July我們該怎樣行可以討神的喜悅

今天我們從 《創世紀22章》和《帖撒羅尼迦前書4章》，為七月最重要的節期，即七月四號美國獨立日背後蘊含的基督徒精神提供了一個祈禱的視野：

1. 《帖撒羅尼迦前書4章》：保羅強調要過「討神喜悅的生活」，並鼓勵信徒彼此相愛、過安靜、平和和勤奮工作的生活。保羅指出相愛、誠實和勤奮等美德的重要性，這些美德可以指引基督徒追求和諧繁榮的社會。

2. 《創世紀22章》：亞伯拉罕願意獻上他的兒子以撒的故事表達著亞伯拉罕對至聖者上帝絕對的順服和信靠。這個事件提醒我們跟隨亞伯拉罕的信，激勵個人在追求神義和公義中堅守信仰和對上帝的絕對的信任。

我們該怎樣行可以討神的喜悅？

1. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:1談到“該怎樣行可以討神的喜悅”，《創世記》22:1展示了亞伯拉罕接受考驗，要求他獻上他的兒子作爲祭品，顯示出討神喜悅所需的順服；美國第一批的五月花號移民 (1620年)，草擬獨立宣言的五人小組 (1776年)都在回答這問題！

2. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:4 指出在一個情欲泛濫的世代，信徒應該以聖潔和尊榮守護自己的身體，與之相對應，《創世記》22:3中亞伯拉罕願意將至愛的兒子獻上，當作活祭以討神的喜悅。

3. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:9論弟兄相愛以討神的喜悅，而《創世記》22:2以亞伯拉罕獻以撒，預表了神獻出獨生愛子的決絕之愛。神作了一件討自己喜悅的事，即獻出獨生的愛子，因聖子的犧牲，滿足了神絕對公義，使人從罪的權杖下代贖出來。這就是祂的聖愛 (Agape Love)

4. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:11提醒基督徒在燥動的世界追求過安靜的生活，勤奮地工作，而這與亞伯拉罕在人生的黃金高峰時期，被神要求獻祭以撒的信心壯舉形成強烈的對比。

5. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:13陳明盼望在生活中的重要性。面對死亡 (論到睡了的人)，不要像沒有希望的人一樣悲傷，而《創世記》22章的神喻即是「耶和華的使者第二次從天上呼叫亞伯拉罕說：「耶和華說：『你既行了這事，不留下你的兒子，就是你獨生的兒子，我便指著自己起誓說：論福，我必賜大福給你；論子孫，我必叫你的子孫多起來，如同天上的星，海邊的沙；你子孫必得著仇敵的城門；並且地上萬國都必因你的後裔得福，因為你聽從了我的話。』」。(創22:15-18)

6. 帖撒羅尼迦前書4:14提到了「耶穌死而復活」，這解開了創22:15-18節，天使神諭的秘密。

7. 《創世記》22:15的天使從天上呼叫亞伯拉罕，然而他依然是歸土的，帖撒羅尼迦前書4:17描述了信徒在空中與主相遇，而基督徒確是屬天的。所以帖撒羅尼迦前書4:18督促信徒用基督再來的盼望彼此安慰。

我們從歷史的案例中，看看該怎樣行可以討神的喜悅？

美國第一任的總統喬治·華盛頓的祈禱文被稱爲《華盛頓的祈禱》（Washington”s Prayer）。這是一封他在美國獨立戰爭期間冩給他的妻子馬莎的信中的一部分，也是他在1783年辭去美國大陸軍總司令職位後的一篇祈禱。

「噢，永恆和永遠的上帝，我在今天上午敢於出現在祢的神聖威嚴之前，謙卑而衷心地感謝祢。祢的偉大恩慈讓我度過昨夜，保護我免受這個世界所遭受的一切危險，並賜予我甘美而寧靜的睡眠，讓我體力得以恢複和安慰，以便履行今天的任務。求祢保護我免受一切身心的危險…

…爲了祂的緣故，我求祢寬恕我一切的罪過，潔淨我的心靈，並以祢的聖靈充滿我；使我能夠擁有真正的義，使我今天在思想、言語和行爲上都成爲祢的真誠忠實的僕人…

…我奉耶穌基督的名字，並憑祂的功績請求這一切。祂是祢的兒子，也是我的救主。阿們。」

這段祈禱文表達了華盛頓對上帝的敬畏和依賴，以及他在日常生活中尋求上帝的保護和指引的虔誠心態。這封祈禱文在華盛頓生前並沒有公開發表，但在他去世後被發現並傳揚開來，成爲他作爲一位虔誠的基督徒的見証。

還有一段他的祈禱文刻在華盛頓大學的教堂中：全能的上帝：我們誠懇祈求，願你保守美利堅合眾國在你聖潔的保護中；求你傾動公民的心，培養他們順從和服從政府的精神，彼此間懷著兄弟的情感和對全體同胞的愛心，包括美國所有公民。最重要的是，求你慈悲地引導我們全體人民去行公義、愛慈善，以及保持謙卑、和平的心態，這些都是我們信仰中神聖的創始者的特點。如果我們不能謙卑地模仿他在這些事情上的榜樣，我們將無法成為一個幸福的國家。願你應允我們的禱告，奉我們的主耶穌基督的名禱告。阿們。

基督信仰在美國獨立運動中作出了許多重要的貢獻，《獨立宣言》的草擬著也在追求著討神喜悅的公民社會是怎麼樣的面貌：

1. 人人生而平等：

   – 創世記1:26-27： “上帝説：我們要照着我們的形象、按着我們的樣式造人，使他們管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜和全地，並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。”

   – 加拉太書3:28： “並不分猶太人、希臘人，自主的、奴隸的，或男或女，因爲你們在基督耶穌裡都成爲一了。”

2. 創造主賦予人不可剝奪的權利：

   –   約翰福音8:36： “所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。”

3. 政府正當權力來自被統治者的同意：

   – 羅馬書13:1： “人人當順服掌權的，因爲沒有權柄不是出於上帝的，凡掌權的都是上帝所命的。”

   – 彼得前書2:13-14： “你們爲主的緣故，要順服人的一切製度，或是爲君王爲至高的，或是爲君王所派罰噁賞善的。”

 – 出埃及記18:21 – “你要從眾百姓中揀選有能力的人，敬畏神，誠實無私，恨惡不義，立他們作千夫長、百夫長、五十夫長、十夫長，管理百姓。”

–  路加福音22:26 – 你們裡麵為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。”

3. 馬太福音20:25-28 – “耶穌叫了他們來，說：『你們知道外邦人有君王主治他們，有大臣操權管束他們。隻是在你們中間，不可這樣，你們中間誰願為大，就必作你們的用人；誰願為首，就必作你們的僕人。正如人子來，不是要受人的服侍，乃是要服侍人，並且要捨命，作多人的贖價。』”

4. 人民有權改變或廢除不合法的政府：

   – 耶利米書1:10： “看哪，我今日立你在列邦列國之上，爲要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、崩塌，又要建立、栽植。”

   – 但以理書4:25： “你必被趕出离開世人，與野地的獸同居，吃草如牛，被露水滴溼，且要經過七個時期，等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權，要將國賜給誰，就賜給誰。”

– 撒母耳記上 15:23 – “服從勝於獻祭，聽命勝於公羊的脂油。” 這經文強調了服從和聽命的重要性，當政府背离正義和上帝的旨意時，人民有義務採取行動。

– 以賽亞書 10:1-2 – “那些設立不義的律例、記錄姦詐的判決，將睏苦人的案件剝奪，奪取我民中貧窮人的權利，使寡婦成爲擄物，使孤兒成爲掠物的事有禍了！” 這經文指出了不義的統治者和執法機構的罪噁行爲，鼓勵人民在麵對不公正的政府時採取行動。

– 使徒行傳 5:29 – “彼得和使徒回答説：順從神，不順從人，是應當的。” 這經文表達了在上帝的權威麵前順從的原則，當政府的要求與上帝的道德法則相衝突時，人民應該優先順從上帝的旨意。

5. 一個社會是安全的，人民有追求幸福的權利：

   – 詩篇29:11： “耶和華必賜力量給他的百姓，耶和華必賜 平安的福給他的百姓。”

   – 約翰福音10:10： “盜賊來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀滅；我來了，是要叫羊得生命，並且得的更豐盛。”

《獨立宣言》強調了上帝的創造、賦予人類平等和不可剝奪的權利，以及政府的正當性和人民對不公正統治的反抗。它們展示了基督教信仰對《獨立宣言》的影響和共同價值觀。

獨立宣言的起草小組由五位委員組成，他們是約翰·亞當斯（John Adams）、托馬斯·傑斐遜（Thomas Jefferson）、本傑明·富蘭克林（Benjamin Franklin）、羅傑·舒爾曼（Roger Sherman）和羅伯特·利文斯頓（Robert Livingston）。他們都有基督教信仰的背景或是在基督教教育的薫陶中成長：

1. 約翰·亞當斯（John Adams）：亞當斯是一位虔誠的新教徒，他受到新教基督教的影響，並積極參與教會的活動。

2. 托馬斯·傑斐遜（Thomas Jefferson）：傑斐遜一般被認爲是一位宗教自由主義者，因為他推崇理性和自由思想，但是我們從他閱讀的書單上看到聖經和基督徒作者對他的政治思想深刻的影響，他認爲宗教在道德和社會秩序方面具有重要作用。

3. 本傑明·富蘭克林（Benjamin Franklin）：富蘭克林出身自清教徒家庭，在波士頓拉丁學校求學。他成年後喜愛聽George Whitfield的講道，尊重基督教的多元化，倡導人們通過積極善行來追求道德和美德。

4. 羅傑·舒爾曼（Roger Sherman）：舒爾曼是一位莊嚴的加爾文主義者，他的信仰深受清教主義的影響，他強調上帝的主權和人類的原罪。

5. 羅伯特·利文斯頓（Robert Livingston）：利文斯頓是一位長老宗的基督徒，他的信仰塑造著他的價值觀和政治見解。

We prayedfully examined Genesis 22 and 1 Thessalonians 4 as it relates to the Christian spirit behind Independence Day in the United States today.

The first. 1 Thessalonians 4 emphasizes living a life pleasing to God, loving one another, living quietly, peacefully, and diligently. The apostle Paul emphasizes the virtues of love, honesty, and diligence that can guide Christians towards a harmonious and prosperous society.

The second. Genesis 22 depicts Abraham’s willingness to offer his son Isaac as an expression of his absolute obedience and trust in the Holy God. We are reminded of Abraham’s faith in this event, which inspires us to be faithful in the pursuit of righteousness and justice and to have absolute faith in God.

How can we live to please God?

The first. Thessalonians 4:1 addresses “how to live to please God,” and Genesis 22:1 shows Abraham’s willingness to obey God by offering his beloved son as a sacrifice. Mayflower immigrants (1620) and the five-man committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence (1776) answered this question!

The second. As 1 Thessalonians 4:4 points out, believers should guard their bodies with holiness and honor in a world filled with lust. Genesis 22:3 shows Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac as a living sacrifice to please God.

The third. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 speaks of brotherly love to please God. Genesis 22:2 presents Abraham’s offering of Isaac, foreshadowing God’s resolute love by offering His only begotten Son. God did something to please Himself, offering His Son, satisfying His absolute righteousness and redeeming people from the power of sin. This is His divine love (Agape Love).

The fourth. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Christians are reminded to lead a quiet life and work diligently in a restless world, in contrast to Abraham’s faith and obedience during the golden peak of his life.

The fifth. The importance of hope in life is highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. It is imperative that believers do not grieve like those without hope when faced with death (referring to those who have fallen asleep). Abraham’s blessing is revealed in Genesis 22:15-18 after he obeyed God’s command to sacrifice Isaac.

The sixth. Jesus’ death and resurrection are mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:14, a key to unlocking the mystery of Genesis 22:15-18.

The seventh. Abraham remained on earth despite being called by an angel from heaven in Genesis 22:15. As Christians belong to heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 describes believers meeting the Lord in the air. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians 4:18 encourages believers to comfort one another with the hope of Christ’s return.

We can live to please God by following historical examples:

As part of a letter to his wife Martha during the American Revolutionary War and after stepping down as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1783, George Washington wrote “Washington’s Prayer.”.

“Oh, eternal and everlasting God, I, with humble reverence, bow before Your divine majesty and thank You for the mercies and protection You have afforded me during the past night. Preserve me from all dangers of this world and enable me to perform the duties of this day. Forgive my sins and cleanse my heart, fill me with true righteousness, that I may be a faithful servant to You in thought, word, and deed…

…I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son and my Savior. Amen.”

Throughout this prayer, Washington demonstrates his reverence and dependence on God, as well as his devout attitude of seeking God’s guidance and protection in daily life. Washington’s prayer was not published during his lifetime, but it was discovered and spread after his death, testifying to his devout faith.

There is also a prayer attributed to George Washington inscribed in the chapel of Washington University: “Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And, finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

In the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, Christians sought to reflect a God-pleasing citizen society:

1. We are all created equal:

– Genesis 1:26-27: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'”

– Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

2. Unalienable rights endowed by the Creator:

– John 8:36: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

3. Just powers of government derive from the consent of the governed:

– Romans 13:1: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

– 1 Peter 2:13-14: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”

– Exodus 18:21: “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”

– Luke 22:26: “But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.”

4. The people have the right to alter or abolish an unjust government:

– Jeremiah 1:10: “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

– Daniel 4:25: “You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

– 1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.” This verse emphasizes the importance of obedience and listening to God’s commands, and when the government acts against justice and God’s will, the people have a duty to take action.

– Isaiah 10:1-2: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” This verse points out the sins of unjust rulers and law enforcement agencies, encouraging the people to take action when faced with unjust government.

– Acts 5:29: “Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!'” This verse expresses the principle of obedience to God’s authority, and when the government’s demands conflict with God’s moral laws, the people should prioritize obeying God’s will.

5. A society is secure when people have the right to pursue happiness:

– Psalm 29:11: “The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.”

– John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The Declaration of Independence emphasizes God’s creation, unalienable rights, the legitimacy of government, and the right of the people to resist unjust rule. The Declaration of Independence demonstrates the influence of Christian faith and values.

There were five members of the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. Each of them had a background in Christian faith or was influenced by Christian education:

1. Adams was a devout Protestant who actively participated in church activities and was influenced by New England Puritanism.

2. Generally, Jefferson was considered a religious liberal for his emphasis on reason and free thought. In spite of this, his political beliefs were deeply influenced by reading the Bible and Christian authors, and he believed religion held a significant role in morality and society.

3. Franklin came from a Puritan family and attended Boston Latin School. A man of positive actions, he appreciated the preaching of George Whitefield in his adulthood and advocated for people to pursue morality and virtue.

4. Roger Sherman was a Calvinist who emphasized God’s sovereignty and original sin in his values and political views.

5. Livingston was a Presbyterian Christian whose values and politics were influenced by his faith.

These examples demonstrate how Christian faith and principles played a significant role in the American independence movement.