昨天我們說要在自我檢視中誠實地面對自己，這對我們來說往往是最困難的事情，我們總是會很快速地跳過這一點。我們高興聽到神怎樣將不敬虔的人放在滑地，但是不樂意被提醒要檢視自己、找出導致我們走錯路的原因。

不過我們必須知道，當涉及自我檢視這個問題時，就會有兩種危機可能出現。一種是過份強調，另一種是過份低估。有些人太投入了，變得不健康地內省；有些人卻完全沒有省察自己，因此只是行屍走肉地生活著。我們要記住，自我檢視必須在有神同在的時候進行，這一點非常關鍵，不然的話，內省的操練就會變得無效甚至有害。

我認識一些基督徒，他們強烈反對自我檢視這個觀念。他們說：「當你看到自己犯了罪的時候，只要將你的罪以主血洗淨就沒有問題了。停下來思想它會顯示你在屬靈上不夠健康，缺乏信心。」鍾馬田博士曾經說過：「我們大部分人的問題是我們在屬靈上實在過份『健康』。」他的意思是我們太口齒伶俐和太膚淺。沒有甚麼比願意自我檢視更符合真正基督徒的特點，不用太多，也不能太少，必須適當及平衡地進行。

We said yesterday that the task of honestly facing ourselves in self-examination is often the hardest thing for us to do. We are all very prone to pass quickly over this point. We are quite happy to hear how God has set the ungodly in slippery places but we are not happy to be invited to take a look at ourselves and uncover the things within us that cause us to go astray.

It must be said, however, that two dangers arise whenever the question of self-examination is considered. One is over-emphasis and the other is under-emphasis. Some engage in it too much and become unhealthily introspective, while others fail to look at themselves at all and thus live on the surface. The important thing to remember is this - self-examination should always be carried out in the presence of God. If this is not adhered to, then the exercise can become harmful and counter-productive.

I meet many Christians who strongly oppose the idea of self-examination. They say: "the moment you see that you have sinned and then put your sin 'under the blood' you are all right. To stop and think about it is an indication that you are not spiritually healthy and that you lack faith." Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said: "The trouble with most of us is that we are far too 'healthy' spiritually." He meant by that that we are much too glib and much too superficial. Nothing is more characteristic of a true Christian than a willingness to examine himself; not too much, not too little, but in an appropriate and balanced way.