7. Manna issue 63 - Musical Lessons in Faith, Service and Worship 信仰，服事和崇拜的音樂課程
Ascents 升高
Since childhood, music has played a significant part in my life,
in particular, at home and in church.
From young, I was nurtured to understand
that music is an integral part of praising God.
In addition, I was encouraged to participate actively in our church’s music ministry.
從小時候起，音樂在我的生命中扮演著重要的角色，
特別是，在家裡和教會裡。
從小我就被培養去理解，
音樂是讚美神不可或缺的一部分。
此外，我被鼓勵積極參與教會的音樂事工。
By recalling my experiences in worshipping and serving through music,
I hope to share how music can help us to open up our hearts to praise God,
and what we should be careful about in our service to God.
回顧我以音樂敬拜和服事的經驗，
我希望能分享音樂如何能幫助我們敞開自已心胸讚美神，
以及我們事奉神的時候，應該注意什麼事項。
NURTURED FROM CHILDHOOD 從小培養
I fondly recall learning the jolly children hymns in Religious Education classes,
especially the ones with accompanying body actions.
Although I didn’t fully understand the lyrics at that time,
I knew they were about praising God
and sang as loudly as I could in the classroom
and whenever we presented in front of the congregation.
我懷念的記得宗教教育課程學習快樂的兒童詩歌，
尤其是那些伴隨著帶動唱的詩歌。
雖然當時，我還沒有完全了解歌詞，
但我知道他們是用來讚美神，
在教室裡要盡可能大聲歌唱
每當我們在會眾面前表演時。
Singing these hymns nurtured my love for music.
I was also greatly influenced by my parents
who constantly sang at home, at work
and even while traveling to and from church in the car.
If they weren’t singing,
I would be listening to church hymns on the cassette tape or CD player.
歌唱這些詩歌，培養了我熱愛音樂。
我也深深受到父母的影響，
他們常在家、工作時，隨口歌唱，
甚至在開車往返教會時，也是如此。
如果他們沒有唱歌的話，
我會用卡帶或 CD 播放器聽教會讚美詩。
In addition, my siblings and I were given the opportunity to learn to play the piano.
It was my older sister who was the first amongst us
to receive piano lessons from a neighbor.
Secretly, I also wanted to learn
as I watched my sister plonk about on the piano in the corner of our living room.
After a few weeks of pleading,
my parents allowed me to have my first piano lesson
when I was six years old.
此外，我和兄弟姊妹還有機會學習彈鋼琴。
我們當中第一個是我姐姐，
接受鄰居的鋼琴教授。
私底下我也很想學，
當我看著姐姐在客廳角落的鋼琴上敲擊時。
經過幾週的懇求之後，
我的父母允許我可以上第一堂的鋼琴課，
那時是我六歲的時候。
KICKING UNHEALTHY MUSIC HABITS 戒除不良音樂習慣
My interest in piano music naturally led to listening to classical music and opera;
the latter started when I found to my astonishment CDs of The Three Tenors
—Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras
—amongst my father’s music collections.
Later, I began listening to Christian and gospel music due to its religious content.
我鋼琴音樂的興趣，自然而然導致了聽古典音樂和歌劇；
後者會開始，是因為那時我很驚訝的發現了三大男高音的 CD ，
—帕華洛帝、多明哥和卡列拉斯
—放在我父親的音樂收藏中。
後來，由於有宗教內容，我開始聽基督教福音的歌曲。
Living in a media-orientated society,
I was surrounded by different mainstream music genres
—Rhythm and Blues (R&B), popular (pop), and dance music.
I constantly heard it at school, the shopping mall,
even at home on the radio and television.
The more I listened to these types of music,
the more I became accustomed to it.
生活在一個以媒體為中心的社會中，
我受到不同的主流音樂流派所包圍，
—有節奏藍調（R&B）、流行（流行音樂）和舞曲。
我在學校、商場裡，常聽到這種的聲音，
甚至在家裡的廣播和電視上。
我聽這些類型的音樂越多，
我越來越習慣了這些音樂。
Very quickly, this habit became an addiction
and affected the way I lived my life.
Conversations revolved around pop stars and their songs,
pocket money was spent on teen music magazines,
and radio and television music channels were always switched on at home.
I knew all the lyrics by heart;
the catchy melodies and the rhythmic bass beat gave me an instant lift.
Furthermore, gossiping about the singers and bands
helped me to identify with popular culture;
socially, I felt knowing about the current music trends
was a way to be accepted by my school friends
so they wouldn’t perceive me as a boring goody-goody Christian.
很快，這個習慣就成癮了，
並且影響了我的生活方式。
聊天都會圍繞著流行歌星和他們的歌曲，
零用錢都花在青少年的音樂雜誌上，
家裡的廣播和電視音樂頻道總是開著。
我心裡都可以記住所有的歌詞；
那段朗朗上口的旋律，和節奏明高的低音節拍讓我可以立刻振奮精神。
此外，關於歌手和樂團的八卦消息，
幫助我認同了流行文化；
在社交方面，我覺得都了解當前的音樂趨勢，
是一種得到學校朋友接受的方式，
這樣他們就不會認為，我是一個無聊的好心基督徒。
Deep down, I knew this addiction was unhealthy for my faith.
It wasn’t until one Student Spiritual Convocation
that I received a wake-up call.
The preacher taught me to stop and think about the music I was listening to.
To my shock, all the mainstream secular songs I had memorized
had lyrics filled with lustful thoughts, encouragement of physical intimacy,
rationalizations for committing crimes, and other unchristian principles.
I was enjoying, singing and listening to music that God does not take pleasure in.
在內心深處，我知道這種上癮對我的信仰是有害的。
事情之前都沒改變，直到有一次學生靈恩會，，
我聽到了警告的鈴聲。
傳道教我停下來，並思考自已正在聽的音樂。
令我震驚的是，我所記得的全部主流世俗歌曲，
歌詞充滿了情慾的想法，鼓勵肉體的親密，
有犯罪的合理化，以及其不合基督教原則的歌詞。
我正在享受、歌唱著和聆聽著神不喜歡的音樂。
With determination and reliance on God’s strength,
I went cold turkey on listening to pop, dance and R&B music.
When my sisters switched on the radio or the television,
I changed the channel when the music or video came on.
I threw away the magazines and cassette tapes that I had bought.
At school, I was worried about not fitting in with my friends
but I knew I had to face my fears sooner rather than later.
It turned out that my friends still accepted me for who I was,
although I was not listening to “their” music anymore.
憑著決心和依靠神的力量，
我徹底不再聽流行音樂、舞曲和 R&B 音樂。
當我的姊妹打開收音機或電視時
當音樂或影片出現時我會改變頻道。
我把買的雜誌和錄音帶都丟掉了。
在學校，我擔心與朋友合不來，
但我知道，自已必須盡快面對恐懼。
事實證明，我的朋友仍然接受我原本的樣子，
儘管我不再聽「他們的」音樂了。
Through this experience,
I found a renewed hope in knowing that,
with God’s help and personal motivation,
I was able to overcome my addiction to popular music.
Purging this music from my life was necessary
so that I could gain control of my emotions and personal habits,
and focus on my faith and studies.
透過這次經驗，
我找到了新的盼望，因為知道了，
有神的幫助和個人的動機，
我就能夠克服自已流行音樂的沉迷。
從我的生活中清除這種音樂是必要的，
這樣，我就能控制自己的情緒和個人習慣，
並且專注於自已的信仰和學習。
Every decision we make ultimately affects our faith negatively or positively.
In my case, enjoyment of secular music gradually turned into an addiction
that slowly interfered with my daily life.
I was blind to the messages behind these songs and their lyrics.
I also became spiritually insensitive
and compromised my faith for fleeting moments of entertainment.
It is certainly true that
“All things are lawful for me,
but all things are not helpful.
All things are lawful for me,
but I will not be brought under the power of any”
(1 Cor 6:12).
我們所做的每一個決定，最終都會對我們的信仰，產生負面或正面的影響。
就我而言，享受世俗音樂逐漸變成上癮，
漸漸的干擾了我的日常生活。
我對這些歌曲及其歌詞背後的訊息視而不見。
我也變得靈性麻木，
並且為了短暫的娛樂，而犧牲自已的信仰。
事情是確實是如此，
“12凡事我都可行，
但不都有益處。
凡事我都可行，
但無論那一件，我總不受他的轄制。”
（林前 6：12）。
PARTICIPATING IN THE MUSIC MINISTRY 參與音樂事奉
The adults in my local church looked highly on music
and actively encouraged the youths to take up playing musical instruments as a hobby.
They hoped that those talented in playing the piano
could later fill the shoes of the self-taught adults of their generation to play
during services and special events.
I often heard the adults telling us
to emulate the two faithful servants
who invested their master’s talents to reap back twofold of its original worth
(cf. Mt 25).
我當地教會的成人，很看重音樂，
並且積極鼓勵青年，要將演奏樂器變成一種嗜好。
他們希望，那些有彈鋼琴天賦的人，
以後可以去填補他們這老一代自學音樂成年人的位置，
在聚會和特別聚會期間。
我常聽到大人告訴我們，
要效法兩個忠心的僕人
他們投資了主人的銀錢(天賦)，而收獲了原來價值的兩倍
（參見，太 25 章）。
I grew up watching talented older youths,
mainly sisters, take up the divine work
in piano accompaniment, hymnal leading, and choir teaching in church.
This spurred my aspirations to work for God in the music group,
and to use my piano playing talent to serve Him,
just as David and the musicians did in the house of the LORD
(1 Chr 6; 13).
So at home, I learned how to play all the hymns of our church hymn book
with the hope that one day, I could serve God by playing the piano.
我是看著許多充滿天份的年長青年而成長的，
主要有很多姊妹，從事聖工，
可以在教會，鋼琴伴奏、帶領唱詩和詩班教唱。
這激發了我想在音樂團體中，為神作工的願望，
並運用我的鋼琴彈奏天賦來服事祂，
正如，大衛和樂師於耶和華聖殿的服事
（代上 6 章；13 章）。
所以在家裡的時候，我學會了如何彈奏我們教會讚美詩歌本的所有詩歌，
希望有一天，我能以彈鋼琴來服事神。
When I was thirteen,
I mentioned my secret hope of playing for church services to a sister.
The sister simply replied, “Just ask.”
However, shyness prevented me from approaching the timetable organizer.
Thank God, four months later,
I was pleasantly surprised to see my name scheduled
to play for a Sabbath service on the monthly church timetable.
當我十三歲的時候，
我向一位姊妹提到了，自已為教會服事司琴的秘密願望。
妹妹簡單的回答：“去問看看吧。”
然而，害羞的我無法去靠近聖工人員安排表的人員。
感謝神，四個月之後，
我很驚訝的看到自已的名字被安排了，
在每個月的教會安排表上，在安息日禮拜司琴。
Unwittingly, this became the start of my huge learning curve
on how to serve God in the right manner
and with a good spiritual mentality.
After playing a few times for services,
my confidence gradually grew, but so did my pride.
Technically, I was a better-skilled piano player than my peers
as I could play the hymns with improvisation and dynamics very well.
Playing the piano during services became a performance
rather than a way to serve God and to lead the congregation in worship.
不知不覺中，這成了我巨大學習曲線的開始，
關於要如何以正確的方式事奉神，
並且具有良好的屬靈的心志。
幾次聚會司琴之後，
我的自信逐漸增強，而我的驕傲也隨之增高。
從技術來說，我的鋼琴演奏技巧會比同儕更好
因為我可以很好即興及掌握彈奏讚美詩的力度。
聚會時司琴變成了一種表演，
而不是服事神和帶領會眾敬拜的一種方式。
This struggle with pride was constant,
even though I knew it was wrong for me to think I was better than others.
It did not help that my pride was fed by the praises from other people.
So I kept reminding myself that I was there to serve God, not to puff up my ego,
because He is the One who gave me this gift.
Before I played the piano for service,
I would quietly say a silent prayer,
asking God to help me do this work to glorify His name and edify the church.
The more I did so, the more I was able to subdue my pride.
這種驕傲的爭鬥是持續不斷的，
儘管我知道認為自己比別人更強，是錯誤的。
別人的讚美更助長了我的驕傲，這並沒有什麼幫助。
所以我不斷提醒自己，我是來服事事的，而不是為了可以自我膨脹，
因為祂才是給我這份恩賜的人。
在我聚會彈琴之前，
我會先默禱，
求神幫助我，做這項聖工能榮耀祂的名，並且造就教會。
我越是這樣做，就越加能夠抑制自已的驕傲。
Playing the piano for services evolved into teaching the church youth choir.
With some singing lessons as my foundation and a strong fervor,
I believed that I was an ideal candidate to take up this role.
Soon after I had started this work,
I realized that it was not as simple as I had initially thought.
In the process, I met with tough challenges when working with the youths,
as well as my personal struggle with pride.
聚會彈鋼琴逐漸演變成想要教導教會的青年詩班。
憑藉著一些歌唱課程的基礎和強烈的熱情，
我相信自已是擔任這個職位的理想人選。
在我開始這項工作後不久，
我意識到，事情並不像我最初想像的那麼簡單。
在這個過程中，我與青年一起工作時，遇到了嚴峻的挑戰，
同時也有我個人自已與驕傲的鬥爭。
I unconsciously adopted a strict military-like teaching method
which was not well-received by the choir members.
As the weeks passed, I saw how unmotivated the choir members became
and that progress was slow.
But instead of questioning my own limited abilities,
I questioned the choir’s capabilities.
My stubborn nature told me to stick to my method
instead of looking at myself as the real problem
and to empathize with the choir members.
我不自覺採取了嚴格軍事化的教學方式，
而這並沒有得到詩班成員的歡迎。
幾週過去之後，我看到詩班成員變得多麼沒有動力，
而且進展很緩慢。
與其質疑自己有限的能力之外，
我又質疑詩班的能力。
我固執的個性告訴我，要堅持自已的方法
而不是把自己視為是真正的問題，
而去同情詩班的成員。
Furthermore, my pride took on a different form to test my faith again.
The pride that surfaced stemmed from having a position of authority and influence.
Apart from being a choir teacher,
I also served in the local church music committee.
Although I kept reminding myself that all glory should be given to God,
I mistook this pride as a kind of motivating zeal for serving God
because I was leading a group of people to learn new hymns.
Unfortunately, that small smudge of pride snowballed
and became a stumbling block to me:
I could not accept advice,
which resulted in damaged friendships with my church friends and co-workers.
而且，我的驕傲也以不同的形式出現，再次來考驗我的信心。
浮現出來的驕傲，源自於擁有了權威和影響力的角色。
除了是擔任詩班老師之外，
我還在擔任當地教會的音樂職務會。
雖然我不斷提醒自己，一切榮耀都要歸給神，
我誤以為這種驕傲，是一種事奉神的熱情，
因為我正在帶領一群人學習新的詩歌。
不幸的是，那小小的驕傲黑灰，卻像滾雪球一樣越滾越大
以致成為我的絆腳石：
我無法接受建議，
這導致了我與教會朋友和同靈友誼的傷害。
When I look back at this period of my life,
it saddens me that although I may have had the physical capabilities,
I did not have the right attitude or mentality to serve God
and lead His children to serve God through choir.
But thank God for His unfailing patience and mercy on me.
Although I did not implement the advice received,
my conscience always remembered what was said,
even if the truth did hurt.
After much inward assessment and remorseful repentance to God,
I slowly changed my stubborn attitude
and tried to mend the relationships I had unintentionally broken.
當我回顧自已這段人生的時候，
令我難過的是，雖然我可能具有肉體上的能力，
但我並沒有正確的態度或心理狀態來服事神，
並帶領祂的兒女經由詩班來事奉神。
但感謝神對我有始終如一的耐心和憐憫。
雖然我沒有採納收到的建議，
我的良心始終記得說過的話，
即使真相確實很傷人。
經過一番內心的評估，及向神羞愧悔改之後，
我慢慢改變了固執的態度，
並且試圖修復自已無意間破壞的關係。
Serving God requires us, as His vessels,
to use our strengths to do His work and will.
Yet inadvertently, our weaknesses may obstruct the good work that we want to do.
The only way to solve this problem is to work harder on our spiritual cultivation.
事奉神需要我們，作為祂的器皿，
利用我們的力量，來完成祂的工作和旨意。
然而，不經意間，我們的軟弱可能會阻礙我們想做的好事。
解決這個問題的唯一方法，就是加強自已的靈修。
Solely focusing on the task at hand
but ignoring our own spiritual well-being is comparable
to creating a spiritual minefield for ourselves.
Learning how to submit ourselves to the will of God and the instructions of the church,
and to humble ourselves is something
that we all need to undergo to refine our spirit of servitude and selflessness.
The greater our responsibilities are in the church,
the more we must humble and lessen ourselves.
由於只專注於手邊的任務，
但忽視我們自己的靈命健全是如同，
為自己創造一個靈性的地雷區。
學習如何自已順服神的旨意和教會的指示，
謙卑自己是一件事，
我們都需要經歷，來磨練自已的服事和無私的精神。
我們在教會中的責任越大，
我們越要謙卑、減輕自己。
Furthermore, serving God in any capacity means
that we must bring those under our care to worship
and find green pastures in God in a fitting manner.
We are not to divide and conquer in the house of God;
we are shepherds who must lead His flock to find the goodness in serving God too.
此外，以任何能力服事事都代表了，
我們必須讓自已需要照顧的人，可以來敬拜，
以適當的方式在神那裡找到青草地。
在神的家中，我們不是來分裂和征服的；
我們是牧羊人，必須帶領祂的羊群在事奉神的事上，找到美好。
WORSHIP THROUGH SINGING 用音樂崇拜
Over the following years,
I taught other youth choirs during theological seminars and student convocations.
Thank God, I had learned from my mistakes
and my teaching skills improved and developed into a gentler approach.
But one mystery that had eluded me was how to sing with my heart to God.
在接下來的幾年裡，
我在神訓班和學生靈恩會，教其他青年詩班。
感謝神，我從錯誤中學到了教訓，
我的教學技巧得到提昇，並發展成為一種更溫和的方式。
但我一直有不解的一個謎團，要如何用心向神歌頌。
When I attended the Canadian National Youth Theological Seminar (CNYTS) in Toronto in 2008,
the choir teacher said that we should not sing aimlessly and with an empty heart;
rather, we should sing with reverence to God and in complete awe and respect for Him.
Without fearing God and spiritually cultivating our hearts whilst we sing,
our singing is no longer a way to worship God,
but is just like singing any other song.
2008 年我在多倫多，參加加拿大全國青年神訓班（CNYTS）的時候，
詩班老師說，我們不能漫無目的、內心茫然的歌唱；
相反的，我們應該懷著敬畏神，及對祂的完全敬畏和尊重來歌唱。
歌唱的時候，若沒有敬畏神，沒有靈修內心，
我們歌唱不再是敬拜神的方式，
而就像是唱其他歌曲一樣。
This message left a deep impact on me
and still resonates in my mind
whenever I teach choir and sing hymns during services.
I finally understood the meaning of being touched by the lyrics of a hymn
and the reason why tears are shed during a meaningful hymn in Holy Communion.
Singing with our hearts points to our mentality when we sing a hymn;
we should not only see the lyrics on a page,
but should go beyond the physical
and enter into a spiritual mindset to feel God’s love
that is vividly painted by the meaningful lyrics
and to blend our voices with the emotions expressed through the words.
The Holy Spirit helps us to enter into this true spiritual worship
by pouring the love of God into our hearts
(Rom 5:5),
so that we become spiritually sensitive to the message of the hymn.
這則訊息給我留下了深刻的印象，
至今仍在我腦海中迴響，
每當聚會的時候，教導詩班和唱讚美詩。
我終於明白，受詩歌歌詞感動的意思，
以及在聖餐時，歌唱帶有意義的讚美詩，會流淚的原因。
當我們唱讚美詩的時候，用心唱，指的是我們歌唱的心態；
我們不應該只看到書頁上的歌詞，
而且應該超越物質的層面，
進入屬靈去感受神慈愛的心態，
帶有意義的歌詞很鮮明描繪，
並且將我們的聲音與透過言語表達的情感，融為一體。
聖靈幫助我們，進入這種真正的屬靈敬拜，
因為神的慈愛傾倒進入我們的心中
（羅 5：5），
使我們對讚美詩的訊息，有靈性的敏感。
Since then, I encourage the choir members to delve into a spiritual mindset
so that they can worship God through singing by thought-sharing and word-painting.
The atmosphere completely changes
when the choir hears and connects to someone’s personal experience
and then to the message of the hymn.
Everyone is spiritually admonished and sings with grace in their hearts to Jesus,
just as Paul encouraged us to do:
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”
(Col 3:16).
從那時起，我鼓勵詩班成員鑽研屬靈的心態，
這樣他們能夠以歌唱來敬拜神、思想分享和言語描繪。
而氣氛徹底就改變了，
當詩班聽見，並且連結了某人的個人經驗，
然後是連結讚美詩的訊息。
每個人屬靈上都受到的勸勉，並且心中充滿恩典向耶穌歌頌，
正如保羅鼓勵我們要去做的：
“16當用各樣的智慧，把基督的道理豐豐富富的存在心裡，
（或作：當把基督的道理豐豐富富的存在心裡，以各樣的智慧），
用詩章、頌詞、靈歌，彼此教導，互相勸戒，
心被恩感，歌頌神。”
（西 3：16）。
Hymns also have a healing and relaxing effect on our souls;
I often hear how brethren who are in ill health or in emotional troubles
gain peace when they listen to church hymns.
Somehow, God can reach us through that one word, phrase, verse or chorus,
whether we were seeking for His comfort or peace,
or during an unexpected moment.
Again, this is done by the work of the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of truth and comfort.
讚美詩對我們的靈魂，也有療癒和放鬆的效果；
我常聽到，弟兄如何身體不好或情緒有問題，
當他們聆聽教會的讚美詩的時候，得到了平安。
不知何故，神可以透過隻字、片語、經節或副歌，來碰觸我們，
無論我們是否想尋求祂的安慰或平安，
或是在一個意想不到的時刻。
再一次，這是透過聖靈的作工來完成的，
祂是真理和安慰的聖靈。
Worshipping God through singing goes beyond the physical projection and volume of our voice;
it extends inward to a reverent place
that the Holy Spirit leads us into as we sing the words before our eyes or from our hearts.
It’s a spiritual vulnerability
that is shielded and gently molded by God’s love and comfort,
which allows us to understand the heart of God.
透過歌唱來敬拜神，超越了我們聲音的物理發送和音量；
當我們在眼前或心裡唱出這些歌詞時，聖靈就會引導我們進入內心，
它向內延伸到一個虔誠的地方。
這是一種靈性的脆弱之處，
這裡受到神慈愛和安慰的保護和溫柔的塑造，
這讓我們明白神的心意。
EXPERIENCING THE AFRICAN SINGING 體驗非洲人的詩頌
Having a musical background and having heard wonderful testimonies
about the members in Africa,
I had always hoped to go on a church missionary trip
to assist in the divine work, and to see and hear the joyful singing
that the African people were renowned for.
Thank God, I was able to witness firsthand
how the members in Kenya worship God through singing in 2010.
擁有音樂的背景，並且聽過關於非洲信徒精彩的見證，
我一直都希望能去教會的宣教之旅，
去協助聖工，去看看和聽聽那歡樂的歌聲，
是非洲教會大大有名的。
感謝神，我能夠親眼目睹，
2010 年，肯亞的信徒是如何透過詩歌來敬拜神。
The Kenyan members sing local Christian hymns in Swahili
and in the ethnic language of Luo during services.
The lyrics consist of simple messages and words
that are repeated several times within the same song.
From past experience,
I knew that Africans remember important messages through constant repetition.
In this way, they are able to remember the lyrics and the melody;
more importantly, it allows them to learn about God
and appreciate the messages in the hymns.
肯亞信徒用史瓦希利語唱當地的基督教讚美詩，
聚會時使用盧歐族語。
歌詞是簡單的訊息和單字所組成，
在同一首歌曲中重複很多次。
從過去的經驗來看，
我知道，非洲人透過不斷重複來記住重要的訊息。
這樣，他們就能夠記住歌詞和旋律；
更重要的是，這讓他們認識神，
並且欣賞讚美詩中的訊息。
During hymnal sessions,
a medley of local hymns flows seamlessly from one song to the next,
with each hymn having a singing leader
or the church choir to guide the rest of the congregation.
Occasionally, I was able to sing along with them
when I recognized a hymn from the True Jesus Church’s hymn book.
在詩頌期間，
當地讚美詩的混合曲，從一首歌曲不間斷的流淌到另一首歌，
而每一首讚美詩都有一位領唱者，
或是有教會詩班來帶領其他的會眾。
偶爾我還能跟他們一起唱，
當我聽出那是真耶穌教會讚美詩的一首詩歌。
In addition to their enthusiastic singing,
they joyfully clapped and swayed their bodies
whilst singing hymns in harmony during worship.
This reminds me of the many psalms and songs in the Bible
where the lyricists encourage God’s people to praise His name with songs and dance:
除了他們熱情的歌唱之外，
他們愉快的拍掌，並且搖擺身體，
在聚會時和諧的唱讚美詩。
這讓我想起了許多聖經的詩篇和歌曲，
歌詞的作者鼓勵神的子民，用歌曲和舞蹈來讚美祂的名：
Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
And His praise in the assembly of saints.
Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the humble with salvation.
(Ps 149:1-4)
1你們要讚美耶和華！
向耶和華唱新歌，
在聖民的會中讚美他！
2願以色列因造他的主歡喜！
願錫安的民因他們的王快樂！
3願他們跳舞讚美他的名，
擊鼓彈琴歌頌他！
4因為耶和華喜愛他的百姓；
他要用救恩當作謙卑人的妝飾。
（詩 149：1-4）
What I’ve learned from our African brethren is that
singing praises to God can be an enjoyable form of worship
involving body, soul and spirit,
where inner joy is expressed physically.
For this reason, it is important to prepare our hearts and spirits
to praise God before we come for services,
and during the silent prayer before the hymnal session.
我從非洲的弟兄姐妹那裡所學到的是，
歌頌神可以是一種令人愉快的敬拜形式，
包含了身體、靈魂和精神，
而內心的喜悅則透過身體表達出來。
因此，在我們前來服事之前，
以及在詩頌之前的默禱時間，
準備好自已的心靈和精神來讚美神是很重要的。
CONCLUSION 結論
From biblical examples such as Moses, Deborah, David, Paul and Silas,
we can see that music is an expressive and creative form of worship.
Like them, we too can utilize music to express our gratitude and praises to God.
Hymns may be pleasant to the ears,
but what is sweeter is the spiritual taste of God’s grace
that we receive through them.
Singing for God is not about singing the loudest or melodiously;
it’s about opening your heart to praise
and revere God by letting the Holy Spirit work in you.
從摩西、底波拉、大衛、保羅和西拉等聖經的例子來看，
我們可以看到，音樂是一種富有表現力和創造性的敬拜形式。
像他們一樣，我們也可以利用音樂，來表達對神的感激和讚美。
讚美詩也許很悅耳，
但更加甜美的是，嘗到神屬靈恩典的滋味，
我們透過從屬靈恩典所到的。
為神歌頌不是唱得最大聲、旋律很優美；
這是有關於敞開你的心胸去讚美，
並讓聖靈在你裡面作工來敬畏神。
In terms of serving God with music,
I have learned from past mistakes to be careful
not to boast of my skills and talents whilst I do church work;
rather, I must humbly do my utmost to use music
to guide other brethren and listeners to seek and draw closer to God.
I cannot let my weaknesses
—in particular pride
—control my actions and mind, and cloud God’s will.
To tackle this, I couple my church work with constant spiritual cultivation
through praying, Bible reading and regularly attending church services.
It allows me to take a further step
towards being
“a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master,
prepared for every good work”
(2 Tim 2:21).
用音樂服事神的方面，
我已經從過去的錯誤中學會了要小心，
在做教會工作時，不要誇耀自己的技巧和才能；
相反的，我必須謙卑盡自已最大的努力，去利用音樂，
來引導其他弟兄姐妹和聽眾，來尋求親近神。
我不能讓自己的軟弱，
—尤其是驕傲
—控制了我的行為和思想，遮蔽了神的意志。
為了解決這個問題，我結合了教會的聖工與不斷的靈修，
透過禱告、讀經和定期參加教會聚會。
它讓我可以更進一步，
朝向可以成為，
“21就必作貴重的器皿，成為聖潔，合乎主用，
預備行各樣的善事”
（提後 2：21）。
Let us hope that we can sing with the angels in heaven
and praise God before His throne when the day of judgment comes.
希望我們自已能和天堂的天使一起歌唱，
當審判的日子到來時，在神的寶座前讚美神。
May all glory and praise be to Jesus Christ, our Savior.
願一切榮耀頌讚都歸給我們的救主耶穌基督。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)