於2015-07-09發佈

和好的事工
日期:2015年7月8日
作者:翟辛蒂 

這就是 神在基督裡,叫世人與自己和好,不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上,並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。”- 林後5:19

基督的身體正對著和好的需求甦醒過來。人們開始意識到,我們不能再如以往一樣繼續下去 - 冒犯和分裂 – 而對於那些失散的仍有具果效的接觸影響。

這項和好的事工具有不同的層次。首先也永遠都是最重要的就是每個人都與神和好。神並不希望我們與祂分離而無法體驗到與祂全然豐富的關係。

除了這項私人性的和好,我們必須謙卑地來面對,現實中許多人無法來看到和經歷基督,部分原因是因著基督的身體並沒有忠實地在言論和行動上表達出和好。

在與神和好後,我們被呼召要來追求與對方和好。在馬太福音5:23-24所說的是這樣的:

所以,你在祭壇上獻禮物的時候,若想起弟兄向你懷怨,就把禮物留在壇前,先去同弟兄和好,然後來獻禮物。”

請注意,這裡並不是說,如果你在什麼事情上對你的兄弟懷怨,而是說他向你懷怨。我們需要尋求那些被我們冒犯的,努力向對方求和好,饒恕和被饒恕。

我永遠不會忘記一次深刻的印象,我相信有一些是祂不能做的。起初我相當憤慨!祂怎麼能為這樣的事情來指責我呢?然後,祂輕柔地提醒我一個破裂的舊有的關係,是我從未曾來努力修復的,因為已經過去了那麼久的時間,我覺得這是不可能修復的。祂是對的!(當然,祂永遠是!)我確實認為對神而言沒有什麼是不可能的。我開始禱告,而神修復了這一長期破裂的關系。

在更廣泛的層面上,我相信神要在基督的身體中不同的種族之間帶來和好,而這方面的需求是很迫切的。當環顧四周,其實不難辨識,在教會中存有分離的大牆將不同的國家或種族之間隔離開。通常情況下,會眾是完全分離的。當會議(特會)舉辦時,種族間的混合並不大。即使是大型的禱告聚會通常也是由一個種族主導而其他種族有很少的代表來參加。

我們要如何讓這些牆壁倒下來?首先,我們必須願意承認它們甚至是存在的。其次,我們需要來思考為什麼它們會存在,即使這意味著我們必須要來面對我們的歷史和制度中一些殘酷的事實真相。第三,我們需要協調一致地來努力改變這種狀況。我們需要在言語和行為上均做出改變。如果我們只是放諸言論談及和好的意思是什麼,而沒有藉著悔改將之付諸行動,這終將只會是個空談罷了。大多數教會會說,他們同意需要和好,但很多教會並不知道要如何實踐出來。

在基督的身體中種族間的和好其過程至少需要發生在三項主要領域:

1.  地方教會

地方教會需要來教導和裝備人們去接觸社區中那些與自己不同的。有可能甚至已因為敵擋某些人群而犯了罪,無論這是發生在教會本身還是在社區中。

一位長老教會成員告訴我,她的教會如何從市中心跑走,所以非洲裔美國人不會想要成為會員。他們將自己搬遷到白人聚集的郊區。她與我分享他們的感受,他們覺得自己需要去市中心的教會為他們偏見的態度和驕傲來懺悔。

有可能你的教會中有些成員是亞裔,西班牙裔或其他的種族是與教會中的主體不同的。問問自己,“我們是否與這些主內的弟兄姐妹們培養友誼?我們是否有考慮過其他非主要族群的人的發言或對我們教會的反饋?我們是否傾聽這些團體的需求和經驗,即使他們的故事與我們的有所不同?

2. 教會對教會

作為一個牧師,你是否與其他種族的牧師會面並彼此有團契?當中是否有任何人曾經被邀請站上你的講臺?你是否知道他們教會的需要,以及你們是否曾一起禱告?

委身源自於關係。很多時候,它需要領袖們面對面的多次會議之後,教會間才可能在靈裡同聚。

是否因為生活在城市中種族隔閡存在的不同區域而有任何分離感?教會應該是第一個將這些牆壁拆毀下來的。你可能要主動詢問另一間教會,是否你可以在某個星期天拜訪他們,為錯誤的態度,邪惡的言論,宗派主義和偏見來悔改。我認識一些牧師,他們在原本是“對手”的教會中,當著全體會眾跪下懺悔。

3. 教會對社區

在美國歷史上,我們有一些所謂的民權運動,美國黑人動員起來爭取自己的權利。不幸的是,因為種族主義,就教會整體而言,並沒有站立起來加入他們爭戰。有些甚至是站在反對的一方。

這是教會所犯的罪,並已經引起相當多的悲痛。來對社區中的黑人領袖們懺悔是很重要的,然後協調一致地努力來改變這種狀況。

歷代社區中發生的種族問題帶來分裂和痛苦。在一些社區裡,少數族裔在住房,就業和其他類型的平等機會方面遭受拒絕。一些拉丁美裔,亞裔或非裔美國人的教會一直沒法租賃建築設施。某些族裔中具種族成見的人士已經使城鎮中的較好區域形成了種族隔離,這導致了他們被迫搬去並非自己首選的區域。如果這是他們的選擇那是一回事,但卻是另回事若他們並沒有得到別的選擇。

對於你的社區做些歷史研究將告訴你這些罪在哪裡存在,以及需要做些什麼樣的悔改。如果這些攔阻和好的障礙不對付處理,我相信我們正陷在我們城市中一些嚴重的問題中。在許多地方都感受到一種暗潮洶湧的憤恨不平,這不僅存在於美國,也在其他的國家中。種族暴動,比如我們最近在Ferguson 和 Baltimore所經歷的,假如教會還不甦醒過來並積極地來醫治在種族間的分化,規模更大並且頻率更多的將會開始發生。教會有唯一的解決方案 – 藉著羔羊的血和耶穌的名的和好的事工。

在許多城市裡,撒旦計劃要煽風點火來挑起衝突,這將點燃被壓迫者心中的仇恨。我們一定要來高舉耶穌,藉著懺悔,饒恕和矯正古老的問題,讓聖靈的活水澆灌在地球上的列國。當我們以這種方式來團結一致,主的祝福將被傾倒在各民各族,神也將醫治我們的土地。

禱告重點 

1. 禱告懺悔的靈臨到基督的身體上,允許分化和罪行逗留之處。
2. 禱告教會能謙卑下來,全然允許聖靈搜尋我們內心有分化和關係破裂的地方。
3. 禱告超自然的團結與和好釋放出來。



The Ministry of Reconciliation
July 8th, 2015
By Cindy Jacobs

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT)

The body of Christ is awakening to the need for reconciliation. People are beginning to realize that we cannot go on as we have—offended and divided—and still be effective at reaching the lost.

The ministry of reconciliation is carried out on multiple levels. First and foremost will always be the need that each person has to be reconciled to God. God does not want to us to be divided from Him, but rather to experience the fullness of relationship with Him.

Beyond this place of private reconciliation though, we must humbly face the reality that many have not been able to see and experience Christ, in part because the Body of Christ has not faithfully expressed reconciliation in both word and deed.

After being reconciled to God, we are called to pursue reconciliation with each other. Matthew 5:23-24 puts it like this:


Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.


Notice that it doesn’t say if you have something against your brother, but rather if he has something against you. We need to seek out those who are offended with us and work to reconcile, forgive and be forgiven.

I’ll never forget one time when the Lord impressed upon me that there was something I believed He could not do. At first, I was rather indignant! How could He accuse me of such a thing? Then He softly reminded me of an old broken relationship that I had never worked to mend, and because so much time had passed, I felt it was impossible to fix. He was right! (Of course. He always is!) I did think something was impossible for God. I began to pray, and God mended this long-standing breach.

On a much broader level, I believe God wants to bring reconciliation between the different races represented in the Body of Christ, and the need for this is urgent. As one looks around, it isn’t hard to discern that there are large walls of separation between the nations or different races of people in the church. Often, congregations are completely segregated. When a conference is held, there will be little mixture of races. Even large prayer gatherings are usually predominantly one race with very little representation of other races.

How do we get these walls to come down? First of all, we have to be willing to acknowledge that they even exist. Second, we need to consider why they exist, even if it means facing some hard truths about our histories and systems. Third, we need to make a concerted effort to rectify the situation. We need to make changes both in word and deed. If we simply talk about what it means to reconcile but do not put it into practice through repentance, it will come to nothing. Most churches would say they agree that reconciliation needs to take place, but many of them don’t know how to practically go about reconciling.

The process of racial reconciliation for the Body of Christ needs to occur in at least three primary areas:

1. The local church


The local church needs to teach and equip people to reach out to those in their communities who are different from themselves. There may have even been sins committed against a certain people group, either within the church itself or in the community at large.

One Presbyterian church member told me how her church ran from the inner city so African-American people wouldn’t want to become members. They removed themselves to the white suburbs. She shared with me how they felt they needed to go repent to the church in the inner city for their prejudicial attitudes and pride.

There may be members of your church who are Asian, Hispanic or some other race different than what is predominantly represented in the church. Ask yourself, “Are we cultivating friendships with these brothers and sisters in the Lord? Have we ever considered someone other than the predominant race to speak or give some kind of input at our church? Are we listening to the needs and experiences of these groups, even if their stories are different from ours?”

2. Church to church


As a pastor, have you met and fellowshipped with pastors of other races? Have any of them ever been invited to stand in your pulpit? Do you know the needs of their churches, and have you ever prayed together?

Commitment comes out of relationship. Many times it takes one on one meetings together with leadership before churches can meet together in the Spirit.

Are there any feelings of separation because of living in different sections of the city where racial barriers exist? The church should be the first to tear these walls down. You might need to ask another church if you can visit them on a Sunday to repent of wrong attitudes, evil speaking, sectarianism or prejudice. I have known of some pastors who have knelt before a formerly “rival” church and repented to the whole congregation.

3. Church to community


In United States history, we have something called the Civil Rights movement in which black Americans fought for their rights. Unfortunately, because of racism, the church as a whole did not stand up and join together with them in their fight. Some even fought against them.

This is a sin of the church and has caused quite a bit of grief. It is important to repent of this to black leaders in the community and then make a concerted effort to rectify the situation.

Problems of racism which occur over generations in a community cause schisms and pain. In some communities, racial minorities have been refused housing, jobs and other kinds of equal opportunities. Some Hispanic, Asian, or African-American churches have not been able to rent facilities. Stereotyping people of certain races has resulted in segregation from nicer parts of town, which then forced them to go to areas they would not have preferred. It is one thing if this is their choice, but quite another if they are not given a choice.

A study of the history of your community will tell you where these sins have existed and what repentance needs to take place. If these hindrances to reconciliation are not dealt with, I believe we are in for some serious problems in our cities. There is a harnessed rage one feels in many places, not only in the U.S., but in other countries as well. Racial rioting, such as the ones we’ve recently experienced in Ferguson and Baltimore, could begin to take place on a much bigger scale and with more frequency if the church doesn’t wake up and actively do something towards healing the division between races. The church has the only solution - the ministry of reconciliation through the blood of the Lamb and the name of Jesus.

In many cities Satan has a plan to stir up strife and drop the match which will ignite the hatred of the hearts of the oppressed. We must lift up Jesus through repentance, forgiveness and the rectifying of the ancient problems to pour the water of the Holy Spirit upon the nations of the earth. As we come into unity in this manner, the blessing of the Lord will be poured out upon the peoples, and God will heal our land.

Prayer Points

1. Pray for a spirit of repentance to fall on the body of Christ over division and offenses that have been allowed to linger.
2. Pray for the church to humble herself and fully allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts for areas of division and broken relationships.
3. Pray for a release of supernatural unity and reconciliation.