Entries by

教会应如何面对LGBT(3 )

2021-08-27 in , /by

外在因素引起的

接下来，我们来谈一下有些同性恋者或跨性别者，他们背后的成因或多或少有些外在因素的影响。我下面简单地列出几个可能因素：

源自父母的错误期望：

我认识一位女性，她父亲非常渴望得的是男孩。以致后来她在成长过程中，因着父亲的期望和无形的熏陶，她的穿着打扮，讲话个性，甚至连走路都像个男孩。或许她想以这些来获取父亲的欢喜和认可。又或者像《我是跨性别女人》的作者Walt Heyer，他祖母希望他是个女孩，常给他穿紫色的连衣裙。使他开始错认为自己应该是女孩，结果导致对自我性别的混乱。

痛苦的成长经历。

另外有一位成长在父亲施暴，母亲被虐待家庭的女孩，由于她一直挺身保护母亲。之后在同性间，她惯性地扮演着保护柔弱女生的阳刚角色，深获同性的喜爱。她也享受这种被同性爱戴的身份和角色。久而久之，她开始习惯男性打扮，跟女性交往也越来越频繁，慢慢地开始了同性恋的生活形态.

孤单寂寞

有些同性恋者从小并没有被同性吸引的倾向，但由于孤单和寂寞，和一些同性朋友的美好友谊，渐渐变了质。例如在季刊76期登过一篇文章，作者因出国到异地他乡，非常寂寞，想家，失落。突然发现自己超乎异常的想念一位平常非常关心他的同性好友。这种原本是同性之间的美好友谊慢慢变质，演变到最后，坠入到同性恋的性关系里面。像这种因寂寞，以致心理上过度依赖同性好友而演变成同性恋关系，在我个人有限的辅导个案里面，占了很大的部分。

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.

大卫逃离耶路撒冷

2021-08-26 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 15:28 我在旷野的渡口那里等你们报信给我。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 15:13-37

此时的大卫虽然已经年记大了，但是他的反应和处理事情的能力却一点都不比年轻时差。他显然没有想到押沙龙会叛变，但是一听到这个消息，却很快就做了一个决定，离开耶路撒冷。在很短的时间内，他就把事情整理得有条有理，谁该留，谁该跟他走，哪个人要负责何事，大卫王像一个总指挥，把事情安排得十分妥当。押沙龙在希伯仑，为何大卫要离开耶路撒冷呢？因为大卫知道有许多人跟随押沙龙，若是他留在耶路撒冷，耶路撒冷必然变成战场。假如他留下来，他不可能把耶路撒冷拱手交给押沙龙，为了避免无辜的百姓遭到杀害，大卫选择退出耶路撒冷，只留下十个妃嫔看守宫殿。当然这是象征性的，因为十个妃嫔怎么能抵挡押沙龙的攻势？伯墨哈是耶路撒冷过汲沦溪谷以前，面向橄榄山的一座房子（或是：地方）。

患难见真情，在大卫逃亡时，有个迦特人，也就是非利士人以太，他带着跟随他的人和所有妇人孩子也跟着大卫走。大卫是个仁君，他知道以太刚从非利士地逃到耶路撒冷，正应该享受稳定的生活，不然也可以去辅助新王，拿个高职，何必跟着他这个糟老头子颠沛流离，过著有一餐没一餐的逃亡生涯？但是以太的回答，就好像路得给拿俄米的回答那样令人感动：“无论生死，王在哪里，仆人也必在哪里！”有的解经家说，跟随大卫的基利提人、比利提人等六百从迦特来的人，其实就是跟随以太的人，也是大卫那时拥有的唯一军旅，但是大卫还是不忍心看他们为他而奔波，被他连累。但是经过亚太一再保证，大卫终于允许他们和他一起过了汲沦溪，再往旷野而去。

大卫预备过了旷野，走到耶利哥的渡口，过约旦河，再上玛哈念，在约旦河西的以色列地休息，同时等待事情的进展。大卫对以色列的地理可熟悉了，在以色列地逃亡了几年，那里的情形如何，他几乎都了若指掌。但是在他继续要前行时，却发现祭司们把约柜都抬来了。此时，我们看见大卫的信心，他不要让神的约柜跟着他流浪。

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).

押沙龙叛变

2021-08-25 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 15:6 以色列人中，凡去见王求判断的，押沙龙都是如此待他们。这样，押沙龙暗中得了以色列人的心。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 15:1-12

在你的一生中，有没有最想做的事？你所做的一切努力，会不会都朝着那个方向而准备？在一些宫庭故事里，经常围绕的主题就是对王位的明争暗夺，在以色列也不例外。大卫做王，生了许多儿子；在清朝的宫庭里，例如康熙、雍正、乾隆也都有不少儿子。于是乎，王位之争就成了不可避免的一件事，各个王子都害怕自己一旦做不成王就命运堪虞，还有他们背后的母亲也害怕被打入冷宫，因此比较有野心的王子就会处心积虑地为自己谋事。几乎没看过像扫罗的儿子约拿单那样体察神心意的王子，竟然愿意把王位拱手让给大卫，并且愿意作大卫的辅佐之臣（撒上23:17）。但是，像押沙龙这样想谋取王位的王子，不胜枚举。

而押沙龙的作法，也显明了世人为自己筹谋的心机和不择手段。到目前为止，你能看出来押沙龙的心狠手辣吗？大卫躲避扫罗时，是有所不为，凡是会得罪神的事，他一概不做；押沙龙为了争夺王位，则是无所不为。他利用剪羊毛的欢庆，杀了暗嫩；为了逼约押帮他，就烧约押的田地；又利用还愿的借口，要到希伯仑称王。在他的心意显明之前，又用尽手段拢络以色列的百姓，把大卫变成一个不理人间疾苦的君王。他的计谋是那样地深沉，以至于有两百多跟随他的人竟然都被蒙在鼓里。

他先为自己造势，坐在马车上，派五十人在他前面奔走，好让人看见他的威仪，就仰慕他，喜欢他。他是以色列第一美男子，天天坐在华丽的马车上跑来跑去，让人看了印象加深，对他产生好感。上次我回台时，正好碰到台湾有选举，那些竞选的人各自雇了车子，贴上他们的大头照，又站在敞开的车上，用扩音器拜票。所以，押沙龙真的很聪明，在古时候还没有开广告这行业，他已经会打广告，自我宣传了。

大卫召见押沙龙

2021-08-24 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 14:25 以色列全地之中，无人像押沙龙那样俊美，得人的称赞，从脚底到头顶毫无瑕疵。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 14:25-33

押沙龙回家了，但是左等右等都等不到父王的召见，真的很伤感。浪子的父亲是倚门长盼，远远看见浪子的身影，就冲上去，不管三七二十一地来个拥抱和亲嘴。然而这个长得无比俊美，从脚底到头顶毫无瑕疵的王子回家了，他的父亲却来个不予置理。押沙龙在耶路撒冷足足住了两年，没有见王的面。假如不要他了，为何又要召他回来？假如你是押沙龙，你心里会怎样想？父王不爱他，也不要见他，还在怪罪他。如此一来，他还有前途吗？大哥暗嫩死了，二哥基利押不见踪影，因为《圣经》里没有记载他怎么了。那么，他是老三，原本应该继承大位的，但若是大卫对他不满，不肯把王位给他，那么他就“完了”。

从押沙龙杀暗嫩一事上，可以得知这人非常功于心计。他不能一直处在挨打的地位上，他开始精心策划自己的将来。因此让大卫接见自己，让自己重新回到王子的位置上是最重要的，只要大卫接见他，他就立刻变成老大，因为前面两个王子都不在了。押沙龙本身的条件非常好，他长得十分俊美。每到年底剪头发，竟重二百舍客勒，大约现在的两公斤重。让经常掉头发，头上稀稀疏疏的人很羡慕啊！

时下的美容整型非常盛行，说明了一件事，就是人们觉得外表的形像太重要了。但是实际上，我们以为俊美的人是否也觉得自己俊美呢？押沙龙非常俊美，经常被人称赞，可是他一点都不快乐。有许多漂亮的女孩子也不快乐，因为她们总觉得自己不够完美，为什么眼睛不能再大一点？为什么鼻子不能再高一点？嘴唇不能厚一点？大腿太粗，小腿不直？因为偶像崇拜的影响，总觉得不如影视明星那么漂亮，所以就想跟他们一样；但是影视明星也觉得自己不够帅、不够漂亮，所以就有很多跑去整型。但是美丽的外型，能否带来人生的满足？

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.”

约押藉民妇劝大卫

2021-08-23 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 14:21 王对约押说：「我应允你这事。你可以去，把那少年人押沙龙带回来。」

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 14:1-24

在新约里主耶稣说过一个浪子的比喻，不管浪子在外面做了什么事情，花光了他父亲给他的一切财物，在没有人认为他有任何价值时，他的父亲却在家里日盼夜盼他能回来。因为那是他的儿子。在旧约里，大卫的三子押沙龙杀了长子暗嫩，因为害怕回去会被杀，而逃逸三年。约押不愧是大卫的元帅和出生入死的兄弟，他明白大卫已经走出失去暗嫩的悲伤，转而思念押沙龙，因此约押决定不动声色地帮大卫这个忙。

做臣子的人必须给主人面子。约押不能直接了当对大卫说：“我知道你想念押沙龙，就把他叫回来吧！”大卫能怎样反应呢？他是一国之君，儿子杀了人，他叫儿子回来，难道可以不办他吗？但是若有人从旁请求，他就有下台阶了。这就是父母的心肠。记不记得利百加当年叫雅各使诈去骗以撒的祝福，以扫知道后非常愤怒，扬言要杀雅各。利百加知道后非常担心，说：“为什么一日丧你们二人呢？”所以才叫以撒把雅各送去巴旦亚兰。兄弟相争，难免有死有伤，两败俱伤，这岂是利百加愿意看到的？大卫也不是如此吗？既然暗嫩都已经死了，那么挂念的就是押沙龙了。

提哥亚离耶路撒冷不远，在耶路撒冷以南约十英里处；主前九世纪，先知阿摩司曾在这里牧羊。约押可能听人家说过这位提哥亚妇人，她不是以美貌著称，而是以聪明而扬名。她在约押的指使下，到大卫王那里替押沙龙求情。她的故事和大卫家的故事颇为雷同，都是兄弟互斗，死了一个，还有一个。等到大卫答应让她剩下的儿子平安回家，不准人向他报仇后，妇人的话头就转向大卫了，问大卫王，为何不让逃亡的人回来。当然，她在话语中十分小心，尽量婉转，并且还要加点赞美。人在王面前都会尽量谦卑，免得惹祸上身；但是神却没有让我们有如此的恐惧，我们来到主前，什么话都可以直说，我们就晓得这就是恩典。神竟然让我们和祂的独生子耶稣基督一样，像儿女对父母一样，百无禁忌，而祂总是赦免，总是包容。

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.