每日灵修 | 5.30 社群是……不断在改变
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社群是……不断在改变
Community Is … Ever Changing
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哥林多前书 9:19-23
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
每日金句
……向什么样的人,我就作什么样的人。无论如何总要救些人。
—林前 9:22
…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
—1 Corinthians 9:22
保罗在这里的解释往往令我感到困惑,为了福音的缘故,他改变他的言行举止来影响别人,他这样做似乎有点虚伪(或者甚至在玩弄手段?)。然而,当我在社群中活得越久和我经历的境况越多时,我便觉得我渐渐能够明白他在说什么了。
假若我从社群和它能够成就的目标这个角度来解读这个信息,我便明白了。我今天需要在社群得到的,和我在十年或二十年前的需要不同;当我在念高中时,我面对父亲的死亡,那时我需要我的社群聆听我对神发怒、但仍然无条件地爱我。当我的孩子仍年幼时,太太和我需要找人代我们照顾他们,还有当我们想知道怎样教养他们时,我们需要有人来聆听我们的问题。到了今天,我们的需要仍然在改变。这个月在这里与我们分享他们的故事的每一个人也是一样,一年或甚至一个月之后,他们对社群也可能有不同的期待。
一个以耶稣基督的恩典去服侍的基督徒社群,也可以在任何人面前做任何事;对那些受苦的人,我们可以来一起哀哭;对喜乐的人,我们可以一同庆祝。我们的社群可以做到很多事情,因为我们之间有非常深厚的关系。社群不断在改变,这样它才能够在我们周围这个不断改变的世代中反映出神究竟是谁。今天,无论你有什么需要,属神子民的社群,都会像基督那样在你身边的。
This explanation by Paul has often confused me. It seems like he was not being authentic (or maybe even manipulative?) by changing the way he acted in order to influence people for the gospel. But the longer I live in community and the more life circumstances I go through, the more I think I understand what he is talking about.
A Christian community, serving with the grace of Jesus Christ, can be all things to all people. For those who are hurting, it can come and cry alongside. For people who are rejoicing, it can celebrate. It can offer so much because it is so deep. It is ever changing to reflect who God is in the ever-changing world around us. Whatever you are in need of today, the community of God’s people is there to be Christ for you.
祷告 · Prayer
主啊,我们在祢子民的社群中,找到那不断改变的处境下,始终不变深切的爱,我们感谢祢。阿们。
摘自《每日箴言》
普世佳音出版