加尔文主义与阿米年念主义的共同点
WHAT CALVINISTS AND ARMINIANS SHARE IN COMMON
背景﹕海外华人基督教圈子里，有些同工同道关注基督徒对加尔文主义的兴趣日增，可能对教会的合一性有害。笔者写了这份备忘录，寄给一位资深华人教会领袖，强调加尔文主义与阿米念主义之间的共同点。
Background: There is concern in certain Chinese Christian circles that the
increasing interest in Calvinism today may be harmful to the unity of the church.
I wrote this memorandum to a Chinese church leader stressing the many points on which Calvinists and Arminians agree on, and share in common.
各位主内同道，我们不论是加尔文主义者或是阿米念主义者，只要真正相信《圣经》的默示与无谬误和我们主耶稣基督的神人而性和已完成的救赎大工，在我们的信仰上是有很多共同点的。我愿意指出一些共同点，以表示我们在主里的合一。
Friends, we have a lot in common, Calvinists and Arminians – those of us who truly believe in the utter inspiration and infallibility of the Bible, and in the person and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to bring the following thoughts to your attention, to stress our unity as we have occasion to discuss some of our differences.
我们必须用爱心说诚实话，指出我们的共同点与分歧之处。大部分的加尔文主义者与大部分的阿米念主义者，在很多教义上是同意的。让我之处十三点﹕
We need to be honest as well as thorough in our statement of our commonalities, as well as of our differences. There are many, many points on which the majority of Calvinists and Arminians agree on, or share in common. Let me list thirteen which I am aware of:
- 「叫一切信祂的」﹕福音诚恳的呼召与白白的邀请
WHOSOEVER WILL:
GENUINE CALL AND FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL
我们同意福音是上帝的呼召、邀请、和吩咐。上帝诚恳地要求罪人认罪悔改，信靠耶稣基督完成的大工（祂在十字架流出的宝血和祂的复活），以致得救。所有悔改信靠基督的人，上帝真实赐给他们救恩，永生。
We agree that the gospel is God’s call, invitation, command, and earnest appeal to sinners to repent of his/her sin and to trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ (his blood shed on the cross and his resurrection) for salvation. To any who repent and believe, God genuinely offers salvation and eternal life.
我们可能不同意人有没有能力响应福音。可是我们同意，福音是上帝真实，诚恳的邀请。我们都应该毫无保留地宣讲《约翰福音》3﹕16。
We may disagree about man’s ability to respond to this gospel. But we agree that there is
a genuine, good-faith invitation in the gospel. All of us should preach John 3:16 with no reservation.
2. 耶稣是人的唯一救主
JESUS THE ONLY SAVIOR FOR MEN/WOMEN
我们同意，死在罪中的人获得称义、成圣、和永生的唯一方法，乃是信靠耶稣基督代罪的的死和祂的复活。
We agree that trusting in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only way through which sinners, dead in our sins, receive the justification, sanctification and eternal life.
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圣灵在罪人生命中工作
THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS ON SINNERS
我们同意圣灵以祂的大能感动、光照人的心思意念，与真理的福音同工，叫罪人扎心知罪，认识真理。
We agree that the Holy Spirit moves and illumines the sinner’s heart and mind with his power, working with the gospel of truth to convict sinners of truth.
我们可能不同意圣灵的工作能否被人的自由意志（或道德意志）抗拒。我们也可能不同意圣灵工作的结果，是否罪人完全，彻底的改变。可是我们同意，我们乃靠圣灵的大能得救。
We may disagree whether this work of the Holy Spirit can be resisted by the free will (or moral agency) of man, or whether there is a total, radical transformation in the sinner’s life as a result of this work of the Holy Spirit. But we do agree that we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit for salvation.
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人的归正信主是有起点的
CONVERSION HAS A BEGINNING
我们同意在基督里的新生命是有一个起点，这起点有不同的名称﹕「归正」，「回转」，「重生」，「呼召」或「苏醒」等。这起点之后，有一段长进，成圣的过程，直到死亡结束。
We agree that there is a beginning point of the new life in Christ (variously called “conversion,” “regeneration,” “calling” or “quickening,” etc.), followed by a life time of growth in sanctification, which is completed at death.
我们可能不同意，应否称此起点为「重生」，其后有信心。我们可能不同意，应否称整个过程为「得救」或「与基督联合」。可是我们同意，我们必须依靠圣灵，而且我们的得救，归主是有起点的。
We may disagree whether we call this beginning point “regeneration,” followed by faith; or we call the whole process “salvation” (de jiu) or “union with Christ.” But we do agree that we depend on the Holy Spirit, and that there is some beginning point in our salvation/conversion.
5. 悔改是必须的
REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY
我们同意，罪人被称义、成圣，必须认罪悔改。
We agree that sinners must repent of our sin for justification and sanctification.
我们有人不同意，悔改在什么时候发生；是与信心同时，在信心之前，或之后。但我们同意上帝称罪为罪，因为上帝愿意赦免所有信靠基督，认罪悔改的人的罪。
Some of us disagree as to when repentance should take place; whether it is simultaneous with faith, prior to faith, or after faith. But we do agree that God calls sin sin because he wants to forgive the sins of men and women who truly repent and trust in Christ.
6. 自由选择是真实的
FREE CHOICES ARE REAL
我们同意，人每天都使用自己的意志，作出真实的选择。奥古斯丁，加尔文，和韦斯利都同意这一点。
We agree that man and woman make real, genuine choices from the will of man every day. Augustine, Calvin as well as Arminius, Wesley all agree on this.
虽然我们不同意人在堕落之后能否选择行善，可是我们同意人的意志是真实的，堕落之后，和考虑响应福音的时候，并没有减少其功能。
Although we disagree on whether man can choose to do good after the Fall, we do agree that the will of man is real, and does not diminish or disappear, after the Fall, and as man considers and responds to the free offer of the gospel.
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传福音是必须的
EVANGELISM IS A MUST
我们同意，在上帝对教会的呼召与计划中，布道与宣教（宣告福音的真理），和怜悯的善行，都是必须的，不是可有可无的。
We agree that evangelism and missions, understood as the proclamation of the truths of the gospel accompanied with deeds of mercy, are imperatives, not options, in God’s calling and plan for the church.
- 祷告﹕我们完全依赖上帝；工作﹕我们为上帝竭力献上一切
PRAYER: WE UTTERLY DEPEND ON GOD;
WORK: WE GIVE OUT UTMOST FOR GOD
我们同意，祷告和在一切所作的事上依靠上帝，是必须的。我们也同意，基督徒必
须在事奉和传福音事上作出选择与决定，并须干劲十足。
We agree on the importance of prayer and total dependence on God for everything we do, and we agree that Christians need to make choices and decisions and take great initiative (gan jing) in ministry and outreach.
我们可不同意，如何在神学上表达人在事奉上如何依靠上帝又采取主动，我们也可能不同意如何表达上帝的主权与人的自由意志之间的关系。可是我们都跪下祷告，都站起来，竭力为基督而活！
We may disagree on how to formulate this total dependence and initiative in theological terms, and disagree on the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the free will of man, but we do kneel down to pray, and get up and live for Jesus with all our strength and enthusiasm!
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我们为复兴祷告，我们为复兴感恩
WE PRAY FOR AND REJOICE OVER REVIVAL
我们同意，教会有时候经历圣灵的来临和祂特殊的工作，一般称为「复兴」。我们祈求上帝赐下复兴；这些特殊日子来到的时候，我们会欢喜快乐向祂感恩。
We agree that the church sometimes experiences a special work and visitation of the Holy Spirit which is commonly called “revival.” We pray for, and rejoice over these special moments in the life of the church.
我们可能不同意，复兴究竟是什么；人可否计划复兴运动；复兴之前和之后有什么现象。可是当圣灵工作，使罪人归向基督，又以祂的大能使基督徒生命更新的时候，我们都欢喜快乐赞美主。
We may disagree on exactly what a revival is; whether men can plan a revival; what it is preceded by, and what follows it. But we all rejoice when the Holy Spirit works to convert sinners and renew Christians by his power.
不论我们是加尔文主义者或阿米念主义者，我们身为华人基督徒，都是好几个复兴运动的属灵后裔﹕宗教改革，清教徒运动，荷兰敬虔运动，德国敬虔运动，大觉醒（韦斯利，爱德华兹，怀特菲德），第二次大觉醒，芬尼和慕迪先生带领的复兴运动，学生志愿海外宣教运动，韦尔斯复兴运动，和二十世纪的复兴运动等。
Whether we are Calvinists or Arminians, we Chinese Christians are the spiritual descendants of several revival movements: the Reformation, Puritanism, Dutch Pietism, German Pietism, the Great Awakening (Wesley, Edwards, Whitefield), 2nd Great Awakening, the revivals of Charles Finney and Dwight L. Moody, the student missionary movement, the Welsh revival, and 20th century revival and renewal movements.
10. 圣洁 HOLINESS
我们同意，所有基督徒的生活都必须圣洁。所有基督徒必须与罪挣扎，在成圣的功夫上有所长进。
We agree that holiness is an imperative for all Christians, and that Christian should struggle with his sin and make progress in sanctification.
我们可能不同意应该称此为「圣洁」，「敬虔」，「爱主」，或「属灵」等。我们也可能不同意，什么是理想的基督徒生命状态。我们用不同的名词来形容一个成熟的圣洁状态﹕「得救的确据」，「无罪完全」，「得胜」，「属灵」等。不过我们同意，上帝的旨意乃是要我们爱主基督，完全奉献自己给祂，离弃罪恶、魔鬼与世界。这些不是可有可无的，乃是必须的，并且是一生必须追求的。
We may disagree on what we call this: holiness, godliness, piety, etc., and may disagree on what an ideal Christian state looks like. We use different labels to describe the mature conditions of sanctification, such as “assurance of grace and salvation,” “sinless perfection,” “a victorious life,” or “the spiritual man.” But we agree that to love Christ, to totally devote and consecrate ourselves to him, and to forsake sin, the devil and the world are not options, but God’s will for all Christians, all our lives.
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上帝在基督里拣选了我们
GOD CHOSE US IN CHRIST
我们同意，上帝在基督里拣选了我们。
We all agree that God chose us in Christ.
我们不同意，上帝的拣选是否无条件的，上帝是拣选个别的罪人，还是拣选所有信基督的人。可是我们同意，《圣经》清楚教导「拣选」的真理。
We disagree as to whether this election is unconditional, whether this election is of individuals or of groups of people. But we do agree that election is a truth taught clearly in the Bible.
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《圣经》是一切教义的基础与审判者
BIBLE THE FOUNDATION AND JUDGE OF DOCTRINE
所有教义上的表达与争辩必须以解释《圣经》为己任，必须诉诸《圣经》为最高的审判官。我们同意，我们对《圣经》的了解是有限的，有修改和纠正的余地，不过我们都希望在研究上帝在祂话语中启示的旨意上，不断有所进步。
All doctrinal formulations and debates must appeal to the Bible, and to exposition of the Bible, as the supreme and final judge. We agree that our understanding of the Bible is limited and open to revision and correction, but have the hope of continually making progress as we search the whole counsel of God revealed in His Word.
是的，我们之间有不少的争辩与分歧是无法忽视的，因此我们必须继续讨论。或者我们需要被提醒，这是「家里人」的讨论。我们是家人，不是仇敌。真正的敌人是那些对我们共同信仰不认同的，特别是那些在《圣经》的权威上妥协的人士。
Surely there are many differences which we cannot ignore, therefore continued discussion is needed. Perhaps we can be gently reminded that this is an “in house” discussion. We are family, not enemies. The real enemies are those who disagree
with any of the above, especially those who compromise on the authority of the Bible as God’s Word.
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教会的合一UNITY OF THE CHURCH
我们同意，基督为祂教会的合一祷告。
We agree that Christ prays for the unity of the church.
我们不同意，教会与宗派应有怎样的组织，牧师和教师是否必须签名认同信条，哪些信条士宗派与教会之间必须同意的。不过我们同意，所有信靠基督，爱主基督，完全顺服在《圣经》的权柄之下的都是弟兄姐妹。
We disagree over how churches and denominations should be organized, whether creeds are required of our pastors and teachers, and what are those doctrines which all must agree upon in our churches and denominations. But we do agree that all who trust and love Jesus and submit to the full authority of Scripture are brothers and sisters
in Christ.
林慈信
Samuel Ling
January 24, 2008
March 19, 2008 中译，修订于马来西亚槟城
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