12月19日
标 题：废弃偶像
经 节：主的道大大兴旺，而且得胜，就是这样。（使徒行传十九章20节）
保罗那时代的人追求偶像。当时在以弗所，再没有比亚底米女神更受人爱戴尊敬的了。那个最伟大的神像被供奉在一个辉煌华丽的庙宇里，曾被视为世界一大奇观。当时制造偶像的行业，为以弗所人提供了生计，他们制造偶像促进当时偶像的广传。
保罗并没有去以弗所指责拜偶像的罪，但他去那里宣扬耶稣基督的福音。当保罗分享神的真理，人们由罪的捆绑中释放出来，偶像崇拜行业渐渐衰落。石头雕塑的偶像与神的大能，在改变人心的对比上，变得很明显。基督徒公义的生活，比起拜偶像人们的狂欢作乐，大不相同。基督徒得胜的见证令人信服，以至于合城的经济大为衰退，人们喜爱基督教，而不喜欢偶像。
任何转移我们对神的奉献之事物，都是偶像。我们目前的社会，拜偶像的情况与保罗时代的情况雷同。我们不是拜那些木雕偶像，而是选择让财产、享乐或事业作我们的神，我们把自己的时间、金钱及精力花在这些事物上。
诚如保罗一样，我们每个人处在这偶像崇拜的社会，被呼召过得胜、喜乐、及有目标的基督徒生活。我们不需要寻找及定罪今日的偶像，而是要活出基督的生命，享受神所赐的丰盛生命，身旁的人自会觉得偶像不足以信靠。我们可能会遭受其它拜偶像者的反对与敌视。人们不喜欢看到自己的偶像被废弃！然而，当我们仰望神，人们会看出我们信仰的不同之处，并且会被祂与祂所赐予的生命所吸引。
Dethroning
Idols
So the
word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20)
Paul’s
world worshiped idols. No idol was more revered in Ephesus than the goddess
Diana. The great statue was housed in a magnificent temple and was recognized
as one of the wonders of the world. An idol-making industry, providing a
livelihood for many people, developed in Ephesus to support the widespread
idolatry of the day.
Paul
did not go to Ephesus to condemn those worshiping idols but to unashamedly
proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. As Paul shared the truths of God, and
as people were set free from sin’s , idol worship began to decline. The
contrast between stone carvings and God’s power to change lives became obvious.
The righteous lives of the Christians stood in stark contrast to the hedonistic
practices of the idol worshipers. The victorious Christian witness was so
compelling that the economy of the entire city was thrown into upheaval as
idolatry diminished in favor of Christianity.
An
idol is anything that diverts our devotion from God. Our society is as
idolatrous as Paul’s was. Rather than worshiping statues, we choose
possessions, pleasures, or careers as our gods and pour our time, finances, and
energy into these things.
Each
of us is called, as Paul was, to live a victorious, joyful, and purposeful
Christian life in the midst of an idolatrous society. We do not have to seek
out and condemn today’s idols. Rather, as we live out our Christianity,
enjoying the abundant life God gives, our lives will discredit the idols around
us. We may face opposition and hostility from those who are angered at the
contrast between our God and theirs. People do not like to have their idols
dethroned! Yet as we uphold Christ, others will see a difference and be drawn
to Him and the life that He offers.
