我們在前一篇提到教導和感受的重要性以及順序的問題,我發現很多牧者喜歡分享自己的經驗和感受、特別是屬靈甚至是超自然的經驗、然後從這些經歷當中提取了自己歸納出來的教導;但是如果這樣的教導又不能夠配合完整和正確的教導、這樣的分享可能就對聽眾相當的危險。
比如說我今日就聽到一位牧者分享她自己的經驗,她說到她有一顆畏懼神的心、她總是有一種要去行律法的心情來事奉神,很像浪子回頭故事裡的那個大兒子的故事、只知道作事情、不敢求快樂與開心;最後她聽到神對她說:"我要你快樂,去作你自己。",而且這樣的經歷還不只一次,她在經歷過這些事情以後、心才終於打開、才能真正享受到神的愛。
這位牧者講的這些道理、這些教導有沒有錯?當然沒有,我聽到了以後都要說阿門、那真是像我所認識的神,是如此的愛我們、要我們享受祂的同在;但是除非是在一個很好安排的課程裡,這樣對開放的聽眾講這種 "我要你快樂、去作你自己"的教導、那真是很危險的教導。
神會不會對我們說要我們去快樂,做我們自己?會的,但是要看是對誰說。為什麼我們常說經文是死的,經義是活的。那就是因為我們的神乃是活神,他會根據受啟發對象的不同情況,給予不同的啟示和感動。對一個成天只想到守誡命、努力作工的人來說、神當真會希望我們要活得快樂一點,享受一下生活,享受一下神所創造的美好的世界。
但是對於一個如果已經是游手好閑,甚至有不良嗜好的人,神可能會說:"我要你快樂、去作你自己"嗎?一個已經在熱戀中的女基督徒、受到男友的強列要求、正在猶豫中、若聽到這篇講道、會不會說:"哎、神真好、真是體諒人啊!、也讓我們去快樂",這樣下去她可能就要和男友同居了,追求快樂去了。
今天牧者講道的危險就是、我們講道、或是所寫的東西都不知道會被怎麼樣的傳播、有時是無法控制的。所以我們一定要從宏觀講到細節、或者是在講個人經歷或感受的時候,也要把神國的宏觀的教導拿出來、當做最高指導,作為解開問題的鑰匙。
當有人說:神是好神、祂聽我的禱告的時候,那鑰匙就是「耶和華的眼目看顧義人,垂聽他們的禱告;唯有行惡的人,耶和華要向他們變臉。」或者是:「你若行得好,豈不蒙悅納?你若行得不好,罪就伏在門前。它必戀慕你,你卻要制伏它。」
如果缺少那正確的鑰匙、卻只傳講片面的經歷和感受的話、那就好像是瞎子摸象,第一個轄子說:"那大象就好像是一堵牆一樣的",因為他摸到了大象的肚子;另一個瞎子說:"那大象好像是一根柱子一樣",因為他摸到了那象的腿。另外說象是一根軟管子的瞎子、也認為自己講的是對的。
瞎子看不見大象、所以每個人都只能根據自己所摸到的部位來講大象是什麼;同樣的、我們也看不見神、如果我們就只根據我們個人的體會來講神的話、那麼就正如瞎子摸象之後來講象是一樣的;而聽的人是比講的人還要更不了解神的屬性的聽眾、那麼問題就更大了。
甚至、因為見證都在一個階層的多、靠見證認識神更好比瞎子摸長頸鹿、摸來摸去都是四根柱子,偶爾有一個高個子的摸到有天花板;但是用摸的、是絕對沒有辦法窺到長頸鹿的全貌的;唯有透過神自己的啟示才能完整的、照我們該認識的來認識神。
我們聽過有人見證神的恩,也聽過有人見證神的愛;但是我們從來沒聽過有人見證經歷過神的審判的,是不是?
我們聽過有人見證神的恩,也聽過有人見證神的愛;但是我們從來沒聽過有人見證經歷過神的審判的,是不是?
所以我主張要傳講神的道不但要依照聖經、而且要有次序的按著聖經來講;不淬取、不跳越、要完完整整的將神的道傳講出來;如果你們的牧者沒有辦法這樣作的話、那你們自己要有順序的讀聖經;因為聖經是經歷千百年、許多作者的完整體驗與摸索,有前人好的與壞的所有的例子,使我們可以不必犯那前人已經犯過的過犯、而明白許多作者多年的體會的總合。
我們能經歷和感受神當然很好、但是真的不見得完整;我們可以用經驗和感受來作真道教導的輔助和證明,然而只有真道可以用來檢驗個人的經歷和感受、但是經驗和感受是不能違背真道的;願你們都能經歷上帝的真實同在、也願上帝祝福你們。
下個主日是復活節第五主日, 適合讀耶穌復活後的事跡和門徒傳教的經文. 你去過哪個教堂有讀整段聖經, 並且唱聖歌(歌詞取自詩篇)的?
回覆刪除http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=43
Acts 7:55-60
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation-if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner," and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
John 14:1-14