於2016-05-28發佈


神的三明治評論術─啟示錄

在主對以弗所教會的信息中,我們看見祂對另外幾間教會或教會時期信息的模式。他先是稱讚那間教會,接著開始責備,若他們悔改或戰勝他們的錯誤,最後再給予獎賞的應許與盼望。此稱為『三明治評論術』;若這是主在這裡對每間教會說話的方式,難道這不也是祂今日會對祂百姓說話的方式嗎?

主吩咐以弗所教會要試驗那自稱為使徒卻不是的人。『使徒』這個字的意思是『被差派者』,代表被神差派的人。所有真正的事工都是被神所差派的,但使徒擁有一個特別權柄,在這裡我們便不多說了。然而,從此信息來看,我們可以評估真正由神差派之使者的一些基本特質。

倘若耶穌對祂所提到的每間教會使用三明治評論術,祂所差派之人不也該使用同樣的方式嗎?一些自認為是祂使者的人除了好消息外什麼都不說,倘若教會已經表現得很完美,或許這樣做很合適,但有哪一間教會不需要一些指教呢?今日所謂的『先知性預言』可能定義為『先知性奉承』更為恰當。對奉承或使用奉承的人,在聖經裡找不到任何好的評論。

同樣地,也有一些人給教會的信息只有指教,裡面完全沒有絲毫盼望或展望,那也不是主對教會說話的方式。我們需要可以察驗那些自稱是神所差派之人的領袖,來決定那些是假使徒,並保護神的百姓遠離他們。

主也稱讚以弗所教會,恨惡尼哥拉一黨人的教導,這也是祂所恨惡的。學者相信此教義可能源自被任命為當時教會七位執事之一的尼哥拉;然而,對於此教義是否出於他教導的證據非常薄弱。

此教義到今日仍以不同形式出現,其教導允許、甚至提倡信徒間的雜交,基本上宣稱既然我們在靈裡完全,身體是否完全便無關緊要。這顯然是『鬼魔的道理』(參考提摩太前書4:1),正如聖經重複警告,順著肉體(或天然肉體)活著必要死,凡是行這樣事的人必不能承受神的國』(參考加拉太書5:21

『尼哥拉』(Nicolaitan)這個字也可以翻譯成『人的統治』或『人的壓制』;因此,一些學者與歷史學家相信,此教義奪取人人皆祭司在教會裡的聖經真理。在一些地方,此教義將祭司/神父建造在如同中保的特別地位。此與新約的教導衝突,如在提摩太前書二章5節說:因為只有一位神,在神和人中間,只有一位中保,乃是降世為人的基督耶穌。』

此教義的錯誤教導對新約教會生命的破壞性極大,理當拒絕。在新約中,每位信徒都可以直接接近基督─我們不需要透過其他中保。我們可以確認,凡是自稱是如此中保的人,絕不是祂所差派來的。

這並不表示我們不需要服在領袖階級之下,祭司職分與聖經中的君王權柄有所不同。要來到神面前,我們不需透過任何人。然而,我們卻需要服在祂在教會─人民政府的權柄代表之下,同理也應用在其他地方,例如我們的工作。

隨著世界道德越加敗壞,明白神話語的真理與管教可以幫助我們持守聖潔,就像成為聖靈的殿所必須的。即便如此,遠離世界誘惑的終極保護就是在對神的愛裡成長,活出異象與目的。一旦我們視自己如同萬王之王的孩子,我們會以尊嚴和尊重來管理自己,就像此身份所要求的一樣。

 (摘自喬納 word for the week,Week19, 2016) 

 
God's Critique Sandwich–The Book of Revelation
Week 19, 2016
Rick Joyner

         In the Lord’s message to the Ephesian church, we see a pattern followed in His message to each church, or church age. He begins with a commendation followed by a rebuke. Then He gives them a promise and a hope of the reward they will receive for repenting and overcoming their mistakes. This is called “a critique sandwich.” If this is how the Lord speaks to each of the churches here, isn’t it likely that this is the way He will speak to His people today?

         The Lord commended the Ephesian church for testing those who called themselves “apostles” but were not. The word “apostle” means “sent one,” implying one sent by God. All true ministries are sent by God, but an apostle has a special authority that we will not get into here. However, from this message, we can evaluate some basic characteristics we should expect to see from one truly sent by God as His messenger.

         If Jesus used a critique sandwich for each church that He addressed, should we not expect the same from those that He sends?  Some who consider themselves His messengers have nothing to say but good things. This may be fitting if the church behaved perfectly, but what church does not need some correction? Much of what is called prophecy today would probably be better defined as “flattery.” The Scriptures do not have a single good thing to say about flattery or those who use it.

         Likewise, there are those whose message to the church seems to only be corrective, with little hope or vision included. That is not the way the Lord spoke to His church either. We need leaders who can put to the test those who say they are sent by God, determining the ones that are false and protecting God’s people from them.

         The Lord also commends the Ephesian church for despising the teachings of the Nicolaitans, which He also hates. Scholars believe this doctrine may have had its origin with Nicholas, one of the seven deacons. However, the evidence that this was his teaching is sketchy at best.

         This doctrine continues to this day in different forms. Its teaching allows for—and even promotes—promiscuity among believers, basically claiming that since we are perfected in spirit, it does not matter what the flesh does. This is obviously a “doctrine of demons” (see I Timothy 4:1). As Scripture warns repeatedly, those who live according to the flesh (or carnal nature) will die, and those who practice such things “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (see Galatians 5:21).

         The word “Nicolaitan” could be interpreted to mean “dominance of the laity” or “suppression of the laity.” Because of this, some scholars and historians believe this was the doctrine that robbed the church of the biblical truth of the priesthood of all believers. In its place, the doctrine established a special class of priest as mediator. This conflicts with New Testament teachings like I Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

         Both false teachings of this doctrine are devastating to New Covenant church life and should be rejected. In the New Covenant, every believer has direct access to Christ—we do not need to go through any other mediator. We can know for sure that any who claim to be such mediators have not been sent by Him.

         This does not mean that we do not need to be under leadership. The priesthood was different from the civil authority of the king in Scripture. To approach God, we do not have to go through another person. We do, however, submit to His delegated authority in the church, civil government, and other places it may apply, such as our jobs.

         As for increasing moral corruption in the world, knowing the truth of God’s Word and discipline can help keep us pure, as temples of the Holy Spirit must be. Even so, the ultimate protection from the world is growing in love for God and living with vision and purpose. Once we see ourselves as children of the King of kings, we will conduct ourselves with the dignity and respect such a position requires.