嗯……應邀講講自己信基督信仰的經過囉……我是從小在基督教家庭長大,自小當然就會接觸信仰。不過對於年紀那麼小的時候的接觸,其實一點印象都沒有。小時候也參加教會的兒童主日學,但其實我在主日學一點都不是乖乖牌的學生,特別是升上小學五、六年級,都整天帶頭跟老師作對,不過現在想起來,倒是很佩服那些主日學老師的愛心和不屈不撓的精神。
從小其實還是有滄桑史的,也才開始生命信仰的真實追尋:國小三四年級開始,我在班上的人緣很差,推測罪魁禍首是自己很驕傲又很愛現。到了五年級左右就整天想自殺,不然就回家哭。那時最喜歡看植物,因為植物不會講傷人的話。因為活著很痛苦就常常問人為什麼要活著......雖然如此,我卻很幸運地沒有把自殺付諸行動。這一段經驗讓我從很小的時候就開始追尋生命的意義。
後來我有機會參加了教會青少年的團體,也應邀開始閱讀聖經。自此我的生命開始有很大的轉變,一方面開始真正接觸認識上帝,另一方面個性也成長很多:開始收斂起嘲弄別人犀利的嘴風,開始學會自我反省檢討,也慢慢學習去關懷別人。
雖然慢慢有了信仰的體驗,但我這種理性思考為主的人,對信仰難免充滿疑惑。當時有機會就參加了教會的慕道班。我們教會的慕道班是很開放的環境,很樂意大家進行理性探討,隨時可以岔開話題去討論,因此當時我就和老師不斷的辯論:慕道班一週上約兩三個小時,可是我有時在上課辯還是辯不完,又正好和老師住得近會一起回家,就沿路繼續辯。辯到一個程度以後我終於覺得:我的問題都被解答完了!我可以完全相信了。因此就在國三畢業的暑假,接受了教會的堅信禮,正式接受基督信仰。
接受了堅信禮以後,我對信仰並不是從此堅信不移。因為我是很理性的,只要哪天我又想到另一個可以質疑我信仰的論點,我就又會開始不斷思考......所以人生就一直在信與不信之間擺盪。直到有一天,我終於覺悟到:人就是只有有限的一生,就只有有限的理性,我不可能想完所有的問題的。人就是要在有限的人生裡面做決定,因此到了一個程度就應該做決定。那時我回想自己過去理性的思考,以及自己許多經歷上帝的體會以後,就覺得我已經想得差不多夠多了。因此在我升高三的暑假,我作了一個慎重的決定:信仰從此不再隨便動搖囉!
升上大學以後,還是會不斷去反省自己的信仰。回想過去,自己的理性判斷雖然已經盡力去達到公正客觀,但檢討起來,還是難免有受到自己成長背景、文化等等的影響。我開始慢慢明瞭:人真的很有限,也是沒辦法完全客觀的。就理性的層面來說,人也只能盡力去判斷,避免落入迷信,但理性終究有其極限。人就是在這許多的限制裡面,盡力去做一個最好的決定。
大學之後我的個性也慢慢成長,令我最感高興的是我個性的另一個成長,就是我脫離了完美主義。其實個性到了大學以後是不大容易改變的,但在大學的階段我經歷了上帝慢慢幫助我的個性改變。過去我完美主義非常地嚴重,要求自己很嚴格,沒辦法放鬆。這種個性加上基督教信仰會更令人困擾,因為上帝無所不在,因此我就無時不刻都處在緊張之中。但上帝慢慢教導我,基督徒的生命並不是要強逼自己去裝出一個完美的生命,而是靠著上帝的力量去自然成長。大概前後七年的時間,終於讓我不再覺得很困擾。過程其實是非常辛苦的,要不斷忍耐等待,但最後的結果卻令我更感恩,更信靠上帝。
回顧我的信仰歷程,從理性開始,轉到經驗與理性並行,也是我的學習歷程吧!這讓我開心地回答理性的問題,也樂意分享對上帝的經歷。當然不是說自己已經學完了,我一直覺得願意不斷學習才是最好的態度。希望跟大家一起成長囉!
3 則留言:
我覺得道仁很棒, 一直在成長, 也一直在付出.
看著您長大的黃媽媽
Hi Mr Wong Tu Ren Does God exist?
First, cosmology: people already beleive in a superior being. Where did this God come from? But asking this question is like asking, "How long is the color yellow?" the questions does not make sense. it is inapprorpriate. We aregue that God created time, matter and space. But the question that is asked is a degreed question. Meaning there is a mathematical measurement to it. But the answer is non-degreed. God's existence cannot be calculated. God is not an effect. Every effect needs a cause, but God is not an effect. It is therefore, more rational to believe than not to beleive.
2nd teleology: God designed the universe according to His purpose. Once we have determined that a Personal creator exists, we examin the external, physical world. This argument gives us information about God, the person. not so much arguments for his existence...because we already believe he exists. God is purposeful, intelligent, orderly, humorous, caring, playful, artistic, relational...etc... Some say that
God is not efficient. they will say that the ostrich cannot conserve energy...but why does an omnipotent God need to conserve energy? God creates things out of joy for his pleasure. Like an artist uses paint to communicate an idea or emotion, he done'st conserve paint.
3. anthropology: then we talk about the internal world. the study of man....C.S. Lewis says, "If i find capacities that are unfulfilled in this world, possibly i was created for another world." this makes sense, if humans think that we are not made for this world, then perhaps there is another world that God created us for. As christians we believe in eternal life....life in God's kingdom...i beleive we fit very wel there.
A. Conscience; i desire the good, yet regularly fail to live up to my conscience.
B. rationality: i am more than body parts...i am the thing that has parts. i'm not just a body, i've got a soul, we are free to make decisions. not a robot.
C. intimacy: i yearn for intimacy...but i feel alone----why do we feel lonely? hwat has separated us? SIN
D. meaning: i thirst to know the meaning and purpose to life: isn't that what we all want to know..why are we on earth? to know and be more like Christ.
E. Evil: i want to get rid of evil, pian, death, but can i?
So, if creater God created order and purpose, we're created wtih order and purpose, why do we feel broken? what has separated us? SIN
John 14:6 says, that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Matthew 16:15 asks the non-christian this...who do you say that i (Jesus) am?
5. Psychology: We look for something more. we look for evidence of intellectual work. If Christianity is true, then an eternity of happiness awaits the faithful. if it's false, nothing but annihilation follows death. If we follow God, then we may lose the earthly pleasures that are satisfying for the moment, but we gain the pleasures that will last forever...treasures in heaven.
Einstein
有關凡事都感謝上帝的理性討論:其實這是對上帝的信任。當我們信任一個朋友的時候,就會相信他的所做是動機良好的;當我們信任上帝對我們的慈愛和祂的智慧的時候,才能在理性上凡事感謝。這種信任也不是無中生有,而是根源於上帝在聖經中對我們的保證以及我們和前人的生命經驗。
那這種經驗在理性上站得住腳嗎?其實你越跟一個人相處,越有好的經驗,久而久之就會產生信任,這是很合理的。當然理性上還是要去定義什麼算是好的經驗,例如禱告以後病情馬上改善算不算好的經驗,再來則要去探討好的經驗是不是從上帝來的,還是只是巧合等等。這些可以參考之前的文章「怎麼知道上帝有沒有聽禱告的理性探討」http://sharinglearner.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_22.html。
用理性去反思自己的經驗,其實也不錯,可以避免迷信。我自己來講,確實也常常用理性去反思自己的經驗。但理性仍然有其限制,如果用處處懷疑的跟所有人相處,人際關係就很難好起來,跟上帝的關係也是一樣。
聖經的真實性來講,所謂不同派別聖經不一致是指哪裡?基本上聖經的不一致只有天主教跟基督教有一點點差別,天主教多了幾卷基督教視為次經的經卷,其他大致一樣。
聖經正確性,其實十誡的精神到如今都還很重要,可以參考之前的文章「十誡之古代與現代」http://sharinglearner.blogspot.com/2007/05/blog-post_05.html
神的道高於人的道,所以必須更認識神,才不會誤解神的想法,這一切都是要建立在信任基礎上才有辦法的。
謝謝分享!
張貼留言