上帝的主權護理----和祂的媒介方法God’s Sovereign Providence – and His Means
shane lems 编辑/Maria Marta譯
上帝有至高無上的主權，祂藉著護理，掌管一切會發生的事情。當萬事發生時，上帝並不感到驚訝，祂對未來也非茫然不知所措，因為萬事萬物都按照祂的計劃進行（詩卅三11，箴十九21，賽四十六10）。與此同時，祂使用媒介方法和器皿來實現祂的目的（參賽四十四28）。我很欣賞邁克‧何頓（Michael Horton）在《基督徒的信仰》（The Christian Faith）裏的說話：
「諷刺的是，今天很多不願承認上帝在救恩中有至高無上主權這經典基督教觀念的人，卻往往談及上帝仿佛在他們日常生活中直接做一切事，不通過任何媒介或『第二因』。如果我們把從疾病中神奇康復歸因於醫生的技巧，善意的基督徒有時傾向回答說：『是的，但醫治她的是上帝。』在更極端的例子裏，一些信徒甚至訴諸上帝至高無上的主權，為自己的懶惰和缺乏智慧或準備找藉口。『只需要為這件事禱告』；『如果上帝要這件事發生，它就會發生。』」
「確實，上帝護理的真理為的是向信徒保證，最終我們的時間是在上帝手中，但上帝不是直接實現祂所有的目的。事實上，祂通常的做法是運用方法，無論是人類或天氣模式、社會動亂、動物遷徙、不同的呼召和許多其他最終受祂控制的因素。上帝叫萬事-------甚至逆境--------效力，成就祂拯救我們的計劃，這事實給我們帶來安慰。上帝供應，但命令我們為日用飲食祈求，並在上帝對我們的呼召中勞力。」
[ 摘錄自《基督徒的信仰：天路客的系統神學》（The Christian Faith. A Systematic Theology for
Pilgrims on the Way），P. 373-374, 邁克‧何頓（Michael
Horton）著/麥種編輯小組譯，美國麥種傳道會，2016。]
God’s Sovereign
Providence – and His Means (Horton)
by Reformed Reader
God is sovereign, and
he is providentially in control of everything that comes to pass. He’s not
surprised when things happen, nor is he unsure of the future, since all things
happen according to his plan (Ps. 33.11, Prov. 19.21, Is. 46.10). At the same time, he uses means and
instruments to accomplish his purposes (cf. Is. 44.28). I appreciate how Michael Horton said it in
The Christian Faith:
“Ironically, many today
who would not affirm a classic Christian notion of divine sovereignty in
salvation nevertheless often speak as if God does all things in their daily
lives directly, without any instrumental means or ‘secondary causes.’ If one attributes a remarkable recovery from
an illness to the skill of the physicians, well-meaning Christians are sometimes
inclined to reply, ‘Yes, but God was the one who healed her.’ In more extreme cases, some believers even
excuse their laziness and lack of wisdom or preparation by appealing to God’s
sovereignty. ‘Just pray about it’; ‘If
God wants it to happen, it will happen.'”
“To be sure, the truth
of God’s providence is meant to assure believers that ultimately our times are
in God’s hands, but God does not fulfill all of his purposes directly. In fact, it is his ordinary course to employ
means, whether human beings or weather patterns, social upheavals, animal
migrations, various vocations, and a host of other factors over which he has
control. We are comforted by the truth
that God works all things – even adversity – into his plan for our
salvation. God provides, but we are
commanded to pray for our daily bread and to labor in our callings.”
Michael Horton, The
Christian Faith, p. 361.
Shane Lems
Covenant Presbyterian
Church (OPC)
Hammond, WI