1月5日

標 題：儀式或關係？

經 節：他們也不說：「那領我們從埃及地上來，引導我們經過曠野，沙漠有深坑之地，和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裡呢？」（耶利米書二章6節）

基督信仰是一種與耶穌基督愈來愈親密的關係。它不是一堆信仰教條，也不是常規儀式，更不是消除罪的途徑。神所頒發的每個命令，都是為了加深祂與祂的百姓之間愛的關係。

神為我們設計崇拜，好讓我們能在祂的榮耀光中朝見祂，並且適當地回應祂。然而，對許多人而言，崇拜已經變質，成了「宗教」，只是一個習慣性的聚會罷了。神創立獻祭制度，好讓我們這些神的百姓能向祂表達愛意。但我們往往獻給神一點點的禮物，徒然想安撫神，平靜自己的罪惡感。神賜予我們禱告的權柄，讓我們能與祂會話，但我們常常有口無心地「念主禱文」，扭曲了禱告的真義。不但如此，我們往往沒有靜心聆聽神的心意，就匆匆退出禱告。神設立誡命來保護祂所愛的百姓。誡命卻輕易地變成律法主義的小徑，而非與神創建關係的林蔭大道。祂用這些誡命來保護我們免受傷害。

沒有與神相交的宗教活動只是空洞的儀式。耶利米時代的百姓滿足於那種沒有神同在的儀式。他們對自己的「宗教」好自在，甚至不曾察覺到神並沒有同在的事實。我們是否可能在禱告、參加主日崇拜或奉獻金錢的同時，卻沒有經歷神的同在？當然，這是可能的！這是許多基督徒可悲的誤解。不要停留在那種與耶穌基督毫不相干的宗教生活。神同在的敬拜是迥然不同的。

Ritual or Relationship?

Neither did they say, 'Where is the LORD, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness. (Jeremiah 2:6)

Christianity is an intimate, growing relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. It is not a set of doctrines to believe, habits to practice, or sins to avoid. Every activity God commands is intended to enhance His love relationship with His people.

God designed worship for us to see Him in His glory and to respond appropriately; for many it has degenerated into “religion,” one more meeting to attend out of habit. God established the sacrificial system so that we, His people, could express our love to Him; but we often diminish our gifts to our Lord into futile attempts to appease Him and to pacify our guilty conscience. God gave us prayer so we could have conversation with Him, but we often distort this by “saying prayers” and hurrying off without ever listening to what is on our Father’s heart. God instituted His commandments as a protection for those He loves, but the commandments can become a pathway to legalism rather than an avenue for a relationship with our Father in which He protects us from harm.

Religious activity apart from fellowship with God is empty ritual. The people of Jeremiah’s day were satisfied to have the ritual without the manifest presence of God. They became so comfortable with their “religion” that they didn’t even notice God’s absence. Is it possible to pray, to attend a worship service, or to give an offering yet not to experience the presence of God? It certainly is possible! And that has been the sad commentary on many a Christian experience. Don’t settle for a religious life that lacks a vital relationship to Jesus Christ. When God is present, the difference will be obvious.