0. Manna issue 64 - Editorial_Dealing with Calamities 編輯的話：面對大災難
By Anna Khoo
Dear Reader, 親愛的讀者，
By the grace of God, it has been more than 30 years
since the first MANNA appeared
to nourish those of us who are only able to read English publications.
Over time, many brethren have labored to provide different ingredients and flavors
—new columns, Bible study and doctrinal study articles
—to ensure that our church’s flagship magazine meets the different needs of different readers.
因著神的恩典，已經過了 30 多年，
自從第一本 MANNA 嗎哪期刊出版開始，
就可以滋養我們這些只能閱讀英文出版作品的人。
久而久之，很多弟兄姊妹都在努力提供不同的食材和口味，
—有新專欄、查經和教義考察的文章，
—確保我們教會最重要的雜誌，能滿足不同讀者的不同需求。
A New Feature 新特色
Apart from providing spiritual nourishment,
a key function for MANNA is to connect our readers with the church’s global ministry.
To complement personal reflections by workers out in the fields,
we shall provide regular information on International Assembly’s (IA) activities
as well as its key decisions and resolutions.
除了提供屬靈的糧食之外，
MANNA 嗎哪的其中一個關鍵功能是，將我們的讀者與教會的全球事工一起聯結。
為補充現場實地工人的個人省思，
我們該定期提供有聯總 (IA) 活動的資訊，
以及其重要關鍵的決定和決議。
A New Danger 新危機
This issue’s focus on ‘Calamity’ has prompted contributions on the slew of headline-making terrors,
both natural disasters and man-made uproars.
These articles are a critical reminder to remain vigilant in our faith,
set the right priorities in life and be equipped to fight a victorious spiritual battle for the Lord.
本期關注“災難”，促使大家對許多頭條新聞恐怖的事件，做出貢獻，
有自然災害和人為的暴亂兩方面。
這些文章是我們信仰要保持警惕的重要提醒，
在生活設定正確的優先次序，並且裝備好為主打一場勝利的屬靈爭戰。
Disasters may harm us physically but they have little to do with our salvation.
More disastrous are the spiritual dangers that can harm our faith,
and lead us away from eternal grace.
Ironically, we are often unaware of such dangers,
and thus fail to defend ourselves against them.
While we face different threats as individuals,
a huge threat to the church is the distortion of the truth,
an assault on its very foundation.
Jude’s exhortation to
“contend earnestly for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints”
(Jude 3)
is timely and apt.
In the end time, new but unbiblical interpretations will arise.
As members of the True Jesus Church,
we must not be swayed by these, no matter how attractive or convincing these may be.
We urgently need to remain faithful to the teachings that have been entrusted to us.
災難可能會傷害我們的身體，但與我們的得救少有關係。
更危險的是會傷害我們信仰的屬靈危險，
並使我們偏離永生的恩典。
諷刺的是，我們時常沒有注意到這樣的危險，
因此沒有防衛自己免受他們的侵害。
雖然我們身為個體，面臨著不同的威脅，
而教會的巨大威脅是真理扭曲，
對教會根基的攻擊。
猶大書的勸勉，
“3要為從前一次交付聖徒的真道竭力的爭辯。”
（猶 3）
即及時又合適。
在末日，將會出現新的解釋，卻不符合聖經。
作為真耶穌教會的信徒，
我們絕不能因這些事而動搖，無論他們多麼有吸引力人，或有多麼令人信服。
我們迫切需要的是，忠於已託付給我們的教義。
Staying faithful to the truth requires deep-rootedness in the word of God
because in a world of relentless change,
only the word of God abides
(1 Pet 1:24–25).
When He was tempted, Jesus rebutted Satan with the word of God.
Note how Satan knows and quotes the Scriptures!
If we are not equipped with God’s word,
how can we possibly fend off Satan’s ploys?
The subtle twisting of God’s words, convincingly delivered by charismatic speakers
—these are real threats which can erode the pure faith that we received from the Lord.
If we are not careful, we will end up propagating man’s teaching
instead of God’s word.
In so doing, not only do we destroy our own faith,
we take others down with us.
This will indeed be a calamity like no other.
忠於真理需要深深紮根於神的話語，
因為在一個瞬息萬變的世界裡，
惟有神的話永存
（彼前 1：24-25）。
耶穌受到試探時，他用神的話語反駁撒但。
注意撒旦有多麼了解聖經並且加以引用！
如果我們沒有裝備好神的話語，
我們怎麼可能抵擋住撒但的詭計呢？
那些細微扭曲的神話語，並由魅力的講者有說服力的傳達，
—這些都是真正的威脅，會侵蝕我們從主那裡領受的純潔信仰。
若一不小心，就會成為傳講人的教導，
而不是宣揚神的話語。
這樣做，不僅破壞了我們自己的信仰，
我們也把別人一起拖下水。
這確實將是一場特別的災難。
Standing firm ourselves is not enough.
The second imperative for us is to pass on this pure faith to our next generation.
Hence, training our youths to be capable future stewards of the church
and faithful servants of the Lord is crucial.
Failure to do so will be yet another calamity for the church.
光是自己站穩固是不夠的。
我們的第二個當務之急是，將這種純正的信仰傳承給自已的下一代。
因此，訓練我們的青年，能成為未來有能力的教會管家，
主的忠實僕人是至關重要的。
如果不這樣做，將是教會的另一場災難。
Recognizing the importance of this,
IA conducted its first Youth Symposium this year to stir up the youths’ love for God
and their zeal to serve Him.
However, the local churches have to continue with such an initiative to nurture the youths.
It takes time and effort to cultivate Joshuas, Daniels and Timothys
who can withstand the tide of secularism,
be ready to take over the baton to fight a victorious spiritual battle for the Lord,
and become valuable vessels of God.
There is not a moment to lose so we must start now.
認識到這一點的重要性，
IA 聯總今年舉辦首屆青年論壇，要激發青年對神的愛，
以及他們事奉祂的熱情。
然而，地方教會必須繼續提倡，來培養年輕人。
需要時間和精力來培養許許多多的約書亞、但以理和提摩太，
他們才能經得起世俗主義的浪潮，
準備好接棒為主打勝利的屬靈戰爭，
成為神寶貴的器皿。
一切都刻不容緩，所以我們必須現在就開始。
A New Resolution 新決議
In summary, real calamities are not the threats to our bodies but to our faith.
So we need to take a serious look at our spiritual health.
Are we facing spiritual calamities?
Do we still worship God ‘in spirit and in truth’,
or are we just offering lukewarm service,
and are no longer loyal to the ‘pattern of sound words’?
總之，真正的災難不是對我們肉體的威脅，而是對我們信仰的威脅。
因此，我們需要認真檢視自己屬靈的健康。
我們是否正面對著屬靈的災難呢？
我們是否仍然“用心靈和誠實”敬拜神呢？
或者我們只提供不冷不熱的事奉？
並且是否不再常常守者‘純正話語的規模’呢？
We may be able to weather this danger but what about the next generation?
How much attention do we give to our youths
—the future of the church?
Are we nurturing and guiding them in the right things?
我們也許能夠平安渡過這種危險，但是下一代要怎麼辨呢？
我們對青年給予了多少關心呢？
—他們是教會的未來啊？
我們是否在正確的事上，培養和引導他們呢？
Do not be self-contented, but let us contend earnestly.
不要自滿，但讓我們認真奮鬥。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
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