Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV encouraged Asian Christians to mirror the Old Testament prophet Daniel as a blueprint for making a godly impact in the world.
On November 2 at the Second Impact Asia Alliance Summit held in Indonesia, Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV, the president of China Evangelical Seminary and the great-great grandson of James Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission (or OMF International), delivered a sermon titled "From Success to Significance" to over 350 church and Christian leaders. He prompted the audience to reflect on influential figures in the Bible, sharing the story of Daniel to elucidate the factors by which Daniel became a person of influence.
Rev. Taylor said, "I am a student of history. To my limited knowledge, in human history, there should be no other person comparable to Daniel." Explaining further, he highlighted how Daniel traversed through different eras, from Nebuchadnezzar to his son and then his grandson, and subsequently through the Medo-Persian reigns, spanning a total of five dynasties. He continued by saying, "I believe in human history; no one else has covered such a long period and been used by God in different eras."
The pastor shared the factors of Daniel's significance from seven perspectives.
First, Daniel lived with a heavenly perspective. The speaker explained that at 16 or 17, Daniel was taken captive to Babylon and spent the following 70 years not interpreting history from his own perspective but fixing his gaze on God to perceive events.
In the history of Israel, during the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign, Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Daniel's interpretation wasn't about Jehoiakim's incompetence or Nebuchadnezzar's power; instead, he attributed the fall of Jerusalem to God's work.
Furthermore, when explaining the experiences of himself and his three friends, Daniel stated that God had shown them grace and mercy before King Nebuchadnezzar. When acknowledging the king's appreciation of their abilities, he attributed it not to his skills but to divine gifting.
The pastor mentioned William Carey, an Indian missionary in 1793, who, faced with a church saturated with radical Calvinistic predestination, persisted in India for forty years with a kingdom-focused vision.
Pastor Taylor added that Daniel was serving with a servant's mindset: In Daniel's story, it was evident four times over that he served as a servant. He emphasized the need in this era to return to being servants of God and learn to serve others.
Taylor applied to the Rev. Hudson Taylor-founded China Inland Mission three times after earning his seminary degree in 1987 before receiving a response. The leaders told him he needed experience serving in a church. He spent three years at a church in Boston, where Rev. Morley S. Lee served as the senior pastor who immigrated to the United States after carrying out campus evangelism in Taiwan for years.
Before long, he discovered that every Tuesday afternoon, Lee was not in his office. Later, Taylor found him crouching in the men's restroom, looking disheveled while cleaning the toilet.
Lee explained, "I could ask the cleaning staff to do this job. But I come here every Tuesday to remind myself that I am here to serve the church. Don't assume that I would feel superior for being a senior pastor, but I would like to serve humbly."
Taylor also stated that Daniel lived a life of integrity. Daniel faced a significant challenge regarding what he and his three friends should eat and drink. They deliberated due to their faith and decided not to partake in the food and drinks provided by the king. They believed it might have been offered as sacrifices in temples and considered it unclean.
He didn’t just worship God on Sunday but integrated his faith into every part of his life, concerning fundamental aspects of what to eat and drink.
Daniel had the attribute of integrity. Taylor said, "I'm concerned that the church is losing its influence, and one reason is our lack of integrity. We're good at speaking, including myself, but do we live with integrity?"
Fourth, Taylor encouraged attendees to imitate the purity of Daniel, who resolved not to defile himself with the king's food and wine and sought permission from the chief official not to defile himself. He declared that to be influential, Christians should pursue purity and lead lives aspiring not to defile themselves.
He gave examples of constant reports about clergy succumbing to trials of lust, greed, and power. "Save me from this era, just as Daniel resolved not to defile himself," This was his frequent prayer for himself.
Fifth, Daniel had uncompromising faith, even when facing life-threatening situations with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnego.
"The church today needs this kind of perseverance. We've compromised for too long with the trends of this era. We're not walking on the waves, but being swept away by them," the pastor born in Taiwan said. "Regrettably, we often compromise in our pursuit of popularity and increasing numbers."
The result of Daniel and his friends not compromising was wonderful. God didn't save them from the fiery furnace, but he saved them through it.
Before Nebuchadnezzar said, "What god can save you from my hands?" But after the trial by fire, he acknowledged, "Your God is worthy of praise; no other god can save like this."
Then, Taylor stated that Daniel was excellent in the workplace. He and his friends were exemplary figures in their workplace, making their professions a declaration of their faith. God allowed them to use their profession as a proclamation of their faith.
"Let us not be careless pastors; let us, by relying on God's strength, become excellent in pastor care," Taylor encouraged the participants.
Last, the pastor praised Daniel for his lifelong faithful service that Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus, marking 70 years.
He shared an experience from 1983 when he visited Pastor Wang Mingdao at a home church. Pastor Wang was born in 1900 and spent 26 years in prison due to his faith. When he left, Pastor Wang told him, "Many people have good beginnings, but not many have good endings."
"We are busy with the work of the Lord, yet we forget the Lord who works in us." Taylor quoted his great-great-grandfather's words, advising pastors to connect their lives to the true vine, the fundamental aspect of impactful lives.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
11月2日，在印尼雅加达举行的以《祂踏浪而来》为主题的第二届亚洲论坛影响力国际年会上，中华福音神学院的院长戴继宗牧师讲解但以理在他的时代带出影响力的七个原因。
在题目为《从成功到卓越》的讲道中，戴牧师引会众思考圣经中有生命影响力的人物，随即他用但以理的故事讲解了生命带出影响力的因素。
戴牧师说：“我自己是学历史的。在我有限的了解中，在人类的历史中，应该是没有另外一个人能够跟但以理来做比较。”戴牧师讲解说，但以理经历了从尼布甲尼撒到尼布贾尼撒的儿子再到尼布甲尼撒的孙子，之后，有马代、波斯，前前后后一共五个朝代。“我想在人类的历史应该没有另外一个人涵盖那么长的时间（70年），在不同的朝代里面被上帝使用。”
戴继宗牧师从七个角度分享了但以理发挥影响力的因素。
但以理带着属天的视野生活
戴牧师讲解说，但以理十六七岁被掳到巴比伦，在之后的70年中，但以理不是用自己的角度去解读历史，而是定睛于神去看待发生的事情。
以色列历史中，约亚敬王在位的第三年，巴比伦王伊布甲尼撒来到了耶路撒冷将城围困。但是但以理的解释是耶路撒冷被攻破不是约雅敬无能，也不是尼布甲尼撒有能力，而是这是主所做的工作。
并且，但以理解释自己和三个朋友的遭遇时，视角是“主使但以理跟他的三个朋友在尼布贾尼撒王的面前，蒙恩惠，受怜悯”。另外，但以理说到王所赏识的他们的能力时，也不是说自己有本领，而是得到了天赋。
他提到印度宣教士威廉·克里，在1793年，面对当时代教会充斥着所谓的激进的加尔文预定论，教会对传福音持消极态度。但是威廉知道神的心是想让印度人有机会听到福音，他就带着这种天国的视野，四十年之久，在印度做宣教的工作。
但以理“侍立”服侍——带着仆人的心智生活
在但以理的故事中看到四次之多，但以理“侍立”，他有仆人的心智。但以理跟他的三个朋友在王宫中做仆人。
戴牧师解释说，“在这个时代，若是我们想要有更多的影响力。还要回归到做神的仆人，要学习彼此服侍。”
1987年戴从神学院毕业了以后，申请加入了由戴德生牧师创立的内地会。戴笑着说：“我顺便提一下，我申请了三次，才终于被内地会接受。”
内地会的领袖告诉他，需要有教会服侍的经验。他就去了美国波士的一个教会做服侍了三年时间，那个教会的主任牧师叫李秀全，曾多年在台湾做学生工作，后来移居美国做教会。
到那没多久，戴牧师就发现一件事情，每个礼拜二下午，李秀全牧师都不在办公室，后来戴继宗在男厕所里找到了蹲着，一副狼狈相在刷马桶的李牧师。
李牧师解释说：“我可以请清洁的同工来做这个工作。但是我每一个礼拜二来做这个工作，是要提醒我自己，我要服侍教会。千万不要认为因为是主任牧师就高高在上，乃是我要谦卑的服侍。”
影响力从活出全人的见证——“诚信”
但以理面对很大的一个挑战，就是王所给的所吃的、喝的，他们该不该吃喝。而但以理和他的三个朋友认因着信仰的缘故，他们没有吃喝这些王给的东西，因为它们非常有可能是先拿到庙里祭祀过的，因此他们觉得这是不洁净的。
但以理的见证已经牵涉到他生命中，非常基本的——吃什么、不吃什么、喝什么、不喝什么的层面。他的信仰不是“礼拜天的信仰”，而是已经落实在生命中。
这叫integrity——诚信。戴牧师说：“我担心今天教会失去影响力，其中一个原因就是我们没有诚信。我们很会说，很会讲，包括戴继宗在内。但是我们有没有行出来诚信？”
效法但以理生命的圣洁
但以理立志不以王的善膳和王所饮的酒玷污自己，所以求太监长容他不玷污自己。
戴牧师说，今天的教会要有影响力，基督徒需要追求圣洁，活出一个励志不玷污自己的生命。
他举例说，不断的有消息爆出来——传道人陷入情欲、钱欲、权欲这三个试炼上。“救我、救我们脱离这时代，像但以理立志不要颠污自己。”戴牧师说这是他常常为自己所做的祷告。
但以理坚持自己的信仰，不妥协
但以理的影响力源于坚持他的信仰。他和沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼哥，即便是冒着生命危险，也持守了信仰。
“今天的教会需要这样的坚持，今天的教会在这个时代的潮流中妥协太久了。我们不是踏在浪上，而是被浪卷出去的状态。”戴牧师说，“我们为了追求时髦，我们为了追求人数，遗憾的是，我们常常就在这当中妥协。”
但以理和朋友们不妥协的结果是“很有意思，上帝没有救他们脱离火窑，上帝是借着火窑救他们。”
尼布甲尼撒王前面说的是“有何神能够救你们脱离我的手？”但经过烈火窑中的试炼之后，尼布甲尼撒王说的是，“你们的神是应当称颂的”，“没有别神能这样施行拯救。”
但以理在职场上面的卓越
但以理和他的朋友们可以说是在当时的职场上有好见证的人，在他们的职场上可以说他们是卓越的。上帝就让他们用他们的profession（工作）来做了信仰的profession（宣告）。
戴牧师鼓励大家：“让我们不做马虎的传道人，让我们靠着神给我们的力量，有卓越的传道人的生命。”
但以理终身忠心的侍奉
但以理的故事中看到，直到居鲁王元年，但以理还在。也就是说70年过去了，但以理还在。
戴牧师分享了1983年去探望家庭教会的老传道人王明道牧师的经历，王牧师是1900年的出生的，50年代因信仰的缘故被关了二十六年。离开的时候，王老牧师跟他说：“继宗啊，有很多人有好的开始，但是不多人有好的结束。”
“我们忙着主的工作，我们却忘记了工作的主。”——戴继宗牧师引用戴德生的话劝勉牧者，常常要将生命回归到真葡萄树上，这个是生命有影响力的根本。
戴继宗牧师：效法但以理的7个点活出基督徒的影响力
Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV encouraged Asian Christians to mirror the Old Testament prophet Daniel as a blueprint for making a godly impact in the world.
On November 2 at the Second Impact Asia Alliance Summit held in Indonesia, Rev. James Hudson Taylor IV, the president of China Evangelical Seminary and the great-great grandson of James Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission (or OMF International), delivered a sermon titled "From Success to Significance" to over 350 church and Christian leaders. He prompted the audience to reflect on influential figures in the Bible, sharing the story of Daniel to elucidate the factors by which Daniel became a person of influence.
Rev. Taylor said, "I am a student of history. To my limited knowledge, in human history, there should be no other person comparable to Daniel." Explaining further, he highlighted how Daniel traversed through different eras, from Nebuchadnezzar to his son and then his grandson, and subsequently through the Medo-Persian reigns, spanning a total of five dynasties. He continued by saying, "I believe in human history; no one else has covered such a long period and been used by God in different eras."
The pastor shared the factors of Daniel's significance from seven perspectives.
First, Daniel lived with a heavenly perspective. The speaker explained that at 16 or 17, Daniel was taken captive to Babylon and spent the following 70 years not interpreting history from his own perspective but fixing his gaze on God to perceive events.
In the history of Israel, during the third year of King Jehoiakim's reign, Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. Daniel's interpretation wasn't about Jehoiakim's incompetence or Nebuchadnezzar's power; instead, he attributed the fall of Jerusalem to God's work.
Furthermore, when explaining the experiences of himself and his three friends, Daniel stated that God had shown them grace and mercy before King Nebuchadnezzar. When acknowledging the king's appreciation of their abilities, he attributed it not to his skills but to divine gifting.
The pastor mentioned William Carey, an Indian missionary in 1793, who, faced with a church saturated with radical Calvinistic predestination, persisted in India for forty years with a kingdom-focused vision.
Pastor Taylor added that Daniel was serving with a servant's mindset: In Daniel's story, it was evident four times over that he served as a servant. He emphasized the need in this era to return to being servants of God and learn to serve others.
Taylor applied to the Rev. Hudson Taylor-founded China Inland Mission three times after earning his seminary degree in 1987 before receiving a response. The leaders told him he needed experience serving in a church. He spent three years at a church in Boston, where Rev. Morley S. Lee served as the senior pastor who immigrated to the United States after carrying out campus evangelism in Taiwan for years.
Before long, he discovered that every Tuesday afternoon, Lee was not in his office. Later, Taylor found him crouching in the men's restroom, looking disheveled while cleaning the toilet.
Lee explained, "I could ask the cleaning staff to do this job. But I come here every Tuesday to remind myself that I am here to serve the church. Don't assume that I would feel superior for being a senior pastor, but I would like to serve humbly."
Taylor also stated that Daniel lived a life of integrity. Daniel faced a significant challenge regarding what he and his three friends should eat and drink. They deliberated due to their faith and decided not to partake in the food and drinks provided by the king. They believed it might have been offered as sacrifices in temples and considered it unclean.
He didn’t just worship God on Sunday but integrated his faith into every part of his life, concerning fundamental aspects of what to eat and drink.
Daniel had the attribute of integrity. Taylor said, "I'm concerned that the church is losing its influence, and one reason is our lack of integrity. We're good at speaking, including myself, but do we live with integrity?"
Fourth, Taylor encouraged attendees to imitate the purity of Daniel, who resolved not to defile himself with the king's food and wine and sought permission from the chief official not to defile himself. He declared that to be influential, Christians should pursue purity and lead lives aspiring not to defile themselves.
He gave examples of constant reports about clergy succumbing to trials of lust, greed, and power. "Save me from this era, just as Daniel resolved not to defile himself," This was his frequent prayer for himself.
Fifth, Daniel had uncompromising faith, even when facing life-threatening situations with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abnego.
"The church today needs this kind of perseverance. We've compromised for too long with the trends of this era. We're not walking on the waves, but being swept away by them," the pastor born in Taiwan said. "Regrettably, we often compromise in our pursuit of popularity and increasing numbers."
The result of Daniel and his friends not compromising was wonderful. God didn't save them from the fiery furnace, but he saved them through it.
Before Nebuchadnezzar said, "What god can save you from my hands?" But after the trial by fire, he acknowledged, "Your God is worthy of praise; no other god can save like this."
Then, Taylor stated that Daniel was excellent in the workplace. He and his friends were exemplary figures in their workplace, making their professions a declaration of their faith. God allowed them to use their profession as a proclamation of their faith.
"Let us not be careless pastors; let us, by relying on God's strength, become excellent in pastor care," Taylor encouraged the participants.
Last, the pastor praised Daniel for his lifelong faithful service that Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus, marking 70 years.
He shared an experience from 1983 when he visited Pastor Wang Mingdao at a home church. Pastor Wang was born in 1900 and spent 26 years in prison due to his faith. When he left, Pastor Wang told him, "Many people have good beginnings, but not many have good endings."
"We are busy with the work of the Lord, yet we forget the Lord who works in us." Taylor quoted his great-great-grandfather's words, advising pastors to connect their lives to the true vine, the fundamental aspect of impactful lives.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
James Hudson Taylor IV Inspires Asian Christians to Exert Significance, Drawing from Daniel's Example
