關於教堂和集體崇拜的優勢

我們有崇拜地點的自由

因著本城居民的自由,為那些願意來此崇拜之人,我們建造這房屋用於崇拜。而不是因為這教堂有什麼特別,似乎勝過在其他房屋內宣講上帝的話語。人可以在戶外,或水池邊,或其他地方講道。即使是先知們也不強求在耶路撒冷聖殿講道,因為他們並不能站在大祭司所站之地。他們也不能常常在那裡講道,卻是在任何適合他們的各種地方講道。

教堂建築有利於集體崇拜

即使是這樣,他們常常希望在民眾公開聚集的地方講道。正如詩篇42:4說:我從前與眾人同往,用歡呼稱讚的聲音領他們到上帝的殿裏,大家守節。我追想這些事,我的心極其悲傷。

群眾必須有聚會的地方,在大家方便的時候,在某日某時崇拜。為此,上帝就智慧地安排並設立萬事。祂又設立在教會里施行的聖禮。祂使會眾到某地聚集、禱告、感謝上帝。就如社區在處理某些屬世事情需要地方一樣,我們更需要有這樣的地方,使眾人可以聽到上帝的話語。

集體崇拜的優勢

當基督徒聚集一處的優勢是:與其他時候相比,他們的禱告有加倍的力量。雖然,無論何時何地,人都需要禱告,但是,唯有全體會眾集體崇拜時的禱告,最有能力。

我們基督徒在某時某地聚集,來處理和聆聽上帝的話語,把我們自己和他人尋常和不尋常的需要帶到上帝那裡。如同向天堂發射強有力和有效的禱告。我們獻上感謝,一起贊美和頌揚上帝的良善。這就是我們知道的正確的服事和崇拜上帝,是討上帝喜悅的服事。祂自己也臨在這服事之中。——馬丁路德(AE 51:337-38《托爾高城教會獻堂儀式上的講道》1544


 

On Church and Public Worship

Therefore this house shall be built and appointed according to this freedom for those who dwell here in this castle and court or any others who desire to come in. Not that we are making a special church of it, as if it were better than other houses where the Word of God is preached. If the occasion should arise that people did not want to or could not assemble, one could just as well preach outside by the fountain or somewhere else. For neither did the prophets have such great regard for the temple in Jerusalem (particularly because they could not stand the high priests there), nor did they always preach there, but in various places, wherever it suited them, as may be seen in their writings. Nevertheless they often wished to be with the multitude and in the place where people assembled publicly, as Ps. 42 [:4], I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.

Now this multitude must have some kind of a room and its days or hours, which will be convenient for the listeners. Therefore God very wisely arranged and appointed things, and instituted the holy sacrament to be administered in the congregation at a place where we can come together, pray, and give thanks to God. Just as is done in worldly affairs when something which concerns the community must be dealt with, so much the more should this be done where we are to hear the Word of God.

And here the advantage is that when Christians thus come together their prayers are twice as strong as otherwise. One can and one really should pray in every place and every hour; but prayer is nowhere so mighty and strong as when the whole multitude prays together.

We are to come together at a time and place which we are agreed upon, deal with and listen to God’s Word, bring to God our ordinary and unusual needs and those of others and thus launch up to heaven a strong, effectual prayer, and also together laud and praise God’s goodness with thanksgiving. And of this we know that it is the right service and worship of God, a service which is well-pleasing to him and in which he himself is present. AE 51:337-38Sermon at the Dedication of the Castle Church in Torgau, October 5, 1544