
While we may not agree with the views of the unchurched, Kinnaman challenges us not to ignore them. We have to deal with the young adults of the 21st century as they are—candid, irrelevant, and brazen.


Theologians, like Tom Beaudoin, have done studies on youths who pierce or tattoo their bodies. They discovered that youths do that when they have had profound experiential encounters. Things that impact them deeply, like when they fall in love, get their hearts broken, graduate, start a new job, achieve something they are proud of, or lose a loved one through death. To the youths and young adults of the 21st century, tattooing (and body piercing) are often not something vain or rebellious, but more like a rite of passage. It is their way of expressing the spiritual in the physical, even at the expense of experiencing some bodily pain.
For most people, tattooing today is simply a means of personal and stylistic expression, much like clothing, makeup, hairstyle, body-toning and fashion accessorizing. There is nothing religious, superstitious and rebellious to the wearer; it is simply for aesthetic value.
Because tattooing is designed to last forever, and removal is painful and expensive, you should enter into it only after much consideration. Ask yourself the following:
• Am I at a legally acceptable age to get a tattoo?
• If I live with my parents, would they support my decision?
• Would I still want this tattoo when I get older?
• Am I really comfortable having it even if people may “unfairly judge” me?
• If my tattoo is visible to others, is it appropriate for my line of work?
Ultimately, tattooing is a personal choice that, more often than not, reflects neither a rebellious nature nor a religious inclination. It is clearly written in the Bible that God looks beyond the surface and sees the heart of a person. We must be careful not to judge a believer with tattoos as loving God less than the one without.

A thorough word study of wine will bring us to the same conclusion as the Dictionary of Jesus & the Gospel: "All wine mentioned in the Bible is fermented grape juice with an alcohol content. No non-fermented drink was called wine."
2. Holy Communion: When the Lord's Supper was instituted, the wine and the unleavened bread on the table were set apart as the body and blood of Christ. Jesus says, "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom" (Matt. 26:29). Opponents of drinking take the fruit of the vine to mean grape juice. But when Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their abuse of the Lord's Supper, he blasted them for abusing the wine to get drunk (1 Cor. 11:20-21). Obviously, one must conclude that the beverage used for the Lord's Supper could not be grape juice but real alcoholic wine.
3. Qualification of a Bishop: Opponents of drinking often quote 1 Timothy 3:2-3 when Paul says that a bishop must be a man "not given to wine." The word "given" (Gr. paroinos) means "drunken." The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament says, "The word does not include the responsible and temperate usage of alcohol, rather, it has in view the abuse or incessant use of it. The word-picture is that of an individual who always has a bottle (or wineskin) on the table and so signifies addiction."
4. Drunkenness. Without a doubt, drunkenness is a sin. Scripturally, it is portrayed negatively with characteristics such as staggering, reeling, vomiting, loss of mental control, and possible addiction. Poverty, immorality and sexual perversion are commonly mentioned in the Bible as results of drunkenness. Priests and prophets are judged for drunkenness, which prevents them from performing their duties (Is. 28:7). No bishop or church leader can be a drunkard (Titus 1:7; 2:2-5). Drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:21). Opponents of drinking posit that since drinking potentially causes drunkenness, we should never pick up the first drink. If that argument is true, then the same must be said of food, money, work and sex since they could also lead to gluttony, greed, workaholism and sex addiction. Should one abstain from them all because of potential danger? Of course, not.
5. Health: Opponents of drinking claim that alcohol impairs and destroys our body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Not all true. Studies have found that moderate alcohol consumption has health benefits like lowering the risk of heart attack, diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. In some cases, it actually increases longevity. Paul instructed Timothy, "No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities" (1 Tim. 5:23). But drunkenness or alcoholic intoxication affects the brain, causes slurred speech, clumsiness, and delayed reflexes. Long-term excessive consumption can permanently damage the liver and brain, and cause some forms of cancer. As such, moderation is the key.
What then is the Bible's general attitude toward wine and drinking? One cannot deny that both the Old and New Testament view wine drinking favorably:
With alcoholism an increasing problem in society, it is understandable why some may want to caution against drinking. But to twist Scriptures in order to prove wine as unfermented grape juice is certainly not an honest way to go.
Abstinence was never an issue in the Old Testament, New Testament, early church or the Reformation. There is never any direct prohibition of the use of wine in the Bible. But anything done in excess is wrong. Moderation is the watchword (Phil. 4:5 KJV). In this case, the Bible permits drinking but at the same time, discourages drunkenness. Besides, the use of wine is dependent upon the conscience and the sensitivities of others. It is not to be indulged in if it will lead others to drink against their conscience (Rom. 14:19-21).
很多人认为悔改祷告只是简单地对耶稣说对不起,或上教堂作礼拜,为犯的罪感到后悔。另一些人认为悔改是做一个随随便便的相信神恩典的祷告,或以为只是那些犯了大罪的人才需要。以上都不是悔改的祷告,一个真实的悔改祷告不是一种感觉,而是一个决定!
新约圣经
旧约圣经
将悔改在新旧约中的二个定义结合起来,悔改祷告可以被描述为内心的心意更新导致外在的行为改变,使我们在神里面朝一个完全新的方向行进。
真正的悔改像什么?
路加福音19章1-10节‘撒该的故事’是一个以实际行动做悔改祷告的最好例子。耶稣的目的是要来寻找拯救失丧的人。撒该失丧了。撒该作为一个有罪的税吏,他知道他不配接待这位圣者到他家去,但耶稣的爱淹没了他。最终,基督的爱使撒该深深感到了他对神的需要,明白了他所做的恶行,『他的恩慈是领你悔改』。结果,他公开地接受耶稣为主,成为基督徒。撒该作出内在的决定,要改变心意,并透过他悔改表现出来。这外在行为改变的结果是,对所有那些他窃取了的,他要以四倍的代价还给他们。他愿意放去他所有的财产,接受耶稣,与那些过去他曾亏待过的人和好。
悔改的祷告是尊耶稣为主
除非我们首先被扎心,承认我们的罪,否则无法真正地悔改。我们必须为我们的自私和为自己而活向神悔改祷告。我们必须采取必要的行动做对的事。没有行为的信心是死的。这一代若要看见复兴,我们自己的生命必须不能满足於对耶稣三心二意的委身。我们要尽心、尽性、尽意,爱主我们的神(马太福音22:37)。要成为合神心意的一代:
1. 必须从彻底地委身顺服神的话语,尊耶稣为主。
2. 我们要明白,像大卫王一样,即使我们有弱点,神还是喜爱我们。因为我们不是努力爱神的罪人,我们的身份乃是有时与罪挣扎的神的恋人!
复兴就是完全的委身顺服神的诫命。我们必须像大卫王一样,每天为所有的罪、每一条罪快快地悔改,知道神的怜悯每一天都是新的(哀3:23、诗篇51篇),我们要向老我死,却在基督里活(加2:20、罗6:4-8)。
悔改的祷告会结出果子
『你们要结出果子来,与悔改的心相称。』(马太福音3:8)
真正的悔改一定会结果子。当你真正地悔改了,你周围的人会看见你的变化,注意到你的谦卑的态度和言行中对神旨意的顺服。悔改后的你会完全地交托给神,你的信心没有伪善。星期一的你和星期日的你是同一个人,你不能活在罪中,用耶稣的血作犯罪的执照(罗6:1)。我们必须从罪中悔改,轉离罪。
悔改祷告是每天让耶稣基督在你生活每一个领域中作王。耶稣是你个人的圣洁生活、你的人际关系、你的事奉、你的灵魂体、你的所有一切的王。要让耶稣作你的时间、才干和财富的主人。你必须对基督身体里的弟兄姐妹负责,活出悔改的生命。你需要里外透明,让神带领你并决定你的每一个行动和抉择。悔改意味着要么让耶稣百分之百作主,要么一点都不要。
悔改祷告的四个证据
当我们悔改回转向神时,我们放下自己远离罪的力量、意愿和能力。我们不可能做到,但是耶稣能。不是我们能为耶稣做什么,而是耶稣为我们做了什么。我们不可能圣洁,只有他是圣洁的。我们不可能完美的,但耶稣使我们成为完美。在我们相信基督,真正地悔改的那一刻,神的恩典就赐给了我们,使我们拥有圣洁的生命。
悔改祷告是承认你不能,但耶稣能!
『你若口里认耶稣为主,心里信神叫他从死里复活,就必得救。因为,人的心里相信就可以称义,口里承认就可以得救。』(罗马10:9-10)
~悔改的祷告~
父啊,谢谢你爱我并按我的本相接受我作为你的孩子。今天我选择舍己,背上自己的十字架,决定跟随你。我知道我伤害了你,我向你认罪。我承认我对胜过我生命中的罪无能为力,只有你才能改变我。我要悔改,将我的力量和意念降伏于你。我做出一个神志清楚的内在决定,要从邪恶的生活中回转过来,将我的生命交给你、跟随你,单单服从你的命令。帮助我轉离罪,补偿并与那些我辜负过的人和好。
耶稣,今天不仅让你作我的救主,而且要作我生命的主。耶稣,请你作我的身体、灵和魂的主。每一天让你的旨意,而不是我的旨意成就。我用我的生命服从你的大使命。耶稣,你是我的主、我的王、我的主人、我的救赎和朋友。耶稣,感谢你总是与我同在。从今天直到永远,我真心实意地跟随你。
奉耶稣圣名祷告 阿门