8. Manna issue 59 - Worship and Devotion in the 21st Century 21 世紀的敬拜與奉獻
How technology has affected our spiritual lives. 科技如何影響我們的靈命。
Enoch Chang—Hillsborough, New Jersey, USA 美國新澤西喜樂坡教會
TECHNOLOGY AND FAITH 科技與信仰
To say technology has impacted our lives would be an understatement.
In fact, there are very few places
where the internet, cell phones, TV’s, computers,
satellite technology, and many other gadgets have not reached.
With these gadgets, we are able to stay in touch more easily
and are provided with instant access to all kinds of people, information, and media.
若說科技已經影響了我們的生活，那就是太過保守的說法。
事實上，很少有地方，
網路，行動電話，電視，電腦，
衛星技術以及許多其他小裝置，還沒有沒連結的。
有了這些小工具，我們可以更輕易的保持聯繫，
並且得到即時連結各人，資訊和媒體。
Even more astounding is that
some of the newer devices can do all of these in one!
It’s no wonder that
given all of the benefits 21st-century technology provides,
it has become integral not only to business productivity
but to our personal lives as well.
更令人震驚的是，
一些較新的設備可以一次完成所有這些功能！
難不得，
即使有 21 世紀科技提供的所有好處，
它不僅整合了企業生產力，
也對包含了我們的個人生活。
The same is true in the church.
Cell phones, e-mail, teleconferencing, and the internet
have enabled holy workers to coordinate across the globe.
Instant messaging and web logs allow members to keep in touch
and to share their faith in between the occasional seminar or visitation.
在教會裡也是如此。
行動電話，電子郵件，電話會議和互聯網，
已使得聖職人員能夠超越全球進行協調。
即時通訊和網路日誌可讓成員保持聯繫，
並且在不定期的研討會或訪問之間分享他們彼此的信仰。
Sermons from around the world can be downloaded on demand,
and live sermons can be streamed.
Even online Bible studies using webcams are held regularly.
Without a doubt, the church has gone digital.
世界各地的講道可以隨選下載，
並且可以直播現場講道。
甚至還定期用網路鏡頭進行網路查經。
毫無疑問的，教會已經數位化了。
As we have moved towards an instant access- and technology-oriented life,
how has it impacted our spiritual life?
Specifically, what effects are they having on our worship of and devotion towards God?
隨著我們越來越趨向即時連繫和技術為主的生活，
它如何影響我們的靈命呢？
具體來說，它們對我們敬拜神和事奉神有什麼影響呢？
SABBATH WORSHIP 安息日崇拜
I’m sure if you look around your local church,
you’ll see that on any given Sabbath, the service itself hasn’t changed.
Yes, some churches have replaced white boards with projectors,
and, yes, there are audio/visual systems,
but the worship structure is largely intact.
What has changed, however, are the people worshipping.
我相信如果你看看自已當地的教會，
你會發現在任何一個安息日，聚會本身並沒有改變。
是的，有些教會已經用投影機取代了白板，
而且，還有影音系統，
但敬拜的流程基本上完好沒有變化。
然而，改變的是人們崇拜的方式。
Many members now bring cell phones, smart phones, and laptops to church regularly.
There’s nothing wrong with this
—as mentioned earlier these are beneficial tools.
現在很多信徒都經常會帶著行動電話，智慧型手機，和筆記型電腦去教會。
這樣作並沒什麼問題，
—正如前面所提到的，這些都是有助益的工具。
However, we use these exact same tools every day in our working and personal lives.
By bringing them with us to church,
do we subconsciously lose our reverence when worshipping in service?
In other words, do these ever-present gadgets
make sitting in the chapel feel as though we were in our office, at home, or out with friends?
Can this cause us to feel too casual at church?
然而，我們每天在工作和個人生活中都在使用這些完全相同的工具。
透過帶著他們去教會，
當我們聚會敬拜時，自已有沒有下意識失去自已的敬畏之心？
換句話說，這些無所不在的小工具，
是否讓坐在教會感覺就像坐在辦公室，在家裡或者和朋友一起出去？
這是否能夠讓我們在教會感到太隨便呢？
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt,
He often repeated God’s words,
“Let my people go so that they may [worship] Me,” to Pharaoh
(Ex 8:1, 8:20, 9:1, 9:13, 10:3).
We have to remember that God delivered the Israelites
because He heard their groaning and remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
(Ex 2:23-25).
The people needed to be delivered from Egypt so that they could have peace and rest.
當摩西帶領以色列人出埃及的時候，
他經常重複神的語話：
“容我的百姓去，好事奉我”，對法老說
（出 8：1，8：20，9：1，9：13，10：3）。
我們必須記住，神拯救以色列人，
因為祂聽見了他們的哀聲，記念祂與亞伯拉罕，以撒，雅各所立的約
（出 2：23-25）
百姓需得拯救離開埃及，這樣他們才能獲得平安與歇息。
In the same way, God knows that we need rest from our toil and labor.
As the Israelites needed to depart from Egypt physically and mentally in order to obtain rest,
so we, too, need to depart from the world
and enter into God’s presence on the Sabbath.
同樣的方式，神知道我們需要從辛勤與勞碌中休息。
正如以色列人需要在身體和心靈上離開埃及，為了能夠得到休息，
所以我們也需要離開這個世界，
並在安息日進到神的面前。
In Nehemiah 13:19-22,
we see that Nehemiah shut the gates to the city on the Sabbath
and told the Levites to
“cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates,
to sanctify the Sabbath day.”
在尼希米記 13 章 19-22 節，
我們看到尼希米在安息日關閉了城門，
並且告訴利未人，
“潔淨自己，來守城門，
使安息日為聖。”
What this means is that
there needs to be a separation between us and the world on the Sabbath.
We need to guard the gates of our heart.
In order to truly worship God in spirit and in truth,
we need to be able to focus on God by setting aside our worldly tasks.
This is the same concept as God setting aside a day, sanctifying it, and resting on it.
這裡所代表的意思就是，
安息日時我們和世界之間要有分別。
我們要守護自己的心門。
為了用心靈和誠實真正敬拜神，
我們需要放下自已世俗的事務，要能夠專心在神身上。
正如神分別出一日，歸其為聖，並在這一日休息，有相同的概念。
Today, this physical and mental barrier is in jeopardy.
Our cell phones, smart phones, laptops, radios, and other devices
that we bring into the church have invisible strings attached to them.
They are conduits that link us to the world
when we ought to be setting ourselves apart.
如今，這一實體與心靈上的分界正處於危難鏡地。
我們的行動電話，智慧型手機，筆記型電腦、收音機和其他設備，
我們所帶入教會的東西都有無形的網路與他們連結。
它們是連接我們與世界的導線，
當我們本應該要把自己隔離開來。
In many cases, they can become virtual portals
that bring our minds out of the church even though we are physically present.
And now, at younger ages our children are doing the same.
在很多種情況下，它們可以成為虛擬網站入口，
儘管我們身體留在教會裡，會帶著我們的思緒脫離教會。
如今，我們的孩子年齡很小的時候，也正在做相同的事情。
But other questions loom:
Do we even have to bring these things to church?
And why are they on during service?
What if we only turn them on during break time?
但其他問題就會浮現出來：
我們真的必須把這些事物帶去教會嗎？
為什麼他們聚會期間還打開呢？
若我們在休息時間才打開它們，那會怎樣呢？
Sabbath Delight 安息日的喜悅
I recently purchased a smart phone,
which is essentially a mini-computer.
The first Sabbath I had it with me,
the temptation to fiddle with it, text message, surf the web, or play games during service
was stronger than I expected.
我最近買了一部智慧型手機，
它本質上就是一台微型電腦。
第一個安息日我帶著它，
在聚會期間擺弄手機，傳簡訊，上網，或是玩遊戲的誘惑，
比我預期的更強。
After I thought about it,
I realized the temptation was so strong
because using the device was discrete and non-intrusive.
It wouldn’t disrupt the service in any way.
More importantly, I realized there was a bigger issue confronting us today:
technology addiction.
我一想到它後，
自已就了解到這種誘惑很強烈，
因為使用該設備是斷斷續續的且並非侵入性的。
它不會以任何方式干擾聚會。
更重要的是，我意識到自已今天要面臨一個更大的問題：
科技成癮。
Do we sometimes say we’re bringing our laptops to church to take notes,
that we’re bringing our cell phones for emergency use,
and that we’re doing A/V to help with church work,
or are they really excuses to keep us near our gadgets?
Do we text message other church members during service
and justify doing it because they are church members?
我們是否有時會說，要帶著筆記型電腦去教會做筆記，
我們會隨身攜帶行動電話可在緊急情況使用，
我們會進行影音編輯來幫助教會聖工，
或者它們只是我們保持接近電子設備的藉口呢？
我們在聚會期間是否會傳簡訊給其他教會的信徒呢？
並且因為他們是教會信徒而合理化這樣做呢？
Since we use technology so much in our lives,
it’s hard for us to get by without it.
If we bring our gadgets to church on the Sabbath in order to give us something to do,
it’s not because the sermons are too dry;
it’s because our hearts are too empty.
由於我們在生活中常常頻繁使用科技，
沒有它我們就很難生存下去。
如果我們在安息日帶著自已的小設備去教會，以便有事可做，
這並不是因為講道太枯燥；
而是因為我們的內心太空虛了。
Isaiah 58:13, 14 says: 以賽亞書 58 章 13，14節
“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on My holy day,
and call the Sabbath a delight,
the holy day of the LORD honorable,
and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
nor finding your own pleasure,
nor speaking your own words,
then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
“13你若在安息日掉轉（或譯：謹慎）你的腳步，
在我聖日不以操作為喜樂，
稱安息日為可喜樂的，
稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的；
而且尊敬這日，不辦自己的私事，
不隨自己的私意，
不說自己的私話，
14你就以耶和華為樂。
耶和華要使你乘駕地的高處，
又以你祖雅各的產業養育你。
這是耶和華親口說的。”
Living in this world, it’s inevitable
that at some point we may feel weak or empty.
Since we are confronted with the same pressures that the rest of society is faced with,
it’s important to cast our burdens on God and take up His yoke.
生活在這個世界上，這會不可避免，
在某些時候，我們可能會覺得虛弱或空虛。
因為我們會面臨社會其他人所面對的相同壓力，
把自已的重擔卸給神，並負起祂的軛就很重要。
The Sabbath was designed with us in mind.
God knows we are flesh and need to be recharged physically and spiritually,
which is why He challenges and promises us that
if we call the Sabbath a delight and do not do our own will,
He will cause us to ride on the high hills of the earth
and will feed us with the heritage of Jacob.
This means He will fill our hearts and give us rest.
安息日是專為我們內心所設立的。
神知道我們有肉體，需要身體和心理上重新充電，
這就是為什麼祂會質疑和承諾我們，
如果我們稱安息日為可喜樂的，且不去進行自己的計劃，
祂將使我們乘駕在地上的高地，
就會用雅各的遺產滋養我們。
這代表著祂將充滿我們的內心並使我們得到安息。
But first, we have to call the Sabbath a delight.
We have to look forward to receiving rest on the Sabbath
instead of viewing the Sabbath as a chore and a burden from God.
但首先，我們必須稱安息日為可喜樂的。
我們必須期待安息日得到休息，
而不是將安息日視為神的雜事和負擔。
If we’re not receiving spiritual rest on the Sabbath,
if our cell phone is the one always going off during service,
if during break time we find ourselves surfing the internet or messaging others
instead of having fellowship with the brothers and sisters right before us,
or if seeing another member with a new electronic device spurs envy in our heart
or the desire to get something better,
then perhaps we need to make a change in our lives.
如果我們沒得得到安息日的休息，
如果我們的行動電話，總是聚會期間會響起，
如果在休息時間發覺自已會上網或傳訊息給別人，
而不是與眼前的弟兄姐妹團契交流，
或看到其他信徒有新的電子設備，
卻激發我們內心的嫉妒，或激起想要得到更好東西的慾望，
那麼也許我們需要改變自已的生活。
Perhaps we are addicted to the technology that is supposed to help us.
To help us focus on worship,
we can turn off our electronic devices
or leave them in our cars on the Sabbath.
或許，我們已經沉迷於那些本應幫助我們的科技。
為了幫助我們專心聚會，
我們可以關掉自已的電子設備，
或在安息日把它們留在車裡。
If we realize that we’re really bringing our gadgets to church
to provide us relief from boredom on the Sabbath,
then we will never receive true rest or fulfillment.
Let’s make a determination to set our minds on delighting in the Sabbath,
and put aside all of the things that may distract us
so that our hearts may be filled!
如果我們了解到，我們確實帶著電子設備去教會，
為了要讓我們在安息日擺脫無聊，
那麼我們將永遠得不到真正的安息或滿足。
讓我們下定決心，立志以安息日為樂，
把所有可能讓我們分心的事情放在一邊，
讓我們的內心可得滿足！
DEVOTIONAL LIFE 虔誠的生活
Another aspect of our life which has significantly benefited from technology is our devotional life.
This is the time we spend outside of the Sabbath drawing nearer to God and cultivating ourselves.
It’s the effort we make to study the word of God,
to practice the word of God, and to pray.
我們從科技得益的生活另一個面向，就是自已敬虔的生活。
這是段我們在安息日之外親近神和靈修自己的時間。
那就是我們努力去學習神的話語，
去實現神的話語，並且禱告。
In this regard, technology and media have made substantial direct contributions.
For example, there are Bible programs and websites
that help us keep track of our daily Bible reading.
Furthermore, multiple translations of the Bible are at our disposal
to help us better understand what we’re reading.
We can even access maps, historical references, and relevant pictures using different search tools.
As we study the Bible, there is a wealth of resources just a mouse-click away!
在這方面，科技和媒體亦曾做出實質直接的貢獻。
例如，有很多聖經節目和網站，
可以幫助我們記錄自已每天讀經。
此外，有多種譯本的聖經可供我們參考，
來幫助我們更了解自已所讀的內容。
我們甚至可以使用不同的搜尋工具來讀取地圖，歷史參考資料及相關的圖片。
當我們學習聖經時，只需要滑鼠一點，就可有豐富的資源！
But on top of all of this,
we can listen to sermon recordings from churches around the world.
While we’re driving or walking,
our music devices give us the ability to virtually attend services and seminars on demand.
What better way to pursue a holy life than to listen to the word of God, the truth, daily?
但除了這一切之外，
我們可以聆聽到來自世界各地教會的講道錄音。
當我們開車或走路時，
我們的音樂裝置可給我們有能力，可以隨選虛擬參與聚會和講習會。
還有什麼比得上每天聆聽神真理的話語，有更好的方式來追求聖潔的生活呢？
But is there such a thing as listening to too much?
Is there a possibility that listening often to sermon recordings
actually prevents us from spiritually maturing?
There could be, if listening to sermon recordings becomes a replacement for studying the Bible.
但是到底有沒有因為聽了太多這種事呢？
有沒有一種可能性，就是常常聆聽講道錄音，
卻實際阻止了我們靈命變得成熟呢？
如果用聽講道錄音去代替查經的話，那麼就有可能。
A lot of times, it’s easier to just play a sermon
while we’re driving, cooking, walking, riding public transit,
and doing other things than to set aside time to study the word of God diligently.
很多時候，播放講道是比較容易的，
當我們正在開車，煮飯，走路，搭乘大眾運輸，
或是在做其他事情，除了留出時間認真學習神的話語。
Ezra 7:10 says: 以斯拉記 7 章 10 節說：
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it,
and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
10以斯拉定志考究遵行耶和華的律法，
又將律例典章教訓以色列人。
Ezra journeyed to Jerusalem after the temple had been rebuilt and dedicated
in order to rebuild the spiritual lives of the Israelites.
But the first thing he needed to do was “seek the Law of the LORD.”
In the same way, to establish our own spiritual lives,
we need to seek for God and His word.
This is done through studying the Bible.
聖殿重建及獻殿之後，以斯拉前才前往耶路撒冷，
為了重建以色列人的屬靈生活。
但他所需要做的第一件事，就是“尋求耶和華的律法”。
同樣的方式，為了建立我們自己的屬靈生活，
我們需要尋求神和祂的話語。
這是透過學習聖經才可實現的。
Listening to sermons is beneficial
and helps us to understand God’s word through someone else’s experience.
It can encourage and motivate us to follow God wholeheartedly.
But true first-hand experience, true strength,
comes by studying the word of God and searching the Scriptures.
聆聽講道可有所助益，
並幫助我們經由別人的經驗來明白神的話語。
它可以鼓勵並激勵我們全心全意跟隨神。
但真正的親身經歷、真正的力量，
是來自學習神的話語和研讀聖經而來。
Jesus said that He is the bread of life,
and the Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Word.
If we want to receive spiritual nourishment,
we need to read the word of God.
If we only listen to sermon recordings every day but do not read the Bible ourselves,
then all we have is knowledge that is spoon-fed to us,
which may actually place our faith in specific sermon speakers
as opposed to taking root in God’s word.
耶穌說祂是生命的糧，
約翰福音告訴我們，耶穌就是道。
如果我們想要得到屬靈的滋養，
我們就要閱讀神的話語。
如果我們每天只聽講道錄音，卻不自己研讀聖經，
那麼我們所擁有的一切只是知識，是別人以湯匙餵給我們的，
那就可能真的讓我們信仰特定的講道者，
而不是相反的紮根於神的話語。
At the same time, without seeking out the law of God ourselves,
we don’t truly know it.
If we don’t know it,
how then can we practice it or even teach it to others?
How can we have anything to share during Bible studies?
In many cases, we reach a point where we just want to listen to “good” sermons,
much like the biblical prophecy about the world having an “itching ear”
(2 Tim 4:3).
同時，若自己不去尋求神的律法，
我們就真的不認識真理。
如果我們不了解真理，
那我們怎麼能行出真理，或甚至教導別人呢？
我們在查經時怎麼可以分享心得呢？
很多時候，我們到了一種情況，自已只想聽“好聽的”講道，
就很像聖經的預言，有關世界會“耳朵發癢”一樣
（提後 4：3）。
James 1:22 and Romans 2:13 exhort us
not only to be hearers of the word but doers.
If we think that listening to three sermons every day
automatically makes us perfect and holy,
then we are forgetting what kind of person we are.
We have to live out the word of God and experience it.
Only then, after searching the Scriptures and living it out,
can we exemplify it to others.
雅各書 1 章 22 節和羅馬書 2 章 13 節勸勉我們，
不但要聽道，還要行道。
如果我們認為每天聽三篇講道，
就會自動讓我們變得完美和聖潔，
那麼我們就會忘了自已到底是什麼樣的人。
我們必須要活出神的話語，並去體驗它。
只有這樣，在研讀聖經並實踐之後，
我們才能給別人作為榜樣。
Consider when Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8.
The Ethiopian eunuch was riding in the chariot reading the Book of Isaiah,
but he couldn’t understand it.
When Philip rode with him to explain that Isaiah spoke about the coming of Jesus,
the eunuch was immediately baptized.
想想使徒行傳第 8 章，那時腓力向衣索比亞太監傳道的故事。
衣索比亞太監坐在馬車上讀著以賽亞書，
但他無法理解那本書。
當腓力與他同行，向他解釋以賽亞書提到的是有關耶穌的降臨時，
太監立刻受洗了。
Today, to fulfill our commission of preaching the gospel,
we have to be similarly equipped.
If our friends ask us biblical questions,
would it be enough to just say, “Oh, I have a sermon recording you can listen to,”
or, “I remember hearing a sermon about that,
but I don’t remember where the Bible says so
or what exactly was said”?
Or is it more effective if we’re able to speak with passion and conviction the words
that we have received from God through studying the Bible?
如今，為了完成傳揚福音的使命，
我們也必須穿上相同的裝備。
如果朋友問我們有關聖經的問題，
若只是說是，“哦，我有一則講道錄音你可以聽聽”，那就足夠了嗎？
或者，“我記得聽過一則有關這件事的講道，
但我不記得聖經在哪裡有這麼說過，
或是我們具體說了什麼話題呢？
或者若我們能夠以充滿熱情和深信的態度談及神的話語，難道不會是更有果效，
因為那是我們透過研讀聖經從神那裡所得到的體驗心得嗎？
Won’t we seem more credible to truthseekers
if we’re able to reference the Bible and show that we’re well versed?
There is no reason for others to believe what we say
if we don’t seem to have worked out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
對慕道者來說，我們難道不會顯得更可信嗎
如果我們能夠引用聖經，並表現出我們精通聖經呢？
別人沒有理由要相信我們所說的話，
如果我們似乎沒有恐懼戰兢去努力找出自己的救贖之路。
More than anything, however,
technology can prevent us from going forth and putting the word of God into practice.
Surrounded by all the comforts of technology at home, by all the information we receive,
when will we go into the world and preach the gospel as commanded?
然而，最重要的是，
科技會阻擋我們走出去，將神的話語付諸實踐。
在家裡我們被各種科技的便利所包圍，被自已所接收到的各種資訊所包圍，
我們何時才會按照誡命去世界傳福音呢？
Like many other things in this world,
technology is neither good nor bad.
It’s a tool that we can use for a wide range of purposes.
As Christians, we can use it to support our ministry and the growth of the church,
but let us be vigilant.
就像世上許多其他的事物一樣，
科技無所謂好壞。
這只是一個工具，我們可以用於多種用途。
作為基督徒，我們可以用科技來幫忙自已的事工和教會的發展，
但我們必須保持警醒。
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
While we don’t know what new advances technology will bring to us tomorrow,
God’s standard and expectation remain the same forever.
8耶穌基督，昨日、今日、一直到永遠、是一樣的。
雖然我們不知道明日科技的新進展會給我們帶來什麼事物，
而神的標準和期望會永遠保持一樣。
Let us determine to pursue Him wholeheartedly
and never let anything replace Him in our hearts.
If at any time we realize that we have become the tool of technology,
let us always return to Him, for He is faithful!
讓我們下決心全心全意追隨祂，
不要讓任何東西取代祂在我們心中的位置。
如果在任何時間，我們意識到自已已經成為科技的工具，
讓我們永遠都要回到祂身邊，因為祂是忠實的！
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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