第80章 避免辩论
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第80章 避免辩论
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Chap. 80 Discussions not to be Sought
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（引自对个人的证言）
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青年传道人应当避免辩论，因为这些并不增长人的灵性或使人更加虚心。在某些情形下，也许需要一场公开的辩论，来应付那反对上帝真理的傲慢狂妄之徒；但一般而论，这些辩论，或用口讲或用笔写，结果都是害多益少的。在辩论后，传道人便要负上更大的责任，保持听众兴趣不坠。他当谨防在这宗教兴奋后，随即可能自然而来的过度冷淡的反应，但他却不可灰心。……{GW 377.1}[1]
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[FROM A PERSONAL TESTIMONY.]
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Young preachers should avoid discussions, for these do not increase spirituality or humbleness of mind. In some cases, it may be necessary to meet a proud boaster against the truth of God in open debate; but generally these discussions, either oral or written, result in more harm than good. After a discussion, the greater responsibility rests upon the minister to keep up the interest. He should beware of the reaction which is liable to take place after a religious excitement, and not yield to discouragement. . . . {GW 377.1}[1]
§7
一般说来，辩论影响所及，常使我们的传道人踌躇满志，自视太高。不但如此，凡爱争辩的人也不适合作羊群的牧者。他们训练自己去应付人的反对，所说的话连讽带刺；结果便不能谦卑下来，去照顾忧伤和需要安慰的人了。一……{GW 377.2}[2]
§8
Generally, the influence of discussions upon our ministers is to make them self-sufficient, exalted in their own estimation. This is not all. Those who love to debate are unfitted for being pastors to the flock. They have trained their minds to meet opponents, and to say sarcastic things; and they cannot come down to meet hearts that are sorrowing, and that need to be comforted. . . . {GW 377.2}[2]
§9
传扬这不讨人喜悦的真理，涉及一个沉重的十字架，传道人应当小心，务使所说的每一句话，正是上帝所要他们说的。他们的言词不可尖刻。应当存着虚心，深切爱人，和极渴望人能得救的心，传扬真理，而让真理去刺透人心。——《教会证言》卷三第213-218页{GW 377.3}[3]
§10
In the presentation of unpopular truth, which involves a heavy cross, preachers should be careful that every word is as God would have it. Their words should never cut. They should present the truth in humility, with the deepest love for souls, and an earnest desire for their salvation, and let the truth cut. --Testimonies for the Church, Vol. III, pages 213-218. {GW 377.3}[3]
§11
有时辩论无法避免。……爱看双方争辩的人，也许要强求开辩论会。还有些人希望听到双方的论证，可能出于诚心善意的赞成辩论；但无论何时，只要能避免辩论，还是以避免为妙。因为辩论通常会增强人好斗的精神，而削弱基督徒纯洁的爱心和圣洁的同情，虽然基督徒可以有不相同的意见，但是那种爱心与同情却应常存在他们的心内。{GW 377.4}[4]
§12
Discussions cannot always be avoided. . . . People who love to see opponents combat, may clamor for discussion. Others, who have a desire to hear the evidences on both sides, may urge discussion in all honesty of motive; but whenever discussions can be avoided, they should be. They generally strengthen combativeness, and weaken that pure love and sacred sympathy which should ever exist in the hearts of Christians, although they may differ in opinion. {GW 377.4}[4]
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在现世代中，人们要求听辩论，并不确切证明他们是渴望查考真理，反之却多少是出于好奇的心，及爱好辩论时所常有的兴奋情形罢了。这些争辩，是很少荣耀上帝或推进真理的。接受真理与否的结果极其庄严，极其伟大；不论接受或拒绝，总不当认为小事。为向对方显示辩才而讨论真理，乃是拙劣的办法；因为辩论丝毫不能推进真理。{GW 378.1}[5]
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In this age of the world a demand for a discussion is not real evidence of earnest desire on the part of the people to investigate the truth, but comes through the love of novelty and the excitement which generally attends discussions. God is seldom glorified or the truth advanced in these combats. Truth is too solemn, too momentous in its results, to make it a small matter whether it is received or rejected. To discuss truth for the sake of showing opponents the skill of the combatants, is ever poor policy; for it does very little to advance the truth. {GW 378.1}[5]
§15
反对真理的人要显出本事来误解真理辩护者的立场。他们会使极其严肃神圣的真理成为嘲笑的题目。这般人一般会嘲弄宝贵神圣的真理，并在被错误罪恶所蒙蔽了心志的人面前，用极其错误的诡辩混乱真理，使听众不能辨明辩者恶意图谋隐蔽谬解宝贵而重要真理的动机与目的。因为有这些人参加辩论的缘故，就只有极少的辩论可在正当的原则下进行。尖刻强横的话说出太多，又任意批评人，以致双方都流于讽刺嘲弄。争占上风的切望就使爱人的心失去。深刻苦毒的偏见往往是其结果。……{GW 378.2}[6]
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Opponents of the truth will show skill in misstating the positions of its defenders. . . . They will generally deride sacred truth, and place it in so false a light before the people that minds that are darkened by error and polluted by sin, do not discern the motives and objects of these designing men in thus covering up and falsifying important truth. Because of the men who engage in them, there are few discussions that it is possible to conduct upon right principles. Sharp thrusts are too frequently given, personalities are indulged in, and often both parties descend to sarcasm and witticism. The love of souls is lost in the greater desire for the mastery. Prejudice, deep and bitter, is often the result. . . . {GW 378.2}[6]
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许多人选择黑暗而不是光明，是因自己的行为是恶的。但如果用不同的方式在不同的环境下表现真理，给人以公平的机会去自行衡量这些论据，以经文对照经文，就会有人被清晰的真理所吸引，愿意接受真理了。{GW 379.1}[7]
§18
Many choose darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. But there are those who, if the truth had been presented in a different manner, under different circumstances, giving them a fair chance to weigh the arguments for themselves, and to compare scripture with scripture, would have been charmed by its clearness, and would have taken hold of it. {GW 379.1}[7]
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那些诡计多端的人为了掩盖耶和华严肃神圣的真理，使之失效，就提出了许多狡诈的诡辩。传道人若将这类作品公诸于世，是很不谨慎的。这些奸猾之徒运用智力曲解上帝的话，伺机迷惑粗心大意的人。凡无经验及轻信的人，就要受骗以致灭亡。把一切反对者用以抵挡上帝真理的论据公诸众人，乃是大错；因为这样行，就供给各界人士许多从来未想到的论据。必须有人对这种愚笨的战略负责。{GW 379.2}[8]
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It has been very indiscreet for our ministers to publish to the world the wily sophistry of error, furnished by designing men to cover up and make of no effect the solemn, sacred truth of Jehovah. These crafty men who lie in wait to deceive the unwary, give their strength of intellect to perverting the word of God. The inexperienced and unsuspecting are deceived to their ruin. It has been a great error to publish to all the arguments wherewith opponents battle against the truth of God; for in so doing minds of every class are furnished with arguments which many of them had never thought of. Some one must render an account for this unwise generalship. {GW 379.2}[8]
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与神圣真理为敌之论据的影响，诡谲多端。凡未详知真理能力的人将受其害。社会多数人士的道德感，因与罪恶周旋便麻木了。自私，欺诈及各种罪恶流行于这堕落的世代，麻木了人对于永恒事物的感觉，以致昧然不察上帝的真理。我们若公布对方错谬的论证，就是在人心中将真理与异端同列了；但若把真理明白地摆在人前，久而久之，人们就可看出真理的神圣与重要，而信服那利于真理的有力论据，这样就预备好应付与真理为敌者的谬论了。{GW 379.3}[9]
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Arguments against the sacred truth, subtle in their influence, affect minds that are not well informed in regard to the strength of the truth. The moral sensibilities of the community at large are blunted by familiarity with sin. Selfishness, dishonesty, and the varied sins which prevail in this degenerate age, have blunted the senses to eternal things, so that Gods truth is not discerned. In giving publicity to the erroneous arguments of our opponents, truth and error are placed upon a level in the minds of the people, when, if they could have the truth before them in its clearness long enough to see and realize its sacredness and importance, they would be convinced of the strong arguments in its favor, and would then be prepared to meet the arguments urged by opposers. {GW 379.3}[9]
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凡努力认识真理和明白上帝旨意，忠心于真光，和热心履行日常责任的人，将被引进一切真理中，而且必然明白圣道。——《教会证言》卷三第424-427页{GW 380.1}[10]
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Those who are seeking to know the truth and to understand the will of God, who are faithful to the light, and zealous in the performance of their daily duties, will surely know of the doctrine; for they will be guided into all truth.--Testimonies for the Church, Vol. III, pages 424-427. {GW 380.1}[10]
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每当为了推进真理的圣工和上帝的荣耀而必须面对反对者时，拥护真理的人应当谨慎而谦卑地投入战斗。他们应当用省察己心，认罪和恳切的祈祷，及常常暂时的禁食来恳求上帝特别帮助他们，使祂救人的宝贵真理获得光荣的胜利，使错谬显出其丑陋残缺的真相，并使拥护错谬的人完全挫败。……{GW 380.2}[11]
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Whenever it is necessary for the advancement of the cause of truth and the glory of God, that an opponent be met, how carefully, and with what humility should they [the advocates of truth] go into the conflict. With heart-searching, confession of sin, and earnest prayer, and often fasting for a time, they should entreat that God would especially help them, and give His saving, precious truth a glorious victory, that error might appear in its true deformity, and its advocates be completely discomfited. . . . {GW 380.2}[11]
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在参加具有重大关系的辩论时，断不可依赖自己能应用有力论据的才干。万一无可避免而要参加时，就当坚心信赖上帝，并存着谦卑的心，具有耶稣的精神，祂已吩咐你要学祂的样式，祂心里是柔和谦卑的。——《教会证言》卷一第624-626页{GW 380.3}[12]
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Never should you enter upon a discussion, where so much is at stake, relying upon your aptness to handle strong arguments. If it cannot be well avoided, enter the conflict, but enter upon it with firm trust in God, and in the spirit of humility, in the spirit of Jesus, who has bidden you learn of Him who is meek and lowly in heart.--Id., Vol. I, pages 624-626. {GW 380.3}[12]