新視域的力量
對人沒有幫助的話,一句不說

經文
歌羅西書四2-6
2你們要恆切禱告,在此儆醒感恩。
3也要為我們禱告,求神給我們開傳道的門,能以講基督的奧祕(我為此被捆鎖),
4叫我按著所該說的話將這奧祕發明出來。
5你們要愛惜光陰,用智慧與外人交往。
6你們的言語要常常帶著和氣,好像用鹽調和,就可知道該怎樣回答各人。
信息分享
根據過去幾天的研討,我們清楚看到詩人儘管對神的良善感到疑惑,但他持守了正確的立場。因為他意識到要是他說出被試探的話,神的百姓馬上會受到傷害,所以他決定保持沉默。他也許不能肯定神的良善,但他能肯定成為神兒女的絆腳石是不對的,所以他堅信這個道理。
鍾馬田博士(Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)在一次講道中說:「你感到困惑的時候,要找一些你能肯定的事情,然後借助它們來穩固你的立場。那也許不是問題的核心,但不要緊」。請注意「那也許不是問題的核心」這幾個字。我們可以在疑惑中掙扎,等待一些重大的啟示,而不採用現有的解決方法。詩人保護自己不致跌倒的方法是對自己說:「我心裡頗為猶疑,我也不能肯定神是良善的。但我能夠肯定:因自己的疑惑而傷害別人是錯誤的。因此我要保持沉默。」
在向其他基督徒表示自己的疑惑時我們要絕對小心,特別是對那些信仰尚未成熟的信徒,或者是非基督徒朋友、伴侶或家人。要是我們不能夠說出任何對人有幫助的話,就不要隨便說話。詩人決定沉默直到他可以說:「神實在恩待以色列人。」到那個時候他才可以開口。
「不能說有幫助的話,就不說話」
進深研究
瑪二1-8;賽五十七14;羅十四13;約壹二10
1. 祭司的話變成了甚麼?
2. 我們不可將甚麼放在弟兄的路上?
祈禱
慈愛的神啊,沒有甚麼比以您僕人大衛的話作為禱告更美好:「耶和華啊,求您禁止我的口,把守我的嘴。」我的父,求您幫助我。奉耶穌的名求,阿們。
The Power of a New Perspective
Say nothing unless it is helpful

Bible reading:
Colossians 4:2-6
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Message
From what we have been seeing over the past few days, it is clear that although the psalmist was struggling with doubts about the goodness of God, he took a stand on something he knew to be right. He realised that if he were to speak as he was tempted to speak, the immediate consequence would be the hurt of God's people - so he chose to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. He was not sure about the goodness of God but he was sure it would not be right to be a stumbling-block to God's children - and he held on to that fact.
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said in one of his sermons: "When you are puzzled and perplexed the thing to do is to try and find something of which you are certain, and then take your stand on it. It may not be the central thing; that does not matter." Note the words: "it may not be the central thing". We can struggle in the midst of our doubts, waiting for some great revelation to hit us, and fail to apply the remedy that is immediately to hand. The psalmist saved himself from slipping by saying to himself. "My heart is full of uncertainties and I cannot say with conviction that God is good. But one thing I am certain of: it is wrong to hurt others because of my own doubts. Therefore I will say nothing."
We should be careful about how we express our doubts to other Christians, especially those who are immature. This principle applies also to non-Christian friends, partners, or family members. If we can say nothing helpful we should say nothing at all. The psalmist determined to say nothing until he could say: "God is good to Israel." Then he was entitled to speak.
"If we can say nothing helpful we should say nothing"
Prayer
Gracious and loving God, I can do no better today than frame my prayer in the words of Your servant David: "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips." Help me, my Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Malachi 2:1-8
Isaiah 57:14
Rom 14:13
1 John 2:10
1. What had the words of the priests become?
2. What are we not to put in our brother's way?
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