第398号 教堂建筑与设施
§1
第398号 教堂建筑与设施
§2
MR No. 398 - Church Architecture and Furnishings
§3
不要将钱花在不必要的炫耀上，还辩解说会给圣工增光添色。给圣工增光添色的，不是将资金投在大型建筑上，而是以高尚的基督化品格保持正义原则的真标准。……{6MR319.1}[1]
§4
No means are to be invested for unnecessary display, with the plea that it will give character to the work. Character is not given to the work by investing means in large buildings, but by maintaining the true standard of righteous principles, with noble Christlikeness of character. . . . {6MR 319.1}[1]
§5
正是人的计划和发明给我们的机构增加了负担。主并不赞同已经执行的许多计划。要是人们谦卑地行事为人和作工，像耶稣基督的仆人，不高举自我，不将重大的价值赋予因不表现主的品格而不蒙主认可的工作，原会好得多。上帝所视为贵重的，并非财富、出身、职位或很高的造诣。主对每一个人的重视完全根据祂能将祂的灵放进心灵圣殿中的程度。具有上帝形像的工作才是祂会接受的工作。祂不朽原则之不可磨灭的特征才是基督愿意让祂的子民向世人出具的证书。这会使心灵专注于上帝。这证明祂的看护照顾、祂的忍耐宽容、祂的尊贵、祂的荣耀，显明祂有一班祂能尊荣的子民，因为他们忠诚而且忠于祂的安息日，并且向一个劫数难逃的世界传达最后的警告信息。……{6MR319.2}[2]
§6
It is the planning and devising of men which has placed increased burdens upon our institutions. The Lord did not approve many of the plans which have been carried out. How much better it would have been if men had walked and worked humbly, as servants of Jesus Christ, not exalting themselves, and placing great value upon labor which the Lord does not approve because it does not represent His character. It is not wealth, parentage, position, or high accomplishments which God regards as of value. The imposing display of large buildings is valueless for the accomplishment of His purpose. The Lord values each human being just in accordance as He can put His Spirit into the soul-temple. The work that bears Gods image is the work that He will accept. The ineffaceable characteristics of His immortal principles are the credentials which Christ would have His people bear to the world. This will rivet the soul to God. It testifies of His fostering care, His patient forbearance, His honor, His glory, revealing that He has a people that He can honor because they are loyal and true to His Sabbath and bear the last message of warning to a doomed world. . . . {6MR 319.2}[2]
§7
主已使人成为祂货财的受托人。他们是受托的管家。主是他们一切所有的业主，祂的管家们总有一天要对他们怎样管理受托资金严格交账。谁也不能仅仅为了满足想要昂贵的衣服或家具的欲望而心安理得地浪费主的货财。（《信函》1899年93号第3,5-7页，致我在美国的弟兄们，1899年6月19日）{6MR319.3}[3]
§8
The Lord has made human agents trustees of His goods. They are stewards in trust. The Lord is the owner of all they possess, and His stewards will one day have to render a strict account as to how they have administered the entrusted capital. No one can with safety waste his Lords goods merely to gratify a desire for expensive dress or furniture.--Letter 93, 1899, pp. 3, 5-7. (To My Brethren in America, June 19, 1899.) {6MR 319.3}[3]
§9
从盖房子可以学到宝贵的属灵教训。“你们是上帝所建造的房屋”（林前3:9）。主希望祂的子民教导他们的儿女用好材料建造品格的重要性，教他们知道，凡是值得做的，就值得好好去做。{6MR320.1}[4]
§10
From house-building precious spiritual lessons may be learned. Ye are Gods building. The Lord desires His people to teach their children the importance of bringing good timbers into their character-building, to teach them that what is worth doing at all is worth doing well. {6MR 320.1}[4]
§11
在家里做的一切工作都要以如此的辛苦努力，如此的操心和周到做成，以致上帝能签名在其上。什么都不要轻忽。有些人可能会说：“我不能花那么多时间在一件事上。时光如此短暂。”然而正是因为这个原因——因为时光短暂——我们才要把我们的工作做好。{6MR320.2}[5]
§12
All the work done in the home should be done with such painstaking effort, such care and thoroughness, that God can place His signature upon it. Nothing is to be slighted. Some may say, I cannot spend so long over one piece of work. Time is so short. But for this very reason--because time is short-- we are to do our work well. {6MR 320.2}[5]
§13
我们虽然要防止不必要的装饰和炫耀，但是我们本身和我们的房屋都要整洁和惹人喜爱。我们的年轻人要受教知道外表无可指责的重要性，好叫世人不能说我们是低劣庸俗的。要教他们知道，虽然我们的工作必须以严格的节约来推进，但它并不因此丧失良好品味和完美秩序的吸引力。（《文稿》1901年127号第2,3页，〈房屋的性质〉，1901年11月26日）{6MR320.3}[6]
§14
While we are to guard against needless adornment and display, yet all about our persons and our buildings is to be neat and attractive. Our young people are to be taught the importance of presenting an appearance above criticism, so that the world cannot speak of us as cheap and common. They are to be taught that while our work must be carried forward with strict economy, it is not therefore to lose the charm of good taste and perfect order.--Ms 127, 1901, pp. 2, 3. (Nature of Buildings, November 26, 1901.) {6MR 320.3}[6]
§15
我们在奥克兰需要一座教堂。不久就应当有一座简朴又经济的敬拜场所拔地而起了。奥克兰这里的弟兄姐妹应当藉着拒绝建造时尚昂贵的教堂而表明他们是敬畏主的。我们生活在危险的世代，上天的惩罚必接踵而至。我们要在我们的行为上显明我们相信上帝施行审判的时候到了，我们正临近有关这个世界上的任何事情都没有把握的时候。我们藉着我们的行为和见证，告诉人万物的结局近了。{6MR320.4}[7]
§16
In Oakland we need a church building. Soon a simple and inexpensive place of worship should be erected. In this the brethren and sisters in Oakland are to show that they fear the Lord, by refusing to build a stylish and costly church. We are living in perilous times; judgment is to follow judgment. Let us now reveal in our works that we believe that the time of Gods judgments is come, that we are approaching the day when there will be no certainty regarding anything in this world. By our works as well as our testimony we are to tell that the end of all things is at hand. {6MR 320.4}[7]
§17
我们要留意在突然临到旧金山的灾难中发出的警告。奥克兰人不可使旧金山人有理由以为他们觉得很安全。然而你们若是在这个时候建起一座昂贵的大礼拜堂，他们就会那样理解你们的行动。……{6MR321.1}[8]
§18
We are to take heed to the warnings given in the calamity that has overtaken San Francisco. The people of Oakland must not give the people of San Francisco cause to think that they feel secure. But that is what they would understand your action to mean if at this time you should erect a large and costly meeting-house. . . . {6MR 321.1}[8]
§19
在这个时候在任何地方建立昂贵的礼拜堂都不符合我们的信仰。有许多地方不久就会不得不建礼拜堂，因此我们不应该把大笔金钱投在任何一个地方。（《信函》1907年10号第1-3页，致奥克兰教会的肢体们，1907年1月18日）{6MR321.2}[9]
§20
At this time the building of costly meeting houses in any place is not in accordance with our faith. There are many places where meeting houses will soon have to be built; therefore we should not put large sums of money in any one place.--Letter 10, 1907, pp. 1-3. (To the Members of the Oakland Church, January 18, 1907.) {6MR 321.2}[9]
§21
各教会在迅速归向世界。他们有美好的音乐和辉煌灿烂的装饰。但他们却是不结果子的树，只有叶子。主怎样撕下了那棵无花果树的假面具，也必照样揭露这些自命不凡的伪君子。（《信函》1891年45号第4页，致我的弟兄，1891年12月28日）{6MR321.3}[10]
§22
The churches are fast being converted to the world. They have beautiful music and splendid decorations. But they are fruitless trees, bearing nothing but leaves. As the Lord unmasked the fig tree, so He will unmask these pretentious hypocrites.--Letter 45, 1891, p. 4. (To My Brother, December 28, 1891.) {6MR 321.3}[10]
§23
关于要在华盛顿建的楼房，所赐给我的指示是，主的旨意并不是要它成为壮观的炫耀。楼房要向信徒和与我们信仰不同的人表明，没有一块钱用在不必要的炫耀上。楼房的每一部分都要作见证，证明我们认识到在我们面前有一个未开工的传道大园地，真理要在许多地方得建立。{6MR321.4}[11]
§24
The instruction that has been given me in regard to the buildings to be erected in Washington is that it is not the Lords will for an imposing display to be made. The buildings are to show, to believers and to those not of our faith, that not one dollar has been invested in needless display. Every part of the buildings is to bear witness that we realize that there is before us a great, unworked missionary field, and that the truth is to be established in many places. {6MR 321.4}[11]
§25
要是所建的楼房符合我们所传扬的真理，就会对人发挥一种显著的感化力。行动比言语更有说服力。要坦率地说：“上帝已吩咐我们不要将大笔资金投在一个地方，祂还吩咐我们不要将钱花在满足想要炫耀的欲望上。”我们在工作中要遵循的原则在基督的生活中得到了例证。祂原是天上的至尊，却在木工台上工作。然而无论他的任务多么卑微，祂都最严谨地做成。（《信函》1904年83号第1,2页，致A.G.丹尼尔斯，W.W.普雷斯科特，和黑尔医生，1904年2月15日）1974年12月2日发布。{6MR322.1}[12]
§26
If the buildings erected correspond to the truth that we are proclaiming, a telling influence will be exerted on minds. Actions speak louder than words. Say frankly, God has charged us not to invest a large amount of means in one place, and He has charged us also not to invest means in gratifying the desire for display. The principles that we are to follow in our work are exemplified in the life of Christ. He was the Majesty of heaven, and yet He worked at a carpenters bench. And however lowly His task, it was done with the utmost exactitude.--Letter 83, 1904, pp. 1, 2. (To A. G. Daniells, W. W. Prescott, and Dr. Hare, February 15, 1904.) Released December 2, 1974. {6MR 322.1}[12]