1. Manna issue 91 - The Church At Home 家中的教會
Philip Shee—Singapore 新加坡
A home is traditionally a place of rest and relaxation, a sanctuary from the stresses of the world.
After all, a man’s home is his castle;
after a hard day’s work and many hours navigating the minefield of societal expectations,
we can close the door and truly be ourselves.
Home represents a private bubble, hemmed off from the public sphere.
In short, our home is central to our self-identity.
傳統上，家是休息和放鬆的地方，是遠離世界壓力的避難所。
畢竟，家就是人的城堡；
經過一天的辛勤工作，以及在社會期望的地雷散佈區中航行數小時之後，
我們可以關上門，真正做自己。
家代表了一個私人泡沫，與公共領域隔開。
簡而言之，家是我們自我認同的核心。
Home is also a place to be with the family.
For many, it is epitomized by the patriarch or matriarch at the dinner table, bringing the family together.
For others, it conjures images of rallying around the evening television, annual holidays, or festive seasons.
家也是家人在一起的地方。
對許多人來說，餐桌上的男女長輩是它的縮影，將家庭聚在一起。
對於其他人來說，它讓人聯想到，在晚間電視前、年節歡慶聚集的畫面。
These days, the idea of home is no longer so simple.
The internet has brought the entire world into our homes, dissolving the barriers between work, family, and play.
The current pandemic has only supercharged this trend
—we are encouraged to spend more time at home to slow the spread of COVID-19,
and some are even under lockdown restrictions
that only allow them to leave their homes for a limited number of reasons.
這些日子以來，家的概念不再那麼單純了。
網路將整個世界帶進家中，工作、家庭和娛樂之間的障礙消失了。
當前的疫情只會增壓這種趨勢，
—鼓勵我們花更多的時間在家裡，以減緩新冠病毒的傳播，
有些人甚至有封城限制，
僅允許他們出於有限的原因離開家門。
This current pandemic landscape has cast our homes in a new context
and made us reconsider what our homes mean to us.
Many are working from home, homeschooling, caring for dependents.
In contrast, those who live alone or keep social distance
because of underlying health reasons may feel isolated and miss the human touch.
Rather than a sanctuary, a home may variously feel like a prison, a menagerie, or a space
that needs to fulfill all life functions.
當前的疫情形勢，使我們的家園擁有新的內在，
並讓我們重新思考，家到底對我們意味著什麼。
許多人在家工作，在家上課，照顧家屬。
相比之下，獨居或保持社交距離的人，
由於潛在的健康因素，可能會感到很孤單，會懷念人情味。
與其說家是避難所，不如說更像是監獄、動物園或是特定空間，
是需要能滿足所有生活機能的地方。
What about a Christian household?
Many churches have had to cancel or reduce
their in-person worship service and fellowship schedules due to the pandemic.
This has highlighted the need to build strong personal and family altars in our homes.
But how can we construct this altar?
And how can this become the central pivot around which we build our homes?
基督徒家庭會怎麼樣呢？
因為疫情，許多教堂不得不，
取消或減少現場崇拜聚會和團契時程安排。
這凸顯了，我們家中有需妝建立強大的個人家庭祭壇。
但是我們要怎樣，才能造出祭壇呢？
要如何才能成為我們建造家庭的中央核心呢？
THE ALTAR IN ABRAHAM’S HOUSEHOLD 亞伯拉罕家中的祭壇
When God called Abraham to depart from his country to go to a land that God would show him,
Abraham obeyed by faith, not knowing where he was going
(Gen 12:1–4; Heb 11:8).
That was the watershed in Abraham’s life when he established a new pivot for his family.
Away from the comforts of his former family life,
Abraham laid a new foundation for his household.
As he moved to Shechem, the Lord appeared to him and told him
that his descendants would inherit this land.
And there, Abraham built an altar to the Lord.
When he moved to the mountain east of Bethel,
he pitched his tent and again built an altar, calling on the name of the Lord
(Gen 12:7–8).
After returning from Egypt,
where he went to escape from famine,
Abraham came
“to the place of the altar which he had made there at first.
And there Abram called on the name of the LORD”
(Gen 13:4).
Later, Abraham moved his tent and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre in Hebron.
And he built an altar there to the Lord
(Gen 13:18).
當神呼召亞伯拉罕，離開他的家鄉去一個神指示他的地方，
亞伯拉罕憑信心順從，不知道他要往哪裡去
（創 12：1-4；來 11：8）。
那是亞伯拉罕生命的分水嶺，為家庭建立新的核心。
遠離他以前家庭生活的舒適，
亞伯拉罕為他的家庭奠定了新的基礎。
當他搬到示劍的時候，主向他顯現告訴他
他的後代將繼承這片土地。
亞伯拉罕在那里為耶和華築了一座祭壇。
當他搬到伯特利東邊的山上時，
他支搭帳幕，又築了一座壇，呼求耶和華的名
(創 12：7-8)
從埃及回來之後，
他去哪裡逃避飢荒，
亞伯拉罕來到
“4也是他起先築壇的地方；他又在那裡求告耶和華的名。”
（創 13：4）。
後來，亞伯拉罕搬遷帳篷，住在希伯倫幔利的三棵圓柄黃連樹旁。
他在那里為耶和華築了一座壇
（創 13:：18）。
These actions signify Abraham’s resolve in laying the foundation of worship for his household.
The altar was the center of Abraham’s family life,
and it was evident in the life of his son, Isaac.
When God tested Abraham and asked him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice,
both father and son traveled to the place of offering.
As Abraham loaded the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac,
the latter could see what was missing:
“Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
(Gen 22:6–7).
Such familiarity with the practice of sacrifice must have been
due to his father’s training
and frequent participation in his father’s offering at the family altar.
這些行為表明亞伯拉罕決心，為他的家庭奠定敬拜的基礎。
祭壇是亞伯拉罕家庭生活的中心，
祭壇很明顯存在他的兒子以撒的生活中。
當神試驗亞伯拉罕，要他獻以撒為祭的時候，
父子倆長途跋涉到了獻祭的地方。
當亞伯拉罕把燔祭的柴擺在以撒身上的時候，
以撒會看到缺少的東西：
“7請看，火與柴都有了，但燔祭的羊羔在那裡呢？”
(創 22：6-7)
如此熟悉獻祭的做法，
一定是因為他父親的訓練，
並經常參加家庭祭壇他父親的祭獻。
Subsequently, when Isaac established himself and settled in Beersheba,
God appeared to him and reiterated the blessing He had promised to Abraham.
Isaac continued his father’s practice and built an altar there to call on the name of the Lord
(Gen 26:23–25).
隨後，當以撒自我獨立生活，定居在別是巴，
神向他顯現，並重申了他應許給亞伯拉罕的祝福。
以撒繼續他父親的做法，並在那裡築了一座壇，來呼求主的名
（創 26：23-25）。
In Peter’s first epistle, he wrote: 彼得前書寫到，
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people,
that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
(1 Pet 2:9)
9惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民，
要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。
(創 2：9)
Recognizing that we are God’s chosen people,
we can certainly take a leaf out of Abraham’s book as we establish our Christian households.
We can erect our family altar by instituting family worship as the galvanizing pivot for our homes.
認清我們是神的選民，
當我們建立自已基督徒的家庭時，當然可以從亞伯拉罕的教導中汲取一些經驗。
我們能以實行家庭聚會，來建立家庭祭壇，作為我們家庭加添力量激勵大家的核心。
Family altars can take several formats.
The Bible describes prayers as offerings of incense to God
(Ps 141:2; Rev 5:8).
It also says we should
“continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name”
(Heb 13:15).
Hence, our family altar can undoubtedly take the form of family prayer and hymnal worship.
While we encourage one another to have personal prayer time with God,
we should also set aside a regular time to gather as a family to pray.
It could be for twenty minutes daily or half an hour weekly.
There can be a common family prayer list that unites the family in their prayers.
Pray for one another.
Pray collectively for unbelieving family members and relatives or those who are weak in faith.
Intercede for church matters.
We can let this be an opportunity for each family member to share their challenges
and to request for intercession.
The list goes on.
The key lies in having a central pivot around which the family can grow together in the Lord.
Over time, the family will also draw closer to each other.
Like Abraham’s household, we can pass this heirloom to the next generation,
as the young observe and participate in worship with their elders.
家庭祭壇可以有多種形式。
聖經將祈禱描述為向神燒香
（詩 141：2；啟 5：8）。
它還說，我們應該
“15常常以頌讚為祭獻給神，這就是那承認主名之人嘴唇的果子。”
（來 13:15）
因此，家庭祭壇毫無疑問，可以採取家庭禱告和唱讚美詩敬拜的形式。
當我們鼓勵彼此，要與神有個人禱告的時間，
我們還應該留出固定時間，全家聚在一起禱告。
它可以是每天二十分鐘，或是每周半小時。
可以有一個家庭共同的禱告清單，在祈禱中讓家庭團結起來。
為彼此祈禱。
為不信的家人、親戚或信心軟弱的人，一起禱告。
為教會事務代禱。
我們可以讓這種情況成為一種機會，讓每個家人分享遇到的挑戰，
並提出代禱。
名單會接續下去。
關鍵在於，家庭有一個中央核心支，大家可以圍繞著它在主里共同成長。
久而久之，家人之間的距離也會越親近。
像亞伯拉罕的家庭一樣，當年輕人觀察長輩，與他們一起參與敬拜時，
就可以將傳家寶留給下一代。
Indeed, Abraham passed his family heirloom of altar building to Isaac,
who passed it to Jacob.
When Jacob left his father’s household,
he had yet to establish his own altar
—he saw God as the God of his father and grandfather,
but not as his own
(Gen 28:13, 31:5, 29, 32:9).
Later, after he had endured many hardships and wrestled with God,
he finally surrendered his life to God.
God also blessed him with a new name, Israel.
When he erected his altar, he called it El Elohe Israel
— literally, “God, the God of Israel”
(Gen 33:18–20).
He finally acknowledged that the faith of his fathers was his own.
是的，亞伯拉罕將他的家傳家寶，建造祭壇傳給了以撒，
而以撒又把它傳給了雅各。
當雅各離開父家的時候，
他還沒有建立自己的祭壇，
—他把神視為是他父親和祖父的神，
但不是他自己的神
（創 28：13, 31：5, 29, 32：9）。
後來，他歷盡千辛萬苦，與神摔跤，
最終將自己的生命獻給了神。
神也祝福他一個新的名字，以色列。
當他立起自已的祭壇時，他稱祭壇為 El Elohe Israel
—字面意思是“神，以色列的神”
（創 33：18-20）。
他終於承認，他父親的信仰亦是自己的信仰。
Youths should start building a personal altar and personal relationship with God
while we still live in the family home.
Then, when we fly the nest for studies, work, or the next step in life
and have our first taste of independence,
we must ensure we continue our personal altar to the Lord.
Carve out a time for daily Bible reading and prayer,
and not as an afterthought just before we fall asleep.
Since we will have more control of our time,
we should use it wisely and seek positive ways to strengthen our worship of God at home.
Find ways of incorporating livestream services and online fellowships into our schedule,
or set up a small Bible study with friends.
If we live far away from a physical church building,
it is even more critical to remain virtually connected to the church and fellow members.
青少年應該開始，建立自已的祭壇，建立與神的個人關係，
當我們還住在家裡的時候。
然而，當我們生命為了學習、工作或人生下一步而飛離巢穴時，
並第一次嚐到獨立的滋味，
我們必須確保，自已繼續向主獻祭的個人祭壇。
抽出時間每天讀經和祈禱，
而不是在我們入睡前的事後才想到。
既然我們可以更好地控制自己的時間，
我們應該好好地使用它，並尋求積極的方式來加強自已在家中對神的敬拜。
尋找方法將網路直播聚會和網路團契活動，納入自已的排程，
或與朋友建立一個小型查經班。
如果我們離實體教堂的地方很遠，
用網路與教會和其他信徒保持連結，是更為重要的。
LEARNING FROM JEWISH HOUSEHOLDS 學習猶太家庭
By the time the Israelites entered the land of Canaan after forty years in the wilderness,
they were a nation of people with an established system of communal worship.
They gathered as a congregation for Sabbath worship and for keeping the festivals.
God also appointed the altar in the tabernacle of meeting to make offerings and sacrifices,
which was later set up in Shiloh
(Deut 12:5–6, 13–14; Josh 18:1).
Despite this formalized worship,
God reiterated the importance of weaving God’s word into every aspect of their family lives.
As He instructed:
以色列人曠野四十年後進入迦南地，
他們是一個民族，擁有既定的群體崇拜制度。
他們聚集在一起成為聖會，舉行安息日崇拜及遵守節日。
神又在會幕中設立了祭壇，用來獻祭和供奉，
會幕來設立在示羅
（申 12：5-6、13-14；書 18：1）。
儘管有這種正式的崇拜，
神重申了，要將神的話語融入進家庭生活各方面的重要性。
按照神的指示：
“And the words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
You should teach them diligently to your children,
and shall talk of them when you sit in your house,
when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
You shall bind them as a sign on your hand,
and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
(Deut 6:6–9)
6我今日所吩咐你的話都要記在心上，
7也要殷勤教訓你的兒女。無論你坐在家裡，行在路上，躺下，起來，都要談論。
8也要繫在手上為記號，戴在額上為經文；
9又要寫在你房屋的門框上，並你的城門上。
(申 6：6-9)
The above passage introduces another consideration for Christian households.
The regular church services we attend
and the religious education classes our children join
do not replace the teaching of God's word in our homes.
The significance of
“when you sit in the house, when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up”
is to embed the word of God in our everyday life.
上一段引入基督徒家庭的另一個考慮因素。
我們參加的定期教會聚會，
和孩子參加的宗教教育課程，
不能取代家中神話語的教導。
“無論你坐在家裡，行在路上，躺下，起來”的意義
就是將神話語植入我們的日常生活中。
Following the example of Jewish households,
Christian adults should seize every opportunity to discuss God’s word in our daily routine and activities.
As we observe the sunshine or the rain,
we can reflect on God’s creation and God’s providence.
If we notice a rainbow, we can talk about the story of Noah.
When our children quarrel and fight, we can remind them of Jesus’ teachings concerning forgiveness.
We can use every encounter to weave in the word of God elegantly and positively into our family life.
若要仿效猶太家庭的典範，
基督徒成人應該抓住每一次機會，在日常生活活動中探討神的話語。
當我們觀察陽光或雨水時，
可以反思神的創造和預備。
如果我們注意到彩虹，就可以討論挪亞的故事。
當我們的孩子爭吵打架時，可以提醒他們耶穌關於饒恕的教導。
我們可以利用每一種場合，巧妙積極地將神的話語編織到家庭生活中。
To write God’s word “on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” signifies
that Christian households must remember to apply the word of God
as they leave their house for their daily activities and when they return home.
Again, Christian parents can remind their children of
being the light of the world, the salt of the earth, and practicing Christian virtues
whenever they step outside of the home.
Likewise, when the children return,
adults can show concern by engaging in conversation about their encounters outside.
It then becomes natural to weave the word of God
into our conversations, to encourage, comfort, or counsel.
把神的話語寫在“房屋的門框上，並你的城門上”代表，
基督徒家庭不論離開家進行日常活動，或是回家的時候，
必須記住實行神的話語。
再一次，基督徒父母可以提醒自已的孩子，
每當他們走出家門時，
要成為世上的光，世上的鹽，實行基督徒的美德。
同樣，當孩子回來的時候，
成人可以通過談論小孩外面的遇到的事情，來表達關心。
自然而然編織神的話語，
融入談話，鼓勵、安慰或勸告。.
During the formal family altar time,
be it daily or weekly, children can be encouraged to speak about lessons they learned in church
or their reflections about the word of God in their daily lives.
Adults should do likewise to lead by example.
The key lies in having the word of God anchor the principles of conduct in the household.
在正式的家庭祭壇時間中，
無論是每天一次還是每週一次，都可以鼓勵孩子談論他們在教會中學到的課程，
或他們在日常生活中對神話語的反饋。
成人也應該同樣以身作則。
關鍵在於，讓神的話語成為家庭行為準則的基礎。
For those who live alone, the home should still be a place where God’s word is ever-present.
Research the online resources and content created by the church for members’ daily devotion.
This can be hymnal recordings and choir presentations,
sermon and seminar recordings, Bible study guides, blogs, and social media content.
Access these throughout the day so that God’s word can act as a light to our feet on our daily walk.
A daily routine could consist of reading the Five Loaves Two Fish blog (blog.tjc.org) with our breakfast,
listening to a lecture series from the tjc.org archive on our lunchtime walk,
and putting on hymns as we do the housework.
These are not alternatives to spending time in prayer and Bible study
but can all contribute to strengthening our personal altar.
對於獨居的人來說，家仍然應該是神話語常存的地方。
研讀教會為信徒準備的日常靈修網路資源文章。
這些內容可以是讚美詩錄音和詩班獻詩，
講道和講習會記錄、查經指引、聖經部落閣和社群媒體文章。
每天接觸這些資料，這樣神的話語就可以成為我們日常生活中，腳前的燈。
日常習慣可以包括，早餐時閱讀五餅二魚部落閣（blog.tjc.org），
午休時間散步時，可以聆聽 tjc.org 檔案的講座系列，
做家務時聽讚美詩。
這些都不是要花時間禱告和讀經的選項，
但都可以有助於加強我們的個人祭壇。
THE CHURCH IN OUR HOUSE 我們家的教會
Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord,
with the church that is in their house.
(1 Cor 16:19b)
19亞居拉和百基拉並在他們家裡的教會，因主多多的問你們安。
(林前 16：19b)
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea,
and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.
(Col 4:15)
15請問老底嘉的弟兄和寧法，並他家裡的教會安。
(西 4：15)
Some believers in the early church offered their houses as places of worship.
Even as the church grew to encompass many different families,
the Christian concept of the church remained as the “house of God” or the “household of God”
(1 Tim 3:15; Eph 2:19).
If we consider how Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures from childhood
(2 Tim 3:15),
we could reasonably conclude that he was taught at home by his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice
(2 Tim 1: 5).
Hence, while the church is the household of God, the reverse should also apply
—our family should also be the church of God.
When Joshua addressed the people for the final time,
he urged them to discard the gods their fathers had served and to make a choice.
They could choose the gods from the other side of the river
or the gods of the Amorites;
but Joshua and his household had decided
that their family altar would be dedicated to the Lord
(Josh 24:15).
早期教會的一些信徒，用他們房屋作為聚會的場所。
即使當教會長大了，包括許多不同的家庭，
教會的基督教概念，仍然是“神的家”或“神的家園”
（提前 3：15；弗2：19）。
如果我們思考，提摩太從小是如何認識聖經的，
（提後 3：15）
我們可以合理推論，他的祖母羅以 Lois 和母親友尼基 Eunice 在家裡教導他。
（提後 1：5）
因此，雖然教會是神的家，反之亦然，
——我們的家庭也應該成為神的教會。
當約書亞最後一次向百姓演說時，
他鼓勵他們放棄祖先事奉的神，並做出選擇。
他們可以選擇河對岸的神祇，
或亞摩利人的神；
但約書亞家人已經決定
他們的家庭祭壇將獻給主耶和華
（書 24：15）。
What about us today?
Have we instilled family worship and the constant reminder of God’s word in our homes?
Will we dedicate time to pray and learn God’s word,
whether by ourselves or with our household? Have we erected our altar to God,
wherever we pitch our tents?
If we can build our homes around this central pivot,
then our homes can indeed be the church of God.
今天的我們呢？
我們是否在家裡推行家庭聚會，並且不斷得到神話語的勉勵？
我們會願意花時間禱告，學習神的道理嗎，
無論是自己來，還是與家人一起？ 我們有沒有為神設立祭壇，
我們在哪裡搭神的帳幕呢？
如果我們能環抱家庭祭壇的中心樞紐，建造自已的家園，
那麼我們的家，確實就可以成為神的教會。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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