And as a young nation sought to evolve from the ruins of war, Benjamin Franklin addressed the following words to the Continental Congress: "God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."
- Quoted from "Celebrating America's Birthday" by Julie Vickery-Smith
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Clothed in Righteousness
Come, let us reason together, says the Lord.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be white as snow.
Though they be like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Fallen race in Eden fair,
Exposed and full of shame.
Fled we naked from Thy sight,
far from Thy holy name.
Clothe us in Your righteousness,
hide filthy rags of sin,
Dress us in your perfect garb,
both outside and within.
Sent from the garden to the east,
Outside of Eden's gate,
Banished there from Thy pure light
were Adam and his mate.
Scarlet souls are now like snow
by Thy atoning grace.
Crimson hearts become like wool
for Adam's fallen race.
No work of ours is good enough
for evil to atone.
Your merit, Lord, is all we have.
It saves and it alone.
by R.C. Sproul
Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be white as snow.
Though they be like crimson,
they shall become like wool.
Fallen race in Eden fair,
Exposed and full of shame.
Fled we naked from Thy sight,
far from Thy holy name.
Clothe us in Your righteousness,
hide filthy rags of sin,
Dress us in your perfect garb,
both outside and within.
Sent from the garden to the east,
Outside of Eden's gate,
Banished there from Thy pure light
were Adam and his mate.
Scarlet souls are now like snow
by Thy atoning grace.
Crimson hearts become like wool
for Adam's fallen race.
No work of ours is good enough
for evil to atone.
Your merit, Lord, is all we have.
It saves and it alone.
by R.C. Sproul
Monday, June 1, 2009
加尔文主义在中国兴起
我在刚结束的主日学上，与同学们谈到了加尔文主义在中国城市教会兴起的现象。今天在英国Guardin的网页上看到报导“Chinese Calvinism flourishes”。虽然我不完全同意这篇文章的分析，但从此文可以知道加尔文主义在中国城市教会兴起的现象越来越引起普遍的关注。我所观察到兴起的原因有以下几点：
1) 中国城市当中越来越多知识分子归主，传统的中国教会的教导方式不能满足知识分子基督徒的需要。 除了个人的属灵体验和感受外，他们要知道“所信的是谁”。而加尔文主义敬虔而严谨的传统正是这些基督徒所向往的。
2) 电子网络的普及使得人们容易得到介绍加尔文主义的书籍及其它文字、音像资源。而书籍及其它文字资源是人们了解、明白加尔文主义极其重要的因素。
3) 留学回国的基督徒学者将加尔文主义介绍到更多的人当中。
4) 有一些在改革宗神学院学成回国的传道人将加尔文主义带到中国。
5) 中国政府对西方哲学、历史、文化学术研究的宽容。而加尔文主义的历史深刻地、丰富地与这些领域相联系。许多国内外华人（基督徒或非基督徒）学者利用了这种宽容，翻译了许多加尔文主义的书籍， 包括经典名著。这些书籍从学术角度看可以是学术的，在基督徒看则是神学的宝藏。这些书籍正在或将对中国城市教会产生极大的影响。
中国城市教会至少在三年前就有了走向加尔文主义的倾向。这与近来美国媒体中谈论的美国教会回归加尔文主义有着非常不同的原因、范围和层面。但在末世的这个时候，在面临全球一体化，后现代主义对教会以至于全人类社会的道德全面挑战的世代里，神将如何引导世界不同地方祂的教会、祂的儿女，为祂作见证，以至于预备好等候主的再来，是值得我们好好思想的。
1) 中国城市当中越来越多知识分子归主，传统的中国教会的教导方式不能满足知识分子基督徒的需要。 除了个人的属灵体验和感受外，他们要知道“所信的是谁”。而加尔文主义敬虔而严谨的传统正是这些基督徒所向往的。
2) 电子网络的普及使得人们容易得到介绍加尔文主义的书籍及其它文字、音像资源。而书籍及其它文字资源是人们了解、明白加尔文主义极其重要的因素。
3) 留学回国的基督徒学者将加尔文主义介绍到更多的人当中。
4) 有一些在改革宗神学院学成回国的传道人将加尔文主义带到中国。
5) 中国政府对西方哲学、历史、文化学术研究的宽容。而加尔文主义的历史深刻地、丰富地与这些领域相联系。许多国内外华人（基督徒或非基督徒）学者利用了这种宽容，翻译了许多加尔文主义的书籍， 包括经典名著。这些书籍从学术角度看可以是学术的，在基督徒看则是神学的宝藏。这些书籍正在或将对中国城市教会产生极大的影响。
中国城市教会至少在三年前就有了走向加尔文主义的倾向。这与近来美国媒体中谈论的美国教会回归加尔文主义有着非常不同的原因、范围和层面。但在末世的这个时候，在面临全球一体化，后现代主义对教会以至于全人类社会的道德全面挑战的世代里，神将如何引导世界不同地方祂的教会、祂的儿女，为祂作见证，以至于预备好等候主的再来，是值得我们好好思想的。
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
