【双语灵修】阿们（“诚心所愿”） Amen (“So Be It”)

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“但愿他在教会中，并在基督耶稣里，得着荣耀，直到世世代代，永永远远。阿们！” - 弗 3:21

我们用了整个月的时间专注思考使徒信经，现在以“阿们”来结束，实在非常恰当。

作为基督教的信仰宣言，使徒信经并没有什么魔法。它不是一篇人们可以重复念诵来祈求保佑或得福祉的符咒或祷文。这信经是建基于圣经的教导、由基督的使徒传给我们的，它清楚而又传神的宣言，帮助我们铭记近2000年以来，基督徒曾一同领受和宣告的真理。所以，从这一角度看来，这信经是值得我们反复念诵的。

此外，使徒信经没有直接教导我们怎样天天去过信心的生活。然而，这个简洁的教义摘要提供了一个稳固的根基，来建立活力充沛的教会、并塑造信众以圣父、圣子、和圣灵为中心的圣洁生活。这些真理帮助我们塑造和引导我们的思想和行为，好叫我们能够忠心传达上帝是怎样一位上帝，以及我们这些在世上服侍祂的人是一群怎样的人。

保罗以“阿们”来结束他在以弗所书的赞美祷告，－这个词的意思是希伯来文“诚心所愿”这个简短的表达。使徒信经也是以同样方式结束的。在结束这篇关于上帝的信仰宣言时，让我们一同来说“阿们（‘诚心所愿’）”，这是最恰当不过的。

祷告

圣父、圣子、和圣灵，求你赐我们智慧、力量、和勇气，好叫我们能忠心生活，又向全地的人宣扬你的美善，直到耶稣再来。阿们。

以弗所书 3:14-21

14因此，我在父面前屈膝——
15天上地上的各 家，都是从他得名——
16求他按着他丰盛的荣耀，藉着他的灵，叫你们心里的力量刚强起来，
17使基督因你们的信住在你们心里，叫你们的爱心有根有基，
18能以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深，
19并知道这爱是过于人所能测度的，便叫神一切所充满的充满了你们。
20神能照着运行在我们心里的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。
21但愿他在教会中，并在基督耶稣里得着荣耀，直到世世代代，永永远远！阿们。

Amen (“So Be It”)

“To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” - Ephesians 3:21

As we come to the end of our month-long focus on the Apostles’ Creed, it’s appropriate to wrap up with the closing word “Amen.”

There’s nothing magical about the creed as a statement of the Christian faith. It’s not an incantation or a mantra to be said again and again for protection or for gaining some benefit. Based on the Bible’s teaching shared with us by Christ’s apostles, the creed’s clear yet eloquent statements help us remember the truths that Christians have learned and said together for nearly 2,000 years. So in that respect, it’s worthwhile to say the creed again and again.

Further, the Apostles’ Creed does not directly teach us in how to live out our faith every day. But this short summary provides an unshakable foundation for building vibrant churches and shaping godly lives that center on the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These truths help to shape and guide our thoughts and actions so that we faithfully proclaim who God is and who we are as his people serving him in the world.

As Paul closes his prayer of praise in Ephesians with “Amen”—the little Hebrew word meaning “So be it”—so the Apostles’ Creed ends on the same note. At the conclusion of this confession about God we appropriately say together, “Amen (‘So be it’).”

Prayer

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom, strength, and courage to live faithfully and to proclaim your goodness to all the earth until Jesus comes again. Amen.