排他主義是一個很嚴重的問題。我知道得很清楚，因為我不只是一個外邦人，也曾在耶路撒冷牧養教會長達七年。許多猶太人認為，在通往天堂的路上，他們佔有內圈跑道；許多外邦人則認為自己才是教會的核心。猶太人會說：「我們是亞伯拉罕的子孫，獨享上帝的約。」外邦人則反駁（引用保羅的話）：「他們（猶太人）因為不信，所以被折下來」（11：20）。每一派都認為自己是得救的，對方是該死的。

        老實說，我個人相當不明白為什麼我們希望他人淪落。猶太人和外邦人都需要救恩。對猶太人，保羅是說：「你不能靠遺傳、血統得救──你們需要一位救主。」對外邦人，保羅說：「沒錯，你們被接到枝子上，但別過份得意，你們必須順服，否則上帝也會把你們砍下來。」對那些瞧不起猶太人的外邦人，保羅說：「你是從那天生的野橄欖上砍下來的，尚且逆著性得接在好橄欖（以色列）上，何況這本樹的枝子（被砍下來的以色列）要接在本樹上呢！」（24節）。換句話說，儘管有一些本樹的枝子已經被砍下來，掉在地上像是沒有生命一樣，但生命仍存在它們裡面！有朝一日當它們被接回原來的樹上，他們就會再結出果子來。

        猶太人不順服，外邦人也一樣。那是上帝所命定的。為什麼﹖因祂特意要向二者施憐憫。如果你不喜歡祂的作法，你必須提出理由，與上帝辯論，並且──等著認輸！

        主啊，謝謝您，您沒有丟棄您的百姓以色列人，也沒有丟棄我們外邦人。您藉著先知和使徒告訴我們大家：「凡求告主名的就必得救。」我們真心真意的與保羅同頌：「深哉，上帝豐富的智慧和知識！」奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        The problem is exclusivism. I should know – I’m not only a Gentile but I also pastured a church in Jerusalem for seven years. Many Jews think they have the inside track to Heaven, and many Gentiles think the inner circle belongs to them. Tome Jews say, “We’re the children of Abraham. The covenant is exclusively ours.” Some Gentiles say, (quoting Paul) “they [the Jews] were broken off because of unbelief” (11:20). Each group sees itself as saved, the others as damned.

        Personally, I don’t know why we’d want to damn anyone. The point is, both Jew and Gentile are in need of salvation. To Jews, Paul is saying, “You can’t be saved by osmosis – you need a Savior”. To Gentiles, Paul is saying, “Sure, you’ve been grafted into the tree, but don’t assume osmosis will save you either. You’ve got to be obedient, otherwise God will cut you off”. And to those Gentiles who have a low view of Jews, Paul says, “If you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree [Israel], how much more readily will theses, the natural branches have been pruned, and lie apparently lifeless on the ground, there is life in them yet! Just graft them back into their tree and they bear fruit once more.

        So the Jews are disobedient, and so are the Gentiles. That’s the way God has ordained it. Why? Because He intends to show mercy to both. And if we don’t like it, we’ll have to bring our argument to God. Prepare to lose!

        Thank You, Lord, that You have not cast away Your people, the Israelites, and neither have You cast away us gentiles. You have spoken through Your prophets and apostles to tell us all that “Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved.” Truly we repeat with all our hearts. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” Amen.