Ideology vs integrity
‘Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good.’ - Titus 2:6-7a
When I was growing up in Melbourne, my mother taught me many important truths about the human condition. One of them was that the dishwasher at home was never to be used, Under. Any Circumstance. There were reasons behind it but it was an unquestioned rule in my mother’s house. So when I moved out after marriage and lived with Xin Yu, I was mortified that she was breaking the laws of nature and man by consistently - HABITUALLY even - using the dishwasher. It was only until she explained how much of a time saver, energy saver and even a water saver it was that I realised that this ideology my mother had taught had actually cut off a choice in my life that could have helped my post-dinner routine immensely!
Discernment and godly decision making is key to maturing as a disciple. The most powerful discipleship tool the church has is to build discernment in a disciple’s ability to choose in a Godly and wise way. Jesus urges His disciples to choose to love one another, Paul consistently writes to other ministers of the gospel to build up disciples that are not led by impulse and passion, but instead be guided by truth and self-control. A Godly disciple is able to aggregate Godly and faithful decisions over the period of their life; a life which God then uses to bring about His kingdom work into the world.
A good disciple then must be careful not to disempower this profound tool of growth by stunting it with our own human ideologies. Ideologies passed onto those we disciple, not only diminish their ability to make discerning choices in life, but may lead them to live lives less informed by God’s word. I’ve seen toxic masculinity passed on as ‘leadership’ in marriage counselling, discrimination passed on at church, and even ministers mistaking pain for ministry. We must rediscover our love of discipling our next generation to choose God and to integrate theology in their lives. Not to simply follow ideologies without examination.
Now to be clear, scripture has ideals and truths of God and God’s kingdom which every disciple must hold fast to. It’s just important to recognise that God’s truths are different than our truths. So let’s be reminded this week, let’s disciple our next generation to love to grow in discernment. To love reading scripture and to learn about God’s will and values, so they may be able to choose Christ not just under the supervision of their parents, but in every sphere and area that God may take them.
「⼜勸少年⼈要謹守。你⾃⼰凡事要顯出善⾏的榜樣。」提多書 2:6-7上當我在墨爾本長⼤時，我的⺟親教導了我許多關於為⼈處事的重要道理。觀念與品德
「⼜勸少年⼈要謹守。你⾃⼰凡事要顯出善⾏的榜樣。」提多書 2:6-7上
當我在墨爾本長⼤時，我的⺟親教導了我許多關於為⼈處事的重要道理。其中之⼀是無論在任何的情況下，在任何情況下都絕對不得使⽤家中的洗碗機。這背後是有原因的，但在我⺟親的家裡，這是⼀條不容置疑的規則。所以當我結婚後搬出去和善瑜⼀起⽣活時，我感到很震驚，因為她在違反常理和做⼈的法則；她恆常地——甚⾄是習慣性地——使⽤洗碗機。直到她解釋說這能節省不少時間、能源甚⾄⽤⽔時，我才意識到我⺟親教我對此的觀念，實際是限制了⽣活上可作的選擇，是可⼤⼤助我安排晚餐後的⽇常程序的。
辨別力和敬虔的決策是門徒成熟的關鍵。教會擁有最有⼒的⾨徒訓練⼯具，是建⽴⾨徒以敬虔和智慧作選擇和辨別的能⼒。耶穌敦促祂的⾨徒去選擇彼此相愛；保羅不斷地寫信給其他作福⾳執事的，要他們建⽴不受個人衝動和激情主導的⾨徒，⽽是被真理和⾃守所引導的⾨徒。⼀個敬虔的⾨徒能夠在他們的⽣命中累積敬虔和忠⼼的決策；這種⽣命隨後會被神使⽤，將祂國度的⼯作帶進世界。
⼀個好⾨徒必須⼩⼼，不要叫⾃⼰的做⼈觀念阻礙這意義深遠的增長⼯具。若把這觀念傳遞給我們所訓練的⾨徒，不僅會削弱他們在⽣活中作選擇的辨別能⼒，更可能導致他們過着更少被神話語影響的⽣活。在婚姻輔導中，我⾒過不良的男權主義被當作為「領導⼒」；教會中傳遞着歧視；甚⾄牧師將痛苦誤認為是事奉。我們必須重拾我們對栽培下⼀代的熱愛，培養他們去選擇神並將神學融⼊⽣活中，不要不經審視就簡單地追隨任何觀念。
須明確知道，聖經有神和神的國之宗旨和真理，是每個⾨徒都必須堅守的。重要的是要知道神的真理與我們的道理不同。因此，本週願意我們被提醒，⼀同去培訓我們下⼀代的⾨徒，樂於在(屬靈的)辨別⼒上追求長進。愛上閱讀聖經並學習去明⽩神的旨意和價值觀。好叫他們不僅只在⽗⺟的監督下選擇基督，更在神所帶他們所到的各領域和地⽅都能作如此的選擇。
