基督教小小羊園地

濟貧是一個很複雜的議題。

我今天介紹的，

是『COR基督徒聖經世界觀』整理出來的聖經對濟助貧困者的教導。

這部份教導，主要是COR主題八『幫助受苦者』和主題五『經濟』。

由於全部條文非常多，而且涉及許多領域，

所以我只擷取比較相關的部分條文。

 

 

開始條文之前，我先整理出一些重要觀念：

1. 濟貧不能只濟助『物質』，還必須包括『心靈』。

 

2. 濟貧不能只濟助物質，還必須包括： 

a.使對方改正錯誤觀念與行為 

b.使對方信耶穌

 

3. 任何濟貧，假使不包含『改正對方錯誤觀念與行為』還有『傳福音』的話，

   都不可能產生真正長久的脫貧。

 

4. 因為，許多的貧困，是因為貧困者受不合聖經的觀念和行為的影響，

所以，濟貧一定要處理對方的信仰、觀念和行為。

 

5. 觀念的改正不是只帶對方信耶穌，或是對方是基督徒就可以，

也不能只是靈修、禱告之類，還必須教導對方正確的觀念，如：

自律的習慣、計劃、工作、合作、自由交換、節儉、、、。

 

6. 懶惰的貧困者沒有資格要求別人濟助，他們也不應繼續停留在懶惰狀態。

 

7. 不能使受助者產生依賴，不管是對個人的依賴，還是對教會、機構的依賴。

 

8. 有些人的貧困是『故意的』（出於自己意願的）（好比：懶惰、吸毒、反抗權威、缺乏紀律、缺乏自我控制、、、）

 

9. 『無辜的』貧困者需要被實質幫助（好比：懶惰丈夫下的可憐妻子和孩子）

 

 

10. 濟貧必須是出於捐獻者自願，不能是被強迫或被操縱。

強迫或操縱別人，要別人去濟貧的，是竊盜和詐欺。

 

 

 

COR基督徒聖經世界觀（八）：幫助受苦者

 

前言

 

許多人受苦，是因為他們用自己有罪的選擇，決定不服從並拒絕上帝和祂的命令，所導致的結果。他們罪惡的選擇，對他們的整個生命產生了深遠的傷害性影響。、、、貧窮甚至可能來自對權威的反叛、懶惰、缺乏紀律和自我控制、或無知。

Many suffer as a result of their own sinful choices in disobedience to and rejection of God and His commands. Their sinful choices have far-reaching, hurtful effects on the whole of their lives. 、、、Poverty can even result from rebellion against authority, sloth, lack of discipline and self control, or ignorance.

 

 

但是其他人在沒有直接造成他們苦難的原因的情況下受苦。他們是外部力量的受害者，如出生缺陷、事故、疾病或突發性災難（洪水、地震、火災、乾旱等）。 有些人因家人或心愛之人的死亡而受苦。其他人則是人類暴力的受害者：或是政治暴政、戰爭和文化偏見這類『制度形式』的受害者；或是犯罪、家庭暴力或個人暴力、或“祖先的罪”這類『個人形式』的受害者。

But others suffer without contributing directly to the causes of their suffering. They are victims of outside forces like birth defects, accidents, diseases, or sudden catastrophies (flood, earthquake, fire, drought, etc.). Some suffer with the death of a family member or loved one. Others are victims of human violence either in its institutional forms of governmental tyranny, war, and cultural prejudice, or in its individual forms of crime, domestic and personal violence, or the “sins of the fathers.”

 

 

每一個幫助行為背後的驅使動機和主要目標，必須是服從和榮耀上帝、帶領罪人獲得基督拯救的知識、並使每一個信徒成為基督裡成熟的人。

The driving motives and primary goals behind every helping act must be to obey and glorify God, to bring sinners to a saving knowledge of Christ, and to present every believer a mature person in Christ. 

 

 

我們的目標是幫助受苦者能夠幫助他人，而不是藉著使我們自己成為不可或缺的方式來建立我們的自負。我們的任務是謙卑和順從地幫助其他人發揮出他們能幫助受苦者的潛力。我們絕不能尋求『使依賴永久化』並『損害我們“幫助”的人的尊嚴』的短期解決方案。根據帕金斯的論點，為了糾正經濟上的不公正，我們必須追求發展----使人透過福音的力量實現『自給自足』的能力。飢荒和戰爭的受害者取決於我們的救濟努力，我們也絕不敢忽視他們的需要。但更大的需要是發展來『打破貧困的循環』，以便今天的接受者能『成為明天的給予者』。

Our goal is to help the hurting to become able to help others, not to build our own egos by making ourselves indispensable. Our task is humbly and obediently to help others reach their potential of helping the hurting. We must not seek short term solutions that perpetuate dependence and damage the dignity of those we “help“. According to Perkins, to correct economic injustice, we must pursue development, empowering people to become self-sufficient through the power of the gospel. Victims of famine and war depend on our relief efforts, and we dare not neglect their needs. But the greater need is for development to break the cycle of poverty, so that today’s receivers become tomorrow’s givers.

 

 

這種策略應該延伸到許多受苦的領域。 聖經教導說，給予比接受更為有福; 因此，我們需要激勵和裝備他人能給予，使他們也可以獲得上帝的祝福。

This strategy should extend to many areas of hurt. The Bible teaches that it is more blessed to give than to receive; therefore we need to motivate and equip others to give so that they too may reap God’s blessing.

 

 

第2條

我們否認，任何對受苦者的援助都能產生長期性的、積極改變的影響，如果單單只是減輕或消除症狀的話。

We deny that any aid to the hurting will effect long term, positive change if only the symptoms are alleviated or eliminated.

 

 

第5條

我們確認有些人受苦，是受到個人選擇的直接影響，從而收穫自己行為的後果。 

We affirm that some people suffer as a direct result of personal choice, reaping the consequences of their own actions.

 

 

第6條

我們確認所有的非基督徒在靈性上、情緒上、也常常在身體上遭受痛苦，因為他們不認識或順從上帝；我們確認他們需要接受耶穌基督作為救主和主，以至於能在這裡和現在享受聖靈的果子，並逃避永恆的痛苦；並且基督徒必須對他們傳揚救恩的福音。 

We affirm that all non-Christians suffer spiritually, emotionally, and often physically because they do not know or obey God; that they need to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to enjoy the fruit of the Spirit here and now and to escape eternal suffering; and that Christians must minister the gospel of salvation to them.

 

 

第8條

我們確認上帝期待所有基督徒都能對那些受苦的人表現出愛心和同情，無論這些受苦者是『無辜的受害者』，還是『個人選擇的結果』。

We affirm that God expects all Christians to respond with love and compassion to those who are hurting, whether as innocent victims or as a result of personal choice.

 

我們否認向有需要的人展現同情是一種選擇；也否認在某人生活中去對抗罪惡的需要，使我們不用去愛他和幫助他。

We deny that compassion shown to those in need is an option, and that the need to confront sin in someone’s life frees us from the need to love and help him.

 

註：

『無辜的受害者』是指如出生缺陷、事故、疾病或突發性災難（洪水、地震、火災、乾旱等）、戰爭、家暴、、這類。

 

 

第9條

我們確認『滿足受苦者的需求』，是『傳福音』和『使萬民成為門徒』這種耶穌基督大使命不可分割的一部分。 

We affirm that meeting the needs of those who are hurting is an integral part of Christ’s commission to preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations.

 

我們否認福音可以用一種對現世的需求漠不關心的態度來傳講。

We deny that the gospel can be preached with indifference to temporal needs.

 

 

第11條

我們確認對受苦者的幫助，必須肯定每個人的價值和尊嚴；必須在社會和自然環境的背景下，針對身、心、靈對待整個人（全人）；我們必須恭敬地幫助對方來培養能力和技能，教導受苦者去幫助其他人。 

We affirm that help for the hurting must affirm the value and dignity of each person; that it must address the whole person in body, soul, and spirit in the context of a social and natural environment; that we must respectfully help to develop abilities and skills, teaching the hurting to help others.

 

我們否認任何對受苦者的幫助都會有長期的、積極改變的影響，如果它貶低個人價值、在幫助過程中無法涉及全人（即身、心、靈）、或增加受苦者對其他人或機構不合聖經的依賴。

We deny that any help given to the suffering will effect long term, positive change if it devalues the individual, fails to involve the whole person in the helping process, or increases unbiblical dependence on other persons or institutions.

 

 

第12條

我們確認只有按照聖經原則運作的計畫，才能解決受苦的根本原因，並在幫助過程中涉及全人（即身、心、靈），從而產生長期的、積極改變的影響；因此，教會的設計和裝備都是獨特的，是幫助受苦者最有效的機構。 

We affirm that only programs operating on Biblical principles are capable of addressing the root cause of suffering and involving the whole person in the helping process, thereby effecting long term, positive change, and that the Church, therefore, is uniquely designed and equipped to be the most effective institution for helping the hurting.

 

我們否認任何非基督教或世俗的計劃都能充分解決苦難的根本問題，（苦難涉及全人，包括現世和靈魂），因此，我們也否認任何此類的計劃都可以在解決苦難時，達成長期的、積極的改變。

We deny that any non-Christian or secular program can adequately address the root problems of suffering, involving the whole temporal and spiritual person, and, therefore, that any such programs can achieve long term, positive change from suffering.

 

 

第13條

我們確認基督徒、教會和基督教機構應該----在不違反聖經原則的情況下可以這樣做-----與現有的政府機構、企業和當地社會外展機構合作並對其進行影響，以幫助受苦者；

We affirm that Christians, churches, and Christian organizations should—when they may do so without compromising Biblical principles—work with and influence existing governmental agencies, businesses, and local social outreach institutions to help the hurting, 

 

我們否認基督徒與良好的政府和世俗計劃合作，來幫助那些有需要的人，是錯誤的；我們也否認這樣做，來成為一種基督徒愛與關懷的見證，以及分享福音的機會，是不恰當的。

We deny that it is wrong for Christians to cooperate with good governmental and secular programs that help those in need, and that it is inappropriate to do so as a Christian witness of love and concern and as an opportunity to share the gospel.

 

 

第17條

我們確認有些人遭受故意性的貧困；他們需要在教育上、靈性上和文化上受到挑戰，以使他們更加負責任和勤奮，以便他們的孩子和孫子不會重複他們邋遢的生活方式；我們確認雖然教會不應寬恕或承保懶惰，但它應該為他人懶惰所導致的受害者提供實質性的幫助，例如懶惰的家庭的頭（如：丈夫）的孩子或妻子。 

We affirm that there are those who suffer from willful poverty; that they need to be challenged educationally, spiritually, and culturally to be more responsible and industrious so that their children and grandchildren will not repeat their slovenly lifestyle; and that while the Church should not condone or underwrite sloth it should provide substantial help to victims of others’ sloth, such as children or wives of lazy heads of households.

 

我們否認任何人，特別是那些遭受故意貧困的人，都應該透過強行從別人那裡獲取來的錢財來提供幫助。

We deny that anyone, but especially those suffering willful poverty, should be provided for by forcibly taking money from others.

 

 

 

 

COR基督徒聖經世界觀（五）：經濟

 

第30條

我們確認上帝已在生活的經濟領域中規定了責任的命令；有能力的人首要的責任就是照顧自己；拒絕工作的人不應該期望被別人養；家庭有責任去照顧那些無法照顧自己的成員；教會和其他志願組織有責任照顧那些在沒有家人照顧的情況下無法照顧自己的人；（提前5章；林後8-10章；帖前3章）。

We affirm that God has ordained orders of responsibility in the economic spheres of life; that able individuals have first responsibility to care for themselves; that whoever refuses to work ought not to expect to be fed by others; that families have responsibility to care for those members unable to care for themselves; that the Church and other voluntary organizations have responsibility to care for those unable to care for themselves when no care is available from their families; (1 Timothy 5; 2 Corinthians 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 3).

 

我們否認任何有能力但拒絕工作的人，有合理的權利來要求得到其他人的援助；我們否認那些沒有能力工作的人，他們的家庭（如果有必要，由教會或其他志願組織）不應該滿足這些人的需要；我們否認家庭成員只履行他們對上帝的責任，卻拒絕盡最大努力去滿足他們家庭的需要；

We deny that anyone who is able but refuses to work has a just claim to be supported by others; that those unable to work ought not to have their needs met by their families and, if necessary, by the Church or other voluntary organizations; that family members fulfill their responsibilities toward God who refuse to provide to the best of their abilities for the needs of their family; 

 

 

第31條

我們確認教會在照顧窮人方面的首要責任是針對基督身體的成員，並且它的第二個責任是針對基督身體以外的人（加拉太6:10）。 

We affirm that the first responsibility of the Church in caring for the poor is to members of the Body of Christ, and that its second responsibility is to those outside the Body of Christ (Galatians 6:10).

 

我們否認教會在基督身體內照顧窮人的責任，取代了使信徒成為門徒的責任；我們也否認在基督身體外照顧窮人的責任，取代了傳福音的責任。

We deny that the Church’s responsibility to care for the poor inside the Body of Christ displaces its responsibility to make disciples of believers, and that its responsibility to care for the poor outside the Body of Christ displaces its responsibility to preach the gospel.

 

 

第36條

我們確認慈善、犧牲的給予（捐獻）是上帝所吩咐的，做為一種幫助窮人的愛的表達；要做到真正的慈善，給予（捐獻）必須是自願的，並且與一個人所有的一致，而不是與一個人沒有的一致；強迫或操縱的「給予」，一點也不是給予，而是強迫或操縱這些行為的人的竊盜和詐欺，因此這是違背正義和愛心的；慈善捐贈應該經過精心策劃和執行，以便為受助人帶來最大的利益；對窮人的物質救濟應該始終伴隨著屬靈的事工（林後8,9章）。

We affirm that charitable, sacrificial giving is commanded by God as an expression of love to help the poor; that to be truly charitable, giving must be voluntary and consistent with what one has, not with what one does not have; that coerced or manipulated “giving” is not giving at all but theft or fraud by those coercing or manipulating it, and is therefore contrary to justice and love; that charitable giving ought to be carefully planned and executed to bring about the best benefit to its recipients; and that material relief to the poor ought always to be accompanied by spiritual ministry (2 Corinthians 8, 9).

 

我們否認真正的慈善捐獻可以被迫，、、、；我們否認慈善捐獻應以『拒絕或阻止接受者的個人責任』或『減少發展生產性知識和行為』的方式進行；我們也否認沒有屬靈事工的物質救濟的慈善捐獻，能真正滿足窮人的需要。

We deny that truly charitable giving can ever be forced, 、、; that charitable giving ought to be conducted in such a way as to deny or discourage personal accountability on the part of the recipients or to reduce incentive to develop productive knowledge and behavior; and that charitable giving of material relief without spiritual ministry truly meets the needs of the poor.

 

 

第37條

我們確認慈善捐獻的適當接受者，是那些沒有能力提供他們自己基本需求的人（ptochos）。 

We affirm that the proper recipients of charitable giving are those who are unable to provide for their own needs (the ptochos). 

 

我們否認那些能夠但不願意去滿足他們自己基本需求的人，有任何合乎正義的權利來要求慈善捐獻。

We deny that those who are able but unwilling to meet their own needs have any just claim on charitable gifts.

 

註：聖經定義的『貧窮』（ptochos），是指1.若無慈善捐贈，他們會缺乏維持生命必要的物質資源（食物、衣服、和庇護所），2.也缺乏為自己生產這些物品的手段（ptochos通常也是弱勢者或虛弱者，好比貧苦家庭的年幼孩子、殘障、老年、急難狀況、、，不是好手好腳的青壯年）。若不是窮到這種程度，都不能稱為合聖經定義的『窮人』

 

 

第38條

我們確認，對其他信徒的慈善責任優先於其他慈善活動，並且在緊急情況下，上帝要求基督徒家庭透過教會奉獻超越十分之一，但與其資產成比例，使其他基督徒可以免除大缺乏的處境（林後8:14）。 

We affirm that charitable responsibilities to other believers have priority over other charitable activities, and that in emergencies Christian families are asked by God to give through the Church beyond the tithe, but proportionately to their assets, so that other Christians may be relieved of great scarcity (2 Corinthians 8:14). 

 

 

第39條

我們確認，因為非聖經的世界觀、價值觀和行為（墮落後的全部影響）是貧困的主要原因，所以克服物質和靈性貧困的主要方法是『傳福音』，然後是『門徒訓練』來建立『信仰』、『思想』、與符合基督徒世界觀、價值觀、和信徒間與社會中的『行為』（約書亞1:8；箴言21:5；詩篇92:12）。 

We affirm that, because non-Biblical world views, values, and behavior (all effects of the Fall) are the primary causes of poverty, the primary means of overcoming material and spiritual poverty is evangelism followed by discipleship to establish belief, thought, and behavior consistent with the Christian world view, values, and behavior among believers and in society (Joshua 1:8; Proverbs 21:5; Psalm 92:12). 

 

我們否認，不根據基督教福音、世界觀、價值觀和行為來更新社會，可以實現長期的脫離貧困。

We deny that long-term deliverance from poverty may be achieved apart from renewing society according to the Christian gospel, world view, values, and behavior.

 

 

第40條

我們確認真正的門徒訓練包括教導基本基督教教義和道德、基督教世界觀和價值觀、和基督徒的實踐；也確認在門徒訓練中教導的價值觀之一是公義、愛心、和自律的習慣，透過使用恩典的手段（聖經、聖禮、禱告、基督身體的忠告）和物質繁榮的方式（計劃、工作、合作、自由交換、節儉、繼承等等），可導致物質和靈性的繁榮興盛。

We affirm that true discipleship includes instruction in basic Christian doctrines and ethics, in the Christian world view and values, and in Christian practice, and that among the values to be taught in discipleship are justice, love, the habits of self-discipline that lead to material and spiritual prosperity through the use of the means of grace (the Word, the sacraments, prayer, the counsel of the Body of Christ), and the means of material prosperity (planning, work, cooperation, free exchange, saving, inheritance, etc.).

 

我們否認真正的門徒訓練僅僅是教導教義、內心虔誠、或基本基督教實踐（如禱告、聖經學習、見證和團契），儘管它必須始終包括這些。

We deny that true discipleship is merely teaching doctrine, internal piety, or elementary Christian practices such as prayer, Bible study, witnessing, and fellowship, though it must always include these.

 

 

第41條

我們確認經濟領域門徒訓練的一個關鍵要素是教導基督徒以弗所書4:28的教訓：前異教徒悔改歸向基督之後，（a）必須不再偷竊，（b）必須工作，（c）透過他的勞力來做一些有用的事情，以便（d）他可以有東西來和有需要的人分享。 

We affirm that a key element of economic discipleship is teaching Christians the lessons of Ephesians 4:28: that the former pagan converted to Christ (a) must steal no longer, but (b) must work, (c) doing something useful through his labor, in order that (d) he may have something to share with those in need.

 

我們否認任何悔改歸向基督的人應該被允許保持懶惰、無所事事和不事生產，或繼續生活在怠惰和偷竊的生活中。

We deny that any person converted to Christ should be permitted to remain lazy, idle, and unproductive, or to continue in a life of indolence and thievery.

 

 

COR簡介（Coalition on Revival ）（復興聯盟）

 

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