Becoming the "Filth of the World"

We have been made as the filth of the world . . . —1 Corinthians 4:13

These words are not an exaggeration. The only reason they may not be true of us who call ourselves ministers of the gospel is not that Paul forgot or misunderstood the exact truth of them, but that we are too cautious and concerned about our own desires to allow ourselves to become the refuse or “filth of the world.” “Fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24) is not the result of the holiness of sanctification, but the evidence of consecration-being “separated to the gospel of God . . .” (Romans 1:1).

“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . .” (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think the things we encounter are strange, it is because we are fearful and cowardly. We pay such close attention to our own interests and desires that we stay out of the mire and say, “I won’t submit; I won’t bow or bend.” And you don’t have to— you can be saved by the “skin of your teeth” if you like. You can refuse to let God count you as one who is “separated to the gospel . . . .” Or you can say, “I don’t care if I am treated like ’the filth of the world’ as long as the gospel is proclaimed.” A true servant of Jesus Christ is one who is willing to experience martyrdom for the reality of the gospel of God. When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” (Galatians 1:16).

---

公然斷絕關係

人還把我們看作世界上的污穢。 （林前四13）

這並非誇大的話。我們這些稱為福音的使者，看不見這話在我們身上實現，不是因為保羅這話不真確，而是我們仍有太多戀棧不捨的事物，以致未讓自己成為渣滓。 [為基督的苦難而受苦]，並不是成聖的證明，乃是[為福音分別出來]的表現。

彼得說：[有火煉的試驗臨到你們，不是以為奇怪。 ]我們若對所遇的事以為奇怪，乃是由於我們懦弱膽怯。我們顧惜面子，保持自己不掉入泥濘中去－－[我不要低頭，我不要折腰]。你大可不必，你是可以咬緊牙根過關的。你可以拒絕神，不讓他將你為福音分別出來。你也許會說：[只要福音被傳揚，即使自己被看作地上的渣滓，也不介意。 ]耶穌基督的僕人，就是肯為福音而殉道的人。一個徒有道德修養的人，當他接觸到卑污、邪淫和詭詐，人性的良善使他感到極度的噁心，以致退縮不前，在絕望中把心門關閉起來。反之，神救贖的最奇特之處，就是他也愛那些罪惡滔天的人。保羅並沒有說神把他分別出來，要造成一個怎樣可愛的人，而是[把他兒子啟示在我心裡]。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，請你以溫柔，撫慰那被你的話語所刺透，而經歷破碎的心靈和生命。