什么是自由

最近加拿大有个自由卡车运动，好像现在又要杀个回马枪。起因是由于政府推行强制疫苗，干涉了有些人不愿接种疫苗的自由。参与其中的听说有信基督教的。那么虽是和平抗议政府，那么基督徒出现在抗议政府的大军中讨要这个自由是否符合圣经的意思呢？

罗马书，提多书和彼得前书对此都有劝勉。罗马书说，对掌权的，人人当顺服他，因为他的权柄来自于神；彼得前书说为主耶稣的缘故，基督徒要顺服人的一切制度(或是在上的君王或是臣宰)，因为神的旨意原是要信徒们行善，这样可以堵住那糊涂无知人的口；在提多书里，保罗叮嘱提多要提醒众人顺服作官的、掌权的，遵他们的命，预备行各样的善事。

由此可见，基督徒顺服掌权的有两个原因: 一是因为凡掌权的都是神所命的，所以抗拒掌权的就是抗拒神的命； 二是为主耶稣的缘故，是为要堵住那糊涂无知人的口。那么第二个原因里为什么需要堵住那些糊涂无知人的口呢？那些糊涂无知的人若看到基督徒抗议掌权的口里到底会说些什么呢？提摩太前书说他们可能会亵渎神的名和道。这大概是因为下面几个原因。

第一，基督徒所听到的劝勉是爱邻舍，因为耶稣用大爱，舍命救赎了他们，赦免了他们的罪，基督怎样爱了他们，他们也应该怎样爱周围的邻舍。扰民扰警扰商扰交通怎能体现出这样的爱呢；第二，基督徒应该彰显的是不求自己的益处，不计较别人的恶， 凡事都不亏欠人，惟有爱邻舍要常以为亏欠。怎么能为了自己的自由牺牲别人的自由呢；第三，基督徒应该彰显的是信心，但不是用信心去绊倒别人，而是能够接纳信心小的人，比如接纳那些看到都接种了疫苗才放心的人。保罗说你若有信心你自己就当在神面前守着， 而不是去绊倒别人；第四，基督徒所听到的劝勉是为君王和一切在位的恳求、祷告、代求和祝谢，提摩太前书第二章开篇如是说。这样方可以敬虔端正，平安无事的度日，怎能去抗议政令呢?

若那些不懂耶稣福音的人(包括掌权的和一般民众)看到基督徒所行的和非基督徒一样，神的名和道就不能从基督徒身上彰显出来，而是被淹没在世俗中，并可能被污蔑和亵渎，因为盐失去了咸味儿。

那么圣经中倡导的自由到底是什么呢？简单地说就是耶稣在十字架上担当了信徒们的罪，把信徒们从旧约的诫命和律法中解放出来，信徒们从此获得了自由，不再是罪的奴仆，而是神的儿女，且有永生。由此可见，这里的自由不是去对抗政令讨要自己所谓的这样或那样的自由。接种疫苗也好，不接种疫苗也好，一切的平安归根结底都要靠神护佑和来自于神!

下面是相关经文。
罗13:1 在上有权柄的、人人当顺服他．因为没有权柄不是出于神的．凡掌权的都是神所命的。
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
罗13:2 所以抗拒掌权的、就是抗拒 神的命．抗拒的必自取刑罚。
Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
罗13:3 作官的原不是叫行善的惧怕、乃是叫作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的么．你只要行善、就可得他的称赞．
For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
罗13:4 因为他是神的用人、是与你有益的。你若作恶、却当惧怕．因为他不是空空的佩剑．他是神的用人、是伸冤的、刑罚那作恶的。
for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn't bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
罗13:5 所以你们必须顺服、不但是因为刑罚、也是因为良心。
Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience' sake.

罗13:8 凡事都不可亏欠人、惟有彼此相爱、要常以为亏欠．因为爱人的就完全了律法。
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

罗14:1 信心软弱的、你们要接纳、但不要辩论所疑惑的事。
Now accept one who is weak in faith, but not for disputes over opinions.

罗14:21 无论是吃肉、是喝酒、是甚么别的事、叫弟兄跌倒、一概不作才好。
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
罗14:22 你有信心、就当在神面前守着。人在自己以为可行的事上、能不自责、就有福了。
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn't judge himself in that which he approves.

罗15:1 我们坚固的人、应该担代不坚固人的软弱、不求自己的喜悦。
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

西3:22 你们作仆人的、要凡事听从你们肉身的主人、不要只在眼前事奉、像是讨人喜欢的、总要存心诚实敬畏主．
Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.
西3:23 无论作甚么、都要从心里作、像是给主作的、不是给人作的。
And whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
西3:24 因你们知道从主那里、必得着基业为赏赐．你们所事奉的乃是主基督。
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

彼前2:13 你们为主的缘故、要顺服人的一切制度、或是在上的君王、
Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;
彼前2:14 或是君王所派罚恶赏善的臣宰。
or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

彼前2:15 因为神的旨意原是要你们行善、可以堵住那糊涂无知人的口。
For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

提前2:1 我劝你第一要为万人恳求、祷告、代求、祝谢．
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:

提前2:2 为君王和一切在位的也该如此．使我们可以敬虔端正、平安无事的度日。
for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

提前6:1 凡在轭下作仆人的、当以自己主人配受十分的恭敬、免得神的名和道理、被人亵渎。
Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

多2:9 劝仆人要顺服自己的主人、凡事讨他的喜欢．不可顶撞他．
Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing in all things; not contradicting;

多2:10 不可私拿东西．要显为忠诚、以致凡事尊荣我们救主神的道．
not stealing, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things.

多3:1 你要提醒众人、叫他们顺服作官的、掌权的、遵他的命、预备行各样的善事．
Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

林前13:4 爱是恒久忍耐、又有恩慈．爱是不嫉妒．爱是不自夸．不张狂．
Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,

林前13:5 不作害羞的事．不求自己的益处．不轻易发怒．不计算人的恶．
doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
林前13:6 不喜欢不义．只喜欢真理．
doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
林前13:7 凡事包容．凡事相信．凡事盼望．凡事忍耐。
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.