於2010-06-23發佈
當約書亞帶領以色列跨越約旦河得著應許之地時,有一位天使向他顯現,約書亞問天使他是幫助他們呢,還是幫助他們的敵人呢﹖他回答說:『不是的,我來是要作耶和華軍隊的元帥。約書亞就俯伏在地下拜,說:我主有什麼話吩咐僕人』(參考約書亞5:14)。這看起來似乎很令人困惑,因為以色列是神的子民,而且是神帶領他們得著祂所應許他們的土地。為何他的元帥沒在他們那一邊?因為主不是來選邊站─祂是來掌管的。

主不是共和黨、民主黨、自由黨或保守黨,但祂全都愛。人們可能會以不對的動機來擁抱對的事,或以對的理由來擁抱錯的事。美國的主要政黨與所有小黨都有著崇高的理想;當我還年輕時,我是一個自由的民主黨員,我認為自己的動機良好。當我不能再支持民主黨時,因為我覺得他們對墮胎與其他道德議題與聖經道德觀衝突,當民主黨擁抱敵基督團體時,我必須離開。然而,我持續相信一些當初吸引我去民主黨的議題,而這些事有時卻被共和黨冷酷對待。我該怎麼做呢?

我相信根基很重要。亞伯拉罕在尋求神所建造的城,而非人所建造的,他所尋求的是一座『有根有基』的城。當我回溯每個政黨的根基,我認為二大政黨在起初都有很崇高的目的,二黨也都在一些事上偏離軌道,有時會回到正軌,有時則持續偏離、進入極端。簡言之,正如一隻老鷹需要左翼與右翼才能飛翔,在美國我們也需要雙翼。因此,我試圖聆聽並尊重兩黨的人,這並非意味我會妥協自己的立場,但我確實嘗試真誠聆聽,當我這樣做時反而學到更多,儘管這仍不會使我改變立場。瞭解指的是『設身處地』。

當我成為一位商人,開始更多瞭解財務與管理時,我變得更保守,因為考量到許多與權利有關的自由議題,最終會帶來國家級的災難,這些我們現在已經開始經歷了。想要有這些權利的意圖可能是好的,但應用上卻缺乏永續性,更不要提在一些案例中所缺乏的常理與基本數學概念。有些人這樣做可能是為了得到立即的選票,但帳卻要算在下一代身上是不合理的。現在這樣做的人並不認為那是不合理的,因為他們只看見目前的需要,認為我們只要『從中成長』。雖然聽起來不錯,但事實是要修正財務上的不負責任,從中成長從來不管用。 
 
真相是我們的政府,無論哪個黨當權,都沈迷在不斷增加花費中,又不刪除不必要或過時的計畫。這些帳遲早都要算,而現在似乎已經臨到我們身上了。

為此因素,邱吉爾曾說:『你二十歲時若不是自由黨的,你就沒有心;你四十歲時若不是保守黨的,你就沒有腦。』不同於我許多保守黨朋友所認為的,我相信許多自由黨的人真的關心貧窮與受壓制的,這也是耶穌教導最基本的訓誡之一。我很感激此訓誡,但我認為這與耶穌其他基本的教導有所衝突─例如管家職責。我們兩者都需要。

耶穌稱沒有妥善管理託付給他資源的僕人說:你這又惡又懶的僕人』(參考馬太福音2526。被稱為又良善又忠心的僕人』(參考馬太福音2523就是那些妥善管理託付給他資源的人。管理得當對主來說是如此重要,以致於聖經中有三分之一到二分之一對公義的教導都與管家職責有關

所以,為何我們不能將憐憫與好的管家職責結合在一起呢?我們可以,只不過我們需要先考慮到政府不應該做許多做不好的事情─無論在憐憫或效率上。一個公義的文化會照顧在他們當中真正有需要的人,但慈善團體一旦制度化了,就變得又冷又硬與貶低人的,更不要提沒有效率了。

我很感激有一個至少關心與嘗試幫助有需要者的政府,但我認為政府不過是在做神呼召祂百姓做的事。政府試圖去做是因為身為基督徒的我們,在此基本的基督徒職責上失敗。當然不是全都失敗,但整體而言的確如此,甚至善意的基督徒自由黨人士都想要政府來做我們的工作,因為我們不想去做。所以修正與權利有關的問題成為我們現在需要面對、也必須去做的事。身為基督徒,我們必須想到神所愛的一些人很快就會處於絕望中─每一個瞭解基本數學的人都知道我們快要遇到瓶頸了,就像我們開始在歐洲看見的,政府所承諾的權利無法兌現。當衰退臨到時,什麼是我們的計畫?

其實是有解答的─健全的聖經解答可以讓我們脫離這場困境,我們藉由轉向神與祂的話語來得著解答。美國政府是建立在健全的聖經原則上,那是為何它能在如此多的風暴中存活的主要原因。在過去五十年間,我們已經偏離我們的根基─我們離此根基越遠,我們就會變得越糟。我們必須從深淵邊緣轉回,回到磐石上。

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, week24, 2010)


预备时候-之24 (雷克乔纳)
当乔舒亚带领以色列跨越约旦河得着应许之地时,有一位天使向他显现,乔舒亚问天使他是帮助他们呢,还是帮助他们的敌人呢﹖他回答说:『不是的,我来是要作耶和华军队的元帅。乔舒亚就俯伏在地下拜,说:我主有什么话吩咐仆人』(参考乔舒亚5:14)。这看起来似乎很令人困惑,因为以色列是神的子民,而且是神带领他们得着祂所应许他们的土地。为何他的元帅没在他们那一边?因为主不是来选边站─祂是来掌管的。

主不是共和党、民主党、自由党或保守党,但祂全都爱。人们可能会以不对的动机来拥抱对的事,或以对的理由来拥抱错的事。美国的主要政党与所有小党都有着崇高的理想;当我还年轻时,我是一个自由的民主党员,我认为自己的动机良好。当我不能再支持民主党时,因为我觉得他们对堕胎与其它道德议题与圣经道德观冲突,当民主党拥抱敌基督团体时,我必须离开。然而,我持续相信一些当初吸引我去民主党的议题,而这些事有时却被共和党冷酷对待。我该怎么做呢?

我相信根基很重要。亚伯拉罕在寻求神所建造的城,而非人所建造的,他所寻求的是一座『有根有基』的城。当我回溯每个政党的根基,我认为二大政党在起初都有很崇高的目的,二党也都在一些事上偏离轨道,有时会回到正轨,有时则持续偏离、进入极端。简言之,正如一只老鹰需要左翼与右翼才能飞翔,在美国我们也需要双翼。因此,我试图聆听并尊重两党的人,这并非意味我会妥协自己的立场,但我确实尝试真诚聆听,当我这样做时反而学到更多,尽管这仍不会使我改变立场。了解指的是『设身处地』。

当我成为一位商人,开始更多了解财务与管理时,我变得更保守,因为考虑到许多与权利有关的自由议题,最终会带来国家级的灾难,这些我们现在已经开始经历了。想要有这些权利的意图可能是好的,但应用上却缺乏永续性,更不要提在一些案例中所缺乏的常理与基本数学概念。有些人这样做可能是为了得到立即的选票,但帐却要算在下一代身上是不合理的。现在这样做的人并不认为那是不合理的,因为他们只看见目前的需要,认为我们只要『从中成长』。虽然听起来不错,但事实是要修正财务上的不负责任,从中成长从来不管用。

真相是我们的政府,无论哪个党当权,都沈迷在不断增加花费中,又不删除不必要或过时的计划。这些帐迟早都要算,而现在似乎已经临到我们身上了。

为此因素,丘吉尔曾说:『你二十岁时若不是自由党的,你就没有心;你四十岁时若不是保守党的,你就没有脑。』不同于我许多保守党朋友所认为的,我相信许多自由党的人真的关心贫穷与受压制的,这也是耶稣教导最基本的训诫之一。我很感激此训诫,但我认为这与耶稣其它基本的教导有所冲突─例如管家职责。我们两者都需要。

耶稣称没有妥善管理托付给他资源的仆人说:『你这又恶又懒的仆人』(参考马太福音25:26)。被称为『又良善又忠心的仆人』(参考马太福音25:23)就是那些妥善管理托付给他资源的人。管理得当对主来说是如此重要,以致于圣经中有三分之一到二分之一对公义的教导都与管家职责有关。

所以,为何我们不能将怜悯与好的管家职责结合在一起呢?我们可以,只不过我们需要先考虑到政府不应该做许多做不好的事情─无论在怜悯或效率上。一个公义的文化会照顾在他们当中真正有需要的人,但慈善团体一旦制度化了,就变得又冷又硬与贬低人的,更不要提没有效率了。

我很感激有一个至少关心与尝试帮助有需要者的政府,但我认为政府不过是在做神呼召祂百姓做的事。政府试图去做是因为身为基督徒的我们,在此基本的基督徒职责上失败。当然不是全都失败,但整体而言的确如此,甚至善意的基督徒自由党人士都想要政府来做我们的工作,因为我们不想去做。所以修正与权利有关的问题成为我们现在需要面对、也必须去做的事。身为基督徒,我们必须想到神所爱的一些人很快就会处于绝望中─每一个了解基本数学的人都知道我们快要遇到瓶颈了,就像我们开始在欧洲看见的,政府所承诺的权利无法兑现。当衰退临到时,什么是我们的计划?

其实是有解答的─健全的圣经解答可以让我们脱离这场困境,我们藉由转向神与祂的话语来得着解答。美国政府是建立在健全的圣经原则上,那是为何它能在如此多的风暴中存活的主要原因。在过去五十年间,我们已经偏离我们的根基─我们离此根基越远,我们就会变得越糟。我们必须从深渊边缘转回,回到盘石上。

(摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 24, 2010)


Prepared for the Times, Part 24
Week 24, 2010 

When Joshua was leading Israel across the Jordon River to possess their Promised Land, an angel appeared to him. Joshua asked the angel if he were for them (Israel) or for their enemies, and he replied, “Neither, but I have come as the captain of the hosts of the Lord” (see Joshua 5:14). This may seem confusing since Israel was God’s people, and they were being led by God to possess the land He had promised them. Why would His captain not be on their side? Because the Lord is not coming to take sides—He’s coming to take over. 

The Lord is not a Republican, Democrat, liberal, or conservative. He loves them all. People can embrace right things with wrong motives and the wrong thing for the right reasons. Both major political parties and probably all the minor ones in America have noble causes. When I was young, I was a liberal and member of the Democratic Party, and I think I had good motives for this. When I could no longer support the Democratic Party because of their platform on abortion and other moral issues that I felt were in conflict with biblical morals, and as the antichristian groups were embraced by the Democratic Party, I had to leave. However, I continued to believe in some issues that had drawn me to the Democratic Party in the first place, and these things were sometimes harshly treated by the Republican Party. So what could I do?

I believe foundations are important. Abraham, in seeking the city that God was building, and not just men, was looking for a city with “foundations.” I went back to the foundation of each party and thought that both had very noble purposes in the beginning. Both have been off track from time to time in some things, have at other times come back, and at times kept going off track and into extremes. In short, just as an eagle needs a left wing and a right wing to fly, we need both in America. I therefore try to listen to and respect those on both sides. This does not mean that I will compromise my own position, but I do try to sincerely listen and often learn more when I do, though it still may not cause me to change my position. Understanding means to “stand under” someone else’s place. 

When I became a businessman and started to understand finance and management better, I became even more of a conservative because of a concern that much of the liberal agenda, in relation to entitlements, would ultimately lead to a national disaster, which we are beginning to experience now. The intentions for creating these entitlements may have been good, but the application was tragically lacking in sustainability, not to mention common sense and basic math in some cases. Some may have done this to get immediate votes, but pushing off the day of reckoning to the next generation is unconscionable. Now those who are doing this do not think it is unconscionable because they are looking at present needs and think that we will just “grow out of it.” This sounds good, but the fact is that growing out of something has never worked in relation to correcting financial irresponsibility, or living beyond our means, at least not in government. 

The truth is that our government, regardless of what party was in power, had become addicted to increasing spending, without doing the equivalent of cutting unnecessary or obsolete programs. A day of reckoning is inevitable, which now seems to be upon us. 

It was for this reason that Winston Churchill said, “If you are not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you are not a conservative at forty, you have no brain.” Contrary to what many of my conservative friends may think, I believe many liberals truly do care about the poor and oppressed, which is one of the most basic precepts of the teachings of Jesus. I appreciate this, but I have some conflicts with this that I also think are foundational teachings of Jesus—for example stewardship. We need both.

Jesus called the slave who did not manage the resources entrusted to him a “wicked, lazy slave” (see Matthew 25:26). The one who was called a “good and faithful slave” (see Matthew 25:23) was the one that managed well what was entrusted to him. Good management is so important to the Lord that it has even been estimated between one-third and one-half of the teachings on righteousness in Scripture are about stewardship. 

So why can’t we combine compassion with good stewardship? We can, but we need to start by considering that the government should not be doing many of the things it is not doing well—either compassionately or efficiently. A righteous culture will take care of the truly needy among them, but whenever charity is institutionalized, it becomes cold, hard, and demeaning, not to mention inefficient.

I appreciate having a government that at least cares and tries to help the needy, but I think it is only doing what God has called His people to do. The government is trying to do it because we have failed in this basic Christian duty. Of course not all have, but overall, even well-meaning Christian liberals want the government to do our job because we don’t want to do it. So, correcting the problem with entitlements is now in our face and has to be done. As Christians, we must consider that there are real people whom God loves who are soon going to be desperate— everyone who understands basic math knows we are about to hit a wall, and like we have begun to see in Europe, entitlements that have been promised are not going to be available. What is our plan when the breakdown comes?

There are answers—sound, biblical answers that can get us out of the mess we’re in by turning to God and His Word. The government of America was built on sound biblical principles, which is the main reason it has survived so many storms. In the last fifty years, we have drifted from our foundation—the further from this foundation we have gone, the worse shape we get into. We must turn back from the edge of the abyss we have been drifting toward and get back on the Rock.