Friday, December 25, 2015

As For Me, Joshua 24:14-28

As For Me
Joshua 24:14-28
Joshua Series: Message 14



By Pastor Brian
Fort Bend Community Church
2015.12.27
Mandarin Service
English Service

Whom Do You Serve?

1. Life is a series of choices. We make choices every day. What clothes do we wear? What food do we eat? What church do we go to? Who is going to be my friend? Where do I go to college? Whom do we serve? Where do we go after this? Some decisions have not so far reaching consequences and other decisions are far reaching. Our choices determine our character, our destiny and our life.


God has given us the power of choice. The freedom to choose. Learning what to choose, and how to choose, maybe the most important knowledge we will ever receive.

2. Today in Joshua 24, the final chapter and the climax of the book, Joshua gathered the people of Israel at Shechem and challenged them to choose. "Whom do you serve?" It was a big gathering. Commentators estimate that there were over 2 million people gathered to hear Joshua's final challenge: Whom do you serve? Joshua was with them in the wilderness for 40 years and led them to cross the Jordan River and conquered Canaan. The people had lived peacefully in the Promised Land since Joshua distributed the land to the 12 tribes 25  years ago. Now Joshua was 110 years old, ready to meet His Maker. He asked them this most important question, "Whom do you serve?"


The answer to this question determines your character, your destiny and ultimately your life. Of all the choices we face in our life, this is it, the most important choice of eternal consequence.

3. The verb, "to serve" has a variety of meanings. In some instances, the verb carries the idea of “to serve” (e.g., Gen 29:15; Exod 1:13; Psa 22:30). In other instances, the term carries the idea of “to worship or honor” (e.g., Gen 2:15; Exod 3:12; 2 Kgs 17:41). But the verb also carries the basic sense of toil or working the ground (e.g., Gen 2:5; Deut 21:4; Zech 13:5). (Williams, W. A. (2014). Agriculture. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.)


When you get up in the morning, go to work. Labor and working the ground. For whom do you work? Every day of our life, for every breathe we take, what are we doing? And why are we doing what we are doing?

Who is going to write your story? Who gives you your identity? To whose music will you dance? Whom do you serve?




The Gods At War


1. The gods beyond the River and in the land, v. 14-15

14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living."


Who are "the gods beyond the River and in Egypt and the gods in the land"? Three sets of gods here:
1) The gods beyond the Euphrates River: referring to as early as the time of Abraham when he left Ur for the Promised Land
2) The gods in Egypt, when Israel were slaves for 400 hundred years
3) The gods in Canaan referring to the problems now.

In other words, idolatry is a problem any time any where in the history of Israel.

2. Idolatry is one the most frequently referenced challenges in the Bible. Still, we dismiss idolatry as being antiquated, irrelevant. Nothing could be more relevant in our culture than idolatry. Behind every sin struggle we have—behind our discontentedness, our hopelessness—is a false god that is winning the war in our lives. Idolatry isn't just an issue; it is the issue.

It is the number one problem in the Bible—more than 1,000 verses speak of it. More than 50 of the laws in the first five books of the Bible are directed against it. In Judaism it was one of only four sins to which the death penalty was attached. Yet we skip over it as an antiquated or irrelevant issue. But nothing could be further from the truth. It's the war that is being waged for our worship. The Bible calls it idolatry.

These are the gods at war within each of us. They battle for the place of glory in our lives. Much is at stake, for whichever god is victorious, that god wins control and power over us. Ultimately, the god you choose determines your destiny.

On the surface this doesn't seem to be what we struggle with. But in fact this is the struggle. You might say, "I struggle with being anxious and worried." But why is that? Maybe it's because you've made comfort and security your god. If you keep loosing your battle with lust, maybe it's because sex is your god. If you struggle with legalism, maybe religious rules are your false god. If you're discontent, maybe it's money. If you lack self-control, maybe it's pleasure. Underneath every sin is a false god that is sitting on the throne of your heart—and until that god is dethroned, you won't have victory. So, what are the gods at war in your life?

Why do we want to worship an idol?


Jer 10:2-6 "2 Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 3  For the customs of the peoples are delusion; Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4  "They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers So that it will not totter. 5  "Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good."


1) Idols we can control or influence. A scarecrow in a cucumber field... easy to control. And we can ignore him if we want to. They are made of wood, decorated with silver and gold, and fastened with nails and hammers so that it will not move. Like a toy, we are in control.
2) The gods like Baal offers practical helps. He is the weather god in Canaan. He controls the rains and the winds. We prefer the tangible and visible. "What we want is something with skin."

3. Who are your gods?

"What are you most disappointed with?" or "Where do you turn when you hurt?" or "What do you dream of?" The answers to these questions identify the gods that might be winning the war for your heart.
  • The god of pleasures: fun and a good time.
  • The god of money: it gives us the control and influence. 
  • The god of health: the older we are, I realize that our conversation is more and more on our health. What to do; what to eat so that we can be healthier. There is nothing wrong with a healthy lifestyle. But health can be a god we worship. It offers tangible and visible benefits. It gives us worry-free happy life it seems. 
4. The gods of both/and

Verse 16-18 The first response of the people, "We will serve the LORD who did great things for us. Therefore we will serve the LORD."


Joshua's reply is harsh. Verse 19-20. "You are not able to serve the LORD," Why not able? "For God is a holy God and He is a jealous God." Two attributes of God, holy and jealous. The Holy One of Israel would not share the bed with another god.

He is a holy God and also a jealous God (v. 19). Both of these characteristics are part of God’s very nature and set him apart from all other gods and from his people.


5. Holy, "qados," an adjective, describing God as separate, apart, from human infirmity and sin. The Holy One of Israel (以色列的聖者) is the divine name of Yahweh. He is the only true God and is compared to no other gods. Because God is holy, the Israelites could not serve him when they persisted in their idolatrous practices. Those who serve God must be holy, separated from any evil and idolatry. (Mccomiskey, T. E. (1999). 1990 קָדַשׁ. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (electronic ed., p. 788). Chicago: Moody Press.)


6. God’s jealous nature also set him apart from other gods. He would not brook any competition for his people’s loyalties.

This is clear in the First and Second Commandment in Exod 20:3–6: "3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God."

“God loves his people so much that he wants their undivided love in return. He will not share them with any other god.”

That is the problem of the Israelites. Of course, they wanted to worship the powerful Yahweh who saved them from their enemies. We too. We wanted a powerful God to protect us and to save us. But at the same time, they wanted the convenience of an idol.


7. Examples of our tendency to wanting the gods of both/and.

A recent conversation with a young man... wants spirituality but also wants to live out his desire. A choice needs to be made. Whom do you serve?

Many want spirituality--the feeling of purpose and meaning yet they don't believe in God. There is no allegiance.

8. In v. 14 the NIV’s “serve him with all faithfulness” is literally “serve him with integrity (tāmîm) and truth (ʾĕmet).” The NASB renders the phrase here as “sincerity and truth,” the NRSV as “sincerity and … faithfulness,” the REB as “loyalty and truth,” the NLT as “wholeheartedly.” The word tāmîm connotes the idea of wholeness, blamelessness, integrity, even “perfection,” and thus Joshua’s exhortation is a passionate one that the people should be totally devoted—blameless—in their worship of their God. (Howard, D. M., Jr. (1998). Joshua (Vol. 5, p. 435). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)



Wholehearted devotion: King Saul verses King David;



As For Me

1. "Whom do you serve"?


Patrick Henry, one of the founding fathers of this nation, is best known for the speech he made in the House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, in Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. With the House undecided on whether to mobilize for military action against the encroaching British military force, Henry argued in favor of mobilization and ended his speech with words that have since become immortalized:

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!"

Henry was 38 years old at the time, a wealthy lawyer with 6 children. Later on he was elected as the first governor of Virginia. "As for me, give me liberty or give me death" is a declaration of the choice he made which could have costed him everything he had.

"Whom Do You Serve?" is the kind of choice which would define you.

2. "Whom do you serve" is your decision to make.

It is your choice. You cannot afford to let your tendency, your desire, your peers, your possessions, your ancestors, even your parents, to write your story. Your story is not written yet. It is in your hands. It is up to you to choose. Whom do you serve?

As for me... I serve Christ. I came to this country 40 years ago as a teenager looking for answers. In the course of three years in my college career, I made the choice. As for me, I serve Christ. This is my destiny. This is my created purpose. Every cell in my body is created for the purpose of serving Christ. My gifts and talents, my time on the face of this earth, my possessions, everything I have are prepared for this purpose--to serve Christ.

Our created purpose is to serve Christ.


As For My House

1. Challenge to the fathers

If ever there was a time and fathers like Joshua need to say, "As for me and my house," whatever
the neighbors on the block may do and however they may live and whatever society may
do and whatever the trend may be and the style and the fashion of the in crowd, “as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Make it known to your house as earlier as possible, as firm as possible, as clear as possible.

2. As for my house... we serve Christ. The story in my house... not the most perfect home, not without problems, not without worries, but one thing is certain: we serve Christ. Every decision we make, every crisis we face, every challenge we have, it is for the purpose of serving Christ.


2015 is the 150th anniversary of the founding of China Inland Mission. I would like to tell the story of the Taylors and how Joshua 24:15, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" has led the Taylor family for 9 generations and make huge impact to the world in serving Christ.


1) James Hudson Taylor (戴德生) (1832-1905)
He was one of the great heroes of the modern missionary movement. Hudson Taylor was a British Christian missionary to China and founder of the interdenominational China Inland Mission, which wound up sending more than 800 missionaries, building 125 schools and establishing 300 local churches or “stations.”

Taylor adopted Chinese dress and Chinese culture while serving as a missionary. That was somewhat controversial — an early challenge to more colonial models of missiology. Taylor wasn’t looking to produce good colonial subjects. He was trying to tell people about Jesus, and Jesus never dressed like a proper Victorian gentleman either.

Taylor and his mission agency also campaigned against the opium trade — during a time when his country was fighting wars in order to force China to import more of the drug.

Taylor’s devotion and the scale of his work in China made him world-famous during his lifetime and he remains a cherished icon and inspiration for mission-minded evangelical Protestants.

2) Herbert Hudson Taylor (戴存仁) (3 April 1861 – 6 June 1950):
4 years old when Hudson Taylor founded CIM. Herbert served in China for 50 years, the last three as one of the prisoners of the Japanese at the Weifang internment camp during World War II along with Eric Liddell and 1500 others.

3) James Hudson Taylor II (戴永冕)
One story: images of genocide in the Nanking massacre, in December 1937, were to become seared on everyone’s minds, invoking great fear as the Japanese began to invade more cities. In 1939 James Hudson Taylor ll managed to secure a sea passage back to the United States for the whole family; plans were set in motion to leave China. Then one day, nine-year-old Jim was asked by his father if he would like to accompany him to the shipping office. This was not, as the boy thought, to collect the tickets. It was instead to cancel them. James Taylor recalled the episode in his booklet God’s Grace to Nine Generations. It was to leave a deep mark on his life and ministry. His parents had resolved that this was no time for missionaries to leave China; instead they would move to the North West to train church leaders; the cost would be high as they would need to leave their four children as boarders at the China Inland Mission’s Chefoo School in eastern China.


4) James Hudson Taylor III (戴紹曾) (1929 ~ 2009)
Born in Henan, China. Missionary all his life.

5) James Hudson Taylor IV (戴繼忠)  wife a Chinese, 戴柯悅敏師母, now serves with OMF (former CIM) in Taiwan.

Succeeding generations of Taylors grew up in homes where the Lord’s name was honored.



Conclusion

The book and the stone, verse 22-27. "We are the witnesses."



















Saturday, December 19, 2015

A Global Merry Christmas, John 1:1-18

A Global Merry Christmas
John 1:1-18


By Brian Lam
Fort Bend Community Church
Christmas Message
2015.12.20



Introduction

1. Merry Christmas to you. When I searched the internet on Merry Christmas, the number one site shows up in Bing is merry-Christmas.com. It is a website where you can write letters to Santa, North Pole, to ask for gifts you want for Christmas.



2. Here is a letter to Santa from Emy J


Dear Santa

all i want for christmas) PLEASE this is all i want is for Mrs.Santa to have a baby child and name it after ME!!! PLEASE oh PLEASE i know i have been very good latley. I think you need a kid sooooooo....... please i want you to have a baby!!!!!!!! Love Santa Jr. P.S, next christmas i want to see him, or her if you don't i will be very mad! Just Joking with you big guy!!!!!!!!!! LOL
P.S.S I also want a WII......!!!!!!

3. What do you want for Christmas?

When I was a kid, I spent every Christmas with the church since the age of two. To me, Christmas is not about presents. It is about the story. In the church I grew up with, we played out the Christmas story every year. All the children got involved in the play. I was a lamb one year, an ox one year... then I got to be a shepherd boy for a few years. I was one of the magi... I was Joseph. I was an angel. I was never a Mary. And no one got to play the baby Jesus.    

The Christmas story is the most fantastic story--"the greatest fairy story ever told."(Tolkien, "On Fairy-Stories," in Tree and Leaf, pp. 3-80.)

We are "narrative animals": we define who we are, and what we ought to do, on the basis of what story we see ourselves in.

Today, I want to tell you again the wonderful story of Christmas. And it is a global story. It is story for everyone, from every hill and molehill of Mississippi to the crowded mega cities in China and India, from the ISIS war zone to the financial districts of Wall Street, from the suburbia of Riverstones to every home in the world. The Christmas story is a global story.

The angels said on the first Christmas, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will among men." (Luke 2:14)  (LITV)

4. And the global Christmas story begins like this, "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3) (ESV).


The Christmas story begins with the Creator of the universe, the eternal Son of God, the One everything through Him, by Him, and for Him, now becoming flesh to dwell among all of us.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) (NASV).

God so loved the world--the whole world that He sent His Son. 

5. Christmas as God intended is about God's plan for the whole world. It is a global story. Therefore in order to have a merry Christmas, it is not only merry Christmas to you and to your kin. Merry Christmas is about God's love for all the people of the world.

John goes on to tell us two things about the global Christmas story. 1) Jesus is the Light that shines on everyone, John 1:4-5; 9-10. 2) Jesus is the One who offers grace to all people, John 1:14; 16-18.



I. Jesus is the Light that shines on everyone, John 1:4-5; 9-10


1. "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4) (ESV). The word, "men," literally means mankind. The self-exiting life of Christ is the light of mankind. There is that global perspective. Jesus is the light of all people--all of mankind. This statement is repeated twice (v. 4 and v. 9.)  Verse 9 said that He is the true light that shines on everyone.
‘Life’ and ‘light’ are almost universal religious symbols. So what does it mean that Jesus is the Light that shines on everyone?

It is talking about specific revelation to the whole world bound up with the coming of the Son becoming flesh. No one has seen God. The birth of Christ, the Christmas story, is God's specific revelation to the world. He is revealing who God is to the whole world.

3. The verb is in the present tense, which means it is an ongoing process; Christ is still shining on everyone through the Christmas story. Today, the Christmas story reveals who God is to us. He is loving everyone, seeking everyone, wooing everyone, showing everyone who God is through the Christmas story.

4. Illustration: Two years ago, I was in Xinjiang (新彊)I met a Uygur(維族), a Chinese size Caucasian with black hair and blue eyes. He first heard the Christmas story in a Christmas party as a college student. He said that was the first step on his journey toward Christ. It took him six years intensely discipled by a Korean missionary to accept Christ. He was disowned by his family, kicked out of his house, and was treated as dead. But he kept following Christ. He led his bride to Christ--the second Christian in his community and started a church in his own home with him and his wife and eventually grew to have six people. Jesus is the light who shines on everyone.

5. Today we live in the secular age. Belief in God is just one option among others, and frequently not the easiest option to embrace. For the first time in history a purely self-sufficient humanism came to be a widely available option. There is no final goals beyond human flourishing. There is no allegiance to anything or anyone else. Man stands alone in this ever-changing world without a destiny. To many the Christmas story becomes just a fantastic fairy tale--a story they don't believe to be true but wish it to be true. They don't believe in God yet they miss Him. That is the landscape of the secular age today.

Illustration: In his biography of Apple founder, Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson recalls a scene near the end of Steve's life that exemplifies our secular age:

"One sunny afternoon, when he wasn't feeling well, Jobs sat in the garden behind his house and reflected on death.... He admitted that, as he faced death, he might be overestimating the odds out of a desire to believe in an afterlife. "I like to think that something survives after you die," he said. "It is strange to think that you accumulate all this experience, and maybe a little wisdom, and it just goes away. So I really want to believe that something survives, that maybe your consciousness endures." He fell silent for a very long time. "But on the other hand, perhaps it's like an on-off switch," he said. "Click! And you are gone." Then he paused again and smiled slightly. "Maybe that's why I never liked to put on-off switches on Apple devices." (Walter Isaacson, Steve Jobs, New York: Simon and Schuster, 2011, pp. 570-71.)

In other words, Jobs was asking, "Is that all there is?" Jesus came to the world to shine on all mankind and answered these fundamental questions: "Who am I?" "Is that all there is?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?"

The answers and the revelation Jesus gave with His birth still shine on all mankind. Yet, believing in Him is now getting harder and harder. It is not that there is another viable option that shines a different light on all mankind. It is just that we are so used to not believing anything, that the result of lack of faith does not seem to bother us anymore.

Yet the light is still shinning on all mankind. It does not matter whether you are Buddhists, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostic, Cathodic, or Hindu. God loved the world that He sends His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Faith does not come by easily these days. But if you have faith, you will have eternal life. That is the light of Christmas Jesus shines on all mankind.

6. Verse 5, "The light shines in the darkness." Or literally translated "the light is shining on even in the darkness."

The world we live in is getting into more and more conflicts and more and more divided, not merry at all.
  • The San Bernardino shooting scares all of us. We could never understand how a father and a mother of a 6-month old baby girl would abandon their own daughter to kill someone's fathers, mothers, sons and daughters. Evil. 
  • In 2015, in 11 months, we have 355 mass shootings, killings of four or more people. Almost everyday we see shootings, gun violence in the news. Crazy.
  • In 2015 60 million people is forced to flee war and become refugees. The number is a all time record. In a global context, that means that one person in every 122 has been forced to flee their home. Tragic.
As a result, we all live in fear. It makes this Christmas a scary Christmas, hardly a merry one.
  • Some of us rushed to buy guns for protection, teaching our children to shoot a firearm. 
  • FBCC is considering a drill for the unlikely event of a shooter coming into our facility. 
  • Those who run for the president play on people's fear to draw support. 
This is hardly a Global merry Christmas.

Jesus shines light on all mankind. The Light shines in darkness. The darker the place, the greater is the need of light. We need the presence of Christ in the world. Darkness will not overcome the light. Peace on earth and goodwill toward man. That is the Christmas light.

7. Let me pause for a minute and speak to you personally. I know Christmas is not always easy for some people. Sometimes it's actually a time where people experience darkness and brokenness. Maybe the darkness in your own heart, the darkness in your family, the darkness of difficult relationships, or the darkness of grief and loss overwhelms you. Let me say that maybe this verse is for you this morning as well, not only for some far off places, but for you. Maybe some time during this service it is appropriate for you to pray, "Lord Jesus, you're the light of the world. Shine your light into my heart. I need your light in my heart. I got some dark things that feels like they are overcoming me. Would you come into my heart and would you shine on me, and may the darkness never overcome your light within me." Maybe that is a prayer you need to make this morning.

Let this be truly a merry Christmas to you. Jesus is the light which shines on all mankind.



II. Jesus is the One who offers grace to all people, John 1:14; 16-18


1. There is a second part to this global Christmas story. Jesus is the light that shines on everyone. He also offers grace to everyone.

Verse 14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

God’s Word, his Self-expression, has become flesh and dwelt among us. This is the supreme revelation. If we are to know God, this is the way. The author of Hebrews said, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Heb. 1:1–2).

Jesus, God’s very Self-expression, who was both with God and who was God, became a man. What Jesus has shown us is God's glory in all the earth--God's global glory, the 3G.

2. God's global glory is the theme for the upcoming Chinese Mission Convention in about 8 days.

God's glory is his nature and his attributes. John uses the phrase, "full of grace and truth," to describe God's global glory. Full of "grace and truth" in John's Gospel alludes to the OT phrase "loving-kindness (hesed 慈愛) and truth (emet 誠實) (Exod. 34:6; cf. 33:18-19).

God's grace is His love for the world. His truth is His truthfulness and faithfulness. He never lies, He is going to do what He said He would do. This faithfulness found the ultimate expression in God's sending of his one and only Son.

Verse 16, "16 And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."


4. This is what the Christmas story has shown all of us. God's global glory in full display of His love and truthfulness manifested in the birth of Christ. When you see the baby Jesus in the Christmas story, you have seen God's love to you and God's faithfulness to you and your kin.

5. Today we live in a divided and subjective world. I say one, you say two, and he says three... You are Hindu, I am Christian, and he is a Muslin. It is all the same. Religion becomes a personal preference. Just last month, a 3-4 year old Muslim minority group child would say to us, "I am a Muslim. Don't talk to me about the Bible and your religion." Sharing our faith is harder and harder.

In the world out there, the Muslim is fighting the enemies of Islam in Jihad. And we fight the terrorists who threaten our peace and security. The Shiites is fighting the Sunnis. The pro-life and the pro-choice are at war. The world is deeply divided. People can hardly talk to each other with any common grounds.

The Christmas story is still the same. It is the full display of God's loyal love and faithfulness for everyone.

6. For a global merry Christmas,
  • Let the weak and wounded sinners, come to Jesus. Come to Jesus and live.
  • Let those who are heavy burdened, come to Jesus. Sing to Jesus and live.
  • Let those who fall and fail, fall on Jesus and walk again.
  • Let those who are lonely and filled with pain, if your sky is dark and the rain is pouring, cry to Jesus. Cry to Jesus and live.
  • When the love spills over, when music fills the night, and when you can't contain your joy inside, then dance for Jesus. Dance for Jesus and live! 
  • When death arrives with your final heartbeat, fly to Jesus. Fly to Jesus and live! 
(Chris Rice, Come To Jesus)

God is loving and faithful. He is here for you. Jesus is the One offers grace to everyone.

7. Let me pause for a moment and speak to you personally. Besides the fear we have, there maybe hatred and anger in our heart. Since 9/11 to Bin Laden's death, we spent over 1.3 trillion dollar in war on terror. During this time period, we have launched two wars in the Middle East. Over half a million people died. Violence begets violence. Maybe your fear has turned into hatred. Maybe your view of the world has turned bitter. Jesus was born also in a violent world. Rome had been ruthless. Caesar Augustus forced everyone to register in their own town--a massive forced displacement. Yet the birth of Christ is about love and faithfulness. He came to offer grace to everyone. Therefore pause for a moment and say a prayer to God. "Lord, fill my heart with love. Replace fear with hope. Replace hatred with love. Give me peace. Offer me grace."




Conclusion
We are the witness, John 6-8, 15, 19ff.



1. Verse 6-8 "6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light."


2. Who is this John dude in the middle of the flow of the most important chapter in the Gospel of John? He appears in verse 6-8 and again in verse 15. He is woven throughout this incredible, global story of Jesus's light and grace. John the Baptist is the witness to the light. John is the witness to the global Christmas story that Jesus is the Light on everyone and Jesus offers grace to all people. He is like us. He is like you and me. This is how God has chosen to get this message of light that is available to everyone out. John is called by God to share that message, to proclaim it, to get it out.

So are you and I. We are called to be the witness. We are the key to the global Christmas story. And for the world to have a global merry Christmas, you and I are the key.

3. Here is what you are going to do in response to the message this morning.

1) Fear not yourself in this crazy world. The Prince of Peace is here. He holds the key. If the world is going to have peace, let it begin with you.

2) Let me encourage you to pray this prayer during this Christmas season. "Lord, send me. Send me. I am not the light, but I want to bear witness to the light. Lord, send me." You may have no clue what that's going to mean; no clue where he is going to lead you; no clue who you are going to talk to. But start praying, "Lord, send me today. Send me to somebody today. Send me some place this week where I can love somebody in the name of Christ, where I can pray for somebody that is far from God." Pray the same prayer for the church. "Send us. Make us a truly global church." Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with us.


Let There be Peace on Earth and Let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.












Monday, December 14, 2015

在世卻不屬世《約書亞記系列十三》,書 23:1-16

在世卻不屬世
約書亞記第廿三章一節至十六節
《約書亞記系列十三》



林永健牧師
福遍中國教會
2015.12.13
粵語堂



引言

1. 這是國父孫中山先生的遺囑,我們比較熟識的:「革命尚未成功,凡我同志務須努力!」國父死於胆癌擴散至肝過世,年五十九歲,留下遺言,離世前對國人的吩咐。


2. 聖經中也有不少著名的人物領袖,離世前留下對後人的吩咐,包括:


這些遺言有一個共通的目的:是要預備神的子民進入自己離世後新的開始,這些人物不是普通的人,我們一般人的遺言大部份都是這三句話:1)我愛你們,捨不得你們:2)對不起,我錯了;3)謝謝你。最多加一句話:「今後好好做人。」

但聖經中記載的遺言卻是聖經中最重要的經文之一,教導人如何活下去,正如七零年代的著名牧者 Francis A. Schaeffer 的書之書名一樣:How Should we Then Live (我們應如何活?),預備下一代面對新的挑戰、進入新的紀元。

摩西在約但河東、摩押平原,離世之前,準備約書亞與以色列人在自已離世之後,進入迦南得地為業的新紀元,吩咐他們面對強大的迦南人,「當剛強壯膽,不要害怕,不要畏懼他們。」(申 31:1-6)

約書亞在我們今天所讀的經文中,征服迦南地之後廿五年,一百一十歲的高齡,臨死前召聚各支派領袖,吩咐他們準備以色列人進入神治的新紀元,沒有國家的元首、沒有族長、沒有全國性的領袖,神親自作他們的王,吩咐他們不要與迦南人攙雜,在世卻不屬世!

撒母耳膏立新王掃羅之後,自已即將離世,年紀老邁,士師的時代即將過去,新的王國時代將要來臨,撒母耳告訴以色列人,他們立王是大罪,但不要懼怕,只畏盡心事奉神,不偏離神;若作惡,警告他們,他們和他們的王必一同減亡(參撒上 12)。

耶穌即將離開門徒上十字架的時候,約翰共用五章的經文,記載耶穌臨別對門徒所說的話,預備門徒新的生命與新的生活,他們即將改變世界,耶穌吩咐門徒要彼此相愛,為大要服待小的,並為門徒洗腳,設立聖餐,應許差遣聖靈,教導引領他們的前路。(參約 13-17)

保羅結朿第三次宣教旅程的時候,知道在耶踏撒冷在苦難臨到,自已的日子無多,沒有機會以後再能相見,保羅召聚了以弗所的長老領袖去最後的見面,預備他們以後建立教會跟隨基督的日子,吩咐他們效法他的榜樣,面對前面教會困難的日子。(參使 20)

3. 讀這些屬靈領袖離世的留言,真令人不能不謙卑自己,他們一生豐功偉蹟,為神作了大事,摩西死時一百二十歲、約書亞一百一十歲、撒母耳約一百一十歲、保羅根據傳統死時約六十多歲,一代過去、一代又來,但神的計劃卻永不改變,永遠長存,摩西、約書亞、撒母耳、保羅、奧古斯丁、亞奎拿、慕迪、宋尚節、王明道、葛培理、白立德... 都過去了,無論多偉大的人物,都會過去,神的國的建立,教會的建立,並不是我們任何一個人的努力而達成,我們撒種,神叫它生長;神立了根基,我們在上建造;神開門,我們走進去;神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上,祂的國必降臨,祂的榮耀必充滿這地。

我們生活在愈來愈世俗的社會中,我們很容易忘記我們的身份是誰,很容易以為眼前就是一切。

4. 約書亞年紀老邁,就把以色列眾人的長老、族長、審判官,並官長都召了來,對他們說臨別贈言。


所說的內容可以用主耶穌離世前留下的一句話來總結:「在世卻不屬世!」(約 17:11, 16)。

5. 以色列安居在迦南地,約書亞離開之後,以色列人面對最大的挑戰是從迦南人而來的影響,約書亞提醒他們,他們與迦南人不同,他們並不屬於他們,在世卻不屬世。

我們是誰?這這安居在迦南的以色列人是誰?他們與迦南人最大的分別是以色列人是神的子民,單靠耶和華的子民。




一、在世卻不屬世:我們的身份是屬神的子民,2-6


1. 「我年紀已經老邁,3 耶和華你們的神因你們的緣故向那些國所行的一切事,你們親眼看見了,因那為你們爭戰的是耶和華你們的神。 4 我所剪除和所剩下的各國,從約但河起到日落之處的大海,我已經拈鬮分給你們各支派為業。5 耶和華你們的神必將他們從你們面前趕出去,使他們離開你們,你們就必得他們的地為業,正如耶和華你們的神所應許的。」

以色列中安居迦南得地為業,是因為耶和華將迦南人趕了出去,以色列人是神所立的國民!當我們在安逸的日子,我們很容易忘記我們自已是誰,我們以為我們的日子過得好,是因為我們好,是我們努力的成果,我們靠自已白手興家,約書亞提醒我們,不是的,我們是神的子民,是神為我們爭戰,我們是神造成的。

2. 我們在世卻不屬世因為我們是神造成的,我們是泥土,祂是陶匠,過去的日子是神親手帶領我們直到今天。為我們爭戰的不是這世界,我們的身份、榮耀、價值不是從這世界而來,在世卻不屬世!

3. 耶穌受魔鬼試探(路 4:5-8),魔鬼又領他上了高山,霎時間把天下的萬國都指給他看,
對他說:「這一切權柄、榮華,我都要給你,因為這原是交付我的,我願意給誰就給誰。你若在我面前下拜,這都要歸你。」這對我們來說是很大的試探,有誰不想擁有天下一切權柄、榮華?但耶穌的權柄與榮華卻不是從這呭界而來,耶穌在世卻不屬世,祂說:「經上記著說:當拜主你的神,單要事奉他。」我們的身份從神而來,我們是事奉神的人,這是我們真正的身份,我們並不屬於這世界是這個意思。


4. 如果我們明白這一點,我們會真正的得以自由!
  • 我們在世:每天吃飯、睡覺、賺錢、花錢;但我們卻不屬世:吃飯、睡覺並不我們的身份,金錢並不決定我們的價值。
  • 我們在世:每天上班下班,一天花不少時間工作;但我們卻不屬世:工作並不決定我們的價值,神安排我們工作,我是屬於神的,工作是我們事奉神的地方,這是基督徒工作觀的基本理念。
  • 我們在世:生兒育女;但我們卻不屬世:兒女是神的產業,神為我們而戰,教養兒女的祕訣是承認兒女是屬於神的。
5. 我們在世卻不屬世,因為我們是神的子民,「所以,你們要大大壯膽,謹守遵行寫在摩西律法書上的一切話,不可偏離左右。」(23:6)這是約書亞離世前三個對以色列人的命令中的第一個。


遵守神的話,這就是我們!我們是遵行神話語的人!這生命之道是我們最高的權威與基督徒生活的標準。

「在世卻不屬世」的第一個吩咐是根據神的話語生活,不效法世界。

6. 最近教牧在討論福遍教會同性戀與變性的立場,聖經成為我們最高的權威,神的話對同性戀與變性的看法是什麽?今年十一月,美國著名的「福音派神學協會」(Evangelical Theological Society)發表了協會對婚姻與性關係的宣言,以聖經為標準:

1)神按祂的形象造男迼女。
2)婚姻是一男一女。
3)性是婚姻關係中的聖潔行為。
4)男性、女性是神所賜不變的禮物,性別身份是從神而來。

在世卻不屬世的意思是我們的標準從神的話語而來,我們是遵守神話語的群體。

7. 約書亞離世之後四百年,以色列人沒有國家性的領袖、沒有君王、沒有先知,神親自的治理神的百姓,用的方法是祂賜下的話語--摩西的律法!以色列人的生活完全依照摩西的律法,在世卻不屬世!

我們的情景也差不多一樣,今天沒有世界性的屬靈信仰的領袖,基督教沒有教皇,但每人都有神的話--聖經與內住的聖靈。我們在世的生活是依照聖經來生活,這是在世卻不屬世的的第一個命令。

8. 今年時代雜誌選出二零一五年的風雲人物:德國的總理安格拉·默克爾(Angela Merkel),她的父親是前東德的一位牧師。


二次大戰終戰七十週年,德國人面對過去充滿黑暗與悲劇的歷史,他們如何從事「歷史的回憶」,從滿目瘡痍、噤聲無語的戰敗國,到積極從事轉型正義、不斷為過往歷史過錯道歉的經濟大國;從幾乎沒有外交自主權的被制約國家,到今日歐盟的龍頭,德國在過去七十年努力地面對過去的歷史,以極大的貫徹力,推動了德文所說的 Erinnerungskultur (culture of memory)「歷史的回憶」。

對德國人而言,歷史記憶,不是一味地懷思古之幽情,述說前人留下的光榮遺產,建構足以安身立命的自信與驕傲,德國人清楚明白,所謂「歷史研究」與「歷史教育」,包含了釐清過去不斷積累下來的歷史迷障,看清過去錯誤所行之路留給後世的沉重包袱,而願意勇敢真實地面對歷史真相,將慘痛的歷史教訓攤開在陽光下,供全世界公開討論,在此基礎上確實思考,更符合公義的現在未來應如何打造。

最近歐洲的難民危機中,默克爾成為「歐洲的良心」、「流亡者的母親」,收留八十萬難民,當難民從匈牙利布達佩斯(Budapest)經奧地利維也納到達德國的慕尼黑車站時,德國民眾歡迎他們就像歡迎戢場歸來的英雄,擁抱他們就像擁抱失散多年的親人,德國民眾是發乎真情的接納那些跋涉千里而來的陌生流亡者。很難想像歷史會發生這麼巨大的轉變,七十年前曾進行種族滅絕的德國,現在竟然是全世界接納最多異文化難民的國家。

跟德國相比,多數歐洲國家卻採取鎖國政策。匈牙利鋪設了一道蜿蜒一百七十多公里的刀片鐵絲網阻難民越境;捷克警察仿粹集中營管理方式,在難民手背上畫記號。波蘭境內雖有象徵種族滅絕的「奧許維茲集中營」(Auschwitz)的作法,波蘭人卻忘了這些歷史,他們宣稱只接納基督難民,不接納穆斯林難民。即使是英國與美國,以基督教立國的國家,也籠罩在「伊斯恐懼症」與「仇外主義」的陰影下,對這些難民心存懼怕。

默克爾在世上最屬世的政治世界中,活出了她的信念,這是她被選為風雲人物的原因,我們有很多的功課可以從她的身上學習。



二、在世卻不屬世:與世界分開,7-13

1. 在世卻不屬世的第二個命令是與世界分開。

約書亞吩咐以色列人:「不可與你們中間所剩下的這些國民攙雜。」(7)我們與世人是屬於兩個不同的國度,在世,我們是中國人,有中國人的責任,在世,我們是美國公民,有美國公民的責任。但我們不屬世,我們更是基督徒,天國的子民,我們與世界是分開的,我們服侍基督,不是服侍世上的人、物或其它的神。


2. 注意經文四重的禁令(7):

1)他們的神,你們不可提他的名,
2)不可指著他們的神起誓 ,
3)也不可事奉他們的神、
4)不可叩拜他們的神。

在世卻不屬世,指屬靈上的分離,不攙雜,信仰的專一與純正。

3. 第八節進一步解釋這分離、不攙雜、信仰純正的意思是什麼?

「只要照著你們到 今日所行的, 專靠耶和華 你們的神。 」(8)信仰的專一意思是你靠的是什麼?

在世:世人靠的是靠車、靠馬,靠運氣、靠貴人、靠實力、靠學問、靠聰明、靠關係、靠背景、靠自己!

我們卻不屬世,因為我們靠的是神,專靠上帝的人不屬這世界!

4. 第九節以 ABB'A' 排偶的結構來形容以色列不屬世而靠神的關係:

  • A 與 A' 以色列靠神打勝仗,耶和華為他們爭戰。
  • B 與 B' 以色列靠神而來的力量,沒大月一人在他們面前站立得住,他們一人追趕千人,這是屬神卻不屬世的力量。  


5. 以色列人的歷史告訴我們當他們靠埃及就慘敗,靠財富就瘸敗,靠自己就失敗,與世界混為一體,就是屬於這世界。當他們專靠耶和華的時候,他們就能打敗歌利亞,一人追趕千人,在世卻不屬世。

你靠的是什麼?

6. 與世界分離的原則應用在人際的關係上,約書亞特別指出信與不信不能同負一軛的重要,「12 你們若稍微轉去,與你們中間所剩下的這些國民聯絡, 彼此結親,互相往來,13 你們要確實知道, 耶和華你們的神必不再將他們從你們眼前趕出; 他們卻要成為你們的網羅、機檻、肋上的鞭、 眼中的刺,直到你們在耶和華你們神所賜的這美地上滅亡。」(13-14)


異教通婚帶來信仰上的不專一,很難在世卻不屬世,結果是危險:「 他們要成為你們的網羅、機檻、肋上的鞭、 眼中的刺,直到你們在耶和華你們神所賜的這美地上滅亡。」

在人際的關係上,婚姻是最親密也是最重要的,我們單身的,作父母的,在信與不信不要同負一軛的選擇上要小心耹聽神的吩咐。

曾有牧者和我爭辯,他認為「信與不信不要同負一軛」只是一個擇偶的建議而已,好像婚姻的講座之存款提款的建議一樣,能做最好,不能做也不是罪。新約保羅的教導「信與不信不要同負一軛」是一個命令,與「不可姦淫」等的禁令一樣,是神的吩咐;舊約約書亞在這裡更有清楚的吩咐,「不可與你們中間所剩下的這些國民攙雜。」不可「彼此結親」,更道出可怕的惡果。

以色列人與迦南人結親,結果是「在神所賜的這美地上滅亡!」(13、15, 16)這警告更重複三次,在神所賜的美地上滅亡是很可悲的事,美地卻不能安居,卻要滅亡,原因是不專一,與世俗攙雜。

7. 在世卻不屬世,與世俗分開,約書亞以第三個命令來強調這一點:「 你們要分外謹慎,愛耶和華你們的神。」愛神需要專一,任何夫妻都會告訴我們,愛妻子、愛丈夫,專一忠貞的重要,愛神就需要與世俗分離,愛神就不與迦南人結親,在世卻不屬世,與世俗分離是謹慎愛神的表現。

你愛神嗎?




結論

1. 約書亞離世前的贈言以一個非常負面的警告為結論(14-16),這警告以第十五節為中心思想:「耶和華你們神所應許的一切福氣怎樣臨到你們身上,耶和華也必照樣使各樣禍患臨到你們身上。」


耶和華所賜的福氣與耶和華所降的禍患,是相反的對比,我們都喜歡福氣,打勝仗,得地為業,進入安息,但福氣怎樣臨到我們身上,照樣禍患也臨到我們,我們不喜歡禍患,關鍵在乎我們是否跟隨神,專一的愛神,不與世俗為伍,專靠耶和華神。


2. 約書亞的警告是強烈的,若我們在世而屬世,我們必在這世上滅亡!約書亞以極強的警告來總結他第一篇的臨別贈言。你聽見聖經的警告沒有?

3. 「在世卻不屬世」是耶穌離世前為我們的禱告,「我不求你叫他們離開世界,只求你保守他們脫離罪惡(或惡者)。」(約 17:11-16)


讓我們以禱告的行動求神保守我們「在世卻不屬世」,禱告是戰勝撒旦的最佳武器,讓我們求神保守我們,為我們的家人祈求,為教會祈求,為這國家祈求,讓我們能在世、卻不屬世。

讓我們同心祈求。




討論問題

1. 什麼是「在世卻不屬世」?耶穌的話對你有何意義?
2. 請舉一些「在世卻屬世」的例子,也舉一些「在世卻不屬世」的例子。
3. 請比較摩西、約書亞、撒母耳、耶穌、保羅的臨別贈言的異同。
4. 「在世卻不屬世」對約書亞的世代有何意義?他們不屬世的表現行動是什麽?我們今天不屬世的表現與行動又是什麼?
5. 「信與不信不要同負一軛」,你的了解是什麽?是命令?還是建議?如何實行?
6. 不屬世是專靠神的意思,你同意嗎?為什麼?請分享專靠神對你的意義是什麼?




回應詩歌





寫這篇講章的過程與一些的考量:
林永健

1.


Sunday, December 6, 2015

耶穌城,《約書亞記系列十二》,書 20:1-9

耶穌城
約書亞記第廿章一節至九節
《約書亞記系列十二》




林永健牧師
福遍中國教會
2015.12.06
國語堂


引言

1. 我認識一個女孩子,是一個很認真的基督徒,曾經在教會中全時間服侍過,一直以來她對她的性別有很大的掙扎,她是個女人卻很想做男人,認為若不變性為男人,她不會快樂,經過很長時間的掙扎,她終於決定吃藥,成為一個變性的人,藥物使她體質改變,皮膚變粗,颚骨突出,肩膀變寬,但她個子很小,比一般的男人小,所以外面看來,怪怪的,不像男的,也不像女的。她的教會沒有辦法接受她,她離開了教會,沒有什麽的朋友,沒人了解她,她不覺得自已是女人,也不覺得自已是男人,她說自已是屬於第三種性別:變性人。

她說她想做男人的慾望是人的罪性與人的破碎而來的,但她選擇變性卻是她的決定,我們不同意她的決定,變性是錯的,審判是容易的,對錯是黑白的,但在一個充滿罪惡與破碎的世界中,我們該如何對待這些人?

2. 十多年前,我的上司、教會的牧師犯了姦淫,知法犯法,明知故犯,欺騙會眾,我第一個反應是拒絶相信,不可能吧!第二個反應是憤怒,他怎能如此!豈有此理!恨他!甚至想復仇(avenge),以傷還傷,以眼還眼!那時候,教會中有一、兩個人替他講話,同情他,我對這一、兩個人極不以為然,怪他們不分黑白,偏坦不公正;之後的兩、三年,我進入一段很長時間的悲傷,不能自已,不想再看見他,很想忘記整件事情,好像做了一場惡夢一樣!

一直以來,我很不明白聖經雅各書的一句話:「憐憫原是向審判誇勝」(雅二 13)是麽意思?

憐憫就是憐憫,是神的屬性之一,「神有憐憫、有恩典,不輕易發怒,有豐盛的慈愛」,這是我知道的;審判是人犯罪的結果,也是神公義的屬性,「憐憫向審判誇勝」是什麽意思?

今天你有憐憫嗎?福遍教會有憐憫嗎?

3. 今天我們讀的經文是在約書亞記第廿章一至九節,神在以色列人得了迦南應許之地為業的時候,在他們當中設立了六個逃城(the cities of refuge),因為神的本性是憐憫人的神,同樣我們也應該憐憫犯了罪的人,向審判誇勝。

我們先來讀讀經文,書廿 1-3。




一、逃城是耶穌城

1. 以色列人打下迦南之後,約書亞為他們分地為業,十一個支派都有自己的地方,最後約書亞從十一個支派的地中選了四十八個城邑,城中的一部份地方留給在服侍神的利未人居住。

這四十八個利未城之中,有六個城邑稱為「逃城」(the cities of refuge),是給誤殺人的受庇護的避難所。

2. The cities of refuge 中文翻譯為「逃城」,Refuge 聖經慣用的翻譯是「避難所」、「庇護所」、「藏身之處」。


詩人說:「耶和華是我們的避難所(refuge)!是我們在患難人隨時的幫助!」(詩 14:6; 參 61:3; 62:7, 8; 71:7; 91:2; 91:9; 94:22; 104:18; 142:5)。

所以「逃城」我願意稱之為「耶穌城」,耶穌是我們的避難所,因為祂憐恤我們。

3. 「逃城耶穌城」有四點我們需要注意的:

第一、「逃城耶穌城」是神指定的(God appoints)


在上古的時代沒有,現在也沒有,逃城是神特意的安排,發自神憐憫罪人的心。


1)早在曠野的時候,神已經這樣的安排,誤殺人的可以逃到會幕神的壇那裡作避難所(出 21:13-14),會幕就在以色列人安營的中間,是每一個人都可以到達的地方,在那裡有神安排的避難所。

2)四十年曠野的生活結朿之後,以色列人來到摩押平原,約但河東岸,準備進入迦南,神藉摩西吩咐以色列人設立六個逃城耶穌城(民 35:6-13),讓誤殺人的可以逃到那裡避難。

3)當摩西打下約但河東的時候,他按神的吩咐設立了三座逃城耶穌城:比悉、拉末、哥蘭(申 4:41-44),並不延遲,這事情對摩西是很重要的。

4)而且摩西再吩咐以色列人,叮嚀又叮嚀,進入迦南得地為業之後,記得在迦南地、約但河西再增三座逃城耶穌城,為以色列人的避難所(申 19:1-10)。

5)今天我們讀的經文,神再次吩咐約書亞,設立逃城耶穌城,「使那無心而誤殺人的,可以逃到那裡。」(書 20:2)。神指定立志設立逃城耶穌城的經文,重複了五次之多,可見這並不是小事,是神看重的事,是神心意的安排。

第二、「逃城耶穌城」是源於神憐憫人的心腸(God's mercy)


憐憫是神的屬性之一,「耶和華有憐憫,有恩典,不輕易發怒,且有豐盛的慈愛。他不長久責備,也不永遠懷怒。他沒有按我們的罪過待我們,也沒有照我們的罪孽報應我們。」 (詩103:8-10),這段經文在舊約中出現十次之多:

出 34:6-7; 珥 2:13; 民 14:18; 尼 9:17; 詩 86:15; 103:8-10; 145:8-9; 鴻 1:3; 代下 30:9; 拿 4:2

我們的神是有憐憫的,憐憫的意思很清楚:「沒有按我們的罪過待我們,也沒有照我們的罪孽報應我們」就是憐憫!我們得罪神,該受刑罰,以眼還眼、以牙還牙、以傷還傷、以命還命、以打還打,本是應該的,但因為神是有憐憫的,祂沒有按我們的罪過待我們,而憐憫是饒恕的基礎!

無意殺人是誤殺(manslaughter),應該以命還命,生命是上帝所賜的,是神聖的,沒有人有權利去拿走別人的生命,舊約摩西的律法中,死者的至親的親屬(kinsman),有責任去尋仇,找到兇手,以眼還眼、以命還命,稱為「血仇」(blood revenge),無論兇手逃到天涯海角,尋血仇的至親親屬都不會放過他。

申命記十九章五至六節舉了一個實例:「就如人與鄰舍同入樹林砍伐樹木,手拿斧子一砍,本想砍下樹木,不料,斧頭脫了把,飛落在鄰舍身上,以致於死,這人逃到那些城的一座城,就可以存活,免得報血仇的,心中火熱追趕他,因路遠就追上,將他殺死。」誤殺也是殺心,雖然與謀殺不同,結果也是要償命的,被死者至親的親屬追趕尋仇。

神憐憫這些人,沒有按他們的罪過待他們,設立了逃城,讓他們逃避血仇。

今天我們犯罪的人,罪的刑罰如大山壓在頭上,神的震怒常在我們身上,若不是神憐憫的心腸,我們已早死在罪惡過犯之中。

在這聖誕的季節,耶穌的誕生正是因為神憐憫罪人,祂沒有照我們的罪孽報應我們,耶穌的誕生是神憐憫人的實際行動。


第三、「逃城耶穌城」為什麽只是保護誤殺人的?


摩西的律法把無意殺人誤殺與蓄意殺人謀殺分得很清楚:

無意殺人是誤殺,誤行,不知道的,無意的,犯罪的人要獻上贖罪祭,罪必得赦免(民 15:24-29)。

蓄意殺人是「擅敢行動的」(sin deliberately--GNB; defiantly--NASB)(民 15:30),這個字原文的意思是手舉起來的意思,犯罪的人向天舉起拳頭,與神對抗,敵對神的態度,蔑視耶和華的命令(民 15:31),所以他的罪必歸到他的身上。這情形與新約耶穌對那些敵對他的人的情況有點相似,他們蔑視神的大能,指耶穌是靠鬼王趕鬼,耶穌說:「 我實在告訴你們,世人一切的罪和一切褻瀆的話都可得赦免;凡褻瀆聖靈的,卻永不得赦免,乃要擔當永遠的罪。」(可 3:28-29)褻瀆聖靈,蔑視神,挑戰神,向天舉起拳頭,刻意跟神鬥,造反的態度,他們的罪必歸在他們的頭上。

神是有憐憫的神,但祂也是公義的神,在自我宣告神自已是有憐憫的神的同時,祂也宣告,萬不以有罪的為無罪。

「耶和華在他面前宣告說:「耶和華,耶和華,是有憐憫有恩典的神,不輕易發怒,並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實,為千萬人存留慈愛,赦免罪孽、過犯,和罪惡,萬不以有罪的為無罪,必追討他的罪,自父及子,直到三、四代。」(出 34:6-7)

所以蓄意殺人的是蔑視耶和華的命令,故意與神為敵,與一時衝動,誤殺人的有基本上的差別。

在這裡我們要發出警告:現代人對神的態度極像蓄意殺人蔑視神的態度。

這週在加州發生的事情,令人沒法想像,一對年青的夫妻,能把一個剛生下來六個月的女兒掉下,蓄意謀殺了十四個與他們無怨無仇的無辜者,使自己的女兒長大沒有父親,沒有母親,也使這十四個人的家人沒有了父親與母親,真的難以想像,是為了什麽?這是一個極度破碎的世代。

今年一月至十二月初,美國一共有三百五十五宗集體的謀殺案,意即一次殺人四個或四個以上的人,平均一天超過一次,我相信有一些是一時衝動,沒有預謀的,可時可能大部份都有預謀,是蓄意殺人,蔑視神的態度,神萬不以有罪為無罪,我們千萬要小心,不要硬著心,蔑視神。

反觀誤殺人的,神有憐憫,施恩,他們殺了人︳理應以命還命,神卻為他們設立了逃城耶穌城作他們的避難所。你若存心悔改,願意尋求神,神有憐憫與恩典,耶穌就是我們的避難所。


第四、「逃城耶穌城」的特色說明神憐憫人的心


1)六座逃城耶穌城建造在山上(in the hill country)讓人遠遠就可以看見,容易找到,不是隠藏難找的。


2)逃城耶穌城離我們不遠,迦南地每一個角落離其中一個逃城耶穌城最多不超過一天的路程,很方便,有需要的人可以一天之內就到達。約但河東有三個:比悉、拉未、哥蘭;約但河西也有三個:基低斯、示劍、希伯崙。
3)摩西的律法規定以色列人每年最少一次清理通往逃城耶穌城所有的通道,除去一切障礙,使去逃城耶穌城的人可以通行無阻。

這些特色都說明了什麽?說明了神的心意,祂有憐憪、有恩典、並沒有按我們的罪過待我們,也沒有照我們的罪孽報應我們,祂願意我們來投靠祂,耶穌是我們的避難所。

4)逃城耶穌城不是只有憐憪,也有公義,第四至六節,進入逃城的人需要經過一個正當的程序(Due process)。


5)「等到那時的大祭司死了,殺人的才可以回到本城本家。」(書 20:6)大祭司代表贖罪的功能,他的死暗喻耶穌的死,讓人有新的開始。
6)逃城耶穌城是給所有的人,「以色列眾人和在他們中間寄居的外人」(書 20:9)。


這三個特色強烈暗喻耶穌的救贖。耶穌的憐憪與恩典是寬廣的,讓犯了錯的人,你若不是與神故意敵對,立意與神鬥,扺擋神,你可以來親近神,身負血仇無路可走的人,耶穌是你的避難所。

你願意嗎?



二、教會是耶穌城

1. 聖經無論是舊約或新約,神的子民:以色列和教會都應該擁有神憐憫的心腸,保羅吩咐我們「要以恩慈相待,存憐憫的心,彼此饒恕。正如神在基督裡饒恕(對待)了我們一樣。」(弗 4:32),耶穌如何對待我們,我們也應如何彼此相待,耶穌憐憫了我們,我們也應照樣憐憫人,這是聖經一貫的真理。

2. 八福之第五福:「憐恤人的有福了,因為他們必蒙憐憫!」(太 5:7)憐憫人的必蒙神的憐憐!

3. 剛剛我們讀的經文,雅各書二章十三節:「憐憫原是向審判跨勝」,我們要注意上下文,上下文的主題是「信心要有行動」,第十三節全節是這樣的:「因為那不憐憫人的, 也要受無憐憫的審判;憐憫原是向審判跨勝。」 前半節說,不憐憫人的必受無憐憫的審判,後半節的意思就很明顯了,若我們用行動去憐憫人,我們必在神的審判中跨勝,我們受審判的時候必蒙憐憫。


4. 聖經一次又一次告訢我們,我們要去憐憫人,因為我們蒙了憐憫,神沒有按我們的罪過待我們,我們也不塵照人的罪過報人。

神的教會應該是一座耶穌城,建在山上,歡迎所有的人,教會不是審判人的地方,審判是屬於神的,教會是蒙憐憫的人去憐憫人的地方,讓憐憫付于行動,在審判的時候,使我們跨勝,教會是一座耶穌城,讓身負血仇的人,受罪的刑罰的人,來到神的家為避難所,蒙憐憫,得恩惠,得庇護。

福遍是否耶穌城?

5. 憐憫是很難實行的道理,我們憐憫弱勢的群體比較容易,憐憫犯罪的人對我們是極不容易的事情。

這世界崇尚「公平」(fairness),以眼還眼,做好事得好報,做壞事得報應是理所當然的。中國文化注重「報仇」,武俠小說與電影報仇是常見的主題之一。

我們認為你若敢去做,就應勇敢面對後果,以牙還牙、以眼還眼、以命還命、以傷還傷、以打還打是我們接受的公理,不這樣的話,就不「公平」!

我們喜歡競爭,有贏就有輸,適者生存,弱者被淘汰,這是沒有話說的!

就算在教會信徒的群體之中,要求公平,審判是容易的事,聖經有那麽多的誡命,夠不上的、選擇錯誤的就犯了罪,我們喜歡標準,我們也需要標準。對 LGBT 的群體,對還是不對,聖經的標準是應該有的,神萬不以有罪為無罪,但我們的態度卻應該自我反醒一下,憐憫人的的必蒙憐憫,憐憫是心態也是我們的行動,教會是一座耶穌城,讓憐憫向審判跨勝。

我有三個實際的行動建議,讓福遍成為一座耶穌城。



結論

1. 學習多關心人的現在與將來,過去的事,無論如何,錯誤或輭弱,神都知道,審判是神的事,不是我們的事,有一天,神必審判列國,現今的機會是讓人悔改的機會,學習關心人的現在與將來。

李牧師有一句常掛在口邊的至理名言:"Come as you are. Leave as God intends you to be." 照我的本相,來到教會神的面前,離開的時候,成為合神心意中的人。

例子;若一位變性的人來到我們當中,我們要學習關心他的現在與將來,照我的本相,來到神的家,關心他,伸出友誼的手,憐憫人,不按他的罪過待他,憐憫人的必蒙憐憫!你可以嗎?

2. 我們在活在一個破碎的世代、世俗的世代,相信神不再是酷的事!不是理所當然的事!
  • 心理的問題愈來愈嚴重,愈來愈普遍。
  • 世俗的社會,離神愈來愈遠。
  • 年青的一代,愈來愈迷岡,不知什麽是對,什麽是錯,個人主義與後現代主義,使他們更主觀,更沒有真理的標準。
我們生活在一個罪惡破碎的世代之中。

教會能給什麽?我們能給什麽?

今天的經文廿章第二節與廿一章第二節有一個字我希望大家特別注意:神吩咐以列列人「給」他們誤殺人的可以逃避的避難所,這六座城是從以色列人的產業中拿出來給這些被血仇逼得走頭無路的人。

這「給」是慷慨的,是恩典的!是這些殺人犯不該有的,卻是以色列人慷慨從自己的產業中給的,使這些殺人犯有一處容身的避難所。

上主日,昆華老師分享了迦勒的故事,很感人!八十五歲的老人,求神「把這山給我!」昆華老師很客氣,沒有說自己的見証,他其實就是現代版的迦勒。請注意迦勒的故事,「約書亞為耶孚尼的兒子迦勒祝福,將希伯崙給他為業。」(書 14:13)迦勒卻給這群殺人犯自己的產業,希伯崙為六大逃城之一,把一部份的地分給了這群殺人犯,慷慨是憐憫的行動,不單只是口裡講,而是有行動,主動的給,施於。

我們生活在一個破碎的世化,慷慨是憐憫的表現,是醫治這破碎世代的良藥。

例子:一位變性的人參加了學生團契的小組,小組的人沒沒拒絶他,也沒有審判他,慷慨地給他友誼、時間、聆聽,當他要參加團契的退修會要與住女生宿舍的時候,他們並不同意,堅持真理的立場,他們慷慨的給,成為他們憐憫的行動,是很美的見証。

當一個變性的人進入福遍教會,福遍是一座耶穌城嗎?我們能以神對人憐憫的方法去對待別人嗎?福遍是否罪人蒙憐憫 的避難所?我們是否慷慨的給?

3. 福遍耶穌城的人知道自已也是破碎的罪人,我們的問題和罪,與其他人一樣,我們需要神的憐憫,正如其他的人一樣,這種謙卑的態度,使我們在審判的時候得蒙憐憫,這樣我們就可以向審判跨勝了。

你願意嗎?





討論問題

1. 殺人償命,這是舊約血仇的背景,請解釋什麽是血仇?身負血仇被人尋仇的生活是什麽的情況?
2. 聖經中蓄意殺人是什麽一回事?參民 15:30-31。與無意殺人有何分別?
3. 神設立逃城是什麽原因?逃城是耶穌城,你同意嗎?為什麽?
4. 神五次設立逃城,說明這件事的重要,為什麽逃城是對神是那麽重要?
5. 教會是一座逃城,你同意嗎?為什麽?教會是逃城對你的意義是什麽?
6. 福遍教會如何才能成為耶穌城?憐憫有罪的人?
7,. 我們對弱勢的群體比較容易接納,對有罪的人卻不是很容易,為什麽?
8. 如何從我們的產業中「給」出去,讓罪人有避難之所?






寫這篇講章的過程與一些的考量:
林永健

1. 這是一段難解的經文,主要的難處有二:

1)為什麽逃城只庇護無意殺人的,蓄意殺人的不蒙憐憫?
2)如何應用逃城的觀念在今日的會眾身上?

2. 我認為逃城不是救恩的教導,而是有關神憐憫人的教導,憐憫弱勢的群體對我們來說是比較容易,憐憫有罪的人卻不容易,我們根本不知道如何進行!

3. Preaching Idea: 逃城耶穌城;Sermon Idea: 神憐憫有罪的人,我們也要憐憫罪人;Exegetical Idea: 神憐憫無意殺人的,為他們設立逃城。