Meaningful New Year

1. 感恩回顾 Thanksgiving Review

过年对华人来说，具有除旧布新、祈安求福、阖家团圆等意义。然而，过年对基督徒而言，它的第一个意义应是感恩，因“从岁首到年终，耶和华的眼目时常看顾我们，使我们行过的路径都滴下脂油”（申11：12；诗65：11、103：2）。基督徒理当在过年时向耶和华献上感恩祭。

To the Chinese, celebrating Chinese New Year means discarding the old and putting on the new, asking for peace and blessings, having family reunion, etc. To the Christians, the first and foremost significance of Chinese New Year is Thanksgiving, because from the beginning of the year to its end, the Lord our God always keeps an eye on us, and fills our lives with abundance (Deut 11:12; Ps 65:11, 103:2). Christians should offer up thanksgiving to the Lord God during Chinese New Year.

2. 除旧布新 Discarding The Old And Putting On The New

也就是脱去旧我、穿上新人，一举一动应有新生的样式（以弗所书4：22-24；罗马书6：4。哥林多后书5：17）。“除夕”、“除旧布新”这两个词顾名意义似乎都在提醒基督徒，应于新的一年来临时，自我省察—检讨过去灵命追求上之得失、事奉上之成败，并本着除恶务尽之心，在主里自我更新，以期来年能更讨神喜悦。

That is, putting off the old self and putting on the new self and leasing a new life (Eph 4:22-24; Rom 6:4, 2 Cor 5:17). This reminds us that at the start of the new year, we should review the gain and losses in our spiritual pursuit, failures and successes in our service to God, and with a mind to get rid of our evil doings, to renew ourselves in the Lord so that we can be more pleasing to God in the coming year.

3. 许下新愿 Making New Year Resolution

就是靠主恩典，对未来一年心中充满盼望，并在神前作一妥善的年度计划，求神帮助达成心中的愿望（腓立比书3：13、14，4：13），如：愿新的一年内能再把圣经读完一遍；或在未来一年中最少带领十个人信主等等。

By the grace of God, to be filled with hope for the coming year, and to make a proper yearly plan before God, asking God to fulfill our hearts’ desires (Phil 3:13, 14, 4:13), for example finish reading the Bible in a year, or leading at least ten persons to believe in Christ etc.

总之，基督徒在不违背圣经原则、不沾染异教迷信之前提下，是可以过年的，基督徒若想过一个有意义的年，就应使“华人年”福音化，唯有如此，基督徒才能过一个喜乐、感恩，又有意义的“年”

Christians can simply celebrate Chinese New Year without violating Bible principles, and not being contaminated with pagan superstition. However, if we Christians wish to spend a meaningful new year we should avail ourselves to share the gospel throughout the year. It is only by this way that we Christians can spend a meaningful year with joy and thanksgiving in our heart.