回答終極的問題Answering the UltimateQuestion
[每日靈修] 1/21/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
「為什麼？」這個簡單的問題，是我們每天都會說很多次的。它充滿了哲學家們稱之為「目的論」（teleology）的各種假設。目的論是對設計和目的的研究。它來自希臘語的telos，隨意地分佈於整本新約聖經中。
我們想要找到事情發生的原因。為什麼會下雨？為什麼地球會自轉？你為什麼說這些話？當我們提出「目的」的問題時，我們所關注的是目地、目標、標的。所有這些術語都表明意圖。它們假設了事物是有意義的而不是沒有意義的。
憤世嫉俗的人可能會這樣回答「為什麼？」這個問題：「為什麼不呢？」然而，即使在這樣的回答中，也隱約隱藏了一層對目的的委身。如果我們給出不做某事的理由，我們就是在表明為了達到某個目的或履行某個目標的反面理由。人類是致力於目的的受造物。意圖說明了我們的行動。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
目的如何影響您的日常生活 - 您的優先事項，計劃和活動？
進一步研讀：
弗三8～11 我本來比眾聖徒中最小的還小，然而他還賜我這恩典，叫我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外邦人， 又使眾人都明白，這歷代以來隱藏在創造萬物之神裏的奧秘是如何安排的， 為要藉著教會使天上執政的、掌權的，現在得知神百般的智慧。 這是照神從萬世以前，在我們主基督耶穌裏所定的旨意。
Answering
the Ultimate Question
“Why?”
This simple question, which we utter many times a day, is loaded with
assumptions of what philosophers call teleology. Teleology is the study of
design and purpose. It comes from the Greek word telos, which is sprinkled
liberally through the New Testament.
We
seek to discover the reason things happen as they do. Why does the rain fall?
Why does the earth turn on its axis? Why did you say what you said? When we
raise the question of purpose, we are concerned with ends, aims, and goals. All
of these terms suggest intent. They assume meaning rather than meaninglessness.
The
cynic may respond to the question “Why?” with a glib retort: “Why not?” Yet
even in this response there is a thinly veiled commitment to purpose. If we
give a reason for not doing something, we are saying that the negative serves a
purpose or fulfills a goal. Human beings are creatures committed to purpose.
Intent informs our actions.
Coram
Deo
How
does purpose affect your daily life—your priorities, plans, and activities?
Passages
for Further Study
Ephesians
3:8-11
