心理學與《聖經》﹕神學反省（二）
自尊，自愛與《聖經》
PSYCHOLOGY AND THE BIBLE: Some Theological Reflections (2) –
Self-Esteem, Self-Love, and the Bible
I. 再談「前提」﹕只有好的動機不夠
Presuppositions Revisited: Good Intentions Are Not Good Enough
羅12﹕2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is goo and acceptable and perfect.”
約壹4﹕1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
- 很多弟兄姐妹在從事輔導的專業或事奉。我們是重生得救的基督徒，聖靈住在我們裏面，以真理光照我們，聖靈也會糾正我們對真理的錯誤理解。我們絕大部分的人都有好的動機﹕幫助別人，作外展事工分享基督的愛。所以我們會花時間來參加「心理學與《聖經》」這類講座。Many of us are Christians involved in some form of counseling work or ministry. As born-again Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, illumines us, and corrects our wrong understanding of the truth. The vast majority of us have very good motives to help people, and to reach out to society with the love of Christ. That is why we spend the time to attend seminars such as this one on “Psychology and the Bible.” We believe that the Holy Spirit led you to come to this seminar.
- 不過聖靈在我們裏面的光照，和我們好的動機，並不改變一件事實，就是﹕大多數基督徒的思想中含有不符合《聖經》的觀念，理論，和「前提」（世界觀）。這些往往與《聖經》所教導的相反。輔導員若要成熟，長期有效，必須學習《聖經》的教義﹕就是純正的，符合《聖經》的神學。我們並沒有意思判斷各位的動機，也不論斷我們願意幫助別人的目標。沒有基督徒會一天醒過來，說，「今天我決志作一個拜邪靈的異教徒！」當然不會！可是，我們誠懇邀請你重新審核自己的世界觀（價值觀）。Our good intentions, and the Holy Spirit’s illumination in our lives, however, do not change the fact that most Christians entertain notions, concepts and “presuppositions” (worldviews) which are contrary to what Scripture teaches. Counselors need to study the doctrines (teachings) which Scripture proclaims – i.e., study sound, Bible-based theology, if we are going to be mature and effective. Thus, while we do not judge your motives and your goal to help people (and you certainly didn’t wake up one day and say, “I am going to become a follower of pagan, demonic religion”), we do challenge you to re-think your worldview.
- 假如今天的講座是「市場學與教會增長」，我們會對到會的牧師們講解﹕雖然諸位牧師的動機是好的（願意教會增長），可是我們從很多神學院（特別是教牧學博士課程）學到的，不過是資本主義商界的市場學與廣告學伎倆而已。雖然我們不判斷牧師們的動機，可是我們會向他們的前提（價值觀，世界觀）挑戰！If this were not a seminar on “Psychology and the Bible,” but a seminar for pastors on “Marketing and the Church Growth Movement,” we will point out to the pastors who come (who have every good intention to spread the gospel and bring people into the church) that, despite their good intentions, what they learn about church growth techniques from many seminaries (especially Doctor of Ministry programs) is nothing more than advertising and marketing techniques from the business world of capitalism. While we do not judge the pastors’ intentions, we would challenge their presuppositions!
- 事實上，多數基督徒輔導學教授（除了《聖經》輔導運動的成員例外）是從世俗心理學的理論基礎教導輔導的。所謂「心理學與基督教融合」必然是失敗的。我們須要聖靈光照我們，理清這些反對《聖經》的觀念，清潔我們的思想。最好，最理想的情況乃是；我們在中學時期就充分吸收《聖經》教義和護教學。這樣，到了大學，我們已經準備好面對世俗心理學的理論，懂得如何過濾，評判。The fact is, most Christian professors of counseling (with the exception of a small minority who belong to the “nouthetic (biblical) counseling movement”, teach from the theoretical perspective of secular psychology. “Integration of psychology and Christianity” is a failure; it is inevitable. We need the Holy Spirit’s illumination to cleanse us from these anti-Biblical, anti-God concepts. The best, most ideal situation is that we absorb Bible doctrine, and learn the principles of Biblical apologetics, during our secondary school years. Then we are prepared to filter wrong concepts when we study psychology at the university.
- 人是什麼？我們來看主要心理學理論家怎麼說。弗來伊德說﹕人是一大堆彼此衝突的欲望﹕生命之欲（性）和死亡之欲（謀殺）。弗氏氏極度反對、憎恨基督教。羅杰斯說﹕人的自我，就是過去經驗的總和；人沒有靈魂。行為主義﹕人就是動物。新紀元運動﹕人就是上帝。Let us take an example: What is man? How do major psychologists answer this question? Sigmund Freud – man is a combination of contradicting desires and drives (the drive for life: sex; and the drive for death: murder). Freud fiercely opposes and despises Christianity. Carl Rogers – the self is the sum total of our past experiences – Rogers does not believe that the soul exists. B.F. Skinner (behaviorism) and contemporary studies on the brain and the body – man is a body, just like an animal. New Age philosophy/psychology – man is God.
II. 「心想意成」﹕積極思想的能力
“Mind Over Matter” – the Power of Thinking
塞55﹕10-11
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
弗1﹕11
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.”
- 很多心理學家和新紀元作者相信，人的思想有極大的能力﹕所謂「心想意成」。你所想的，就能發生﹕心靈可以控制物質世界，可以控制未來。Many psychologists and most New Age writers believe in the “power of the mind.” What you think affects what will happen to you – you can “think” the future into existence.
- 「心想意成」若是指我們的思想能控制物質世界（我們的身體，環境等），那麼只有上帝有這種的能力。只有《聖經》的上帝絕對有這能力，有權使用這種能力。上帝思想，計劃一件事的時候，事就這樣成了。他是按自己計劃創造萬物的主！上帝說，「要有光」，就有光。上帝的話是主宰的曉諭，是掌主權，全權的話語。唯有上帝有絕對「控制世界」的能力（賽55﹕10-11）。上帝是「憑己意行萬事」的主（弗1﹕5，9，11）。If “mind over matter” means that what we think can control the physical world (our bodies, our circumstances, etc.), then only God has that power. Only God – the God of the Bible – has that power rightfully and absolutely. When God thinks and says something, he brings things into existence. God says “Let there be light,” and there is light. God Word is the Word of the Lord; it is a sovereign, all-powerful Word. Only God has absolute power of “mind over matter” (
Isaiah 55:10-11 ). God does all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph. 1:5 ,9 ,11 ). - 上帝按照自己的形象創造人（創1﹕26-28）。上帝是無限的，祂所造的人是有限的。可是人的確是上帝的形象，人有某些方面「像」上帝的性格。因此，人的理性諭思想，在某一個程度上，是上帝思想的「形象」，是「類比」上帝思維的思維 (analogical knowledge)。當然，上帝的意念不是我們的意念，祂的道路不是我們的道路（賽55﹕8-9）。祂是無限的，我們不是；祂是掌主權的，我們不是；祂是無罪的，聖潔的，我們不是。所以，我們的思想不可能一想就「創造」一件事出來（除非被邪惡靈控制）。我們必須以順服上帝的話的心來使用我們的思想；我們的思想必須是「守約順服」的行為。God created man in his own image (
Gen. 1:26-28 ). God is infinite, man is infinite, but man is God’s image. We do bear some resemblance to God’s character. Therefore, man’s mind and man’s thoughts are “analogical to” (an image of) God’s mind and God’s thoughts. Of course, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, and his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9 ) – he is infinite, we are not; he is sovereign, we are not; he is sinless, we are not. So our minds do not “create” things into being (unless we are controlled by an evil spirit). We are to use our minds in submission to his revelation, in “covenant obedience.” - 任何人試圖（或教導人）使用自己的思想來控制物質世界的，都有奪去上帝權利的嫌疑。所以上帝禁止我們行邪術！(申18章。) 新紀元哲學事實上相信我們就是上帝，因此我們應該以上帝自居，這樣生活。這簡直是褻瀆！Any attempt to teach man to use his mind to control matter, is suspect of usurping the power that only God rightfully exercises. That is why God forbids sorcery and witchcraft (
Deut. Chapter 18 ). New Age philosophy, in fact, believes that we ARE God, so we should think and act as if we ARE God. This is blasphemy! - 我們應該效法上帝的思維而思維 (think God’s thoughts after God)；換言之，以信靠，順服《聖經》的心來思想一切的事。（參﹕傅蘭姆，范泰爾的著作。）We should learn to “think God’s thoughts after God” – in other words, in faith and in obedience to Scripture. (Cf. John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God; and the writings of Cornelius Van Til.)
III. 人性本善？Is Man Born Good?
弗4﹕24
“And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
西3﹕10
“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
耶17﹕9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (wicked); who can understand it?”
- 大部分的心理學理論家都是人本主義者。人本主義基本信念之一，就是﹕人性本善。（他們也相信人是智慧的，人不需要上帝幫助可以獲得智慧；人是絕對自由的，等。）這信念符合《聖經》嗎？Most psychological theorists are humanists. One of the most basic beliefs of “humanism” is that man is good. (Other beliefs: Man is wise and can attain wisdom without God’s help; man is free in an absolute sense; etc.) Is this Biblical?
- 上帝按照自己的形象創造了人（創1﹕26-28），人本來是公義，聖潔，智慧的（狀況一）。可是亞當犯了罪，人類在祂裏都墮落了（羅5﹕12-21）。今天人的心是極其邪惡的。我們都死在罪中（弗2﹕1）。這是狀況二。唯有聖靈重生我們，我們才被上帝再創造，按照祂的形象，成為1公義，聖潔，智慧的人（弗4﹕24，西3﹕10）。這是狀況三。基督徒活在狀況三之中，仍然會犯罪，罪是那「另一個律」，住在我們裏面（羅7﹕14-25）。God created man in his own image (
Gen. 1:26-28 ), righteous, holy, and wise (Eph. 4:24 ;Col. 3:10 ). This is the original condition of man (condition #1). But man fell after Adam sinned (Rom. 5:12-21 ). So man today has a heart which is exceedingly wicked and deceitful. We are dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1 ). This is condition #2. Only when the Holy Spirit regenerates us, will we become re-created according to God’s image, and are restored to be righteous, holy, and wise (Eph. 4:24 ;Col. 3:10 ). This is condition #3. In condition #3 Christians still sin, sin is “another law” which still dwells in us (Rom. 7:14-25 ). - 上帝所賜我們的一切公義，聖潔，智慧，都是在基督裏賜給我們的。因為我們在基督裏有分，我們進入到基督裏，因此上帝把基督的義歸算給我們。我們憑自己一點良善都沒有。可是上帝開恩，將基督的義歸算給我們（好象刷信用卡一樣，算在我們的帳戶裏）。All the righteousness, holiness and wisdom which God gives us, He gives us in Christ. Because we are included in, incorporated in, and have a share in Christ, we have Christ’s righteousness counted (imputed) as ours. In ourselves there is no goodness, none whatsoever. But God graciously grants Christ’s righteousness, “charging it” into our account.
- 任何試圖教導人性本善、智慧，而不須靠上帝救贖之恩的，都是謊言。我們這樣相信，可能出於好意﹕「噢，我的孩子心底是好的，可是祂在學校頑皮就是啦！」但這是違背《聖經》教導的想法。Any attempt to teach that man is basically good, and wise, without God’s salvation and transformation in our lives, is a lie. We may have very good intentions when we think this way: “Oh, my child has a good heart. He just behaves badly in school….” – but this is opposite to what the Bible teaches.
IV. 《聖經》論自我判斷
What Does The Bible Say About Self-Esteem?
約壹3﹕20-21
“For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.”
羅12﹕3
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
- 所謂「自尊」是什麼？是指我們如何判斷自己。很多心理學家教導，我們必須有一個正面積極的自我形象（自尊），很多新紀元邪靈（靈媒）也是這樣教導。基督徒輔導員，由「愛家協會」杜博士 (Dr. James Dobson) 帶領之下，紛紛成了「自尊」的信仰者﹕沒有自尊，不可能生活健康，學業、事業成功，婚姻家庭美滿。「自我形象」是萬善之源，缺乏好的「自我形象」是萬惡之根。究竟《聖經》如何說？What is self-esteem? It is what we think about ourselves. Many psychologists teach that we must have a positive self-esteem; so do many New Age spiritual mediums. Christian counselors, under the leadership of Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family), believe that without a good self-image, we cannot live healthy lives, perform well in school and at work, nor have good family relationships. “Self-image” is the cure-all, the source of all good; without it, we are open to all evils in life. What does the Bible say on the subject?
- 《聖經》的確教導我們如何看待自己﹕我們應該看別人比自己強（腓2﹕3），我們應該謙卑，為上帝賜我們的恩賜而感恩，不要傲慢等。這些自我判斷的思想來自我們的「良心」，或「心」。我們在上文（第一篇）說過，我們有一個「意志」。意思是，我們一切所作的都是「從心發出」。The Bible does teach us how we should think about ourselves. It teaches that we should esteem others as better than ourselves (
Phil. 2:3 ), for example. We should be humble, give thanks for the gifts God give us, and not become proud and arrogant. All of these thoughts which we think about ourselves come from our “heart” – or our “conscience.” We said in our first presentation that: we have a “will.” Therefore, everything we say and do, we do them “out of our heart.” - 「良心」是什麼？良心是人的理性作出道德性的判斷。這是清教徒對良心的定義。（參﹕巴刻，《敬虔的追尋》，「清教徒的良心」一章。）一個好的（清潔的，正常運作）的良心，按照上帝如何判斷我們來判斷自己。我們作錯事（犯罪）的時候，良心會責備我們。我們作的對，良心會肯定。一個好的良心對自己說﹕「上帝赦免了我的罪，我在上帝面前被稱義；上帝繼續在我生命作成聖的工作，我繼續成聖。」What is conscience? It is man’s reason making moral judgment. Conscience is talking to ourselves, judging ourselves. (This is the Puritan definition of conscience. Cf. J.I. Packer’s chapter on “The Puritan Conscience,” in A Quest for Godliness, Crossway Books.) A good conscience (a clean conscience, a conscience which operates normally) judges ourselves just like God judges us. When we do something wrong (when we sin), our conscience rebukes us. When we do something right (according to God’s Word), our conscience approves of it. A good conscience thinks, “God has forgiven my sins, I am justified before him; God continues to work in my life to make me holy, I continue to be sanctified.”
- 我們的良心並非無所不知，也非無誤；只有《聖經》是絕對無誤！因此基督徒的良心必須學習。我們的良心必須跟隨聖靈的帶領，從《聖經》學習﹕《聖經》是聖靈默示的書，為了我們的好處！Our conscience is not all-knowing. Our conscience is not inerrant; it does make wrong judgments. Only God’s Word the Bible is inerrant. Therefore the Christian’s conscience must learn. Our conscience must follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, and learn from the Bible, the book which the Holy Spirit wrote for our benefit!
- 美國加州「自尊工作小組」的調查報告，和《科學美國》的報導（2005）指出，有積極自尊的人會有淫亂行為（注﹕缺乏自制）；傾向暴力（注﹕缺乏溫柔）；傾向傲慢，偏見。有好的自尊，並不一定在學業、事業、人際關係上成功。這是因為我們把一個罪人的自我形象（自我中心的，從「自主」的心思而發的自我認識）當作是正確的自我判斷，不考慮自己的罪。我們換假當！我們的心剛硬，我們烙了自己的良心（整個社會如此！）。The California Self Esteem Task Force report and Scientific American (2005) show that people who have “positive self-esteem” tend to be promiscuous (lack of self-control), tend to be violent (lack of meekness), tend to be arrogant and prejudiced, etc. Good self-esteem is not related to better performance in school, at work, or in relationships! This is because we have taken a sinner’s self-centered “positive self-image” which comes from an autonomous mind and heart – without paying attention to our sin – as the right way of self-judgment. We have taken a lie for the truth. Therefore, our hearts have become hardened; our conscience – an entire society’s conscience – is seared.
- 因此，新紀元的靈媒教導「自尊」，不足為奇。撒但最喜歡散播謊言，欺騙我們，叫我們從上帝真理之道上偏離。Therefore, it is not an accident that New Age spiritual mediums teach self-esteem. Satan loves to teach the lie, to deceive us and to divert us from following God’s truth.
- 教會必須回到《聖經》面前，學習如何使用我們的「良心」來敬畏上帝，愛祂，順服祂，敬拜祂，為祂而活。The church must return to the Bible and learn how to use our conscience to fear God, love him, obey him, worship him and live for him.
- 若有人教導「自尊」就是福音（如﹕南加州「水晶大教堂」的Robert Schuller），有好的「自尊」就是得救，這種信息簡直不是福音。Robert Schuller所教導的，不是基督教！他的教會中可能有信仰純正的傳道同工和會友，可是根據他的著作和他所宣講的，他的信息不是《聖敬》所教導的。If someone – such as Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Anaheim, California – teaches that self-esteem is the Gospel, that it is the same as salvation, then that message is simply not the Gospel. Robert Schuller’s gospel is NOT Christianity. There may be many godly Christians on his staff and in his congregation, but it does not change the fact that what he writes in his books and preaches from his pulpit is NOT the Bible’s message.
V. 我們的自我認同與別人對自己的評價﹕《聖經》的模式
Identity and What Others Think of Me – A Biblical Model
箴1﹕2-7
“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth – Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understand obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
申6﹕4-9
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
- 我們應該留意別人對我們怎麼想嗎？有時候應該，可是我們不應成為懼怕別人的奴隸﹕（一）怕別人會看到真的我；（二）怕別人不接納我，拒絕我；（三）怕別人會傷害我（感情傷害，身體傷害，性虐待等）。唯一從作懼怕的奴隸釋放的方法，乃是首先敬畏上帝！Should we pay any attention to what others think about us? Sometimes yes, but we should not be enslaved by fear of what others think of us. Many of us are enslaved by three thoughts: (a) others may see the real me; (b) others may not accept me, but reject me; (c) others may hurt me, emotionally, physically, sexually. (Cf. When People Are Big and God is Small, www.prpbooks.com, www.ccef.org.) The only way to become liberated from this three-fold fear and slavery, is to fear God first.
- 可是很多時候別人對我們的評語是有用的，是我們需要的。上帝創造世界時設立了三個制度﹕婚姻與家庭；工作與社會；安息與敬拜（創1﹕26-2﹕3）。父母親必須教導兒女敬畏上帝，服從祂（申6﹕4-9），教師（教會）必須教導學生智慧與真知識（守約順服）；政府必須賞善罰惡（羅13章）。因此上帝所設立的權威會對人發出評判，是他們的責任！However, what other people think of us, may be very helpful and necessary. God has established several covenant-institutions when he created the world: marriage and family; work and government; and rest and worship (
Gen. 1:26-2:3 ). Parents are to teach their children to fear and obey God (Deut. 6:4-9 ); teachers are to teach students wisdom and knowledge (“covenant obedience”); the government should reward those who do good, and punish those who do evil (Rom. 13 ). Therefore, these authority-figures which God has ordained, will make judgments of men, women and children. This is their duty! - 一些研究指出很多美國學生不能接受自己的成績不合格。美國學生比日本學生對自己數學成績自信，但日本學生數學成績比美國學生高。這說明什麼？美國社會已經被「自尊」的謊言完全滲透，以致人拒絕面對事實。社會教導我們不要順服權威，不要接受責備。這就是為什麼美國在道德和信仰上是破產的，她僅剩下軍事，經濟和科技的能力罷了！「愚妄人藐視智慧和教教誨。」上帝啊，憐憫！上帝必審判。Studies show that American students cannot tolerate being told that they have failed a course; U.S. students have better self-confidence about their math and science ability than Japanese students (when actually, Japanese students perform better than U.S. students). This shows that American society is so infiltrated with the lie of self-esteem, that we refuse to accept the truth. Society teaches us not to obey authority, and accept rebuke. This is why American society is bankrupt in morality and religion. (She is only strong in finance, military might and technology.) “Fools refuse wisdom and instruction.” God have mercy! God will judge.
- 范泰爾稱上帝所設立的關係為「代表原則」。人生最基本的原則就是﹕我們的生活，完全在上帝面前（詩篇1391篇）。我們所想、所說、所作的，都在祂面光之中。上帝與全人類立約，作我們的創造主。上帝與信徒們立「恩典之約」，作我們的救贖主，生命的主宰。我們因為屬於上帝，我們也彼此歸屬為肢體，彼此「代表」。我們與上帝立約，我們也彼此立約，成立家庭，學校，教會，社區，國家。Cornelius Van Til calls these relationships in life “the representational principle,” which is another name for “covenant.” The most fundamental fact in life is: We live our lives in the face of God (
Psalm 139 ). All that we think, say and do, we do in God’s presence. God has made a covenant with all of us – he is our Creator and Lord. God has made a special covenant with believers (the covenant of grace) – he is our Redeemer and Lord (Gen. 17:7 ). Because we belong to God, we belong to each other as fellow believers. We “represent” one another. We covenant with God, and form the church. We covenant with each other, and form families, schools, churches, communities, and nations. - 上帝透過立約告訴我們，我們是誰﹕我們真正的身份（認同）來自上帝（羅8章，弗2-3章）。我們真正的身份（認同）來自如何了解死亡，我們死後到哪裏去（林後4-5章）。當我們永恆的去處問題安定了，我們就懂得如何生活，我們就有自己真正的身份，我們有「自信」。我們充滿著喜樂，感謝的信，因為「這世界非我家」（來11﹕11-16）。我們的自我認識來自上帝的恩典，為此我們感恩﹕我們一切所有的，我們今天成何等的人，都因為主耶穌基督。Within the covenant, God tells us who we are – our true identity comes from God (
Romans chapter 8 ,Ephesians chapters 2-3 ). Our true identity comes from our understanding of death, and where we go after death (I Cor. Chapters 4-5 ). When the issue of our eternal destiny is settled, then we have our true identity – we have a “strong self-esteem.” We are joyful, we are thankful, because “this world is not my home” (Heb. 11:11-16 ). Our self-understanding is based on gratitude to God’s grace – all that we have, we owe to Christ. - 換言之﹕我們必須捨己，背起十字架，跟隨住。這是我們真正的身份。Another way of putting this is: We are to “deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Christ.” This is our true identity.
VI. 罪與救恩﹕究竟福音是什麼？
Sin and Salvation – What is the Gospel?
羅8﹕29
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
- 一位南加州Biola大學的教授說﹕罪就是我們的需要沒有滿足，或我們沒有實現我們的潛能。Biola大學設有Rosemead 心理學院，與福樂神學院的心理學院一樣，是相信「融合」心理學與基督教信仰的學府。A professor at Biola University (La Mirada, California) is quoted as saying that: sin is when our needs are not fulfilled, and when we do not realize our potential. Biola is home to the Rosemead School of Psychology. Like Fuller Theological Seminary’s
School ofPsychology ,Rosemead - 可是，世俗的心理理論，真的能夠與《聖經》的教義「融合」嗎？這位教授說的，剛好與《聖經》對罪的定義完全相反！罪是什麼？罪是對上帝的反叛！罪是干犯上帝的誡命，或不遵守上帝的吩咐。上帝所禁止的，我們去作；上帝所吩咐的，我們不去作﹕這叫罪！But can secular theories of psychology become truly “integrated” with the Bible’s teaching? This professor’s words have totally twisted what the Bible teaches about sin. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin is the lack of conformity to, and transgression of, God’s law (Westminster Shorter Catechism). In other words: What God forbids us to do, we do; what God commands us to do, we fail to do. This is sin!
- 我們往往把「需要」和「欲望」混為一談。餐廳的侍應若問我﹕「你需要在你的冰淇淋上面再加奶油嗎？」我要不要奶油，和我的「需要」完全沒有關係！我不需要奶油加在冰淇淋上面，也可以活下去！我們要學習分辨「欲望」和真正的「需要」。We often confuse our “needs” with “wants.” For example, when a waitress asks me in a restaurant, “Do you need whipped cream on top of your ice cream?” The whipped cream has nothing to do with what I need to exist, to live, to be healthy. It is purely “desire!” We must distinguish between needs and wants.
- 至於「實現我們的潛能」，我們必須以基督作我們的標準﹕我們的目標是效法基督（羅8﹕29）。As for “realizing our potential,” we must measure it against Christ (
Rom. 8:29 ). Our “potential” or “goal” in life, is to be like Christ. - 救恩是什麼？肯定不是「自尊」！救恩乃是罪得赦免，得稱為義，作上帝的兒女，承受永生的產業，順服宇宙的主，在祂國度裏（祂國度已臨，卻未臨）。What is salvation? Not self-esteem! But forgiveness of sins, justification through faith, being adopted as God’s child, being an heir of an eternal inheritance, and submitting under the rule of the King, whose Kingdom has come, and will come in fullness.
VII. 我們怎樣走下去？
How Should We Then Live/Counsel?
- 我們必須審核自己的價值觀，自己的信念。要誠實回答﹕你如何回答這三個問題？（一）人是什麼？（動物？人是上帝？一堆欲望？一對經歷？）（二）人的問題從哪裏來？（三）解決人問題的方法（答案）從哪裏找？Examine your own values and beliefs. How do you answer these three questions? (a) What is man? (Is he an animal? Is he God? Is he a bunch of desires? Is he a bunch of experiences?) (b) Where do man’s problems come from? (c) Where do solutions to man’s problem come from?
- 接受純正的《聖經》教義裝備。輔導員需要好的神學！需要以《聖經》為基礎的教義根基。Equip yourself with sound, Bible-based doctrine (theology). Counselors need theology! Counselors need a firm foundation in a system of Bible-based doctrine.
- 先接受《聖經》教義的裝備，然後才學習世俗心理學與輔導學的理論。Equip yourself with Bible doctrine before you attempt to understand and learn secular theories of psychology and counseling.
- 參加《聖經》輔導運動的行列！成為一位真正能從上帝的話勸戒人的工人！請參考下列查詢資料。Join the Biblical counseling movement! Become truly competent to teach God’s Word, and to counsel from Scripture.
For further information: Westminster theological Seminary www.wts.edu, Master’s College MA program www.masters.edu, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation www.ccef.org, National Association of Nouthetic Counselors www.nanc.org, Dr. Jay Adams’ publishing house www.timelesstexts.org, Chinese-language resources www.chinesebiblicalcounseling.net, www.chinesechristiandiscernment.net.
林慈信牧師，中華展望
www.ccnci.org 直播網絡電視﹕神學教學
張逸萍博士
www.chinesechristiandiscernment.net
www.chinesebiblicalcounseling.net （可聽林慈信牧師的聖經輔導課程錄音）
