第08章 同情犯错的人
§1
第八章 同情犯错的人
§2
Compassion for the Erring
§3
基督与祂的子民息息相关；他们的需要和痛苦就是祂的需要及痛苦。祂说：“我饿了，你们给我吃；渴了，你们给我喝；我作客旅，你们留我住；我赤身露体,你们给我穿；我病了，你们看顾我；我在监里，你们来看我”（太25:35-36）。上帝的仆人对于凡跟随基督的人，应当存柔和诚爱之心；他们应当表现基督在比喻中所提的牧人对迷羊那样的深切关心。他们应当效法基督所留下的榜样，发挥同样的同情温和，及同样的慈怜大爱，象祂所显给我们的那样。{GW92 91.1}
§4
Christ identified himself with the necessities of his people. Their needs and their sufferings were his. He says, “I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” [Matthew 25:35, 36.] God’s servants should have hearts of tender affection and sincere love for the followers of Christ. They should manifest that deep interest that Christ brings to view in the care of the shepherd for the lost sheep; they should follow the example given by Christ, and exercise the same compassion and gentleness, and the same tender, pitying love that he has exercised toward us.{GW92 91.1}
§5
人最大的道德力量就是信，望，爱。一个传道人无论怎样热诚恳切，若是在这三点上消极怠惰，他的劳苦工作就不能蒙上帝的悦纳，也不能为教会生出好处。那向世人传扬上帝严肃信息的基督传道人，应当凡事行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心行在上帝面前。有了基督的精神居心，就必使人运用所有的力量，去养育保护祂场上的羊，正如那忠心诚实的牧人一样。爱心乃是一条金链，使信徒的心乐意用友谊，温情，笃诚来互相联系，又使人心与上帝相连。现今弟兄之间实在缺少爱心，怜悯，及同情的温柔。基督的传道人是太冷淡无情了。他们的心并不都燃有慈怜和真切的爱。人对上帝最纯洁最高尚的热诚，乃是在他最切心最努力救人归主上表现出来。传扬现代真理的传道人，其所以不得更大的成功，乃是因他们极其缺乏信，望，爱。我们人人要遭遇及担当许多的艰苦，争斗，克己，及秘密的心中磨炼。我们要为自己的罪而忧苦流泪；也要为自己的缺欠而不住地奋斗，儆醒，且杂有痛悔及惭愧。 {GW92 91.2}
§6
The great moral powers of the soul are faith, hope, and love. If these are inactive, a minister may be ever so earnest and zealous, but his labor will not be accepted by God, and cannot be productive of good to the church. A minister of Christ who bears the solemn message from God to the people, should ever deal justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God. The spirit of Christ in the heart will incline every power of the soul to nourish and protect the sheep of his pasture, like a faithful, true shepherd. Love is the golden chain which binds believing hearts to one another in willing bonds of friendship, tenderness, and faithful constancy; and which binds the soul to God. There is a decided lack of love, compassion, and pitying tenderness among brethren. The ministers of Christ are too cold and heartless. Their hearts are not all aglow with tender compassion and earnest love. The purest and most elevated devotion to God is that which is manifested in the most earnest desires and efforts to win souls to Christ. The reason ministers who preach present truth are not more successful is, they are deficient, greatly deficient, in faith, hope, and love. There are toils and conflicts, self-denials and secret heart-trials, for us all to meet and bear. There will be sorrow and tears for our sins; there will be constant struggles and watchings, mingled with remorse and shame because of our deficiencies. {GW92 91.2}
§7
凡作亲爱救主十字架之传道人的，切不可忘记他们在这些事上的经验，而要常记在心：自己不过是人，容易犯错，与弟兄们有同样的性情。他们若要帮助弟兄，就必须心中充满爱怜之念，恒切努力使弟兄得益处。他们应当达到弟兄的心中，在其软弱及最需要扶助之处帮助他们。凡劳苦传道教导人的，如果欲见到弟兄打碎其刚硬，骄傲，不信之心，就先要打碎自己那样的心。因为我们是软弱无助的人，受黑暗，罪恶和绝望的锁链所捆绑，不能为自己作什么，所以基督就为我们行了一切。借着运用信，望，爱，我们才逐渐接近那完全圣洁的标准。我们的弟兄也觉得需要这种慈怜的救助，正如我们所曾感到的一样。我们不应当使他们担负不必要的责难，而应当让基督之爱激励我们，使我们变成温柔慈悲，以致能为那些背弃上帝及犯罪作错的人伤心哀哭。生命有无限的价值，只有从那付出的赎价上，我们才能估出其价值。髑髅地！髑髅地！髑髅地！会阐明生命的真价值！—3T. 186. {GW92 92.1}
§8
Let not the ministers of the cross of our dear Saviour forget their own experience in these things; but let them ever bear in mind that they are but men, liable to err, and possessing like passions with their brethren; and that if they help their brethren, they must be persevering in their efforts to do them good, having their hearts filled with pity and love. They must come to the hearts of their brethren, and help them where they are weak and need help the most. Those who labor in word and doctrine should break their own hard, proud, unbelieving hearts, if they would witness the same in their brethren. Christ has done all for us, because we were helpless; we were bound in chains of darkness, sin, and despair, and could therefore do nothing for ourselves. It is through the exercise of faith, hope, and love that we come nearer and nearer to the standard of perfect holiness. Our brethren feel the same need of pitying help that we have felt. We should not burden them with unnecessary censure, but should let the love of Christ constrain us to be very compassionate and tender, that we can weep over the erring and those who have backslidden from God. The soul is of infinite value. Its worth can be estimated only by the price paid to ransom it. Calvary! Calvary! Calvary! will explain the true value of the soul.—Testimonies for the Church 3:186. {GW92 92.1}
§9
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§10
如果一个人已本其所知，尽其所能地行事，而另一个人却以为自己能看出此事尚有可改进之处，他就应当温和忍耐地向那弟兄贡献其见解的益处，切不可责难，或怀疑其心意是否忠直，正如他自己也不愿受人怀疑，或被人冤枉地指责一样。若那弟兄心中体念上帝的圣工，见到自己恳切作工，还是有了失败，他就会深切地思量这事，以至变成不信赖自己，不信任自己的见解。他爱上帝所派给他的工作过于自己的生命，现在看出了自己在这工作上作错了，再没有什么能比此更削弱他的胆量及敬虔的士气了。如果那发现他错处的弟兄们，不住地压迫那刺在他心坎上的刺，深而又深，使他更感到痛切，同时那每一压迫刺激，都是消弱他的信心，胆量，及顺利建设上帝圣工的自信心，那真是多么不公平啊！{GW92 93.1}
§11
If, after one has done the best he can in his judgment, another thinks he can see where he could have improved the matter, he should kindly and patiently give the brother the benefit of his judgment, but should not censure him nor question his integrity of purpose any sooner than he himself would wish to be suspected or unjustly censured. If the brother who feels the cause of God at heart, sees that, in his earnest efforts to do, he has made a failure, he will feel deeply over the matter; for he will be inclined to distrust himself, and to lose confidence in his own judgment. Nothing will so weaken his courage and godlike manhood as to realize his mistakes in the work that God has appointed him to do,—a work which he loves better than his life. How unjust, then, for his brethren who discover his errors to keep pressing the thorn deeper and deeper into his heart, to make him feel more intensely, when with every thrust they are weakening his faith and courage, and his confidence in himself to work successfully in the upbuilding of the cause of God.{GW92 93.1}
§12
往往当把真理及事实明明白白地说给那作错的人听，使他们看明及觉得自己的错误，以便可以改良。然而此举却当出以慈爱温柔的心，而不可粗暴严酷，也应当体念到自己的弱点，以免也被引诱。及至那作错的人看明及承认他的错误了，就应安慰他，而不是使他忧伤，或设法使他更觉得难过。在基督的山边宝训上，祂说：“你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断。因为你们怎样论断人，也必怎样被论断。你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们”（太7:1-2）。我们的救主责备人作贸然论断的事。“为什么看见你弟兄眼中有刺，却不想自己眼中有梁木呢”（同章3节）？人往往很快看出弟兄们的错，而自己也许有更大的错，但却盲然不知。{GW92 93.2}
§13
Frequently the truth and facts are to be plainly spoken to the erring, to make them see and feel their error, that they may reform. But this should ever be done with pitying tenderness, not with harshness or severity, but considering one’s own weakness, lest he also be tempted. When the one at fault sees and acknowledges his error, then, instead of grieving him, and seeking to make him feel more deeply, comfort should be given. In the sermon of Christ upon the mount, he said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” [Matthew 7:1-4.] Our Saviour reproved for rash judgment. “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye,” “and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?” [Matthew 7:1-4.] It is frequently the case that while one is quick to discern the errors of his brethren, he may be in greater faults himself, but be blind to them. {GW92 93.2}
§14
凡跟从基督的人，应当完全照着我们希望主怎样待我们的错处及软弱那样而彼此相待，因为我们都是作错的人，需要祂的可怜及饶恕。耶稣情愿取了人性，为要晓得怎样可怜人，及怎样向天父为犯罪作错的世人祈求。祂自愿当人的中保，自卑受辱，以便明白人类所易于陷入的试探，这样祂就能搭救那些要被试探的人，成为一个慈悲忠信的大祭司。{GW92 94.1}
§15
All who are followers of Christ should deal with one another exactly as we wish the Lord to deal with us in our errors and weaknesses; for we are all erring, and need his pity and forgiveness. Jesus consented to take human nature, that he might know how to pity, and how to plead with his Father in behalf of sinful, erring mortals. He volunteered to become man’s advocate, and he humiliated himself to become acquainted with the temptations wherewith man was beset, that he might succor those who should be tempted, and be a tender and faithful high priest.{GW92 94.1}
§16
往往有时不得不坦白申斥罪恶，及责备过错。然而为同胞人类的得救而服务的传道人，却不应对于彼此的错误严酷无情，或是使缺点在他们的团体中特别显扬。他们不应暴露或申斥其软弱。他们应当省问一下，如果别人用这种做法待他们，会有预期的良好效验吗？这种做法会使人对那显扬其过失者更加敬爱及信任吗？尤其是对于那些参加上帝工作的传道人，他们的过错应当尽量只让最小的范围内知道才好，以免许多软弱的人知道了那作圣经及道理执事的人，也有弱点象别人一样，以至就有了借口。如果那传道人是被认为值得在日后作救人之工的，若将他的过错公布于一些非信徒之前，则其为害甚巨矣。这样公布罪状没有好处，只有害处。主不喜悦这种作法，因为它要暗地破坏人们对于祂所接纳以推进圣工之人的信任心。作传道人的各位弟兄，应当彼此切心守护同工的品格。上帝说：“不可难为我受膏的人，也不可恶待我的先知”（代上16:22；诗105:15）。应当存爱心及信任心。一个传道人对待别的传道人，若缺乏这种爱心及信任心，他就不能增加那因此不足之人的快乐，他既使弟兄不快乐，自己也是不快乐的。在爱心之中，有更伟大的能力，远超于在责难之中所有的。爱心能冰释前途的障碍，但责难却会关闭了每一通达人心的路径。……{GW92 94.2}
§17
Frequently there is necessity for plainly rebuking sin and reproving wrong. But ministers who are working for the salvation of their fellow-men, should not be pitiless toward the errors of one another, nor make prominent the defects in their organizations. They should not expose or reprove their weaknesses. They should inquire if such a course, pursued by another toward themselves, would bring about the desired effect; would it increase their love for, and confidence in, the one who thus made prominent their mistakes? Especially should the mistakes of ministers who are engaged in the work of God be kept within as small a circle as possible; for there are many weak ones who will take advantage if they are aware that those who minister in word and doctrine have weaknesses like other men. And it is a most cruel thing for the faults of a minister to be exposed to unbelievers, if that minister is counted worthy to labor in [the] future for the salvation of souls. No good can come of this exposure, but only harm. The Lord frowns upon this course, for it is undermining the confidence of the people in those whom he accepts to carry forward his work. The character of every laborer should be jealously guarded by brother ministers. God says, “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” [1 Chronicles 16:22.] Love and confidence should be cherished. A lack of this love and confidence in one minister for another does not increase the happiness of the one thus deficient, but as he makes his brother unhappy, he is unhappy himself. There is greater power in love than was ever found in censure. Love will melt its way through barriers, while censure will close up every avenue of the soul.... {GW92 94.2}
§18
基督在教导门徒们如何祈祷时请求：免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。我们不能心里复述着这句祷词，却胆敢不饶恕人，因为我们也恳求上帝赦免我们得罪祂的过犯，正如我们饶恕那些得罪我们之人的过犯一样。然而，很少有人意识到这个祈祷的真正含义。倘若那些不肯饶恕人的人确实领会了这个祈祷的深刻含义，他们便不敢再次这样祈祷，也不敢恳求上帝像他们对待自己的同胞一样对待他们了。可是这种刚硬和缺乏饶恕的精神甚至在弟兄们中间到了可怕的程度。弟兄与弟兄彼此苛求。—3T.92.{GW92 95.1}
§19
In the prayer that Christ taught his disciples was the request, Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We cannot repeat this prayer from the heart, and dare to be unforgiving; for we ask the Lord to forgive our trespasses against him in the same manner as we forgive those who trespass against us. But few realize the true import of this prayer. If those who are unforgiving did comprehend the depth of its meaning, they would not dare to repeat it, and ask God to deal with them as they deal with their fellow-mortals. And yet this spirit of hardness and lack of forgiveness exists, even among brethren, to a fearful extent. Brother is exacting with brother.—Testimonies for the Church 3:92.{GW92 95.1}