第39章 不可采纳的筹款方式
§1
第39章 不可采纳的筹款方式
§2
Chap. 39 - Forbidden Money-Raising Methods
§3
贪爱口腹之欲和爱宴乐是错误的筹钱呼吁——我们看到今日的教会用聚餐、集市、舞会和庆典鼓励宴乐、暴食和放荡，目的是为教会的府库敛财。这是属肉体的人所发明无须作出牺牲的敛财方法。[1]
§4
Lust of Appetite and Love of Pleasure the Wrong Money-raising Appeal.--We see the churches of our day encouraging feasting, gluttony, and dissipation, by the suppers, fairs, dances, and festivals gotten up for the purpose of gathering means into the church treasury. Here is a method invented by carnal minds to secure means without sacrificing. {WM 289.1}[1]
§5
这样的事例对青年人的思想会产生影响。他们既注意到那些彩票、游艺会和博彩游戏获得教会的认可，就会认为这种筹款方法有迷人之处。……{WM 289.2}[2]
§6
Such an example makes an impression upon the minds of youth. They notice that lotteries and fairs and games are sanctioned by the church, and they think there is something fascinating in this way of obtaining means. . . . {WM 289.2}[2]
§7
我们要远离这一切教会的腐败、放荡和庆典，以免对年轻人和老年人产生败坏的影响。我们无权因这些钱是要给教会用的，就给它披上圣洁的外衣。这样的奉献是有残疾的，带着上帝的咒诅。这些钱财是以牺牲灵魂为代价的。讲台可能被用来倡导为教会筹款而举办的庆典、舞会、抽奖、集市和狂宴；但我们不要参加这类活动；否则会招致上帝的不悦。我们不可提议利用口腹之欲或世俗的娱乐去诱惑自称基督信徒的人奉献上帝所托付的金钱。倘若他们不是因爱基督的缘故甘心情愿地奉献，这奉献绝不为上帝所乐纳。—《评论与通讯》1878.11.21. {WM 289.3}[3]
§8
Let us stand clear of all these church corruptions, dissipations, and festivals, which have a demoralizing influence upon young and old. We have no right to throw over them the cloak of sanctity because the means is to be used for church purposes. Such offerings are lame and diseased and bear the curse of God. They are the price of souls. The pulpit may defend festivals, dancing, lotteries, fairs, and luxurious feasts, to obtain means for church purposes, but let us participate in none of these things; for if we do, Gods displeasure will be upon us. We do not propose to appeal to the lust of appetite or resort to carnal amusements as an inducement to Christs professed followers to give of the means which God has entrusted to them. If they do not give willingly, for the love of Christ, the offering will in no case be acceptable to God.--Review and Herald, Nov. 21, 1878. {WM 289.3}[3]
§9
教会遭到亵渎——许多教会为宗教目的筹募捐款时采用些什么方法呢？乃是义卖，聚餐，博览会，甚至推销彩票等方式。敬拜上帝的地方往往被亵渎，竟成了吃喝宴乐买卖游嬉的场所。在青年人的心中，敬重上帝圣殿和虔诚礼拜的观念已减低了。自我约束的防寨薄弱了。而自私，贪食，与爱好炫耀的恶习，反倒愈放纵而愈根深蒂固了。——《证言》卷九91页. {WM 290.1}[4]
§10
The Church Is Desecrated.--When money is raised for religious purposes, to what means do many churches resort? To bazaars, suppers, fancy fairs, even to lotteries and like devices. Often the place set apart for Gods worship is desecrated by feasting and drinking, buying, selling, and merrymaking. Respect for the house of God and reverence for His worship are lessened in the minds of the youth. The barriers of self-restraint are weakened. Selfishness, appetite, the love of display, are appealed to, and they strengthen as they are indulged.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 91. {WM 290.1}[4]
§11
不信的人有何看法？——不信的人有何看法？上帝之道的圣洁标准被降低到尘土。上帝和基督徒的名声受到了羞辱。这种不合圣经的筹款方法，只能加强最腐败的原则。这正是撒但的目的。人们在重犯拿答和亚比户的罪。他们在侍奉上帝时用凡火而不用圣火。上帝绝不会接受这样的奉献。{WM 290.2}[5]
§12
How Are Unbelievers Impressed?--And what impression is made upon the minds of unbelievers? The holy standard of the Word of God is lowered into the dust. Contempt is cast upon God and upon the Christian name. The most corrupt principles are strengthened by this un-Scriptural way of raising means. And this is as Satan would have it. Men are repeating the sin of Nadab and Abihu. They are using common instead of sacred fire in the service of God. The Lord accepts no such offerings. {WM 290.2}[5]
§13
这一切聚集款项送交祂库房的方法，是祂所憎恶的。这些方法都是出于虚假的奉献。这些自称为基督徒的人，是何等的盲目，何等的糊涂！教会信徒们所做的，如同挪亚时代的居民一样，心中所想的尽都是恶。所有敬畏上帝的人，都要痛恨这样的作法，并视之为歪曲耶稣基督的宗教。——《评论与通讯》1896.12.8. {WM 290.3}[6]
§14
All these methods for bringing money into His treasury are an abomination to Him. It is a spurious devotion that prompts all such devising. O what blindness, what infatuation, is upon many who claim to be Christians! Church members are doing as did the inhabitants of the world in the days of Noah, when the imagination of their hearts was only evil continually. All who fear God will abhor such practices as a misrepresentation of the religion of Jesus Christ. --Review and Herald, Dec. 8, 1896. {WM 290.3}[6]
§15
奉献出于自私的考虑——在声称基督徒的聚会中，撒但给虚妄的快乐和不敬虔的狂欢饮宴，披上了宗教的外衣，使它们有神圣的外表；又因能筹募金钱来支付教堂的开支，就有许多人置良心于不顾了。人拒绝了因爱上帝而奉献，却因爱宴乐和自私地考虑放纵食欲而愿意舍掉他们的钱财。{WM 290.4}[7]
§16
Giving for Selfish Considerations.--In professedly Christian gatherings Satan throws a religious garment over delusive pleasures and unholy revelings to give them the appearance of sanctity, and the consciences of many are quieted because means are raised to defray church expenses. Men refuse to give for the love of God, but for the love of pleasure and the indulgence of appetite for selfish considerations they will part with their money. {WM 290.4}[7]
§17
基督在有关慈善的教训方面、在祂的榜样中、以及上帝引导人心以财物荣耀祂的事上，难道欠缺了能力，以致要用此种方法来维持教会？这样的娱乐和暴食，对体力、智力和道德方面的健康，都会造成不小的伤害。到了最后结算的大日，就会显出那些受狂欢和愚妄所影响而失丧的人来。{WM 291.1}[8]
§18
Is it because there is not power in the lessons of Christ upon benevolence, and in His example, and the grace of God upon the heart to lead men to glorify God with their substance, that such a course must be resorted to in order to sustain the church? The injury sustained to the physical, mental, and moral health in these scenes of amusement and gluttony is not small. And the day of final reckoning will show souls lost through the influence of these scenes of gaiety and folly. {WM 291.1}[8]
§19
可悲的是，神圣和永恒的事物，竟感动不了自称为基督信徒之人的心，使他们乐意奉献以维持福音工作，甚至比不上宴会和狂欢对人心的诱惑。这些诱惑到处盛行，而神圣永恒的事物却无法影响人心参与慈善工作，这真是一件不幸的事。{WM 291.2}[9]
§20
It is a deplorable fact that sacred and eternal considerations do not have that power to open the hearts of the professed followers of Christ to make freewill offerings to sustain the gospel, as the tempting bribes of feasting and general merriment. It is a sad reality that these inducements will prevail when sacred and eternal things will have no force to influence the heart to engage in works of benevolence. {WM 291.2}[9]
§21
摩西在旷野里筹款的办法是非常成功的。他没有用勉强的方法，没有举行盛大的宴会，没有请人来参加狂欢，舞会和娱乐活动，更没有发售彩票，或用这一类世俗化手段，来筹募在旷野建造上帝会幕的经费。上帝吩咐摩西请以色列人把礼物带来。凡出于甘心奉献的礼物，摩西都收纳。结果百姓献上的礼物绰绰有余，以致摩西宣告说足够了。他们得停止奉献，因他们所送来的礼物很多，已经超过需要了。{WM 291.3}[10]
§22
The plan of Moses in the wilderness to raise means was highly successful. There was no compulsion necessary. Moses made no grand feast. He did not invite the people to scenes of gaiety, dancing, and general amusement. Neither did he institute lotteries or anything of this profane order to obtain means to erect the tabernacle of God in the wilderness. God commanded Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring the offerings. Moses was to accept gifts of every man that gave willingly from his heart. These freewill offerings came in so great abundance that Moses proclaimed it was enough. They must cease their presents, for they had given abundantly, more than they could use. {WM 291.3}[10]
§23
撒但利用放纵享乐和食欲这一方面，对自称基督信徒之人所施行的试探是成功的。他披上了光明天使的外衣，并引用圣经来为他放在人前的试探辩护，就是满足人心的放纵食欲和世俗的享乐。那些自称基督徒的人在道德力上软弱，他们被撒但向他们所呈献的贿赂所吸引，于是他便获得胜利了。{WM 292.1}[11]
§24
Satans temptations succeed with the professed followers of Christ on the point of indulgence of pleasure and appetite. Clothed as an angel of light, he will quote Scripture to justify the temptations he places before men to indulge the appetite, and in worldly pleasures which suit the carnal heart. The professed followers of Christ are weak in moral power and are fascinated with the bribe which Satan has presented before them, and he gains the victory. {WM 292.1}[11]
§25
上帝如何看那些用这样的钱财来维持的教会呢？基督不能接受这些捐款，因为他们不是出自爱心和对祂献身，而是对自我的偶像崇拜。但有许多人不愿因爱基督而做的事，却愿为了眼前的奢华、口腹之欲和世俗的享乐，换言之，就是愿为寻欢作乐而做。—《评论与通讯》1874.10.13. {WM 292.2}[12]
§26
How does God look upon churches that are sustained by such means? Christ cannot accept these offerings, because they were not given through their love and devotion to Him but through their idolatry of self. But what many would not do for the love of Christ they will do for the love of delicate luxuries to gratify the appetite and for love of worldly amusements to please the carnal heart.--Ibid., Oct. 13, 1874. {WM 292.2}[12]
§27
捐献的动机也记载下来了——我蒙指示看到：记录的天使忠实地记载了每一笔献与上帝而存入府库中的捐款，以及如此奉献的款项的最后结果。上帝的慧眼辨明每一个献与祂圣工的小钱，以及捐献者的乐愿或勉强的心意。甚至捐献的动机也记载下来了。那些自我牺牲、甘心奉献的人，按着上帝的要求，将那原本属于上帝的财物归还给祂，他们将来必要按着自己的行为得到报偿。——《证言》卷二518，519页. {WM 292.3}[13]
§28
Motive for Giving Is Chronicled.--I was shown that the recording angel makes a faithful record of every offering dedicated to God, and put into the treasury, and also of the final result of the means thus bestowed. The eye of God takes cognizance of every farthing devoted to His cause and of the willingness or reluctance of the giver. The motive in giving is also chronicled. Those self-sacrificing, consecrated ones who render back to God the things that are His, as He requires of them, will be rewarded according to their works.--Testimonies, vol. 2, pp. 518, 519. {WM 292.3}[13]