為這些疑問找答案是很重要的；列國的命運懸而未決真的在於教會是否得著正確的答案，它們不是轉向真理並靠真理得自由，就是快速陷入邪惡、蒙蔽與綑綁。教會是決定國家將往哪個方向走的關鍵因素，倘若教會興起成為所蒙召的光和鹽，無論教會大小如何，那國家都可以轉向生命的道路上。倘若教會沈睡了，或拒絕先知性地投入這些時候，國家就會喪失。 

如此大的後果是如何取決於教會呢？在列國中的教會向來對此有決定性，但末世的情況會因著這些時候的強度而放大。我們蒙召成為地上的鹽，倘若我們失去此特性，國家將無法存留。我們蒙召成為世上的光，倘若光失去光彩，國家將陷入黑暗。 

許多基督徒採取路線的一個因素取決於他們末世觀，或他們對聖經關乎末世預言的瞭解。這不應該成為一個因素，因為每一個關乎末世的聖經預言都需要忠心又真實的信徒，大有能的傳揚福音並採取行動，甚至在敵基督的面前，正如我們在但以理書十一章31-32節所讀到的： 

他必興兵，這兵必褻瀆聖地，就是保障，除掉常獻的燔祭，設立那行毀壞可憎的。

作惡違背聖約的人，他必用巧言勾引；惟獨認識神的子民必剛強行事。

認識神的子民必剛強行事，這一直是千真萬確的。我們消極被動就無法如所蒙召的成為地上的鹽、世上的光。那些真實跟隨基督，而不單是跟隨教義的人，會像祂一樣，做祂曾做過的事。耶穌面臨祂時代最大的黑暗，祂從未妥協或撤退，那是基督的本質，也是擁有祂的靈之人的本質，那必須成為我們的本質與決心。

此時我們最需要的就是喚醒教會，並將許多被動的信徒轉變成他們蒙召成為的力量。協助已經臨到，我們下一週會更深入來談到此。

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 18, 2009) 

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分辨时候 -之 28 (乔纳文章)
几乎每一天，世界政府的根基与机构都有着正在摧毁的迹象。在圣经预言里，所谓的『大灾难』（参考马太福音24：21；启示录7：14）发生的主要原因是人类问题超过人类可以补救的结果，它会在这世代末了前临到。随着更多的震动，人们越来越常问一些问题：我们是否应该协助稳住这些根基？做为我们蒙召的盐，我们是否应该维护它们？这像不像是在帮一定会沈船的铁达尼号补破洞呢？
   
为这些疑问找答案是很重要的；列国的命运悬而未决真的在于教会是否得着正确的答案，它们不是转向真理并靠真理得自由，就是快速陷入邪恶、蒙蔽与捆绑。教会是决定国家将往哪个方向走的关键因素，倘若教会兴起成为所蒙召的光和盐，无论教会大小如何，那国家都可以转向生命的道路上。倘若教会沈睡了，或拒绝先知性地投入这些时候，国家就会丧失。

如此大的后果是如何取决于教会呢？在列国中的教会向来对此有决定性，但末世的情况会因着这些时候的强度而放大。我们蒙召成为地上的盐，倘若我们失去此特性，国家将无法存留。我们蒙召成为世上的光，倘若光失去光彩，国家将陷入黑暗。

许多基督徒采取路线的一个因素取决于他们末世观，或他们对圣经关乎末世预言的了解。这不应该成为一个因素，因为每一个关乎末世的圣经预言都需要忠心又真实的信徒，大有能的传扬福音并采取行动，甚至在敌基督的面前，正如我们在但以理书十一章31-32节所读到的：

他必兴兵，这兵必亵渎圣地，就是保障，除掉常献的燔祭，设立那行毁坏可憎的。
作恶违背圣约的人，他必用巧言勾引；惟独认识神的子民必刚强行事。

认识神的子民必刚强行事，这一直是千真万确的。我们消极被动就无法如所蒙召的成为地上的盐、世上的光。那些真实跟随基督，而不单是跟随教义的人，会像祂一样，做祂曾做过的事。耶稣面临祂时代最大的黑暗，祂从未妥协或撤退，那是基督的本质，也是拥有祂的灵之人的本质，那必须成为我们的本质与决心。

此时我们最需要的就是唤醒教会，并将许多被动的信徒转变成他们蒙召成为的力量。协助已经临到，我们下一周会更深入来谈到此。

 (摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 18, 2009)

Discerning the Times, Part 28
Week 18, 2009

Almost daily, there is evidence that the foundations of world governments and institutions are crumbling. In biblical prophecy, the primary cause of what is called, “the great tribulation” (see Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:14), which will come at the end of this age, is the result of human problems exceeding human remedies. With this increasing shaking, questions are being asked with increasing frequency: Should we work to help shore up these foundations? As the salt we are called to be, should we help to preserve them? Or is this like trying to patch holes on the Titanic when it is surely going to sink?

Getting the answers to these questions is critical. The fate of nations truly does hang in the balance depending on whether the church gets the answers right. They will either turn to the truth and be set free by the truth, or they will slip quickly into evil, deception, and bondage. The church is the key factor determining which way each nation will go. If the church arises to become the salt and light that she is called to be, regardless of how large or small she is, that nation can be turned toward the path of life. If the church sleeps, or refuses to prophetically engage the times, then that nation will be lost.

How do such huge consequences depend on the church? The church in the nations has always determined this, but the consequences at the end of the age are magnified because of the intensity of the times. We are called to be the salt of the earth, and if we lose this quality, then the nation will not be preserved. We are called to be the light of the world, and if the light loses its brilliance, then that nation will slip into darkness.

One factor in the course that many Christians will take will depend on their eschatology to a great degree, or their understanding of the biblical prophecies concerning the end of this age. This should not be a factor that it is because every biblical prophecy about the end of the age requires the highest and most powerful preaching of the gospel and action by the faithful, the true believers, even in the face of the antichrist, as we read in Daniel 11:31-32:

“Forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation.
“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. 

The people who know their God will be strong and take action, but this is always true. We cannot be the salt of the earth and the light of the world as we are called to be by being passive. Those who truly follow Christ, not just a doctrine, will be like Him and do the works that He did. Jesus confronted the greatest darkness of His time, and He never compromised or retreated. That is the nature of Christ and those who are of His Spirit. That must be our nature and our resolve.

Waking up the church and turning many relatively passive believers into the force they are called to be is the critical need of this time. Help has come, which we will discuss in more depth next week.