By Tin-chee Lo (盧天賜) ( English version at the end)
有一位牧師說，「當別人無故攻擊我的時候，我心裏很不高興，但是因為我反應得不夠快，另我無言以對，而失去了反駁他的良機。」然後他很自豪的加上一句，「其實我反應遲鈍，反而成為我的一種美德； 因為這樣，就可以避免失言, 而陷入尷尬的情況。」
聽起來，我們是否要保持–甚至去學習–反應遲鈍呢？
首先，一個有反應敏捷的人，是因為他有智慧，而且對事情有深刻的洞察力才能成為「急才」。這些品質豈不是我們應該渴慕追求的嗎？
耶穌具有無限的屬靈智慧，且有尖銳的屬靈洞察能力。因此當他被法利賽人攻擊的時候，他的反應如兩刃利劍，快如閃電，一針見血地抵擋他們，使毁謗者羞愧地無言以對。這種例子在福音書中屢見不鮮。
所以，我們應當盡量學習聖經，廣泛閱讀，鍛鍊批判性的思維，好讓我們的洞察力可以一天一天地進步。不要以為反應遲鈍才是表現我們溫柔和謹慎的美德。
一部開得很慢的「坦克車」和一部無法開得快的「老爺車」同樣地在路上移動，兩者都是慢行。前者表現出「能力」，「威嚴」，且使人生出「望而可畏」的感覺。而後者卻表現出「能力不足」，「被人輕看」，「無知」 的負面感覺。你願意成為一部可以慢行的「坦克車」還是一部無法速行的「老爺車」?
結論：我們應該祈求上帝給我們屬天的智慧，在知識上力求長進，那麼我們的反應能力自然會日益進步，好讓我們在這方面更像基督。然而，有了急才，還需要有「節制」。屬靈的果子有七，其中最後一個，且是更重要的一個，就是「節制」。
How do we apply the “Words of Wisdom” in our lives?
A church leader once said, “When someone attacks me without reason, I feel very upset, but because I can’t react quickly, I am speechless and lose the opportunity to refute.” Then he proudly added, “My slow reaction has become a virtue of mine; because in this way, my slowness can avoid speaking improperly and thus falling into an embarrassing situation.” Some people consider his saying being the “Words of Wisdom” to emulate. What do you think?
First of all, a person who has quick-wit is because he is wise and insightful and has a deep perception into many things. Don’t these qualities be what we should aspire to pursue?
Jesus possesses infinite spiritual wisdom and has acute spiritual insight. Therefore, when he was attacked by the Pharisees, his response was like a sharp double-edged sword, as swift as lightning, and he resisted them effectively, leaving the slanderers speechless with shame. Examples of this kind abound in the Four Gospels.
Therefore, we should try our best to study the Bible, read widely, and practice our critical thinking so that our insight can improve day by day. Don’t wrongly think that slow-wittedness is a “virtue” as a way to show our gentleness and prudence.
A tank that drives very slowly vs. an old car that cannot drive fast are both moving on the road. Both are at slow speed, but the former shows a sense of “ability”, “majesty”, and “awesomeness” whereas the latter, on the other hand, gives people an air of “incompetence,” “irrelevancy,” and “obstruction of traffic”. Would you rather learn to be a “tank” that can move slowly or an “antique car” that cannot move fast?
Conclusion: We should pray for heavenly wisdom and strive to grow in knowledge. Then our ability to react will naturally improve and we will become more like Christ in this respect. However, in addition to having quick wit, one also needs to have “moderation”. There are seven spiritual fruits, the last and the most needed one is “temperance” or “self-control.”
