Faith and Reality

- The Pascal's Wager Blaise Pascal was a renowned French philosopher, mathematician, and physicist of the seventeenth century. In his early years, Pascal devoted himself primarily to mathematics and physics, making extraordinarily significant contributions, especially in mathematics. However, during the final ten years of his life, he devoted all his energy to the study of philosophy and theology. In his famous proposition known as Pascal’s Wager , Pascal argued that a person’s belief in the existence of God can be understood as a “wager.” There are many versions of Pascal’s Wager. One version may be stated as follows: For any person S, there are two possible choices: choice α and choice β. If choosing α brings greater benefit to S, then S ought to choose α. Given that the probability of God’s existence or nonexistence is at least equal, and that believing in God brings greater benefit to person S, one should therefore choose to believe in the existence of God. What did Pasca...

「看哪，耶和华大而可畏之日未到以前，我要差遣先知以利亚到你们那里去。 他必使父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲， 免得我来击打这地，使地被咒诅。」 ——玛拉基书 4:5–6（ESV） 玛拉基书是旧约的最后一卷书，而这两节经文正是旧约圣经的结尾。 在玛拉基之后，我们走入圣经历史上最神秘的时期之一—— 新约开始前那四百年的沉默期 。 这两节经文并非圣经中最常被引用的段落，但它们承载着极其深重的分量。 它们像一个悬念（ cliffhanger ）——向前指引，激起期待。 “以利亚要来”的应许就这样悬挂在历史的空中，整整四个世纪未得解答。 四百年的沉默 在这段时间里，神没有再兴起先知，也没有新的启示或经文降下—— 然而，神早已借先知但以理启示了未来将要发生的历史（参见但以理书第2章与第7章）： 巴比伦帝国 —— 征服犹大，把以色列人掳到异地。 玛代波斯帝国 —— 推翻巴比伦，允许犹太人归回并重建圣殿。 希腊帝国 —— 战胜波斯，将希腊的语言与文化传播至已知世界。 罗马帝国 —— 征服希腊，带来道路、律法与相对的和平，为弥赛亚的降临预备了舞台。 历史，的确是 “祂的故事（His-story）” 。 神在主权中安排帝国的兴衰，为的是预备那位应许的使者的到来—— 并最终，为 主自己 的降临铺平道路。 玛拉基对“使者”的预言 玛拉基书 3:1 将这位“使者”与 4:5–6 所提的“以利亚”相连： 「看哪，我要差遣我的使者，他要在我前面预备道路。 你们所寻求的主必忽然进入他的殿； 你们所仰慕的约的使者看哪，他要来！」 ——玛拉基书 3:1（ESV） 那么，这位“使者”是谁呢？ 沉默被打破 沉默了四百年之后，神再次开口。 天使加百列在圣殿中向祭司撒迦利亚显现： 「不要害怕，撒迦利亚，因为你的祈祷已蒙应允。 你的妻子以利沙伯要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。」 ——路加福音 1:13（ESV） 这个孩子，就是玛拉基与以赛亚所预言的那位： 「有人声喊着说：‘在旷野预备耶和华的道，在沙漠地修平我们神的路。’」 ——以赛亚书 40:3（ESV） 约翰渐渐长大，心灵刚强，在旷野传道，呼召以色列人悔改，为弥赛亚预备道路（路加福音 1:80）。 施洗约翰——那将要来的以...

  - Popular Bible Verse Series “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 The Bible contains many verses about gratitude, but I chose 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 for this Thanksgiving post in our Popular Bible Verse Series. These verses, among my favorites, resonate deeply on this day of giving thanks. The entire Bible is God’s Word, and while Christians often have favorite verses, I’ve selected these from various popular lists and my personal collection for this series. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 calls us to: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances. This isn’t a one-time act or limited to Thanksgiving Day. We are to rejoice, pray, and give thanks continually—not just for blessings received but because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus. These verses urge us to go beyond thanking God for specific gifts and to embrace constant joy, prayer, and gratitude...

- Popular Bible Verse Series “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5–6 Dr. Gene Getz, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary in the 1970s, answered God’s call to leave academia and enter church ministry. He founded Fellowship Bible Church North in Dallas, establishing a model that led to hundreds of Fellowship Bible Churches over the next few decades. I came to Christ at the Chinese fellowship of Fellowship Bible Church North and was baptized by Dr. Getz in 2001. The fellowship gifted me a Chinese/English Bible, and Dr. Getz inscribed it with a note citing Proverbs 3:5–6 and Romans 12:1–2. When I first saw these verses, I wondered why he chose them among countless others. Though I never asked him, I knew he intended for me, as a new Christian, to study, memorize, and meditate on them, applying their wisdom to my faith journey. These verses, I later lear...