9Marks Journal: Cooperation (19期：真正的合作)

The gospel unites and the gospel divides. Some walls it levels and others it erects. Some temples it destroys and others it builds.

But doesn’t it seem like Christians often talk of just one or the other? When they do, imbalances follow. Too much talk about separation leads to strife in the church. Too much talk about unity leads to the compromise of the church. How hard it seems to talk of both gospel unity and gospel separation, each in their proper places! How much wisdom is needed! All the writers in this issue of the 9Marks eJournal make their attempt at striking the balance between the gospel’s call to unity and its call to separation, in terms of the individual’s conscience before God. If you’re quick to talk about unity, maybe start with the articles on separation. If you’re quick to talk about separation, maybe start with the articles on cooperation. Just a thought.

May the One who came with a sword of division but who came to break down the dividing wall of partition give wisdom to us all!

福音带来合一，福音也带来分离。它拆毁了一些墙垣，也竖起了另一些墙。它毁坏了一些殿宇，也建立起了别的殿。

但是似乎基督徒在谈论这些时常常带着非此即彼的态度。如此，失衡就随之而来。太强调分离导致教会的不和。过于强调合一致使教会在真理上妥协。要做到合宜地谈论福音的合一与分离，似乎真的很难！需要多么大的智慧！为呼应今年四月（2008年）举办的“共同致力福音”（T4G）大会，所有本期电子期刊的撰稿人基于个人在神面前的良心，尝试保持福音对于合作与分离之要求的平衡。如果你很关注合一，请先从关于分离的话题开始。如果你很喜欢谈分离，也许可以从关于合作的文章看起。这只是一个建议。

愿那位带着分离之剑，同时也打破一切隔阂之墙的那位救主赐给我们所有人智慧！