—–为病中弟兄姐妹的祷告与盼望

文/HuSir

　　无论身在何方的教会，我们总会遇到患病的基督徒。面对教会里的弟兄姐妹身患疾病时，我们的心情其实是很矛盾的：
　　我们爱这些弟兄姐妹，也关心他们的疾病，也知道病的背后有属灵的问题。我们希望每一个疾病中的弟兄姐妹悔改，但又知道，在一个人身心俱疲、处于病痛之中的时候，又要面对罪，是一件几乎不可能的事。

　　但我们可以一同沉静地思想这件事，用真理和怜悯去回应这其中问题。

基督徒的病，是罪的结果吗？

　　从圣经看，是，也不是。

• 是：我们人类的身体会生病，的确源于始祖犯罪后，整个世界被咒诅、败坏。我们每个人的病，在属灵层面，都与罪有关。
• 不是：耶稣说：“不是因他或他父母犯了罪，乃是要在他身上显出神的作为来。”（约9:3）

　　所以，病不是用来审判的标签，而是神让人醒悟的机会。换句话说：不是“你有病＝你坏透了”，而是“神许可病临到你，是因为祂还愿意唤醒你”。

悔改为何难？尤其在病中？

• 病让人关注“痛”多于“灵”

　　接收各种治疗时身体剧烈反应、情绪焦躁、激素紊乱，思维也常不清晰，此时讲悔改会让“他/她”觉得我们在“落井下石”。

• 人性天然抗拒“承认错”

　　尤其是一个在教会里“看起来还不错”的姊妹，让“他/她”承认自己长久以来“心灵不顺服”很难。人越软弱，越容易自怜或封闭，而非醒悟，换做谁都基本是这个样子。

• 属灵争战非常激烈

　　撒但最希望“他/她”“带着委屈下地狱”，而不是“带着悔改重生”。我们看到的‘难悔改’情形，其实是属灵的战场。

其他弟兄姐妹该怎么做？

1. 先爱“他/她”，不评断“他/她”

　　“他/她”现在最需要的，是一个在“他/她”身边“祷告不动摇”的人。
　　请用拥抱、探访、陪伴、轻声的祷告，而不是一上来讲悔改。

2. 为“他/她”代祷，不间断

　　让我们每天为“他/她”祷告一句：“主啊，让“他/她”在病中遇见你，让“他/她”看见真正的问题在心中，而不单单是身体。”
　　我们不改变“他/她”，是神的灵在改变“他/她”。

3. 寻找柔软时刻，撒下真理的种子

　　等“他/她”有一次说：“我不知道我做错了什么，神怎么不救我？”
　　我们可以说：“或许神不是不救你，而是要从更深的地方开始医治你。”

4. 让“他/她”看见“悔改是恩典”不是咒诅

　　每一个身处疾病中的人最不愿听到别人说：“你是罪人所以你应该为此受苦。”
　　我们每个人都要知道：“我们都需要悔改，但悔改不是羞辱我们，而是让我们在基督里得自由。”

周围每个人的心，也需要安慰

　　当我们为“他/她”心痛、祷告祈求时，首先要知道这份爱是从主来的。所以请记住：

• 我们不是救主，耶稣才是；
• 我们撒种，圣灵动工；
• 我们不必去扛“他/她”的悖逆，只需承担“他/她”的痛，陪伴“他/她”一起度过每一个时刻。

一段可默默送给“他/她”的话

　　我们希望下面的话能让“他/她”得安慰，或者默祷时为“他/她”读：

　　“也许你觉得这一场病很苦，也许你不明白神为什么不止住这一切。
　　但亲爱的“弟兄/姐妹”，神没有放弃你，祂仍在呼唤你回转，不是要控告你，而是要拯救你。
　　你不需要变得完美才能靠近祂，你只需要在软弱中对祂说：‘主啊，我愿意。’”

　　愿神赐每个人属灵的智慧与忍耐，使我们在“他/她”的病中作主的同工，不是急于纠正“他/她”，而是温柔坚定地等待“他/她”被恩典软化的那一刻。

Walking Together in Weakness

—–Prayers and Hope for Our Ailing Brothers and Sisters

By HuSir

No matter which church we belong to, we will inevitably encounter brothers and sisters who fall ill. When fellow believers in our church suffer from disease, our hearts are conflicted:
We love these brothers and sisters and care about their illness, and we know that behind every illness there are spiritual issues. We hope that every brother or sister in sickness will repent, yet we also know that, when a person is physically and mentally exhausted and in pain, to ask them to face their sin is almost impossible.
However, we can calmly reflect on this matter together, and respond with truth and compassion.

Is a Christian’s illness the result of sin?
From the Bible’s perspective, both yes and no.

• Yes: Our bodies do fall ill because, after our first parents sinned, the whole creation was cursed and broken. Every sickness we experience, on a spiritual level, is related to sin.
• No: Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3).
  Therefore, illness is not a label for judgment, but an opportunity God gives for awakening. In other words: it’s not “You have this sickness = you are utterly wicked,” but rather, “God allows this sickness to come upon you because He still wants to awaken you.”

Why is repentance so difficult—especially in illness?

1. Illness focuses a person on pain rather than spirit.
   During treatments the body reacts violently, emotions flare, hormones fluctuate, and clear thinking is hard. At such times, talking about repentance can feel like “adding insult to injury.”
2. Human nature resists admitting fault.
   It’s especially hard for a sister who “seems fine” in church to admit that her spirit has long been disobedient. The more fragile one is, the more one self-pities or closes off rather than wakes up—and who wouldn’t?
3. The spiritual battle is fierce.
   Satan most wants them to “go to hell feeling wronged” rather than “be born again through repentance.” What we see as “difficulty repenting” is really warfare in the spiritual realm.

What can other brothers and sisters do?

1. Love them first—do not judge them.
   What they need most now is someone whose prayer for them never wavers.
   Use hugs, visits, companionship, and soft prayers, not an immediate call to repentance.
2. Intercede continuously on their behalf.
   Let us pray each day: “Lord, let them encounter You in their illness; let them see that the real problem lies in their heart and not just in their body.”
   We do not change them—that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Look for tender moments, and sow seeds of truth.
   When they say, “I don’t know what I did wrong; why won’t God heal me?” we can answer, “Perhaps God is not refusing to heal you, but beginning to heal you from deeper places.”
4. Show them that repentance is grace, not a curse.
   A person in the midst of sickness least wants to hear, “You are a sinner, so you deserve to suffer.”
   We all must know: “We all need repentance—but repentance is not to shame us; it is to set us free in Christ.”

Every believer around them also needs comfort.
As we grieve for them and pray, first remember that this love we feel comes from the Lord. So keep in mind:

• We are not the Savior—Jesus is.
• We sow the seed; the Holy Spirit brings growth.
• We do not have to carry their rebellion; we only need to share their pain and accompany them through each moment.

A few words you can silently offer them:
You may write these to them or read them in silent prayer:

“You may feel this illness is bitter, and you may not understand why God has not stopped it.
But, dear brother/sister, God has not abandoned you; He still calls you to return—not to condemn you, but to save you.
You need not be perfect to draw near to Him; you only need to say in your weakness, ‘Lord, I am willing.’”

May God grant each of us spiritual wisdom and patience, so that in their illness we may serve as co-workers with the Lord—not rushing to correct them, but waiting gently and steadfastly for the moment their hearts are softened by His grace.