奉主之名迫害異見人士（若15:26-16:4a）
人類天生有一種捍衛真理的正義感，喜歡糾正別人的錯處。小規模的，頂多是指指點點，不過是「人之患」而已。可是，大規模的話，就會做成政治迫害，宗教戰爭，很多無辜者的血，便白流了。
第一、二代的基督徒，大部份都是猶太人。猶太教篤信一個真神，基督徒卻奉耶穌基督為天主子，在猶太人眼中，當然是離經背道，人人得而誅之，這就是掃祿歸化前的經驗。正如福音所說，「凡殺害你們的，還以為是盡恭敬天主的義務。」（若16:2）。時移世易，當基督徒內部產生了分裂，互相成為對方的迫害者時，無論是追殺女巫抑或是宗教審裁，有誰不是「以為是盡恭敬天主的義務」呢？殊不知他們「沒有認識父，也沒有認識我」（16:3）他們沒有認識父，因為他們迫害按天父肖像所造成的弟兄（創1:26，瑪6:9）；他們沒有認識耶穌基督，因為他們沒有彼此相愛，為對方的益處，捨棄自己，如同基督愛了他們一樣。（若13:34）
難道我們不應捍衛真理嗎？絕對應該。不過，首先我們必須肯定自己擁有聖神。祂是真理之神，祂必定為耶穌基督作證，使我們認識耶穌基督，認識祂的教訓。（15:26）耶穌基督就是真理的化身（14:6）所以，我們要捍衛的真理，不是抽像的、放諸四海皆準的哲學論述，例如「物有本末、事有終始。故必先有父，然後有子。」而是耶穌基督所代表的，不可見的天父的慈悲。故此，聖神不但是真理之神，更是愛德之神。
父啊！願聖神熾熱我們愛慕耶穌基督的心，讓我們以彼此相愛，為真理作見証。亞孟。
圖片來源：http://ucs.nd.edu/rome-conference/
生命恩泉
Persecuting dissidents in the name of God
(John 15:26-16:4a) There is an innate sense of justice in human beings. They like to correct other people's mistakes. On a small scale, they are at most too eager to teach others. However, on a large scale, it would become political persecutions and religious wars. Much innocent blood would be spilt.
Most of the first and second generation Christians were Jews and Jews believed in one true God. However, Christians believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. In the eyes of Jews, Christians were heretics and deserved to be neutralized. This was the experience of Saul before his conversion. As the gospel text reads, "The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." (John 16:2) Time has changed. When Christians split among themselves, persecuting each other in witch hunting or Inquisition, who did not think "he is offering service to God"? In fact, "they have not known the Father, nor me." (16:3) They have not known the Father because they persecuted their brothers who were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, Matthew 6:9). They have not known Jesus Christ because they did not love each other, did not renounce themselves for the good of the others like the way Christ has loved us. (John 13:34)
Are we not supposed to defend the truth? Absolutely we are! But first of all we must be certain that we have the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of truth and He will bear witness for Jesus Christ, help us know him and his teachings. (15:26) Jesus embodies the truth (14:6). Therefore, the truth we defend is not some universal abstract philosophical expressions such as "Things have roots and branches while events have beginning and end. Therefore, we must firstly have the Father, before we have the Son." Rather, it is the mercy of the invisible Father whom Jesus Christ represents. Thus, the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of truth, but also the Spirit of love.
Father, may the Holy Spirit enkindle our heart to love Jesus Christ. Let us love each other and bear witness to the truth. Amen.
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