現代文士

使徒保羅寫信給哥林多人，說他們蒙召的，按著肉體有智慧的不多，有能力的不多。然而，他並沒有說完全沒有。保羅堪稱為世上的菁英份子，集學識和財富於一身，他卻為著福音的緣故全然犧牲，並認為那不過是所付上的小小代價。

在聖經時代，文士的地位對羅馬帝國和以色列國而言，都有著相當顯著的權柄。在以色列，文士的職務包括抄寫聖經。有趣的是，當耶穌在馬太福音十三章52節談到門訓時，有提到此特別團體：

祂說：凡文士受教作天國的門徒，就像一個家主從他庫裡拿出新舊的東西（珍寶）來。

從這節經文我們看到，耶穌期待文士成為天國的門徒，事實上有許多文士確實如此。祂勸誡此特別團體從庫裡拿出新舊的珍寶來。這是大使命需要考慮的重要事情，因為論及作天國門徒，這是主唯一提到的團體。

因著科技的進步，今日我們並沒有真正的文士，但較類似的族群大概就是記者和作家們。今日的媒體確實有很大的權柄來塑造文化，甚至政府政策。有些人相信他們比政府還有影響力；倘若現代文士成為天國的門徒，我們的文化可以如何被塑造？

我們也需要考慮到現代文士在教會裡的權柄。雖然世俗媒體的影響值得大大討論，但這裡我要提到基督教的媒體。基督教電視的影響基本上遍及全世界，現今影片因著播放設備普及到處充斥，有其實質的影響力，還有網路、部落格，當然還有書籍和廣播。現代講台已不再是會堂前面的木製講道台─而是電子的。

在第一世紀，福音隨著貿易路線發展，其是時代的通訊網絡。雖然宗教改革已經慢慢醞釀了好幾世紀，但一當印刷術開始發展，聖經是首先被印出來的東西，宗教改革的火焰燃燒整個歐洲。科技和通訊網絡從一開始就是福音隨之流動的路徑，到末了也是如此。重點是誰在使用它?──那些站在現代講台後面的傳道者──現代文士。

我們該怎麼做呢？首先，身為基督的門徒，我們必須學習接受從祂而來的指令。為此，我們不單尋求聽到主的話語，更要尋求聽見話語本身，就是主自己。祂必須成為我們的教師，我們必須夠認得祂的聲音，以致於我們只跟隨祂。在我們所收到的指令中，我們是否有聽到祂的聲音？

現在有人可以在網路上擁有大群的跟隨著，卻無法在教會裡帶領小組或團契。記者認為自己可以在沒有經驗或教育背景的領域擁有權柄，只因為他們可以發聲或文筆很好。許多在教會或基督教媒體的人也認為自己有這樣的權柄，只因為他們善於話語，不管是用說的或是寫的。倘若我們要作天國的門徒，我們必須學習認出真正的天國權柄，學習何時我們有此權柄，何時沒有。

我們從回到主對文士的勸誡開始，他們會作天國的門徒，他們能拿出珍寶─不是垃圾食物，而是給神家中最好的東西。所以，我們必須拿出的珍寶有新的也有舊的，天國的文士在健全的聖經真理上紮根很深，他們所持有的歷史性觀點深植於尊榮父母，因為這是天國的基本特性。此外，他們也能夠擁有大膽的新觀點，如此的特質亦是『珍寶』。

 (摘自雷克喬納 word for the week, Week 18, 2013 )

原文如後:

Modern Scribes - The Great Commission, Part 18

Week 18, 2013

Rick Joyner

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that not many were wise or strong in this world who were called. However, he did not say there were not any. Paul was of the elite of this world in both learning and wealth. He sacrificed it all for the gospel and considered it a small price to pay.

In biblical times, a scribe was a position of significant authority in both the Roman Empire and the nation of Israel. Scribes were writers who wrote the decrees of those who were in authority. In Israel, this included the copying of Scripture. It is interesting that Jesus addresses this specific group concerning discipleship in Matthew 13:52:

“Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

We see by this that Jesus was expecting scribes to become disciples of the kingdom, and indeed many did. To this specific group, He exhorts them to bring forth treasure from both the new and the old. This is an important consideration for the Great Commission because it is the only specific group the Lord addresses in relation to becoming disciples of the kingdom.

Because of technology, we don’t really have scribes today, but the group that would at least loosely connect with them are journalists and writers. The media today does have a great deal of authority in shaping culture and even government policy. Some believe their influence is even greater than that of government. How could our culture be shaped if the modern scribes were to become disciples of the kingdom?

We need to also consider the authority of modern scribes in the church. The influence of the secular media is great and worthy of much discussion, but I am speaking here of the Christian media. The influence of Christian television is substantial worldwide. Videos are huge now and can have substantial influence, as do websites, blogs, and of course, books and radio. The modern pulpit is no longer the wooden stand in our meeting places—it is electronic.

In the first century, the gospel followed the trading routes, which was the communication network of the times. The Reformation had been simmering for centuries, but when the printing press was developed and the Bible was the first thing to come off of it, the Reformation burst into flames all across Europe. Technology and communication networks have been the path the gospel has flowed along from the beginning, and it will be to the end. The important factor is who is using it—the preachers who stand behind the modern pulpit—the modern scribes.

There are many positives and negatives with this modern pulpit. Certainly we can now reach many more people, and much faster, but what are we reaching them with? There is very little filtering of what is on the Internet, and many people actually believe almost everything they read on the Internet. Much of what is put out could only be called spiritual junk food if we’re being generous. Some are putting poison in what they serve.

At the same time, there are few watchmen or shepherds with the international stature needed who will even address many of the most crucial issues of our times. So, as usual, the vacuum is filled by those who are not called, do not have the authority, and often end up doing as much damage as the enemies of the gospel.

So what do we do? First, as disciples of Christ, we must learn to receive our instruction from Him. For this reason, we are not just seeking to hear the words of the Lord as much as we are seeking to hear the Word, Himself. He must be our Teacher, and we must know His voice well enough that we will only follow Him. Do we hear His voice in those we are receiving instruction from?

Now we have people who can gain large followings on the Internet who could not even lead a home group in a valid church or fellowship. Journalists can presume to have authority in areas they have little or no experience or education in just because they are articulate or good writers. Many in the church, or in Christian media, presume that because they are good with words, spoken or written, they have authority. If we are going to be disciples of the kingdom, we must learn to recognize true kingdom authority, and learn when we have it and when we don’t.

We begin by returning to the Lord’s exhortation to scribes who would become disciples of the kingdom of heaven. They were to bring forth treasures—no junk food, but only the best for God’s household. Then we must bring forth treasures that are both new and old. The scribes of the kingdom of heaven will have deep roots in sound biblical truth, with a historic perspective rooted in honoring fathers and mothers because this is a basic characteristic of the kingdom. Also, they will be capable of bold new perspectives of such quality that they, too, are “treasures.”