你的教会可能没有你以为那样以福音为中心Your Church May Not Beas Gospel-Centered as You Think

作者: Tony Merida    译者: Duncan Liang

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GlyLB6yH-HojYl_CN2sFCw

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/your-church-gospel-centered-think/

罗马书讲的不仅仅是“通往罗马的道路”，它不仅仅讲到个人得救（虽然它肯定是在传递这荣耀信息），也讲到以福音为中心的共同体，以及以福音为中心的宣教使命。

The book of Romans is about more than the “Romans Road.” It’s not just a book about individual salvation (though it certainly communicates this glorious message). It’s also about gospel-centered community and gospel-centered mission.

迈克尔·伯德（Michael Bird）说保罗是对罗马的信徒“做福音化的工作”。他要他们生活的方方面面都由福音塑造和加力量。这特别反映在这卷书的后半部分。因此罗马书是一本很值得认真思想的圣经书卷，不仅因为它在神学方面论述清晰，也是因为它让人看到如何以福音为中心带领教会。

Michael Bird says Paul is “gospelizing” the believers in Rome. He wants every aspect of their lives to be shaped and empowered by the gospel. This is reflected especially in the latter half of the book. Therefore, Romans stands as a great book to consider, not only for theological clarity, but also for insights on gospel-centered leadership.

在讨论以福音为中心的好处之前，很重要的就是要明白，它与其他进路有什么不同：

Before discussing the benefits of gospel-centrality, it’s important to understand how it differs from other approaches:

否认福音的教会

Gospel-Denying Churches

这些不应称为教会。不同的邪教和自由派极端分支属于这种类型。他们否认福音的核心真理。

These shouldn’t be called churches. Various cults and extreme brands of liberalism would fit this category. They deny the essential truths of the gospel.

重新定义福音的教会

Gospel-Redefining Churches

与前一种类型相关，这些教会对福音作增减的事。例子包括成功神学和社会福音。

Related to the previous category, these add to or subtract from the gospel. Examples include the prosperity gospel and the social gospel.

对福音想当然的教会

Gospel-Assuming Churches

这些教会说他们相信福音，但很少清楚和深入传讲福音。这是“简本的基督教”。关于如何带领的演讲，疗伤的讲道，实用改良的信息弥漫在教会的空气当中。

These churches say they believe the gospel, but they rarely preach it plainly and deeply. It’s “Christianity-lite.” Leadership talks, therapeutic sermons, and practical-improvement messages fill the air.

肯定福音的教会

Gospel-Affirming Churches

与前一类一样，这些教会在教义方面相信福音，但福音只是用作传福音，福音被碎片化，与教会生活割裂。

Like the previous group, these churches believe the gospel doctrinally, but the gospel is only meant for evangelism, and it is segmented out of the life of the church.

宣告福音的教会

Gospel-Proclaiming Churches

这些教会每周集体敬拜时传讲福音，但仍把福音看作是单纯传福音的性质。福音指示人进入神的国，但教会不是教导人，福音也塑造基督徒生活，给基督徒生活加添力量。向信徒传递的，往往是某种形式的归正后的道德主义。

These churches are known for preaching the gospel every week in corporate worship. But the gospel is still viewed as simply evangelistic. The gospel tips people into the kingdom, but it isn’t taught as that which also shapes and empowers Christian living. Often what is communicated to believers is some form of post-conversion moralism.

以福音为中心的教会

Gospel-Centered Churches

这些教会每周明确传讲福音，但不仅只对不信的人传讲。他们也对基督徒传讲和应用福音，正如保罗对罗马人所做的（罗1:15）。福音塑造基督徒伦理和基督徒群体生活，给这些加添力量。

These churches preach the gospel every week explicitly—but not just to the unbeliever. They also preach and apply the gospel to Christians, as Paul did for the Romans (Rom. 1:15). It shapes and empowers Christian ethics and the life of the Christian community.

例如，教会通过看基督对教会的爱，以此教导婚姻（弗5:25）；通过基督的慷慨这面透镜来看人的慷慨（林后8:9）；呼吁饶恕人，这是扎根在基督赦免我们之上（西3:13）；接待人，这反映出基督欢迎我们（罗15:7）。呼吁采取社会行动，例如看顾孤儿、寡妇、难民和穷人，这也让信徒联系他们自己在基督里的身份。

For example, marriage is taught by looking at Christ’s love for the church (Eph. 5:25); generosity is viewed through the lens of Christ’s generosity (2 Cor. 8:9); the call to forgive is rooted in Christ’s forgiveness of us (Col. 3:13); hospitality reflects the welcome of Christ (Rom. 15:7). Calls to social action—like caring for the orphan, the widow, the refugee, and the poor—are also made to believers with reference to their own identity in Christ.

福音带来的牵涉影响

Gospel Implications

我们可以列出许多理由，说明为什么要追求以福音为中心，但我只讲五方面。

We could give many reasons to pursue gospel centrality, but I’ll limit it to five.

 1. 福音改变生命

1. The gospel changes lives

如果你是植堂的人、牧师、宣教士，或任何类型的事工领袖，至关重要的，就是你对福音要有一种不可动摇的信心。福音是神拯救的大能（罗1:16）。神喜爱拯救罪人，宣讲福音时，神就拯救罪人。而且神喜爱让祂的百姓成圣，祂通过应用福音做成此事。

If you are a church planter, pastor, missionary, or ministry leader of any kind, it’s imperative that you have an unshakable confidence in the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). God loves to save sinners, and he does so when the gospel is proclaimed. Further, God loves to sanctify his people, and he does this as the gospel is applied.

2. 福音带领我们来敬拜

2. The gospel leads us to worship

福音由里及外转变我们。情感改变，每一件事情就都改变。如果一个人深爱耶稣，这就要强烈改变他/她的行为表现。保罗的神学经常让他发出颂赞（罗8:31–39;11:33–36）。

The gospel transforms us from the inside out. And when affections change, everything changes. If a person loves Jesus deeply, it will change his or her behavior dramatically. Paul’s theology regularly leads him to doxology (Rom. 8:31–39; 11:33–36).

 3. 福音让我们脱离绝望

3. The gospel lifts us from despair

罪、受苦和死亡让我们绝望。福音救圣徒脱离灵魂的黑夜，提醒我们神已发出判决；虽然我们现在受苦，但我们仍然被父的恩典牢牢抓住。就连死也不能使我们与基督的爱隔绝（罗8:31–39）。

Sin, suffering, and death cause us to despair. The gospel lifts the saints from dark nights of the soul by reminding us that God’s verdict has already been pronounced; that though we suffer now, we’re still in the grip of the Father’s grace. Even death cannot separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:31–39).

 4. 福音让群体当中各式各样的信徒合一

4. The gospel unites diverse believers in community

保罗在罗马书第8章以福音荣耀的应许大大欢喜。很重要的就是要看到保罗使用表明复数的说法：“我们”，“弟兄/姊妹”，等等。保罗努力让犹太人和外邦人在基督里合一，因此他在罗马书用几章篇幅努力说明福音之美。他要帮助他们追求在福音里的合一，思想他们应当如何在实际方面彼此相爱（罗12-14）。

In Romans 8, Paul is exulting in glorious gospel promises. It’s important to see the plural language Paul uses: “us,” “we,” “brothers/sisters,” and so on. Paul is seeking to unite both Jews and Gentiles in Christ, so he labors over the beauty of the gospel for several chapters in Romans. He wants to help them pursue unity in the gospel, and to consider how they should love one another practically (Rom. 12–14).

到了罗马书15章的时候，保罗诉诸于合一，以此让他的祷告达到高潮：“但愿赐忍耐、安慰的神，叫你们彼此同心，效法基督耶稣，一心一口荣耀神、我们主耶稣基督的父。”（罗15:5-6）保罗是在应用他的神学，建立一个合一和具有多样性的人群。

When we get to chapter 15, Paul’s appeal to unity climaxes with this prayer: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 15:5–6). Paul is applying his theology to build a unified, diverse people.

5. 福音推动我们的宣教

5. The gospel fuels our mission

当你抓住像罗马书第8章中的应许，就能忍受人的反对。当你得着这如此伟大的福音，你就要把这福音带到万民当中。许多人对万民没有热情，正是因为他们没有得着一个值得传讲的福音。

You can endure opposition when you have promises like those in Romans 8. When you have a gospel this big, you’ll want to take it to the nations. Many don’t have a passion for the nations precisely because they don’t have a gospel worth preaching.

因此，看到保罗在罗马书结束时要去哪里，这就不让人奇怪了。你在15章看到，罗马书是一封支持宣教士的书信。保罗要把福音带到西班牙去。施雷纳（Tom Schreiner）说保罗写这封信时可能已是60岁！对福音有一个伟大看见，就要带来这样的结果：福音成为我们全球宣教的动力。

So it’s no surprise where Paul goes at the end of Romans. In chapter 15, you find that Romans is a missionary support letter. Paul wants to go to Spain with the gospel. Tom Schreiner says Paul could have been 60 years old at the time of writing! That’s what a big vision of the gospel does: it fuels our global mission.

追求以福音为中心

Pursue Gospel Centrality

因此让我们在我们的教会和事工当中，努力营造出一种以福音为中心的文化。在你个人生活当中以身作则，体现出以福音为中心。把福音应用在你的教导当中。在教会的命礼当中看到福音。以福音作为祷告。歌唱福音。用福音充满你的小组和课程学习。通过传福音和植堂推进福音。当人的生命改变，庆贺福音。评价你的事工，认真留意你是如何宣告和尊崇福音。

So let’s seek to create a gospel-centered culture in our churches and ministries. Exemplify gospel centrality in your personal life. Apply the gospel in your teaching. See the gospel in the church’s ordinances. Pray the gospel. Sing the gospel. Saturate your groups and classes with the gospel. Advance the gospel through evangelism and church planting. Celebrate the gospel as lives are changed. Evaluate your ministry by carefully noting how the gospel is being proclaimed and magnified.

愿我们都听取司布真的忠告：

May we follow Charles Spurgeon’s counsel:

那么，请越来越紧紧抓住福音。把基督带给会众，除基督以外，就不给其他。让他们得饱足，即使一些人会说，你也是用福音让他们感到腻烦……在路边，在小房间里，在剧院，在任何地方，在每一处地方，让我们传讲基督。如果你愿意，就写书，在你能力范围之内做任何别的事，但你若不能做别的事，也要传讲基督。

Keep to the gospel, then, more and more. Give the people Christ and nothing but Christ. Satiate them, even though some should say that you also nauseate them, with the gospel. . . . By the roadside, in the little room, in the theater—anywhere, everywhere, let us preach Christ. Write books if you like and do anything else within your power; but whatever else you cannot do, preach Christ.

从“路边”到“小房间”，在大型的敬拜中心到地下家庭教会，从城市到农田，从市区的穷人到郊区的有钱人，从生活艰难的地方到度假胜地，让我们抓住那“第一”重要的事（林前15:3），那在我们生活、事工和教会中主要的事。

From the “roadside” to “the little room,” in large worship centers to underground house churches, from cities to farmlands, from the urban poor to the suburban rich, from hard places to holiday places, let us keep what is of “first importance” (1 Cor. 15:3) the main thing in our lives, ministries, and churches.