8. Manna issue 66 - Know Your Challenges (II) Secularization 認識你的挑戰(二) 世俗化
Based on a sermon by Aun Quek Chin—Singapore 新加坡，根據 Aun Quek Chin 講道
“Do not love the world or the things in the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him”
(1 Jn 2:15).
“15不要愛世界和世界上的事。
人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裡面了。”
（約壹 2：15）。
The Lord Jesus Christ paid a very hefty price
to save and transform us from a worldly to a holy people.
Sadly, however, many believers today have allowed themselves
to be carried away by the wave of secularization sweeping through the Christian world.
It is indeed tragic to see people reverting from their holy status to a worldly one.
So how can we recognize and protect ourselves against secularization[i]?
主耶穌基督付出了非常沉重的代價，
拯救轉變我們，使我們從世俗之人成為聖潔的人。
然而，可悲的是，今日許多信徒已經允許自己，
被正在席捲基督教世界的世俗化浪潮帶走。
看到有很多人從聖潔的狀態回歸世俗的情況，確實是很可悲。
那麼，我們如何才能看清世俗化，並且保護自己免受世俗化的影響呢[i]？
SECULARIZATION OF THE GOSPEL 福音世俗化
When Christians no longer esteem a gospel that emphasizes the things of heaven,
but prefer one that focuses on social issues, they have become secularized.
當基督徒不再重視強調天國主題的福音時，
但是更喜歡關注社會問題，他們已經世俗化了。
Contemporary theologians have declared: 現代神學家宣稱：
“The significance of evangelism today is no longer merely a passive call to repentance.
Instead, the new gospel is about working amongst the poor and active participation in social work.
We must be the voice of the people, and the champion of their rights.”
“今日傳福音的意義，不再僅是消極呼籲大家悔改。
相反的，新形式的福音涉偶，在窮人中付出，並積極參與社會工作。
我們必須成為人民代言的聲音，捍衛他們的權利。”
“The question is not about how I can find a good God, but about how I can find a good neighbor.”
“問題不在於，我要如何才能找到一位良善的神，而在於我如何才能找到一位好鄰居。”
To these theologians, finding a Good Samaritan is more important than finding a good church;
providing food is better than giving someone the gospel.
To them, the crux of the gospel is no longer salvation in the kingdom of heaven,
but rather things of the world.
How can such a gospel still be the pure gospel of Christ?
對這些神學家來說，找到善良的撒瑪利亞人，比找到一個好教會更重要；
提供食物比傳福音好。
對他們而言，福音的關鍵不再是天國的救恩，
而是世上的事。
這種福音怎麼可能仍然是基督純正的福音呢？
The Lord Jesus provides an excellent example for us in staying focused on the right ultimate goal.
When news of how Jesus had cast out demons and healed the sick spread, many flocked to Jesus[1].
But what did Jesus do? He retreated to a solitary place to pray!
When the disciples finally found Him,
they exclaimed,
“Everyone is looking for you, this is a fantastic opportunity!
This is the time for us to work because everyone needs you.”
Surprisingly, Jesus said,
“Let us go into the next towns,
that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come.”
主耶穌為我們提供了一個很好的榜樣，讓我們專注於正確的最終目標。
當耶穌如何醫病趕鬼的消息傳開時，許多人湧向耶穌[1]。
但是耶穌做了什麼？ 他退到一個偏僻的地方禱告！
當門徒終於找到他時，
他們驚呼，
“大家都在找你，這是一個最棒的機會！
這是我們作工的時候，因為每個人都需要你。”
令人驚訝的是，耶穌說，
“讓我們走去下一個城鎮，
我也可以在那里傳道，因為我來就是為了這個目的。”
The disciples were puzzled:
Did the Lord not realize that many were trying to follow and believe in Him?
These multitudes clearly needed healing and peace,
which He could grant.
So why was He not healing them?
弟子覺得疑惑：
主難道不明白，有許多人努力要跟隨並相信祂嗎？
這些群眾顯然需要醫治和平安，
祂是可以給予的。
那麼祂為什麼不醫治他們呢？
In fact, the disciples had failed to see that Jesus’ miracles were not the ends,
but simply the means.
The ultimate purpose of these wonders was to enable people
to know and believe that Jesus is the Savior;
that He is God who had come to this world as man in order to save mankind.
Unfortunately, the people only wanted to receive physical peace and healing,
not the gospel of salvation.
事實上，門徒不明白，耶穌的神蹟不是目的，
但僅僅是手段而已。
這些神蹟的最終目的，就是要使們
認識並且相信，耶穌是救主；
祂是神，以人的身份來到這個世界，來拯救人類。
不幸的是，人們只想得到肉體上的平安和醫治，
不是救贖的福音。
Jesus came to save our souls, not our bodies.
He came not to establish a social organization,
but the kingdom of God, i.e., the church, so that we can be saved.
Thus, He had to reserve His energy and time for His key priorities,
even if it made Him appear to be lacking in compassion.
Similarly, it is not that Christians are not concerned about matters in society,
for there are many Christians who are involved in social work.
But the main aim of the church is to save souls,
and it must stay true to this aim.[ii]
耶穌來拯救我們的靈魂，而不是我們的身體。
他來不是為了建立一個社會組織，
而是來建立神的國，就是建立教會，這樣我們才能得救。
因此，祂必須保留精力和時間，進行最重要的任務，
即使這讓祂看起來，顯得沒有同情心。
同樣，這也不是基督徒不關心社會的事務，
因為有許多基督徒都參與了社會工作。
但教會的主要目的是拯救靈魂，
它必須忠於此一目標。 [ii]
Some people claim that the church’s involvement in social work facilitates evangelism.
But we must be careful not to end up drawing people to the baskets of bread[2] rather than Christ.
The phenomenal growth of the apostolic church did not arise from a focus on social work,
but an unflagging reliance on the Holy Spirit.
The door of the gospel was opened through the power of the Holy Spirit.
有些人聲稱，教會參與社會工作，會有助於傳福音。
但是我們必須小心，不要最終將人們吸引到麵包籃[2]而不是基督的身邊。
使徒教會的驚人成長，並非來自於關注社會工作，
而是不屈不撓地依靠聖靈。
福音的大門是藉著聖靈的能力才能打開的。
SECULARIZATION OF THEOLOGY 神學世俗化
When Christians no longer place emphasis on the theology of the cross,
but on the theology of success, they have become secularized.
“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified”
(1 Cor 2:2).
“2因為我曾定了主意，在你們中間不知道別的，只知道耶穌基督並他釘十字架。”
（林前 2：2）。
Although apostle Paul was more highly educated than many of his peers,
he had come to realize that
his great learning could not bring him (or those around him) forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
So he decided to forego all his previous knowledge,
understanding that Christ is far more precious and important than anything else[3].
Paul preached Jesus Christ and how He was crucified for our sakes
so that we could emulate and follow Jesus.
But what does following Jesus really entail?
雖然使徒保羅比他的許多同工，接受過更多的高等教育，
他最後才明白，
他偉大的學識無法使他（或他周圍的人）的罪得到赦免和永生。
於是他決定放棄所有以前的知識，
了解到，基督比其他的任何事物，都更加寶貴重要[3]。
保羅傳講耶穌基督，以及他如何為我們的原故，被釘死在十字架上，
這樣我們就可以效法和跟隨耶穌。
但是跟隨耶穌真正需要怎麼作呢？
“Then Jesus said to his disciples,
‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’”
(Mt 16:24).
“24於是耶穌對門徒說：
若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。”
（太 16：24）。
The theology of the cross emphasizes that we have to suffer with Christ.
Even in the face of severe persecution or great difficulty,
we must never give up our faith because it is a faith that will save for eternity.
We must be willing to pay the price and endure all pain.
十字架神學強調，我們必須與基督一同受苦。
即使面對嚴厲的迫害或巨大的困難，
我們絕不能放棄自已的信仰，因為這是可以拯救人得永生的信仰。
我們必須願意付出代價，忍受一切痛苦。
However, there are Christian leaders today who espouse the theology of success,
teaching that believers can use any means
– including prayer
– to obtain success.
They base their claim on the fact that our God wants us to succeed, not suffer;
to enjoy, not endure!
Unfortunately for these Christians,
their idea of success and enjoyment is narrowly rooted in this present life.
然而，今日有基督教領袖，他們擁護成功神學，
教導信徒可以使用任何方法，
- 包括祈禱 ，
- 來獲得成功。
他們的主張是基於，我們的神希望我們成功，而不是受苦。
要好好享受，而不是忍耐！
不幸的是，對這些基督徒而言，
他們對成功和享受的觀念，狹隘地建立於今世的生活。
For instance, they say that God created the universe for man’s pleasure.
Good health is a prerequisite for deriving maximum worldly pleasure.
Moreover, believers who are physically unwell would not be glorifying to God.
Hence, ailing believers should ask Him to perform a miracle and heal them
so that they can enjoy this world and glorify Him.
Under these types of New-Age theological philosophies,
believers do not pray to ask God to grant them faith and endurance in trials.
Instead, they demand that God take the trials away to enable them to enjoy His material providence.
The emphasis is on miracles, signs and wonders, and healing, not on endurance or suffering.
例如，他們說，神創造宇宙是為了讓人類快樂。
身體健康是獲得最大世俗快樂的先決條件。
此外，身體不適的信徒不會榮耀神。
因此，生病的信徒應該求祂行神蹟，醫治他們，
使他們可以享受這個世界，並榮耀神。
在這些類型的新時代神學哲學下，
信徒不會祈求神，能在試煉中賜給他們信心和忍耐。
相反，他們要求神排除試煉，使他們能夠享受祂在物質上的預備和眷顧。
些處重點是神蹟、異象奇事和醫治，而不是忍耐或苦難。
It is not wrong to pray to God to take away the bitter cup of our sickness
but we must remember the important proviso
—“nevertheless not my will, but Yours, be done[4]”.
To be prepared to suffer is not indicative of a passive or negative faith;
instead it reflects an active and steadfast conviction that God’s way is the best way.
求神排除我們疾病的苦杯，並沒有錯，
但我們必須記住重要的附帶條件，
——“42然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。[4]”。
準備受苦，並不表示成為消極負面的信仰；
相反的，它反映了一種積極而堅定的信念，即是，神的方式是最好的方式。
These theologians also believe that health without wealth is inadequate.
Healthy but poor believers cannot enjoy the world.
Poor and poorly dressed believers cannot glorify God.
Our poverty would embarrass God;
how can the children of the Lord of the universe be poorer than those of the world?
這些神學家還認為，有健康卻沒有財富是不夠的。
健康但窮困的信徒，是無法享受這個世界的。
窮困衣衫襤褸的信徒，是無法榮耀神的。
我們的貧窮會使神難堪；
宇宙之主的兒女，怎能比世人還窮呢？
And you shall remember the Lord your God,
for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,
that He may establish His covenant
which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
(Deut 8:18)
18你要記念耶和華─你的神，
因為得貨財的力量是他給你的，
為要堅定他向你列祖起誓所立的約，像今日一樣。
（申 8：18）
The theme of Deuteronomy 8 is “Remember the LORD your God.”
It sets out a range of things to remember the Lord for,
but proponents of Success Theology love to zoom in on this verse.
They believe that since God had promised
to make Abraham a great nation, grant him peace and great wealth,
Christians today ought to pray to God to “claim” this power to be successful in the world.
申命記 8 章的主題是“當記念耶和華你的神”。
它列出了一系列，要記住主耶和華的事情，
但是成功神學的支持者，喜歡放大檢視這節經文。
他們相信，既然神已經應許，
要使亞伯拉罕成為一個大國，賜予他平安和巨大的財富，
今日的基督徒，應該向神祈禱，以“求取”這種力量，能在世界上取得成功。
Prosperity theologians draw many by preaching that God wants to give us abundant material wealth.
Poor Christians should pray that God gives them the power to earn money.
God will hearken to such prayers because God wants us to be rich and successful.
But does God really want us to be successful in this manner?
Is the power of God manifested in us so that we can gain wealth in this world?
成功神學家，通過宣傳神會給我們豐富的物質財富，吸引了許多人。
可憐的基督徒應該祈求，讓神賜給他們賺錢的能力。
上帝會垂聽這樣的祈禱，因為神希望我們變得富有成功。
但神是否真的希望我們以這種方式成功呢？
神的大能是否在我們身上彰顯，使我們可以在這個世界上獲得財富呢？
See what Jesus taught through the parable of Lazarus and the rich man.
The rich man was clearly more successful.
Every day, he wore purple (designer clothing in those times) and ate sumptuously.
Despite the gluttony, he remained healthy.
With all this luxury, he appears to be the one who truly “glorified” God.
In stark contrast, Lazarus was pathetic.
So poor he had to beg and wait for scraps;
he could not move on his own and even had sores all over his body.
And the great irony was that the name Lazarus meant… “God helps”!
How had God helped him?
According to Success Theology,
Lazarus should be considered an utter failure,
the most pitiful man who enjoyed the least grace in life.
看看耶穌通過拉撒路和財主的比喻，有什麼教導。
有錢人很明顯更加成功。
每天，他穿著紫色衣袍（當時的名牌服裝），吃得很奢侈。
儘管暴飲暴食，他仍然保持健康。
憑藉這一切奢華，他似乎是真正“榮耀”神的人。
與之形成鮮明對比的是，拉撒路是非常的悲慘。
實在是太窮了，他只好去乞討，等待殘羹剩飯；
他不能自己行動，甚至全身都有瘡。
巨大諷刺的是，拉撒路這個名字的意思是……“神來幫助”！
神是如何幫助他呢？
根據成功神學，
拉撒路應該被視為徹底失敗，
是最可憐的人，生命中享受極少的恩典。
While recounting the parable, Jesus astonished his listeners with a twist in the tale.
After Lazarus died, he was taken back to Paradise.
When the rich man died, he went to Hades.
Therein lies an important lesson from the Lord Jesus
—the crux of the gospel is not worldly success or material blessings!
Treasures on earth are as transient and fragile as a flower.
What we should pursue is the imperishable glory.
This is found in heaven and is eternal.
耶穌在講述這個比喻的時候，故事的轉折嚇到了祂的聽眾。
拉撒路死後，他被帶回天堂。
財主死後，他去了陰間。
這裡有主耶穌重要的教訓，
—福音的關鍵，並不是世俗的成功，或是物質的祝福！
地上的財寶就像花朵一樣短暫而脆弱。
我們應該追求的，是不朽的榮耀。
這可在天堂中找到，並且是永恆的。
Understanding that we are but sojourners in this world helps us endure worldly suffering.
All things, whether good or bad, will pass away;
we shall pass away.
The most critical issue is what will happen to us after we pass away.
了解到我們只是這個世上的旅居者，會有助於我們忍受世俗的痛苦。
一切事物，無論好壞，都會過去；
我們都將逝去。
最關鍵的問題是，我們去世後會發生什麼事。
SECULARIZATION OF OUR LIFE 生活世俗化
When Christians start to love the world more than God
and emulate the world instead of Christ,
their lives have been secularized.
當基督徒開始愛世界勝過愛神，
效法世界而不效法基督的時候，
他們的生活就已經世俗化了。
Adulterers and adulteresses!
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(Jas 4:4)
4你們這些淫亂的人（原文是淫婦）哪，
豈不知與世俗為友就是與神為敵麼？
所以凡想要與世俗為友的，就是與神為敵了。
（雅 4：4）
We live, work and play in the world.
Naturally, we have many friends in the world.
Does that automatically render us enemies of God?
我們在這個世界上，存活、工作和玩樂。
自然而然，我們在世界上有許多朋友。
前樣會使我們必然成為神的敵人嗎？
It is not a sin to conform to local practices, i.e.,
“when in Rome, do as the Romans do”.
However, there are certain cultures and traditions that are against the teachings of Christ.
Being determined to keep the teachings of Jesus Christ
may bring believers into direct conflict with these practices and the people who practice them.
Some believers are unwilling to sacrifice their ties with their friends
and thus decide to conform to worldly practices that are detrimental to their faith.
At this very instant, such Christians have been secularized in their life.
They have become enemies of Christ.
遵從當地習俗並不是罪，就是，
“在羅馬的時候，就入鄉隨俗”。
然而，有些文化和習俗，是與基督的教義背道而馳。
若決心遵守耶穌基督的教義，
就可能使信徒與這些行為，和做這些事的人，直接發生衝突。
有些信徒不願犧牲自已與朋友的關係，
並因此決定模仿對他們的信仰有害的世俗行為。
就從這一刻開始，這樣的基督徒已經在他們的生活中世俗化了。
他們已經成為基督的敵人。
We remember the church of Philippi as one that brought Paul much joy.
But certain believers made him weep[5] by their blatant lack of concern with
and contravention of the teachings of Christ.
Interested solely in their own bellies,
they gave scant thought to whether their actions would glorify and please God.
As long as they felt glorious and satisfied, they were happy.
我們記得腓立比教會，給保羅帶來了很多喜樂。
但某些信徒因明顯漠不關心基督的教義，且與基督的教義相違背，
而使他哭泣[5]。
只對自己的肚腹有興趣，
他們很少想到，他們的行為是否會榮耀神和蒙神喜悅。
只要他們感到光榮和滿足，他們就很快樂。
So we need to keep asking ourselves:
Are our priorities rooted in earthly or in heavenly matters?
Is our aim a comfortable life today or glorious life eternal?
Do our lifestyles radiate secularity or reflect the image of Christ?[iii]
所以我們需要不斷地問自己：
我們的重要優先順序，是根據地上的事作選擇，還是根據天國的事情作決定？
我們的目標，是今日舒適的生活，還是永恆榮耀的生命？
我們的生活方式，是否散發出追求世俗，或是發出基督的形象？[iii]
SECULARIZATION OF PRAYER 禱告世俗化
When we constantly pray for earthly but not heavenly things,
our prayers have been secularized.
當我們不斷地為地上的事禱告，而不是天上的事禱告時，
我們的祈禱已經世俗化了。
Prayer ought to be used to worship and thank God,
to acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness.
It is the channel for us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Prayer is actually a very holy matter.
However, it is so simple to pray that we sometimes forget about how sacred it actually is.
禱告是應該用來敬拜神和感謝神，
用來承認自已的罪，並尋求寬恕。
它是我們的管道，用來尋求神的國和神的義。
禱告其實是一件很神聖的事情。
然而，祈禱是如此的簡單，以至於我們有時候會忘記，禱告其實是非常神聖的。
To believers in Old Testamental times, the sacredness of prayer was constantly reinforced.
They could not directly enter into the sanctuary to worship God;
they could only worship from the outside.
Entering was restricted to the priests.
Yet, even the priests could not enter the Holy of Holies.
In the sanctuary, a veil divided the holy place and the Holy of Holies.
Only the high priest was permitted to enter it once a year on the Day of Atonement.
對舊約時代的信徒來說，禱告的神聖性不斷得到加強。
他們不能直接進入聖所敬拜神；
他們只能在外面敬拜。
僅限祭司才能進入。
然而，即使是祭司也無法進入至聖所。
在聖所中，帷幔將聖地和至聖所隔開。
每年只有大祭司，才被允許在贖罪日進去一次。
When Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, the veil was ripped in two.
The author of Hebrews tells us
that the Lord Jesus Christ used His blood to tear this veil
so that all who believed in Him
and whose sins were cleansed through the blood of Christ
could directly meet God and truly worship Him.
Today, we are able to worship God directly,
whenever we kneel down and pray in the name of Jesus.
當耶穌基督為我們死在十字架上的時候，幔子被撕成兩半。
希伯來書的作者告訴我們，
主耶穌基督用祂的血，撕開了這片幔子
使所有信祂的人，
他們的罪因為基督的寶血而洗淨，
可以直接面見神，真正的敬拜神。
今日，我們可以直接敬拜神，
每當我們跪下，奉耶穌的聖名祈禱。
However, do we treasure this access to the Almighty?
Every time we kneel down and pray, do we believe that we are worshipping God?
Or have we lost the sense of its sacredness as a means to come into the presence of the Holiest One?
然而，我們是否會珍惜，這種與全能真神的接觸？
每次我們跪下禱告，我們是否相信自己正在敬拜神呢？
還是我們已經失去了，禱告作為進入至聖者面前一種方式的神聖感？
We secularize prayer when we are no longer awed or grateful for this sacred grace,
and treat prayer as a mere means for us to call for physical blessings
because of our pre-occupation with secular matters and concern for material possessions.
對這種神聖的恩典，當我們不再感到敬畏或感激時，就是將祈禱世俗化，
並認為祈禱不過是我們呼求肉體祝福的一種方式，
因為我們專注於世俗事務和對物質財富的關注。
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a spring;
the rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.
(Ps 84:5–7)
5靠你有力量、心中想往錫安大道的，這人便為有福！
6他們經過流淚谷，叫這谷變為泉源之地；並有秋雨之福蓋滿了全谷。
7他們行走，力上加力，各人到錫安朝見神。
（詩 84：5-7）
The ancient saints rejoiced when they could enter the temple to worship God.
Although they had to first pass through the Valley of Baca (Weeping),
they did not mind.
Any difficulty or grief they had to bear
paled in comparison with the joy of knowing they were going up the mountain of God to meet God.
They rejoiced because God was their help and they were His people.
These people could not even enter the sanctuary and had to remain outside.
Yet they were overflowing with joy and hope.
當古聖徒可以進入聖殿敬拜神的時候，他們歡欣鼓舞。
雖然他們必須先經過巴卡山谷（哭泣），
他們並不介意。
他們所承受的任何困難或悲傷，
與他們知道，自已要上神的山去面見神的喜悅相比，都不算什麼。
知道他們要上上帝的山去見上帝。
因為神是他們的幫助，而他們是祂的子民，所以很高興，。
這些人甚至不能進聖所，，只能待在外面。
然而，他們卻洋溢著喜悅和盼望。
In contrast, believers today have direct access to God.
This is a precious and sacred grace that we must never let go of;
we must regain our joy of and hope in prayer.
相比之下，今日的信徒可以親身接近神。
這是我們絕不能放棄，寶貴而神聖的恩典；
我們必須重拾禱告的喜樂和盼望。
Jesus taught us not to worry over our food and clothing.
In contrast, these are the very reasons why the Gentiles worship their deities.
They seek material blessings.
There are also secular Christians who pray only for earthly things.
If they can find some other means of obtaining material blessing,
they are quite prepared to forsake God!
We, on the other hand, know that the heavenly Father will add “all these things”[6] to us
—if we keep ourselves holy and pursue after the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
耶穌教導我們，不要為衣食憂慮。
相反的，這些正是外邦人崇拜他們神祇的原因。
他們尋求物質上的祝福。
也有世俗化的基督徒，只為地上的事情禱告。
如果他們能找到其他獲得物質祝福的方法，
他們似乎準備好要離棄神了！
另一方面，我們知道，天父會加給我們“這一切”[6]
—如果我們可以保持聖潔，追求神國神義。
To reiterate, prayer is our communication with God
– our time to repent and acknowledge sins,
look to God, trust Him and build a closer relationship with Him.
Never secularize prayer and lose such grace.
重申一下，禱告是我們與神的交流，
—是我們悔改認罪的時間，
仰望神，信靠祂，與神建立更密切的關係。
永遠不要世俗化禱告，並失去這樣的恩典。
SECULARIZATION OF THE TEMPLE 聖殿世俗化
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves,
and the money changers doing business.
When He had made a whip of cords,
He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen,
and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.
And He said to those who sold doves,
“Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
Then His disciples remembered that it was written,
“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
(Jn 2:13–17)
13猶太人的逾越節近了，耶穌就上耶路撒冷去。
14看見殿裡有賣牛、羊、鴿子的，並有兌換銀錢的人坐在那裡，
15耶穌就拿繩子做成鞭子，把牛羊都趕出殿去，倒出兌換銀錢之人的銀錢，推翻他們的桌子，
16又對賣鴿子的說：「把這些東西拿去！不要將我父的殿當作買賣的地方。」
17他的門徒就想起經上記著說：「我為你的殿心裡焦急，如同火燒。」
(約 2：13-17)
The temple ought to have been a place of prayer and worship,
but had become a place of profit-making!
The sounds of devout prayer had been drowned by the sounds of bargaining,
the bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen.
The holy temple was no longer holy.
The holy people had become common people.
What should have been an abnormal scenario had become normalized because of its daily recurrence!
They did not even realize that this temple had already been secularized.
聖殿應該是祈禱和敬拜的地方，
但卻成了一個賺錢的地方！
虔誠的祈禱聲卻被討價還價的聲音，羊叫聲和牛叫聲，所淹沒。
聖殿不再神聖。
聖民卻變成了常人。
原本該是種異常的場景，卻因為每天的重複發生，而變得很平常！
他們甚至沒有意識到，這座神殿已經世俗化了。
Jesus was usually meek, gentle, loving and compassionate.
He healed the leprous and enabled the lame to walk.
Once, worried that those who had come to listen to His word would be hungry on the way home,
He made bread for them to eat.
But in this incident at the temple, we see a completely different Jesus.
耶穌常是謙卑，柔和、慈愛和憐憫。
他治好了大麻風，使瘸子走路。
有一次，由於擔心來聽他講道的人，會在回家的路上飢餓，
祂分餅給他們吃。
但在聖殿的事件中，我們看到了完全不同的耶穌。
He was furious.
He made a whip out of cords, overturned the tables and rebuked the merchants harshly,
“Take all these things away!
How can you turn my Father’s house into a den of thieves?”
他很生氣。
他用繩子做鞭子，掀翻桌子，嚴厲斥責商人，
“把這些東西都拿走！
你怎麼能把我父親的殿，變成賊窩呢？”
Selling such merchandise in the temple started as a service to facilitate offering.
Those coming to Jerusalem from far-off places
would find it much easier to bring money to purchase sacrificial animals
than to drag the animals across hills and vales!
However, behind the seemingly thoughtful attempt to provide convenience was greed and thievery.
The temple priests were in cahoots with the merchants.
Priests were supposed to examine the animal,
certify that it was without blemish and thus suitable for sacrifice.
But dishonest priests would keep rejecting the animal
so that the people would be forced to buy another one.
In addition, the pilgrims would also be aggrieved
at being forced to pay the higher prices within the temple ground.
This was literally daylight robbery!
For this reason, Jesus said that the covetous priests had turned the house of God into a den of thieves.
There was no justice.
Consequently, the people’s joy in worship was significantly reduced.
在聖殿中出售此類商品，最初是為了方便獻祭。
從遠方來到耶路撒冷的人，
會了解帶錢購買祭物會比較容易得多，
而不是拖著動物經過山丘和谷地！
然而，看似體貼想法提供便利的背後，卻是貪婪和偷竊。
聖殿祭司與商人結伙勾結。
祭司應該檢查動物，
馳證動物沒有瑕疵，因此適合獻祭。
但不誠實的祭司會一直拒絕這種動物，
這樣百姓就會被迫購買另外一隻動物。
此外，朝聖者也會感到委屈，
因為被迫在聖殿地區內，要支付更高的價格。
這簡直就是大白天活生生搶劫！
因此耶穌說，貪婪的祭司已經把神的聖殿變成了賊窩。
一切沒有公平正義。
因此，百姓敬拜的喜樂大大的降低。
When Jesus took action to cleanse the temple of these robbers,
He was filled with wrath.
He did not care how many people were coming into the temple or to sacrifice.
Instead, He wanted to know how many people were truly happy to worship God,
held truly to their faith, and truly prayed and worshipped with a heart of reverence.
當耶穌採取行動清理這些聖殿的強盜時，
祂充滿了憤怒。
祂並不在乎有多少人要進入聖殿或去獻祭。
相反的，祂想知道，到底有多少人是真正樂意的敬拜神，
真正堅持他們的信仰，並以敬畏的心真正的祈禱敬拜。
The Bible says that we are the temple of God.
So have our temples become secularized?
Have we become a den of thieves?
If Jesus were to come today and see this temple, would He take a whip?
Would He rebuke us and tell us to take all these things away?
Jesus has already warned us.
He wants us to cleanse our own temple
so that we can draw near to God to worship Him, in spirit and in truth, in holiness and in reverence.
聖經說，我們是神的殿。
那麼我們的聖殿，有沒有世俗化了呢？
我們有沒有變成一處賊窩了呢？
如果耶穌今日將要來視察這座聖殿，他會不會拿起鞭子呢？
他會不會責備我們，並告訴我們要把這些東西都拿走呢？
耶穌已經警告我們了。
他要我們潔淨自己的聖殿，
好讓我們能親近神，用心靈、誠實、聖潔和敬畏來敬拜祂。
God Himself gave His life
so that we who were sinners could regain our status as sons of God.
Wouldn’t it be a tragedy
if we were to cast aside such amazing grace and marvelous love
in favor of the world’s iridescent but ultimately ephemeral glory?
神親自捨棄了自己的生命，
好讓我們這些罪人，能夠重新獲得身為神兒女的地位。
如果我們拋棄這麼奇妙的恩典和稀奇的愛，
而去支持這個世界多彩多姿但最終轉瞬即逝的榮耀，
這難道不是一種悲劇嗎？
[1] Mk 1:34–38 可 1：34-38
[2] Mt 14:13–21 太 14：13-21
[3] Cf. Phil 3:7–8 參考，腓 3：7-8
[4] Lk 22:42 路 22：42
[5] Phil 3:17–19 腓 3：17-19
[6] Mt 6:33 太 6：33
[i] SECULARIZATION DEFINED 世俗化定義
Encyclopedias provide a range of definitions on secularization.
In the sociology of religion,
secularization broadly refers to the “declining levels of religiosity” in modern society.
This article adopts a simple definition
– the transformation of what is holy into what is worldly.
百科全書提供了一系列關於世俗化的定義。
在宗教社會學中，
世俗化泛指現代社會的“宗教信仰水平下降”。
本文採用簡單定義
—將聖潔的事物轉化成世俗的事物。
[ii] MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD 比金子更寶貴
When Peter and John went to the temple to pray,
a lame man at the Beautiful Gate sought alms from them.
Peter said to him,
“Silver and gold I do not have,
but I will give to you whatever I have.”
What Peter had was the gospel of Christ,
the power of the Holy Spirit and a clear understanding of his commission.
Peter knew he could not change society,
could not solve the woes of all the poor.
But he had something far more precious
—the gospel, which gives eternal life.
Thus Peter gave the beggar the gospel of Christ
so that, upon believing, the latter would have his sins forgiven and be saved.
當彼得約翰去聖殿禱告的時候，
一個瘸腿的人在美門前向他們乞討。
彼得對他說：
“金銀我都沒有，
但我會把我所有的都給你。”
彼得所擁有的，就是基督的福音，
聖靈的能力，以及對他使命的清楚了解。
彼得知道自已無法改變社會，
無法解決所有窮人的困境。
但他有更珍貴的東西，
—就是福音，可以賜人永生。
因此彼得就把基督的福音傳給了乞丐，
如此一來，一旦相信了基督，乞丐的罪就會得到赦免而得救。
[iii] FIVE WARNING SIGNS:五種警告的異象
You look forward more to Saturday golf than Saturday with God.
You update and read your Facebook more often than you uplift your faith through reading God’s Book.
You spend more time asking God to bless your stock portfolio (or career, studies, etc.)
than entreating Him to heal your sick brethren
or help you grow in spirituality and His service.
You dismiss your skipping of services and low frequency of prayers and Bible-reading as “only human”.
You do not think backsliding is a big problem.
你更期待週六打高爾夫球，而不是星期六與神一起度過。
你更常更新觀看臉書 Facebook ，而不是通過閱讀神的經文，來提升你的信仰。
你花很多時間祈求神保佑你的股票投資組合（或職業、學業等等）
而不是懇求神醫治你生病的弟兄姐妹，
或幫助你的靈性和事奉方面有所成長。
你不管自已忽略了聚會，和祈禱和讀經的次數很少，認為“這是人的軟弱”。
你不認為跌倒是個大問題。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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