Demolish Opposing Strongholds
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2Cor 10:3-5
In the Moderator General’s call to prayer for religious freedom last week, he pointed out that substantial forces are marshalled against Christ’s church to restrict our freedom in proclaiming Biblical truth. Society’s distorted understanding of freedom, fairness, justice and inclusiveness is a stronghold of this hostile campaign. This kind of pressure from the unbelieving world is not new and has been forewarned by the Lord. He told His disciples “…I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Jn 15:19b). But the Lord also said “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33) Our responsibility as Christ’s church (locally and as part of the Presbyterian denomination), is to bring about the fulfilment of His will “on earth as it is in heaven”, i.e. for His kingdom to be advanced through the proclamation of the gospel and the magnification of His truth by demolishing these opposing strongholds, “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God”, and “taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.
He has given us the necessary weapons to fight this battle. These are not weapons or strategies of the world, such as lobbying, political manoeuvres or countering hostility with hostility. These weapons are the “full armour of God” as Paul mentioned in Eph 6:14-18: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. But just putting on this armour is not sufficient. That is just to prepare us for battle and allow us to stand firm. Paul follows immediately with the command “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Prayer is the ordained way of bringing about the fulfilment of the Lord’s will.
Let us be alert and pray consistently for the freedom to advance the gospel in Australia, and for the Lord’s people to be faithful and bold, particularly those in vulnerable positions of attack. The battle will be hard, but take heart, because Christ has overcome the world.
攻破敵人堅固的營壘
「因為我們雖然在血氣中行事，卻不憑著血氣爭戰。我們爭戰的兵器本不是屬血氣的，乃是在神面前有能力，可以攻破堅固的營壘，將各樣的計謀，各樣攔阻人認識神的那些自高之事，一概攻破了，又將人所有的心意奪回，使他都順服基督。」 林後10:3-5
當總會正呼籲我們整個宗派為宗教自由祈禱時，他指出，敵擋基督教會的勢力正在集結，要壓制我們宣揚聖經真理的自由。社會對自由、公平、正義和包容的扭曲理解是這些勢力的營壘。這種來自不信世界的壓力並不陌生，而且主已經預先警告我們了。祂告訴門徒「...你們不屬世界，乃是我從世界中揀選了你們，所以世界就恨你們。」（約翰福音15：19）。但主也說：「在世上，你們有苦難；但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。」（約翰福音 16：33）作為基督的教會（一個地方教會及長老宗派的一份子），我們的責任是竭力成就主的旨意「在地上如同在天上」，即通過宣講福音並拆毁這些敵人的堡壘、「各樣的計謀，各樣攔阻人認識神的那些自高之事」以彰顯祂的真理，從而擴展衪的國度，並「將人所有的心意奪回」。
祂已給了我們必要的武器來打這場仗。這些不是世界的武器或戰略，例如遊說、政治操弄或以敵意對抗敵意。正如保羅在以弗所書6：14-18中提到的，這些武器是「神所赐的全副軍裝」：真理的帶子、公義的護心鏡，平安福音的鞋，信德的籐牌、救恩的頭盔及聖靈的寶劍、就是神的道。但僅僅穿上這副軍裝是不夠的。那只是為了讓我們為戰鬥做好準備，讓我們站穩。保羅緊接著吩咐我們說:「靠著聖靈、隨時多方禱告祈求、並要在此儆醒不倦、為眾聖徒祈求。」禱告是神命定成就祂旨意最重要的方法。
讓我們保持儆醒，恆切地為我們在澳大利亞廣泛傳播福音的自由祈禱，並為主的子民能忠誠並勇敢服侍主代求，特別是那些處於容易受敵人攻擊位置的同工們。這場戰爭將是艱鉅的，但讓我們振奮起來，因為基督已經勝了世界。
