林慈信
為什麼基督徒在性與貞潔方面掙扎
1. 多年來﹐華人對於性倫理感到高度的尷尬。雖然性是人生的很基本的一個層面﹐可是華人(教會)對這方面的討論﹐往往是可免則免。
Traditionally, sexual ethics has made Chinese people uncomfortable. Although it is a very basic part of our existence, Chinese people mostly choose to avoid the subject.
2. 可是當代的華人青年/成年每天都被世俗對的性觀念所轟炸。結果是﹐我們對性的觀念多是世俗的﹐異教的。這對我們靈命的長進﹐造成嚴重傷害。
But contemporary Chinese young adults are constantly bombarded with the world’s attitude to sin. The result is that we have adopted a pagan view to sex. This harms our Christian growth.
3. 不少基督徒對於神的旨意的認識非常缺乏 – 他們認為﹐只要感覺心裡平安 / 舒服﹐就是神的旨意了 (就是正確的選擇了) 。
Some Christians have a woefully inadequate view of God’s will – that if they feel peace doing something, it is God’s will (it is the right thing to do).
4. 今天西方對於“容忍” 的觀念的背後﹕倫理與人的尊嚴的觀念都非常弱。
The concept of tolerance today: a weak view of human morality and dignity.
5. 有些中國人認為美國是一個比較開放的國家﹐因此很多<<聖經>>說是犯罪的行為﹐都不知不覺的習以為常﹐以為是理所應當的。
Some Chinese people have taken for granted that the USA is a more open country, and that many sinful practices are common and acceptable.
6. 很多人因為以前犯過的罪而有很深的負罪感 (內疚) 與羞恥感。可是﹐基督
徒往往又不正視罪﹐不面責犯罪者。犯罪而不認罪﹐問題就日益複雜。
Many struggle with guilt and shame over sin we have committed. But Christians do not confront sin in the church. Thus, unconfessed sin is allowed to fester.
可是﹐雖然如此…Yet, in spite of the above…
我們必須面對一些非常重要的課題
THE NEED TO FACE THE ISSUES INVOLVED
1. 人生是有盼望的﹗
There is hope.
2. 關於男女之間的關係﹐<<聖經>>已訂下一些倫理準則。
這些準則記載在神的律法裡。
There are Biblical norms to pure relationships between men and women.
These norms are found in God’s Law.
3. “內心感覺平安” 這個原則﹐是不足夠決定是否神的旨意的。<<聖經>>告訴
我們﹐我們應該如何感覺﹔究竟什麼才是真正的“平安”﹖ 這問題的答案要從
<<聖經>>裡去找。我們不可以跟著世俗心理學或世俗文化走。
“Feeling peace about it” is not an adequate, nor a biblical approach to discovering God’s will. There are Biblical norms as to what feelings we should feel (e.g. what is true “peace in our hearts”?). We cannot follow secular psychology or secular culture.
4. 我們的青少年。基督徒們問很多誠懇的問題﹔他們要求教會給坦率的答案。
Our young adults demand honest answers to honest questions.
5. 成熟的﹐上一代的基督徒﹐必須學習﹐了解<<聖經>>的教導﹕究竟我們的
信仰如何影響我們對性的態度﹖
Older Christians should also need to understand, and take a stand, on how our Christian faith affects our attitudes toward sex.
貞潔與管教﹕一些基本的原則
PURITY AND DISCIPLINE: BASIC PRINCIPLES
6. 作基督徒的目標之一﹐就是培養一個在神面前清潔的﹐沒有內疚的良心。有清潔的良心﹐會帶來無限的喜樂與屬靈的能力。神不要我們因著淫念而慾火攻心。神也不要我們妒忌﹐苦毒的渡過一生。神要我們 「沒有秘密」 地生活。人生的目標就是在神裡面完全滿足。我們若信靠耶穌基督赦罪之恩﹐滿足的心絕對可以得到。神已賜我們幫助﹐引導﹐教我們這樣的走人生的道路。
One of the primary goals of the Christian life is to nurture a conscience which is free from guilt before God. This is a tremendous source of joy and strength. God does not want us to burn with lust, nor to struggle with envy and bitterness. God wants us to live “with no secrets.” Contentment in God is the goal, and it is always available when we put our trust in Christ and his forgiveness. God has given us guidance and help, for us to live that way.
7. 神是聖潔的神。神的吩咐與要求﹐是我們也要聖潔。 (彼前1﹕15) 雖然我們會犯罪﹐雖然我們活在一個邪惡的文化裡﹐可是神的標準是不改變的。我們若不敬畏神﹐而只看別人如何看待我們而做人 (這是從弗萊依德的心理學而來的﹐完全不足夠幫助我們生活的原則﹐是與<<聖經>>背道而馳的原則) ﹐我們將永遠不能解決我們心中/生活上的問題﹐永遠不會經歷到神的賜福。
God is holy, and demands that we be holy. I Peter 1:15. Our sin and our pagan attitudes do not change God’s standards. As long as we do not fear God, and only live according to what others think of us(a woefully inadequate, and an unbiblical view of life stemming from Sigmund Freud’s secular psychology), we will never solve our problems properly, and experience God’s blessing.
8. 神按照祂的形象創造我們。神是聖潔的﹐祂按照祂的形象造男造女。聖潔是神的形象的一部份﹕創1﹕26-28﹐弗4﹕24﹐西3﹕10。 神也創造我們滿有智
慧﹐可以認識真理﹐過著公義的生活。
We were created in the image of God. God is holy, and has created men and women in his own image. Holiness is part of this: Genesis 1:26-28, Ephesians 4:24,
Colossians 3:10. God has also created us to be wise and know the truth, and to live
righteously before him.
神對我們的身體﹐我們的慾望與性的旨意
9. 我們的身體在神的眼中是聖潔的﹐是屬靈的﹐是重要的﹐就像我們的思想﹐我們的計劃在神面前也是同樣的重要一樣。我們必須盡心﹐盡意﹐盡性﹐盡力 (意思就是﹕盡我們的知﹐情﹐意) 愛主我們的神。
Our bodies are just as holy, spiritual and important to God, as our thoughts, emotions and plans. We are to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, souls and wills.
10. 我們必須保持我們的思想聖潔純真。我們應該只思想那些在神眼中是高貴﹐美善的事 (腓4﹕8-9) 。這意味著一個原則﹕我們的思想﹐我們的感覺 / 慾望都不是「中立」 的﹕耶穌基督是我們的思想的主﹐是我們的感覺 / 慾望的主﹗ 祂要求我們跟從祂的話﹔祂的話就是真理。
Our minds are to be holy and pure. We are to think thoughts which are noble and good in God’s eyes (Philippians 4:8-9) This means that our minds and our desires are not “neutral” areas: Jesus is Lord over our minds and desires! He wants us to follow His Word, which is truth.
11. 這裡有一個意義﹕性本身不是邪惡的﹐不是骯髒的。性本身不是屬肉體﹐不屬靈的。神創造我們的身體﹐創造性。性是神所賜給人 (男﹐女) 的﹐用來 ﹕(一) 表達愛﹐(二) 讓人類繁殖﹐(三) 在婚姻裡面享受。人誤用性時﹐才是犯罪。
Sex by itself is not dirty. It is not “fleshly” vs. spiritual. God created bodies and sex. Sex is a means which God has given men/women to (a) express love, (b) reproduce the human race, and (c) to enjoy in marriage. Sex is only sinful when it is misused.
原則應用﹕婚前性關係是干犯了神對人的身體與慾望所設立的界限。它以思
想中的淫念開始﹐以身體上的犯罪結束。
Application: Pre-marital sex is a violation of the boundaries set by God for our bodies and desires. It begins with sin in our minds, and ends with sinning with our bodies.
原則應用﹕同性戀行為 (包括在思想上帝和行動上的) 違背了神在人類中所
設立的秩序。
Application: Homosexual behavior (including lust in the mind and acts in the body) is a violation of God’s order.
原則應用﹕奸淫是任何違背婚約的罪﹐不論是以思想或以身體犯罪。
Application: Adultery is any violation of marriage covenant, whether by sinning with our minds, or sinning with our bodies.
原則應用﹕淫念與黃色媒體﹐乃是在思想與已眼睛背逆神。
Application: Lust and pornography are disobedient uses of our minds and eyes.
原則應用﹕召妓是一種誤用身體的罪行。這是與娼妓的身體靈魂結合。
Application: Prostitution is a disobedient use of our bodies. We come into union and fellowship with the prostitute.
原則應用﹕網路上的虛擬性行為是思想上的淫亂，可能引至身體上的犯罪。
Application: Virtual sex is a sin of the mind, which leads to sinning with our bodies.
真愛﹕信靠神﹐尊重我們的鄰居
TRUE LOVE: TRUSTING GOD, HONORING OUR NEIGHBORS
12. 我們必須相信﹐神給我們的﹐都是為我們最好的。當我們以我們的身體﹐思想或慾望順服神的時候﹐神與我們同行﹐給我們釋放的良心。
We must believe that God desires our highest good. When we obey God in our bodies, minds and desires, He walks with us and gives us that free conscience.
13. 我們也必須知道﹕別人也是按神的形象被造的。神按照祂的形象造人的涵意就﹕我們不可得罪別人。別人有作人的尊嚴﹐不可侵犯。這包括他們的私隱﹐和他們身體與心靈的神聖﹐整全性。若已婚者﹐他們婚姻的聖潔也應當尊重。
Other people are created in the image of God. God’s creation of human beings in his own image also means that: we are not to sin against others. They have a certain dignity which is not to be violated. This includes the privacy and integrity of their bodies and hearts, and the integrity of their marriage (if married).
十誡吩咐我們要尊重別人的好處和聲譽。我們不可殺人﹐不可偷盜﹐不可作假見證﹐因為我們理當愛我們的鄰舍﹐尊重他們的財務。(見下﹐#11)
The Ten Commandments directs us to honor other people’s well being and
reputation. We are not to kill, not to steal, not to bear false witness, because we
should love our neighbors, and honor his/her possessions. (see below, #11)
原則應用﹕我們若以淫念看別人的身體與衣服﹐便侵犯了他們的身體與靈魂。
Application: We violate other people’s bodies and souls, when we look at other
people’s clothing or bodies with lust.
例﹕當我們的衣服挑逗別人的思想(淫念) 時﹐我們就稱為別人的絆腳石。
Example: We cause other people to stumble, lust and sin, when we dress or act in
provocative ways, to lure others to lust after us. (“Stumble-wear”)
例﹕墮胎乃是殺一個(還未出生的) 人。
Example: Abortion is the killing of another (unborn) person.
例﹕因別人的戀愛﹐婚姻而妒忌與苦毒﹐乃是由於向神不感恩﹐同時不尊重
別人 (別人是按照神的形象被造的) 。
Example: Jealousy, envy and bitterness over someone else’s relationships and
marriage, are rooted in ungratefulness to God, and disrespect for other people who
are created in the image of God.
附帶一點﹕<<聖經>>多提到人的尊嚴﹐少提到人的權利。
By the way, the Bible speaks more of the dignity of people, than human rights.
聯合國的國際人權宣言是<<聖經>>教義的世俗化版本。<<聖經>>教導的是
﹐神按照祂的形象造人﹐因此人有尊嚴。
The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a secular version of
The teaching of the Bible concerning the image of God in man.
愛就是尊重我們的鄰居﹐謀求鄰居最高的好處。愛的本質﹐不是一種感覺。
Love is honoring and seeking the best for our neighbor – it is not a feeling.
真自由﹕我們要負責任
TRUE FREEDOM: WE ARE RESPONSIBLE
14. 我們所作的一切﹐都要向神負責。亞當與夏娃犯罪墮落之後﹐神問他們﹕
你在哪裡﹖創世記3章。我們不可能逃避神的。詩篇139。
We are accountable to God for what we do. When man (Adam and Eve) had sinned, God asked: Where are you? Genesis 3. We cannot hide from God – Psalm 139.
15. 神的審判是真的﹐是一個不能逃避的事實。雖然神是充滿恩典與愛的神﹐對我們這些墮落了的罪人施恩﹐可是﹐神也是聖潔的神。神絕對不會違背自己的性格的。出埃及記34﹕7下。
Judgment is real. While God is gracious and loving toward humans even after we have sinned and fallen, God is also holy. God is true to his character. Exodus 34:7b.
16. 神的審判﹐包括懲罰。神將亞當與夏娃從伊顛園趕出來。雖然還是有恩典﹐憐憫(神為他們用動物的皮子作了裙子) ﹐最帶來兩個後果﹕
(一) 屬靈的﹕永死﹔
(二) 屬世的﹐今生的﹕罪進入了人間。(羅馬5﹕12-19)
神必然審判﹔審判會帶來後果﹗可是﹐這並不意味著神不是恩典﹐憐憫的神。
Judgment includes punishment. Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden. Even though there is grace and mercy (God made skirts of skin for them),
there are two kinds of consequences to sin:
(a) spiritual (eternal death), and
(b) temporal (sin enters the world of humans). (Romans 5:12-19)
Punishment, as well as consequences, do not mean that God is not gracious.
17. 我們對別人如何行﹐我們要為這些負責。我們要向神負責。神並不接受該
隱的解釋﹕我豈是我的弟兄的看守者﹖很多時候﹐當我們犯罪得罪神的時候
﹐我們同時得罪了別人 (按照神的形象被造的人) 。
We are accountable for what we do to others. God holds us accountable. He does not accept Cain’s response: Am I my brother’s keeper? Often when we sin against God, we also sin against our fellow human beings created in the image of God.
18. 當我們不願意向神負責時﹐我們會經歷到內疚與羞恥。
When we are not willing to be accountable before God, guilt and shame results.
神的旨意﹕尊重神的律法﹐經歷神的恩典
19. 神已經頒發了祂聖潔的律法。我們不可犯奸淫。我們不可侵犯別人的身體﹐別人的純潔﹐別人神聖的婚姻。我們不可作假見證。我們不可貪心。
God gave us His law. We are not to commit adultery: we are not to violate others’ bodies, purity, marriage. We shall not give false witnesses, we are not to covet.
20. 神的律法今天仍然生效。律法在三方面對我們有用﹕
(一) 讓全人類知道神聖潔﹐普世的準則。
(二) 讓罪人知道自己的需要﹐知道需要來到基督面前。
(三) 讓基督徒有一個準則來過討神喜悅的生活。
The law of God is valid today. It is useful in three ways:
a. For mankind to know God’s universal, holy standards.
b. For sinners to realize our need for Christ.
c. For Christians, as a guideline to holy living pleasing to God.
21. 神要求祂的子民教導祂的律法。申命記六章。把律法塗在門檻上﹐等。
意思是﹕父母必須教導兒女﹐製造環境讓兒女學習神的話。
家庭與教會﹐是神設立的制度﹐以教導神的律法。
問題是﹕我們今天很缺乏家庭與教會的教導與保護。
God expects his people to teach His law. Deuteronomy 6
Painting the law on doorposts: parents are to teach their children.
The family and the church are institutions ordained by God to teach His law.
Problem: we do not have the protection/teaching of the family/church today.
22. 神是恩典的神。人類墮落之後﹐神立刻開始成就救恩。不只是醫治罪在我們今生造成的後果。乃是對我們屬靈的問題﹕懲罰﹐提供真正的解決方案。
救法就是耶穌基督的寶血。神的確赦免那些悔改﹐信靠耶穌基督的寶血的人。而我們呢﹖我們應該饒恕悔改﹐信靠耶穌基督(得罪我們)的人。
God is gracious. When mankind has fallen, God immediately provided for our
salvation. Not just healing us of our temporal consequences, but a true solution to our
spiritual punishment. The solution, in short, is the blood of Jesus Christ. God does
forgive those who repent and trust in the blood of Jesus. By extension, we are to
forgive others who repent and trust in Christ.
23. 悔改乃是答案。是得到與神和好的唯一道路。
我們犯罪﹐跌倒時﹐造借口是沒用的。
解決罪這問題的方法﹐就是悔改。詩篇51篇。
我唯獨犯罪得罪你﹐神。
悔改應該結出果子。 (見﹕施洗約翰的信息。)
悔改當然包括對我們的罪負責。
Repentance is the solution; it is the way to peace with God.
When we sin and fail, the solution is not to make excuses.
The solution is true repentance. Psalm 51
Against You, and You only, have I sinned (David, Psalm 51).
Repentance should issue forth fruit. (Cf. John the Baptist).
Repentance certainly includes accepting responsibility for our sin.
24. 神是憐憫的神: 神是恩典的神。祂解決了罪的問題。
神也是憐憫的神。祂醫治我們的痛苦﹐因為我們面對的﹐正是罪在今生所帶來的後遺症。耶穌基督應許﹕祂永不離棄我們。(馬太福音28﹕19-20)
God is merciful. God is gracious – he solved our sin problem. God is also merciful –
he heals us in our suffering, as we face temporal consequences of sin. Jesus promises
never to leave us. (Matthew 28:19-20).
神所給的真盼望﹐真幫助
REAL HOPE AND REAL HELP, GOD’S WAY
25. 我們的心思意念必須更新。我們成為基督徒時﹐我們就要開始學習一些新的
態度﹐新的價值觀﹐新的看法。我們必須心意更新而變化﹕意思就是說﹐要學習新的宇宙人生觀。羅馬書12﹕2
Our minds need to be renewed. When we become Christians, we need to learn to
learn new attitudes, values, perspectives, and values. We are to be transformed by the
renewal of our minds. Romans 12: 2
若要克服淫念或克服苦毒﹐我們須要有神的話﹐神的旨意充滿我們心思意念。
To overcome lust or bitterness, you need God’s Word to fill your minds.
26. 神的救贖計劃包括﹕耶穌基督來到世界上﹐建立祂的教會。教會是什麼﹖
教會雖是神的子民﹐是基督的身體﹐神的子民被基督的血潔淨了﹐被神
呼召成為聖潔﹐作屬神的子民。
God’s plan of salvation included the fact that Jesus Christ came to establish his
church on earth. The church is the fellowship of God’s people, washed by the blood
of Jesus Christ, called to be holy, God’s own possession.
教會存在的目的﹕ 敬拜神﹐
彼此建立﹐讓信徒們成熟﹐學像基督﹐
在世界上見證耶穌基督恩典的福音。
The church exists to:
n worship God,
n build believers up to be like Christ, and
n witness to the gospel of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. 團契﹐交通是需要包括責任的﹐我們必須彼此守望﹐彼此負責。民數記﹕神
的子民是冊上有名的。我們須要以愛心說真理 (誠實話) - 弗4﹕15。
Fellowship includes accountability and responsibilities. Numbers: God’s people are
counted. Speak the truth in love – Ephesians 4:15
28. 團契﹐交通是屬靈的結合。我們身為基督的身體﹐乃是與其他的弟兄姊妹
接連﹐成為一個身體。
羞恥的問題﹕我們必須面對真理 / 真相。不然的話﹕只能在暗中秘密做人。
Fellowship is a spiritual bond. We are bonded to each other as the body of Christ.
Issue of shame: face the truth. Alternative: secrecy.
29. 教會是新約的盟約團體﹐有責任為我們提供屬靈的保護。你我都需要屬靈的
保護﹐特別是在今天﹐家庭﹐家族已經不再提供道德上帝保護與監管。
The church as the covenant community gives us spiritual protection. You and I need
spiritual protection, especially in an age when the extended family is not available.
30. 神在教會裡訂下了領袖的職位。長老們是團隊領導﹐提供保護﹐負責團體。
出埃及記﹕摩西的岳父的勸告。 尼希米﹕組織領袖﹔按照家庭分派工作。
新約﹕按立長老。
God has ordained leadership in the church: team leadership, to provide protection
and accountability. Exodus: advice from Moses’ father-in-law
Nehemiah: organizing the leaders; assignments according to household
New Testament: elders
31. 教會的領袖們﹐必須在教導與管教方面帶領會眾。
管教是有神設立的步驟的: 馬太福音18﹕15-18
第一步﹕私下面責。 第二步﹕帶一﹐兩個見證人面責。
第三步﹕告訴教會。 第四步﹕開除會籍。 必須跟這個次序﹗
管教的目的﹕饒恕與重新建立一個生命。
Leaders are to lead in teaching and discipline.
THERE ARE PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN DISICPLINE
Matthew 18:15-18
a. one on one confrontation.
b. confrontation with a couple of witnesses.
c. tell it to the church.
d. Expel the unrepentant sinner from the church.
In the proper order !
Purpose: forgiveness, and restoration
兩個常被誤會的觀念
TWO TERMS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD
32. 不可論斷﹐與判斷 (審判) 的必需性﹐兩者是不同的﹐也不矛盾的。
林前六章﹕神讓基督徒有智慧﹐有能力在教會裡﹐對罪作出判斷。
馬太福音七章﹕論斷是指一種態度。覺得比別人強﹐比別人聖潔。
事實上﹐我們都是罪人﹐基督徒都是蒙恩的罪人。
對罪作出判斷﹐是神給教會的責任之一。
There is a difference between “judging” and “being judgmental”:
I Corinthians 6 – God has made us competent to judge.
Matthew 7 -- Being judgmental is an attitude. I am holier than you.
We are all sinners, saved by grace.
Pronouncing judgment is a duty God has given to the church.
33. 我們必須稱罪為罪。這樣﹐有赦免的可能﹗
在我們的了解裡﹐神的恩典與神的公義必須連在一起。
Call sin sin. Because forgiveness is available!
HOLD GRACE AND JUSTICE TOGETHER
結論 / 應用
CONCLUSION/APPLICATION
34. 你經歷了神的恩典﹐神赦罪的恩典嗎﹖
Do you know God’s grace and forgiveness in your life?
35. 你熟識神的律法嗎﹖你真的願意遵守神的律法嗎﹖
How well do you understand God’s law? How willing are you to obey?
36. 你有沒有採取行動讓你的心意更新而變化﹐從神的角度來看事情﹖
What steps have you taken to be renewed in your mind about issues and standards?
37. 你需要幫助嗎﹖你需要為自己的生活負責嗎﹖向別人負責﹖你需要教會的管
教嗎﹖你需要長輩﹐教會的保護嗎﹖你需要引導嗎﹖
Do you need help? Counseling? Protection? Accountability? Discipline? Guidance?
38. 我們究竟教導我們的青少年什麼東西﹖
詩篇51 - 大衛求神﹐讓他向將來的世代教導 (宣講) 神的恩典。
詩篇102 - 大衛雖然絕望﹐可是絕望化為盼望﹐大衛深信神將來還要動工。
What are we teaching our youth?
Psalm 51 – David prayed to teach future generations about God’s grace.
Psalm 102 – Despair ended with hope for God’s work in a future generation.