今天的教會最缺甚麼?What is the church most lacking today?
1. 今天的教會不缺知識,乃缺神的話。知識叫人自高自大,知識讓人成為大頭娃娃。唯有神的話叫人得生命,且得更豐盛的生命;唯有神的話叫人認識自己,且謙卑認罪;唯有神的話像春雨、像甘露,滋潤人心;唯有神的話帶給人信心和盼望,力量和安慰。
Today's church is not lacking in knowledge; it is lacking in the Word of God. Knowledge puffs up and makes people arrogant; knowledge turns people into "big-headed dolls." Only the Word of God gives life—and life more abundantly. Only the Word of God helps people know themselves, leading to humility and repentance. Only the Word of God is like spring rain and dew that nourishes the heart. Only the Word of God gives people faith and hope, strength and comfort.
耶穌說:「叫人活著的乃是靈,肉體是無益的。我對你們所說的話就是靈,就是生命。」(約6:63)「人活著,不是單靠食物,乃是靠神口裡所出的一切話。」(太4:4b)先知耶利米說:「耶和華—萬軍之神啊,我得著祢的言語就(當食物)吃了;祢的言語是我心中的歡喜快樂,因我是稱為祢名下的人。」(耶15:16)
Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63, NKJV)
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4b, NKJV)
The prophet Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16, NKJV)
2. 今天的教會不缺金錢物質,也不缺華美的教堂,乃缺主耶穌祂自己。沒有耶穌,金錢物質再多,教堂再華麗,也是枉然。使徒彼得說:「金銀我都沒有,只把我所有的給你:我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名,叫你起來行走!」(徒3:6)
Today’s church is not lacking in money or material wealth, nor in beautiful buildings—it is lacking the Lord Jesus Himself. Without Jesus, no matter how much wealth or how grand the church building, it is all in vain. The apostle Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6, NKJV)
今天,我們讓人看到是甚麼呢?是我們光鮮亮麗的外表,還是彰顯基督榮耀的生命?我們帶給別人的是甚麼呢?是內心的苦毒、嫉妒、驕傲和貪婪,還是叫人得生命的主耶穌?我們還能像彼得那樣得人如得魚嗎?
What do people see in us today? Is it our polished and glamorous appearance, or is it the life that reveals the glory of Christ? What do we bring to others? Bitterness, jealousy, pride, and greed—or the Lord Jesus, who gives life? Can we still become fishers of men like Peter?
3. 今天的教會不缺工人,乃缺忠心有見識,又有為父心腸的工人。有的工人雖有忠心,卻無見識,沒有分辨,就被異端擄去,使人成為地獄之子。有的工人雖大有學問,又有恩賜,卻沒有愛心,就不能造就人。有的工人利用手中的職權,為自己謀取金錢和利益,卻不顧神的名譽,也不顧神的百姓,將人絆倒。
使徒保羅說:「你們學基督的,師傅雖有一萬,為父的卻是不多,因我在基督耶穌裡用福音生了你們。所以,我求你們效法我。」(林前4:15-16)保羅是跟隨基督,又效法基督榜樣的人,他既有恩賜,又有基督愛的心腸,他身上也帶著耶穌受苦的印記。雖然他身在監牢,心卻牽掛著神的教會,並切切為教會禱告,流淚祈求。今天,像保羅這樣有基督心腸的工人有多少呢?
Today’s church is not lacking in workers; it is lacking in faithful and discerning workers who have a fatherly heart. Some workers are faithful but lack discernment and are taken captive by heresies, turning others into children of hell. Some are highly educated and gifted but lack love and therefore cannot build others up. Some abuse their authority to seek personal wealth and gain, caring neither for God's name nor His people, causing others to stumble.
The apostle Paul said, “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” (1 Corinthians 4:15–16, NKJV) Paul was a follower of Christ and a model of Christlikeness. He had gifts, but also the heart of Christ's love. He bore on his body the marks of Jesus’ suffering. Though imprisoned, his heart was burdened for God’s churches, praying earnestly and weeping for them. How many workers today have such a Christlike heart as Paul?
4. 今天的教會不缺口頭信耶穌的人,乃缺有基督生命的人,缺背十字架跟隨主的人。有的人用嘴唇尊敬主,心卻遠離主;有的人只是教會活動的參與者;有的人信耶穌,只停留在求今生的好處和肉身的平安;有的人雖然天天讀聖經,讀的只是字句和規條,卻讀不出叫人得生命的耶穌。耶穌說:「你們查考聖經,因你們以為內中有永生;給我作見證的就是這經。然而,你們不肯到我這裡來得生命。」(約5:39-40)耶穌就是生命的主,得著耶穌就得著生命,但是,有的人寧可得世上的好處,卻不肯得耶穌;寧可隨從世界的潮流走滅亡的路,卻不肯跟隨耶穌走永生的路;寧可努力積攢財寶在地,卻不肯積攢財寶在天;寧可晝夜思想地上的事,卻不肯思想神的話;寧可體貼肉體,卻不肯體貼聖靈;寧可討人喜歡,卻不肯討神喜歡。
Today’s church is not lacking in people who profess faith in Jesus, but in people who actually possess the life of Christ—those who take up their cross and follow Him.
Some honor the Lord with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. Some merely participate in church activities. Some believe in Jesus only for the benefits in this life and peace for their physical bodies. Some read the Bible daily, but only see letters and rules—not Jesus, the Giver of life. Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40, NKJV) Jesus is the Lord of life. To gain Jesus is to gain life. Yet some would rather have the pleasures of this world than receive Jesus. They prefer to follow the world’s path to destruction rather than follow Jesus on the road to eternal life. They labor to store up treasures on earth rather than treasures in heaven. They think day and night on earthly things rather than on God's Word. They cater to the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit. They seek to please people rather than to please God.
求主憐憫教會,潔淨教會,除去教會一切的罪惡污穢,補足教會一切的缺乏。求主賜下悔改的靈、復興的靈,使教會向主回轉。求主賜下話語,餵養教會。求主興起合用的工人,牧養教會。求主施恩保守教會不再沾染污穢,不再貪愛世界和世界上的事,不再與世俗為友,乃是分別為聖,為主發光,引人歸主,榮耀主名!阿們!
May the Lord have mercy on the church, purify the church, and remove all sin and filth from her. May the Lord supply what is lacking in the church. May He pour out the Spirit of repentance and revival, turning the church back to Him. May the Lord give His Word to feed the church. May He raise up faithful and suitable workers to shepherd the church. May the Lord, in His grace, keep the church from being defiled again, from loving the world and the things of the world, from being a friend of the world. Instead, may the church be holy, shine for the Lord, lead others to Christ, and glorify His name. Amen!
本文鏈結:http://ccmusa.org/read/read.aspx?id=pro20250202
「原載《傳》雙月刊第219期(中國信徒佈道會)」。
English is translated by JY
Comments
Post a Comment