新年立志的4項基督教原則 4Christian Principles for Making New Year’s Resolutions
作者: Burk Parsons 譯者: Maria Marta
每一年新年，我們似乎都會卷入一場善意的「立志」旋風當中。隨著熱情的蓄意爆發，那些與我們最親近的人開始參加特別的，有時甚至讓街坊孩子們看來很困惑的公開活動。我們發現自己見證一些不可思議的法令，和似乎忸怩的新年宣言，之後我們鼓起勇氣註視這些志願-----迫切的計劃、不可能的節食、不可逾越的紀律堡壘------帶來的徹底改變。
持懷疑態度的觀察者可能問：「所有這些熱情真是必要的嗎？」此外，冷嘲的讀者亦可能問：「立志是否恰當？」難道我們不應在任何時候，任何季節尋求過一種明智、順服、合乎聖經的生活嗎？
有些人甚至表明立志本身並不合乎聖經，非依據這一事實：上帝的聖言本身為我們提供完備、權威的，上帝對祂的子民的要求的匯編。他們認為，制作我們自己的志願清單，不過畫蛇添足罷了。
提到立志整個過程，這些是我一直在仔細考量的問題，我有一種直覺，我的許多同事------精通聖經的懷疑論者也在思考這樣的問題。儘管如此，上帝的聖言不但容許我們立志，也給予我們充分的理由這樣做。似乎有多段經文為我們提供立志的理由，和屬上帝的人的立志榜樣，他們為特別的理由，以特別的方式立志為上帝而活（但一8；太一19；徒十九21；林前十14–32；西三12–17；帖後一11）。因此，針對我們的具體情況與呼召，在考量我們如何在所作的一切事上榮耀上帝時，我們應有智慧下決心立定特別的志願，幫助我們走成聖的道路。我們這樣做是依靠聖靈的能力，和依賴這一保障：我們被父上帝稱為義，乃因聖子完美的義。
十九歲的愛德華茲深知自己的軟弱，意識到他自己的罪的毀滅性性質，因此他下決心立定並努力實現這一志願：要過榮耀上帝的生活。當愛德華茲在《立志》（共七十條）前言中說下面這些話時，他幫助我們所有人鋪設道路。
「認識到沒有上帝的扶助，凡事都不能作，所以我謙卑地懇求上帝施恩，只要為著基督的緣故，以下所立凡與祂的旨意相符的志願，我都能保守貫澈。」
愛德華茲這幾句簡單的開場白，不僅向我們展示歷史偉人之一的心靈，也讓我們了解一個由全能上帝掌管，心存謙卑的年輕人的輝煌洞見。因此，當我們在教會、家庭、內心尋求榮耀上帝，並永遠享受祂時，我們應該好好思考愛德華茲立志的開場白。
明智立志
愛德華茲以「認識到」開始他的序言，我們必須明智、理性地立志。假若我們倉促為自己定下志願，是出於我們完美無罪的偉大憧憬，那麼我們不僅可能實現不了我們的志願，更可能不太願意再為渴望獲得類似的目標制定進一步的志願。我們切要經過真誠的禱告，和對上帝的話語的深入研讀來立志。我們的志向必須與上帝的話語相符；因此，我們立定的志願必須容許我們完成所有在我們生命中的特別呼召。我們務要考慮我們的志向帶來的各方面影響，並謹慎與其他人制定計劃，盡管這意味著隨著時間的推移逐步執行新的志願。
依靠上帝立志
愛德華茲承認，「沒有上帝的扶助，凡事都不能作」。我們務要明智掌握這項簡單真理：必須依靠上帝來立定每一個志向。雖然每一個基督徒都會回應說：「這是當然的，我們必須在所有事上依靠上帝」，但大多數基督徒不過是推銷貨物「單」而已。他們認為，一旦他們依靠上帝，他們就會立刻擁有力量。他們模仿世界的咒語：「沒能置我於死地的事，只會讓我變得更堅強」，這個原則總的說來是真實的，但這種思想可能培養出以獨立為榮的態度。我們務要明白，藉著加添我力量的基督, 我凡事都能作，意味著我們必須不斷依靠祂的力量，來做所有的事和保守貫澈我們的志願（弗三16；西一11）。事實是，因著上帝不變的恩典，沒能置我於死地的事，讓我們變得更軟弱，好叫我們在軟弱中，不斷依靠我們主的力量（林後十二7–10）。
謙卑立志
「我謙卑懇求上帝施恩，使我能保守貫澈這些志願」。為上帝的榮耀立志，來到上帝的面前，我們切勿昂首挺胸，趾高氣昂，好象上帝現在必須愛我們，賜我們更多的福份，因為我們立志要更加緊緊跟隨祂。事實上，在祂的護理中，上帝可能選擇容許更多的試煉進入我們的生活；在對我們不變的父愛中，祂也可能決定更嚴厲地管教我們，好叫我們更痛恨我們的罪，更以祂為樂。當我們不僅尋求上帝的福分，更尋求賜福的那一位時，我們應當依靠上帝的恩典，謙卑地靠近上帝。
為基督的緣故立志
「為著基督的緣故，所立凡與祂的旨意相符的志願」。在上帝面前態度傲慢，我們不能立志做任何事，立志的整個過程不只是設定目標，好叫我們過上更幸福的生活。我們蒙上帝呼召，要按著祂的旨意生活，並非為了我們自己，乃為基督的緣故，所有屬於上帝的榮耀，不是我們自己的，不要歸給我們（詩一一五1）。
本文原刊于Tabletalk雜誌。
4 Christian Principles For
Making New Year’s Resolutions
FROM
Burk Parsons
It
seems that every new year, we are caught up in a whirlwind of well-intentioned
resolutions. With premeditated bursts of enthusiasm, those closest to us begin
to take part in peculiar, and sometimes public activities that even cause
neighborhood children to look puzzled. We find ourselves bearing witness to
surprising edicts and seemingly self-conscious new year’s manifestos whereupon
we are summoned to behold what sweeping changes may come—resolutions for
impending dispositions, impossible diets, and impenetrable fortresses of
discipline.
The
skeptical observer may inquire: “Is all this fervor really necessary?”
Moreover, the cynical reader may ask: “Is it even appropriate to make resolutions?
After all, shouldn’t we at all times and all seasons seek to live wisely,
obediently, and biblically?”
Some
may even go so far as to argue that resolutions themselves are not biblical
based on the fact that the Word of God itself provides us with a complete and
authoritative compilation of God’s resolutions for His people. To manufacture
our own list of resolutions, they would argue, is superfluous at best.
These
are the sorts of questions I have always considered when it comes to this whole
business of making resolutions, and I have a hunch that many of my fellow
biblically-informed skeptics also ponder such questions. Nevertheless, the Word
of God gives us not only permission to make resolutions, it gives us good
reasons for doing so. Various biblical passages seem to provide us with reasons
for resolutions and examples of men of God who resolved to live for Him in a
particular manner for a particular reason (Dan. 1:8; Matt. 1:19; Acts 19:21; 1
Cor. 10:14–32; Col. 3:12–17; 2 Thess. 1:11). As such, in considering how to
glorify God in all that we do in our particular circumstances and callings, we
would be wise to resolve to make particular resolutions to assist us in our
sanctification. This we do by the power of the Holy Spirit, resting assured that
we have been declared righteous by the Father because of the completed
righteousness of the Son.
The
nineteen-year-old Jonathan Edwards knew his weaknesses and was aware of the
destructive nature of his sin, so he resolved to make and keep certain resolutions
in his effort to live for God’s glory. He helped pave the way for us all as he
prefaced his seventy resolutions with these words:
Being
sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly
entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they
are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.
These
simple, introductory words of Edwards not only provide us with a glimpse into
the mind of one of history’s greatest minds, they provide us with a glorious
insight into the heart of a young man whose heart had been humbled and mastered
by the Lord God Almighty. We would therefore do well to consider Edwards’
prefatory remarks as we seek to glorify God and enjoy Him forever in our
churches, our homes, and our hearts.
Resolving
Sensibly
“Being
sensible,” Edwards begins his preface—we must be sensible, reasonable, in
making resolutions. If we set ourselves about the business of hastily making
resolutions as the result of our grand illusions of sinless perfection, it is likely
that we will not merely fail in our attempt to keep such resolutions, we will
likely be less inclined to make any further resolutions for similar desired
ends. We must go about making resolutions with genuine prayer and thorough
study of God’s Word. Our resolutions must be in accord with the Word of God;
therefore, any resolution we make must necessarily allow us to fulfill all our
particular callings in life. We must consider all the implications of our
resolutions and be careful to make resolutions with others in mind, even if it
means implementing new resolutions incrementally over time.
Resolving
Dependently
“I am
unable to do anything without God’s help,” Edwards admits. We must be sensible
in grasping the simple truth that every resolution must be made in dependence
on God. And while every Christian would respond by saying, “Well, of course we
must depend on God for all things,” most Christians have been sold the world’s
bill of goods. They think that once they become dependent on God, then they
will have immediate strength. They mimic the world’s mantra: “Whatever doesn’t
kill me will make me stronger.” While the principle is generally true, such
thinking can foster an attitude of proud independence. We must understand that
in being able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us means that we
must depend on His strength continuously in order to do all things and to keep
all our resolutions (Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11). In truth, whatever doesn’t kill us,
by God’s conforming grace, makes us weak so that in our weakness we will rely
continuously on the strength of our Lord (2 Cor. 12:7–10).
Resolving
Humbly
“I do
humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these resolutions.” In
making resolutions for the glory of God and before the face of God, we must not
come into His presence pounding our chests in triumphal arrogance as if God
must now love and bless us more because we have made certain resolutions to
follow Him more. In reality, the Lord in His providence may choose to allow even
more trials to enter our lives; in His unchanging fatherly love for us, He may
decide to discipline us even more in order that we might more so detest our sin
and delight in Him. We should approach Him in humble reliance on His grace as
we seek not merely the blessings but the one who blesses.
Resolving
For Christ’s Sake
“So
far as they are agreeable to his will for Christ’s sake.” We cannot resolve to
do anything with a presumptuous attitude before God. The whole matter of making
resolutions is not just goal setting so that we might have happier lives. We
are called by God to live according to His will, not our own—for Christ’s sake,
not our own—for it is not unto us but unto Him that all glory belongs (Ps.
115:1).
This
post is adapted from an article originally published in Tabletalk magazine.