（何路得 撰文 / 賴怡伶 翻譯）
圖片取自網路
Charles’s father came from a family of nine—four brothers and five sisters. Charles’ grandfather served in the local temple as a medium and priest to the community. People would go to him seeking help and deliverance from problems. This man wielded power, and people saw results. He became very popular with the locals.
Charles的父親來自一個九口之家──四個兄弟和五個姊妹。Charles的祖父在當地的寺廟擔任乩童和廟公，來為社區服務。人們會向他尋求幫助，以擺脫困境。他擁有強大的力量，人們也看到了成效。他在當地人中非常受歡迎。
Grandfather’s power could not save Charles’ three older brothers. They all died in alcohol-related accidents when they were only in their thirties and forties. The Taiwanese have the concept that spirits require a payment for their services. The one serving as a spirit medium or priest will be required to give a recompense—or payback—for the power they have tapped into in their service of others.
祖父的力量沒能拯救Charles的三個哥哥。他們三、四十歲時就因酗酒等意外事故喪生。台灣人認為，鬼魂會為其服務索取代價。作為乩童或廟公的人，需要為他們在服務他人過程中所獲得的力量來給予回報——或者說付代價。
There was another person who feared greatly having to pay back her requests. Elaine was kind-hearted, and “gifted” with being able to see things in the spirit world. So, when she perceived that someone was doomed to die, she would bargain with the spirit; by asking for the favor of putting off the day of the person’s death, Elaine took responsibility and would be destined to pay back the favor in some way.
還有一個人，她很害怕因為她的請求必須要付的代價。Elaine 心地善良，並且擁有“天賦異稟”，她能夠看見靈界的事物。所以，每當她預感到某人快要死時，她就會跟鬼魂討價還價；通過請求恩惠，來推遲死者的死亡日期，Elaine為這些人承擔了責任，所以註定要以某種方式來回報這份恩惠。
By contrast, the only true God, the God of the Bible, declares in Isaiah 55:1-2—
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”
與這兩個例子相反，獨一的真神，聖經中的上帝，在以賽亞書55:1-2中宣告—
「你們一切乾渴的都當就近水來；沒有銀錢的也可以來。你們都來，買了吃；不用銀錢，不用價值，也來買酒和奶。你們為何花錢買那不足為食物的，用勞碌得來的買那不使人飽足的呢？你們要留意聽我的話，就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜樂。」
Ephesians 2:8-9, also, give this promise:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
以弗所書2:8-9也給出了這樣的應許：「你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。」
Taiwan Harvest 119 
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