帖撒羅尼迦前書 4:7 神召我們本不是要我們沾染污穢,而是要我們聖潔。 8 所以,那棄絕這教導的不是棄絕人,而是棄絕那把自己的聖靈賜給你們的 神。
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
性是當今非常敏感的個人話題。 在我們所看到的任何地方,世界都在鼓勵我們遵循肉體的情慾,甚至美化它。 每天,我們看到越來越多的個人和機構屈服於這個世界的性文化。 (本季度,Hallmark將以LGBTQ故事情節播出其首部聖誕節電影). 在婚姻的誓言下,性是上帝賜予男人和女人的結合的禮物。 耶穌對此定義並沒有沉默且他肯定了。 (馬太福音19:3-10)我們是否發現自己喜歡觀看甚至做上帝所不喜悅的事情? 保羅警告我們,棄絕上帝關於聖潔的教導就是棄絕上帝,而不是人。 教會需要先自己在性的問題大掃除, 否則,我們將沒有底氣向世界宣講聖潔。 聖潔不僅是針對某些屬靈的領袖,而且是上帝對所有基督徒的旨意(4:3)。 因此,讓我們”行事為人(身體和思想上),討 神的喜悅” (4:1)!
Sexuality is a very sensitive and personal topic in our day. Everywhere we look, the world is encouraging us to follow lustful passions, even glorifying it. Every day, we see more individuals and institutions bowing down to the sexual culture of this world. (This season, Hallmark will air its first Christmas movie with an LGBTQ storyline). Sex is a gift from God to the union of a man and woman under the vow of marriage. Jesus is not silent about this; he affirms it. (Matthew 19:3-10) Do we find ourselves enjoying watching or even doing what God calls us not to? Paul warns us that disregarding God’s teaching on holiness is disregarding God, not man. The Church needs to do our own housecleaning first; otherwise we will have no credentials to speak to the world. And holiness is not just for certain spiritual leaders but is the will of God for all Christians. Therefore let us walk with God in a way that pleases Him in both our mind and body!
