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教會應如何面對LGBT(3 )

2021-08-27 in , /by

外在因素引起的

接下來，我們來談一下有些同性戀者或跨性別者，他們背後的成因或多或少有些外在因素的影響。我下面簡單地列出幾個可能因素：

源自父母的錯誤期望：

我認識一位女性，她父親非常渴望得的是男孩。以致後來她在成長過程中，因著父親的期望和無形的熏陶，她的穿著打扮，講話個性，甚至連走路都像個男孩。或許她想以這些來獲取父親的歡喜和認可。又或者像《我是跨性別女人》的作者Walt Heyer，他祖母希望他是個女孩，常給他穿紫色的連衣裙。使他開始錯認為自己應該是女孩，結果導致對自我性別的混亂。

痛苦的成長經歷。

另外有一位成長在父親施暴，母親被虐待家庭的女孩，由於她一直挺身保護母親。之後在同性間，她慣性地扮演著保護柔弱女生的陽剛角色，深獲同性的喜愛。她也享受這種被同性愛戴的身份和角色。久而久之，她開始習慣男性打扮，跟女性交往也越來越頻繁，慢慢地開始了同性戀的生活形態.

孤單寂寞

有些同性戀者從小並沒有被同性吸引的傾向，但由於孤單和寂寞，和一些同性朋友的美好友誼，漸漸變了質。例如在季刊76期登過一篇文章，作者因出國到異地他鄉，非常寂寞，想家，失落。突然發現自己超乎異常的想念一位平常非常關心他的同性好友。這種原本是同性之間的美好友誼慢慢變質，演變到最後，墜入到同性戀的性關係裡面。像這種因寂寞，以致心理上過度依賴同性好友而演變成同性戀關係，在我個人有限的輔導個案裡面，佔了很大的部分。

Why the Resurrection of Jesus Is So Important

2021-08-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NIV)
12  But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
15  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

On verses 12-19:  Some people in Paul’s church were saying, “How can Christ have risen from the dead?  Dead people don’t rise again!”  Paul says that as Christians we must be open to the idea that dead people can rise again because a central tenet to the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ himself resurrected (v12-13).  In verses 13-19, Paul then begins to spell out why the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so central to the Christian faith:

A God of Order, Not Chaos

2021-08-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 14:26-40. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV) 
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

On verse 26:  The church of Corinth was full of creative and spiritually gifted people.  Everyone was eager to share what they felt God had placed on their heart, be it a song, a message, a vision, a tongue or an interpretation of a tongue.   Paul reminds the Christians in Corinth: check your motives before you share anything – always do it to build up the church, not to feed your own ego.  In the same way, whenever you’re sitting in any church gathering large or small, check your motives whenever you share with others.   Let it always be “for the strengthening of the church”, to exalt God’s name, not your own.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 (NIV) 
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two–or at the most three–should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

On verses 27-28:  This shows that Paul’s concern with tongues was mainly in regard to addressing the congregation publicly.  He says if there’s no one to interpret, go ahead and speak in tongues but keep it between you and God.

大衛逃離耶路撒冷

2021-08-26 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 15:28 我在曠野的渡口那裡等你們報信給我。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 15:13-37

此時的大衛雖然已經年記大了，但是他的反應和處理事情的能力卻一點都不比年輕時差。他顯然沒有想到押沙龍會叛變，但是一聽到這個消息，卻很快就做了一個決定，離開耶路撒冷。在很短的時間內，他就把事情整理得有條有理，誰該留，誰該跟他走，哪個人要負責何事，大衛王像一個總指揮，把事情安排得十分妥當。押沙龍在希伯崙，為何大衛要離開耶路撒冷呢？因為大衛知道有許多人跟隨押沙龍，若是他留在耶路撒冷，耶路撒冷必然變成戰場。假如他留下來，他不可能把耶路撒冷拱手交給押沙龍，為了避免無辜的百姓遭到殺害，大衛選擇退出耶路撒冷，只留下十個妃嬪看守宮殿。當然這是象徵性的，因為十個妃嬪怎麼能抵擋押沙龍的攻勢？伯墨哈是耶路撒冷過汲淪溪谷以前，面向橄欖山的一座房子（或是：地方）。

患難見真情，在大衛逃亡時，有個迦特人，也就是非利士人以太，他帶著跟隨他的人和所有婦人孩子也跟著大衛走。大衛是個仁君，他知道以太剛從非利士地逃到耶路撒冷，正應該享受穩定的生活，不然也可以去輔助新王，拿個高職，何必跟著他這個糟老頭子顛沛流離，過著有一餐沒一餐的逃亡生涯？但是以太的回答，就好像路得給拿俄米的回答那樣令人感動：“無論生死，王在哪裡，僕人也必在哪裡！”有的解經家說，跟隨大衛的基利提人、比利提人等六百從迦特來的人，其實就是跟隨以太的人，也是大衛那時擁有的唯一軍旅，但是大衛還是不忍心看他們為他而奔波，被他連累。但是經過亞太一再保證，大衛終於允許他們和他一起過了汲淪溪，再往曠野而去。

大衛預備過了曠野，走到耶利哥的渡口，過約旦河，再上瑪哈念，在約旦河西的以色列地休息，同時等待事情的進展。大衛對以色列的地理可熟悉了，在以色列地逃亡了幾年，那裡的情形如何，他幾乎都瞭若指掌。但是在他繼續要前行時，卻發現祭司們把約櫃都抬來了。此時，我們看見大衛的信心，他不要讓神的約櫃跟著他流浪。

Speak A Language That The Unchurched Can Understand

2021-08-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 14:13-25. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 14:13-25 (NIV)
13  For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15  So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16  If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17  You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
18  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

On verses 13-18:  “For this reason”, Paul says in verse 13.  What reason is this?  Keep in mind the context: in verses 1-12, as well as in the rest of 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is talking about how to lead people in public worship.  Paul is saying that if you intend to lead people in prayer by praying in tongues, you should also make sure there is someone to interpret what you pray. Otherwise, as verse 16 says, how will anyone understand and say “Amen” to what you are saying?  How can the people listening to you be helped or edified by what you are saying (v17).

押沙龍叛變

2021-08-25 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 15:6 以色列人中，凡去見王求判斷的，押沙龍都是如此待他們。這樣，押沙龍暗中得了以色列人的心。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 15:1-12

在你的一生中，有沒有最想做的事？你所做的一切努力，會不會都朝著那個方向而準備？在一些宮庭故事裡，經常圍繞的主題就是對王位的明爭暗奪，在以色列也不例外。大衛做王，生了許多兒子；在清朝的宮庭裡，例如康熙、雍正、乾隆也都有不少兒子。於是乎，王位之爭就成了不可避免的一件事，各個王子都害怕自己一旦做不成王就命運堪虞，還有他們背後的母親也害怕被打入冷宮，因此比較有野心的王子就會處心積慮地為自己謀事。幾乎沒看過像掃羅的兒子約拿單那樣體察神心意的王子，竟然願意把王位拱手讓給大衛，並且願意作大衛的輔佐之臣（撒上23:17）。但是，像押沙龍這樣想謀取王位的王子，不勝枚舉。

而押沙龍的作法，也顯明了世人為自己籌謀的心機和不擇手段。到目前為止，你能看出來押沙龍的心狠手辣嗎？大衛躲避掃羅時，是有所不為，凡是會得罪神的事，他一概不做；押沙龍為了爭奪王位，則是無所不為。他利用剪羊毛的歡慶，殺了暗嫩；為了逼約押幫他，就燒約押的田地；又利用還願的藉口，要到希伯崙稱王。在他的心意顯明之前，又用盡手段攏絡以色列的百姓，把大衛變成一個不理人間疾苦的君王。他的計謀是那樣地深沉，以至於有兩百多跟隨他的人竟然都被蒙在鼓裡。

他先為自己造勢，坐在馬車上，派五十人在他前面奔走，好讓人看見他的威儀，就仰慕他，喜歡他。他是以色列第一美男子，天天坐在華麗的馬車上跑來跑去，讓人看了印象加深，對他產生好感。上次我回台時，正好碰到台灣有選舉，那些競選的人各自雇了車子，貼上他們的大頭照，又站在敞開的車上，用擴音器拜票。所以，押沙龍真的很聰明，在古時候還沒有開廣告這行業，他已經會打廣告，自我宣傳了。

大衛召見押沙龍

2021-08-24 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 14:25 以色列全地之中，無人像押沙龍那樣俊美，得人的稱讚，從腳底到頭頂毫無瑕疵。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 14:25-33

押沙龍回家了，但是左等右等都等不到父王的召見，真的很傷感。浪子的父親是倚門長盼，遠遠看見浪子的身影，就衝上去，不管三七二十一地來個擁抱和親嘴。然而這個長得無比俊美，從腳底到頭頂毫無瑕疵的王子回家了，他的父親卻來個不予置理。押沙龍在耶路撒冷足足住了兩年，沒有見王的面。假如不要他了，為何又要召他回來？假如你是押沙龍，你心裡會怎樣想？父王不愛他，也不要見他，還在怪罪他。如此一來，他還有前途嗎？大哥暗嫩死了，二哥基利押不見蹤影，因為《聖經》裡沒有記載他怎麼了。那麼，他是老三，原本應該繼承大位的，但若是大衛對他不滿，不肯把王位給他，那麼他就“完了”。

從押沙龍殺暗嫩一事上，可以得知這人非常功於心計。他不能一直處在挨打的地位上，他開始精心策劃自己的將來。因此讓大衛接見自己，讓自己重新回到王子的位置上是最重要的，只要大衛接見他，他就立刻變成老大，因為前面兩個王子都不在了。押沙龍本身的條件非常好，他長得十分俊美。每到年底剪頭髮，竟重二百舍客勒，大約現在的兩公斤重。讓經常掉頭髮，頭上稀稀疏疏的人很羨慕啊！

時下的美容整型非常盛行，說明了一件事，就是人們覺得外表的形像太重要了。但是實際上，我們以為俊美的人是否也覺得自己俊美呢？押沙龍非常俊美，經常被人稱讚，可是他一點都不快樂。有許多漂亮的女孩子也不快樂，因為她們總覺得自己不夠完美，為什麼眼睛不能再大一點？為什麼鼻子不能再高一點？嘴唇不能厚一點？大腿太粗，小腿不直？因為偶像崇拜的影響，總覺得不如影視明星那麼漂亮，所以就想跟他們一樣；但是影視明星也覺得自己不夠帥、不夠漂亮，所以就有很多跑去整型。但是美麗的外型，能否帶來人生的滿足？

Love and Lead Others with Excellence

2021-08-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 14:1-12. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
1  Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

On verse 1:  In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul has just finished showing us what is “the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31): it’s “the way of love” (v1).  But he also tells his church in Corinth to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts” (v1).  In other words, there are two things we should seek: (1) to love people with excellence and (2) to discover, develop and deploy our spiritual gifts.  Don’t just be busy trying to get “ministry success” in the eyes of people; be the best lover of people and of God that you can be.  Seek to be excellent in the way you love relationally and effective in the way you serve in ministry.  It’s not one or the other; it’s both.

On verses 2-12:  The church in Corinth was very passionate about pursuing and practicing spiritual gifts.  That is a good thing.  However, it appears that the church in Corinth emphasized the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues so much that they would let people speak in tongues as a way to publicly address the rest of the congregation.  Of course, without anyone to interpret, no one could understand what was being said!

Paul cautioned his church against this.  In 1 Corinthians 14, he is basically saying, “If you’re going to speak to people in the church, do it in ways that they can understand and appreciate.”

約押藉民婦勸大衛

2021-08-23 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 14:21 王對約押說：「我應允你這事。你可以去，把那少年人押沙龍帶回來。」

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 14:1-24

在新約裡主耶穌說過一個浪子的比喻，不管浪子在外面做了什麼事情，花光了他父親給他的一切財物，在沒有人認為他有任何價值時，他的父親卻在家裡日盼夜盼他能回來。因為那是他的兒子。在舊約裡，大衛的三子押沙龍殺了長子暗嫩，因為害怕回去會被殺，而逃逸三年。約押不愧是大衛的元帥和出生入死的兄弟，他明白大衛已經走出失去暗嫩的悲傷，轉而思念押沙龍，因此約押決定不動聲色地幫大衛這個忙。

做臣子的人必須給主人面子。約押不能直接了當對大衛說：“我知道你想念押沙龍，就把他叫回來吧！”大衛能怎樣反應呢？他是一國之君，兒子殺了人，他叫兒子回來，難道可以不辦他嗎？但是若有人從旁請求，他就有下台階了。這就是父母的心腸。記不記得利百加當年叫雅各使詐去騙以撒的祝福，以掃知道後非常憤怒，揚言要殺雅各。利百加知道後非常擔心，說：“為什麼一日喪你們二人呢？”所以才叫以撒把雅各送去巴旦亞蘭。兄弟相爭，難免有死有傷，兩敗俱傷，這豈是利百加願意看到的？大衛也不是如此嗎？既然暗嫩都已經死了，那麼掛念的就是押沙龍了。

提哥亞離耶路撒冷不遠，在耶路撒冷以南約十英里處；主前九世紀，先知阿摩司曾在這裡牧羊。約押可能聽人家說過這位提哥亞婦人，她不是以美貌著稱，而是以聰明而揚名。她在約押的指使下，到大衛王那裏替押沙龍求情。她的故事和大衛家的故事頗為雷同，都是兄弟互鬥，死了一個，還有一個。等到大衛答應讓她剩下的兒子平安回家，不准人向他報仇後，婦人的話頭就轉向大衛了，問大衛王，為何不讓逃亡的人回來。當然，她在話語中十分小心，盡量婉轉，並且還要加點讚美。人在王面前都會盡量謙卑，免得惹禍上身；但是神卻沒有讓我們有如此的恐懼，我們來到主前，什麼話都可以直說，我們就曉得這就是恩典。神竟然讓我們和祂的獨生子耶穌基督一樣，像兒女對父母一樣，百無禁忌，而祂總是赦免，總是包容。

What God Is Like

2021-08-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
4  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

On verses 4-7:  In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, one of the most famous passages in the Bible, Paul paints a picture of what love is really like.  Since God is love, we can say that 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a picture of what God is really like.  If you ever wonder what God is like, you can think of Him this way:

God is patient.  God is kind.  God does not envy.  God does not boast.  God is not proud.  God is not rude.  God is not self-seeking.  God is not easily angered.  God keeps no record of wrongs.  God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  God always protects.  God always trusts.  God always hopes.  God always perseveres.