第31章 教会的需要
§1
第31章 教会的需要
§2
Chap. 31—The Church’s Need
§3
虽然世界需要同情，需要上帝子民的祈祷及援助，更需要在基督徒的生活上看见基督，然而上帝的子民也同样地需要有机会，好引起他们的同情心，使他们的祈祷有功效，并培养一种与那神圣的典范相似的品格。{6T261.1}[1]
§4
While the world needs sympathy, while it needs the prayers and assistance of God’s people, while it needs to see Christ in the lives of His followers, the people of God are equally in need of opportunities that draw out their sympathies, give efficiency to their prayers, and develop in them a character like that of the divine pattern.?{6T 261.1}[1]
§5
上帝把穷苦，不幸，患病，遭难的人安置在我们中间，就是要给我们这些机会。他们是基督留给教会的遗产，他们应当受照顾，象祂自己要照顾他们一样。上帝以这种方式来清除渣滓并炼净金子，赐给我们所需要的心灵与品格的造就。{6T261.2}[2]
§6
It is to provide these opportunities that God has placed among us the poor, the unfortunate, the sick, and the suffering. They are Christ’s legacy to His church, and they are to be cared for as He would care for them. In this way God takes away the dross and purifies the gold, giving us that culture of heart and character which we need.?{6T 261.2}[2]
§7
主尽可无需我们的合作而推进其工作。祂并不倚靠我们的金钱，我们的光阴，和我们的辛劳。然而教会在祂的眼中看来是极宝贵的，是祂珍藏珠宝的箱子，监护羊群的羊圈，祂切望见她是无瑕疵、皱纹等类的病。祂以言语所不能形容的爱渴念着她。就是为这个原因，祂赐给我们为祂作工的机会，并接受我们的服务，作为我们的爱与忠心的象征。{6T261.3}[3]
§8
The Lord could carry forward His work without our co-operation. He is not dependent on us for our money, our time, or our labor. But the church is very precious in His sight. It is the case which contains His jewels, the fold which encloses His flock, and He longs to see it without spot or blemish or any such thing. He yearns after it with unspeakable love. This is why He has given us opportunities to work for Him, and He accepts our labors as tokens of our love and loyalty.?{6T 261.3}[3]
§9
主把穷苦的人放在我们之中，是在试验我们，使我们看明自己内心如何。我们不能离开原则而得安全，我们不能干犯公平，我们不能忽视仁慈。当我们见到一个弟兄堕落败坏，我们不可从路那边走过，乃当以坚决而即时的行动，去帮助他，以应验经上所说的话。我们不能作与上帝的特别指示相反的工作，而不使我们工作的效果反映在我们的身上。在我们的良心上应当有根深蒂固的，坚定的认识，在我们的行动上凡足以贻羞上帝的事，绝对是与我们无益的。{6T261.4}[4]
§10
In placing among us the poor and the suffering, the Lord is testing us to reveal to us what is in our hearts. We cannot with safety swerve from principle, we cannot violate justice, we cannot neglect mercy. When we see a brother falling into decay we are not to pass him by on the other side, but are to make decided and immediate efforts to fulfill the word of God by helping him. We cannot work contrary to God’s special directions without having the result of our work reflect upon us. It should?be firmly settled, rooted, and grounded in the conscience, that whatever dishonors God in our course of action cannot benefit us.?{6T 261.4}[4]
§11
好像铁笔在磐石上刻字一样，我们也当在良心上写下，人若漠视慈悲、怜悯、及公义，若忽略穷人，若不顾受难之人的需要，若无仁慈和礼貌，他就是使上帝不能在培养品格上与他合作。当我们对别人感觉有这种慈怜同情之心，以致用自己的利益及特权去救助他们的需要时，我们心思与意念的培育就更易成全。我们若为自己积聚把持一切，就趋向于灵性贫乏。但是那些愿意承担上帝所派之任务，照基督的方式去作的，就可接受基督的一切属性。{6T262.1}[5]
§12
It should be written upon the conscience as with a pen of iron upon a rock, that he who disregards mercy, compassion, and righteousness, he who neglects the poor, who ignores the needs of suffering humanity, who is not kind and courteous, is so conducting himself that God cannot co-operate with him in the development of character. The culture of the mind and heart is more easily accomplished when we feel such tender sympathy for others that we bestow our benefits and privileges to relieve their necessities. Getting and holding all that we can for ourselves tends to poverty of soul. But all the attributes of Christ await the reception of those who will do the very work that God has appointed them to do, working in Christ’s lines.?{6T 262.1}[5]
§13
我们的救赎主派使者去对祂的子民作见证。祂说：“看哪，我站在门外叩门，若有听见我声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我与他，他与我，一同坐席”（启3:20）。然而许多人却拒绝接受祂。圣灵等待着要软化并折服人心；但他们却不愿开门让救主进来，因为怕祂会要求他们一些事情。因此拿撒勒的耶稣便走过去了。祂切望将祂恩典的丰富福惠赐给他们，但他们拒不接受。人拒绝基督进入祂自己的殿中，这是一件何等可怕的事啊！这是教会何等大的损失啊！{6T262.2}[6]
§14
Our Redeemer sends His messengers to bear a testimony to His people. He says: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”?Revelation 3:20. But many refuse to receive Him. The Holy Spirit waits to soften and subdue hearts; but they are not willing to open the door and let the Saviour in, for fear that He will require something of them. And so Jesus of Nazareth passes by. He longs to bestow on them the rich blessings of His grace, but they refuse to accept them. What a terrible thing it is to exclude Christ from His own temple! What a loss to the church!?{6T 262.2}[6]
§15
善行是需要我们以牺牲为代价的，可是在这个牺牲上，就使人得到训练。这些义务使我们与各种本性及嗜好相冲突，但在履行这些义务后，我们就对于自己品格上的那些可非议之特性，胜了又胜。战争继续进行，我们便这样地在恩典中有长进，如此就可返照基督的形像，并被预备好在上帝国内蒙福之人中有份。{6T262.3}[7]
§16
Good works cost us a sacrifice, but it is in this very sacrifice that they provide discipline. These obligations bring us into conflict with natural feelings and propensities,and in fulfilling them we gain victory after victory over the objectionable traits of our characters. The warfare goes on, and thus we grow in grace. Thus we reflect the likeness of Christ and are prepared for a place among the blessed in the kingdom of God.?{6T 263.3}[7]
§17
人若将自己从主所接受的拿来分给穷苦的人，就必得到现世的和属灵的福气。耶稣曾行神迹给五千饥饿疲倦的群众吃饱。祂拣选一块舒适的，可以容纳他们的地方，吩咐他们坐下。于是拿起五个饼和两条小鱼。无疑地当时已有许多人评论此事，说这一点东西要叫五千饥饿的人吃饱，妇女孩童还不在内，乃是不可能的。但耶稣祝谢了就将食物交在门徒的手中去分发。他们分发给群众，手中的粮食就增加了。到群众都吃饱了，众门徒也坐下与基督同享上天所分赐的食物。这件事对于每位基督徒都是一个宝贵的教训。{6T263.1}[8]
§18
Blessings, both temporal and spiritual, will accompany those who impart to the needy that which they receive from the Master. Jesus worked a miracle to feed the five thousand, a tired, hungry multitude. He chose a pleasant place in which to accommodate the people and commanded them to sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two small fishes. No doubt many remarks were made as to the impossibility of satisfying five thousand hungry men, besides women and children, from that scanty store. But Jesus gave thanks and placed the food in the hands of the disciples to be distributed. They gave to the multitude, the food increasing in their hands. And when the multitude had been fed, the disciples themselves sat down and ate with Christ of the heaven-imparted store. This is a precious lesson for every one of Christ’s followers.?{6T 263.1}[8]
§19
那清洁没有玷污的虔诚，“就是看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇，并且保守自己不沾染世俗”（雅1:27）。我们的信徒非常需要一种关于实际敬虔的知识。他们需要实践舍己与自我牺牲。他们需要向世人证明自己是象基督的。因此，基督所要求他们去作的工，不是可以叫别人代作的，不可把自己应负的责任交给某个委员会或某个机构去代办。他们当藉着牺牲自己的金钱，光阴，同情心，及个人的努力使自己的品格变得与基督相似，去帮助病痛的人，去安慰伤心的人，去救济穷困的人，去鼓励沮丧的人，去照亮黑暗当中的生灵，把罪人导向基督，去使人心明白对上帝律法的义务。{6T263.2}[9]
§20
Pure and undefiled religion is “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”?James 1:27. Our church members are greatly in need of a knowledge of practical godliness. They need to practice self-denial and self-sacrifice. They need to give evidence to the world that they are Christlike. Therefore the work that Christ requires of them is not to be done by proxy, placing on some committee or some institution the burden that they themselves should bear. They are to become Christlike in?character by giving of their means and time, their sympathy, their personal effort, to help the sick, to comfort the sorrowing, to relieve the poor, to encourage the desponding, to enlighten souls in darkness, to point sinners to Christ, to bring home to hearts the obligation of God’s law.?{6T 263.2}[9]
§21
人们正在观察衡量那些自称相信现代特别真理的人们，看他们的生活和行为是否代表基督。上帝的子民藉着谦卑恳切地从事向众人行善的工作，就可在真理所进入的各城各镇发挥一种劝善的感化力。如果一切明白真理的人都能利用所遇到的机会去推动此种工作，每日向附近的人作些小小的仁爱的行为，就可以向邻舍表现出基督来，同时福音也要显出是活泼的能力，而不是乖巧捏造的虚言或无用的猜测了。它必显明是实际的，而不是出于幻想或狂热的结果。这要比讲道理，读宣言，或念教条，重要得多了。{6T264.1}[10]
§22
People are watching and weighing those who claim to believe the special truths for this time. They are watching to see wherein their life and conduct represent Christ. By humbly and earnestly engaging in the work of doing good to all, God’s people will exert an influence that will tell in every town and city where the truth has entered. If all who know the truth will take hold of this work as opportunities are presented, day by day doing little acts of love in the neighborhood where they live, Christ will be manifest to their neighbors. The gospel will be revealed as a living power and not as cunningly devised fables or idle speculations. It will be revealed as a reality, not the result of imagination or enthusiasm. This will be of more consequence than sermons or professions or creeds.?{6T 264.1}[10]
§23
撒但正在将每个人的生命当作儿戏。他知道实际的同情乃是人心纯洁无私的试金石，因此他要尽一切可能的努力，来关闭我们的心，使之对别人的需要漠不关怀，终至于见他人苦难也无动于衷。他要引起许多的事来拦阻人作仁爱及同情的表示。他就是这样使犹大灭亡了。犹大经常为自己的利益打算。他在这方面代表了现今一大类自称为基督徒的人，故此我们应当研究他的情形。我们也是象他一样与基督亲近。但我们若象犹大一样，虽与基督结交，却没有使自己与祂合而为一，也不在我们的心中培养对于那些基督为之舍命的人应有的真挚同情，我们就象犹大一样处在同样的危险中，与基督无份，成为撒但试探的玩物。{6T264.2}[11]
§24
Satan is playing the game of life for every soul. He knows that practical sympathy is a test of the purity and unselfishness of the heart, and he will make every possible effort to close our hearts to the needs of others, that we may finally be unmoved by the sight of suffering. He will bring in many things to prevent the expression of love and sympathy. It is thus that he ruined Judas. Judas was constantly planning to benefit self. In this he represents a large class of professed Christians of today. Therefore we need to study his case. We are as near to Christ as he was. Yet if, as with Judas, association with Christ does not make us one with Him, if it does not cultivate within our hearts a sincere sympathy for those for whom?Christ gave His life, we are in the same danger as was Judas of being outside of Christ, the sport of Satan’s temptations.?{6T 264.2}[11]
§25
我们需要慎防第一步偏离公义；因为一次违命，一次忽略表现基督的精神，就会洞开另一次又另一次的门户，直至心意被仇敌的原则所压服了。自私的精神一经养成，就必成为吞噬人的情欲，那是除了基督的权能之外别无他法可以制服的。{6T265.1}[12]
§26
We need to guard against the first deviation from righteousness; for one transgression, one neglect to manifest the spirit of Christ, opens the way for another and still another, until the mind is overmastered by the principles of the enemy. If cultivated, the spirit of selfishness becomes a devouring passion which nothing but the power of Christ can subdue.?{6T 265.1}[12]
§27
【《以赛亚书》第五十八章的信息】
§28
我要以万分恳切的心情劝勉我们教会的全体信徒，所有真正的传道士，所有相信第三位天使信息的，所有在安息日掉转脚步的人，要思考《以赛亚书》第五十八章的信息。在本章所吩咐的慈善工作，乃是上帝要祂的子民在现今去作的。这是祂亲自派定的工作。关于这信息要应用在什么地方，及其显著应验的时间，我们都已毫无疑义，因为我们读道：“那些出于你的人，必修造久已荒废之处。你要建立拆毁累代的根基，你必称为补破口的，和重修路径与人居住的”（12节）。第七日安息日乃是上帝的纪念日，是祂创造世界之工的记号，已被那大罪人替换了。上帝子民要作一番特别的工作，去修补祂律法上的破口；我们越靠近末时，这份工作便越紧迫。一切爱上帝的人，必藉着遵守祂的诫命，显明自己有祂的印记。他们是重修路径与人居住的。耶和华说：“你若在安息日掉转你的脚步，在我圣日不以操作为喜乐，称安息日为喜乐的，……你就以耶和华为乐；耶和华要使你乘驾地的高处（13,14节）。因而，真正的医疗布道工作是与遵守上帝的诫命分不开的，其中特别提到了安息日，因为它是上帝创造工作的伟大纪念。安息日的遵守与在人心中恢复上帝的道德形像是有密切关系的。这是上帝的子民今日要推进的事工，如能实行得正确，就会给教会带来丰富的福气。{6T265.2}[13]
§29
【The Message of Isaiah Fifty-Eight】
§30
I cannot too strongly urge all our church members, all who are true missionaries, all who believe the third angel’s message, all who turn away their feet from the Sabbath, to consider the message of the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah. The work of beneficence enjoined in this chapter is the work that God requires His people to do at this time. It is a work of His own appointment. We are not left in doubt as to where the message applies, and the time of its marked fulfillment, for we read: “They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”?Verse 12. God’s memorial, the seventh-day Sabbath, the sign of His work in creating the world, has been displaced by the man of sin. God’s people have a special work to do in repairing the breach that has been made in His law; and the nearer we approach the end, the more urgent this work becomes. All who love God will show that they bear His sign by keeping His commandments. They are the restorers of paths to dwell in. The Lord says: “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight,?... then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.”?Verses 13, 14. Thus genuine medical missionary work is bound up inseparably with the keeping of God’s commandments, of which the Sabbath is especially mentioned, since it is the great memorial of God’s creative work. Its observance is bound up with the work of restoring the moral image of God in man. This is the ministry which God’s people are to carry forward at this time. This ministry, rightly performed, will bring rich blessings to the church.?{6T 265.2}[13]
§31
我们作基督门徒的人，需要有更大的信心。我们需要更热切地祷告。许多人诧异为什么他们的祷告是这么没生气，他们的信心是这么薄弱而摇动，他们的基督徒经验是这样暗淡无光且不确定。他们问说，“难道我们没有禁食，‘在万军之耶和华面前苦苦斋戒么（玛3:14）？’”在《以赛亚书》五十八章中，基督已表明了这种情形是如何可以得到改变的。祂说：“我所拣选的禁食，不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭么？不是要把你的饼分给饥饿的人，将飘流的穷人接到你家中；见赤身的给他衣服遮体，顾恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏么”（赛58：6,7节）？这就是基督给灰心，疑惧，战兢的人所开列的药方。让那些悲伤的人，在耶和华面前苦苦斋戒的人，起来帮助某个正需要帮助的人吧。{6T266.1}[14]
§32
As believers in Christ we need greater faith. We need to be more fervent in prayer. Many wonder why their prayers are so lifeless, their faith so feeble and wavering, their Christian experience so dark and uncertain. Have we not fasted, they say, and “walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?” In the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah Christ has shown how this condition of things may be changed. He says: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?”?Verses 6, 7. This is the recipe that Christ has prescribed for the fainthearted, doubting, trembling soul. Let the sorrowful ones, who walk mournfully before the Lord, arise and help someone who needs help.?{6T 266.1}[14]
§33
每个教会都需要圣灵控制的能力；现今正是应当祈求此能力之时。但上帝在一切为人而作的工作上，祂计划要人与祂合作。为此之故，主呼召教会当有更高的虔诚，更公正的责任感，更清楚的认识自己对创造主的义务。祂呼召他们成为纯净，圣洁，作工的人。基督徒的助人之工便是实践此事的方法之一，因为圣灵与一切正在为上帝服务之人相交。{6T266.2}[15]
§34
Every church is in need of the controlling power of the Holy Spirit, and now is the time to pray for it. But in all God’s work for man He plans that man shall co-operate with Him. To this end the Lord calls upon the church to have a higher piety, a more just sense of duty, a clearer realization of their obligations to their Creator.?He calls upon them to be a pure, sanctified, working people. And the Christian help work is one means of bringing this about, for the Holy Spirit communicates with all who are doing God’s service.?{6T 266.2}[15]
§35
我要对那些已经参加此工作的人们说：当用机智与才能继续努力作工。激励你的同仁们，使他们在某种名义下组织起来，大家合力同工。要动员教会里的青年男女去作工，把医疗布道工作与传扬第三位天使的信息结合起来。要组织定期的活动，使信徒们摆脱多年所处的无生命状况。要把实行健康改革原则的传道人派到教会中去。要让那些奉派的人看出在食欲上舍己的必要性，否则他们就会成为教会的网罗。要看看这样做会否使生命的气息进入我们的各教会中。需要使新的元素参加工作。上帝的子民必须感悟自己的重大需要与危险，并且开始从事最贴近身边的工作。{6T267.1}[16]
§36
To those who have been engaged in this work I would say: Continue to work with tact and ability. Arouse your associates to work under some name whereby they may be organized to co-operate in harmonious action. Get the young men and women in the churches to work. Combine medical missionary work with the proclamation of the third angel’s message. Make regular, organized efforts to lift the church members out of the dead level in which they have been for years. Send out into the churches workers who will live the principles of health reform. Let those be sent who can see the necessity of self-denial in appetite, or they will be a snare to the church. See if the breath of life will not then come into our churches. A new element needs to be brought into the work. God’s people must realize their great need and peril, and take up the work that lies nearest them.?{6T 267.1}[16]
§37
那些参加此工作的人，无论得时不得时，务要帮助穷苦的人，要告诉他们基督对他们奇妙的爱，救主是时刻同在的，感动那些贫穷困苦可怜之人的心。教会若接受上帝所赐的工作，就必得那应许：“你的光就必发现如早晨的光；你所得的医治，要速速发明；你的公义必在你面前行；耶和华的荣光，必作你的后盾”（赛58：8）。基督是我们的义；在这工作中，祂在我们前面行，主的荣光随在后面。{6T267.2}[17]
§38
With those who engage in this work, speaking words in season and out of season, helping the needy, telling them of the wonderful love of Christ for them, the Saviour is always present, impressing the hearts of the poor and miserable and wretched. When the church accepts its God-given work, the promise is: “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward.” Christ is our righteousness; He goes before us in this work, and the glory of the Lord follows.?{6T 267.2}[17]
§39
天庭的全部资源，正在等待每个愿意以基督的方法作工之人去支取。何时我们的信徒肯个别地负起派定给他们的工作，他们就要被一种完全不同的气氛所包围了，必有福惠及能力随着他们的工作。他们必经验心灵更高尚的造就。那束缚他们心灵的自私必被克服。他们的信心必成为活泼的原则。他们的祈祷必更热切。圣灵苏醒人心使人成圣的感化力，必沛降在他们身上，他们要被引导更接近天国。{6T267.3}[18]
§40
All that heaven contains is awaiting the draft of every soul who will labor in Christ’s lines. As the members of our churches individually take up their appointed work, they will be surrounded with an entirely different?atmosphere. A blessing and a power will attend their labors. They will experience a higher culture of mind and heart. The selfishness that has bound up their souls will be overcome. Their faith will be a living principle. Their prayers will be more fervent. The quickening, sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon them, and they will be brought nearer to the kingdom of heaven.?{6T 267.3}[18]
§41
救主不顾阶级与地位，也不理属世的荣誉与富足；祂所重看的是品格与专一的心志。祂并不偏袒强盛及受世俗拥戴的那一边。祂是永生上帝之子，却屈身来救拔堕落的人类。祂用誓约及保证的话，来争取沉沦迷亡的人归向自己。上帝的天使正在观察祂的门徒中有谁愿实行慈怜及同情之心。他们正在观察上帝的子民，有谁愿彰显耶稣的爱。{6T268.1}[19]
§42
The Saviour ignores both rank and caste, worldly honor and riches. It is character and devotedness of purpose that are of high value with Him. He does not take sides with the strong and worldly favored. He, the Son of the living God, stoops to uplift the fallen. By pledges and words of assurance He seeks to win to Himself the lost, perishing soul. Angels of God are watching to see who of His followers will exercise tender pity and sympathy. They are watching to see who of God’s people will manifest the love of Jesus.?{6T 268.1}[19]
§43
那些能认识罪恶之悲惨，及基督为堕落人类所作之无穷牺牲所表现的神圣慈怜的人，就必与基督交往。他们的心必充满爱怜；他们的面容声调都要显出同情之心；他们的努力必含有恳切祈求，仁爱，及活力等特性，并成为上帝所用要得人归向基督的一种能力。{6T268.2}[20]
§44
Those who realize the wretchedness of sin, and the divine compassion of Christ in His infinite sacrifice for fallen man, will have communion with Christ. Their hearts will be full of tenderness; the expression of the countenance and the tone of the voice will show forth sympathy; their efforts will be characterized by earnest solicitude, love, and energy; and they will be a power through God to win souls to Christ.?{6T 268.2}[20]
§45
我们大家都要撒一种可收获忍耐，慈怜，及仁爱之种子。我们将来要收割的，就是我们现今所种的。我们现今正在形成来生的品格。我们此时在世上正在为天国受训练。我们的一切，都是本乎恩典，就是白白得来的恩典，至高无上的恩典。在所立的约中，恩典命定了我们作儿子的名分。在救主里面，恩典使我们的救赎，我们的重生，及我们与基督同作后嗣等事得以成全。我们也当将这恩典呈现在别人面前。{6T268.3}[21]
§46
We all need to sow a crop of patience, compassion, and love. We shall reap the harvest we are sowing. Our characters are now forming for eternity. Here on earth we are training for heaven. We owe everything to grace, free grace, sovereign grace. Grace in the covenant ordained our adoption. Grace in the Saviour effected our redemption, our regeneration, and our adoption to heirship with Christ. Let this grace be revealed to others.?{6T 268.3}[21]