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哥林多前书：11：31-34: 31我们若是先分辨自己，就不至于受审。32我们受审的时候，乃是被主惩治，免得我们和世人一同定罪。33所以我弟兄们，你们聚会吃的时候，要彼此等待。34若有人饥饿，可以在家里先吃，免得你们聚会，自己取罪。其余的事，我来的时候再安排。         

民主有可能是危险的。人们在投票表决的时候，倾向于支持那些对自己有利的东西，而不是对他人最有利的东西。在这个世界上，我们不应该为此感到惊讶，因为这个世界是被罪性控制的。当你活到我的年纪，你会说：“无论如何都不要触犯我的保障和福利！”

我们采取了一种民主的方式来处理我们教会的事务。我不知道这是否是最好的教会管理的方式。我也曾参加过一些情绪高涨的教会会议，最后，对某件事只以单独一次投票作出最终决定。这很难给教会带来团结！《使徒行传》15章，使徒们讨论了给外邦人行割礼的事。他们转向神的话语寻求帮助。他们的领袖提出建议，然后他们聚在一起制定了一个解决方案。         

我们应该高于这个世界，因为我们不再被罪性所控制，而是被我们里面的新人所控制。但有时候我们的罪性会占上风，就像哥林多教会发生的事情一样。所以保罗责备了他们所做的事。我们应该感谢那些好的领袖，他们被上帝的话指引，被圣灵充满。我祷告我们对耶稣的爱和我们对彼此的爱会永远引导我们的决定！  

祷告：主耶稣，求你用你的话引导我们。愿你的灵充满我们。求祢赐给我们爱祢、彼此相爱胜过我们爱自己的心。阿们。

1 Corinthians 11: 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not be undergoing judgment. 32 However, when we undergo judgment, we are being disciplined by the Lord so that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home so that your coming together may not result in judgment. The rest of my instructions I will give when I come. (EHV)

Democracy can be dangerous. People tend to vote for what is going to benefit them, and not what will serve the best interests of others. That shouldn’t surprise us in the world, because the world is controlled by the sinful nature. When you get to be my age, it’s, “Don’t touch my social security!” 

We’ve assumed a democratic form of conducting the business of our churches. I don’t know if that’s the best way to conduct the work of the church or not. I’ve been in church meetings where emotions ran high and in the end, the decision to do something was carried by a single vote. That hardly brought unity to that body! In Acts 15 they talked about the issue of circumcision for Gentiles. They turned to God’s Word. Their leaders gave recommendations, and they came together on a solution.

We should have one leg up on the world, because we are controlled by the new person in us and not be our sinful nature. But sometimes our sinful nature can get the best of us, as it was doing in Corinth. So Paul called them out on what they were doing. We can be thankful for good leaders, who are guided by God’s Word and filled with the Spirit. I pray that our love for Christ and for each other would always guide our decisions!   

Prayer: Lord Jesus, lead us with your word. Fill us with your Spirit. Give us hearts that love you and love one another more than we love ourselves. Amen.