I am not an expert in determining how should we operate a church? And whether we should manage it at all?
I guess Brother Daniel would like us to provide some opinions about church’s organization in lieu of whether it is biblical to have one to start with.
Follow by the question of whether it is spiritual to operate a church with organization structure which by itself is more worldly than spiritual?
I think Brother Daniel had given his initial opinion that it is not the WILL of God for us to manage the church like the worldly people managing a company. The reason is that it provides a platform of temptation for people to be proud of when they are holding power while establishing a kingdom. Even if there are some benefit to get organized but why should we allow opportunity for Satan to tempt us with power and kingdom? That is his major concern.
I do have a question, will it really beneficial for us to voice a personal opinion where Brother Daniel had already set the tone that opinion is for people to agree or disagree because personal opinion is not God’s Truth? If we can treat the opinion Elder James had drawn from his understanding of God’s truth as just a personal opinion, what good can we have when each of us voice our personal opinion under this topic?
Also, we know that under the scheme of God’s salvation, it is by itself a spiritual warfare; where Lord Jesus sowed good seeds to save us and his enemy sabotaged him by sowing bad seeds to destroy us. So if we put-off organization because it may be exploited by Satan, the question is, will Satan not exploit the opportunity to sabotage Lord Jesus while we are unorganized?
The danger I do see is that when a bad seed took-hold in a person’s heart, the person becomes Satanic but no one else around him will be able to notice until his bad fruits are being seen. We are seeing such fruits from all sorts of problems that are being disclosed in this forum. We see such symptoms of being proud, power hunger, deviation from God’s truth either because of misunderstanding the meaning of God’s words or twisted God’s words etc!
What I really wanted to say is that, the attack by Satan is unavoidable. Satan can attack Jesus’ believers from within the church or from outside the church; Satan can attack Jesus’ believers from inside their heart or from outside their heart too!
There are false prophets who may be clothed with sheep’s skin but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matt 7:15). There arehypocrite and rules made by men (MK 8:15; MK 7:5-8). However, even if Lord Jesus foretold about this happening, none of the time Lord Jesus had asked us to judge and convict them. Therefore it is not Jesus’ way if we exercise the so-call-our-right to excommunicate any of such people.
What did Lord Jesus want us to do? Let me list some of them here!
We are to watch out and be on our guard against all kinds of greed (LK 12:15). We are to watch ourselves that if brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him (LK 17:3). We are to watch out that we do not keep on biting and devouring each other which lead to destruction (Gal 5:15). We are to watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation (Matt 26:41). We are to watch out that no one deceives us (Matt 24:4). We are to keep watch over ourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers (Acts 20:28).
Lord Jesus warned us to beware of our own-self and none of his warning was to take any specific actions against our enemy!
Unfortunately, I have not read about any biblical method Lord Jesus had taught his disciple to manage his church, may be because I have not read all the words extensively enough. Therefore I am afraid no one can come out with God’s truth (God’s way) on how to manage His church. Again, what we are going to say may fall into the category of personal opinion, isn’t it?
But what do I know, can someone who have found from the words of God telling us how to manage a church share his finding here?
I am no better than you in addressing the issue of organization structure. But I believe a congregation as large and as wide spread as TJC, some sort of organization is evitable. In many country, the worldly laws might even demand for such structure to be in place before one can operate in the country.
Therefore, I believe the congregation (or church) must be organized. The organization should be structured to manage worldly issues and worldly matters. Spiritual matters and issues should be addressed and resolved based on Words of God and by the Bible. No man should be given or exercised spiritual authority beyond the words of God or the Bible given to men.
Just like you mentioned in your message, even when we have structured our church to manage only worldly mundane matters and issues, there is no way to prevent satanic workers from eroding our organization with ungodly principle, rules and management method.
This is a matter that is easy said than done, especially when this church is so widely spread with so many believers. I believe the best place to start is to look at what the church has already established and remove those that are spiritual in nature, particularly those that are in conflict with words or God or the Bible. There should be no rule or regulation that provide anyone power or authority equal or larger than God. The structure (including rules and regulations) that are designed to deal with worldly matters and issues should be kept or refined.
Hope this two cents worth of thought is of any use.
我这样地赞成“神政”並不是说唯一能行的管理方法是属世的“专權”制度,好像天主教一样立一个教皇,由教皇决定一切。或许Daniel同灵在字里行间好像对“True Research Committee”有些意见,我猜想这可能是因为TRC已经不知不觉地被拥立成为“真理的教皇”,在加上没有信徒知道里面的成员到底是谁,没有人很清楚它如何操作,它平时在研究些什么?但他们却控制住教会的真理,不仅不民主而且看起来非常专權,Daniel弟兄,你的意思是不是这样?请纠正!
第二个问题是,我们有没有忠于神的话,我们有没有忠于神用以传达神的信息的字?这些字的意思,形成了神要我们遵守的真理的信息。(We have to respect all the words God had used to compose His truths? What the words intended to mean are the meaning of the truth God would like to convey to us?)
1 Thess 5:19-22 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
The reason I replied under the topic “Has True Jesus Church deteriorated?” and not under this topic has its meaning. Today TJC proclaim the perfect church and its importance, how it inherent power and authority since birth, ‘bid rigging’ upstream (claiming Jesus = True Vine = Holy Temple = Ark = Church = TJC), ‘bid rigging’ downstream with the spread of gospel, elevating the status of church to be similar of the Mediator status, and have diminish the role of the Holy Spirit to a mere aid.
“Ideology of Inherent power and authority of church” came from the December, 2011 issue of the Holy Spirit Monthly (1st link on below the 1st Chinese paragraph and the content is in Chinese character).
“Ideology of Jesus=True Vine=Holy Temple=Church=TJC” came from the June, 2011 issue of the Holy Spirit Monthly (2nd link below the first link, and the content is in Chinese character).
Under this present trend, if TJC believes it is one God’s vineyard, we can refer to the parable of the wicked vinedressers and see the two sides of the same coin effect (one side is talking about Jews at Jesus’ time, the other side reflecting present situation in the church), in the parable, originally the owner gave authority and power to the vinedressers to look after the vineyard, however the vinedressers elevate themselves with the given power and authority, beat and send the servant of the owner away empty-handed, if not killed (Luke 20)! YM Yang can be referring to as the servant send by the owner only for him to be beaten, if not send away empty-handed! Who is the real servant? Only through Holy Spirit, one can discern between the real and the fake (Not deciding based on the status given by TJC)!
Organisation or no organisation?
If we simply investigate whether there are such a thing as a ‘perfect organisation’, my conclusion after three years of research is that I have not found one (Investigation went from the parallel approach of the Israel times: where one set of elders are the ‘family elders’, and the other set are ‘religious elders’; to Catholicism’s Papal system; and to the Presbyterian’s overseer’s system or the bishop system. None of these are perfect solution). I am gradually steered towards non-organisational structure (or the so-called ‘family’ model), this ‘slow gradual steps’ is guided by the Holy Spirit. Through my daily devotion, Holy Spirit allows me to connect the dots within the bible, and clearly the work of the Holy Spirit transcend time and space, it can be seen in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Each time the Holy Spirit executes the plan perfectly with precision and propitious end result. At the same time we can observe human-origin plans with inherent fraud that continuous to fail.
From the Acts of apostle, we can see a clear and workable model “begins with the Holy Spirit, and ends with the Holy Spirit” model. This model cannot be simply inherited by the organisation; rather one needs to follow the biblical teachings ‘continuously / daily’ in the areas of fearing God and loving man. Carried out this faith in our actions, love others as how God have loved (continuously / daily) us. The spiritual faith in God comes from personal devotion rather than simulation by the organisation. If were merely continuously emphasis the needs for an organisation, it only leads us away from reliance of the Holy Spirit and the work given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember, we came to believe in Jesus, believing in the Bible, believing in God shown us Salvation through the truth in the bible! We did not come to believe in the church, nor like the other denomination where their members believe Pastor’s (and his wife) interpretation of the bible! God through the bible has given us everything we need, it is up to us whether we want to submit to the Holy Spirit and His guidance and inspiration, so we know how to continuously / daily fearing God and loving men, and at the same time completing God’s work on us.
没有组织好过有组织吗?
我不晓得如何去操作一个教会?我也不晓得一个教会需不需要管理?
我想Daniel弟兄希望我们能针对教会的组织是否合乎圣经发表一些意见。
他接下来的问题是想问以属世的组织结构来操作教会,是不是很不属灵呢?
我想Daniel弟兄已先告诉我们他的意见,如果管理教会好像管理一间公司不是神的旨意(組織結構並不是我們的主要我們在管理教會上所使用的方法)。原因是组织付给人国度和权柄,带给人今生骄傲的试探。虽然组织或许能带给我们一些好处,但为什么要给撒旦留地步呢?这是Daniel弟兄的隐忧。
但我有一个疑问?Daniel弟兄也表明,个人的意见不是真理,其他人有权力去认同或否定,那么发表个人意见会带给我们什么好处呢?如果我们可以把雅各长老從神的话里得到的理解当成个人的意见,那更何况是我们这些凡人所发表的意见呢(能带给我们什么好处)?
我想大家都知道救恩是一个属灵的争战;主耶稣撒好种,主耶稣的敌人撒稗子来破坏耶稣的工要叫我们毁灭沉沦。所以我们如果拿掉组织不给撒旦留地步,问题是,撒旦会不会也利用我们没有组织的情况来搞破坏呢?
我可以看到一件危险的事,就是当稗子在人心里成长成形,这人就变成撒旦的仆人,但没有人会晓得这事直到能够看见所结的坏果。我们在这栏里听到的不好的事件就是这些坏果。我们可以從中看到今生的骄傲,权利的欲望,离开神的真理(不能确实明白神的真理,或扭曲神的真理)等等!
我想说的是,撒旦的攻击是无可避免的。撒旦可以在主耶稣的信徒中间攻击他们也可以在信徒外面攻击他们;撒旦可以在人的心里攻击那人也可以在他外面攻击他。
你们要防备假先知。他们到你们这里来,外面披着羊皮,里面却是残暴的狼。(马太7:15)耶稣嘱咐他们说,你们要谨慎,防备法利赛人的酵,和希律的酵(马可8:15)。法利赛人和文士问他说,你的门徒为什么不照古人的遗传,用俗手吃饭呢。 耶稣说,以赛亚指着你们假冒为善之人所说的豫言,是不错的,如经上说,这百姓用嘴唇尊敬我,心却远离我。 他们将人的吩咐,当作道理教导人,所以拜我也是枉然。 你们是离弃神的诫命,拘守人的遗传(马可7:5-8)。虽然主耶稣对门徒预言这一切会发生的事,但没有一次是叫门徒审判和向他们定罪的。所以我们利用组织的章程去开除任何这些人,这並不是主耶稣教导我们的方法!
主耶稣要我们如何去做呢?让我举几个例子
于是对众人说,你们要谨慎自守,免去一切的贪心。因为人的生命,不在乎家道丰富(路加福音12:15)。你们要谨慎。若是你们的弟兄得罪你,就劝戒他。他若懊悔,就饶恕他(路加福音17:3)。你们要谨慎。若相咬相吞,只怕要彼此消灭了(加拉太书5:15)。总要儆醒祷告,免得入了迷惑。你们心灵固然愿意,肉体却软弱了(马太福音26:41)。耶稣回答说,你们要谨慎,免得有人迷惑你们(马太福音24:4)。圣灵立你们作全群的监督,你们就当为自己谨慎,也为全群谨慎,牧养神的教会,就是他用自己血所买来的。(或作救赎)(使徒行传20:28)
主耶稣所说全部都是要我们自己如何对付自己,並没有要我们去对付那些要害我们的东西!
可惜我没有读到主耶稣教导门徒如何去管理他的教会的道理,或许我遗漏掉了。所以我想没有人会分享主耶稣教导我们管理教会的方法。
但我懂什么呢?请有读到的人分享这道理罢?
愿主祝福你们,愿同灵平安!
Is unorganized better than organized?
I am not an expert in determining how should we operate a church? And whether we should manage it at all?
I guess Brother Daniel would like us to provide some opinions about church’s organization in lieu of whether it is biblical to have one to start with.
Follow by the question of whether it is spiritual to operate a church with organization structure which by itself is more worldly than spiritual?
I think Brother Daniel had given his initial opinion that it is not the WILL of God for us to manage the church like the worldly people managing a company. The reason is that it provides a platform of temptation for people to be proud of when they are holding power while establishing a kingdom. Even if there are some benefit to get organized but why should we allow opportunity for Satan to tempt us with power and kingdom? That is his major concern.
I do have a question, will it really beneficial for us to voice a personal opinion where Brother Daniel had already set the tone that opinion is for people to agree or disagree because personal opinion is not God’s Truth? If we can treat the opinion Elder James had drawn from his understanding of God’s truth as just a personal opinion, what good can we have when each of us voice our personal opinion under this topic?
Also, we know that under the scheme of God’s salvation, it is by itself a spiritual warfare; where Lord Jesus sowed good seeds to save us and his enemy sabotaged him by sowing bad seeds to destroy us. So if we put-off organization because it may be exploited by Satan, the question is, will Satan not exploit the opportunity to sabotage Lord Jesus while we are unorganized?
The danger I do see is that when a bad seed took-hold in a person’s heart, the person becomes Satanic but no one else around him will be able to notice until his bad fruits are being seen. We are seeing such fruits from all sorts of problems that are being disclosed in this forum. We see such symptoms of being proud, power hunger, deviation from God’s truth either because of misunderstanding the meaning of God’s words or twisted God’s words etc!
What I really wanted to say is that, the attack by Satan is unavoidable. Satan can attack Jesus’ believers from within the church or from outside the church; Satan can attack Jesus’ believers from inside their heart or from outside their heart too!
There are false prophets who may be clothed with sheep’s skin but inwardly they are ferocious wolves (Matt 7:15). There are hypocrite and rules made by men (MK 8:15; MK 7:5-8). However, even if Lord Jesus foretold about this happening, none of the time Lord Jesus had asked us to judge and convict them. Therefore it is not Jesus’ way if we exercise the so-call-our-right to excommunicate any of such people.
What did Lord Jesus want us to do? Let me list some of them here!
We are to watch out and be on our guard against all kinds of greed (LK 12:15). We are to watch ourselves that if brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him (LK 17:3). We are to watch out that we do not keep on biting and devouring each other which lead to destruction (Gal 5:15). We are to watch and pray so that we will not fall into temptation (Matt 26:41). We are to watch out that no one deceives us (Matt 24:4). We are to keep watch over ourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers (Acts 20:28).
Lord Jesus warned us to beware of our own-self and none of his warning was to take any specific actions against our enemy!
Unfortunately, I have not read about any biblical method Lord Jesus had taught his disciple to manage his church, may be because I have not read all the words extensively enough. Therefore I am afraid no one can come out with God’s truth (God’s way) on how to manage His church. Again, what we are going to say may fall into the category of personal opinion, isn’t it?
But what do I know, can someone who have found from the words of God telling us how to manage a church share his finding here?
God Bless! And may peace be with you always!
I am no better than you in addressing the issue of organization structure. But I believe a congregation as large and as wide spread as TJC, some sort of organization is evitable. In many country, the worldly laws might even demand for such structure to be in place before one can operate in the country.
Therefore, I believe the congregation (or church) must be organized. The organization should be structured to manage worldly issues and worldly matters. Spiritual matters and issues should be addressed and resolved based on Words of God and by the Bible. No man should be given or exercised spiritual authority beyond the words of God or the Bible given to men.
Just like you mentioned in your message, even when we have structured our church to manage only worldly mundane matters and issues, there is no way to prevent satanic workers from eroding our organization with ungodly principle, rules and management method.
This is a matter that is easy said than done, especially when this church is so widely spread with so many believers. I believe the best place to start is to look at what the church has already established and remove those that are spiritual in nature, particularly those that are in conflict with words or God or the Bible. There should be no rule or regulation that provide anyone power or authority equal or larger than God. The structure (including rules and regulations) that are designed to deal with worldly matters and issues should be kept or refined.
Hope this two cents worth of thought is of any use.
God bless
我对怎样处理教会组织的构造不会比你好。但是我相信以TJC的规模和发展的幅度,一定程度的组织是有必要的。很多国家的法度也硬性规定一个团体一定要依据法律组织团体,不然不得运行。
所以,教会是一定要有组织的。教会团体的结构应该是组织来处理世俗的运作需求和运作时可能碰到的枝枝节节。灵性和属灵的事宜和节外生枝都应该引神言和圣经上的指示和教训来处理和解决。任何人都不能给予或行使超乎神和圣经给予人的权柄。
就像你分享里所说的,我们就是把教会的结构组织的完全符合神的旨意和圣经的指示和教训,我们也无法阻挡撒旦的工人潜入教会组织层内,改章换程,从中进行邪恶破坏。
这是一个容易说做起来却不讨好的一件事,尤其是教会伸展的范围是这么的大,有这么多的信徒,而且已经有一定性的组织。我相信我们应该从教会现有的组织结构着手。除去与灵性有关的条文,尤其是那些有抵触神言和圣经的指示和教训的,条文里不能有赋予任何人有和神同等,或超越神和圣经的权柄。保留那些处理属世运作和处理属世问题和枝节的条文,有必要的话,也可以调整调整。
希望这微不足道的分享可以起一点启发作用。
平安
simple同灵提出的关于神权民主问题的论述非常好,很受教。
你提出的宗旨是非常正确的,教会的管理要以“神权”为中心。
然而到具体如何施行出“神权中心”的带领,我有些想法希望大家共同探讨。
首先,你提到耶路撒冷使徒会议的决策是依据“异象的见证、圣灵的见证、主耶稣的话”,以及“神借他们在外邦人中所行的神迹、奇事。”
这里就引出一个问题,有神迹异像的情况下当然好办,但是神迹毕竟是偶然事件,我们今天的教会是否有可能,将管理中的所有事情都拿来以“神迹异象”作为判断的标准呢?在没有神迹的情况下,我们以什么方式作出决议?有神迹的情况下,又如何判断神迹真伪,是否从神而来的呢?
那么就说到第二个判断标准“主耶稣的话”,也可以说就是以圣经作为判断标准。问题在于,又如何判断谁对圣经的解读就是准确的呢?那么就引出第三个标准“圣灵的见证”。大家在圣灵的带领下来解读圣经,分辨神的旨意,理论上来说,同受圣灵的信徒应该是会形成一致决议的。但实际上常常不是这样,许多人对于圣灵的感动还是会抹杀的,大多人对于圣经的解读都并非出于圣灵,而是出于经验、立场、学识等等一系列的因素。那么请问又要如何判断谁的意见才是真正出于圣灵的带领呢?
“神权”确实是教会最该有的管理核心,而非世俗意义上的民主。但是,如果舍弃了民主的方式,我们又要通过怎样的制度才能去保障教会能够确实置于“神权”的带领之下呢?是设立一名“神的代言人”、“君权神授”?还是制定一套标准化的圣经解读范本?那么这个“代言人”要选谁?这个标准由谁来制定?最后恐怕还是要转回民主的圈子里去。关系到具体制度的设置,实际操作层面上的具体问题的解决,选择专制还是民主,这个问题避无可避,不是理论上的“神权”两字就可以完全解决的。
这是我的一些疑问,希望与大家共同探讨。
Caleb兄弟,谢谢你的分享。
从最近这段时间教会发生和暴露出的种种问题来看,现在的教会组织和管理确实存在一些问题,目今看来改革是已成民心所向的必然之势,这个方向是不用探讨的,然而如何改革,以什么方式来改革,这才是我们在这里不断探讨的核心所在。
首先要明确一个方向,就是改革是为了真理,而不是私人恩怨,是为了教会更全备,为了重建而拆毁。所以在拆毁之前,我们才更有必要进行充分的论证,讨论如何重建。当然不能指望一次探讨就能完全解决实际问题,就像你说的:教授组织研究生讨论是否有意义?当下的,立刻的收益可能看不见,但不代表这些讨论在未来就没有意义,对体制的反思就没有意义。不能据此就否定言论的价值,否定我们今天探讨的价值。
探讨,分析,或改革,并不要粗暴的打倒推翻要谁辞职的问题,因为现实情况确实很复杂,我们必须谨慎的走好每一步,用最合适的办法,争取最小的损失来完成改革,但也不能说因为情况复杂和艰难,就干脆对问题视而不见,不说不想不听也不看,任其自生自灭。把银子埋在土里是长不出什么来的。
因此我赞成探讨,也希望更多人来对教会发表自己的看法。只有更多人的加入,提供更多的思维角度,我们才能避免狭隘,才能更有效的为现在的问题找到解决途径。在争战中,损失是难免的,以色列人进迦南,打仗也是要死人的。
希望我们能同时考虑到积极和消极的两方面的因素,积极意义更大的事情,我们就当勇敢为主而行!愿主带领。
諸位弟兄姐妹,我們應該客觀冷靜地看待教會組織。事情往往是具有兩面性的——正面和負面。教會的組織同樣也是具有兩面性的,其正面之好處是如何有利於教會的聖工、如何有利於教會的發展等,兄弟在此不必贅述;其負面,大家也很清楚,就是可能會出現專權、腐敗等現象。
所以我們應該冷靜地去考慮這麼一個問題:教會不要組織可以嗎?如果不可以的話,如何去揚長避短?也就是說如何讓組織積極正面的功用最大化地去發揮,又如何去規避組織的短處——可能會出現的問題(例如:怎樣去監督和制約組織內權力機構的權力,因為不受監督和制約的權力,一定會滋生腐敗的!中國大陸“北派”教會自上而下的整體墮落,就是一個很沉重的案例!)。
陶陶同靈,我在耶穌基督裡問你的安!
Daniel貼的《知道嗎》我看著眼熟,去年就看到你的名字了,在“聖城”,感謝主,很感動!
無獨有偶,前幾天就有弟兄也跟我就神政在目前教會中的可行性討論,我覺得他的話蠻有意思的,原話是這樣:
“神政和民主都是政治概念,若用于基督信仰的实践好比用一个脏勺子给人一勺清水......但是干净勺子常常不在身边,这就是最简单而深刻的问题所在。
另一个原因,就是某些人直奔主题“统一思想”,然后好办事,有果效。最 终任何权柄的掌控面前,民主都是一个装饰品而已,只不过是工作环节的一部分。并且民主的终极本身就是混乱,亦非善类。
所以,没有误入歧途,只有来路不正。因为教会办事要有时效,所以借用政治。其实求问圣灵最大的问题是没有时效性。
政治的手法都是脏勺子,
清水是纯正的信仰和生命
圣灵是干净勺子
可是求问他常得不到答案
所以干净勺子没在身边。。。”
有感於他所說的“時效性”,又聯繫到你提及的對如何施行神政的擔憂,以及去掉民主有如何同時保障神政的實施,還有“但实际上常常不是这样,许多人对于圣灵的感动还是会抹杀的,大多人对于圣经的解读都并非出于圣灵,而是出于经验、立场、学识等等一系列的因素。那么请问又要如何判断谁的意见才是真正出于圣灵的带领呢?”這樣的問題,我想這個討論的範圍將會非常大,不曉得自己是不是有辦法三言兩語倒清楚,就試一下吧,可能會扯遠一些,但再遠也還只是皮毛的觸及,所以只好麻煩你忍耐和擔待了。謝謝:)
既然對神權民主持否定觀點,就需要拿出一個解決方案來,否則難免有很濃重的紙上談兵之嫌。為避免走題,先作好一頂帽子作為歸總:首先“神政”應該是一個對神的態度,分為制定決議時的態度,和實施時被執行的態度,不一定就效果而論;(比如,使徒時代的神政,在實施上也有施行不下去的時候,教會嫉妒紛爭和結黨,說明了神政的決議與實施中現實的衝突,所以施行“神政”,事實上是一個不折不扣的,不斷爭取著的進行時。這個衝突反應的核心實質,正是顯出“在耶穌基督裡將人的心懷意念奪回”的爭戰。不是我們想像中的那番和平君太太平平執政的景象。不了解這一點,就難免陷入對“神政”概念的期許與眼見現實的不協調而導致的極度失望中。)其次施行“神政”只有從“我”開始,從教會的每個覺悟過來的細胞開始做起。
下面來討論一下:
1)人的屬靈素質上的差別對“神政”在決議方面所帶來的影響:
回顧起來,通常我們將使徒時代的教會模式看作理想教會的模式,因為後世的教會,沒有能超過那時的,雖然我們總期待著末後教會的榮耀該大於先前的榮耀。
事實上經歷了上下兩千年的更替,無論從恩典或是能力上來說,後代的信徒是不是能夠自得地說可以享受與時並進的超越呢?我看是沒有,充其量是在重複。
聖經是不能再添加的了,所以,後世的保羅和彼得們所做的,都改稱為“見證”,而不再具有教導和真理的權威性,只是一再再地重複著他們信心的翻版,只是以不同的名字和個體出現在歷史中。這樣說絕沒有貶低他們對神的忠心以及在基督裡所蒙的紀念和福分,只是想說明,對於信心和信仰的實踐以及教會管理方面的模式趨向,都已經完成在聖經的典範中了,後來的,無論怎樣出色,撇開時代進步的物質外包裝,其屬靈的意義上,其實並無新意可言――這大概也可以從一個側面來展示出真理的永恆不變性吧。
既然是重複,那麼如何能夠回到當年的“神權”為中心的教會管理模式,就成為一個最實際具體的問題了。我們也知道,一切的實施,都離不了“人”。
先思考一下,彼得、保羅和雅各等使徒,他們究竟掌握了什麼訣竅,才能使得神政可以從容實現在主神絕對掌權的教會中而不是建立於令人無所適從的人意討論中或假借民主的專制中呢?關鍵的不還是那些執行的人嗎?再又想想,如果保羅彼得等活在當今的教會,會出現怎樣的情形?
一)跟我們的長執傳道一樣會頭痛,一樣為了提高所謂的工作和管理的效率而沒有時間和耐心來等待久久不能來到的聖靈感動?沒空為一個現實需要立刻決定的議題,去花上幾天、幾週、乃至幾個月的禱告時間,因為這實在是太沒有計劃,無法把握了,現實的催逼,需要立即的反應和決定。總之,受現實的拖累,因此也不得不以提倡神權民主來提高效率。
二)仍像使徒時代一樣,尊主為大,維護神的主權,並大顯能力,無往不勝。
(真正屬神,又從神那裡大得屬靈權柄的人,神絕不會讓他因為禱告而耽誤事情的。)
大家怎樣選?叫我選,我還是毫不猶豫地選“二”。為什麼?因為他們在屬靈上,的確是屬於與我們不一樣的人,工人對屬靈權柄的運用能力不同了。如果我們硬要說成一樣,那是我們的自欺。
90多年前的真耶穌教會,靠什麼打拼?我想,如果和現在一樣,大概早被顛覆了。當年的工人和現今有什麼不同?誰可以告訴我們答案?我想引用聖經的話:(亞 4:6)他 對 我 說 、 這 是 耶 和 華 指 示 所 羅 巴 伯 的 . 萬 軍 之 耶 和 華 說 、 不 是 倚 靠 勢 力 、 不 是 倚 靠 才 能 、 乃 是 倚 靠 我 的 靈 、 方 能 成 事 。
如今的工人,也許不缺乏愛主的心、信心、勇氣、知識、智力、資歷、教會也許也不一定不缺乏財力,物力、人力等等,但為什麼工作的果效卻大不如從前了呢?――這個果效難道是指人數的增長,名聲的震揚嗎?還是指確保能真正保有能夠抵擋撒但吞噬的得救靈魂?
今天我們本身以及教導出來的信徒經得起患難逼迫嗎?經得起風雨突變的打擊嗎?那些為堅持對主名的忠貞,來 11:37被 石 頭 打 死 、 被 鋸 鋸 死 、 受 試 探 、 被 刀 殺 . 披 著 綿 羊 山 羊 的 皮 各 處 奔 跑 、 受 窮 乏 、 患 難 、 苦 害 的人又在哪裡?
當我們以藉口說時代不一樣了,來遮掩自己的軟弱和不盡忠時,不是有人為工價出賣自己的良心,為好處出賣原則,為爭奪地位權利出賣了主的群羊嗎?這樣的情形,能有神極大的權柄和能力賜下嗎?這樣的情形,當然首先已經是表明作為一個個體,已經不再讓神在自己的身上掌權了,這種情形,如果是在信徒,充其量我們說他軟弱,但不幸這樣的人做到長執傳道,那麼,還能指望通過他們來實現教會的神權嗎?當然不可能。所以,我說現代的一些人,跟使徒時代的不一樣了,能力的喪失
,首先是喪失了敬畏(為了聖工的所謂效率,而失去了對神的敬畏),其次是忠心、第三是基於上面兩條而失去的屬靈權柄。在這種情況下,你可以愛主,但卻愛得很俗;你可以有信心,但把它誇大到很盲目;可以有勇氣,但屬於血氣之勇;可以有知識能力等各樣裝備,但卻是迎合時尚世俗的風氣。。。這些其實不是真正的被神的靈感動所為,而只是出於“魂”(soul)的工作。這就是屬靈人的工作與屬“魂”人的素質區別。
2)什麼是屬靈人,什麼是屬魂的人?這兩個概念的引進和區分,在辨別聖靈感動和人意感想的事情上有參考價值嗎?在神政實施的關係上有討論價值嗎?
回答是肯定的。可以說,如果不會區分這兩者,神政必然走向失敗。
(順帶解釋一下,回复Daniel說的,為什麼引用耶路撒冷會議來做例子。這不是出於心血來潮,而是基於對王長老在《教會的組織和管理》中本身就引用這個例子來闡述對神政民主的支撐,故此針對同樣一段經文,嘗試作一個理解上的對照分析。)至於雅各最後的總結,Daniel認為是脫離不了人的觀點,這就涉及到一個如何區別聖靈感動還是自己的感想這麼一個核心,是自然牽涉到的一個根本。
作為神的工人,如何才能分辨什麼是來自神的,什麼是來自自己呢?這首先還是要從認識人自己的悟性、思想、理由、願望等開始,因為這些就是我們自己主觀的一部分,如果不具備對這些方面的認識和識別能力,那麼,我們所認為的“聖靈感動”終將逃避不了個人的因素和影子。這些相關於人的靈(sprite),魂(soul),還有聖靈的區別,將花費很大很長的篇幅,在此無法進入相關內容的進一步討論,只夠粗略歸結為一個結論,即現實發生的種種現象,是因為教會的組織與管理者並沒有具備分辨人意與聖靈感動的能力,而導致以知識和經驗來“假冒聖言”的管理現象與管理模式的產生。歸根結底,當今教會無法實現使徒時代的以神政為主的管理,正是因為不了解聖靈的工作和屬魂的工作之間的區別。
希伯来书四章十二节说:「神的道是活泼的,是有功效的,比一切两刃的剑更快,甚至 魂与灵,骨节与骨髓,都能剌入剖开,连心中的思念和主意,都能辨明。」--所以,魂和靈是分開的概念,不是彷彿如通常所說的“靈魂”是一個詞,就理解為一個概念。
關於魂的定義,基本上人的魂是屬於人格的產出之處 ,是人意志、智力、情感、心思、理想、判斷等等活動的所在,也就是你問題中提到的“經驗、立場、知識”等的所在地;以自我作為活動中心的主體。而人的靈是感知神的那個部分,以對神的知覺為活動的中心。
魂的順服,源於對自我的放棄和裡面的靈的首先順服。如果我們的靈(不是聖靈,乃是人的靈),能夠順服聖靈的引導帶領,那麼我們的魂自然也就能夠順服於對神的感知為主,而放棄自己的活動了。這樣我們就說自己的心思意念是與神聯合,所作的決定和說的話,也就自然蒙了聖靈帶領而不是出於自己的人意了。這樣說可能會籠統,但限於篇幅,僅只能討論一個大概。
所以具體的實施神政,一個是需要我們拿出態度,另一個是對自己的屬魂部分的認知與防備,第三就是從“我"做起的實施,都是教會施行神政的前提與保證。這不是一宿之工,乃是一個漫長的,不斷爭取的“進行時”。
願我們都能親身參與“在耶穌基督裡將人的心懷意念奪回”這項聖工,從自己的身上乃至教會,都能實踐出“神政”。
願主豐盛的恩典與祝福與我們眾人同在!
如果同靈們願意,同時也覺得有必要通過信箱來給予賜教的話,非常感謝主。
我的Email是:neimengguo1988@gmail.com
哈利路亚!各位同灵平安!
很高兴读到这么好的发问和乐意讨论的心态,这种表现我想应该算是很民主罢!
教会的使命
为了能够明白你们的分享,我会继续思考圣经里主耶稣有没有谈到管理神的教会的方法,在目前为此我的脑海一片空白,想不出主耶稣有曾经教导使徒们如何去管理他的教会。只有看到主耶稣差遣门徒去传福音收割成熟的麦子,只看到主耶稣吩咐门徒去为主做见证一直到地极。只要那人信了耶稣,谨守遵行主耶稣的命令,那人就得救了。所以追根究底,不管後人如何去管理神的教会,总要小心翼翼地使教会守住这原本的唯一的“使命”-》就是“信耶稣和谨守遵行主耶稣的命令”。
如果能以此为前提,我们如果讨论教会的管理方式就不会扯的太远,离开了得救的根本。
民主,神政,专權
因此我很赞成Simple所提到的概念,不能让属世的“民主”的口号取代了属灵的“神政”。
我这样地赞成“神政”並不是说唯一能行的管理方法是属世的“专權”制度,好像天主教一样立一个教皇,由教皇决定一切。或许Daniel同灵在字里行间好像对“True Research Committee”有些意见,我猜想这可能是因为TRC已经不知不觉地被拥立成为“真理的教皇”,在加上没有信徒知道里面的成员到底是谁,没有人很清楚它如何操作,它平时在研究些什么?但他们却控制住教会的真理,不仅不民主而且看起来非常专權,Daniel弟兄,你的意思是不是这样?请纠正!
属灵的民主和神政的结合体
使徒时代那两个会议的例子,從高处去看,这是属灵的民主和神政的一个结合体,是完全顺服圣灵引导的具体表现。
为什么这么说呢?
因为他们所讨论的主要中心点是“主耶稣所说的话”和“神所说的话”。
因为他们讨论不只是局限使徒而已,也包括其他人。他们所定下的结论和因由都开成公佈,並不只是公佈其结论而已。並不是很强制的说,你们不需要知道因由,只要顺着去行就好了。
人的专權取代圣灵的地位和神政
耶稣的话就是灵,就是生命,不是吗?
早期的使徒时代,使徒们都非常忠于主耶稣所说的话。为什么呢?因为“圣灵的洗”是主耶稣的灵向使徒们显现,见证主耶稣所说的一切话都是真的,这就是使徒们所说的“圣灵的见证”。我想这是我们能读到使徒时代圣灵很明显地带领圣工和差遣使徒的事迹的必要条件之一吧!
这些好像已成为历史的见证,今天已不复重现!
最可能的原因是人的专權已经取代了圣灵的地位和神政。
神在他的公义下只好任凭人的所作所为,要不然神如何以他的公义来审判撒旦呢?但神的“任凭”并不是“认同”人的错,这是你要明白的。
圣灵的见证和异象的见证
为什么圣灵还要一直继续为追求主耶稣的人做见证呢?理由很简单,这是因为主耶稣爱世人,要拯救世人。
你说,主耶稣的灵在“圣灵的洗”中已向使徒们显现,使徒们已经完完全全相信主耶稣所说的一切话都是真的,但使徒们是否也立刻明白救恩也是要传给非以色列人吗?答案是否定的!使徒彼得还是以为救恩只给以色列人。
就是这原因,神使彼得看那异像,让他能够明白过来!因为人还是需要一点比较长的时间去真正了解和明白主耶稣的信息。
这原因也是为什么今天我们还是能看到“圣灵的见证”这种实在的体验。神再一次又一次的为追求他的人做见证,目的是要证明主耶稣所说的一切都是真的,叫我们可以信,可以的救。
但这神的爱却被我们误解是“一定要说方言”,我想这真的叫神啼笑皆非,不是吗?
我们却不能醒悟过来,这是神要让我们從体验为起点,要把信他的人带进真理里面!不是说方言让我们得救,是谨守遵行主耶稣的命令(真理)使我们得救!
主耶稣的话
主耶稣住在我们里面的灵,提醒我们主耶稣所说过的一切话。 为什么要提醒我们呢?或许有很多其他的原因,但至少是要提醒我们去读圣经里主耶稣说过的话,是不是?
主耶稣住在我们里面的灵,要带领我们进入真理里面,为的是要我们能真正的明白真理的信息,是不是?
薛陶陶同灵问的好,我们如何判断谁对圣经的解读就是准确的呢?
这问题牵涉到查经的方法,是一门大学问,我想你也可能曾经参加过教会举办的查经训练班,对查经有一定程度的认识。
但即使知道查经的方法,我还是觉的我们教会还是误解了“圣灵的洗”的目的。因对“说方言”的误解, 而把神的教会无形中分为两半,我们怎能对外人说这是主耶稣的命令呢?所以即使有圣灵的帮助,知道方法和能够真正的准确的理解,好像还有一段很长的距离。
简单的说,我们现在的问题是被圣经翻译的误差害惨了,所以要真正了解圣经必须要追回到原文。所以我们虽有圣灵的帮助,有追求真理的心,但虽尽我们所能得到完全的理解,得到的理解也只是一个翻译误差的理解而已。
所以知道有翻译的误差,但却懒得去查考原文,这不是明智之举。
第二个问题是,我们有没有忠于神的话,我们有没有忠于神用以传达神的信息的字?这些字的意思,形成了神要我们遵守的真理的信息。(We have to respect all the words God had used to compose His truths? What the words intended to mean are the meaning of the truth God would like to convey to us? )
这白纸黑字是有经可查的,一个武断的推理在白纸黑字中轻易显形。一个武断的推理与神的神性不能一致就显露出这推理错了,就好像把神的教会无形中分为两半不能和主耶稣呼吁要信他的人合一不一致一样。
知道错了又不去改正,是对神不忠不义。
对神不忠不义能让我们去完成主耶稣交托的使命吗?我想这是不可能的,是不是?
第三个问题是我们有没有去看上下文?
我参加查经训练,学到第一个不可做的就是不能断章取义。言犹在耳,当我去查“圣灵的洗”时,我发现到教会出的书却告诉我们只可在“使徒行传”去查考,不可去对照旧约圣经提到的圣灵的经节,或四福音里提到圣灵的经节, 或使徒其他书信提到圣灵的经节。
这一看就知道是在断章取义,但论点却说这是对的,你说我们能够得到准确的理解吗?
难怪我们教会是分裂的,搞分裂的事件层出不穷;唉,每一件事都有其远因近由,对神的话不忠不义的后果就是这样,不是吗?
第三个问题,我们可能低估圣灵的恩赐?
即相信我们能受圣灵,圣灵会随已意赐给不同的人不同的恩赐。有人能做先知讲道,有人特别会解释圣经,有人会医病赶鬼,有人很有信心;不是吗?
那么忽然有人受圣灵的感动,能悟出真理的真正意思也是一件可能的事,是不是?
1 Thess 5:19-22 19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
帖撒罗尼迦前书5:19 不要销灭圣灵的感动。 5:20 不要藐视先知的讲论。 5:21 但要凡事察验。善美的要持守。 5:22 各样的恶事要禁戒不作。
我们要如何察验呢?是去对照百科全书吗?是去看论语吗?是去看亚里斯多德的哲学吗?
不是的,只是要去对照主耶稣所说过的一切话, 不是吗?
我们需要有组织
为了完成主耶稣交托的使命,我们需要有组织,无他,只是希望能好好的利用神赐给我们的资源。
但这不是一个属世的组织,没有属世的章程,只有主耶稣的话为我们的章程。
这组织所作所为,都要以禜耀神为前提。我们宁可放弃审判一个不义的人,也要保持神的爱来禜耀神,因为神的爱是神的公义的一个具体的表现,只等到那末日的来临,神得着禜耀时,那末日的公义审判将把一切都结束了。
暂此停笔,愿神祝各为平安!
In replying to brother danielslwu's comment in http://www.sharingbiblewords.com/ymyang/cms/?q=node/818/734#comment-734, here I present my argument:
So where is the real problem?
The reason I replied under the topic “Has True Jesus Church deteriorated?” and not under this topic has its meaning. Today TJC proclaim the perfect church and its importance, how it inherent power and authority since birth, ‘bid rigging’ upstream (claiming Jesus = True Vine = Holy Temple = Ark = Church = TJC), ‘bid rigging’ downstream with the spread of gospel, elevating the status of church to be similar of the Mediator status, and have diminish the role of the Holy Spirit to a mere aid.
“Ideology of Inherent power and authority of church” came from the December, 2011 issue of the Holy Spirit Monthly (1st link on below the 1st Chinese paragraph and the content is in Chinese character).
“Ideology of Jesus=True Vine=Holy Temple=Church=TJC” came from the June, 2011 issue of the Holy Spirit Monthly (2nd link below the first link, and the content is in Chinese character).
Under this present trend, if TJC believes it is one God’s vineyard, we can refer to the parable of the wicked vinedressers and see the two sides of the same coin effect (one side is talking about Jews at Jesus’ time, the other side reflecting present situation in the church), in the parable, originally the owner gave authority and power to the vinedressers to look after the vineyard, however the vinedressers elevate themselves with the given power and authority, beat and send the servant of the owner away empty-handed, if not killed (Luke 20)! YM Yang can be referring to as the servant send by the owner only for him to be beaten, if not send away empty-handed! Who is the real servant? Only through Holy Spirit, one can discern between the real and the fake (Not deciding based on the status given by TJC)!
Organisation or no organisation?
If we simply investigate whether there are such a thing as a ‘perfect organisation’, my conclusion after three years of research is that I have not found one (Investigation went from the parallel approach of the Israel times: where one set of elders are the ‘family elders’, and the other set are ‘religious elders’; to Catholicism’s Papal system; and to the Presbyterian’s overseer’s system or the bishop system. None of these are perfect solution). I am gradually steered towards non-organisational structure (or the so-called ‘family’ model), this ‘slow gradual steps’ is guided by the Holy Spirit. Through my daily devotion, Holy Spirit allows me to connect the dots within the bible, and clearly the work of the Holy Spirit transcend time and space, it can be seen in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Each time the Holy Spirit executes the plan perfectly with precision and propitious end result. At the same time we can observe human-origin plans with inherent fraud that continuous to fail.
From the Acts of apostle, we can see a clear and workable model “begins with the Holy Spirit, and ends with the Holy Spirit” model. This model cannot be simply inherited by the organisation; rather one needs to follow the biblical teachings ‘continuously / daily’ in the areas of fearing God and loving man. Carried out this faith in our actions, love others as how God have loved (continuously / daily) us. The spiritual faith in God comes from personal devotion rather than simulation by the organisation. If were merely continuously emphasis the needs for an organisation, it only leads us away from reliance of the Holy Spirit and the work given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember, we came to believe in Jesus, believing in the Bible, believing in God shown us Salvation through the truth in the bible! We did not come to believe in the church, nor like the other denomination where their members believe Pastor’s (and his wife) interpretation of the bible! God through the bible has given us everything we need, it is up to us whether we want to submit to the Holy Spirit and His guidance and inspiration, so we know how to continuously / daily fearing God and loving men, and at the same time completing God’s work on us.
為了danielslwu 弟兄在http://www.sharingbiblewords.com/ymyang/cms/?q=node/818/734#comment-734 一文中的邀請,末肢再此對此話題做一些評論..
問題在哪?
之所以前文會回在"真耶穌教會變質了嗎?"底下而不是在這本有其意義,今天的TJC傳揚教會(組織)的重要性、完美性、無可剝奪與生俱來的權力。往上與 神綁標(號稱 耶穌=真葡萄樹=聖殿=方舟=教會=TJC),往下與聖工發展綁標,把教會的地位抬上類似中保的位階,把聖靈的工作當做輔助工具。
無可剝奪與生俱來的權力一則論點出自於:昔在、今在、永在──談教會權柄的認知 ◎撰文/杏仁子 ◎期數:411期 ◎2011.12號http://www.joy.org.tw/holyspirit.asp?num=7877
耶穌=真葡萄樹=聖殿=方舟=教會=TJC 一則論點出自於:教會的一體性 ◎撰文/活水 ◎期數:405期 ◎2011.06號http://www.joy.org.tw/holyspirit.asp?num=6936
再此趨勢底下,若是要認定TJC是神的葡萄園之一,可一體兩面的去看不義管家的比喻:本來主人交託給僕人管的葡萄園,倒過來變成了僕人自認是主人。主人派人來勘查,被逐出、被打、被殺的都有(路二十),YM 楊就成了主人派來被打,甚至要被逐出主人派來的僕人!誰為主人派的僕人?靠聖靈判定 (非TJC給予的職稱判定) !
組織與不組織?
若是存脆探討是否有個完美的組織結構,我已在此方面研究三年了,至少我還沒找到(從以色列民族的雙軌制度:一是家族的長老、二是信仰上的長老,天主教的教皇制,到長老會的長執制會,等這些都是行不通的)。我已經慢慢邁向了無統一管理組織(或者說是的家的模式) 的認知,這得歸功於聖靈的帶領,每日查考不論是新舊約聖經只有看到聖靈無時無刻的工作與其順暢完美性,卻一直看到人為的阻擋與其不斷的失敗 (與其組織所附有的原始缺陷) 。
使徒行傳從頭到尾表現了一個完美而且可行的模式 “事之初與結尾都靠聖靈的帶領”。這非組織所能承接的,聖經教導人如何去敬畏神,然後去愛人。靠神行事表現出信心,已神愛我們的心去愛他人,這種靈裡的順服來自各人每天的追求,而不是組織可以”模擬”的,因此一昧的去強調組織與其必要性,只是誘引人離開耶穌託付我們的使命。
記住,我們是來信耶穌,信聖經,信神藉聖經給我們的真理!我們不是來信教會,也不是像外教會信眾去信牧師或者師母說的每一句話(或者是對聖經的詮釋)。神藉聖經要給我們的都已再這本聖經裡頭,缺的就是我們順服聖靈的帶領與啟發,使我們的知道該如何在這短暫世上敬神愛人,完成主再我們身上所安排的工作。
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