宗教信仰
作者：盧國禮 翻譯：鍾楨
有些人是無神論者，有些人雖然有信仰卻並不認識獨一的真神。前者懷疑神是否存，而後者則可能知道有神，但是認為那個神生活在一個我們無法想像的高次元空間。如果你的個人信仰受到這種思潮的影響，那麼你就可能會隨意選擇一個自己覺得合情合理的神來信靠。
《聖經》上說：
神愛世人，甚至將祂的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信祂的，不至滅亡，反得永生。（約翰福音3:16）
凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。（約翰福音1:12）
耶穌說：我就是生命的糧到我這裡來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴（約翰福音6:35）我實實在在的告訴你們，信的人有永生。（約翰福音6:47）
我到世上來，乃是光，叫凡信我的，不住在黑暗裡。（約翰福音12:46）
耶穌對多馬說：你因看見了我才信;那沒有看見就信的有福了。（約翰福音20:29）
眾先知也為祂作見證說：凡信祂的人必因祂的名得蒙赦罪（使徒行傳10:43）
就如經上所記：我在錫安放一塊絆腳的石頭，跌人的磐石;信靠祂的人必不至於羞愧。（羅馬書9:33）
耶穌對他說：你若能信，在信的人，凡事都能。（馬可福音9:23）
路加福音18：18-22 中講述了一個官詢問說如何才能得永生。他告訴耶穌說，他從小遵守了律法上的一切，但是耶穌告訴他說，他還是有所欠缺。 "......變賣你一切所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我"，耶穌說。
耶穌吩咐他說，"......來跟從我"，但他沒有聽從，沒有回應神的呼召。他心裡悲切，因為他有自己視若珍寶的價值觀，有身份有地位，有他對於未來的期許和其他耶穌要他放棄的林林總總，而他要做的是變賣所有的來跟從神。但是這顯然是一個從神而來的命令，是一個不容置疑的指示。然後耶穌告訴祂的門徒們， "我又告訴你們，駱駝穿過針的眼，比財主進神的國還容易呢！"（馬太福音19:24）這意味著，如果一個人的心思意念被屬世的金錢和權利所充滿，神就不會與他同在。
我們一如既往地固執己見，堅持事情需要按照我們的方式來成就，又或者是不斷地重複同樣的錯誤，就像保羅所說的那樣，"因為 '我們' 所做的，'我們' 自己不明白；'我們' 所願意的，'我們' 並不做；'我們' 所恨惡的，'我們' 倒去做。"（羅馬書7:14-15）結果我們的信仰就可能淪為我們個人意志的一個投影。這現象具體表現為，我們在一種以自我為中心的生活中自得其樂，宣稱自己信靠上帝，但卻隨心所欲地按照自己的私欲而行。
在現今世界，我們的生活往往像歷經風暴的海洋。我們不得不面對諸多挑戰和窘境。在這之中，一個極具代表性的例子就是身患重病。有時候，通過誠心禱告，我們可以經歷神醫治的大能。而通過我們為身邊的朋友、親人、教會裡的弟兄姐妹禱告，我們也聽過很多病得痊愈的見証。
但有些時候，即使在我們非常懇切地禱告之後，我們禱告的對象也沒有得蒙神的醫治。那時，我們就難免會灰心失望。我們也許也會變得心存疑惑，然後開始問說，"神在哪裡？" 我們為什麼要受苦？我們開始懷疑。神真的關心我們禱告的內容嗎？又或者，神是否真的聽我們的禱告？
我們需要意識到我們的神也還是掌權的，他對於我們每個人的生命都已計劃周詳。祂是我們的天父，願意給我們最好的一切。祂想要讓耶穌基督的生命進到我們的裡面。祂想要我們通過耶穌和祂門徒們的幫助，過一個屬神的生活。我們與耶穌之間的關係就好像 "葡萄樹與枝子" 之間的聯結。如果我們聯於耶穌，祂在我們裡面，那麼我們所做的一切事情，就會結出各樣屬靈的果實，而我們的天父也會因此得榮耀。（約翰福音15：1-8）
瑪特.底哈納在 2014 年 12 月 10 日的《靈命日糧》中說得很好：
"約伯經過一連串的沉重打擊之後，覺得自己被遺棄了。最後，上帝終於對約伯說話，可是，祂依然沒有告訴約伯受苦的原因，造物主也沒有對約伯說，將來有一天，祂會替約伯受苦。相反地，上帝將約伯的注意力轉移到大自然的奧秘，因為整個大自然一直都有聲或無聲地告訴我們，有一位創造者，祂的智慧和大能遠遠超越我們（約伯記38章1-11節）......
"約伯的經歷是整本《聖經》當中最讓人為之動容的故事。他失去了他的孩子、財產、健康，而這一連串的打擊使得他開始對神的用意產生疑問。他不明白為何神在這一切的不幸當中保持沉默。然後在《約伯記》的第 38 章中，神終於作出了回應。然而神並沒有給滿懷疑問的約伯一個直接了當的答案，神把自己作為答案給了約伯。神提醒約伯他屬天的能力和無與倫比的偉大並非冷酷無情的存在，我們有理由在自己承受苦難且不知所以然的情況下，仍舊選擇信靠他。"（《靈命日糧》）
也許我們一時之間無法完全明白，神要我們經歷種種試煉的真正原因，但事過境遷之後，我們會發現那些我們原先避之唯恐不及的經歷，已經使我們的品性進一步烙上了神的屬性。
真正的信仰是對於神的尊崇，信任及順服。
自從造天地以來，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見，但藉著所造之物就可以曉得，叫人無可推諉。（羅馬書1:20）
我們的生命就好像是一棟屬靈的房屋，而耶穌基督是我們可以在其上建造房屋的唯一根基。我們的房屋如果是建立在其他東西上，那麼它們就會像造在沙子上那樣不堪一擊、注定崩塌。我們需要有屬靈的洞察力才能認識神，學習什麼才是我們生命的實質。任何形式的宗教探索如果不是為了尋求獨一真神耶穌基督的引領，那麼就只能找到他們自己的假神。耶穌基督說我們不屬於這個世界，但是他求父神在這個世界當中與我們同在。（約翰福音17:15-16）我們必須一直用心靈和誠實敬拜我們的神，只有這樣聖靈才會與我們同在，在我們的人生道路上引導我們前行。
我們在《聖經》中讀到有關耶穌基督的門徒是如何在祂被釘十架的時候逃得無影無蹤的。很顯然，在他們的心目中，稱為基督的彌賽亞應該以一種勝利者的姿態降臨到這個世上，祂應該以萬王之王的身份征服全球。門徒們沒有辦法接受基督能夠如此謙卑地被釘十架。因此，基督之所以會承受嚴酷折磨的原因，已經超出了猶太人的理解范圍。在耶穌基督從死裡復活，並在雲裡升到天堂之前，門徒們始終處於一個毫無頭緒、一籌莫展的狀況當中。彼得在巨大的疑惑籠罩底下，不知道該怎麼辦。他於是重操舊業，又和別人一塊干起了漁夫的行當。當這群漁夫勞作了整夜，一條魚也打不到的時候，耶穌於清晨時分在那個海邊向他們顯現。他叫彼得在船的右邊撒網。當漁夫們猶豫著服從了祂的指引之後，他們很驚奇地發現他們不僅打到了魚，而且網裡的魚是那樣多，他們好不容易才把網拉上來。感謝神！那時候，正是黎明破曉時分。門徒們跟彼得說，"是主！" 一聽到這話，西門彼得就跳進水裡。其餘的門徒離岸不遠，就在小船上把那網魚拉過來。他們上了岸，就看見那裡有炭火，上面有魚，又有餅。有主服侍他們享用早飯，那是一個多麼喜樂的早晨！他們又該是如何吃驚地發現耶穌在不久之前已經向他們啟示了自己會死而復活的奧秘，而對於那時候的他們來說，這樣的啟示又是如何地讓他們雲裡霧裡。（約翰福音21：1-14）
《聖經》通過其在《使徒行傳》中的描寫為我們呈現了一幅全新的畫面。在耶穌基督從死裡復活之後，使徒彼得及其他眾人被徹底翻轉的生命，乃至保羅戲劇化的決志，都是神在他們身上澆灌了屬天恩典的明証。他們有了那從上而來的能力、品性、勇氣和對神無與倫比的愛，使得他們也因此能夠歷盡各樣患難、逼迫仍舊可以坦然無懼地舍己。這些見証讓我們嘆為觀止 -- 他們用各自的生命向我們展示了神在真正順服聖靈引領、依靠耶穌所成救贖大能的信徒身上所動的聖工。
在教會裡，有些基督徒從表面上看來十分光鮮。他們看起來非常敬虔，熱心參與各種宗教活動，在查經班裡勤奮學習﹔可是最重要的事其實並不在於這些表面功夫。基督信仰的核心在於一個人是否能夠真正信靠神，相信神在他們生活中的引領無微不至，與聖靈有一個親密的聯結，聽從個人內心微小聲音的教導，從而過一個聖潔屬神的生活。經上記著說：
他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊。他使我的靈魂蘇醒，為自己的名引導我走義路。(詩篇23：2-3)
神想要成為我們的好牧人，祂希望能夠通過耶穌基督為我們的罪死在十架上時所流的寶血，來遮蓋、重建我們。如果我們認清我們的罪，承認自己得罪了耶穌基督，我們就得以走上尋求神的道路。我們唯有倚靠神的恩典才能被天父得著，所以我們在得蒙赦罪、得著救恩這件事情上，沒有什麼可以自誇的﹔這是因為我們根本就不能夠靠著自己的好行為得救。這一切是全然依靠神自己的心意來成就的，是祂按照祂的主權揀選祂想要向他們顯現的人，並讓這些人可以成為祂的兒女。
我們需要真心實意地使我們的生活扎根在耶穌基督的話語中，我們在靈裡的房屋需要以《聖經》中的教導為基礎。真正的信心是我們對於神永遠的委身，是從我們對於神的愛中得到彰顯的 -- 是我們與神之間所立的約。耶穌基督為我們而死，因著祂的寶血，我們得以與神在永恆中和好。啊，主啊，願意您的旨意成就。
讓我們一起來禱告：
天父啊，求您教導我們如何才能變得謙卑。向我們顯明您的道路，讓我們知道如何能使每天所做的一切都得您心意、榮耀您的聖名。我們無論是在行事為人的能力上，還是在辨別諸靈的智慧上，都及其有限。主啊，求您在未來的每一天中引領我們，讓我們所過的日子能夠與您的旨意相合。我們信靠您，全然降伏在您的面前，我們願意聯於元首基督。以上禱告，是奉耶穌基督榮耀的聖名求，阿門！
Religious Faith
Written by FKL Translated by Zhen Zhongi
Some people are atheists and some others though spiritual may not be religious. The atheists are skeptical about God and the others who may believe a God but just assume the God dwells beyond our world higher than we can imagine. If your personal faith grips onto this verve, you may just choose to believe any one god that resonates with you.
The Bible says:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3.16, NIV).
. . . [T]o all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12, NIV).
[Then Jesus declared,] "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35, NIV). "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life" (John 6:47, NIV).
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness" (John 12:46, NIV).
[Then Jesus told [Thomas], "Because you have seen me, you have believed: blessed are those who have not and yet have believed." (John 20:29, NIV).
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receive forgiveness of sins through his name (Acts 10:43, NIV).
[For in Scripture it says:] "See I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame" (Romans 9:33, NIV).
"If you can?" said Jesus, "Everything is possible for him who believes" (Mark 9:23, NIV).
Gospel Luke (18:18-22, .NIV) told of a certain ruler who asked what must he do to inherit eternal life. He told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments since he was a boy. But Jesus said he still lacked one thing. ". . . Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven. Then come, follow me," said Jesus.
Jesus' order: ". . . come, follow me" was not heeded. The ruler did not respond. He was so sad because he had his own perceived values, his social status and his expectations, all these possessions Jesus had asked of him to dispossess i.e., to sell all he had to just follow Him. But, clearly it is a direct command from God–an order to comply, not to select. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24). This means that a man whose heart is occupied by thoughts of wealth and power has no room for God.
As usual, we incline to do things "our ways", or habitually make the same mistakes we've repeatedly made. As Paul says: "[We] do not understand what [we] do. For what [we] want to do [we] do not do, but what [we] hate [we] do" (Romans 7:14-15). As a result, our faith may have degenerated into a mere projection of our individual selves. We enjoy a self-centered life, believing in God and doing freely what we desire.
In this secular world, life is often like a stormy sea. We have to face many challenges, and adversities such as serious illness. Sometimes having earnestly prayed to God, we experienced healings. Also, from our friends, relatives, brothers or sisters in church for whom we prayed for healings have provided many testimonies of recovery cases. Whereas when God did not heal or completely heal despite our earnest praying, we would develop a sense of disappointment. We may become dubious, then question "Where is God?" Why we have to suffer? We begin to doubt. Does God actually care and hear our prayers?
What we ought to know is our God is a sovereign God. He has a life plan for every one of us. He is our heavenly Father who wants to give us the best. He wants to introduce the life of Jesus Christ into our lives. He wants us to lead a Christ-centered life through Jesus as his disciples. Our relationship with Jesus is "vine-branches" relationship. If we do remain in Jesus and He in us whatever we do will bear much spiritual fruit that glorifies our Father God in heaven (John 15:1-8).
Mart DeHaan puts it so well in Our Daily Bread (December 10, 2014):
"Broken by a series of mounting troubles, Job felt abandoned. When God finally spoke, He didn't tell Job why he was suffering. Nor did the Creator tell him that someday He would suffer for Job. Instead, He drew Job's attention to a series of natural wonders that are always whispering to us—and sometimes shouting—about a wisdom and power far greater than our own (Job 38:1-11). . . .
"The experiences of Job are among the most heartrending found anywhere in the Scriptures. The loss of his children, wealth, and health drove him to question the purposes of God and wonder why He was silent. Then in Job 38, God finally responded. And when He did, He didn't offer Job answers—He offered Himself. The reminders of God's greatness and power are not to be seen as cold or heartless, but as legitimate cause to put our trust in Him, even when we suffer and don't know why." (Our Daily Bread).
Although the true purpose behind the trials that God wishes us to go through may not be known, in fact, after the event, many of us trying to forget the trepidation and hardship we'd been through would have grown up more deep in character.
Religious faith is to believe, to trust and to obey God.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse " (Romans 1:20).
Jesus Christ our savior is the only foundation on which we can build our house (life). What has been built on top of a weak ground will collapse like any houses built on sand. We need spiritual insight of knowing God and learn what the reality is in our lives. Any practice of religion or belief not seeking the true God Jesus Christ is only seeking their own gods. Jesus Christ said that we did not belong to this world but He asked God to be with us in this world (John 17:15-16). We must always worship our God in spirit and honesty so that the Holy Spirit will be with us and guide our ways of life.
We've read in the Bible about His disciples fled from Him when Jesus Christ was crucified. Obviously, in their minds, Messiah (Christ) should have arrived in triumph in this world – victoriously ruling all nations as King of kings. The disciples just could not accept the humility of Christ being hung on the cross. Therefore, the suffering of Christ in this horrific manner was beyond the comprehension of the Jews. Not until Jesus Christ had arisen and later ascended in a cloud to heaven, the disciples were completely at a loss–totally in the dark. Peter was so bewildered that he didn't know what to do. He went back to his old fishing profession with the others. While the fishermen failed to catch any fish throughout the night, Jesus Christ appeared on the beach early in the morning. He told Peter to throw the net on the right side of the boat. When they reluctantly obeyed, they were surprised to find that the catch was too heavy for them to pull the net up for there were a large number of fish. Thank God! It was dawned on the disciples and they said to Peter, "It was the Lord." As soon as he heard this, Simon Peter jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore. When the disciples landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread. Breakfast was served. How joyful a morning! How surprising to realize at that moment what Jesus had said to them not too long ago about His resurrection that was too far fetching for the disciples to understand at that time! (John 21:1-14).
The Bible through the Book of Acts presents an entirely new picture. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the incredible change of behavior of Peter and the other disciples and the conversion of Paul, having blessed with great strength and character, courage as well as bravery and tremendous love for God, all these had enabled them to go through their sufferings, persecutions and make self-less sacrifices without fear. These testimonies instill us with great awe–they demonstrated to us the power of God in the true religious faith in believing God through the salvation of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
We may find some believers in church putting in very good appearances. They look serious and very religious. They participate in all religious activities, and attend diligently Bible classes. But most important of all, if they truly believe and trust God guiding their lives, the Holy Spirit will speak to their hearts edifying them to live godly lives. It is written:
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul,
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
(Psalm 23:2-3, NIV.)
God wants to be our good shepherd and He restores our souls through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who died for us sinners at the cross. If we confess as contrite sinners to Jesus Christ, we are seeking God; it is God's grace that we will be found. Therefore, we have nothing to boast for we cannot by good deeds be saved. It is the will of God who chooses to reveal Himself and He wants us to be His children. We ought to be truly and honestly willing to build up our faith on the foundation of Jesus Christ – His Word – the Bible on which to build our house i.e., our ways of life. The true faith in us is a commitment forever to God that is Love–a covenant made between the God and ourselves. Jesus Christ died for us and by His precious blood; the relationship with God is thus reconciled forever. O Lord! Thy will be done.
Let us pray –
Heavenly Father, Teach us to be humble. Reveal to us your way and let us know that what we are doing every day is what you want us to do to glorify your name. We are limited in ability and wisdom, O Lord! We would ask for your wisdom, Please guide us every day in our lives so that we'll be in tune with you always. We believe on you, we totally trust and surrender to you and we will abide by your ways.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.