宗教改革持續中─啟示錄

當我們持續研讀啟示錄與推雅推喇教會，我們必須持續提醒自己，這是『我們的』歷史，而不單是『他們的』歷史。其中一定有分崩離析與『大罪人』的啟示，此大罪人代表著『人的罪』，象徵我們沒有基督的本相。當時的教會可能呈現出與基督相反的本質，但有多少其他教會、運動或教派也做同樣的事？我們個人不也常掉入此光景中嗎？

即使我們掉入此與基督相反的行為模式中，神的恩典讓我們知罪，帶領我們藉由耶穌基督回到十字架的救贖、和好與重建。儘管教會一時陷入可怕的墮落，又被敵基督的靈勝過，神的恩典回到教會。在宗教改革的形式中，悔改、和好與重建隨著認罪而來。此教會的改革直到今日，而且會持續到故事的結尾─耶穌基督所有榮耀的啟示充滿在祂的殿中，也就是教會中。

在最壞的人裡面也可能有良善，在最好的人裡面也可能有邪惡。在教會最嚴重的敗壞時期也有一些好事發生，正如常會有一些邪惡在最好的教會裡。在最黑暗的時刻，有一些最偉大靈魂可能就在制度化教會中興起，例如聖方濟。

聖方濟致力於遵守基督的八福，在他死後傳說，在他出生之前，八福根本是人們達不到的理想，聖方濟卻證實不然，因為他將其活了出來。極高的讚美來自他的仇敵，值得注意的是，聖方濟是當時最邪惡教皇的一個親近朋友。對一些人而言，這代表聖方濟太過天真，但對其他人而言卻顯示，他相信沒有人能越過十架的大能。聖方濟致力於帶領所有人歸主，甚至擴及至此邪惡的教皇。

正是此教皇在任期間重整歐洲對抗並擊退伊斯蘭教，當時的伊斯蘭教正威脅要橫掃整個歐洲。十字軍做盡一切壞事，他們卻協助查核伊斯蘭教徒，誕生一些最持久的慈善團體，擴及至基督徒、穆斯林和猶太人。在我們持續探討啟示錄的七間教會前，我們會在下週的每週一話簡短來檢視這些事情。

我們也需要謹記在心，羅馬教會有自己的改革，現在仍在改革中，它和中古世紀的教會已經不同。今日大約有一億三千萬羅馬天主教徒重生得救並受聖靈的洗，羅馬天主教在我們的世代也在一些重要的社會戰役前線，例如反對墮胎和同性婚姻。

正如很難找到二間很像的浸信會，對其他教派也是如此，包括羅馬天主教會。使徒保羅勸誡以聖靈而非肉體來認識人，也意味著以他們的特性而非教派來認識他們。我認識許多稱自己是『沒有教派』、『沒有宗派』的人，卻比許多我所認識的教派領袖更有派別。

我覺得天主教有很嚴重的教義問題，但我有一些天主教朋友，他們與耶穌的關係親密到每一次我看見他們就受到挑戰，覺得自己很虧欠。我在旅程中遇到一些我認為在某些領域教義錯得離譜的人，但他們比我所認識有更好更純淨教義的人更愛神愛人。正如哥林多前書13章所告訴我們的，我們可以擁有各樣真理和信心移山，卻沒有愛，我們就算不得甚麼。

我並不是在否定致力於全備聖經教義的需要，倘若我們真的愛神，我們便會愛祂的真理，委身在其中。然而，在耶穌時代最委身在聖經真理的人往往是這位真理最大的敵人，趕鬼對祂而言輕而易舉，但宗教保守人士卻要了祂的性命。

因為我們所談的一些東西太具爆炸性，我需要偶爾提醒，這些說的都是『我們』，而不單是『他們』。這並不只是陳腔濫調，若沒有神的恩典，我們都會做同樣的事。因此，在這裡並沒有要攻擊或責備任何人，而是暴露出我們裡頭會把我們帶到可怕蒙蔽的根源。我們藉著提醒自己，我們生命的主要目的在於愛神和彼此相愛來遠離蒙蔽。我認為約翰深諳此道，才能被託付啟示錄，當我們也瞭解此時，我們才能受神託付。

(摘自喬納 word for the week,Week41, 2016)

 
Reformation Continues—The Book of Revelation
Week 41, 2016
Rick Joyner

         As we continue our study of the Book of Revelation and the church at Thyatira that prophesied the church in the Middle Ages, we must continually remind ourselves that this is “our” history, not just “their” history. There had to be a falling away and a revelation of the “man of sin,” who represented the “sin of man.” This personifies who we all are without Christ. The church at that time may have taken on a nature opposite that of Christ, but how often have other churches, movements, and denominations done the same? How often do we personally fall to this?

         Even if we fall into this pattern of behavior that is the opposite of Christlikeness, the grace of God convicts us. It brings us back to the redemption of the cross, the reconciliation and restoration we have through Christ Jesus. Even though the church sank into a terrible depravity for a time and the antichrist spirit prevailed, the grace of God came back to her. Conviction was followed by repentance, reconciliation, and restoration in the form of the Reformation. This reformation of the church continues to this day, and it will until the end of the story—the revelation of Jesus in all of His glory in His temple, the church.

         There can be good in the worst people and evil in the best. The church had some good during the time of its worst depravity, just as there is often some evil in the best of churches. Some of the greatest souls could be found in the institutional church during its darkest times, such as Francis of Assisi.

         Francis of Assisi was devoted to obeying the beatitudes of Christ. It was said after his death that before he lived, the beatitudes were considered an unattainable ideal. Yet Francis proved they were not because he lived them. This high praise came from his enemies. Just as remarkable is that Francis was a close friend to one of the evilest of all popes. To some this proved how naïve Francis was, but to others it revealed his belief that no one was beyond the power of the cross. Francis’ devotion to leading all to salvation extended even to this evil pope.

         It was the papacy that rallied Europe to stand against and push back Islam, which at the time threatened to sweep over the continent. For all the evil perpetrated by the Crusades, they did help check the hordes of Islam and give birth to some of the most enduring charities that extended to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We will briefly examine these in the next WFTW before continuing on with the seven churches of Revelation.

         We also need to keep in mind that the Roman church had its own reformation and is still being reformed. It is not the same as it was in the Middle Ages. Today an estimated 130 million Roman Catholics are born again and Spirit baptized. The Roman Catholic church has also been on the forefront of some of the important social battles of our time, such as standing against abortion and same-sex marriage.

         Just as it is hard to find even two Baptist churches that are alike, so it is with every denomination, including Roman Catholic churches. The Apostle Paul’s exhortation to know others after the Spirit and not the flesh also means knowing people by their character, not just their affiliation. I have known many people claiming to be “non-denominational” and “non-sectarian” who are more sectarian than many leaders of denominations that I know.

         I have major doctrinal problems with the Roman Catholics, but I have a number of Roman Catholic friends who have such a close relationship to Jesus that I am challenged and convicted every time I see them. I have met quite a few people on my journey who have what I consider to be extremely flawed doctrines in certain areas, but they have more love of God and love for people than many I know with better doctrinal purity. As we’re told in I Corinthians 13, we can have all truth and the faith to move mountains, but if we don’t have love these won’t count.

         I am not discounting the need for a devotion to sound biblical doctrine. If we really love God, we will love His truth and we will be devoted to it. However, the ones most devoted to biblical truth in Jesus’ time were the worst enemies of the Truth Himself. The demons were easy for Him to dispatch, but the religious conservatives had Him killed.

         Because some of what we’re covering is so volatile, I must occasionally interject reminders that this is about “us,” not just “them.” It is not just a cliché that without the grace of God we would have all done the same things. So this is not to attack or blame anyone, but to expose in us the roots of what will lead to a terrible deception. We will keep from this deception by keeping in mind that our main purpose in life is to love God and love one another. I think John’s understanding of this enabled him to be trusted with the Revelation, and this will enable us to be trusted with the understanding of it.