教會的責任 The Responsibility of The Church

教會的責任

照著山上的樣式走恢復的路

主對教會的命定，乃是要照著『山上的樣式』來建造。一個教會總要看見山上的樣式是如何，總要以神的標準為標準，然後纔知道已往的不對。我們所要趕上的教會，情形到底是怎樣呢？當我們看見主在聖經中所定規那榮耀的教會，我們纔知道我們真是趕不上、來不及。

教會失敗的原因

教會基本的失敗，在於教會不能應付她本身生養的需要。教會的變化不是單因著弟兄姊妹旅行的變換。一個教會剛強的時候，流動的弟兄姊妹人數就少；一個教會軟弱的時候，這樣的人纔多。買賣的人是注意經濟的周轉，貨幣的流通。教會也同樣應注意弟兄姊妹的流動。一個地方如果有三、四百個弟兄姊妹，教會不能照顧得好，過一年後，就新的進來，老的出去，這對教會乃是虧損。所以教會必須能傳福音得新人，也必須造就已經信的人。教會的責任，第一是救人，第二就是培養人。如果在幾個月中救進來一百人，卻也走掉一百人，這乃是教會的大失敗。所以教會失敗的原因，在於生了孩子卻沒有養活。

聖靈工作的律

一個教會如果剛強，就能指揮若定；要得多少罪人，是能控制的。教會要剛強，就得按著主所啟示山上的樣式作；如果不按著主所給的樣式作，就帶人得救好像是很難的事。但如果教會按著主所給的樣式作，就今年要增加五百，就增加五百，要增加一千，就增加一千。我們按著主的路走上去，不只救三百、五百，就是救三千、五千也不希奇。感謝主，我們當中的弟兄稱主為復興之子。其實主是不是復興之子，乃在於我們是否照著祂藉聖靈所啟示給我們的律來作工。凡認識主作工之律的人，就會同意我所說的。教會傳福音時，如果認識聖靈的律，按著聖靈的律來作工，人得救就沒有問題。教會一出來，人就不能不得救，教會就不能不復興。
《主恢復中成熟的帶領（卷二）　第二十二篇　照著山上的樣式走教會恢復的路》

The Responsibility of The Church

TAKING THE WAY OF RECOVERY ACCORDING TO
THE PATTERN ON THE MOUNTAIN

The Lord's intention concerning the church is one that is according to "the pattern on the mountain." A church must find out what the pattern on the mountain is. It must take God's standard as its standard before it will realize how wrong it has been. What is the condition of the church that we are trying to match? Only as our eyes are drawn to the glorious church ordained by the Lord in the Scripture will we realize our shortage and lack.

The Reason for the Church's Failure

The basic reason for the failure of the church is that it cannot meet its own need of begetting and nourishing the new ones. Changes in membership of a church should not come solely as a result of movement of saints to and from other localities. When a church is strong, the number of brothers and sisters moving out of the church is small. When a church is weak, the number of brothers and sisters moving out of the church is great. A businessman pays much attention to the influx and outflow of economic forces such as capital. A church also should pay much attention to the influx and outflow of its members. A church may have three to four hundred brothers and sisters, but it may be very short in care and shepherding. In a year's time, many new ones are added, but many old ones leave also. This is a drain on the church life. For this reason, a church must not only be good at preaching the gospel and gaining new ones, but must give itself to edifying the believers. The first responsibility of the church is to save men. The second responsibility is to perfect and nourish men. If a church saves a hundred people in a few months, yet loses a hundred at the same time, it is a total failure. This is the reason I say that a church's failure lies in its inability to keep the children it has begotten.
(Matured Leadings in the Lord's Recovery (2) Chapter Twenty-Two  The Recovery of The Church According To The Pattern
On The Mountain)

真理的絕對 THE ABSOLUTENESS OF THE TRUTH

真理乃是獨一的標準

甚麼叫作真理的絕對？提摩太書題到真理的柱子。（提前三15。）為甚麼說到真理的柱子呢？因為柱子是不移動的。牠不能升高，也不能降低。牠不像椅子一樣，可以把牠擺來擺去。我們如果是一個不清明的人，真理在我們身上就沒有功效。真理不能放在一個跟隨感覺而行的人身上。這是一個大試驗。人需要站在真理一邊反對自己，如此纔能維持真理，不維持自己。自己沒有受過對付的人，永遠不知道甚麼是真理。你錯的時候，就把真理拉低一點，對的時候就把真理拉高一點：這就好像你是升降機，真理跟著你升降。惟有對付自己的人，纔能維持真理。感謝主，祂是升降機，是祂來把我升降。

今天黑暗的原因乃是人委屈了真理來跟隨自己。假如我們能彀以真理為獨一的標準，假如我們敢說，主既然這麼說、這麼作，那我就是錯了。這樣，新的光、新的路纔會來。不然，全世界就只有你是好基督徒，別人都得跟著你走，連真理也得跟著你走。便利自己的人，在主的手中沒有多大用處。你能在主面前說，這是真理，我不對。你不委屈光，光就能彀把你提高。能跟得上真理的人有福了；能跟得上真理，審判自己的人纔有盼望。跟不上真理，而把真理拉下來的，這人永遠在黑暗裏，光沒有辦法照到他。

一面來說，人若沒有經歷，就不能傳真理。但另一面說，你要知道真理與你自己沒有關係。人若到一個地步，受不了神的話，被這話定罪，他就能得到光。這個乃是啟示的根據，是得啟示的祕訣。古今中外，所有看見光的人從來不委屈神的話。我來不及，我要追上去，我跟著主的話走。我若趕不上，我只說我有罪。這樣，路就越過越清楚，你就越走越有光。不然的話，你讀真理、傳真理都成為白說、白傳的。人的情感永遠不能影響神的話。

真理不應受人事影響而改變

一件事對，就應該作，不對就不作。若是因著昨晚有一件事你沒有通知某弟兄，所以你就不去作這件事，這樣，真理就是跟著昨晚的不通知跑掉了。你的通知就變作真理。

我們要看見，神的話是對的，我是錯的。我個人可以與你發生事情，但是對真理不發生關係。神的工作受虧損都是虧在人事關係上。真理不絕對，都是因著人事出問題。今天我們可以犧牲神的真理，但是下一代的人怎麼辦？一百年以後的人怎麼辦？他們就不能看見真理了。一個人要絕對，需要付出很大的代價。如果我們肯出代價擺下自己，別人就要得福。

我要靠近那柱子，不是把柱子移過來兩尺，乃是把我的椅子向柱子移過去兩尺。我可以動，柱子不可以動；我可以改，柱子不可以改。多少人因著人事、歷史、交情的緣故，就把真理更改了。

The Truth Being the Unique Standard

What does it mean to say that the truth is absolute? First Timothy speaks of the pillar of the truth (3:15). Why does it say the pillar of the truth? It is because a pillar is something immovable. It cannot go up or down. It is not like a chair that can be moved from one place to another. If we are not sober, the truth will not have any effect on us. The truth cannot be entrusted to a person who walks according to his feelings. This is a great test. A man must stand on the side of the truth to oppose himself. Only by this can he maintain the truth instead of himself. Those who have never been dealt with do not know what the truth is. Some people lower the truth a little when they are wrong, and lift up the truth a little when they are right. This means that they are like elevators. The truth goes up and down with them. Only those who have dealt with themselves are able to maintain the truth. Praise the Lord, He is the "elevator''; and we are going up and down with Him!

The reason for so much darkness today is that man sacrifices the truth and forces the truth to yield to him. If you can take the truth as the unique standard and if you have the courage to say that since the Lord has done such and such a thing, you admit that you are wrong, new light will come, and a new way will be opened to you. Otherwise, you will end up thinking that you are the only right Christian on earth and that everyone else has to go along with you. Even the truth will have to go along with you. Those who make allowances for themselves are not of much use in the hand of the Lord. A person must be able to say before the Lord, "This is the truth, and I am wrong.'' If you do not sacrifice the light, the light will uplift you. Blessed are those who can go along with the truth. Only those who judge themselves have the hope of going on. Those who cannot go along with the truth, but instead lower the standard of the truth, will forever live in darkness. Light will have no way to shine on them.

On the one hand, a man cannot preach the truth unless he has the experience. But on the other hand, a person has to know that the truth has nothing to do with him. If a man is brought to a point that he can no longer withstand God's word and he finds God's word condemning him, he will receive the light. This is the basis of revelation; it is the secret to receiving revelation. Throughout history no one who has received God's light sacrificed God's word. If we are not up to the standard of God's word, we have to catch up, and we have to go along with God's word. If we cannot catch up, we can only say that we have sinned. If we do this, the way ahead will be clear, and we will have more and more light. Otherwise, our reading and preaching of the truth will become vain talk and vain preaching. Man's emotions can never affect God's word.

The Truth Not Being Affected or Changed by Human Factors

If a thing is right, we should do it. If it is not right, we should not do it. If we do not do something just because we forgot to inform a certain brother about it, the truth has slipped away because of our failure to inform him. In this case our informing becomes the truth.

We have to see that God's word is right and we are wrong. Personally, I can have problems with you, but this must not affect the truth. God's work is always sacrificed because of human relationships. The reason the truth is not absolute is that problems have developed in human relationships. We can sacrifice God's truth today, but what will happen to the next generation? What will happen to those a hundred years after us? If we sacrifice the truth, they will not be able to see the truth. In order to be absolute, a man has to pay a great price. But if we are willing to pay the price to drop ourselves, others will receive the blessing.

If I want to be near this pillar, the way is not for the pillar to move two feet closer to me; the way is for me to move my chair two feet closer to the pillar. I can move, but the pillar cannot move. I can change, but the pillar cannot change. Many people have changed the truth because of human or historical considerations or because of friendship.

如果這樣，福音傳遍全世界也不難！ If we do this, it will not be difficult to gospelize the earth!

交出來是每個弟兄姊妹的責任

　交出來不是同工的事，是你們全體的事。原諒我說，你們把太多據為己有，還睜大眼睛看著同工的口袋。常有許多關於同工弟兄或長或短的話落在我耳中。但我要為同工們說一句話：工人是神的工人，不是你們的工人。你若是神的謀士，你就可以管同工的錢袋。這話我說了對同工們不值得，但對你們有益。

　如果年輕弟兄甚麼都擺上，年老弟兄也甚麼都擺上，已往的便宜路就沒有了。你們總要定意：我要在教會的傳福音上有分，我的事業、時間、錢財都交出來為著福音。惟有這樣纔能帶進力量。如果不是這樣傳福音，主就不滿意。總要全體一起都擺上，纔能叫主滿意，你們也纔會滿意。

　我們交出來能叫主滿足，也能叫我們自己滿足。時間不多了，主的再來近了，但福音的責任還是這麼大，中國還有許多地方沒有聽到福音。教會若不全體起來傳福音，主只得遲延祂來的日子。

　盼望從今天起，你們把所有不同的心都丟下，顧念自己的心也放下。全體只有一個職業，就是傳福音；只有一個目的，就是要叫所有的罪人都聽得到福音。如果這樣，福音傳遍香港不難，傳遍全中國也不難。

第十四篇　對青年弟兄姊妹的交通

Handing Over Being the Responsibility
of Every Brother and Sister

Handing over oneself is not just a responsibility of the co-workers. It is a responsibility that is on all of our shoulders. We have gathered too much for ourselves, yet our eyes are always on the purse of the co-workers. Criticism and gossip about this and that co-worker often come to my ears. I have to say a word for the co-workers. These workers are God's workers; they are not your workers. If you can be God's counselor, you can manage the co-workers' purses. If I say this word to the co-workers, it is not worth much, but it is good for you.

If all of us, young and old, will consecrate our all, the cheap way with us in the past will be gone once and for all. We have to make up our mind to have a share in the gospel of the church. We have to hand over our occupation, our time, and our money for the gospel. This is the only way to bring in the power. The Lord will not be satisfied until we preach the gospel this way. The only thing that will satisfy the Lord is for the entire Body to be consecrated. The only thing that will satisfy us is this very same thing.

Our handing over will satisfy the Lord, and it will satisfy us. Time is short. The Lord's coming is near, yet the responsibility of the gospel is still great. Many places in China still have not heard the gospel. If the church does not rise up together to preach the gospel, the Lord will delay His coming.

I hope that from this day forward we will drop all dissenting thoughts. Let us abandon all care for ourselves. We should have only one profession—preaching the gospel. We should have only one goal—letting all sinners hear the gospel. If we do this, it will not be difficult to gospelize Hong Kong and all of China.

知道血的價值 Knowing the worth of the blood

我們若知道血的價值，我們就必定坦然無懼。知道血的價值是敬拜的條件。在敬拜的聚會中若要有能力，就不能不居住在血底下。即便頂軟弱、頂不好的信徒，他也有一樣的權柄來敬拜神，和使徒們一樣。斷不會因他的不好，降低寶血的價值和功效。每一次的敬拜，都是靠血。我們的善行不能再加多寶血的價值一點。

我們擘餅（身子）是表明幔子（身子）已經裂開，障礙已經除去，可以一直進入至聖所。喝杯是表明主為我們死，祂的血帶領我們親近神。我極注重的再說，我們來到神面前，與我們的軟弱無關，只因血的緣故。我們若仰望血，就能一天過一天來到神面前，不失那坦然的態度。你們回想你們怎樣頭一次負著罪來到神面前，親近求告祂。照樣你們每一次可以不因著自己行為、感覺的阻擋，只要一心仰望主的血，就可以坦然來到祂面前敬拜祂。讓我們多明白這件事。這樣我們纔能同心和諧的敬拜讚美神。靠主的血，我們能坦然有權柄的，來事奉敬拜我們的神。
《講經記錄（卷三）─血與親近神的敬拜》

If we know the worth of the blood, we will surely have boldness. The knowledge of the blood’s worth is the condition for worship. If we want to have power in our worship, we have to abide under the blood. Even the weakest and poorest believer has the same authority as the apostles did to worship God. His weakness can never lower the value and effectiveness of the blood. Every time we worship, we do so according to the blood. Our good works cannot add anything to the worth of the blood.

Our breaking of the bread (the Body) is a sign that the veil (the Lord’s body) has been broken. The barrier has been removed, and we can now enter the Holy of Holies. The cup is a symbol that the Lord has died for us and that His blood has led us to come near to God. I have to emphasize again that our qualification for coming to God has nothing to do with our weakness; we come because of the blood. If we look up to the blood, we can come before God every day, and we will not lose our boldness. Consider how you came to God the first time with your burden of sin, drew near to Him, and called on Him. Similarly, when we come to Him to worship Him, we can come boldly without being hindered by our own work or feeling but with a single heart that looks up to the blood. May we realize this more and more. In this way, we will be able to worship and praise God in oneness and harmony. By the Lord’s blood, we can serve and worship our God boldly and with authority.
(The Worship That Draws Near)

Once you touch God.... 當你遇見神....

Where there is no divine appearance, there is no altar. No one can offer himself to God unless he has first met God....Consecration is not the result of man's exhortation or persuasion but of God's revelation. No one can voluntarily offer up all he has on the altar if God has not first appeared to
him. By nature, no one can offer himself to God. Even when a man does want to offer himself to God, he finds that he really has nothing to offer. Some have said, “I want to give my heart to the Lord, but my heart will not agree.” Man cannot come over to God's side. However, when man meets God, consecration takes place spontaneously in his life. If you catch sight of God just once and touch God just once, you are no longer your own. God is Someone who cannot be touched lightly! Once a man touches God, he can no longer live for himself. (The Life of the Altar and the Tent)

沒有神的顯現，就沒有祭壇。誰也不能將他自己奉獻給神，而他是沒有遇見神的…。奉獻不是由於人的勸勉，不是由於人的催促，乃是由於神的顯現。如果神沒有向人顯現，那就沒有一個人是能自動把他所有的都擺在祭壇上的，沒有一個人是能自動把自己奉獻給神的。人即使盼望將他自己奉獻給神，但是事實上人憑着自己沒有一點東西可以奉獻給神，就像有的
人所說的：『我要將我的心奉獻給主，我的心卻不去。』人這一邊不能到主那一邊去。如果有一天，我們遇見主，那一個遇見，就自然而然產生奉獻。只要你遇見神一下，只要你看見神一下，你就不是你自己的。神是遇見不得的！人一遇見神，人就沒有方法爲自己活着。《倪柝聲文集第二輯第十七冊》

勿失去機會

One who is learning to serve should not do the same thing today as he did yesterday. If he is the same today as yesterday, he has squandered his opportunities. If we do not know what the Lord is doing today or what is going to happen today, we are missing the opportunity. (The Collected Works of Watchman Nee  ISSUE NO. 21)
一個學習事奉神的人，不應當昨天如何，今天仍是如何。如果昨天如何，今天仍是如何的話，就是一個失去機會的人。我們如果不知道主今天要作甚麼事情，如果不知道今天要發生甚麼事情，這個就叫作失去機會。《 敞開的門　第二十一期》