焦點的改換--從認識自己改為認識基督
作者：盧國禮
有一近親對我說，她每逢星期日早上，都用一特種方法去尋求平安與平靜。很早晨她便走進位於溫哥華市的一寺院，那裏有為個別人士安排緘默會—在絕對寂靜的境況下，參予者互不交談。
個別人士，嚴肅正坐，排列於長型桌前，井然整潔。參予者面前，放置一雙筷子和碗在固定的位置。稍後，素飯菜送來。每人恭禮而食。整個程序是為了默想，和認識自己—無互相溝通，亦無視覺接觸。
你們試想想，這並非基督徒應跟隨的途徑......。但等等，再思量此問題......。
是否我們可真正肯定沒有這樣行嗎？
又或行之於略變形式，而靈裏懈怠。我們任何人都可能迷忘了神的旨意，在祈禱、默想、和聖靈交通時，沒有反省。我們可能完全投入教會的活動，以及星期日的崇拜﹔但只是機械型式的崇拜，為的是認識自己，心裏卻沒有空間給神。
耶穌說："不背著他的十字架跟從我的，也不配作我的門徒。"(馬太福音10：38)每個基督徒被召背負著十架。你背負著的十架是甚麼？這就是認識基督在神的拯救世上罪人的計劃。Oswald Chambers 說："我們在世要認識耶穌基督，因此，基督的身體可建立。"
又要彼此相顧，激發愛心，勉勵行善。
"你們不可停止聚會，倒要彼此勸勉。"(希伯來書10：24-25)
耶穌[復活後]說："你們去告訴我的弟兄，叫他們往加利利去...... 。"(馬太福音28：10)那十一個門徒便去了。耶穌說："你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名，給他們施洗。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。"(馬太福音28：19)然後，耶穌便升天去。
極之感謝我們屬靈的弟兄姊妹，他們把本國建基在耶穌基督堅固盤石上。我們的國家(加拿大)提供了以下希望(參利未記19章)
•愛神，走聖潔之路(宗教自由)。
•敬愛父母。
•不拜偶像。
•健康食物及保健制度。
•社會福利及愛心慈惠。
•法律及秩序。
•優質教育。
•愛鄰舍(多元民化政策)等等......。
親愛的主，我是屬您的—真真正正屬您。在基督身體裏(教會)，讓我們認識您更深。不要聚焦在認識個人的生命，讓我們能聚焦認識耶穌基督，我們的主，以致所有弟兄姊妹長成美滿基督的身量。奉耶穌名祈禱。阿們。
Changing Focus--Self-realization to Christ-realization
Francis Loo
A relative of mine says to me that she seeks peace and tranquility in a specific way on every Sunday morning. Early in the morning she goes into a temple in Vancouver where an organized meeting for individuals would be held in silence—absolute silence that no participant would communicate with those present. Individuals sit straightly up-right on a row at the long table, neat and tidy. A pair of chop-sticks and a bowl put in front of each participant in the precise place. Later, vegetarian food will be served. Each one will eat in perfect manner. The whole process is for meditation and self-realization--no exchange of conversations nor any eye contact.
You may think that this is not the way a Christ follower should do. . . . But wait, and ponder it. . . .
Are we really sure we're not practising this?
Or, doing it perhaps in a modified mode--spiritual lazy. Anyone of us could be oblivious to the will of God without reflections in prayers and, or in meditations in communion with the Holy Spirit. We may be fully attentive to church activities as well as Sunday-worshiping mechanically for self-realization only—no room in our hearts for Christ.
Jesus said: Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Mathew 10:38). Every Christian is called to bear his or her cross. What is yours? This is the realization of Jesus Christ in God's plan of redeeming His fallen world. Oswald Chambers said: "We are here so to realize Jesus Christ that the Body of Christ may be built up".
Hebrews (10:24-25) says: Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another. . . .
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Jesus [after resurrection] said, Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. . . . (Mathew 28:10). The eleven disciples went. Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Mathew 28:19). Then Jesus ascended.
Great thanks must be given to our spiritual brothers and sisters who had established this country on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Our country (Canada) provides prospects as follows: (Reference Leviticus 19).
• Love God and be holy (Religious freedom).
• Respect your father and mother.
• Respect the elderly.
• Do not turn to idols.
• Healthy food and Health Care System.
• Social Welfare and charity.
• Law and order,
• Good education.
• Love your neighbour (multi-culturalism).
• Etc., etc...
Dear Lord, I'm yours—totally yours. In the Body of Christ (the church) may we know you all the more? So instead of focusing on self-realization of individual life we're enabled to focus on realizing Jesus Christ our Lord. And all (brothers and sisters) will measure-up to the fullness of Christ. In Jesus's name, I pray. Amen.