於2012-10-30發佈

聖經的門訓需要犧牲的生命
現代基督教的一大弱點,就是我們致力於帶人信主勝過帶門徒。當人們以為他們要得救,只要在大家閉上眼睛、低著頭時舉手就好,以免舉錯手的人尷尬。這些『決志者』以為要成為基督的跟隨者,只需要付上小小的代價。然而,真正的信仰需要付上一切,包括我們的性命。真正的門訓是不再為自己而活,乃是為祂而活。此悲劇使福音摻雜著欺騙,讓許多人以為他們『得救了』,其實他們的永生仍在不確定的危險中。

聖經的初信者與今日許多人所呈現出來的並不一樣;那些委身成為基督跟隨者的人,很可能被標上殉道的記號,他們的所有與資產都會被使用,過著一個不知道是否還有明天的生活。這是一個生命的恩賜,因為此讓他們碰觸到真正重要的事物,是其他事物無法與之相比的。如此的生命要持續下去的唯一方式,便是在對神的愛中成長,並在信心中成長。

當然,有些人可能比較容易,但全都在接連不斷的威脅下過活。這使他們的生命聚焦,他們必須擁有每一天的信心,使他們遠離假冒者或虛偽的人。當然,寧可失去世上一切所有,也不能沒有基督,但要過一個純淨與完全擺上的生命並不容易,這卻是人們所能擁有好得無比的生命。在主裡的信心,勝過地上一切財寶與所有。

真正的基督教是地上所能擁有的最大探險,是我們所能擁有最使人滿足,卻也最艱難的生活。我們所代表的主的品格,理當讓我們對福音直接。基督教不是給懦弱的人,在真正的信仰中並沒有自憐與自我中心的位置。然而,我們越沒有這些東西與自我野心,我們的生命也越豐富與滿足。沒有比基督的僕人更自由的人了!

統計數字顯示今日『決志』的人,只有百分之五進到教會。聖經上的初信者是百分之百進到教會,少數人後來遠離神,但要行在信心裡需要生命與生活方式徹底的改變。神立刻成為一個人的生命中心,學習祂的樣式並尋求順服祂,不單是他們的核心目的,更是他們存活不可或缺的東西。那些失去一切的人,很快就學到基督超乎他們所求所想。

福音給予我們一個關於門訓的定義,真正門徒的主要焦點在於學習主人的樣式。每一位基督徒最基本的目標應該是像主一樣,並按著祂的旨意行。真正的門徒所做的一切重大決定,都會以神國度的利益為主,而不是他們個人的渴望。基督的門徒每天背起他們的十字架,為祂與其他人捨了自己的生命,正如主所給予我們的榜樣。這是一個犧牲的生命,不致力於得著財物,乃致力於得著基督。

基督的門徒被呼召『向世界死』,這是最大自由的來源。倘若我們死了,世界能拿我們怎樣?凡是活出十字架生命的人毫無懼怕,因為死人還怕什麼?因為我們每天死,所以當最大的恐懼─對死亡的恐懼不再影響我們時,世界就沒有任何東西可以綑綁我們。那些向世界死的人不會懼怕他人懼怕的困境,因為他們的生命是建造在另一個根基上。

門徒是倚靠要來世代的能力而活,而非掌控現今世界的勢力。當這世界與其支撐勢力崩塌時,真正的門徒必不致搖動,他們會在堅固的磐石上,並能將流沙裡的人拉出來。

聖經預言宣告列國的財富將歸給神的子民,許多人對此感到興奮,彷彿這是他們將中樂透彩的應許。列國的財富歸給神的子民,並不是為了讓神的子民用在個人身上,而是為了列國來正確使用。擁有通往神國資源的真正門徒,不會對世界財富心動。我們無法被託付管理列國的財富,直到我們對其不感到心動。

似乎從福音書中,耶穌並沒有攜帶地上的錢財,祂並不需要,因為祂隨時可以通往更大的天上資源。在我們成為門徒後,我們不會馬上得著此信心的高度,但我們『凡事長進,連於元首基督』(參考以弗所書4:15)。這並不是一個不切實際的目標,我們若達不到,祂就不會呼召我們這麼做。有什麼我們必須要做的事比此還來得重要?對那些愛祂超過一切的人,這將是他們生命的基本擺上,這才是聖經上的門訓。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 41, 2012)


Biblical Discipleship Requires A Life of Sacrifice - The Path of Life, Part 34
Week 41, 2012 
Rick Joyner 

          One of the great weaknesses of modern Christianity has been our devotion to making converts rather than disciples. When people are made to believe that all they have to do for salvation is raise their hand while standing in the back of a room, with every eye closed and every head bowed so as not to embarrass those who might slip up their hand, these “converts” are made to think that to be a follower of Christ will require little from them. However, true faith will require everything, including our lives. True discipleship is to no longer live for ourselves but for Him. This tragic watering down of the gospel is a deception that has left many thinking they were “saved” while their eternal lives are still in jeopardy.

          Biblical conversion is different than how many present it today. Those who committed their lives to being a follower of Christ were likely marked for martyrdom. Often their possessions and property were seized, and they lived a life not knowing if every day might be their last. This was a gift of life because it brought them in touch with what is truly important like few other things could. The only way a life like this could be sustained was by growing in love for God and growing in faith.

         Of course, some may have had it easier, but all were under constant threat. This focused their lives like few things could. They had to have a daily, living faith that kept away the pretenders or insincere. Certainly it is better to have Christ and lose everything in this world, but it was a hard life that required pure and total devotion. It was also a better life than anyone else could have. Faith in God is better than any treasure or any possession.

         True Christianity is the greatest adventure that can be had on this earth, and it is the most fulfilling life we could ever have, but it is also the most difficult. The integrity of the One whom we represent should compel us to be straightforward about the gospel. Christianity is not for wimps. There is no place for self-pity or self-centeredness in the true faith. Yet, the more we are emptied of these things and our own ambitions, the richer and more fulfilling our lives will be. There is no freer person than the slave of Christ.

          Statistics show that only about 5 percent of those who make “decisions for Christ” today go on to be added to the church. With biblical conversions, this number was 100 percent. A few would fall away later, but to walk with the faithful required a radical change of life and lifestyle. Immediately God became the center of one’s life, and learning of Him and seeking to obey Him was not only their central purpose, it was essential to survival. Those who lost everything quickly learned that Christ was more than enough.

          The Gospels give us a definition of discipleship. The main focus of true disciples is to learn from their Master. The most basic goal of every Christian should be to become like Him and to do His will. True disciples will make all major decisions around the interests of the kingdom, not their own desires. Disciples of Christ take up their crosses daily, laying down their lives for Him and for others, as He gave us the example to do. It is a life of sacrifice, not devoted to gaining possessions but to gaining Christ.

          Disciples of Christ are called to be “dead to this world.” This is where the greatest freedom comes. If we are dead, what can the world do to us? Those who live the life of the cross have no fear because what can a dead man fear? When the greatest fear of all is broken off us, the fear of death because we die daily, then we cannot be bound by anything in this world. Those who are dead to this world do not fear the troubles that others fear because their lives are built on another foundation.

          Disciples live by the power of the age to come, not by the powers that control this present world. As this world and the powers that uphold it crumble, true disciples will not even be shaken, but will be on solid ground and able to pull others out of the quicksand.

          There are biblical prophecies that declare the wealth of the nations will be brought to God’s people. Many get excited about this as if it is a sure promise that they will hit the lottery. The wealth of the nations will be brought to God’s people, but not so God’s people can use it for themselves, but rather so they can use it rightly for the nations. True disciples, who have access to kingdom resources, will not be impressed by the wealth of this world. We won’t be trustworthy enough to handle the wealth of the nations until we are not impressed with it.

          It seems from the Gospels that Jesus did not even carry earthly money. He did not need to because He had access to much greater resources any time He needed them. We will not get to this stature of faith immediately after we become disciples, but “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him” (see Ephesians 4:15). This is not an unrealistic goal. He would not have called us to this if we could not attain it. What do we possibly have to do that is more important than this? For those who love Him above all things, this will be the basic devotion of their lives. This is biblical discipleship.