領受啟示Receiving the Revelation
[每日靈修] 11/18/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
大自然會啟示上帝嗎？這個問題指出了一種對基督教基本問題的關切。問題是，人可以在教會或宗教環境外認識上帝嗎？
當代的世俗主義者對這個問題的回答是否定的。人們經常說自然世界與對上帝的信仰是對立的，大自然給我們看到許多異常的情況，以至於使上帝的存在站不住腳。
由於這些主張要麼來自好戰的無神論者的角落，要麼來自對思想混亂的不可知論者所提出的質疑，許多基督徒已經退回到「宗教信仰」領域，作為唯一可以讓人認識上帝的框架。在這裏，大自然是談判的籌碼，給雙方留餘地。
舊約關於大自然的詩篇表明，造物主的威嚴透過創造透照出來。上帝不僅在受造界裏清楚啟示了自己，而且這種啟示還會顯明在受造界之外。它被人們所感知。上帝的審判不會因為人們拒絕接受啟示而有所保留（羅一18）。
問題在於，不僅僅是上帝啟示了自己，而且人也認識到這啟示並拒絕承認它。保羅說：「他們雖然知道神，卻不當作神榮耀祂，也不感謝祂」（羅一21）。這裏說，人認識上帝。他的罪是他不會榮耀或感謝他所認識的上帝。保羅論證說，上帝在創造中如此清楚地表現出自己，以至於所有人都知道祂的存在。上帝在自然界中的啟示，使誠實的無神論成為人的理智所不可能接受的理論。
在自然界中顯明的上帝的知識，絕不是完整的。自然啟示永遠不會為我們提供救贖的知識。知道上帝存在是一回事。與這位存在的上帝有個人的、親密的認識則是另一回事。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
你對上帝有個人的、親密的認識嗎？ 求上帝賜給你一個新的、更深層次的認識。
進一步研讀：
羅一18～21 原來，神的忿怒從天上顯明在一切不虔不義的人身上，就是那些行不義阻擋真理的人。 19 神的事情，人所能知道的，原顯明在人心裡，因為神已經給他們顯明。 20 自從造天地以來，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，雖是眼不能見，但藉著所造之物就可以曉得，叫人無可推諉。21 因為，他們雖然知道神，卻不當作神榮耀他，也不感謝他。他們的思念變為虛妄，無知的心就昏暗了。
Receiving the Revelation
Does
nature reveal God? This question indicates a concern about a foundational issue
to Christianity. The issue is, can God be known outside of the church or a
religious environment?
The
secularist of today answers this question with the negative. The world of
nature is frequently said to be antithetical to a belief in God, presenting us
with so many anomalies as to render the existence of God untenable.
Because
of these claims either from the corner of the militant atheist or from the
queries of the troubled agnostic, many Christians have retreated into a sphere
of “religious faith” as the only framework within which God can be known. Here
nature is negotiated in order to protect the arena of space.
The
nature Psalms of the Old Testament indicate that the majesty of the Creator
shines through the creation. God not only reveals Himself clearly in creation,
but the revelation gets through. It is perceived by men. The judgment of God is
not withheld because men refuse to receive the revelation (Rom. 1:18).
The
problem is that not only does God reveal Himself, but that men perceive that
revelation and refuse to acknowledge it. Paul says, “When they knew God, they
glorified him not as God, neither were thankful” (Rom. 1:21, KJV). Here man is
said to know God. His sin is that he will not glorify or thank the God he knows
exists. Paul contends that God so clearly manifests Himself in creation that
all men know He exists. God’s revelation in nature makes honest atheism an
intellectual impossibility.
The
knowledge of God manifest in nature is by no means comprehensive. Natural
revelation will never provide us with redemptive knowledge. It is one thing to
know that God exists. It is quite another to have a personal, intimate
knowledge of the God who exists.
Coram
Deo
Do
you have a personal, intimate knowledge of God? Ask God for a new and deeper
revelation.
Passages
for Further Study
Romans
1:18–20