| Revelation 7:9–12 |
启示录 7:9-12 |
| 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” |
9这些事以后，我观看，见有一大群人，没有人能数得过来，是从各邦国、各支派、各民族、各方言来的。他们都站在宝座和羊羔面前，身穿白袍，手里拿着棕树枝。10他们大声呼喊，说：“愿救恩归给那坐在宝座上我们的 神，也归给羊羔！”11所有的天使都站在宝座、众长老和四个活物的四周。他们在宝座前，面伏在地上敬拜 神，12 说：“阿们！ 愿颂讚、荣耀、智慧、 感谢、尊贵、权能、力量， 都归给我们的 神， 直到永永远远。阿们！” |
|
| This week and next we devote to discussing two issues: (1) ethnic harmony and (2) sanctity of human life. They are back-to-back weeks every year in January because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and observing Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Both of these issues, abortion and racism, are an attack on the image of God. |
这周和下一周我们专注于讨论两个问题：（1）种族和睦和（2）人类生命的尊严。它们是每年一月份中连续的两周，是为了纪念马丁路德金日和生命尊严日（译注：1984年，就是美国最高法院通过堕胎法案11年之际，1月13日里根总统宣布1月22日为全国生命尊严日）。堕胎和种族主义这两个社会问题，都是在攻击神的形像。 |
|
| Genesis 1:27 states, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Abortion says that unborn babies are less valuable, less human, and are treated as “medical waste.” Racism says that certain groups of people—based on ethnicity, how they look, or where they come from—are less valuable, less human, and less deserving of dignity. And as Christians we say that this is not right, and not only is it not right, we want to be part of the solution to make abortion and racial prejudice increasingly unthinkable in both the church and in our culture. |
创世记1:27说：“神照着自己的形象创造人；就是照着神的形象创造了他；他所创造的有男有女。”主张堕胎者说，未出生的孩子比较没有价值，比较不像人类，所以可以被当作“医疗废物”处理。种族主义说，某些族群的人——基于种族、外貌或祖籍——比较没有价值，比较不像人类，比较不配得尊严。但作为基督徒我们说这是不对的，不仅不对，我们还要致力于让堕胎和种族偏见在教会和社会中越来越成为想都不能想的事情。 |
|
| ADDRESSING MISUNDERSTANDINGS |
指出误解 |
|
| I don’t want this sermon to die the death of a thousand qualifications, but a few misunderstandings should be addressed at the outset. |
我不寄望于这一次讲道就解决上千个问题，但我想从一开始就澄清一些误解。 |
|
| Ethnic Harmony is a Bible Issue—we believe that the Bible has a lot to say about ethnic harmony. Andy Naselli’s seminar North and Pastor Jason & Pastor Minn-Jing DT seminar that will be in February, seek to do the same thing, namely teach on what the Bible says about ethnic harmony. Discussions about race and ethnicity have become political issues (just like abortion), but these are issues that the Bible addresses and we want to be Bible people. |
种族和睦是关乎圣经的问题——我们相信圣经关于种族和睦说了很多。昨天安迪•拿赛利在北堂的讲座，杰森牧师和明璟牧师二月份在市中心主堂的讲座，都是为了做同样的事情，就是教导圣经关于种族和睦的说法。讨论人种和种族已经成了政治问题（就像堕胎），但这些问题关乎圣经的教导，而我们希望忠于圣经。 |
|
| Ethnic Harmony is a Complex Issue—this issue is complex. There is much that can be said from the Bible, about our world, about our culture, about American history, about race relations here in America and around the world. We can’t cover it all. In the next 35 minutes or so, I hope to highlight one aspect of this issue that I think we need at the particular moment in time. |
种族和睦是个复杂的问题——这个问题很复杂。圣经说了很多问题是关于我们这个世界、关于我们的文化、关于美国历史，关于美国和全世界范围内的种族关系的。我们不可能囊括这些问题。在接下来的35分钟里，我希望强调这个问题的某一个方面，需要在这个特定时刻及时处理。 |
|
|
Ethnic Harmony is a Long Journey—this message is not the final word. We realize the campuses are comprised of different people and at various stages in this journey. There are more steps to be taken to learn and to grow so we look and live more and more like Jesus in every area of life. None of us have arrived in our sanctification—on this issue or a thousand more. We want to grow in knowing and applying the truths of the Scriptures. Let’s have the humility to not conclude we know everything there is to know on this issue, but let God speak through his word. |
种族和睦是个漫长的旅程——今天这场信息并不能一锤定音解决问题。我们意识到我们教会三个堂区都是由不同种族组成的，而且处在这个旅程的不同阶段。我们都还有很多路要走，很多东西要学习和成长，最终我们在生活的各个领域中越来越像耶稣。我们中没有人已经完成成圣的过程——不管是在这个问题上还是在其它上千个问题上。我们要在了解和应用圣经真理上不断成长。让我们谦卑，不妄下结论说我们已经在这个问题上知道了所该知道的一切，而是让神透过祂的话语来讲话。 |
|
| Ethnic Harmony is an Emotionally Difficult Issue—John Piper writes, “This issue is an emotionally no-win issue, which is one of the reasons (of dozens) that people don’t want to touch it. You just get beat up so much. Black or White; Red, Yellow, Brown. You make an attempt—you think you’re doing the right thing and you don’t get it right. It’s a hard issue to deal with.” As an ethnic minority at this church, this topic makes me uncomfortable. I wish we didn’t have to talk about it, and I know many other ethnic minorities that share that same sentiment; you’d rather not talk about it. But there are others who have experienced pain and hurt because of these issues. You feel that you’re alone, or wish others could climb into what you experience, because it’s something you live with every day. So as your pastor this morning, I’m asking us to lay down our barriers as we look at the Bible together to be shaped by his Word. |
种族和睦是个情感上的难题——约翰•派博写道：“这个问题是个情感上没有赢家的问题，这是人们不愿意去碰它的（数十个）原因之一。你只会输得很惨。无论是黑种人还是白种人、红种人、黄种人、还是棕色人种。你尝试——你以为你在做对的事，但你做的总是不对。这实在是个棘手的问题。”作为这个教会里的少数族裔，这个话题更让我感到为难。我希望我们不必再谈这个话题，我也知道这里其他许多少数族裔也有同感，你宁愿不去碰这个话题。但还有一些人在这些问题上经历过痛苦和伤害。你感觉你孤独，或希望别人能和你感同身受，因为这就是你每天都要面对的事情。所以，今天早上，我作为你们的牧师，请求大家放下我们之间的壁垒，一起来看圣经，并让神的话语来塑造我们。 |
|
| TWO TEXTS TO GUIDE US |
两处经文来指导我们 |
| I have two texts I want us to look at this morning. The first is Matthew 6:10, the second petition from what we commonly call the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray. The second text we had read this morning: Revelation 7:9–12, where we get a vision of the redeemed gathered in worship of Jesus. |
今天早上我希望我们一起来看两处经文。第一处是马太福音6:10，就是我们通常所说耶稣教导门徒的主祷文中的第二个请求。第二处经文是今早我们已经读过的启示录7:9-12，从中我们看到得赎者聚集在一起敬拜耶稣。 |
|
| Matthew 6:10 |
马太福音6:10 |
| Many of you know this verse by heart: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We are taught by Jesus to make this petition. What does that mean? What are we supposed to pray? Jesus is teaching his disciples to pray for more and more of God’s rule and reign here on earth. It’s like saying, “In light of the darkness in our world, the sin, the division, the pain, the suffering, the death, and the oppression and injustices, bring more of your kingdom, Lord.” |
你们很多人都会背这句：“愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。”耶稣教导我们要作这样的祈求。那是什么意思？我们要祈求什么？耶稣是在教导祂的门徒祈求神越来越多地在地上掌权和统治。这好像是在说：“看我们这个世界的黑暗、罪恶、撕裂、痛苦、苦难、死亡、压迫和不公，主啊，愿你的国多多地降临！” |
|
| The world isn’t as it should be, so Jesus’ disciples are taught to pray for more of God’s rule and reign. His rule and reign is being exercised perfectly in heaven right now, and we’re to pray for more of it to come into our lives, into the hearts of those around us, and into our world. |
世界不该是这样子，所以耶稣教导门徒要祈求神更多地掌权和统治。祂的统治正在天上完美地实施，我们祈求那样的统治也降临到我们的生命中，到我们周围人的心中，以及我们这个世界里。 |
|
| This prayer is an already-not yet prayer. God’s kingdom has come in the person of Jesus, and it is not yet fully consummated and realized. This prayer asks for more of what is already true in heaven—namely that God’s name is honored, his kingship is acknowledged, and goodness is delighted in—to increasingly be true in our lives, our church, and our world. More of Jesus. More of his empowering Spirit. More awareness of his greatness and goodness. More justice, more peace, more worship, and more of Christ. |
这个祷告是一个已然-未然的祷告。神的国已经在耶稣的位格中降临，只是还没有最后完成和实现。这个祷告祈求更多已经在天上实现的一切——就是神的名已经被尊为圣，祂的王权被承认，祂的良善被喜悦——越来越多地实现在我们的生命中、我们的教会中，以及我们的世界里。更多地拥有耶稣，及祂赋能的圣灵。更多地认识祂的伟大和良善。更多的公正、平安，更多的敬拜，更多地拥有基督。 |
|
| How do we know what to pray for? Matthew 6:10 says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What does heaven look like? For some of us the mere mention of heaven conjures up images of fat babies playing harp. Instead, we look to the book of Revelation for understanding heaven. Which leads us to our second text. |
我们如何知道要祈求什么？马太福音6:10说：“愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。”天上是什么样？我们中有些人只要一听到天国，脑中就唤起一个画面，一些胖胖的婴儿在弹竖琴。不是这样的。我们来看启示录来理解天国是什么样。这就来到我们今天的第二处经文。 |
|
| Revelation 7:9–12 |
启示录7:9-12 |
| Revelation 7:9–12 gives us a peek into the heavens and the events of the last days unfolding. My plan is to read the text, and then highlight three observations from this text that shape and inform how we pray. My aim this morning is help us to see the beauty of the worship of all peoples in Revelation 7, and to go from acceptance, to loving and longing for this vision, and participating in making it more of a reality here and now. |
启示录7:9-12让我们略微一窥天国以及末日要展现的事件。我的计划是先读经文，然后强调三项观察来让我们知晓并改变如何祷告。我的目标是今天早上帮助我们看到启示录7章中万民敬拜的美好画面，然后从接受，到喜爱并渴望这样的异象，并且致力于让这个画面在此时此地变成现实。 |
| Words fail to describe the beauty of this scene. It tells us the end of the story. Jesus wins. The end comes. Our mission statement goes away in that final day because it will have been accomplished. We’ve heard it said, “Missions exists because worship doesn’t,” but in the book of Revelation we see that “Missions will end forever because Christ will be worshiped forever.” In this heavenly vision I want us to notice three observations: |
言语难以形容这景象的美好。它告诉我们人类历史终结的那一天。耶稣得胜了。结局来临了。在那末后的日子里，我们的使命宣言失效了，因为它已经被完成了。我们曾听到说：“宣教存在是因敬拜缺如，”但在启示录中，我们看到的是“宣教永远结束，因为基督将永远被敬拜。”在这个天国异象中我希望大家注意到三项观察结果： |
|
| THREE OBSERVATIONS ABOUT REVELATION 7:9–12 |
关于启示录7:9-12的三项观察 |
|
| 1) God Redeems a Diverse People for His Glory |
1）神为自己的荣耀救赎众民族 |
|
| We see that the worldwide Church will be comprised of a “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9) Revelation 5 tell us they have been ransomed by the blood of Jesus, “from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). These overlapping categories emphasize the multiethnic diversity of God’s people. |
我们看到普世教会是由“一大群人，没有人能数得过来，是从各邦国、各支派、各民族、各方言来的”（启示录7:9）。启示录5章告诉我们，这些人已经用耶稣的宝血“从各支派、各方言、各民族、各邦国”赎买了（启示录5:9）。这些重叠的分类是强调神的子民是民族多样性。 |
|
| Question: How does God get more glory in diversity? You may have heard the phrase, “God is not a tribal deity, but a global God.” That statement says God is not just for those of a certain ethnicity, country, socio-economic status, background, or culture. Instead, Jesus came to redeem some from among all peoples. Therefore God’s glory and the glory of Christ is greater because of the scope and reach of his redemption. |
问题：神如何在多样性中得荣耀？你可能听说过这样的说法：“上帝不是一个部族的神祇，而是整个世界的上帝。”这是说上帝不仅仅是属于某个特定的族群、国家、社会经济阶层、背景或文化的。相反，耶稣来是要从所有民族中救赎某些人出来。因此神的荣耀和基督的荣耀因为祂救赎的范围广泛而显为大。 |
|
| As kid growing up in Northern CA, I rooted for the football team the 49ers. But our rivals, the Dallas Cowboys were known as “America’s Team” because of their popularity. People had their hats and jerseys, recognized Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman. The glory of the Cowboys was greater because they had more fans, a more diverse fan base outside of the state of Texas. We call Usain Bolt the “fastest man on the planet.” He’s not just the fastest man in Jamaica, or the fastest man in the Caribbean, but in the world. The scope and magnitude of the stage, and the increase of the diversity of admirers and worshippers, translates into greater glory. If I’m the strongest man in my house, it’s not saying much. But if I’m the strongest man in Minnesota, that’s quite the accomplishment. If I’m the strongest man in the world, that is the greatest achievement. The diversity of worshippers reveals a greater praiseworthiness, a greater glory. |
作为一个在北加州长大的孩子，我是旧金山49人橄榄球队的粉丝。但我们的对手，达拉斯牛仔队因为他们受欢迎而被称为“美国队”。人们拥有他们的球帽和球衣，有的被认出来是艾米特·史密斯和特洛伊·艾克曼的。牛仔队的荣耀更大，因为他们拥有更多粉丝，在德州之外拥有多样化的粉丝。我们称尤塞恩·博尔特为“地球上跑得最快的人”。他不仅是牙买加最快的人，还是加勒比地区最快的人，而且是世界上最快的人。随着舞台的规模范围和数量，以及仰慕者和崇拜者的多样性的增加，转化为更大的荣耀。如果我只是家里最强壮的人，那不值一提。但如果我是明州最强壮的人，那就是个成就了。如果我是世界上最强壮的人，那就是最大的成就。崇拜者的多样性显出更大的认可度和更大的荣耀。 |
|
| Consider that right now, Jesus is being worshipped in a multitude of languages besides English. Worship resounds to the glory of Jesus Christ right now in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Punjabi, Telugu, Turkish, Korean, French, German, Vietnamese, Urdu, Javanese, Italian, Arabic, Persian, Indonesian, Polish, Yoruba, Burmese, Ukrainian, Romanian, Tagalog, Dutch, Amharic, Pashto, Thai, Somali, Malay, Nepali, Azerbaijani, Greek, Kazakh, Hungarian, Zulu, Czech, Uyghur, and on and on. Jesus Christ redeems a diverse people for his glory. He is not a tribal deity. |
现在想想看,除了英语之外,耶稣正被多种语言敬拜。耶稣基督的荣耀现在正以各种语言的敬拜回响,有华语、西班牙语、英语、印地语、孟加拉语、葡萄牙语、俄语、日语、旁遮普语、泰卢固语、土耳其语、韩语、法语、德语、越南语、乌尔都语、爪哇语、意大利语、阿拉伯语、波斯语、印尼语、波兰语、约鲁巴语、缅甸语、乌克兰语、罗马尼亚语、他加禄语、荷兰语、阿姆哈拉语、普什图语、泰语、索马里语、马来语、尼泊尔语、阿塞拜疆语、希腊语、哈萨克语、匈牙利语、祖鲁语、捷克语、维吾尔语，等等等等。耶稣基督为祂的荣耀赎买了多样化的子民。祂不只是一个部族的神祇。 |
|
| Different languages were once a sign of judgment in Genesis 11, and are now gathered together to worship the one and only true God. At the Tower of Babel—where the pride of mankind attempted to make a name for themselves—God “confused the languages of all the earth.” And now in Revelation this diversity of language resounds to the greatness and glory of our God. One language, one set of grammar, one body of expressions and terms, is not enough to contain the glory, majesty, and wonder of the steadfast love and redeeming blood of Jesus. |
不同语言曾经是创世记11章中审判的标志，而现在被聚集来敬拜独一的真神。在巴别塔——那时骄傲的人类企图为自己扬名——神“混乱全地的语言。”现在在启示录中，这语言的多样性回响着神的伟大和荣耀。一种语言，一套语法规则，一个体系的表达方式和用词，不足以容纳耶稣的荣耀、尊荣与奇妙，以及祂信实的爱和救赎的宝血。 |
|
| 2) God Establishes a United People for His Glory |
2）神为自己的荣耀建造合一之民 |
|
| Revelation 7:9–10 tells us that they are together, clothed in the same white robes, and crying out in unison “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Only God can bring such a diversity of people—some from every single people group on the face of the earth—to be united and singing out in unison. By what or by whom are they united? Scroll down to verse 13–14, “[13] Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” [14] I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” God’s people are gloriously united by the blood of Jesus Christ. |
启示录7:9-10告诉我们，这些人聚在一起，穿着同样的白袍，齐声说：“愿救恩归给那坐在宝座上我们的 神，也归给羊羔！”只有神能召来如此多样的民族——从地球上每一个族群中拣选一些人——团结一致，齐声歌唱。他们是凭着什么或因着谁而聚集？往下翻到13-14节：“[13]长老中有一位问我：“这些身穿白袍的是谁？ 他们是从哪里来的呢？” [14]我对他说：“我主啊，你是知道的。” 他告诉我：“这些人是从大患难中出来的。他们用羊羔的血，把自己的衣袍洗洁白了。”神的子民是用耶稣基督的宝血荣耀地团结在一起的。 |
| All of God’s people have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. There is no other way, no other truth, and no other life. There is one way into God’s kingdom, and it’s Jesus Christ. We have profound unity with all Christians. Christ has already begun that work by his blood. We read Ephesians 2:14–15 that Christ “has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” Christ death creates unity among God’s children. |
所有神的子民都是由羔羊的血所赎买。无别的道路，无别的真理，无别的生命。通向神国只有唯一一条道路，那就是耶稣基督。我们和所有基督徒有深刻的合一。基督已经用祂的血开始了这样的工作。我们读以弗所书2:14-15 基督“拆毁了隔在中间的墙，就是以自己的身体除掉双方的仇恨……使两者在他里面成为一个新人，这样就缔造了和平。”基督的死在神的儿女中缔造了合一。 |
|
| There is no boasting apart from boasting in Christ and in the cross. No room for ethnic or racial superiority or inferiority. All people are made in God’s image, and all the redeemed required the blood of Christ. The unity we have in Christ leads us to go to great lengths to love and to forgive others like Christ has loved and forgiven us. |
除了在基督里和十字架里夸耀，没有什么值得夸耀的。没有种族或人种优越或卑下的余地。所有种族都是照着神的形像造的，所有得赎的子民都需要基督的宝血。我们在基督里的合一带领我们竭尽全力去爱和饶恕他人，如同基督已经爱并饶恕了我们。 |
|
| I heard the story of Alice Mukarurinda, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She not only forgave her attacker, a man who killed her 9 month old baby and severed one of her hands with a machete, but she befriended him and now works alongside him in a reconciliation organization. I imagine in heaven, there will be many like Alice and her attacker, clothed in white, singing the same praise to God as a testimony of the power of the gospel. How many martyrs and their now forgiven attackers will lock arms in that final day, washed in the blood of Christ, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, and worship in unison the glory of Christ. |
我听说了1994年卢旺达大屠杀幸存者爱丽丝·穆卡鲁林达的故事。 她不仅宽恕了袭击者，一个杀死了她9个月大的婴儿并用砍刀割断了她一只手的男人，而且还和他交朋友，现在同他一起在和解组织中工作。 我想在天堂里，会有很多像爱丽丝和那个攻击她的人一样穿着白袍，向上帝歌颂同样的赞美，以此来证明福音的权能。 在末后的日子里，有多少殉道者和他们被饶恕的攻击者将手挽着手，用基督的宝血洗净，披戴耶稣的公义，并齐声敬拜基督的荣耀。 |
|
| Deep, profound unity we have in Jesus should move us towards loving and pursuing people who are different from us. In that day every voice will cry out in praise. From the sea villages of Indonesia to the countryside of Brazil, from the Twin Cities of Minnesota to the yurt dwelling people of Mongolia, and from the urbanites in London, Sydney, New York, Los Angeles, San Paulo, and Beijing to the rural towns and villages across our globe, may the name of Jesus be praised! |
我们在耶稣中拥有深远而深刻的合一，应该推动我们去爱并主动追求与我们不同的人。 在那天，每个声音都会发出赞美。 从印度尼西亚的渔村到巴西的乡村，从明尼苏达州的双子城市到蒙古的蒙古包居民，从伦敦、悉尼、纽约、洛杉矶、圣保罗和北京的城市居民到农村城镇 以及全球各地的村庄，愿耶稣的名得称赞！ |
|
| So God redeems a diverse people for his glory and God establishes a united people for his glory. |
所以，神为自己的荣耀从多民族中赎买子民，神也为自己的荣耀建造合一的子民。 |
|
| 3) God Accomplishes His Great Commission for His Glory. |
3）神为自己的荣耀完成祂的大使命 |
|
| Revelation 7 reveals to us that the Great Commission becomes a great reality and a great gathering. Matthew 28:18–20 says “[18b] All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” God’s people, right now, are called to make disciples of all nations, and then someday, all nations will be gathered around God’s glorious throne. This is embolden our missionary efforts across the world, and enliven our pursuit of ethnic diversity locally. |
启示录7向我们启示大使命变成了伟大的现实和伟大的聚集。马太福音28:18-20说：“[18b]天上地上一切权柄都赐给我了。 [19] 所以，你们要去使万民作我的门徒，奉父子圣灵的名，给他们施洗， [20] 我吩咐你们的一切，都要教导他们遵守。这样，我就常常与你们同在，直到这世代的终结。”现在，神的子民被呼召到万国万民中建造门徒，到某一天，万国万民都被召集环绕在神荣耀的宝座周围。这鼓舞了我们在世界各地的宣教事业，并激发我们在本地追求种族多样性。 |
|
| The image portrayed in Revelation 7 echoes the Feast of Booths from Leviticus 23. In Leviticus 23:39–40 we see that the people, when they have gathered in the whole harvest, they are to celebrate it by gathering palm branches and boughs of lefty trees and willows of the brook, and celebrate the feast before God for seven days. In Revelation, echoing the Feast of Booths, the image is that the long-awaited harvest of bringing in God’s global people is complete. |
启示录7章是对利未记23章中住棚节的回应。在利未记23:39-40中我们看到百姓在丰收之后聚会，拿棕树枝、茂密的大树枝和溪边的杨柳枝，在神面前欢庆七天。在启示录中，回应住棚节，所描绘的图景是长久等待的丰收，就是把全世界神的子民召集到一起。 |
|
| We should celebrate that God—in his sovereignty—is drawing people to himself. |
我们应该欢庆神——在祂的主权里——把子民召唤到祂自己身边。 |
|
| Consider some of these statistics:1 |
想想以下统计数据： |
| • In 1900 European and North American Christians comprised 83% of Christians worldwide, while the rest of the world comprised 17% of Christians (Africa 2%, Asia 4%, Latin America 11%) |
•在1900年，欧洲和北美的基督徒占了全世界基督徒的83%，而世界的其它地区总和只占17%（非洲2%，亚洲4%，拉美11%）。 |
| • In 2005 (105 years later), European and North American Christians comprised 40% of Christians worldwide, while Africa had grown to 19%, Asia to 17%, and Latin America to 24%. 60% of the world’s Christians came from outside Europe and North America. |
•在2005年（105年后），欧洲和北美基督徒占世界基督徒的40%，而亚洲增长到19%，亚洲增长到17%，拉美增长到24%。世界上60%的基督徒在欧洲和北美以外。 |
| • By 2050 (just 30 years from now), Africa, Asia and Latin America will comprise 71% of global Christianity, and Europe and North America will comprise 29%. |
•到2050年（离现在只有30年），非洲、亚洲和拉美的基督徒将占世界基督徒的71%，而欧洲和北美将只占29%。 |
|
| One might look at these statistics and lament the decline of Christianity in Europe and North America, but it is an occasion to celebrate that the gospel is going forth and taking root among “all peoples,” and we get to be a part of that glorious Great Commission that is taking place. |
有人看着这些统计数据而哀叹欧洲和北美基督教的衰落，但这也是一个庆祝福音传遍全地在“万民”中扎根的机会，我们有幸参与到正在进行的荣耀大使命中。 |
|
| APPLICATION |
应用 |
|
| Martin Luther King Jr. issued a prophetic call to the church, which seems just as applicable to us today: |
马丁路德金向教会发出了先知般的预言，这对我们今天仍然适用： |
|
|
There was a time when the church was very powerful — in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. . . . But the judgment of God is upon the church [today] as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the 20th century. (M.L. King, Letter from Birmingham Jail, with an introduction by Paul Chaim Schenck, 17) |
曾几何时，教会非常强大-早期的基督徒因被认为值得为自己的信仰受苦而感到高兴。 在那个时代，教会不仅是记录民意和思想的温度计，而是改变整个社会的恒温器……但是[今天]，上帝的审判前所未有地临到教会头上。 如果今天的教会不恢复早期教会的奉献精神，它将失去其真实性，丧失数百万人的忠诚，并被视为对20世纪毫无意义的无关紧要的社会俱乐部。（马丁路德金《伯明翰狱中书信》） |
|
| God forbid we become a social club. If we become a place that is mainly about being entertained, advancing our comfort, and gathering with socially likeminded people, we should turn off the lights, sell the building, and shut it all down. We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. We are mission to magnify the greatness of our God in every sphere of life. No aspect of life is untouchable, but we bring it all under the lordship and authority of King Jesus. |
神不允许我们成为一个社会俱乐部。如果我们变成一处主要是为了娱乐，增进舒适，和趣味相投的人聚会，那我们就应该关掉电源，卖掉房子，关门大吉。我们存在是为了传扬对神至高无上的激情，为了万民藉着耶稣基督得喜乐。我们的使命是要让神的伟大在我们生命中的各个领域都显为大。生命中没有哪个领域是不可碰触的，而是都要交托在君王耶稣的主权与权柄之下。 |
|
| So if we see the brokenness of our world, the division and strife, and yet we know the end of the story, what do we then do? How do we advance ethnic harmony here at the North campus of Bethlehem, knowing that it’s a long journey? |
所以如果我们看到我们世界的破碎、分裂和争斗，我们又知道故事的结局，那么我们要做什么？我们如何在这里，伯利恒北堂，推进种族和睦，并深知这是个漫长的旅程？ |
|
| 1) Love and Pursue Diversity |
1）爱，并且追求多样化 |
|
| John Piper once wrote, |
约翰派博曾写道： |
| “What seems to be missing among many Christians, is a solid biblical conviction that ethnic diversity in the church is a beautiful thing, and part of God’s ultimate design for his people. It is inconceivable to me that a Christian can have a Christ-exalting love for diversity in the church and be hostile toward diversity in the nation. The knee-jerk hostilities I see betray, it seems, a very thin veneer of politically correct tolerance of diversity, instead of a deep, biblically grounded, cross-centered exuberance over God’s plan to reconcile all nations in Christ.”2 |
“很多基督徒似乎忽略了圣经中一个坚定的信念，就是教会里的种族多样性是一件美事，也是神为祂子民终极设计的一部分。如果一个基督徒可以对教会里的多样性怀有高举基督的爱，而同时对国家中的多样性怀有敌意，这对我来说是难以置信的。这种下意识的敌意在我看来是暴露了他们包容多样性只是浅薄的政治正确的虚饰，他们内心缺乏深刻的，基于圣经的，以十字架为中心的，为神在基督里与万民和解的计划而喜悦的情怀。 |
|
| In loving diversity in the church, we’ll seek to diversify our circle of relationships both within and outside of the church. We need to love and befriend and know people different from us. It will take decades. If we are willing to send folks like the Paul & Susan Lim, trained medical professionals, to leave their earthly home and country, to raise support, to send their kids to boarding school, in order to serve Muslim peoples in North Africa, I hope and trust we are likewise willing and eager to befriend the diversity of peoples we’ll get to interact with here in the Twin Cities. We get an opportunity to welcome our Chinese, South Asian, Russian, Somoli, Hmong and Mexican neighbors, and all those Iowans, South Dakotans, Wisconites, and native Minnesotans into our lives and into a relationship with Jesus. |
为了爱教会里的多样性，我们将寻求让我们的关系圈多样化，不仅在教会内，也在教会外。我们需要去爱并结识和我们不同的人。这可能要花几十年时间。既然我们愿意差派我们的会众，像林保罗、苏珊夫妇这样训练有素的医生，离开他们地上的家国，自己募款，把孩子送去寄宿学校，去服事北非的穆斯林，我希望且相信我们同样愿意和渴望在我们这里双城地区结交多样化的人群。我们有机会接纳我们的华人、南亚人、俄罗斯人、索马里人、苗族人、和墨西哥人邻居，也邀请爱荷华州人、南达科他州人、威斯康星州人和本地明尼苏达州人进入我们的生活中，也进入与耶稣的关系中。 |
|
| 2) Learn to Lament & Rejoice with Others |
2）学习与他人同哀哭同欢笑 |
|
| Romans 12:15 says “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” We have an opportunity within the body of Christ to learn to lament with others, to weep with those who weep. Say if you have a friend, and their dog dies, we don’t—if we are a good friend—say, “just buy a new one” or “I never liked that dog” or “I prefer cats more anyways.” We listen, and learn weep with those who weep. We have a unique opportunity to minister to one another the truth of God’s word in the context of a Christ-centered and compassionate and caring community. |
罗马书12:15说：“要与喜乐的人一同喜乐，与哀哭的人一同哀哭。”我们有机会在基督的身体里学习与他人同哀歌，同哭泣。比如说你有个朋友，他们家的狗死了，我们不会—如果他是你的好朋友—说：“再买条新的就好了”或“我从来没喜欢过那只狗”或“我更喜欢猫。”我们倾听，学习与哭泣者同哭泣。我们有着得天独厚的机会在我们这个以基督为中心，充满怜悯和关爱的社群，用神话语中的真理来彼此服事。 |
|
| I know there are some that have felt slighted or hurt here at Bethlehem. I’m saddened by that. I know so many amazing, friendly, generous, and welcoming people here that sometimes it’s difficult to imagine. And yet, we have an opportunity to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. A few months ago I was invited to a family thanksgiving celebration that took place here at the North Campus. The family is from Nigeria, so we had more dancing here in the North campus sanctuary than I have ever seen. It was amazing. I was learning to rejoice with those who rejoice for healing from cancer, a graduation, and a marriage anniversary. |
我知道有些人在伯利恒教会感到受轻视或受伤害。我为此感到难过。我在这里认识很多很棒、很友善、慷慨和热情的人们，有时很难想像会有这样的事发生。然而我们仍有机会与喜乐的人一同喜乐，与哀哭的人一同哀哭。几个月前，我受邀参加一个家庭感恩庆典，就在我们这个北堂。这个家庭来自尼日利亚，所以我在北堂的礼堂里从来没看到过这么多舞蹈。真是棒极了。我正在学习和那些为癌症治愈、为学校毕业以及结婚周年而欢乐的人们一同欢乐。 |
|
| 3) Learn to Listen to Others |
3）学习彼此倾听 |
|
| In Side By Side by Ed Welch, he challenges us to “walk together and tell stories.” We all have this deep longing to be truly known. And here in the church, with those similar and with those different from us, we have an opportunity to walk together and ask for stories about one anothers’ faith, upbringing, family, and hopes and dreams. When we learn to listen, we open up opportunities for God to minister to us and to others as we listen and seek to understand God’s good work in the lives of others who are unlike us. It will broaden our ability to understand who God is. |
在爱德·韦尔奇的《肩并肩》一书中，他挑战我们要“彼此同行讲故事。”我们都深深地渴望被真正认识。而在这教会里，与那些与我们相同或不同的人们，我们有机会与他们同行，彼此询问关于信仰、成长、家庭、希望与梦想的故事。当我们学习倾听的时候，我们就创造机会让神来服事我们与他人，通过我们倾听并寻求理解神在那些与我们不一样的人生命中所作的善工。这可以拓展我们认识神的能力。 |
|
| CLOSING |
结束语 |
|
| This can feel daunting, and yet I’m encouraged to come back to this heavenly vision in Revelation. God sits on the throne, all that is wrong will be made right. Later in Revelation 7:17 it says, “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” My hope is that Jesus Christ will be our shepherd, guiding us to springs of living water, and will wipe away every tear from our eyes. He will care for his sheep, he will build and establish his church, he will gather the nations to himself, and he will be our God. Let’s look to him with faith, hope, and an eagerness to love those around us and to pray earnestly to our God, “Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” |
这可能会令人望而却步，而当我回到启示录中天国的异象中时我就被激励。神坐在宝座上，所有冤屈均得昭雪。随后在启示录7:17中说：“因为在宝座中间的羊羔必牧养他们，领他们到生命水的泉源那里。神也必抹去他们的一切眼泪。”我的希望是耶稣基督会作我们的牧者，带领我们到生命水的泉源那里，抹去我们眼中的泪。祂会照看祂的羊群，祂会建立并建造祂的教会，祂会召集万邦到自己身边，祂会作我们的神。让我们带着信心和盼望来定睛于祂，带着我们对周围人的爱，热切地向神祷告：“愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。” |
网友评论