【双语灵修】教会本身是个障碍？IS THE CHURCH ITSELF A BARRIER?

路加福音 11:45-46, 52-54

律法师中有一个回答耶稣说：「夫子，你这样说也把我们糟蹋了！」耶稣说：「你们律法师也有祸了！因为你们把难担的担子放在人身上，自己一个指头却不肯动。你们律法师有祸了！因为你们把知识的钥匙夺了去，自己不进去，正要进去的人你们也阻挡他们。」耶稣从那里出来，文士和法利赛人就极力地催逼他，引动他多说话，私下窥听，要拿他的话柄。

2月22日

教会本身是个障碍？

「你们律法师有祸了！因为你们把知识的钥匙夺了去，自己不进去，正要进去的人你们也阻挡他们。」 -路 11:52

耶稣尖锐地批判了当时以色列百姓的领袖，这些领袖非但没有帮助人们亲近神，并享受祂的祝福，反而因着其律法主义、自私自利的行为，为人们设置了许多障碍。

令人难过的是，在历史上，一些教会和教会领袖确实拦阻挠人获得属灵生命，甚至虐待他人。今天，我们经常在新闻中听到这样的事件。腐败的领袖不是为人们架设桥梁，而是设置障碍。今天作为建立教会的神之子民，我们必须为这些罪悔改，确立防止这类事件再次发生的措施，并成为受伤害者的医治管道。

你是否受过教会或其带领者的伤害呢？如果有，你可能会对参与教会生活感到迟疑，这是可以理解的。

你能做些什么呢？以下是一些建议：一、 定睛在耶稣身上，尤其是通过祷告和阅读《圣经》；二、求神赐给你几位关心你的信徒，让你能和他们在灵里相交和共同成长，他们可以成为一座桥梁；三、通过主内的辅导员寻求得医治和宽恕的力量；四、保持开放的态度，期待有一天，你可以再次委身于一间健康的教会。

祷告

主啊，永祢饶恕我们，若我们没有做桥梁，反而成了障碍。求祢医治所有曾经受到教会伤害的人，以祢的爱和恩典充满我们。阿们。

IS THE CHURCH ITSELF A BARRIER?

“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”    —Luke 11:52

Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices.

Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people. We often hear of such cases in the news today. Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people. As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt.

Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders? If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church. That’s understandable.

What can you do? Here are some suggestions: (1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading. (2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge. (3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive. (4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.

Forgive us, Lord, if we have acted as barriers instead of bridges. Bring healing to all who have been hurt by the church. Infuse us all with your love and grace. Amen.