书评：约翰·派博《喜获新生》
上一次回到家乡时，饭桌上家族的一位老朋友给我上了一堂历史课。她告诉我们，在过去的五十年里，我们小镇上的两间教会是如何倍增到六间的。对于一个拥有两千人口的小镇，这一教会植堂策略听起来或许颇为让人印象深刻，直到你发现这一“成长”是由于一系列的教会分裂造成的。这些分裂是由于家族间的苦渎夙怨，顽劣地拒绝原谅以及超出教会范围之外的、激增的争执。
我听着这位睿智敬虔的妇人讲述这一悲伤的历史，这些经历带来的痛苦显然已深入骨髓。她既不怨怼，也无愤恨。然而，声称信靠基督之名的人们对待彼此竟然如此凶残卑鄙，却让她甚为困惑。
时间若能倒流，我若能问涉及这些教会分裂的教会领袖和其他人：“你重生了吗？”，我猜他们会回答“当然！”但是，“重生”的人是这样对待彼此的吗？
耶稣岂不是说过，世人是通过我们如何彼此相爱来认出我们是祂的门徒吗（约13：34-35）？那么重生意味着什么？对于基督徒个人来说有何不同？对教会而言呢？
身为一位思维缜密的神学家和经验丰富的牧师，约翰·派博在其192页（中文版224页）的《喜获新生》一书中，阐明回答这些问题。从许多方面而言，我都会向任何声称跟随基督的人推荐这本书。但是在这里，我想做的是，特别思考这本书如何能够帮助牧师和教会领袖。
教会领袖为何应当阅读本书
我可能无法让时光倒流，和家乡的那些教会领袖谈一谈。但是如果我可以，我倒会寄给他们下面这封信。
亲爱的教会带领：
听闻眼下你正面对一些挑战，我致以同情。照管神的教会并不适合胆小之辈，但毋庸置疑是一项奇妙的特权！随信附赠书一本，鉴于你的教会面临的困难，希望你抽时间仔细阅读。
面对问题时，你若和我一样容易先聚焦在处境而非神学上，你会注意到我送给你的这本书并不是“入门”实用指南。相反，这本书聚焦重生这一神学概念。为何此时对你和你的教会而言，这是有益的资源？
本书解释了何谓重生以及重生的必要性
派博解释说：“大部分人不知道自己出了什么问题。帮助他们进行真正的、可怕的、有盼望的诊断方式之一，就是展示给他们看神已经提供的治疗方式，就是重生。”耶稣没有说我们需要一点道德洁净。耶稣说：“人若不重生，就不能见神的国。”耶稣给一个根本性的问题提供了根本性的疗法。
教导我们的教会重生的圣经真理促使我们搁置微小的差异，因为我们更清楚看到真正的问题。这也会使我们谦卑，因为我们被提醒说，离了神的怜悯，祂的忿怒还在我们身上（约3：36）。我祈求，思考这些真理能使你和你的会众谦卑合一，彼此原谅。
本书帮助澄清何谓基督徒。
耶稣不喜欢假冒伪善。因此，当宗教领袖们虚假地谈论神时，祂称他们 “蛇类”、“毒蛇之种”。与假冒伪善的人相反，一个真基督徒有何特点？在第10-13章中，派博查看约翰的第一封书信，指出一个基督徒爱他人，顺服神，并且相信有关耶稣的真理。此世我们无法在任何一点上做到完美，但是所有这些对于一个重生的人都是必要的特点。一个基督徒爱耶稣胜过爱自己的罪。当一个基督徒面对罪时，他并不是顽固地抓住罪，而是悔改。
基于圣经的理解重生要求我们首先省察我们这些作带领的人，然后鼓励我们的会众自省。派博依据圣经的例子，呼召信靠基督之名的人要么忠心跟随祂，要么别再弄虚作假，毁坏耶稣的名声。
这看起来很严厉，也没有爱心，但是事实恰恰相反。我们若是看到朋友身处险境就会警告他们，因为我们爱他们。当面的责备强如背地的爱情（箴27：5）。
本书示范如何以爱和真理带领
重生可以是让人心绪不宁的。重生让我们面对自己糟糕的处境，并知道我们靠自己无能为力搞定事情。但是当你阅读本书（我希望你会读），一位睿智的牧师会带领你，他立下好的榜样让我们可以效法。派博写到：“我不想给柔弱的灵魂造成任何不必要的忧伤。我也不想给那些将道德或是宗教混淆为灵性生命的人以虚假的盼望。”
让派博指导你学习他警告和鼓励的榜样。同时，效法他倚靠神的榜样。当我们看到关于重生的真理，这塑造我们讲道、祷告、辅导以及带领他人的方式，因为我们意识到我们倚靠神做这项工作。
我祈求神使用关于重生的真理，赐给你的教会谦卑、爱心、合一以荣耀祂的名。我祈求神将重生赐给你教会当中任何仍旧死在罪恶中的人。我祈求，在你阅读本书时，那位赐下新生命、以合一和爱心增长教会的神给你鼓励、力量和敬畏祂的心。
你的朋友，
扎克
Book Review: Finally Alive, by John Piper
The last time I visited my hometown, I received a history lesson from an old family friend at the dinner table. She told us how two churches in our town had multiplied into six over the past fifty years. That might sound like a pretty impressive church planting strategy for a town of 2,000 people, at least until you discover that all this “growth” was due to a number of church-splits. The splits were the result of bitter feuds between families, a stubborn refusal to forgive, and quarrels exploding well beyond the walls of the church.
As I listened to this wise and godly woman rehearse a sad history, it was clear that the pain of those experiences ran deep. She was not angry or bitter, but she was bewildered by how people who claim to bear the name of Christ could be so nasty to each other.
If I could go back in time to ask the church leaders and others involved in these church splits, “Are you born again?” my guess is they’d answer, “Of course!” But is this the way “born again” people treat each other?
Didn’t Jesus say that the way that the world would know we are his disciples is by how we love each other (John 13:34-35)? What then does it mean to be born again? What difference does it make for an individual Christian? For a church?
In his 192-page book Finally Alive, John Piper sets out to answer those questions as a careful theologian and experienced pastor. In many respects, the book is one I’d recommend for anyonewho claims to follow Christ. But what I’d like to do here is to think specifically about how this can be a helpful book for pastors and church leaders.
WHY CHURCH LEADERS SHOULD READ THIS BOOK
I may not be able to go back in time to talk to those church leaders from my hometown, but if I could, I might send them the following letter:
Dear Church Leader,
I’m sorry to hear about the challenges you’re facing right now. Caring for the church of God is not something for the faint of heart, but it is without a doubt an amazing privilege! I’ve included a book with this letter that I hope you’ll take the time to carefully read in light of the difficulties your church is facing.
If you’re like me when facing a problem, it’s easy to focus first on circumstances rather than theology. You’ll notice the book I’ve sent you is not a practical “how-to” guide but rather a book focusing on the theological idea of being born again. Why might this be a useful resource for you and your church right now?
It explains what the new birth is and why it’s necessary.
Piper explains, “Most people do not know what is really wrong with them. One way to help them make a true and terrible and hopeful diagnosis is to show them the kind of remedy God has provided, namely the new birth” (20). Jesus didn’t say we needed a little moral tidying up. He said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He provides a radical remedy for a radical problem.
Teaching our churches the biblical truth of the new birth motivates us to let go of petty differences because we see the real problem more clearly. It also humbles us because we’re reminded that, apart from the mercy of God, his wrath would remain on us (John 3:36). I pray that considering these truths would move you and your congregation to be humble, forgiving, and united.
It helps clarify what a Christian is.
Jesus is no fan of hypocrisy. That’s why he called the religious leaders “serpents” and a “brood of vipers” when they lied about God with their hypocrisy. What characterizes a true Christian, as opposed to a hypocrite? In chapters 10 to 13, Piper looks at John’s first epistle to show that a Christian loves others, obeys God, and believes the truth about Jesus. We’ll do none of these things perfectly this side of heaven, but all of them are necessary characteristics of one who is born again. A Christian loves Jesus more than his or her sin. When a Christian is confronted about sin, he or she doesn’t stubbornly hold on to it, he or she repents.
A biblical understanding of the new birth demands that we first examine ourselves as leaders, then encourage our congregation to do the same. Piper follows the Bible’s example in calling those who bear the name of Christ to either follow him faithfully or stop pretending and dragging his name through the mud.
That might seem harsh or unloving, but just the opposite is true. If we see a friend in danger, we warn them because we love them. Better is open rebuke than hidden love (Prov. 27:5).
It models how to lead with love and truth.
The new birth can be unsettling. It confronts us with our dire condition and our inability to fix things on our own. But as you read the book (and I hope you do) you’ll be led by a wise pastor who sets a good example for us to follow. He writes, “I do not want to cause tender souls any unnecessary distress. And I do not want to give false hope to those who have confused morality or religion for spiritual life” (27).
Let him guide you in his example of warning and encouraging. But also, follow his example of depending on God. When we see the truth about the new birth, it shapes the way we preach, pray, counsel, and lead others because we realize we are dependent on him to do the work.
I pray God would use the truth about the new birth to give your congregation the humility, love, and unity that brings honor to his name. I pray he gives new birth to any among your congregation who are still dead in sin. And I pray that as you read this book, you will be encouraged, strengthened, and awed by the God who gives new life and grows churches in unity and love.
Your friend,
Zach
书评作者：Zach Schlegel
Zach Schlegel是马里兰州上马尔波罗市上马尔波罗第一浸信会的主任牧师。
翻译肢体：王悦
用圣经视野和实用资源装备教会领袖
进而通过健康的教会向世界彰显神的荣耀
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