是近代集合數十個國家的福音派神學家,一起制定的信仰宣言。
目的是面對近代各種不合聖經思潮對基督徒的衝擊,
提出以聖經為根基,承接二千年歷世歷代信仰傳承的宣言。
目前共有二十幾個主題。
我整理其中一些和『信仰與政治』有關的條文,提供大家參考。
雖然,這不是聖經,也不是信經,但對福音派的弟兄姊妹而言,
依然有很大的幫助與參考價值。
我只列出條文內容,並附上英文原文。
有些地方中文翻譯比較難懂的,我嚐試用比較易懂的方式,
來做比較簡單的翻譯。
ICCP信仰宣言和『信仰與政治』比較有關部份,
主要是:
1.主題三:基督徒世界觀的精要
2.主題四:上帝的國:聖經觀和歷史觀之摘要
3.主題十三:有關文化、本地化、和福音
4.主題十四:基督徒的公民責任
這篇先整理前三部份,
最後一部分則下一篇刊出。
大致而言,ICCP信仰宣言對於『信仰與政治』,
比較傾向於『積極入世』,而非『消極出世』的態度。
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一、 四十二條基督徒世界觀的精要(主題三)
人治理的本質(THE NATURE OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT)
第三十五條
我們確認人治理的機構是由上帝所命定。
我們否認任何形式的政府(或統治者)有從上帝以外的其他來源來的權威,或上帝不分青紅皂白地贊同政府。
We affirm that the institution of human government has been ordained by God.
We deny that any form of government (or ruler) has authority from any source other than God or that God approves governments indiscriminately.
第三十六條
我們確認上帝已設立人治理的多重性,例如個人、家庭的、教會的、和公民的。
我們否認任何形式的人的治理(或統治者)有從上帝之外的任何來源來的有效權威,或任何人的治理對所有其他的治理有絕對或全部的法理權。
We affirm that God has established a multiplicity of human governments such as individual, familial, ecclesiastical, and civil.
We deny that any form of human government (or ruler) has valid authority from any source but God or that any human government has either absolute or complete jurisdiction over all other governments.
第三十七條
我們確認服從上帝命定的權威是所有公民的責任。
我們否認任何治理逾越上帝所給的命令或要求人去違背上帝的律法時,任何公民有義務去服從它的治理。
We affirm that it is the duty of all citizens to obey God ordained authority.
We deny that any citizen is obliged to obey any government when it transgresses its God given mandate or requires him to disobey God’s Laws.
第三十八條
我們確認參與在提倡良好治理總是信徒的義務。
(另譯:我們確認參與在促進良好政府(或治理)一事上,這是信徒的義務)
我們否認一個基督徒離開目的在為上帝和為人的好處而去影響社會的社會、文化、政治行動,還可以完全實現他對上帝的責任。
(另譯:我們否認一個從社會、文化和政治行動中分離的基督徒,還能完全實現他對上帝的責任。(假使那些行動的目的是為了上帝和人們的好處而去影響社會))
We affirm that it is always the obligation of believers to participate in promoting good government.
We deny that a Christian can fully discharge his duty to God apart from social, cultural, and political action aimed at influencing society for God and for human good.
二、上帝的國:聖經觀和歷史觀之摘要(主題四)
上帝的國和天堂
第十七條
我們確認:
(a)我們主要是天上的公民,雖然我們也是地上國家的國民;
(b)天上是我們真正的家鄉和財富;
(c)聖經教我們要以天上的事為念,並且只有以天上事為念的男女才在地上對上帝有用處;
(d)我們坐在天上在基督裏與基督一同做王;
(e)天上是地上的模樣;
(f)我們應該為著深切期盼我們在天上與主同在,以及基督在榮耀中第二次再來而活,那時上帝的國必完全降臨在地上。
我們否認:
(a)我們在天上的公民身份減少我們在社會上的責任;
(b)我們對天堂和基督再來的期盼,允許我們忽略我們在這世上的職責。
We affirm (a) that our primary citizenship is in heaven, though we are citizens of earthly nations as well; (b) that heaven is our true home and treasure; (c) that the Bible teaches us to be heavenly-minded and that only heavenly-minded men and women are useful for God on earth; (d) that we are seated in the heavenly places to rule in and with Christ; (e) that heaven is the pattern for earth; and (f) that we are to live in eager expectation of our being with the Lord in heaven and of Christ’s second coming in glory, when heaven shall come down to earth in fullness.
We deny (a) that our heavenly citizenship reduces our responsibilities in society, and (b) that our expectation of heaven and of Christ’s coming gives us permission to neglect our duties in this world.
聖經是萬國的準繩
第十八條
我們確認使萬國作門徒的國度任務要求我們要講述聖經為上帝的標準和準繩,藉此以衡量在個人、自由結社、家庭、教會、和政府所有人為努力的正義、道德性、實務作法的一切司法判斷。
我們否認:
(a)聖經及其對真實的觀點只對那些自願地承認它們是屬他們的人才有拘束力,對那些拒絕它們的人就不相關;
(b)這個不情願可免除任何人相信並遵守聖經的職責。
We affirm that the Kingdom task of making disciples of all nations requires us to hold forth the Bible as God’s standard and plumb line by which to measure the justice, morality, and practice of all human endeavors in all jurisdictions individual, voluntary association, family, church, and civil government.
We deny (a) that the Bible and its view of reality bind only those who voluntarily claim them as their own and are irrelevant to those who reject them, and (b) that unwillingness relieves anyone of the duty to believe and obey the Bible.
因果關係的國度原則
第十九條
我們確認:
(a)當人-----個人或社會、基督徒或非基督徒---- 一般而言有意或無意地照著聖經的道德、經濟、和實用命令去行時,結果是他們通常會收割地上的福氣;
(b)當人一般而言未能照著聖經的道德、經濟、和實用命令去行時,結果是他們通常會收割地上的審判。
我們否認:
(a)上帝會永遠地許可人種風而不收割暴風;
(b)順服就保證信徒可以向上帝予求予取。
We affirm (a) that when people—individuals or societies, Christian or non-Christian—generally follow, consciously or unconsciously, the moral, economic, and practical commands of the Bible, they tend to reap earthly blessings as a result, and (b) that when people generally fail to follow the moral, economic, and practical commands of the Bible, they tend to reap earthly judgments as a result.
We deny (a) that God will forever allow people to sow the wind without reaping the whirlwind, and (b) that obedience guarantees the believer whatever he claims from God.
兩約之連續性
第二十一條
我們確認舊約和新約之間的個人和社會道德原則有連續性。
我們否認新約的道德原則跟舊約的道德原則是不同的,不論個人或社會的。
We affirm that there is continuity between the personal and social moral principles of the Old and New Testaments.
We deny that the moral principles of the New Testament are different from the moral principles of the Old Testament, whether individual or social.
教會和國家
第二十三條
我們確認:
(a)在任何國家公民治理和教會治理之間合乎聖經的正確原則包含在各自順服上帝在創造和在聖經中的律例自由行使其事務,不去篡奪另一方的合法管轄權;
(b)公民治理要把顯明在創造中並在聖經中重述的公民正義的律例強加在所有百姓身上,帶著實體的劍,而教會治理要把在聖經中所顯明的個人和社會道德的救贖律例強加在教會上面,帶著屬靈的寶劍;
(c)國家必須維持其公民的宗教自由,而不嚐試去定義正確的宗教教義;
(d)宗教自由並未賜予任何人實體上加害其他人的人身、自由、或財產的權利。
我們否認:
(a)教會應該管轄國家;
(b)國家應該管轄教會;
(c)政教分離的意思是分開國家發動的活動和教會發動的活動;
(d)有可能從在任何層面的活動中分開宗教動機;
(e)教會可能正確使用實體的寶劍作威脅。
We affirm (a) that the biblically proper relationship between civil government and ecclesiastical government in any nation consists in each freely conducting its affairs in obedience to God’s laws in creation and the Bible, without usurping the other’s lawful jurisdiction; (b) that civil government is to enforce on all people laws of civil justice revealed in creation and restated in Scripture, with the physical sword, while ecclesiastical government is to enforce on the church redemption laws of personal and social morality revealed in Scripture, with the spiritual sword; (c) that the state must maintain religious liberty for its citizens without attempting to define correct religious doctrine; and (d) that religious liberty does not grant anyone the right to harm other people physically in their persons, liberty, or property.
We deny (a) that the church ought to rule over the state; (b) that the state ought to rule over the church; (c) that separation of church and state means separation of state and religiously motivated activity; (d) that it is even possible to separate religious motivation from activity in any sphere; and (e) that the church may properly use the coercion of the physical sword.
三、有關文化、本地化、和福音(主題十三)
第八條
我們確認基督徒首要的忠誠和順服是對基督及其國度,至於對基督徒本身的文化和民事政府僅是次要的。
我們否認這種觀點意謂著基督徒不被要求要順從合法的地上權力和制度,只要這些權力和制度不要求他不遵從聖經的原則。
We affirm that the Christian’s primary loyalty and obedience is to Christ and His Kingdom and only secondarily to the Christian’s own culture and civil government.
We deny that this view means the Christian is not required to be in submission to legitimate earthly powers and systems so long as they do not require him to disobey biblical principles.
ICCP信仰宣言
http://churchcouncil.org/
小小羊
分類:信仰與政治