<神的公義 vs人的自義>8/18-8/24/14

「耶 和 華 啊 ， 你 是 伸 冤 的 神 ； 伸 冤 的 神 啊 ， 求 你 發 出 光 來 ！」(詩篇94:1)

“Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, let your glory shine out. Arise and judge the earth; sentence the proud to the penalties they deserve.” (Psalms 94:1 TLB)

默想禱告: 十天以來, 電視新聞全天候無間歇的報導密蘇里州費格森區種族衝突, 我感覺恍如置身在中東戰場。每晚天一黑,穿上全副軍人武裝的大批警察, 荷槍實彈, 隨同裝甲戰車滾滾開進住宅區, 與遊行示威群眾對峙, 只見催淚瓦斯四射, 製造出煙霧迷漫, 人流騷動,極其混亂的場面。

美國族裔衝突, 尤其是黑人白人之間, 對立的狀態由來已久, 緊張的關係有其深遠的根源。 錯綜複雜的社會階層和種族之間的矛盾已經累積上百年, 而這次警民衝突事件將整個社區壓抑已久的憤怨升溫至沸點, 有如火山噴爆, 一發不可收拾。

看到示威者人人舉牌, 沿街心不停喊叫「沒有正義, 就沒有和平!」的口號,聽後我心中開始有點驚慌。

我對警察開槍射殺青年黑人布朗事件的整體發展過程有點著迷, 如同追看連續劇, 並且頻頻轉台, 一面收拾整理準備搬遷, 一面聆聽各種專家不同角度的分析; 我試圖以平静理性的態度梳理眾說紛紜的理論, 為的是想排除一面倒的煽情觀點。

情緒泛濫的立論故不可取,但客觀理性的分析也畢竟有它的極限性。即便以科學方法及法律程序來拆解事件每個片段的情節, 也只能達到一個稍為合理的結論, 法庭最終的審判相信亦難以令黑人社區與白人警察並執法界對判決感到真正的公平, 因為當人處身於執著和偏見的意識中, 社會文化價值觀分岐的情況下,各社群對公平正義的定準都必然存有很大的落差。正如美國社會法律體制雖然一貫恪守「假定無罪」Presumed Innocence的司法原則, 但在民情汹湧, 媒體輿論順應政治風向的報導下, 就自然會產生「未審先判」的違憲現象。

可以說世間上不存在絕對的正義,除非我們除了掌握到每段情節的客觀事實, 加以驗證外,還能透析被槍殺的年青人布朗和警察抗衡時當下的複雜心理狀態和两個人的對抗動機; 就是說在尖銳的對立狀况下, 是誰首先萌生刻意攻擊, 傷害對方的意念, 看穿誰才是真正的始作俑者, 真正的受害人? 這是人絕對辦不到的公平判斷! 因此往往一念之差, 錯判對方意圖的煞那間,卻是造成一場無法挽回的悲劇的主因。縱使法律體制再完善, 案情分析如何精確, 都不能產生絕對公平, 人人滿意的結果。

惟有那全知、全能、絕對公義(Righteous), 能識透人心思念與動機的上帝才擁有最終的審判權, 才有資格作出最公正, 公平的判斷。衪乃是義的源頭與義的本體。 人被造時雖有神的形像, 但墮落後的罪性生命早已喪失「公義」的神聖本質, 反而傾向於以「自義」的心態為自身不潔淨的思想行為辯護,總是想找一大堆冠冕堂皇的理由提出申訴。

合神心意的大衛, 在生命危險的關頭, 在冤屈無助的境遇中, 在無人理解的困苦中,衹好廹切地向能為他伸冤的神發出呼喊; 因為他深深相信, 惡人在世上雖然暫且誇勝, 壞事做盡, 但最終必然要接受上帝公義的審判和懲罰。

基督徒在世的生命也許經歷很多災難, 廹害岐視, 受苦吃虧, 但我們心中不會絕望, 因為確信公義的神洞悉一切,必以衪屬性的公義報應作惡的人。「造耳朵的，難道自己不聽見麼！造眼睛的，難 道自己不看見麼！」

護教學家Ravi Zacharias在一次護道演講答辯中曾說: 「讓我們耐心等候, 有一天在神面前必定能明白苦難的因由及上帝最深的旨意。」(為何上帝不及時制止强姦並搭救無辜?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEB6WH3I5Go

求 主安慰被殺的青年人布朗的家人, 撫平整個費格森社區, 並全美國各地種族互相敵對抗爭的傷痕, 讓主耶穌的愛灌注其中, 使家庭、社會、國家民族彼此包 容接納, 相信惟有活在聖經真理的大光中才會擁有真正公平和正義的盼望, 奉主耶穌聖名祈求, 阿們。(陳熾弟兄分享)

Meditation & Prayer: Honestly, a news junky like me couldn’t keep my eyes off the TV screen throughout the last 10 days, watching tirelessly hour to hour report on the Ferguson, MO riot; where an unarmed black youth was gunned down by a police officer.

Switching from channel to channel on cable news, I was hoping to obtain a balanced view on the incident. But these presentations of multi-dimensional perspectives, no matter how in-depth they claimed, do not convince me true justice can ultimately prevail. (Remember O.J. Simpson & Treyvon Martin cases)

When deep seated bias and prejudice between African-American and the White majority continue to simmer, it’s hard to find common ground to settle the score. Oh Asians are no better when stereotypes are flying high in our conversation. FYI, Chinese are notoriously prejudice against blacks and Japanese.

It really all boils down to how one interprets justice. Justice means different things to different people. When we filter information through our own lens forged by varies social and cultural values, justice might very likely be distorted or blindsided. Whereas to the ISIS terrorists, beheading an American journalist and killing hundreds of Christians are totally justified.

When there is no absolute moral principle to anchor humanity, justice is simply an illusive ideal that everyone wants but no one will get. In the court of law, Intent and Motive play a critical part to establish probable cause which may lead to prosecution or acquittal. But under the most intense emotional charge and confrontation between Michael Brown and Officer Wilson, in a flash of the eye, who could truly decipher the mental state of each person that created such tragedy. So who is real attacker or the victim?

No one ever knows. Only our omnipresent, omnipotent and righteous God witness every thought and every move, cutting deep into our thoughts and motives like a double edged sword. He is also the only qualifying judge who will dispense true justice based on his moral principles, being the Creator of mankind. When we think of the word justice we always think in terms of judicial or criminal; earthly law. But the word righteousness in the Bible refers to the Divine virtue of God. Therefore, true justice can only derive from a righteous and holy God. So whenever King David was confronted by hardships, persecution and death threats, he cried out to God for justice, because he knew the wicked will be punished eventually by the righteous God. Our God is infinitely and eternally righteous.

Apologist Ravi Zacharias once said to an atheist during a Q/A session: “…why don’t you wait, till you stand before God face to face, then you’ll find out the reason why He didn’t stop that trigger, so that you will see the heinousness of evil, and the majesty of love & good…”  (Why doesn't God stop rape or those who hurt the innocent?)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEB6WH3I5Go

May the Lord comfort the Brown family, heal our land and our hearts with his love and compassion, so that we can live harmoniously with one another in this multi-cultural, complex American society. In Jesus holy name I pray, amen. (Brother Mike Chan sharing)

代禱事項:

• ·    請為榮神總幹事陳熾弟兄夫婦九月初往紐約角聲佈道團事奉代禱, 求主保守儘快適應新環境, 賜下力量。新聯絡地址: Mike & Sarah Chan 42-35 Main Street, Apt# 4K, Flushing, NY 11355 電話630-699-9460. 榮神事工在芝加哥由鳳珠姐妹 Felicia Liu 作聯絡人。

·   亲爱的牧長、同工及弟兄姊妹，主内平安！谢谢您的关注、支持和代祷！随信附上海外校园e悦读8月号，向您推介：《OC海外校園》126期，主题——告別，出發。恳请您转给您带领的教会、团契、小组及身边的弟兄姊妹及亲朋好友，做好消息的传人，送祝福到万家。P.S.若随信附上的海外校园e悦读，无法完全显示，您可点击此处 (华欣牧师)

• ·       敬愛的牧長與機構同工們：您們好！正道培育中心將於今年9/12-9/14在正道芝加哥校區舉辦「申命記研讀」課程，由劉少平牧師授課。敬請鼓勵您的會友參加。學費：$100優惠辦法：夫妻同行20% off§  全時間牧者免費§  全時間傳道人配偶50%§  全時間學生50%§  團體報名10人以上20%. 相關詳情請參閱附註報名表。謝謝您。Freda Lin正道芝加哥校區行政助理Email: reichiung@les.eduTel: 630-595-9188(O), 630-991-0431(C)

·    請為吳立仁牧師與Tim因車禍受傷能得到所需的治療並完全康復禱告，也為他們全家的需要代禱。 

• ·     為馬國棟師母癌症化療懇切祈求, 求主施大能徹底醫冶。

王倚真、楊靜姝、陈炽 榮神传播協會 

Majesty Multimedia Ministries www.mmm4him.org