八福
为甚么要假装?
经文
希伯来书四12-16
12神的道是活泼的,是有功效的,比一切两刃的剑更快,甚至魂与灵,骨节与骨髓,都能刺入、剖开,连心中的思念和主意都能辨明。
13并且被造的没有一样在他面前不显然的;原来万物在那与我们有关系的主眼前,都是赤露敞开的。
14我们既然有一位已经升入高天尊荣的大祭司,就是神的儿子耶稣,便当持定所承认的道。
15因我们的大祭司并非不能体恤我们的软弱。他也曾凡事受过试探,与我们一样,只是他没有犯罪。
16所以,我们只管坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前,为要得怜恤,蒙恩惠,作随时的帮助。
信息分享
昨天我们结束时提到一位女士,她说自己不懂得哀恸,但实际上她的问题是她不想哀恸。每当我们不愿意面对负面的情绪,那表示我们没有控制情绪,而是让情绪控制我们。
基督徒往往会被教导要在面对悲伤时假装出快乐的样子。不过,今天的经文告诉我们,有一位大祭司完全能够体恤我们的软弱。主给我们的安慰是不带批判和充满怜悯的,而向主隐藏我们的软弱,就等于不让自己得到祂的安慰,是多么没理由啊!这是一个十分重要的提醒,因为我认为十个基督徒中,有八个对如何处理伤害和哀伤都有完全错误的观念。
一般基督徒对负面情绪的反应只有两个:否认或者是表达。否认就是拒绝面对和感受情绪,昨天我们处理了这个问题。现在让我们来思考一下「表达」是甚么意思。表达情绪是将情绪尽情发泄出来。这是今天的辅导员和治疗师所惯用的手法。他们说你感到不快乐、受到伤害或愤怒时,便高声呼喊、叫喊或拳打枕头,直到那些情绪得到完全发泄为止。没错,这样做内心或许可以得到一点释放,但却不是合乎圣经的成熟行为。处理负面情绪的正确方式不是否认或表达,而是承认。我们明天将继续在这方面作进一步的探讨。
「不让自己得到安慰是多么没理由!」
进深研究
路十25-37,七13;太九36,二十34;可一41
1. 耶稣总是以行动来表明甚么?
2. 祂怎样生动地说明这点?
祈祷
天父,我明白情绪是一个地雷阵,我必须小心谨慎地走过。求您牵着我的手,带我走过这个地带,教导我清楚明白合乎圣经的结论。奉耶稣的名祈求,阿们。
The Beatitudes
Why pretend?
Bible reading:
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Message
Yesterday we ended with the case of the woman who said that she didn't know how to mourn, when in reality her problem was she didn't want to mourn. Whenever we are unwilling to face a negative emotion, it implies that we are not in control of it, but that it is in control of us.
Christians are often taught to pretend that they feel joyful when really they are miserable. Our text today, however, tells us that we have a great High Priest who can sympathise with us in our weaknesses. How pointless it is to conceal our weaknesses from the Lord and deny ourselves the comfort of His uncritical compassionate understanding. This is very important, for I would say that eight out of ten Christians have a completely wrong view of how to handle hurts and sorrows.
The typical Christian reaction to negative emotions is either denial or expression. We dealt yesterday with the issue of denial - refusing to face them and feel them - so let's consider for a moment what we mean by the term "expression". The expression of emotions is the act of letting our emotions out. This is a popular approach with many of today's counsellors and therapists. They say, when you feel upset, hurt or angry, then shout and scream or punch a pillow until you have released those pent-up emotions. There is no doubt that some relief can be gained in this way, but it is not a very Biblical or mature way of dealing with our negative feelings. The right way of handling negative feelings is neither to deny them or express them, but to acknowledge them. But more of that tomorrow.
"How pointless to deny ourselves comfort"
Prayer
O Father, I see that this whole issue of emotions is a minefield in which I must tread carefully and cautiously. Take my hand as I move through this area and lead me to clear and Biblical conclusions. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
Further study
Luke 10:25-37; 7:13
Matthew 9:36; 20:34
Mark 1:41
1. What was Jesus always demonstrating?
2. How did He graphically illustrate this?
本文英文版权属 CWR 所有,承蒙允准刊载。
背景音乐版权属 赞美之泉音乐事工 所有,承蒙允准使用。

