第05章 强有力的基督徒见证
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第05章 强有力的基督徒见证
§2
Chap. 05 - A Powerful Christian Witness
§3
优良的传道人乃出自基督化的家庭——为主工作的国外布道士，最好从敬畏上帝，热爱上帝，崇拜上帝，忠贞成性，绝不容许偶然的轻率而忽略了家中应尽之分，且视安心静性与上帝交往为忠心履行日常义务所不可或缺之事的家庭中去着手预备。[1]
§4
Best Missionaries Come From Christian Homes.-- Missionaries for the Master are best prepared for work abroad in the Christian household, where God is feared, where God is loved, where God is worshiped, where faithfulness has become second nature, where haphazard, careless inattention to home duties is not permitted, where quiet communion with God is looked upon as essential to the faithful performance of daily duties. {AH 35.1}[1]
§5
在履行家中的义务时，心中必须自觉这些家务若本着正直的精神去作，就能使我们得着一种经验，而为基督从事最持久，最彻底的工作。啊！一个活泼的基督徒若能忠心履行日常的本分，欣然举起十字架来，对于任何不合自己本性的工作也不疏忽大意，那么在传道的事工上该有多大的成就啊！[2]
§6
Home duties should be performed with the consciousness that if they are done in the right spirit, they give an experience that will enable us to work for Christ in the most permanent and thorough manner. Oh, what might not a living Christian do in missionary lines by performing faithfully the daily duties, cheerfully lifting the cross, not neglecting any work, however disagreeable to the natural feelings! {AH 35.2}[2]
§7
我们为基督作工当从自己的家人，自己的家庭入手。没有任何传道地区较此更重要的了。有许多人竟可耻地忽略了家中的工作园地，而今已是必须提出神圣的策略与补救的方法，以纠正这种不良情形的时候了。[3]
§8
Our work for Christ is to begin with the family, in the home. . . . There is no missionary field more important than this. . . . {AH 35.3}[3]
§9
那授予青年人的最崇高的义务，就是要在自己的家中，本着爱心和真诚的关怀，以造福父母和兄弟姊妹。在此他们便可表现出克己牺牲的忘我之心，去看顾他人，为他人服务。一位姊妹在兄弟之间可以有何等样的感化力啊！她若存心正直，或许便能决定兄弟们的品格。她的祈祷，她的温和，以及她的爱心，在家中都可能有相当的成就。[4]
§10
By many this home field has been shamefully neglected, and it is time that divine resources and remedies were presented, that this state of evil may be corrected. {AH 35.4}[4]
§11
家中凡已接受基督的人，务须表明恩典在他们身上所有的成就。“凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女。”有一种意识上的威权充满于基督真实的信徒里面，而使其感化力弥漫于整个家庭之中。这对于全家人品格的培养，乃是大有裨益的。[5]
§12
The highest duty that devolves upon youth is in their own homes, blessing father and mother, brothers and sisters, by affection and true interest. Here they can show self-denial and self-forgetfulness in caring and doing for others. . . . What an influence a sister may have over brothers! If she is right, she may determine the character of her brothers. Her prayers, her gentleness, and her affection may do much in a household. {AH 35.5}[5]
§13
不信之人无法反驳的论据——一个有规律的基督化家庭，乃是基督徒信仰的有力论据——是不信上帝的人所不能反驳的。人人都能看出有一种影响儿女的感化力在家庭中运行着，也可以看出有亚伯拉罕的上帝与他们同在。如果那些自称为基督徒的家庭里有宗教信仰的好模范，他们就必发出有力的影响使众人得益处。他们实在就要成为“世上的光”了。[6]
§14
In the home those who have received Christ are to show what grace has done for them. As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name. A conscious authority pervades the true believer in Christ, that makes its influence felt throughout the home. This is favorable for the perfection of the characters of all in the home. {AH 36.1}[6]
§15
孩童传扬《圣经》原理的知识——凡受过适当的教育，乐意作有益的事以帮助父母的孩童们，必将正当的概念和《圣经》原理的知识传给一切与他们交往的人。[7]
§16
An Argument That the Infidel Cannot Gainsay.-- A well-ordered Christian household is a powerful argument in favor of the reality of the Christian religion--an argument that the infidel cannot gainsay. All can see that there is an influence at work in the family that affects the children, and that the God of Abraham is with them. If the homes of professed Christians had a right religious mold, they would exert a mighty influence for good. They would indeed be the light of the world. {AH 36.2}[7]
§17
当我们的家庭达到理想的地步时，我们的儿女必不致被纵容姑溺，而在怠惰散懒的情形中长大，以至对于上帝为那些在他们周围的困乏之人向他们所发的要求，也都置之不理。他们既是主的产业，就必有资格在所居之处肩负起这项使命来。从这样的家庭中，必有明光照耀出来，引导无知之人去就近一切知识的根源。所生发的感化力，必成为一种拥护上帝及其真理的力量。[8]
§18
Children to Extend Knowledge of Bible Principles.-- Children who have been properly educated, who love to be useful, to help father and mother, will extend a knowledge of correct ideas and Bible principles to all with whom they associate. {AH 36.3}[8]
§19
那原来无法接近的父母们，往往可以通过他们的儿女而与他们来往。[9]
§20
When our own homes are what they should be, our children will not be allowed to grow up in idleness and indifference to the claims of God in behalf of the needy all about them. As the Lords heritage, they will be qualified to take up the work where they are. A light will shine from such homes which will reveal itself in behalf of the ignorant, leading them to the source of all knowledge. An influence will be exerted that will be a power for God and for His truth. {AH 36.4}[9]
§21
快乐的家庭乃邻里之光——我们需要更多和煦如春辉般的父母，以及更多辉耀如白日般的基督徒。我们过于闭关自守了。对于我们的儿女和那些饱受欺压，伤心失望的人，我们常常吝于讲说亲切鼓舞的话语，或表露愉快的笑容。父母们哪，你们负有擎光者及赠光者的责任。在家中要如同明光辉耀，照亮你们儿女的必经之途。当你们如此作的时候，你们的光也就会照亮家庭以外的人了。[10]
§22
Parents who can be approached in no other way are frequently reached through their children. {AH 36.5}[10]
§23
凡是基督徒的家庭都应当发出圣洁的光辉。爱心应当在行动上表现出来；应当在家庭中的一切关系上，在亲切的恩慈和温柔无私的礼貌中流露出来。如今已有一些家庭实行了这些美德——就是那敬拜上帝并存有真诚爱心的家庭。从这些家庭中，早晚的祷告犹如馨香升到上帝面前，他的慈爱和宏恩必赐给求告的人，如同早晨的甘露一般。[11]
§24
Cheerful Homes Will Be a Light to Neighbors.-- We need more sunshiny parents and more sunshiny Christians. We are too much shut up within ourselves. Too often the kindly, encouraging word, the cheery smile, are withheld from our children and from the oppressed and discouraged. {AH 37.1}[11]
§25
全家合一的果效——基督徒的第一要务，便是力求全家团结合一。而后，这项工作还要推及他们的远亲与近邻。已经接受了真光的人，要以清晰的光芒将它照射出去。他们的言语，因充满基督的爱而吐露芬芳，要成为活的香气叫人活。[12]
§26
Parents, upon you rests the responsibility of being light-bearers and light-givers. Shine as lights in the home, brightening the path that your children must travel. As you do this, your light will shine to those without. {AH 37.2}[12]
§27
家中的每一分子，在家庭的工作上愈亲密地互相团结合一，则父母与子女们在家庭范畴以外的感化力就愈能提拔人，帮助人了。[13]
§28
From every Christian home a holy light should shine forth. Love should be revealed in action. It should flow out in all home intercourse, showing itself in thoughtful kindness, in gentle, unselfish courtesy. There are homes where this principle is carried out--homes where God is worshiped and truest love reigns. From these homes morning and evening prayer ascends to God as sweet incense, and His mercies and blessings descend upon the suppliants like the morning dew. {AH 37.3}[13]
§29
需要善良之人，尤甚于需要大智之人——家庭和教会的幸福，端赖乎家庭的感化力。永恒的福利，乃基于正当地履行此生的义务。世上需要那些能造福于自己家庭的善良之人，尤甚于需要那些大智之人。[14]
§30
Results of Family Unity.--The first work of Christians is to be united in the family. Then the work is to extend to their neighbors nigh and afar off. Those who have received light are to let the light shine forth in clear rays. Their words, fragrant with the love of Christ, are to be a savor of life unto life. {AH 37.4}[14]
§31
避免一切可能闭塞门户的错误——当宗教在家中显示出来之时，它的影响乃是教会和邻里之间都必能感受得到的。可惜有些自称为基督徒的人，竟与他们的邻居谈论自己家中的困难。他们诉说自己遭遇的不幸，意图博取对方的同情；可是将自己的困难这样倾吐入别人的耳中，乃是一项极大的错误，何况我们所遭遇的许多困扰，其成因与存在，都是由于我们宗教生活不健全，并且品格有瑕疵的缘故。凡出去将自己的困难陈露于别人面前的人，最好耽留在家中祷告，将自己刚愎横逆的意志降服于上帝，掉在磐石上跌碎，向着自我死去；这样，耶稣便能使他们成为贵重的器皿了。[15]
§32
The more closely the members of a family are united in their work in the home, the more uplifting and helpful will be the influence that father and mother and sons and daughters will exert outside the home. {AH 37.5}[15]
§33
礼貌上的一点疏忽，脾气上的一时暴躁，冲口而出的一句粗鄙的言语，都必损及你的名誉，可能就因而闭塞了若干人的心门，使你再也无法去接近他们了。[16]
§34
Good Men Needed More Than Great Minds.--The happiness of families and churches depends upon home influences. Eternal interests depend upon the proper discharge of the duties of this life. The world is not so much in need of great minds as of good men who will be a blessing in their homes. {AH 37.6}[16]
§35
家庭中的基督教要普照四邻——凡使家庭达到理想境地的努力——就是使之成为天家的象征——都足以准备我们，俾在更广大的范围内工作。借着彼此之间所表现的温柔关注而获得的教育，就能使我们知道如何去接近那班需要授以真宗教之原理的人了。教会需要一切可能获得的，已蒙培养的属灵能力，使所有的人，尤其是主家里的年轻人可以得到谨慎的保护。在家中实践的真理，也会在对外所作的无私服务中发挥其影响力。凡在家中实践基督教信仰的人，无论在什么地方，都必成为一盏光芒四射的明灯。[17]
§36
Avoid Mistakes That May Close Doors.--When religion is manifested in the home, its influence will be felt in the church and in the neighborhood. But some who profess to be Christians talk with their neighbors concerning their home difficulties. They relate their grievances in such a way as to call forth sympathy for themselves; but it is a great mistake to pour our trouble into the ears of others, especially when many of our grievances are manufactured and exist because of our irreligious life and defective character. Those who go forth to lay their private grievances before others might better remain at home to pray, to surrender their perverse will to God, to fall on the Rock and be broken, to die to self that Jesus may make them vessels unto honor. {AH 38.1}[17]