如何「守聖日」?

什麼是「守聖日」,或一個小時,一個星期?

首先,唯獨與上帝相關的事情是神聖的,就是純淨地、虔誠地宣講上帝的話語。這事在所有的事情之上。當人聽到和學習到上帝的話語,看到上帝的話語是如何被純淨地宣講和遵循時,這就是正確地守安息日,並聖化這地方,或教堂。是的,當我們贊美上帝時,我們就是在把這教會獻給上帝!是的,講道就是灑水器[註解一]。我們所有人都要理解這道。這道必然祝福和聖化我們和他人。

第二,守聖日是指我們接受上帝的話語。我們將道聽到心裡,灑在我們生命之中,為要帶給我們能力,結出果實,為要讓我們公開承認這道,終生持守這道,並穿越死亡。

第三,守聖日指我們聽到上帝的道之後,將我們共同的禱告,聯和一起,如同香(啟示錄 5:8 啟示錄 5:8 這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。),獻上給上帝。我們呼求祂,一同向祂禱告。我們因上帝一切暫時或永恆的好處,為祂在祂的教會里所做的一切事情,感謝贊美祂。我們知道這是祂喜悅,為祂接納之事,在集體聚會時更是如此。

這些就是全體會眾聚會時所做的一切事。都是聖潔的關乎於上帝之事。這就是一個神聖的安息日。這既正確地、虔誠地服事了上帝,也救助了人。——馬丁路德(AE 51:342-43)

註解一:回到原文
灑水器:天主教崇拜用具之一。灑出所謂”聖水“,用於象徵聖化人或物。

What does it mean to 「keep holy」day
or 「sanctify」an hour, or a week?

It means rather, in the first place, to do something on that day which is a holy work, which is owing only to God, namely, that above all other things one preaches God’s Word purely and holily. And likewise, that the others hear and learn God’s Word and help to see to it that it is purely preached and kept. This is what it means rightly to observe the day of rest and to 「consecrate」 or 「sanctify」 the place or the church: as we, praise God, are consecrating this house! Yes, this preaching of the Word is the aspergillum, which all of us together should grasp and with it bless and sanctify ourselves and others.

Secondly, it means that we receive the Word of God, which we have heard in our hearts and with which we have thus been sprinkled, in order that it may bring forth power and fruit in us, and that we may publicly confess it and intend to hold on to it through life and through death.

Thirdly, it means that when we have heard God’s Word we also lift up to God our common, united incense, that is, that we call upon him and pray to him together (which we know is certainly pleasing and acceptable to him, particularly in common assembly), and also praise and thank God together with joy for all his benefits, temporal and eternal, and all the wonderful works he does in his church.

Thus everything that is done in such an assembly of the whole congregation or church is nothing but holy, godly business and work and is a holy sabbath, in order both that God may be rightly and holily served and all men be helped. (AE 51:342-43)