How to Formulate Godly Relationship
如何明确敬虔圣洁的关系
5 stages of relationship development:
关系发展的5个阶段:
1) Fellowship
团契
§ In a local church environment with built in accountability for one another. Our responsibility at this stage is to stir up each other’s faith.
§ 在地方教会的环境中,信徒们之间互相负责任。在这一阶段我们的责任就是激发彼此的信心。
§ We relate to one another as normal brother and sister in Christ.
§ 我们之间的关系是普通的主内弟兄姊妹的关系。
2) Friendship
友谊
§ Sticking close to each other than a brother, with more opportunities to work and serve together with effectiveness.
§ 较一般弟兄间的关系更为亲密,彼此有更多的机会在一起工作和服事上帝,并且卓有成效。
§ A stage of pure friendship and working partners, with no hidden agenda
§ 这一阶段是单纯的友谊和工作伙伴关系,之间没有隐秘的动机。
§ Learning about each other in normal daily settings, such as behaviors/attitudes towards other people, dependability towards assigned works, consistency in serving God, response towards leaders’ corrections.
§ 在日常的环境中彼此进行了解,诸如对方对他人的举止/态度,在分派的工场里是否值得信赖,服事上帝是否一贯持久,对教会领袖们修正言行的反应如何。
§ Observe how the other person handle difficult situation in life (work pressure, life crisis management, etc.)
§ 观察对方如何应对生活中的难处(工作压力、生活危机管理等等)
§ Develop freedom to correct each other
§ 能直率地纠正彼此的错误
§ Develop in utilizing to the full extent spiritual gifting both on individual and partnership level
§ 能完全地利用包括个人和工作伙伴这两方面的属灵恩赐
§ This is a stage whereby God refines the characters separately, in preparation not for marriage, but for spiritual growth and for service
§ 这个阶段里,上帝分别对各人的品性做炼净的工作,但不是作为婚姻的预备,而是为了各人灵命的长进以及更好的事奉。
3) Courtship
求爱
§ Do not engage in this level if you have no intention to get married!
§ 如果不打算结婚,你就不要进入这个阶段!
§ Jointly seek God’s will together through prayer, consultation with leaders, observations of spiritual maturity and capability:
§ 通过祷告、向教会领袖咨询、对灵命成熟程度和属灵能力的观察,共同寻求上帝的旨意。
î Prayer – decide whether to formulate this special relationship by setting aside a period for prayer.
î 祷告 —安排一段时期的祷告,以决定是否明确这一特殊的关系。
î Consult – a blessed relationship is not just between 2 people, but should be a blessing to all people around us.
î 咨询 — 蒙上帝祝福的关系不仅仅是两人之间的事,而应成为对众人的祝福。
Be accountable to the spiritual leaders so as to protect us from making the wrong decision and unnecessary embarrassment (especially when love is one-sided), and to protect us from affecting relationship between brothers & sisters.
应向教会领袖负责,这样可使我们不会做出错误决定,引起不必要的尴尬(尤其当发生单恋时),也不致影响弟兄姊妹之间的关系
Being accountable is to ask before making decision, not informing after making decision.
向领袖负责意味着在做决定前就征询他们的意见,而不是决定做好后才通知他们。
î Be honorable – commit the relationship entirely to God for approval before deciding to go ahead.
î 高尚 — 把你们的关系完全交托给上帝,得到他的许可后再决定进一步地发展。
î Integrity – promise to keep the relationship proper, with maximum self-control and discipline.
î 正直 — 维持正当的关系,最大限度地控制和约束自己。
§ There must be mutual acceptance and appreciation in biblical (unconditional) way, and the goal is yet to serve God with undivided attention.
§ 在圣经(无条件)原则方面,双方必须相互认同,彼此欣赏,以一心一意事奉上帝为共同目标。
§ This stage may take years, as God may need to test or further equip the individuals. Therefore patience is essential to wait for the right timing, especially if one party is still studying or immature.
§ 这个阶段可能需要几年时间,原因在于上帝可能需要对两人进行试验或进一步装备他们。因此双方必须耐心等待上帝的时候来到,尤其当一方仍在学习或尚未成年时更该如此。
§ Does not necessarily ended up in confirmation and dating
§ 这一阶段并非一定要以确定关系和约会告终。
§ If things does not work out, the two remain brothers and sisters without feelings of bitterness
§ 如果两人关系不能理想发展,他们仍可保持弟兄姊妹的关系,不会给对方带来伤痛。
4) Engagement
婚约
§ With confirmation from God, the couple already has a commitment to marry each other. It is only then the dating starts.
§ 在得到上帝的确证以后,未婚夫妻就等于彼此有了结婚的承诺。到这个时侯约会才真正开始。
§ Once engaged, the couple is regarded husband and wife, except having marital status.
§ 一旦有了婚约,尽管未婚夫妻的婚姻状况仍是未婚,人们却会把他们看作夫妻。
§ Guarding against sexual impurity is all the more important at this stage because the temptation becomes greater.
§ 在这个阶段,性的诱惑越发强烈,因此抵制诱惑、保持圣洁变得更加重要。
§ Both people should continue to grow but with a direction of building up a family to serve together rather than separately.
§ 双方在灵命上应该继续长进,但不应各自进步,而是应朝着建立家庭、共同事奉的方向发展。
§ Continue to be accountable towards leaders, especially about inner thoughts, which may cause sexual impurity.
§ 继续向教会领袖负责,尤其是关于内心的思想意念,因为思想意念可能犯淫乱。
§ Avoid getting too “sticky” with each other. Again, a blessed relationship is not only a blessing to the 2 persons involved.
§ 彼此之间不要太“粘乎”。重复一遍,蒙上帝祝福的关系不仅仅是对当事人双方的祝福。
5) Marriage
婚姻
§ Covenantal relationship that last for a lifetime.
§ 持续一生之久的契约关系
§ A correct and complete sequence should be:
§ 正确而完整的次序应该是:
î Celebration – public wedding in the presence of God and the church
î 庆祝 — 在上帝和教会会众面前举行公开婚礼
î Commitment – conventionally related as husband and wife
î 承诺 — 按照传统成为丈夫和妻子
î Consummation – enjoy the gift of sexual relationship within marriage
î 完成 — 享受上帝的礼物——婚姻里的性关系
§ The order must be right and the sequence must also be complete
§ 次序必须正确而且完整
§ Do no reverse the order and put sex first. It is only through the commitment of marriage that sexual fulfillment is found.
§ 不要颠倒次序,把性放在首位。只有通过婚约的承诺才能获得性的满足。
|