在自由教會裏重拾洗禮和聖餐的奧祕性——幾位福音派學者的嘗試/李文耀

李文耀

撮要

本文嘗試借助幾位當代福音派學者的分析,反思自由教會可怎樣在洗禮和聖餐的實踐上加強聖禮的元素和特色。首先,作者就自身的教會傳統作出評論,指出自由教會一直抗拒從聖禮的角度闡釋兩個基督教禮儀,反映出其神學傳統偏向極簡主義和實用性考慮,結果在輕看神學對話和淡化聖禮的重要性下局限了自身的成長。跟着,作者在文中介紹了幾位當代福音派學者的思想,指出自由教會在西方已開始關注聖禮的問題,並嘗試更廣闊地從一個以三一論為重心的神學論述去闡釋兩個禮儀的性質和含義。其中一個含義就是提醒世人,關係的建立和倫理的實踐需要一個本體的基礎。最後,文章提醒自由教會先容許人間有奧祕事的可能,然後再探討哪個解說最貼近上帝在耶穌基督裏的啟示。

ABSTRACT

This article attempts to reflect on the problem of how the Free churches could strengthen the sacramental elements and character in the practice of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. First, on behalf of his own church’s tradition, the author points out that the Free churches have always resisted to interpret the two Christian rituals from the angle of sacrament, reflecting its theological traditions toward minimalism and practical considerations. When the church looks down on theological discourses and neglects the importance of the sacraments, the growth of the church herself will be seriously hindered. After these comments, the author introduces the thoughts of several evangelical scholars, pointing out that the Free churches in the West have begun to pay attention to the problem of sacraments. Beyond differences, they are all trying to explicate the nature and meanings of the two Christian rituals more broadly from a theological discourse which is building on the doctrine of the Trinity. One of the implications is to remind the world that the establishment of relationships and the practice of ethics require an ontological foundation. At last, the article reminds the Free churches to allow for the possibility of mystery in the world before exploring which interpretation could be well-suited to the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.

原載於《建道學刊》51期(2019年1月),頁 21-42。

作者簡介

李文耀

神學系副教授