合併行動主義和寂靜主義Merging Activism and Quietism
[每日靈修] 2/10/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
關於成聖的問題，幾個世紀以來一直荼毒教會的兩大異端邪說，是行動主義（activism）和寂靜主義（quietism）。這兩種扭曲的罪行是消除了成聖之反合論（paradox）的其中一個極點。在行動主義中，上帝的工作被人類的自以為義所吞滅；而在寂靜主義的情況下，人的掙扎被自動的神聖作為所吞滅。
行動主義是自以為義的人的信條。他不需要神的幫助來達到完美。恩典被蔑視，那是只有弱者才需要的補助。行動主義者可以通過自力更生來提升自己。他對自己和他的道德能力充滿信心。也許一個人可以做出的最傲慢的聲明是：「我不需要基督。」
寂靜主義者堅持認為，上帝對他的進步或缺乏進步必須負完全的責任，從而羞辱了聖靈。如果寂靜主義者還在犯罪，那麼不言而喻的假設就是上帝沒有做好祂的工作。寂靜主義者的信條是：「放手，讓上帝動工。」（Let go and let God）沒有必要掙扎；不需要抵抗誘惑。自始至終，成聖都是上帝的工作。
上帝呼召我們追求聖潔。我們必須下決心，奮力追求成聖。我們要抵抗血氣，與各種權勢搏鬥，捶打我們的身體，為這種確信而歡欣鼓舞：聖靈會在我們裏面幫助我們、給我們動力、使我們扎心知罪、激勵我們。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
你是一個行動主義者，拒絕上帝的幫助——還是你是一個寂靜主義者，堅持認為神對你的屬靈進步或缺乏必須負完全的責任？
進一步研讀：
弗三20～21 神能照著運行在我們心裏的大力充充足足的成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裏，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們！
來十三20～21 但願賜平安的神，就是那憑永約之血、使群羊的大牧人我主耶穌從死裏復活的神， 在各樣善事上成全你們，叫你們遵行他的旨意；又藉著耶穌基督在你們心裏行他所喜悅的事。願榮耀歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
加六4 各人應當察驗自己的行為；這樣，他所誇的就專在自己，不在別人了。
Merging Activism and Quietism
The
two great heresies that have plagued the church on the issue of sanctification
for centuries are the heresies of activism and quietism. The twin distortions
are guilty of eliminating one or the other pole of the paradox. In activism,
God’s working is swallowed up by human self-righteousness. In quietism, the
human struggle is swallowed up by an automatic divine process.
Activism
is the creed of the self-righteous person. He has no need of divine assistance
to achieve perfection. Grace is held in contempt, a remedy needed only by weak
people. The activist can lift himself up by his own bootstraps. His confidence
is in himself and his moral ability. Perhaps the most arrogant statement a
person can make is this: “I don’t need Christ.”
The
quietist insults the Holy Spirit by insisting that God is totally responsible
for his progress or lack of it. If the quietist still sins, the unspoken
assumption is that God has been lacking in His work. The creed of the quietist
is, “Let go and let God.” No struggle is necessary; no resistance to temptation
is required. Sanctification is God’s job, from beginning to end.
God
calls us to the pursuit of holiness. The pursuit is to be undertaken with
strength and resolution. We are to resist unto blood, to wrestle with powers,
to pummel our bodies, rejoicing in the certainty that the Holy Spirit is within
us helping, disposing, convicting, and encouraging.
Coram
Deo
Are
you an activist, rejecting God’s assistance—or a quietist, insisting that He is
totally responsible for your spiritual progress or lack of it?
Passages
for Further Study
Ephesians
3:20–21
Hebrews
13:20–21
Galatians
6:4