QT 29/11/2024 Fri. James 1. Practices founded on Theology. 建立在神学基础上的实践。
QT 29/11/2024 Fri. James 1. Practices founded on Theology.
READ https://www.esv.org/james1
Sadly, Christian "truth" and "practice" have sometimes been pitted against each other. Sadly also, "Academic studies" of Scripture" have also been set against "Pastoral applications" of Scripture.
REFLECTION (1): Isn't the practice of truth part of learning truth? Isn't a proper ACADEMIC study of Scripture ALSO a PASTORAL study that is VERY APPLICABLE? Shouldn't a pastor be a theologian, and a theologian a pastor?
James 1:2-8: rebuts the myth that trials are intrinsically bad. In fact, James says that trials are good:-
(1) It produces perseverance (Jam 1:3).
(2) It results in maturity (Jam 1:4).
However, James warns against faithlessness (Jam 1:6-8) but exhorts them to persevere (Jam 1:12-18) in the face of these trials.
James 1:9-11: warns against reliance on wealth as status. James exhorts the rich to be humble, as humble as a wild flower that will pass away (Jam 1:10). He also reminds the poor to remember their "high position" (James 1:9) in the kingdom of God.
James then proceeds in 1:19-27 with practical advice:
(1) Be quick to listen (Jam 1:19).
(2) Be slow to speak.
(3) Be slow to become angry.
(4) Keep a tight rein on the tongue (Jam 1:26).
(5) James reasons that "human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires" (Jam 1:20).
REFLECTION (2): How am I using my tongue recently? When God says "Be holy", do I follow? When God says "Forgive one another", is there anyone I can't forgive? Can I prove all these using my ACTIONS that are PRACTISED?
星期五 2024年11月29日. 雅各书第1章。 建立在神学基础上的实践。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/gb/Jas/1/
可悲的是，基督教的 “真理 ”和 “实践 ”有时被其实践者对立起来。同样可悲的是，圣经的 “学术研究 ”也与圣经的 “牧养式的应用 ”成了对立。
反思 (1)： 实践真理难道不是学习真理的一部分吗？对经文进行适当的学术研究不也是一种非常适用的牧养式的研究吗？难道牧师不应该也是神学家，神学家不应该也是牧师吗？
雅各书 1：2-8：驳斥了试炼本质上是坏事的说法。事实上，雅各说试炼是好的：
(1) 它产生坚忍（雅 1:3）。
(2) 磨练使人成熟（雅各书 1：4）。
然而，雅各警告人们不要失去信心（雅各书 1：6-8），但也劝勉他们在这些试炼面前要坚持不懈（雅各书 1：12-18）。
雅各书 1：9-11警告人们不要依赖财富作为地位的根基。雅各告诫富人要谦卑，要像野花一样谦卑，野花是会凋谢的（雅各书 1：10）。他还提醒穷人要记住自己在神国中的崇高地位（雅各书 1：9）。
接着，雅各在 1:19-27 中提出了一些实用的建议：
(1) 要快快地听（雅各书 1：19）。
(2) 说话要慢。
(3) 迟缓发怒。
(4) 制伏口舌（雅各书 1：26）。
(5) 雅各认为 “因为人的怒气，并不成就神的义”（雅各书 1：20）。
反思（2）： 我最近是如何使用我的舌头的？当神说 “要圣洁 ”时，我遵守了吗？当神说 “要彼此饶恕 ”时，我是否遵守？
