当基督徒和睦共處 When Christians Dwell in Unity
作者:
David Coffin 譯者: Maria
Marta
所有信徒都體驗過這項真理：「弟兄和睦共處，是多麼的善，多麼的美」（詩一三三1）。遺憾的是，我們也經歷過其必然的結果：「兄弟之間鬧分裂，是多麽的難受，多麽的痛苦」。兄弟姐妹之間出現分歧，但仍能保持合一，有這樣的可能？藉著上帝的恩典，即使在爭執不和的時候，我們也能知道這種福份。因此，我們應該把這三方面考量牢記於心：分歧的預設、分歧的挑釁、分歧的實踐。
分歧的預設
基督徒分歧的背後存在著一項更基本的真理：信徒彼此聯合，因為他們與基督聯合。唯獨在基督裡，我們蒙救贖，得赦免。父上帝在祂的計劃裡啟示祂旨意的奧秘：使天上地上的萬有，都在基督裡同歸於一（弗一4–10）。在基督裡，我們互相聯絡，成為祂身上的肢體（林前六15–19）。《威斯敏斯德信仰告白》對這一教導作了簡明清晰的總結：「凡藉基督的靈，又藉著信與元首耶穌基督聯合的眾聖徒……既在愛裡彼此聯合，便分享彼此的恩賜與所得恩典」（WCF 26.1）。這裡教導我們：我們的合一是一份恩賜，而不是一個成就。
這項真理並不否認，有一些表面上與基督和祂的子民聯合的人，在與其他信徒發生分歧的問題或態度上，將證明他們並非與基督以及祂的子民聯合。正如約翰的解釋，「他們從我們中間離去，這就表明他們是不屬於我們的；如果真的屬於我們，就一定會留在我們中間。」（約壹二19a）。
基督徒分歧的第二個預設是，上帝親自任命身體的每一個肢體。上帝建造祂的教會；祂按照自己的旨意，把肢體一一放在身體上（1林後十二18）。我深信，與我有分歧的人在教會裡占一席之地，是出於上帝良善的目的。
基督徒分歧的第三個預設是，當分歧擾亂上帝子民的合一時，這是因為上帝指定這些分歧的。「基督徒…….從來不受盲目的運氣、機會、機遇，或命運所控制。所有發生的事情，對他們來說都是出於上帝的計劃，每一事件都是一次新的信靠、服從、喜樂的召喚，並且知道這一切都是為了自己屬靈與永恒的好處」（巴刻）。這裡的「一切」當然包括信徒之間的分歧。為了自己的榮耀和我們的好處，上帝命定這些分歧。上帝意在我們忠實地處理分歧，好叫我們成為祂能藉以向世人輸送恩典的媒介。
分歧的挑釁
在這裡，我們必須明白，出現在基督身體上的分歧並非源於罪。當然，有一些是住在我裡面的罪的殘余勢力的產物（雅四1–4）。最終，這樣的分歧只能通過敬虔的勸誡、認罪與饒恕，才能得到克服。然而，這並不能排除所有的分歧。有一些分歧是由於聖經中的某些難明白之處而產生的（彼後三16）。處理這類分歧需要耐心、細致地辯論（徒十五7），以及需要謙卑受教，以保持合一。一些這樣的分歧已證明是無法一時得到解決的，但在這種情況下，在非本質問題上，當信徒以寬容的心，把著實導致他們意見不一的問題隔置一邊，他們仍可在福音的核心之內合一。類似地，一些分歧源自我們受限的（思考問題的）觀點的不同角度。
分歧的实践
正如我们所说的，我们与基督联合，彼此联合是上帝的恩赐，而非我们的成就。但我们合一的表现既是一种呼召，也是一种成就。正如加尔文教导我们，我们真正在基督裡是「以相互和谐和兄弟般的爱来核准的」。
呼召是「弟兄們，我憑著我們主耶穌基督的名，勸你們大家要同心，在你們中間不要分黨，只要在同一的心思、同一的意念上團結起來」（林前一10）。成就是：合一需要付出真正的努力，這種努力從充滿聖潔的喜樂的合一的心裡開始。追求喜樂必須以真理為指導。加爾文提醒我們：「上帝的真理………是神聖聯合的唯一紐帶。」。因為這個緣故，在這些現實中，我們必須定期回顧上述的預設，讓我們的頭腦和心靈得到培育。因此，在處理分歧時，我們必須寬容地判斷其他人，樂意以最好和最崇高的動機來假設與我們不同的人。在處理分歧時，我們要快快的聽，慢慢的說（雅一19）。郭士納定律（Gerstner’s Law）體現了這種智慧：「不要辯論爭論點，直到你能讓對手滿意你對其立場的陳述。」當然，在處理分歧時，我們必須用愛心說誠實話（弗四15）。也就是說，我們一句壞話也不可出口，卻要適當地說造就人的好話，使聽見的人得益處（29節）。
信徒之間的分歧是從上帝而來的召喚，我們要忠心回應上帝在護理上的安排。雖然有些分歧可能是那些有意要害我們的人制造的，但上帝有美好的意思在其中（創五十20），我們可以將自己交托給主（1彼得4:19）。所以，親愛的，「行事為人，要配得上你們所蒙的呼召，凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心彼此寬容；以和睦聯繫，竭力持守聖靈所賜的合一」（弗四1–3）。
本譯文所引用的經文均出自聖經新譯本。
Dr.
David F. Coffin Jr. is senior pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church (PCA) in
Fairfax, Va.
本文原刊於Tabletalk雜誌2016年十二月號 。
When Christians Dwell
in Unity
by David Coffin
All believers have
experienced this truth: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in
unity” (Ps. 133:1). Sadly, we have also experienced its corollary: “How bad and
miserable it is when brothers are divided.” Is it possible for brothers and sisters
to disagree and yet maintain unity? By God’s grace, we can know this
blessedness even in the midst of disagreement. To do so, we must keep firmly in
mind and heart three considerations: the presuppositions of disagreement, the
provocations of disagreement, and the practice of disagreement.
The Presuppositions of
Disagreement
Behind Christian
disagreement lies a more fundamental truth: believers are in union with one
another as they are in union with Christ. In Christ alone, we have redemption
and forgiveness. The mystery of the Father’s will is revealed in His plan to
unite all things in the Son (Eph. 1:4–10). And in Him, we are united to one
another as members of His body (1 Cor. 6:15–19). The Westminster Confession of
Faith summarizes this teaching with concise clarity: “All saints, that are
united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship
with him . . . and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in
each other’s gifts and graces” (WCF 25.1). In this we are taught that our unity
is a gift, not an achievement.
This truth does not
deny that there will be some who are only in outward appearance united to
Christ and His people, and in the matter or the manner of their disagreement
with other believers, they will prove otherwise. As John explains, “They went
out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would
have continued with us” (1 John 2:19a).
The second
presupposition of Christian disagreement is that God Himself has appointed each
member of the body. The Lord is building His church; it is by His will that
each member has his place (1 Cor. 12:18). I can be confident that the one with
whom I have a disagreement has a place in the church for our Lord’s good
purposes.
The third
presupposition of Christian disagreement is that when disagreements trouble the
unity of God’s people, it is because God has appointed them. “Christians . . .
are never in the grip of blind fortune, chance, luck, or fate. All that happens
to them is divinely planned, and each event comes as a new summons to trust,
obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for one’s spiritual and eternal good”
(J.I. Packer). The “all” here certainly includes disagreements between
believers. God has ordered these disagreements for His glory and our good. God
intends our faithful dealing with disagreements to be a means of grace.
The Provocations of
Disagreement
Here we must
understand that disagreements in the body of Christ are not all due to sin.
Some, of course, are the fruit of the remaining power of sin within (James
4:1–4). Such disagreements can finally and only be overcome by godly
exhortation, confession, and forgiveness. This, however, does not exhaust the
possibilities. Some disagreements arise because there are matters in Scripture
that are hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). Disagreements here require
patience, careful debate (Acts 15:7), and humble teachability if we are to
preserve unity. Some of these differences may prove to be beyond resolution,
but in that case, in matters not essential, believers may remain united in the
heart of the gospel while charitably living apart with respect to the matters
that conscientiously cause them to differ. Likewise, some disagreements arise
from different perspectives, rooted in the finite limits of our points of view.
The Practice of
Disagreement
As we have said, our
union to Christ and to one another is His gift, not our achievement. But the
manifestation of our union is both a calling and an achievement. As Calvin taught
us, what is true of us in Christ must be “ratified amongst us by reciprocal
harmony and brotherly love.”
The calling: “I appeal
to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree,
and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same
mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). The achievement: unity requires real
effort, effort that begins in a heart filled with a holy delight in unity.
Pursuit of that delight must be guided by the truth. Calvin reminds us, “God’s
truth . . . is the only bond of holy union.” To that end, we must regularly
recall the presuppositions stated above, nurturing mind and heart in these
realities. So too, in dealing with differences, we must offer others the
judgment of charity, a willing assumption of the best and most honorable
motives on the part of those with whom we differ. In dealing with differences,
we must be quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19). This wisdom is
enshrined in Gerstner’s Law: “Do not debate a point of contention until you can
state your opponent’s position to his satisfaction.” And, of course, in
addressing differences, we must speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). That is to
say, we must as we speak seek the good, the upbuilding, of the one with whom we
disagree (v. 29).
Disagreements among
believers come as a summons from God to respond in faithfulness to His
providential appointments. Though there may be those who mean disagreements for
evil, God means them for good (Gen. 50:20) and we can entrust ourselves to Him
(1 Peter 4:19). And so, beloved, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1–3).
