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210919 新福成人主日學:薩維 Savoy 教會設立原則 02:07-12 高阿丹(1658 Savoy Declaration of Faith 薩維信仰告白= SCF (t.ly/HhBg);西敏信仰告白= WCF)參考文獻:1644 Keyes of the Kingdom by John Cotton (KK) (t.ly/dCMk);1648 劍橋平台 Cambridge Platform (CP) (t.ly/BYDC) ;Standards of American Congregationalism (1648, 1680); Westminster Presbyterial Church-Government (PCG) 1658 Savoy DeclarationThe Institution of Churches, and the Order Appointed in Them by Jesus Christ教會制度,以及耶穌基督在教會中所指定的秩序高阿丹中文翻譯 07-12 條:教會如何實行權力和權柄 7. 一個按照基督的心意聚集和完成的個別(particular)教會(獨立堂會),是由官員(officer)和會員(members)組成。
主基督給了蒙祂呼召的人(按照祂在教會秩序中的任命結合起來)自由和權力選擇聖靈所裝備的人來管理他們,並在主裡服事他們。
A particular church gathered and completed according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members. The Lord Christ having given to his called ones (united according to his appointment in church-order) liberty and power to choose persons fitted by the Holy Ghost for that purpose, to be over them, and to minister to them in the Lord.o 見 WCF 30.1, 2, 4o A particular church gathered and completed… ——只有會員沒有官員的教會仍然是教會(徒14:23),卻是不完整的教會。
Cambridge Platform 6.1, 2;10.2;o 教會是「混雜政權 mixed government」; 見 CP 10.31. 就基督來說,是祂的王國 supreme power2. 就會員來說,是民主制度 power of privilege3. 就官員來說,是貴族制度 power of officeo 父將教會權力至高首要(supreme)賜予基督、次要或服事性(subordinate、ministerial)賜予教會;o 次要或服事性的權利又可分為特殊的(extraordinary 使徒、先知、傳福音的,弗4:11)以及普通的(ordinary 各別會堂)。
參見 Cambridge Platform 5.1, 2o 普通權力分為官員的權力(power of office,基督直接賜予權力給職分,有職分的人則間接領受權力)以及會員的權力(power of privilege,基督直接賜予教會信徒)。 8. 這些教會的成員都是蒙召的聖徒,明顯地(在他們的信仰宣告和行為中)顯示與證明他們順服基督的呼召;藉著上帝大能在他們心中所成就、由自我宣稱或其它方式所顯明的信仰告白,他們越加彼此認識,就同意按照基督任命一同行走(天路)。他們按照上帝旨意宣告順從福音的規範,將自己交給主,也交托彼此。
The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; who, being further known to each other by their confession of the faith wrought in them by the power of God, declared by themselves or otherwise manifested, do willingly consent to walk together according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and to one another by the will of God in professed subjection to the ordinances of the gospel.o 這是指無形還是有形教會?
WCF 25.2o 「將自己交給主,也交托彼此。」
9. 基督所任命的官員是由如此蒙召、聚集為要實行規範、以及執行祂(基督)委託或呼召他們所執行的權力和職責直到世界末了的教會選擇與分別出來——這些官員是牧師、教師、長老,和執事。
The officers appointed by Christ, to be chosen and set apart by the church so called, and gathered for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power and duty which he entrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are pastors, teachers, elders and deacons.o 教會官員從那裡來?
由教會選擇 chosen/分別 set apart 出來。o 官員是「牧師、教師、長老,和執事」。牧師和教師是所謂的教會的(不是學校的)「教導長老 teaching elders」,負責講道、教導教義,施行聖禮、執行屬靈紀律。CP 6.4-5o 「治理長老 ruling elders」——加入教導長老實行屬靈治理,但不講道不施行聖禮。CP 7.1-2o 羅12:7-8;林前12:8;彼前4:10-117 或作執事,就當專一執事;或作教導的,就當專一教導; 8 或作勸化的,就當專一勸化;施捨的,就當誠實;治理的,就當殷勤;憐憫人的,就當甘心。
(Rom 12:7-8)10 各人要照所得的恩賜彼此服事,作神百般恩賜的好管家。 11 若有講道的,要按著神的聖言講;若有服事人的,要按著神所賜的力量服事,叫神在凡事上因耶穌基督得榮耀。原來榮耀、權能都是他的,直到永永遠遠。阿們! (1 Pet 4:10-11) 10. 教會為敬拜上帝而聚集和集會,因此是可見的與公開的,他們的集會(根據他們的自由或時機無論在什麼地方)因此就是教會或公共集會。
Churches thus gathered and assembling for the worship of God, are thereby visible and public, and their assemblies (in whatever place they are, according as they have liberty or opportunity) are therefore church or public assemblies.o 教會聚會和敬拜是可見和公開的。
11. 基督為呼召任何受聖靈裝備和恩賜的人在教會中擔任牧師、教師、或長老的職務。指定這人的方式是:他透過教會本身的公眾選舉,並藉著禁食和祈禱莊嚴地被分別出來。如果該教會有任何之前成立的長老團,則由他們按手。至於執事,也是由同樣的選舉權選出,並通過祈禱和同樣的按手禮將他分別出來。
The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Ghost, unto the office of pastor, teacher or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself, and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of that church, if there be any before constituted therein. And of a deacon, that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.o 透過教會公眾選舉選出牧師、教師、長老、執事。
參見 CP 8;徒1:23;6:3o 「藉著禁食和祈禱莊嚴地被分別出來」o 「如果該教會有任何之前成立的長老團」按手/按牧。o 提前5:22;徒6:2-4;13:3;14:23;(徒1:22-24)o 呼召和按立——呼召透過教會公眾選舉、禁食、禱告確認、再按立。比較參考 PCG The Directory for the Ordination of Ministers—— 呼召≈由人民提名(nominated by the people)或其它方式推薦給區會,再由區會按立。沒有提到選舉。
12. 這種對牧師、教師、或長老職位的呼召,其本質在於教會的選舉,以及他接受選舉結果,又通過禁食和祈禱而分別出來。如此被選出的人,儘管沒有按手分別出來,他們仍然是耶穌基督正式設立的(rightly constituted)傳道人,以基督的名義和權柄行使委派他們的事工。對執事的呼召也包括同樣的選舉和接受,以及通過禱告的分別出來。
The essence of this call of a pastor, teacher or elder unto office, consists in the election of the church, together with his acceptation of it, and separation by fasting and prayer. And those who are so chosen, though not set apart by imposition of hands, are rightly constituted ministers of Jesus Christ, in whose name and authority they exercise the ministry to them so committed. The calling of deacons consisteth in the like election and acceptation with separation by prayer.o 選舉是呼召的本質,不是按立。
正式選舉出來的人就是教會官員;按立是確認選舉結果的外在儀式將人「分別出來」。並非某個牧師或某些長老按立某人,那人才是教會官員。見 15 條;CP 9.1, 2o 避免「只有某人或某些人」才有權力指派人作牧師或長老。o 選舉或按立之前要有一段時間「試煉和印證 first be tried and proved」。CP 8.3;提前5:22;