大使命 21

基督教再次西進

有句俗語涵蓋一個重要的洞見：『在耶路撒冷，基督教變成宗教。在希臘，基督教變成哲學。在羅馬，基督教變成機構。在英國，基督教變成傳統，而在美國，基督教變成企業。』

這句俗語裡面的確有一些真理，並非全帶著惡意。世界各國所接受新造的人之文化本來就想要讓各國可以接受，這並不意味信仰的基本教義被修改了，而是福音能與各國文化達到最好的應用，好使其能成為以賽亞書說到被建造來為主預備道路的大道。

然而，這些國家有一些則進入基督教裡最糟的結構，到一個地步，反而敗壞福音的應用。每一次教會在向前移動時都會經歷一些潔淨，但不是全部。在美國教會，我們反映出一些最好與最糟的宗教、哲學、組織、傳統與企業。

許多教會學習取其精華、去除雜質，一些在教會中對於基督教最棒的呈現可以在美國找到，也可能找到一些最糟的呈現。許多來自世界各地的基督徒來學習美國的教會，並將他們所學帶回自己的國家。許多人過濾了一些在他們國家不適用的東西，真的做得很不錯。現在有許多美國人反倒要向他們學習，當今旅遊與交流上的便利使如此的互相學習戲劇性地增加。為此緣故，在全世界都有相當卓越的教會在成長。

當教會的中心從耶路撒冷向西方移動，（在上一個世紀似乎是以美國為中心，儘管在其他地方也有一些很棒的工作與復興），現在教會將要再次往西重大跳躍。基督教的中心將移至亞洲，然後一路回到耶路撒冷。

所以亞洲將會對基督教做出何種貢獻？有一件事很確定，它將成為過濾器，除去許多其他文化影響加諸在基督教的雜質。他們在去蕪存菁上會做得比我們更好，雖然這不是他們所做的全部，卻會是一個主要的貢獻。我們可以期待在亞洲開始聽到二個很棒的問題：

什麼是沒有摻雜的純福音？

什麼是基督教最純淨的呈現？

接著我們將看見在這些事上持續的追求。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week21, 2014)



Christianity Moving West Again - The Great Commission, Part 21
Week 21, 2014 
Rick Joyner 

There is a saying that contains an important insight: “In Jerusalem, Christianity became a religion. In Greece, it became a philosophy. In Rome, it became an institution. In Britain, it became a tradition, and in America, it became an enterprise.”

There is some truth to this, and it is not all bad or unintended. The new creation culture that was to be received by all nations was also intended to receive from all nations. This is not to imply that the basic tenets of the faith were to be modified, but that the gospel would help apply the best of all nations to a culture that would become the highway Isaiah spoke of that would be built to prepare the way for the Lord.

However, some of the worst of these nations also entered into the fabric of Christianity and, to a degree, corrupted the application of the gospel. Each time the center of gravity for the advancing church moved, there would be some purification, but not total. In the American church, we have reflected some the best and worst of religion, philosophy, institutions, traditions, and business all mixed together.

Many have learned to take the best and leave the rest. Some of the most remarkable expressions of Christianity through the church are now found in America, as well as probably some of the worst. Many Christians from around the world have come to learn from churches in America and have taken what they learned back to their countries. Many of these did a great job filtering out what should not be applied in their home countries and have raised up works that are truly exceptional. Now many Americans, and others, are going to them to learn. This interchange has increased dramatically during this time of easy travel and communications. For this reason, there are truly remarkable churches growing up all over the world.

As the center of gravity of Christianity moved west from Jerusalem, (for the last century it seemed centered in America, even though some of the greatest works and revivals were elsewhere), it is about to make another major leap to the west. The center of gravity of Christianity is going to move to Asia. Then it will find its way back to Jerusalem.

So what will be the contribution of Asia to Christianity? For one thing, it will be a filter that removes many of the impurities added to Christianity by other cultures that have influenced it. They will do an even better job of holding to the good and removing the bad. This is not all they will do, but it will be a major contribution. We can expect to start hearing two great questions from Asia:

“What is the pure gospel?”

“What is the purest expression of Christianity?” 

Then we will see a relentless pursuit of these.