What’s Wrong with the World? 出了什么差错
Dexu Xia
What’s Wrong with the World?
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
There is an oft-heard story that The London Times posed a question to readers at the turn of the twentieth century. What’s wrong with the world?
That’s quite the question, isn’t it? Someone might quickly respond, “Well, how much time do you have for me to tell you?” And that would be fair, as there seems to be so much that’s wrong with our world. As the story goes, The Times received a number of responses, but one in particular has endured in its brief brilliance. The English writer, poet, and philosopher G. K. Chesterton penned this four-word response, a refreshing surprise to the usual passing-of-the-buck: “Dear Sirs, I am.”
Whether the story is factual or not is up for debate. But that response? It’s nothing but true. Long before Chesterton came along, there was an apostle named Paul. Far from a lifelong model citizen, Paul confessed his past shortcomings: “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man” (v. 13). After naming who Jesus came to save (“sinners”), he goes on to make a very Chesterton-like qualification: “of whom I am the worst” (v. 15). Paul knew exactly what was and is wrong with the world. And he further knew the only hope of making things right—“the grace of our Lord” (v. 14). What an amazing reality! This enduring truth lifts our eyes to the light of Christ’s saving love.
What is wrong with the world? Can you own the answer Paul and Chesterton gave? What is one way you can accept that without sliding into self-hatred?
God, thank You for Your immense patience with me, a sinner. To You be honor and glory forever and ever.
出了什么差错
基督耶稣降世，为要拯救罪人。……在罪人中我是个罪魁。—提摩太前书1章15节
有个经常听到的故事，就是《泰晤士报》在20世纪初向读者提出一个问题：这世界出了什么差错？
这是个好问题，不是吗？有人可能会立即回应：“你给我多少时间回答呢？”这样的回应确实很恰当，因为这个世界出的差错太多了，说也说不完。问题发出之后，《泰唔士报》收到不少回复，但其中有个精简的回复最为经典。那是出自英国作家、诗人兼哲学家的却斯特顿（G. K. Chesterton），他的回答令人耳目一新，他没有怪罪指责别人，反倒回答说：“是我出了差错！”
这个故事的真实性固然有可议之处，但那个回答却道出了事实。早在却斯特顿之前，就已经有一位名为保罗的使徒，也承认自己绝非模范市民，他还揭示自己过往的错误说：“我从前是亵渎上帝的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的”（提摩太前书1章13节）。接着，保罗指出耶稣来是要拯救罪人，并像却斯特顿那样坦言：“在罪人中我是个罪魁”（15节）。保罗清楚知道这个世界从古至今出了什么差错，他更知道让万事万物回归正轨的唯一盼望就是“我主的恩”（14节）。这是个多么奇妙的事实！这个永恒的真理使我们能仰望基督爱的拯救！
这世界出了什么差错？你认同保罗和却斯特顿的答案吗？
你如何接受这答案而不落入自我憎恶呢？
上帝，谢谢祢以无比的耐心对待我这个罪人。但愿尊贵与荣耀都归于祢，直到永永远远.