The Miracle Book - Page13
《慢慢地動怒可能嗎？》
3 有一日，該隱拿地裏的出產為供物獻給耶和華；4 亞伯也將他羊群中頭生的和羊的脂油獻上。耶和華看中了亞伯和他的供物，5 只是看不中該隱和他的供物。該隱就大大地發怒，變了臉色。6 耶和華對該隱說：「你為甚麼發怒呢？你為甚麼變了臉色呢？7 你若行得好，豈不蒙悅納？你若行得不好，罪就伏在門前。它必戀慕你，你卻要制伏它。」8 該隱與他兄弟亞伯說話；二人正在田間。該隱起來打他兄弟亞伯，把他殺了。 (創世記四3-7)
親愛的弟兄，不要自己伸冤，寧可讓步，聽憑主怒；因為經上記著：「主說：『伸冤在我，我必報應。』」 (羅馬書十二19)
19 我親愛的弟兄們，這是你們所知道的。但你們各人要快快地聽，慢慢地說，慢慢地動怒，20 因為人的怒氣並不成就神的義。21 所以，你們要脫去一切的污穢和盈餘的邪惡，存溫柔的心領受那所栽種的道，就是能救你們靈魂的道。 (雅各書一19-21)
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:3-7)
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21)
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21)
分享：科學家、人類學家都認為怒氣是人類最古老、最原始的情緒之一；聖經中第一宗謀殺案也佐證了這一點。然而，這種被認為能讓先民在遠古資源爭奪中獲取生存動力的情緒，在人的大腦中卻同時有著發動與遏止機制。對，神的創造就是如此講究平衡！「慢慢地動怒」 (雅各書一19下) 其實是非常人性化的提醒。
當我們感知威脅或不公時，大腦邊緣系統 (Limbic System) 中的杏仁核 (Amygdala) 便會觸發警報，接著大腦的下丘腦 (Hypothalamus) 和腎上腺系統會釋放壓力荷爾蒙 (如腎上腺素和皮質醇) ，以發動怒氣面對挑戰。由我們感知到事情，到讓杏仁核產生憤怒的情緒，只是短短0.25秒之內的事。
另一方面，大腦的前額葉皮質 (prefrontal cortex, PFC) 同時也會受生氣情緒的刺激而活化，但這裡卻負責掌管決策和理性思考，遏止生氣時所作的非理性行為。從怒氣被觸發到前額葉皮質活化起來，評估該做出甚麼反應，所需的時間不到2秒。那「慢慢地動怒」絕對是非常有意思的提醒，等多2秒，可能已經截然不同。
用不著科學的啟示，其實聖經早已教導我們要如何面對怒氣：
1.「慢慢地動怒」(雅各書一19下)；
2. 思考被觸怒的原因：就在該隱因供物不被悅納而生出怒氣時，耶和華便馬上問他為甚麼發怒，讓他思考被觸怒的原因，而不是停在憤怒的情緒。接著，神又提醒罪已戀慕上來，正伏在門前等著。 (參創世紀四3-7) 從這點來看，讓前額葉皮質發揮作用，理性地思考和面對怒氣，正有助人了解自己的軟弱和罪；
3. 聽憑主怒：主曾說：「伸冤在我，我必報應。」那我們寧可讓步，讓神為我們出頭！ (參羅馬書十二19) 是的，神作出的判斷永遠比我們的好！
反思：回想最近一次發怒，我們究竟是怎樣被觸怒的呢？若多等一會，事情會否不同？現時，我們是否可以讓步給神為我們出頭？
禱告：親愛的天父，感謝祢的創造奇妙，讓我們大腦同時有發動怒氣和理性地作出回應的機制，以讓我們從憤怒中得著動力，更可以找出自己的軟弱和罪！就讓我們慢慢地動怒，在惱怒中更順服祢的幫助，等候祢作出比我們更好的判斷和回應。奉主名求，阿們。
Posted in 2025-TMBp11-20