於2020-09-04發佈


醫治我們的地—美國遺產概要34  

熱力學的第二定律聲稱大自然傾向混亂而非秩序,除非有一外在智慧源頭採取行動。文明若沒有智慧領袖採取行動,同樣也傾向混亂。正如我們曾談過的,聖經顯明如此智慧的領袖是出於神恩寵的結果,因為那些國家尋求祂。沒有這樣的領袖則是因為他們遠離神,沒有繼續行在神的道路中。

在啟示錄三章20節,我們看到耶穌站在自己教會的門外叩門,看看有誰會為祂開門。這意味著在這世代主不會去到沒受邀請的地方,不會留在祂不想留的地方。祂也應許豐盛和保護的籬笆會環繞那些尋求祂的人,沒有尋求的人就像是沒有圍牆的城,在當時意味著向著不斷掠奪和攻擊敞開大門。

美國有著尋求神、尊榮神並尋求走在祂的道路的悠久歷史,卻從1960年代開始基本上就是在請神離開我們的國家。我們允許那些有意並有計畫想從我們歷史和公共場合中除去神,甚至提到神的人。從那時起,我們經歷到越來越多的內部不和、紛爭、滾滾而來的危機,現在我們的政府很接近另一場內戰的邊緣。

所有人類與環境的不和可以追溯到在伊甸園的墮落,人從那裡開始決定不要神來管理世界。每一個人類問題的答案就是謙卑自己,從同樣的驕傲中悔改,承認我們需要神。

我們可以指出許多我們時代的混亂是缺乏領導階層的結果,懷有邪惡意圖的惡人被允許不受質疑地來執行其議程。這曾在我們之前的歷史發生過,美國通常會轉向神,向祂求智慧和領導。祂會回應我們,興起有智慧、決策力的領袖帶領我們度過危機。

有時也有從神而來的轉折,問題大量湧入,而我們遲遲沒有悔改,以為我們有足夠智慧自行解決此類問題。這些一直是美國歷史中付上昂貴代價的傷疤。

就某種方式來看,美國歷史似乎與卡在不斷循環的古老以色列很相似。這些循環始於一位與神相交的偉大戰士,帶領神的百姓尋求祂,並且按著祂的方式而行。只要他們這樣做,極大的恩寵就會臨到國家,然後他們開始遠離神。困境會再次增加,直到他們最後被敵視的鄰居擊敗並且被擄。於是他們會悔改、呼求主。祂會差派一位戰士來拯救他們,他們會再次行在神的恩寵一段時間。然後他們會遠離神,循環再次重新開始。

儘管美國的歷史比古老以色列短很多,我們看見同樣的走向。正如聖經宣稱,神給尋求祂國家的恩寵先從興起智慧正直的領袖開始。遠離神的結果則是開始出現不成熟、愚昧和善變的領袖。抱怨我們的領袖並不是得著更好領袖的答案;尋求主、行在祂的道路才是引至真正解藥的唯一方式。

美國目前領導階層的缺乏不僅是政治上的,還存在於權力和影響力的各個領域,其中最嚴重的是教會。這並不是說在教會中沒有一些偉大領袖,在國家中沒有一些偉大教會,而是此時沒有出現超然聲音。研究顯示,即使是在最大發熱心的基督教會和運動中,基督徒的品格也在瓦解,其餘的許多人則掉入神所謂的「惡行」。黑暗接管美國有沒有可能不是異教徒的錯,而是教會的錯?

這正發生在我們的看守時段;如果黑暗不斷增加,一定是我們被呼召成為的光黯淡了。如果腐敗不斷增加,一定是鹽失去它的味道了。這不是何以主在歷代志下七章14節說:「這稱為我名下的子民,若是自卑、禱告,尋求我的面,轉離他們的惡行,我必從天上垂聽,赦免他們的罪,醫治他們的地」

主並不是說若異教徒這麼做,而是說若祂的子民這麼做,祂會醫治我們的地。異教徒並不知道怎麼做會更好,基督徒的聖經道德和品格的瓦解是導致我們國家危機不斷加劇的原因。黑暗的增加是因為我們的光已減弱。

難道我們不像約拿嗎?當那些稱為神的代言人逃離神並且/或是在沉睡,他們才是造成暴風、威脅著船隻的原因。異教徒反而需要叫醒先知,請求他來呼求他的神。就某種意義來說,這不就是現在正發生在美國的事嗎?

好消息是我們只需要做下面四件簡單的事來拯救我們的國家:

1. 謙卑自己:  在聖經上有許多次要我們謙卑自己,卻沒有任何經文勸誡我們要謙卑他人。我們可以隨意抱怨我們的領袖,但神卻在注視著我們。

2. 禱告: 這不是最後的手段,而是首要的方式。我們有按著吩咐來為我們的領袖禱告嗎?如果神的子民為他們禱告,或許他們會是更好的領袖。我們尤其應當為著我們可能最反感的領袖禱告。

3. 尋求祂的面: 我們真的認識神嗎?還是我們像雅典人一樣在敬拜著「未識之神」?我們認出他人的兩個主要方式是─透過他們的聲音和他們的臉。我們真的認識祂嗎?

4. 轉離我們的惡行: 聖經說審判要從神的家起首(彼得前書4:17)。我們是否有去做我們被吩咐做的事,將成為何以主會審判世界的原因。

值得鼓舞的是,神的子民若去做這四件簡單的事,祂會醫治我們的地。耶穌藉著為我們犧牲生命來證明祂對我們的愛。我們也藉著為他人犧牲生命來證明我們的愛,而我們國家現在正需要我們這樣做。 

~摘錄泰瑞司·麥肯南(Terence McKenna)~

問題不在於找到答案,乃在於面對答案。

~摘錄喬治·艾略特(George Eliot)~

做自己,永不嫌晚。 

 (摘自喬納word for the week, Week 34, 2020)
 

Healing Our Land—Heritage Brief 34

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that all of nature trends toward disorder and chaos unless acted upon by an outside intelligent source. Civilization also trends toward chaos without being steered by intelligent leadership. As we have already covered, Scripture reveals that such leadership is the result of the favor of God for the nations that seek Him. A vacuum of such leadership is the result of a nation departing from Him, failing to continue to walk in His ways. 

         In Revelation 3:20, we see Jesus standing at the door of His own church knocking to see if anyone will open to Him. This implies that in this age The Lord will not go where He is not invited, and will not stay where He is not wanted. He also promises prosperity and a hedge of protection around those who seek Him, but those who do not are like cities without walls, which at that time meant open to continual plunder and attacks. 

         After a long history of seeking God, honoring Him, and seeking to walk in His ways, in the 1960s America began to basically ask The Lord to leave our country. We allowed those who intentionally and systematically sought to remove even the mention of Him, or the evidence of Him, from both our history and the public square. From that time, we have experienced increasing internal discord, troubles, and cascading crises, and we are now on the verge of another civil war. 

         All human and environmental discord can be traced to the fall in the Garden of Eden where man basically decided that he wanted to run the world without God. The answer to every human problem is to humble ourselves, repent of this same basic pride, and admit that we need Him. 

         We can point to much of the increasing turmoil of our times as the result of a vacuum of leadership. Evil people with evil intent have been allowed to go unchallenged in forcing their agendas. This has happened before in our history, and America has usually turned back to God and appealed to Him for His wisdom and leadership. He would answer by raising up wise, decisive leadership to steer us through the crisis. 

         There have also been times when there was a turning from God, the troubles would come pouring in, and we delayed our repentance thinking we were wise enough to resolve such problems on our own. These have been costly scars on our history. 

          In some ways America’s history parallels that of ancient Israel, which seemed locked into a continuous cycle. These cycles began with a great champion having an encounter with God, and then leading His people to seek Him and walk in His ways. Great favor came on the nation for as long as they did this, but in time they would begin drifting from Him. Troubles would increase until they ultimately were subdued by hostile neighbors and enslaved. Then they would repent and call on The Lord. He would send a champion to deliver them, and they would again walk in the favor of God for a time. Then they would drift from Him and the cycle would begin again. 

          Even though America has a much shorter history than ancient Israel, we see the same trend in our story. As Scripture declares, the favor of God for the nations that seek Him begins with wise and just leaders. The consequences of turning from Him begin with immature, foolish, and capricious leaders. Complaining about our leaders is not the answer to getting better ones. To seek The Lord and walk in His ways is the only thing that will lead to a true remedy. 

         The present vacuum of leadership in America is not just political, but it is in every sphere of power and influence—the most serious is in the church. This is not to say that we do not have some great leaders in the church, and some great churches in the country, but there is no transcendent voice at this time. Studies have revealed that there has also been a meltdown of character among even the most zealous Christian churches and movements, with many of the rest falling into what God Himself called “wickedness.” Could it be that the darkness that is taking over the country is not the fault of the heathen, but of the church? 

         This is happening on our watch. If darkness is increasing, then the light we are called to be must be fading. If corruption is increasing, then the salt must have lost its savor. Is this not why The Lord said in II Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land”?

         He doesn’t say if the heathens would do this, but if His people would do it He will heal our land. The heathens do not know any better than to do what they’re doing. It’s the meltdown in biblical morality and character in Christians that is the cause of the increasing crises in our land. The increasing darkness is because our light has waned.

         Have we not become like Jonah? When those who are called to be God’s spokesmen run from God and/or fall asleep, they are the cause of the storm that is threatening the ship. The heathen actually had to wake up the prophet and beg him to call on his God. Is this not, in a sense, what is now happening in America?   

         The good news is that there are just four simple things that we need to do to save our country: 

1. Humble ourselves.  In Scripture, we are told many times to humble ourselves, but there is not a single Scripture that exhorts us to humble anyone else. We can complain about our leaders all we want, but God is looking at us.

2. Pray. This is not the last resort, but the first. Are we praying for our leaders as we are commanded to do? Perhaps they would be better leaders if God’s people were praying for them. We should especially be praying for those we may be the most disgusted with.

3. Seek His face. Do we really know Him, or are we like the men of Athens who were worshiping an “unknown God”? There are two primary ways that we recognize others—by their voices and by their faces. Do we really know Him?

4. Turn from our wicked ways. We are told that judgment begins with the household of God (see I Peter 4:17). Are we doing those things which we are told will be the reason why The Lord will bring judgment on the world? 

         The encouragement is that if God’s people will do these four simple things, He will heal our land. Jesus proved His love for us by laying down His life for us. We, too, prove our love by laying down our lives for others, and our country needs for us to do this now.

         The problem is not to find the answer; it’s to face the answer. –Terence McKenna

         It is never too late to be what you might have been. –George Eliot (attributed)