10/27-11/2/14

<追求聖潔>10/27-11/2/14

「你們要追求與眾人和睦，並要追求聖潔，非聖潔沒有人能見主。」(希伯來書12: 14)

“Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 ERV)

默想禱告: 近月美國政府與人民因應對伊波拉Ebola疫情處理過程中產生尖銳矛盾, 可以說市民發自心底的「恐懼」比病疫實際感染的速度何止快千萬倍, 大有「談伊色變」,每個人突然間好像對公共衛生的問題都特別敏感。

美國公共衛生法規由各州自己制定，越來越多州實行強制隔離令,必要時可以把傳染病患者隔絕在一個不會對他人構成威脅的設施中，也可以對暴露於傳染病病毒的人進行隔離檢疫。

很多州政府認為當一個人從西非疫國進入美國國境時,可能不知道自己是帶菌者,(因伊波拉Ebola潛伏期21天), 即便出現有輕度癥狀也不會主動向醫院或衛生部自首舉報。近日連在疫國接觸過伊波拉病人的醫生護士入境後亦照樣違規,成為眾矢之的,民憤不絕。

我因此認為, 州政府為防止疫情擴大, 保護人民不被感染, 必要時實行隔離政策, 縱使被指責侵犯公民自由權並面臨法律訴訟,我也絕對理解州政府的立場並給予支持。

然而每當我目睹美國社會,面對可以使個人和整體的精神生命置於死地的病毒「罪」, 表現出麻木不仁, 視而不見聽而不聞的態度的時候, 我的心就為此而感到深度哀傷。

「罪」的感染性, 殺傷力, 擴散速度遠遠超過伊波拉。在人毫不設防之下,它早已經佔據個人的心靈世界, 無孔不入地感染著文化層面的每一個角落, 一步一步蠶食社會道德的價值系統, 隨手抓住吞吃那毫無扺抗能力的人。只要我們張開眼睛, 看看四周的環境, 進入網絡, 接觸不同的人事物, 都能感受「罪」的普遍存在和威脅。

到了能操控大局的時候,「罪」也不願再隱蔽,開始用真面目露出惡相, 甚 至大搖大擺, 態度囂張。一個活生生的例子正在美國德薩斯州. 侯士頓市上演-該市女同性戀市長立令要求五位牧師將講章呈上, 經她審閱, 看看內容是否 有反同性戀言論; 等於公然踐踏美國憲法所保障的宗教言論自由條款, 並攻擊教會和聖經原則與立場, 把基督徒趕盡殺絕。

這 種違憲的「罪」行我們不僅要挺身而出, 加以制止； 基督徒更要披上神公義和聖潔的盔甲, 高舉基督的旌旗, 與「罪」惡爭戰, 靠著主耶穌的大能戰勝撒 但的權勢, 也祈求主耶穌的寶血來潔淨, 聖靈引導使我們每天過聖潔的生活,遠離世俗, 與眾聖徒操練敬虔,持守真道, 直到見主面的日子, 禱告奉主耶 穌聖名, 阿們。(陳熾弟兄分享-請上網參加支持侯士頓市Houston Texas各教會的特別聚會。http://www.istandsunday.com/)

Meditation & Prayer: Undoubtedly, Ebola has created a form of “Fear” or “Phobia” more contagious than the virus itself.

Multiple States, including latest Ohio enacted new protocol which is stricter than federal recommendations, including New York and New Jersey, that have taken a step that some public-health experts have said is overkill.

Some said the coercive mandatory quarantine of Kaci Hickox, the nurse placed in makeshift treatment center, after returning to the United States from West Africa, raises questions about the power that state and federal governments have to forcibly isolate individuals.

I support mandatory quarantine especially on those who return from West Africa Ebola infected countries based on the logic that it is reasonable for our government to treat the general public fairly as we decide not to impose flight restrictions.  What is wrong, then, to protect our own citizens even if it means 3 weeks of inconvenience for those who have contacts with Ebola patients?

While the country reacts hyper-sensitively toward Ebola, I can’t help but to stretch out my thinking toward another kind of contagion, far more contagious and deadly than Ebola, that has infected very sector of our society, including our hearts and minds, our culture, values and even families.

It is called “Sin”.

I cannot grab hold of the complex issues as to why our society entirely succumbs to the influences of this vicious entity within just a few decades, but I can definitely feel its power.

It destroys our relationships with God, with our fellow men, and our family members. “Sin” disguises itself in many attractive ways under the pretext of equal rights and freedom. It makes us feel good or think that we may be doing something progressive and meaningful. Yet in reality, it draws people further away from the Biblical truth, the foundation of western civilization; and turns our society into spiritual chaos.

I literally see our value system has gradually crumbled beyond recognition.

If uncontrolled, “Sin” can continue to evolve as a deadly weapon to completely destroy our traditional way of life.

Example: “Subpoenas issued to five Houston pastors demanding all sermons and correspondence dealing with homosexuality, gender identity and the city's Equal Rights ordinance have been withdrawn, the city’s first openly lesbian mayor announced at a Wednesday press conference.” Praise God for the pastors and many godly people to stand up against this sinful and unconstitutional demand.

We are called to: “Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 ERV)

Pray that we are hyper-alert to the havoc that sins create; and display the same vigilant attitude that we show to fight off Ebola, in Jesus holy name I pray, amen. (Brother Mike Chan sharing- Please join “I Stand Sunday” webcast to show support to the Houston pastors at http://www.istandsunday.com/)