12月19日

標　　題：廢棄偶像

經　　節：主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。（使徒行傳十九章20節）

保羅那時代的人追求偶像。當時在以弗所，再沒有比亞底米女神更受人愛戴尊敬的了。那個最偉大的神像被供奉在一個輝煌華麗的廟宇裡，曾被視為世界一大奇觀。當時製造偶像的行業，為以弗所人提供了生計，他們製造偶像促進當時偶像的廣傳。

保羅並沒有去以弗所指責拜偶像的罪，但他去那裡宣揚耶穌基督的福音。當保羅分享神的真理，人們由罪的捆綁中釋放出來，偶像崇拜行業漸漸衰落。石頭雕塑的偶像與神的大能，在改變人心的對比上，變得很明顯。基督徒公義的生活，比起拜偶像人們的狂歡作樂，大不相同。基督徒得勝的見證令人信服，以至於合城的經濟大為衰退，人們喜愛基督教，而不喜歡偶像。

任何轉移我們對神的奉獻之事物，都是偶像。我們目前的社會，拜偶像的情況與保羅時代的情況雷同。我們不是拜那些木雕偶像，而是選擇讓財產、享樂或事業作我們的神，我們把自己的時間、金錢及精力花在這些事物上。

誠如保羅一樣，我們每個人處在這偶像崇拜的社會，被呼召過得勝、喜樂、及有目標的基督徒生活。我們不需要尋找及定罪今日的偶像，而是要活出基督的生命，享受神所賜的豐盛生命，身旁的人自會覺得偶像不足以信靠。我們可能會遭受其它拜偶像者的反對與敵視。人們不喜歡看到自己的偶像被廢棄！然而，當我們仰望神，人們會看出我們信仰的不同之處，並且會被祂與祂所賜予的生命所吸引。

Dethroning Idols

So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20)

Paul’s world worshiped idols. No idol was more revered in Ephesus than the goddess Diana. The great statue was housed in a magnificent temple and was recognized as one of the wonders of the world. An idol-making industry, providing a livelihood for many people, developed in Ephesus to support the widespread idolatry of the day.

Paul did not go to Ephesus to condemn those worshiping idols but to unashamedly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. As Paul shared the truths of God, and as people were set free from sin’s , idol worship began to decline. The contrast between stone carvings and God’s power to change lives became obvious. The righteous lives of the Christians stood in stark contrast to the hedonistic practices of the idol worshipers. The victorious Christian witness was so compelling that the economy of the entire city was thrown into upheaval as idolatry diminished in favor of Christianity.

An idol is anything that diverts our devotion from God. Our society is as idolatrous as Paul’s was. Rather than worshiping statues, we choose possessions, pleasures, or careers as our gods and pour our time, finances, and energy into these things.

Each of us is called, as Paul was, to live a victorious, joyful, and purposeful Christian life in the midst of an idolatrous society. We do not have to seek out and condemn today’s idols. Rather, as we live out our Christianity, enjoying the abundant life God gives, our lives will discredit the idols around us. We may face opposition and hostility from those who are angered at the contrast between our God and theirs. People do not like to have their idols dethroned! Yet as we uphold Christ, others will see a difference and be drawn to Him and the life that He offers.