Warts and All 完全接纳

[Dexu Xia]

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Colossians 3:13

Oliver Cromwell, known as the “Protector of England,” was a military commander in the seventeenth century. It was common practice during those days for people of importance to have their portraits painted. And it wasn’t unusual for an artist to avoid depicting the less attractive aspects of a person’s face. Cromwell, however, wanted nothing to do with a likeness that would flatter him. He cautioned the artist, “You must paint me just as I am—warts and all—or I won’t pay you.” 

Apparently, the artist complied. The finished portrait of Cromwell displays a couple of prominent facial warts that in the present day would surely be filtered or airbrushed before being posted on social media. 

The expression “warts and all” has come to mean that people should be accepted just as they are—with all their annoying faults, attitudes, and issues. In some cases, we feel that’s too difficult a task. Yet, when we take a hard inward look, we might find some pretty unattractive aspects of our own character. 

We’re grateful that God forgives our “warts.” And in Colossians 3, we’re taught to extend grace to others. The apostle Paul encourages us to be more patient, kind, and compassionate—even to those who aren’t easy to love. He urges us to have a forgiving spirit because of the way God forgives us (vv. 12–13). By His example, we’re taught to love others the way God loves us—warts and all. 

What faults do you find in others that are hard to accept or forgive? How can you follow God’s example in the way you interact with others?

Loving God, show me my shortcomings or flaws that detract from letting others know who You are. Help me to be more patient and to love and forgive as You do.

 主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。—歌罗西书3章13节

奥利佛 · 克伦威尔（Oliver Cromwell）是17世纪的一位军事将领，被称为“英格兰护国公”。在那个时代，达官显要经常会找画家为他们描绘肖像，而画家在描绘面容时，通常会刻意避开某些缺点。然而，克伦威尔却不要画家为了讨好他而这样做，他警告画家说：“你要照实描绘我的样貌，就连疣子和所有缺点都要画出来，否则我拒付酬劳。”

这名画家显然听命而行，因为在完成的肖像画中，克伦威尔脸上有几处明显的小肉瘤。若在今日，这样的瑕疵一定会用滤镜或特效处理后，才会发布到社交媒体上。

后来“疣子和所有缺点”(warts and all）成为一句英文俗语，意思是完全接纳一个人，包括他恼人的缺点、态度或习惯。有时我们可能会觉得很难做到，但我们若认真地自我检视，可能会发现自己的性格中也有好些缺点。

感谢上帝宽恕了我们的缺点。在歌罗西书3章，保罗教导我们要以恩慈待人，对人要有更多的忍耐、恩慈和怜悯，包括对那些讨厌的人。他又劝勉我们要心存饶恕，因上帝也饶恕了我们（12-13节）。有了上帝为榜样，我们便可学习用上帝爱我们的方式去爱人，包括对方的“疣子和所有缺点”。

你很难接受或原谅别人的哪些缺点？
你要如何学习像上帝那样，以恩慈待人？

慈爱的上帝，求祢让我看见自己有哪些缺点或瑕疵，
会拦阻人来认识祢。求祢帮助我能更有耐心，
能像祢一样去爱人与饶恕人。