第21章 巴特尔克里克教会
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第21章 巴特尔克里克教会
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Chap. 21 - The Battle Creek Church
§3
把学校建在巴特尔克里克的事遭到了强烈的反对。这里的教会很大，而且有相当多的青年。在这样大的教会里，一名信徒对于另一名信徒的影响若具有使人向上的性质，引领他人更加纯洁，更加委身于上帝，那么青年来到巴特尔克里克就会比把学校建在别处更有益。然而，假如巴特尔克里克的影响在未来的时日与过去这几年一样的话，我便要警告父母们使自己的孩子远离巴特尔克里克。在这个大教会里，只有很少的人能发挥一种能引人归向基督的影响力，很多人的榜样反而会使青年人远离上帝，去爱世界。{3T 197.1}[1]
§4
There are serious objections to having the school located at Battle Creek. The church is large, and there are quite a number of youth connected with it. If the influence which one member has over another in so large a church were of an elevating character, leading to purity and consecration to God, then the youth coming to Battle Creek would have greater advantages than if the school were located elsewhere. But if the influences at Battle Creek shall be in the future what they have been for several years past, I would warn parents to keep their children from Battle Creek. There are but few in that large church who have an influence that will steadily draw souls to Christ; while there are many who will, by their example, lead the youth away from God to the love of the world. {3T 197.1}[1]
§5
巴特尔克里克教会中的许多人极其缺乏责任感。那些拥有实际宗教的人在任何环境下都会保持自己品格的特性。他们不会像风中摇摆不定的芦苇。住在远方的信徒认为，他们若有特权居住在巴特尔克里克，就会非常幸运，在一个强大的教会里，他们的子女可以受益于安息日学和各种聚会。在过去，我们中间的一些弟兄姐妹曾做出牺牲，让自己的儿女住在那里。但他们几乎事事失望。在这个教会里只有很少的人对这些青年表现出无私的关心。这个教会的信徒普遍表现出法利赛人的冷漠，远离那些最需要他们帮助的人。这个教会中的一些青年自称侍奉上帝，实际上却更爱宴乐和世界，他们随时都会与来到他们中间的陌生青年结交，对他们发挥一种强大的影响，带领他们更加亲近世界，而不是亲近上帝。这些人回家时，比来巴特尔克里克时离真理更远了。{3T 197.2}[2]
§6
With many of the church at Battle Creek there is a great lack of feeling their responsibility. Those who have practical religion will retain their identity of character under any circumstances. They will not be like the reed trembling in the wind. Those situated at a distance feel that they would be highly favored could they have the privilege of living in Battle Creek, among a strong church, where their children could be benefited by the Sabbath school and meetings. Some of our brethren and sisters in times past have made sacrifices to have their children live there. But they have been disappointed in almost every case. There were but few in the church to manifest an unselfish interest for these youth. The church generally stood as pharisaical strangers, aloof from those who needed their help the most. Some of the youth connected with the church, who were professedly serving God, but loving pleasure and the world more, were ready to make the acquaintance of youthful strangers who came among them, and to exert a strong influence over them to lead them to the world instead of nearer to God. When these return home, they are further from the truth than when they came to Battle Creek. {3T 197.2}[2]
§7
圣工的中心需要愿意养育儿女的以色列父母。他们心中所想的不仅是自己和自己的子女。他们应当对宝贵的青年洋溢着爱心，不论这些青年是他们家中的人，还是他们邻舍的子女。他们都是上帝大家庭中的成员，基督非常关心他们，以致作出了全部可能的牺牲，为要拯救他们。祂放下了自己的荣耀，威严，宝座和王袍，成为贫穷，使人可以因祂的贫穷而成为富足。祂最后倾倒了自己的性命以致于死，好拯救人类脱离绝望的痛苦。这是基督赐给我们要我们效法的无私仁爱的榜样。{3T 198.1}[3]
§8
Men and women are wanted at the heart of the work who will be nursing fathers and mothers in Israel, who will have hearts that can take in more than merely me and mine. They should have hearts that will glow with love for the dear youth, whether they are members of their own families or children of their neighbors. They are members of Gods great family, for whom Christ had so great an interest that He made every sacrifice that it was possible for Him to make to save them. He left His glory, His majesty, His kingly throne and robes of royalty, and became poor, that through His poverty the children of men might be made rich. He finally poured out His soul unto death that He might save the race from hopeless misery. This is the example of disinterested benevolence that Christ has given us to pattern after. {3T 198.1}[3]
§9
在上帝天意的特别安排中，使许多青年和成年人投入了巴特尔克里克教会的怀抱，为要使他们享有上帝所赐给这个教会的伟大亮光，并且这个教会藉着无私的努力，原可拥有宝贵的特权，使那些来到巴特尔克里克的人归向基督和真理。基督差遣祂的天使来为那些被带到真理的影响之下的人服务，软化他们的心，使他们易受真理的影响。正当上帝和祂的使者做工之时，那些自称跟随基督的人却表现出冷淡不关心。他们没有与基督和圣天使和谐同工。尽管他们自称是上帝的仆人，实际上却在侍奉自己的利益，追求自己的快乐，对周围将亡之人漠不关心。这些人确实可以说：“没有人关心我的灵魂。”教会已忽视利用自己力所能及特权与福惠，由于疏忽了自己的职责，就错过了得人归向基督的绝好良机。{3T 198.2}[4]
§10
In the special providence of God many youth and also those of mature age have been thrown into the arms of the Battle Creek church for them to bless with the great light God has given them, and that, through their disinterested efforts, they might have the precious privilege of bringing them to Christ and to the truth. Christ commissions His angels to minister unto those who are brought under the influence of the truth, to soften their hearts and make them susceptible of the influences of His truth. While God and His angels are doing their work, those who profess to be followers of Christ seem to be coolly indifferent. They do not work in unison with Christ and holy angels. Although they profess to be servants of God they are serving their own interest and loving their own pleasure, and souls are perishing around them. These souls can truly say: No man careth for my soul. The church have neglected to improve the privileges and blessings within their reach, and through their neglect of duty have lost golden opportunities of winning souls to Christ. {3T 198.2}[4]
§11
非信徒在他们中间已经居住了好几个月，他们却没有做出任何特别的努力去拯救这些人。主人会如何看待这样的仆人呢？要是弟兄姐妹们实践了自己高尚的信仰，这些非信徒原会对他们付出的努力做出回应。要是他们一直在寻找机会为主的利益工作，推进祂的圣工，他们原会向这些非信徒表现仁慈和爱心，会寻找机会和这些人一同祈祷，并为他们祈祷；也会感受到自己肩负的严肃职责，要藉着自己的行为、教训和榜样来表明自己的信仰。藉着他们的服务，这些生灵原可得救，成为他们喜乐冠冕上的星星。然而，在许多情况下，绝好的机会一去不返了。那些停留在断定谷（珥3:14）的人已采取立场加入仇敌的行列，成为上帝和真理的敌人。自称跟随耶稣之人不忠实的记录已经上达于天。{3T 198.3}[5]
§12
Unbelievers have lived among them for months, and they have made no special efforts to save them. How can the Master regard such servants? The unbelieving would have responded to efforts made in their behalf if the brethren and sisters had lived up to their exalted profession. If they had been seeking an opportunity to work for the interest of their Master, to advance His cause, they would have manifested kindness and love for them, they would have sought opportunities to pray with and for them, and would have felt a solemn responsibility resting upon them to show their faith by their works, by precept and example. Through their instrumentality these souls might have been saved to be as stars in the crown of their rejoicing. But, in many cases, the golden opportunity has passed never to return. The souls that were in the valley of decision have taken their position in the ranks of the enemy and become enemies of God and the truth. And the record of the unfaithfulness of the professed followers of Jesus has gone up to heaven. {3T 198.3}[5]
§13
我蒙指示看到，若是巴特尔克里克的青年忠于自己所宣称的信仰，便可在青年同伴身上发挥为善的有力影响。但巴特尔克里克大部分的青年都需要基督徒的经验。他们没有在自己的经验中认识上帝。他们的基督徒生活中没有个人的经验，他们若不获得这种经验，就必与不信的人一同灭亡。这班青年随从自己的嗜好而不听从本分。有些人根本不寻求受原则管束。他们没有努力进窄门，也没有恐惧战兢免得自己不能进去。他们是自信、自夸、骄傲、不顺从、不感恩、不圣洁的。正是这样一等人引领生灵走在通向灭亡的大路上。如果基督不在他们里面，他们就无法在自己的生活和品格上彰显祂。{3T 199.1}[6]
§14
I was shown that if the youth at Battle Creek were true to their profession, they might exert a strong influence for good over their fellow youth. But a large share of the youth at Battle Creek need a Christian experience. They know not God by experimental knowledge. They have not individually a personal experience in the Christian life, and they must perish with the unbelieving unless they obtain this experience. The youth of this class follow inclination rather than duty. Some do not seek to be governed by principle. They do not agonize to enter in at the strait gate, trembling with fear lest they will not be able. They are confident, boastful, proud, disobedient, unthankful, and unholy. Just such a class as this lead souls in the broad road to ruin. If Christ is not in them, they cannot exemplify Him in their lives and characters. {3T 199.1}[6]
§15
巴特尔克里克教会已有极大的亮光。他们这班人已特蒙上帝眷爱。他们并非不知道上帝对于他们的旨意。要是他们曾行在光中，就会远超过现在的景况。他们并非自己的信仰所要求的与世俗有别、特殊圣洁的子民，也不是上帝所认可所承认的光明之子。他们并没有作为行在光中的子民应有的顺从与献身，与他们的崇高地位和神圣义务相称。曾赐给世界的最严肃的怜悯信息已经托付给了他们。上帝已使这个教会成为祂诫命的保管者，在某种意义上，这种特权是其他任何教会所不具备的。上帝并没有指示他们祂特别施恩托付他们神圣的真理，单单要使他们因所赐的亮光获益，而是要他们将这从天而来的亮光照亮他人，然后再由领受真理荣耀上帝的人将之反照给上帝。到了向上帝交账的日子，巴特尔克里克教会中的很多人要交一份可怕的账，因为他们有罪地忽视了自己的职责。{3T 199.2}[7]
§16
The church at Battle Creek have had great light. As a people they have been peculiarly favored of God. They have not been left in ignorance in regard to the will of God concerning them. They might be far in advance of what they now are, if they had walked in the light. They are not that separate, peculiar, and holy people that their faith demands, and that God recognizes and acknowledges as children of the light. They are not as obedient and devotional as their exalted position and sacred obligation as children walking in the light require them to be. The most solemn message of mercy ever given to the world has been entrusted to them. The Lord has made that church the depositaries of His commandments in a sense that no other church is. God did not show them His special favor in trusting to them His sacred truth that they alone might be benefited by the light given, but that the light reflected upon them from heaven should shine forth to others and be reflected again to God by those who receive the truth glorifying Him. Many in Battle Creek will have a fearful account to give in the day of God for this sinful neglect of duty. {3T 199.2}[7]
§17
巴特尔克里克许多自称相信真理的人，用他们的行为否认了自己的信仰。他们正如基督第一次降临时的犹太教会一样不信，远远没能履行上帝对他们的要求，也没有达到他们所宣称之信仰的标准。要是基督再现在他们中间，谴责他们的自私、骄傲和喜爱与世俗为友的心，象祂第一次降临时那样，就会只有很少的人认出祂是荣耀的主。基督要展现他们忽视自己职责的状况，他们不会接受，反而会当着主的面反驳说：“你完全弄错了，我们行了这件大好事，做了这件那件奇妙的工作，因着我们的好行为，我们有资格得到高举。” {3T 200.1}[8]
§18
Many of those who profess to believe the truth in Battle Creek contradict their faith by their works. They are as unbelieving, and as far from fulfilling the requirements of God and from coming up to their profession of faith, as was the Jewish church at the time of Christs first advent. Should Christ make His appearance among them, reproving and rebuking selfishness, pride, and love of the friendship of the world, as He did at His first advent, but few would recognize Him as the Lord of glory. The picture He would present before them of their neglect of duty they would not receive, but would tell Him to His face: You are entirely mistaken; we have done this good and great thing, and performed this and that wonderful work, and we are entitled to be highly exalted for our good works. {3T 200.1}[8]
§19
犹太人并不是瞬间进入黑暗的。这是一种逐步的工作，直到他们无法辨明上帝的恩赐——赐下祂的独生爱子。巴特尔克里克的教会拥有上好的特权，他们也将按照所拥有的亮光和特权受审判。他们的缺点，他们的不信，他们内心的刚硬，以及他们疏于珍爱和听从亮光，不亚于那些蒙恩眷的犹太人。犹太人拒绝了本可以领受的福惠，将上帝的儿子钉死在十字架上。犹太人现今在世上成了惊讶和羞辱。{3T 200.2}[9]
§20
The Jews did not go into darkness all at once. It was a gradual work, until they could not discern the gift of God in sending His Son. The church at Battle Creek have had superior advantages, and they will be judged by the light and privileges they have had. Their deficiencies, their unbelief, their hardness of heart, and their neglect to cherish and follow the light are not less than those of the favored Jews, who refused the blessings they might have accepted, and crucified the Son of God. The Jews are now an astonishment and reproach to the world. {3T 200.2}[9]
§21
巴特尔克里克教会就像迦百农，基督形容迦百农因所领受的亮光和特权而被高举到天上。假如所多玛和蛾摩拉蒙受了那么大的亮光和特权，那两座城市原可存留至今。假如巴特尔克里克教会将所领受的亮光和知识传给那些坐在黑暗中的民族，他们就会远超过巴特尔克里克教会了。{3T 200.3}[10]
§22
The church at Battle Creek are like Capernaum, which Christ represents as being exalted unto heaven by the light and privileges that had been given them. If the light and privileges with which they had been blessed had been given to Sodom and Gomorrah, they might have stood unto this day. If the light and knowledge which the church in Battle Creek have received had been given the nations who sit in darkness, they might have been far in advance of that church. {3T 200.3}[10]
§23
老底嘉教会真心相信和享有福音所带来的种种福惠。他们以为自己蒙上帝喜悦，已经发了财，但那真实见证者却说他们是贫穷、赤身、瞎眼、可怜的。巴特尔克里克教会正是这样的情形。大部分自称守上帝诫命的子民也是这样。上帝看人不象人看人。祂的意念和道路非同我们的意念和道路。{3T 201.1}[11]
§24
The Laodicean church really believed, and enjoyed the blessings of the gospel, and thought they were rich in the favor of God, when the True Witness called them poor, naked, blind, and miserable. This is the case with the church at Battle Creek and with a large share of those who profess to be Gods commandment-keeping people. The Lord seeth not as man seeth. His thoughts and ways are not as our ways. {3T 201.1}[11]
§25
上帝的话语和律法写在人心中，展现在圣洁献身的生活中，有一种使世人知罪的强大感化力。与拜偶像一样的贪婪，嫉妒和贪爱世界，要从顺服基督的人的心中根除。他们会乐意行公义，好怜悯，谦卑地行在上帝面前。谦卑地行在上帝面前，这有着多么广泛含义啊！上帝的律法若写在人的心里，就会使人的心思和意愿顺服基督。{3T 201.2}[12]
§26
The words and law of God, written in the soul, and exhibited in a consecrated, holy life, have a powerful influence to convict the world. Covetousness, which is idolatry, and envy, and love of the world, will be rooted from the hearts of those who are obedient to Christ, and it will be their pleasure to deal justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God. Oh, how much is comprised in this, walking humbly before God! The law of God, if written in the heart, will bring the mind and will into subjection to the obedience of Christ. {3T 201.2}[12]
§27
我们的信仰是特别的。许多自称活在最后慈怜信息之下的人并没有放弃对这个世界的爱情。他们在世界的友谊面前屈身，牺牲亮光和原则以博得世界的好感。使徒用这些话来描述蒙上帝喜悦的子民：“惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属上帝的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德”（彼前2:9）。{3T 201.3}[13]
§28
Our faith is peculiar. Many who profess to be living under the sound of the last message of mercy are not separated in their affections from the world. They bow down before the friendship of the world and sacrifice light and principle to secure its favor. The apostle describes the favored people of God in these words: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. {3T 201.3}[13]