No Need for God?
神は要らない？
On several occasions recently I’ve read and heard the idea expressed that modern education is replacing the need that people once had for God.
現代の教育は人が神を必要とすることに取って代わっていると最近、読んだり聞いたりしたことがあります。
In Europe, for example, as we see an increase in the standard of education, we see a decrease in adherence to religion.
ヨーロッパを例にあげると、教育の基準が上がるにつれて、宗教への信仰が減ってきています。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
As more of the population becomes more highly educated, we see a fall away from faith.
より多くの人口が高い教育を受けるようになると、信仰から離れていっています。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In areas of the world where religion is increasing and popular, education levels are low.
宗教がさかんで人気のあるところでは、教育のレベルが低いのです。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
Science and higher education in general is replacing the need for faith.
一般的に科学や高等教育は信仰の必要性に取って代わっています。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
Clearly, it would seem that there is simply no longer the same need for God in our modern, highly educated world.
明らかに、現代の教育水準の高い世界ではもはや同じような神の必要性がないかのようです。
Do you see this connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
I do. Honestly, this connection is true: With increasing education we see less need for God.
私には分かります。教育が高まるにつれ神の必要が減るのです。
But while we’re making these connections, let’s continue to make some others.
しかしこれらの関係を理解する一方で、他の関係も見てみましょう。
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in materialism and greed. The recent global recession came about because of materialism and greed. Most people live a life on credit, in debt to banks and credit card companies. The more we make, the more we spend. And it’s never enough. Where there is an increase in education, there is also an increase in materialism and greed.
教育が高まるところには、物質主義や欲も高まります。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also a decrease in social justice and giving. We are making more money than ever but in percentage terms we’re giving less than ever before. Where there is an increase in education there is also an increase and a polarising in financial disparity between the rich and the poor.
教育が高まるところには、経済的な貧富の差も高まります。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in immorality. Fornication is normal and adultery is common. Pornography has become a $13 billion-a-year industry (U.S. alone) and few homes with an internet connection remain untouched by it. The average age of exposure to pornography is 11. There are 100,000 child porn sites on the internet. Where there is an increase in education there is also a rampant increase in immorality.
教育が高まるところには、不道徳もあふれかえります。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in the breakdown of marriage and the breakdown of the family unit. This is so tragic and is literally and drastically changing the structure of society. There are a myriad of complications that go with this including skyrocketing child abuse with step-children, and health and (ironically) educational problems with children from broken homes. Where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in the breakdown of marriage and the breakdown of the family unit.
教育が高まるところには、破綻した結婚、家庭崩壊も増えているのです。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also a decrease in the value of human life. Listen carefully. In Japan the rate of suicide has been well documented. 2012 was the first year in decades that fewer than 30,000 people took their own lives. ‘Only’ 27,000 people took their lives – and in our educated youth, the suicide figure actually increased. Abortion rates remain extremely high across the western world because the fetus is not considered human. Can you believe it when I say that some babies who have already been born are not even considered fully human. Some leading U.S. politicians have publicly said that a seriously handicapped child should not be considered any differently from a pig or a dog. In most educated countries now euthanasia is gaining acceptance and it’s use is steadily growing because the right to ‘have dignity’ is greater than the value of human life. Where there is an increase in education there is also a decrease in the value of human life.
教育が高まるところには、人命の価値が低くなっています。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
In the highly educated modern developed world where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in the number of stressed and mentally and spiritually disturbed people. Depression and other forms of mental disturbances are extremely common and drug dependence – both legal and illegal – keeps the pharmaceutical industry one of the world’s largest. Where there is an increase in education there is also an increase in the number of stressed and mentally and spiritually disturbed people.
教育が高まるところには、ストレスをかかえ精神的、霊的障害者となる人の数も増えるのです。
Do you see the connection?
その関係が分かりますか？
I could go on with regards to alcohol and other substance abuses. I could go on with domestic violence. I could go on with bullying. I could go on with the cultures of war and international disputes. Modern education has made some extraordinary and wonderful advances but there is one thing that it cannot fix: human sin. Not needing God. Our highly educated modern world is too proud to recognise sin, it cannot deal with sin, it cannot save from sin.
現代の教育は並外れたすばらしい進歩をとげましたが、修正することができないことが１つあります：人間の罪です。神を必要としないことです。私たちの教育水準の高い現代世界は、プライドが高すぎて罪を認められません。罪を対処できません。罪から救うことができません。
And God is crying out in love to world that He created saying ‘You need me! You cannot be truly satisfied without me! My way is the way of blessing and peace and joy, not the world’s way! Turn to me and I will heal your wounds. Turn to me and I will forgive your sins. Turn to me and I will fill your life with an unspeakable joy!’
だから神はご自身が創造した世界に`あなたは私が必要だ！私なしでは心から満足できない！私の道は祝福、平安、喜びの道であり、この世の道とはちがうのです！私のもとに来なさい、そうすればあなたの傷を癒してあげよう。私のもとに来なさい、そうすればあなたの罪を赦してあげよう。私のもとに来なさい、そうすれば言い表せないほどの喜びであなたの人生を満たしてあげよう’と愛をもって叫んでいるのです。
This healing and forgiveness and joy is only found in the gift of God which is the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is only found in the message of the cross which we celebrate every Easter.
この癒し、赦し、喜びは、イエス・キリストの十字架でのわざである神の賜物のうちにしかないのです。イースターを祝う十字架のメッセージにしかないのです。
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:
“18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?…22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
“The message of the cross.” The message of the cross is this: that the man Jesus Christ was God in the flesh who came to earth, lived a perfect life, and died an atoning, substitutionary death. Three days later he resurrected from the dead. (This is what we will celebrate at Easter next week.) The tomb was empty. Jesus Christ was risen. And He is alive today. Alive today to heal and forgive and bring joy when we receive him in our lives through prayer.
十字架のメッセージはこうです：イエス・キリストは人となられて地上に来られた神で、完璧に生き、贖いの身代わりとして死にました。3日後に死からよみがえりました。墓は空っぽでした。イエス・キリストはよみがえったのです。そして今生きておられます。私たちが祈ってイエスを受け入れるとき、癒し、赦し、喜びをもたらしてくれるのです。
On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke to the crowd and said,
“32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
36 ‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’
38 Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.’
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’
“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” These words were written 2000 years ago but they could just have well have been written this week for our world today.
Today I want to encourage you to take up the words of Peter. I want to encourage you to repent and be baptised into Christ to receive the forgiveness of sins, to receive the Holy Spirit and to receive the promise of new life. Don’t insult God by adding Him to your collection of loves and trusts. When you give your life to Christ you forsake all else.
ペテロの言葉を受け入れてください。罪の赦しを受け、聖霊を受け、新しい人生の約束を受けるために悔い改めキリストのうちに洗礼を受けてください。あなたの愛と信頼のコレクションにキリストを加えるようなことをして神を侮辱しないでください。人生をキリストにゆだねるとき、ほかのすべてのことは捨てるのです。
In a minute I will ask you all to come forward and receive the elements of communion. The bread and the wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ and taking them marks a person’s entrance into and belonging to the body of Christ and the life of His church. If you have never taken communion before but tonight would like to give your life to Christ, I invite you to come forward with the others and receive prayer and the elements.
このあとすぐに聖餐式にあずかるよう前に出てきてもらいます。パンとぶどう酒はイエス・キリストの体と血の象徴で、それらを受けることによりキリストの体とキリストの教会生活に属します。今までに聖餐式を受けたことがないけれども、今晩、キリストに人生をゆだねたいと思う方は、いっしょに前に出てきて祈ってもらい聖餐にあずかってください。
If you feel the call of God tonight, come forward and enter new life.
今晩、神が呼んでおられると感じるなら、前に出てきて新しい人生を始めてください。
Take a moment to examine your lives and when you are ready, please come forward.
自分の生き方をよく省みる時間を取って、準備ができたら前に出てきてください。