什麽是自由

最近加拿大有個自由卡車運動，好像現在又要殺個回馬槍。起因是由於政府推行強製疫苗，幹涉了有些人不願接種疫苗的自由。參與其中的聽說有信基督教的。那麽雖是和平抗議政府，那麽基督徒出現在抗議政府的大軍中討要這個自由是否符合聖經的意思呢？

羅馬書，提多書和彼得前書對此都有勸勉。羅馬書說，對掌權的，人人當順服他，因為他的權柄來自於神；彼得前書說為主耶穌的緣故，基督徒要順服人的一切製度(或是在上的君王或是臣宰)，因為神的旨意原是要信徒們行善，這樣可以堵住那糊塗無知人的口；在提多書裏，保羅叮囑提多要提醒眾人順服作官的、掌權的，遵他們的命，預備行各樣的善事。

由此可見，基督徒順服掌權的有兩個原因: 一是因為凡掌權的都是神所命的，所以抗拒掌權的就是抗拒神的命； 二是為主耶穌的緣故，是為要堵住那糊塗無知人的口。那麽第二個原因裏為什麽需要堵住那些糊塗無知人的口呢？那些糊塗無知的人若看到基督徒抗議掌權的口裏到底會說些什麽呢？提摩太前書說他們可能會褻瀆神的名和道。這大概是因為下麵幾個原因。

第一，基督徒所聽到的勸勉是愛鄰舍，因為耶穌用大愛，舍命救贖了他們，赦免了他們的罪，基督怎樣愛了他們，他們也應該怎樣愛周圍的鄰舍。擾民擾警擾商擾交通怎能體現出這樣的愛呢；第二，基督徒應該彰顯的是不求自己的益處，不計較別人的惡， 凡事都不虧欠人，惟有愛鄰舍要常以為虧欠。怎麽能為了自己的自由犧牲別人的自由呢；第三，基督徒應該彰顯的是信心，但不是用信心去絆倒別人，而是能夠接納信心小的人，比如接納那些看到都接種了疫苗才放心的人。保羅說你若有信心你自己就當在神麵前守著， 而不是去絆倒別人；第四，基督徒所聽到的勸勉是為君王和一切在位的懇求、禱告、代求和祝謝，提摩太前書第二章開篇如是說。這樣方可以敬虔端正，平安無事的度日，怎能去抗議政令呢?

若那些不懂耶穌福音的人(包括掌權的和一般民眾)看到基督徒所行的和非基督徒一樣，神的名和道就不能從基督徒身上彰顯出來，而是被淹沒在世俗中，並可能被汙蔑和褻瀆，因為鹽失去了鹹味兒。

那麽聖經中倡導的自由到底是什麽呢？簡單地說就是耶穌在十字架上擔當了信徒們的罪，把信徒們從舊約的誡命和律法中解放出來，信徒們從此獲得了自由，不再是罪的奴仆，而是神的兒女，且有永生。由此可見，這裏的自由不是去對抗政令討要自己所謂的這樣或那樣的自由。接種疫苗也好，不接種疫苗也好，一切的平安歸根結底都要靠神護佑和來自於神!

下麵是相關經文。
羅13:1 在上有權柄的、人人當順服他．因為沒有權柄不是出於神的．凡掌權的都是神所命的。
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
羅13:2 所以抗拒掌權的、就是抗拒 神的命．抗拒的必自取刑罰。
Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
羅13:3 作官的原不是叫行善的懼怕、乃是叫作惡的懼怕。你願意不懼怕掌權的麽．你隻要行善、就可得他的稱讚．
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
羅13:4 因為他是神的用人、是與你有益的。你若作惡、卻當懼怕．因為他不是空空的佩劍．他是神的用人、是伸冤的、刑罰那作惡的。
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
羅13:5 所以你們必須順服、不但是因為刑罰、也是因為良心。
Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

羅13:8 凡事都不可虧欠人、惟有彼此相愛、要常以為虧欠．因為愛人的就完全了律法。
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

羅14:1 信心軟弱的、你們要接納、但不要辯論所疑惑的事。
Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

羅14:21 無論是吃肉、是喝酒、是甚麽別的事、叫弟兄跌倒、一概不作才好。
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
羅14:22 你有信心、就當在神麵前守著。人在自己以為可行的事上、能不自責、就有福了。
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.

羅15:1 我們堅固的人、應該擔代不堅固人的軟弱、不求自己的喜悅。
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

西3:22 你們作仆人的、要凡事聽從你們肉身的主人、不要隻在眼前事奉、像是討人喜歡的、總要存心誠實敬畏主．
Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
西3:23 無論作甚麽、都要從心裏作、像是給主作的、不是給人作的。
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
西3:24 因你們知道從主那裏、必得著基業為賞賜．你們所事奉的乃是主基督。
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

彼前2:13 你們為主的緣故、要順服人的一切製度、或是在上的君王、
Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
彼前2:14 或是君王所派罰惡賞善的臣宰。
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

彼前2:15 因為神的旨意原是要你們行善、可以堵住那糊塗無知人的口。
For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

提前2:1 我勸你第一要為萬人懇求、禱告、代求、祝謝．
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:

提前2:2 為君王和一切在位的也該如此．使我們可以敬虔端正、平安無事的度日。
for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

提前6:1 凡在軛下作仆人的、當以自己主人配受十分的恭敬、免得神的名和道理、被人褻瀆。
Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

多2:9 勸仆人要順服自己的主人、凡事討他的喜歡．不可頂撞他．
Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;

多2:10 不可私拿東西．要顯為忠誠、以致凡事尊榮我們救主神的道．
not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.

多3:1 你要提醒眾人、叫他們順服作官的、掌權的、遵他的命、預備行各樣的善事．
Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

林前13:4 愛是恒久忍耐、又有恩慈．愛是不嫉妒．愛是不自誇．不張狂．
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,

林前13:5 不作害羞的事．不求自己的益處．不輕易發怒．不計算人的惡．
doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
林前13:6 不喜歡不義．隻喜歡真理．
doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
林前13:7 凡事包容．凡事相信．凡事盼望．凡事忍耐。
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.