖經清楚地告訴我們，
“罪的工價就是死”
（羅 6：23）。
並沒有什麼是小罪、無傷大雅的罪，
就像沒有任何一種說法是，只有一點點懷孕，還沒完全懷孕一樣
（雅 1：15）。
Contagion 傳染病
COVID-19 is so dangerous and spreads so quickly
because many infected people do not show any signs or symptoms for several days,
and some remain asymptomatic, allowing them to infect others.
Similar to our spirituality today,
many people may live in sin but show no apparent symptoms or sickness in their faith.
Like the Pharisees, they outwardly seem strong and devout,
but inwardly they are decaying
(Mt 23:27–28).
Their actions may then infect others into believing that sin is acceptable
and that they can maintain a strong faith despite living in sin.
新冠病毒很危險，而且傳播速度超快，
因為許多感染者，好幾天都沒有出現任何跡像或症狀，
有些人仍然沒有出現症狀，就使他們去感染別人。
這種情況類似於我們今日的靈命一樣，
許多人可能活在罪中，但是他們的信仰，看起來沒有明顯的症狀或疾病。
像法利賽人一樣，他們外表看起來剛強而虔誠，
但在內心卻正在腐爛
（太 23：27-28）。
他們的行為可能會感染他人，使他們相信罪是可以接受的，
並且他們儘管生活在罪中，誤認仍能保持堅強的信心。
Caution 注意事項
COVID-19 affects every individual differently.
Some suffer symptoms as mild as a cold,
while others suffer acute respiratory distress
that could weaken them for life or lead to death.
While, in general, those weaker, older, or with pre-existing conditions
are more likely to be the worst affected,
there are also many cases of the young and healthy requiring hospitalization
or even threatened with death.
In the same way, we cannot predict how sin will affect us.
For one person, skipping a Sabbath may briefly weaken their faith,
but leave no lasting damage.
For another, the skipped Sabbath becomes the start of spiritual decline,
beginning gradually but then rapidly deteriorating
until their faith is critically low.
Unfortunately, we cannot tell which group we fall into until it is too late,
so prevention is our best bet
(Prov 27:12).
新冠疫情對每個人的影響都不一樣。
有些人的症狀像感冒一樣輕微，
而有一些其他人，卻患有急性呼吸困難症，
這可能會削弱他們的生命，或是導致死亡。
雖然，一般來說，那些軟弱的、年長的、或以前就有舊疾的，
更有可能受到最嚴重的影響，
但還是有很多健康的年輕人，需要住院的案例
甚至受到死亡威脅。
同樣，我們無法預測，罪將如何影響我們。
對一個人來說，跳過一個安息日，可能會暫時削弱他們的信心，
而且不會留下永久的傷害。
另一方面，跳過的安息日的行為，成為靈性軟弱的開始，
逐漸開始，但隨後迅速惡化，
直到他們的信心非常低落。
不幸的是，直到為時已晚的時候，我們才會知道自已是屬於哪一邊的群體，
所以預防措施，才是我們最好的選擇
（箴 27:12）。
Consideration 關心
With the pandemic, we are all in this together.
It does not matter if you are low risk or healthy;
your disregard of safety measures could put everyone else at risk.
Similarly, we must consider one another in our faith.
Our conscience may be clear when carrying out certain actions,
but as Paul says,
we must
"beware lest somehow this liberty of [ours] becomes a stumbling block to those who are weak”
(1 Cor 8:9).
"Let no one seek his own,
but each one the other’s well-being"
(1 Cor 10:24).
疫情之下，我們都要一起承受。
無論你是低風險還是健康，都無關緊要；
你若無視安全措施，就可能會使其他人處於危險之中。
同樣，我們在信仰中，亦必須相互關心。
有某些行為的時候，我們的良心可能很清楚，
但正如保羅所說，
我們必須
“9只是你們要謹慎，恐怕你們[我們]這自由竟成了那軟弱人的絆腳石。”
（林前 8：9）。
“24無論何人，不要求自己的益處，乃要求別人的益處。”
（林前 10：24）。
Commission versus Quarantine 使命與隔離
At this time of uncertainty,
the safest and most responsible thing to do is to stay at home with our family.
Our spiritual home and family is our church.
This is our sanctuary and safety zone from sin.
But this does not mean we should isolate ourselves from society
and only interact with our church brethren.
In this world, quarantine keeps people safe,
but at the cost of productivity and the economy.
Similarly, if we associate only with our church members,
it reduces our ability to preach the gospel.
在這樣不確定的時代，
最安全、最負責任的做法，就是和家人待在家裡。
我們屬靈的家和親人，就是我們的教會。
這是我們遠離罪惡的避難所和安全區。
但這並不代表，我們就應該將自己與社會分離，
並且只與教會弟兄姐妹交流。
在這個世界上，隔離使人們安全，
但卻以減少生產力和經濟成果為代價。
同樣的，如果我們只與自已的教會信徒往來，
它削弱了我們傳福音的能力。
Spiritual Distancing 靈命安全距離
As interaction with non-church members is necessary and inevitable,
spiritual distancing is the best method to prevent infection.
It does not mean cutting off or ending relationships
but ensuring that we do not get close enough for the transference of worldly attitudes and ideals.
It requires more effort to maintain a relationship at a distance,
but this is important for our safety.
In terms of our spiritual life,
we cannot avoid every sinful person,
because then we would have to leave this world
(1 Cor 5:10)!
But we can limit our exposure and keep our distance from those with different values than us.
Jesus gave us an example of how to do so.
He befriended sinners but ensured He did not entrust Himself to them
(Jn 2:24).
He kept an emotional distance and made sure He spent time cultivating Himself in isolation.
由於與教會以外的朋友互動，有其必要，而且不可避免，
屬靈安全距離，是預防感染的最佳方法。
這並不代表，要切斷結束彼此的關係，
但要確保，我們沒有靠太近，而受到世俗的態度和理想的影響。
這需要更多努力，來保持一段距離，
但這對我們的安全很重要。
在靈命方面，
我們無法避免每一個有罪的人，
因為若這樣，我們將不得不離開這個世界
（林前 5：10）！
但是我們可以限制自已的曝露其中的程度，並與那些價值觀不同的人保持距離。
耶穌給了我們一個例子，來說明是如何做到這一點的。
他與罪人交朋友，但確認自己沒有寄託在他們身上
（林前 2：24）。
他在情感上保持距離，並確保自已有時間獨立靈修自己。
Spiritual Hygiene 靈命保健
Since the advent of COVID-19,
we have become more conscientious in washing our hands when we get home,
after interacting with others, and before we eat.
Even if we do not see any dirt,
we know that we need to take the time to sanitize thoroughly.
Spiritually, it is also critical to wash and purify ourselves
after being out with friends, and just interacting with the world in general.
It does not matter if we think we have not sinned;
we should still make a habit of taking the time to purify
and cleanse our hearts and souls
(Jas 4:8; 1 Jn 1:9).
自新冠病毒出現以來，
若與別人互動之後，或是我們吃飯之前
回家後都會更認真的洗手。
即使我們看不到任何髒污，
我們知道，要需要花些時間好好徹底消毒。
屬靈上，和朋友出去之後，還是平常的世間互動，
清潔和淨化自己也很重要。
我們不論是否認為自己有沒有犯罪，也沒有關係；
我們仍該養成習慣，
花時間整頓潔淨自已的內心靈魂
（雅 4：8；約壹 1：9）。
While the world is currently on high alert in response to the physical pandemic,
let us not neglect to also be vigilant in our spiritual lives.
Let us use what we see and what we experience in this world to reflect on our spiritual health,
and use this precious opportunity to draw closer to God.
雖然世界目前處於高度警戒的狀態，以應對實體的疫情，
我們不可忽略在自已的靈命，也要保持警惕。
我們要用自已在這個世界上的所見所聞，來反省自已靈命的健康，
並利用這樣寶貴的機會，好好親近神。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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