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0. Manna issue 97 - Editorial: Spiritual Health 屬靈健康

FF Chong—London, UK 英國倫敦

As with our physical health, we must look after our spiritual health. 
There are various factors we must take into consideration to remain spiritually healthy. 
The axiom "Prevention is better than cure" rings true to all, 
particularly those who are health conscious. 
This also applies to our faith. 
To stay clear of sin and corruption is the wisest choice in life. 
To be tainted by sinful influence can be so devastating 
that we may not make it to where God has prepared for us.

正如我們維持自已身體健康一樣，我們也必須關心自己靈命的健康。
為了維持靈命健康，我們必須考慮各種因素。
“預防勝於治療”這句格言大家都認同，
尤其是那些注重健康的人。
這也適用於我們的信仰。
要遠離罪惡和敗坏是生命中最明智的選擇。
若因罪惡影響而受污染可能會造成毀滅性的後果，
以至於我們可能無法到達神為我們預備的地方。

Diligently guarding one's heart against negative influence 
is vital for good spiritual health, 
because from the heart flow the issues of life 
(Prov 4:23). 
When the will to be close to God is built up, 
the propensity to sin is proportionately fast vanishing. 
In this way, the heart is kept sanctified. 
One must also be aware 
that guarding the heart by one's own strength is never possible. 
Divine help must always be solicited. 
Praying in the Spirit and genuinely searching God's word frequently 
is indispensable to a healthy spiritual life.

殷勤保守自己內心，避免負面影響，
對美好的屬靈健康至關重要，
因為一生的果效是由心出發
（箴 4：23）。
親近神的想法建立起來時，
犯罪的傾向就會隨相應速度消失。
如此，內心就能保持聖潔。
我們也必須意識到，
靠自己力量永遠不可能保守內心。
必須時時尋求神的幫助。
時常靠聖靈禱告，真誠研讀神的話語，
對健康屬靈生活不可或缺。

The importance of praying in the Spirit is always taught in the church 
(Eph 6:18). 
But to do it effectively is quite another matter. 
We are witnessing faith-related problems on the rise, 
even uncontrollably, in the lives of believers. 
Our prayers, no matter how they increase to meet this rising need, will be ineffectual 
if we do not pray in the Spirit and practice God’s word 
(Prov 28:9).

教會總要教導靠聖靈禱告的重要性（弗 6：18）。
但要能有效禱告又是另一回事。
我們目睹了信仰相關的問題日益增多，
甚至失控，出現在信徒生活中。
無論我們的禱告如何增加以滿足這增長的需要，都將毫無功效，
如果我們不靠聖靈禱告並實踐神的話語。
（箴 28：9）

Practicing God’s word is always absent when we succumb to the allure of the world, 
rendering living out the word undoable. 
One key factor is a lack of respect for the word. 
We cannot take the word of God for granted. 
It must be observed with great diligence from the heart 
(Deut 6:17). 
Particularly, the basic beliefs of the church must be honored. 
They are not the word of man that can be understood by any academic means; 
they are the word of God 
(1 Thess 2:13) 
given to the church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 
The word of truth is the foundation of a healthy church, 
producing spiritual individuals when the word is well kept.

當我們屈從世俗的誘惑時，不無法實踐神的話語，
這使得活出神的話語變的不可行。
一個主要因素是缺乏尊重神的話語。
我們不能將神的話語視為理所當然。
必須從心底竭盡所能殷勤遵守
（申 6：17）。
尤其要尊重教會的基本信條。
它們不是人的話語，可以任何學術方式來研明；
它們是神的話語
（帖前 2：13），
是由聖靈啟示給教會。
真理的話語是健康教會的基石，
當好好遵守神話語時，就能培養出屬靈的人。

Like medical check-ups, 
we must do regular examinations to ensure good spiritual health. 
For example, examining our attitude in serving the Lord is necessary, 
as we can lose focus in our service. 
We serve because we are required to build up ourselves and the church. 
For example, speaking on the pulpit about the need to look after the brethren is biblical. 
However, if we mean to portray how good we are in caring for the sheep, 
while demeaning those who may not have done much in this aspect, 
then this is pride. 
This is a serious illness that kills if not treated quickly.

就像健檢一樣，
我們必須定期檢查以確保良好的靈命健康。
例如，審視自已服事主的態度是必要的，
因為我們服事中可能會失去焦點。
我們需服事，是因為我們要造就自己和教會。
例如，在講台講道談及需要照顧弟兄姐妹是符合聖經的。
然而，如果我們想要展現自己照顧羊群到底有多好，
卻貶低那些在這方面做得不多的人，
那麼這就是驕傲。
這是一種很嚴重的疾病，若不及時治療就可能會致命。

A second example is to examine if we guard our tongues, as the Bible teaches. 
True religion cannot be detached from controlling our words 
(Jas 1:26). 
We can act gentle and nice to others in public, 
but if we lash out at those who have done better than us behind their back, 
then what religiosity do we have before God? 
In the eyes of God, we are ungodly. 
Truly, caring for others must be accompanied by a God-given ability 
to bridle our tongues and speak graciously in all circumstances. 
This, when a person does, indicates his spiritual health is good.

第二個例子是，省察自已是否像聖經的教導約束自已言語。
真正的虔誠離不開勒住自已的舌頭
（雅 1：26）。
在公眾場合我們可以溫柔友善的對待他人，
但如果我們在別人背後抨擊那些比我們做得更好的人，
那麼我們在神面前到底有多虔誠呢？
在神眼中，我們沒有敬虔。
的確，關心別人必須伴隨著神的恩賜，
在任何情況下，可以管住自己的舌頭，說話恩慈。
當個人可做到這一點，就表示他的靈命健康良好。

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