於2010-07-07發佈
我常會收到一些商業與新聞刊物,有時我並不瞭解為何他們認為我對其有興趣。然而,我很欣賞他們主動出擊的方式。最近來自不同公司或團體的刊物,都有一個共同主題。現在似乎從社會各層面都不斷呼求協助,來搶救他們的自由。這是一個啟示,這可能是美國歷史上所有我們的自由都受到攻擊的時候,幾乎在每一方面,而且似乎在持續加溫中。

這是對時候徵兆的一個預測,在聖經中告訴我們,當我們看見這些事發生時,我們就當『挺身昂首,因為你們得贖的日子近了』(參考路加福音2128)。事實上,聖經給予我們清楚的指示與行動計畫,我們若照著做,就一定會引至勝利,不被擊敗。在哥林多後書二章14節宣告:感謝神!常率領我們在基督裡誇勝,並藉著我們在各處顯揚那因認識基督而有的香氣。』倘若我們跟隨主,我們總會得勝。

現在似乎社會中每一個團體都感覺受到敵人圍困,他們的感覺是對的。因為我與許多美國的基督徒領袖交流,幾乎每個人都說在他們的城市正發生相同的景況。顯然我們正在奮力搶救自由,那些在地方層面奮戰的人感到難以負荷,但當你坐下來、整個來看時,情況似乎更為嚴重。雖然以目前的困境看來是不可能的任務,但我們仍有盼望的理由。倘若神的百姓覺醒並興起、呼求神,決心打那美好的仗,我們不可能輸的!

托爾金所著的魔戒三部曲,是他對要來的時候預言的方式,看起來他還蠻準確的。邪惡比以前更有能力,儘管正義佔多數,卻看不出他們有任何機會阻止地獄大軍。然而,他們仍爭戰著,只因為這樣做是對的。他們進到戰役中、期待死亡,他們寧可死也不要對抗他們時代的巨大邪惡。即使他們看起來沒有半點得勝的盼望,小小的哈比人最後卻解開邪惡勢力,善的終於獲勝。就算最弱小的信徒,住在他/她裡面的力量也勝過所有敵基督的總和!我們不知道勝利如何或透過誰臨到,但我們的工作是盡全力為對的事奮戰,絕不輕易放棄。對抗大的戰役並沒錯,但主也可能會使用最弱小的人、以想像不到的方式帶來勝利。你可能就是那一個!

在此三部曲中,邪惡似乎在同個時候以不同方式來到。有一些是很容易分辨的邪惡大軍,但也有一些是以朋友的方式出現、帶著最好的意圖,說他們只求人的益處,卻製造最大傷害並擊打良善。在1928年,美國最高法院大法官路易斯.布蘭迪斯(Louis Brandeis)曾警告說:

『當政府的目的是有益處的,經驗應該教導我們要小心捍衛保護自由。人生而自由,本能地排斥帶有惡意的統治者侵犯到他們的自由。對自由的最大危險潛藏在人熱心、善意卻無知的潛入。』

托爾金對未來另一個有趣的先知性異象現在似乎也揭開了,就是邪惡巨大的威脅如何將那些先前是敵人或對手,從沒想過會結盟的人連結在一起。他們發現自己都在同一邊對抗著終極邪惡,使他們瞭解到誰才是他們真正的朋友與同盟。此最終會帶來得勝,以及一個從來沒有過的榮耀國度。

很有趣的是聯盟現在正在進行。在教會,跨宗派、跨運動的信徒正在聚集,他們想要一同加入,不是單一的宗派組織,而是擁有共同敵人、共同威脅的不同團體。還有非宗教團體想要加入,因為他們察覺到巨大的邪惡威脅。現在真的是不同凡響的時候,似乎所有在善惡之間最大的戰役正在展開,而我們都會在其中! 
 
在這些時候我們若在這裡,那是因為我們蒙揀選。我們若為此而蒙揀選,那就是我們的呼召。看起來似乎無法負荷,在某些方面甚至是不可能的,但主似乎喜歡這樣懸殊的差異,如此祂才能大展身手。倘若我們不放棄,我們知道在聖經上與歷史上有多不可數的見證顯示,我們絕不會輸的。 

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 26, 2010)


预备时候-之26 (雷克乔纳)
我常会收到一些商业与新闻刊物,有时我并不了解为何他们认为我对其有兴趣。然而,我很欣赏他们主动出击的方式。最近来自不同公司或团体的刊物,都有一个共同主题。现在似乎从社会各层面都不断呼求协助,来抢救他们的自由。这是一个启示,这可能是美国历史上所有我们的自由都受到攻击的时候,几乎在每一方面,而且似乎在持续加温中。
这是对时候征兆的一个预测,在圣经中告诉我们,当我们看见这些事发生时,我们就当『挺身昂首,因为你们得赎的日子近了』(参考路加福音21:28)。事实上,圣经给予我们清楚的指示与行动计划,我们若照着做,就一定会引至胜利,不被击败。在哥林多后书二章14节宣告:『感谢神!常率领我们在基督里夸胜,并借着我们在各处显扬那因认识基督而有的香气。』倘若我们跟随主,我们总会得胜。

现在似乎社会中每一个团体都感觉受到敌人围困,他们的感觉是对的。因为我与许多美国的基督徒领袖交流,几乎每个人都说在他们的城市正发生相同的景况。显然我们正在奋力抢救自由,那些在地方层面奋战的人感到难以负荷,但当你坐下来、整个来看时,情况似乎更为严重。虽然以目前的困境看来是不可能的任务,但我们仍有盼望的理由。倘若神的百姓觉醒并兴起、呼求神,决心打那美好的仗,我们不可能输的!

托尔金所著的魔戒三部曲,是他对要来的时候预言的方式,看起来他还蛮准确的。邪恶比以前更有能力,尽管正义占多数,却看不出他们有任何机会阻止地狱大军。然而,他们仍争战着,只因为这样做是对的。他们进到战役中、期待死亡,他们宁可死也不要对抗他们时代的巨大邪恶。即使他们看起来没有半点得胜的盼望,小小的哈比人最后却解开邪恶势力,善的终于获胜。就算最弱小的信徒,住在他/她里面的力量也胜过所有敌基督的总和!我们不知道胜利如何或透过谁临到,但我们的工作是尽全力为对的事奋战,绝不轻易放弃。对抗大的战役并没错,但主也可能会使用最弱小的人、以想象不到的方式带来胜利。你可能就是那一个!

在此三部曲中,邪恶似乎在同个时候以不同方式来到。有一些是很容易分辨的邪恶大军,但也有一些是以朋友的方式出现、带着最好的意图,说他们只求人的益处,却制造最大伤害并击打良善。在1928年,美国最高法院大法官刘易斯.布兰迪斯(Louis Brandeis)曾警告说:
『当政府的目的是有益处的,经验应该教导我们要小心捍卫保护自由。人生而自由,本能地排斥带有恶意的统治者侵犯到他们的自由。对自由的最大危险潜藏在人热心、善意却无知的潜入。』

托尔金对未来另一个有趣的先知性异象现在似乎也揭开了,就是邪恶巨大的威胁如何将那些先前是敌人或对手,从没想过会结盟的人连结在一起。他们发现自己都在同一边对抗着终极邪恶,使他们了解到谁才是他们真正的朋友与同盟。此最终会带来得胜,以及一个从来没有过的荣耀国度。

很有趣的是联盟现在正在进行。在教会,跨宗派、跨运动的信徒正在聚集,他们想要一同加入,不是单一的宗派组织,而是拥有共同敌人、共同威胁的不同团体。还有非宗教团体想要加入,因为他们察觉到巨大的邪恶威胁。现在真的是不同凡响的时候,似乎所有在善恶之间最大的战役正在展开,而我们都会在其中!

在这些时候我们若在这里,那是因为我们蒙拣选。我们若为此而蒙拣选,那就是我们的呼召。看起来似乎无法负荷,在某些方面甚至是不可能的,但主似乎喜欢这样悬殊的差异,如此祂才能大展身手。倘若我们不放弃,我们知道在圣经上与历史上有多不可数的见证显示,我们绝不会输的。

 (摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 26, 2010)


Prepared for the Times, Part 26
Week 26, 2010 

I am often given trade and news journal subscriptions from groups that I sometimes cannot understand why they think I would have an interest in them, but nonetheless, I appreciate them reaching out. Lately these different journals, from unrelated industries or groups, have been taking on a common theme. Now there seems to be a continuous cry from all sectors of society to help save their freedoms. This is a revelation. There has not likely ever been a time in American history when all of our freedoms were under the kind of assault they are now, on almost every front, and with seemingly unrelenting persistence. 

This is a predicted sign of the times, and we are told that when we see these things happening we should, “Look up for your redemption is drawing close” (see Luke 21:28). However, nowhere does it say that this is all we should do! In fact, we are given clear instructions and an action plan that will, if we follow it, lead to a sure victory, not defeat. II Corinthians 2:14 declares, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” If we follow the Lord, we will always come to victory. 

It seems that almost every group in society is now feeling embattled, and they are correct in feeling this way. Since I receive communications from Christian leaders across the country, almost everyone is saying the same about what is happening in their city or state. It is obvious that we are in the greatest struggle of all time to save our liberty. Those who are fighting on the local level feel overwhelmed, but when you sit back and look at the whole, it seems far more so. As impossible as our plight may now seem, there is reason to hope. If God’s people awaken, arise, and call on our God while being resolved to fight the good fight, we cannot lose! 

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings trilogy as a prophecy of the way he saw the times unfolding, and it seems that he was very accurate. Evil is growing more powerful than ever before, and the righteous seem so outnumbered, it does not appear that they have any chance of holding back the great hordes of hell. However, they still fought just because it was the right thing to do. They went into battle expecting to die, preferring to die rather than not fight the great evil of their times. Even though it looked like they had no hope of victory, one little hobbit would ultimately unravel all of the power of the evil one and good would prevail. Even the smallest and seemingly weakest believer has more power resident in him or her than all of the antichrists who have ever lived! We do not know how or through whom the victory will come, but our job is to just fight with all that we have for what is right and never give up. It is right to fight the big battles, but we can also expect that the Lord can use the smallest and weakest to slip in some unexpected way to bring the victory. You might even be the one!

In this trilogy, evil comes in almost every form and seemingly at the same time. There are the huge, evil armies that are easy to discern, but then there are also those who appear to come as friends, with the best of intentions, saying they only want the good of the people, and these inevitably do the most damage and come the closest to defeating the good. In 1928, this is what the U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis warned about, saying:
  “Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil- minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning, but without understanding.” 

Another interesting and prophetic vision that Tolkien had of the future that seems to now be unfolding, was how the overwhelming threat of evil brought alliances between those who never dreamed of being aligned together, and had before been either enemies or rivals. Finding themselves all fighting on the same side against the ultimate evil gave them all a greater understanding of who their true friends and allies were. This ultimately brought forth a victory and a kingdom that was more glorious than any before it. 

It is likewise interesting the alignments that are now taking place. In the church, there are gatherings of believers from almost across the spectrum of denominations and movements who want to join together, not in a denominational organization, but as different groups who have a common enemy, a common threat to their existence. There are non-religious groups who want to join with the religious because of the overwhelming threat of evil they perceive. It is truly a remarkable time, and it seems that the greatest of all battles between good and evil is now unfolding, and we get to be in it! 

If we are here in these times, it is because we have been chosen to be. If we have been chosen for this, then it is our calling. It does seem to be overwhelming, maybe even impossible in some ways, but it seems that the Lord likes those odds, and does His best work then. We know from the overwhelming testimony of Scripture and history that we cannot lose if we do not quit.