致我们教会的领导人
我必须发言。我不能保持沉默。有一项工作要为我们各教会的领导人、传道人和助手们做成。我现在只想告诉你们，每个灵魂都需要个人的宗教信仰。你们要注意自己，并且要尽最大的努力，最严格地省察自己有信心没有;“也要自己试验。岂不知你们若不是可弃绝的，就有耶稣基督在你们心里吗”(林后13:5)?“如果上帝的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。然而，叫耶稣从死里复活者的灵若住在你们心里，那叫基督耶稣从死里复活的，也必藉着住在你们心里的圣灵，使你们必死的身体又活过来。弟兄们，这样看来，我们并不是欠肉体的债去顺从肉体活着。你们若顺从肉体活着，必要死;若靠着圣灵治死身体的恶行，必要活着。因为凡被上帝的灵引导的，都是上帝的儿子”(罗8:9-14)。{PH162 1.1}
我们不可力争用我们自己的想法、爱好和习惯去塑造人。我们要用无私献身的生活，藉着圣灵在我们心中运行的能力，彰显上帝的爱与能力，而不是我们自己的方法和意愿。主为我们舍命，为要使我们脱离我们自己的品格特性，达到基督品格的完全。祂受死为要使我们培养祂品格的属性，并且提高、净化他人的心与生活，使他们快乐。凡参与上帝工作的人都需要有圣洁的心，使基督能住在那里。这意味着你们绝对有必要自己省察有没有在基督的爱里。你们若是各自关注自己灵魂的利益，就会意识到自己的缺点，而不会撒播基督称之为稗子的种子了。如果你自称在理论上知道的真理在你心里，你就会彰显那在耶稣里的真理。你就会在每一个行动的领域表现祂的品格。我们的格言应当是：“无论做什么，或说话或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着祂感谢父上帝”(西3:17)。这是伟大的恢复性影响力，治愈我们所有的道德弊病。只要动机低于尊重和荣耀上帝，原则就会变得充满弊病。自我渐渐得势，人就决不会在言语和行为上升达道德上的正直了。{PH162 1.2}
作为一个堕落的人，在你的个人经历中，凡是对你有益的东西，都只能从赐生命之主那里得到其活力，主就是真理。离开祂，你在宗教方面无论做什么，都会被发现像鸣的锣一样没有价值。{PH162 2.1}
在教会里极其缺乏来自耶稣基督的生命之灵。然而在那些为肢体们作工的人以生命的粮基督为食，并喝祂的血之前，是无法接触肢体们并给他们留下深刻印象的。那时他们在宗教事物方面的经验才会具有更为健康的等次，他们才不会因为精神焦躁不安而感到不安和不满，而会听从上帝已经赐给他们的告诫。然而如果他们想远离工作，如果他们的心不在工作上，他们就会在与他们联络之人的心中撒下肯定会将人带入歧途的种子。而这一切都将是因为他们并不赏识上帝的工作和事业，只是把它当作一般的工作。{PH162 2.2}
上帝希望每一个人都行在祂所赐的光中。如果人们不留意所赐的警告，就会撒下造成不满和不安的种子。这种影响会加强。没有人知道它是怎么来的，但它确实来了，并且进入了那些在得到亮光之后本应该真诚并像钢铁般忠于原则之人的心中。{PH162 3.1}
一种普遍的看法是商业工作应当与出版社分开。这是已经撒下的种子之一。到处都有人说过这样的话，这些话正在生根发芽，产生一定的效果。他们这么做并没有什么至关重要的理由，只不过是一些人已经屈服于试探，他们的思想若不受到保护，就不应该得到允许陷入某些思路。撒但会一次又一次地引诱他们。他们会一次又一次地被他带着重蹈覆辙。{PH162 3.2}
基督耶稣乃是伟大的能力，纠正撒但用来织网的所有影响之线。但仇敌的工作如此狡猾，以致那些应该聪明的人似乎瞎眼了。他们根本看不出他们的话所起的作用是转移人们的注意力，使他们相信错误的理论。把时间用在这种设计和计划上，不如用在上帝召人去做的工作上。他们在确知自己有来自主的话时才应该出谋划策。由于抓住那些若是被实行出来就证明是错误的想法，已经做了足够多没有计划的随便工作。{PH162 3.3}
商业工作不应与出版社分开。当主希望我们这么做时，祂会使问题如此清晰以致我们必明白祂的心意和旨意。与外界的联系不必损害任何一个人，就像但以理作为政治家的工作不必扭曲他的宗教信仰和原则一样。这个问题有很多方面，非常遗憾的是，已经投下了思想的种子，使人们去思考那些使人心处在不稳定状态或使他们处在不确定状态的改变。肯定会误导人的想法冲击了人心，并且被表达了出来。这总是多有恶果。所有这些影响都是令人不安的。它们造成混乱和组织的破坏。{PH162 4.1}
每一个基督徒在表达自己的观点时都需要谨慎。有一件事他可能会永远解决。那总是想得到更高的工资，屈服于试探导致他离开上帝指定给他的工作的人，决不会真正兴旺的。任何一个人，任何一个家庭，任何一个公司或机构，若没有上帝的智慧掌权，都是决不能兴旺的。应该作出一切正确的努力来知道我们在说什么。我们必须知道这是主的意见，还是被隐秘的公义之敌控制之头脑的建议。现在，就是现在，应当付出一切正确的努力来使人们的头脑处在真理能力的影响之下，以便我们的工作，我们的商品和雇员，都成圣归于主。当工人们正在做会引起问题的工作时，他们可能会认为自己是在做世俗的业务。他们若是具有正确的精神，就能说话应时。这样，论到我们的工人，我们的工匠，就可以像论到古时的技工一样，说：“我以上帝的灵充满了他，使他有智慧、聪明、知识，能做各样的工，能想出巧工，用金、银、铜制造各物，又能刻宝石，可以镶嵌，能雕刻木头，能做各样的巧工”(出35;31-33)。{PH162 4.2}
当那些在我们的机构工作的人有了新的心时，他们就会对凡参与工作的人发挥一种救人的影响力。他们就不会提出任何会使工人们感到不安的建议，除非确实有必要发言。我们若是看守住性情和那个难制服的肢体，就获得了大胜利。凡在出版社工作的人都应当受教将圣经原则与工作的每一个部门联系起来。但是，很多时候，人们所提出的建议却会导致一系列有害的想法。{PH162 5.1}
任何一个不知道真理的人都不可在出版社或我们的任何一个机构里作主管。可是比这有害的多的是，让那些自称相信真理，却不在上帝之灵的影响之下实施管理的人作经理;因为这些人会造成十倍的损害，误导工人。那些住在真理里面，认真考虑上帝的荣耀，重视灵魂的得救过于金钱、地位或自我扩张，本着良心遵行主的道的人，应该受训练担负责任。人们可能很有能力和知识;但若用来利己，就会对工作造成最大的损害。{PH162 5.2}
那些参与圣工的人若是愿意置身于谦卑可教的地位，就必蒙上帝赐福，对我们的出版机构来说就会比精金更宝贵，甚至比俄斐的纯金更宝贵;因为他们会用住在基督里的美德和恩典来装饰自己的品格。整个本性都会成圣，他们会因恩典而适合从事重大的工作，成为与上帝同工的人。然而我们机构中的任何一个人若是倚赖自己的计谋和智慧，他就是拒绝上帝的权威，他越早到一个地步，会有足够的空间不受干扰地行出他的计划，从而显明那控制着他的真正原则，对所有与他有关系的人就会越好。{PH162 6.1}
现今在我们的世界上，各国之间有一种不止息的动荡。可是列国却似乎被看不见的势力遏制着。在他们的道德失调中，各种权势处在可怕的混乱中。这将在每一个教会，在每一个自称相信现代真理的机构中都能看到。这些都是撒但特别作工的对象。他竭力使工人们感到不安定，不满意。他们中间若是有不圣洁的传道人或教师，具有撒但喜爱处理的性格特征，他就会利用他们来种下会长出荆棘的种子。{PH162 6.2}
出版社工作的每一个部门都需要得到道德上的滋补。讲了太多不会结出好果子的话。挑剔找碴是很容易的;但通过个人献身的操劳和敬虔的榜样来进行恢复、净化、使人高贵高尚，却不那么容易。撒但正在竭力引诱人，如果他能控制人作他的代理，他就会这么做。他会利用一些如此盲目以致看不出自己是在哪一边作工的人。基督要求每一个在上帝名下的人都敞开心门，以便祂常住在里面，在人身上恢复上帝的道德形像。 怀爱伦夫人。{PH162 7.1}
PH162 - To the Leading Men of Our Churches
【To the Leading Men of Our Churches】
I must speak. I can not hold my peace. There is a work to be done for the leading men in our churches, ministers and helpers. I shall not at this time try to do more than tell you that every soul needs personal religion. Give your attention to yourselves, and make most earnest efforts to examine yourselves most critically whether ye be in the faith; “prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates.” “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”?{PH162 1.1}[1]
We must not strive to mold people to our own ideas and inclinations and practises. By unselfish, consecrated lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit working on our minds, we are to reveal, not our own ways and wills, but the power of the love of him who gave himself for us, that we?should be drawn out of and away from our own traits of character to the perfection of Christ’s character. He died that we should cultivate the attributes of his character, and elevate, purify, and gladden the hearts and lives of others. All who are connected with the work of God need to have sanctified hearts, where Christ can abide. This means that there is a positive necessity of your closely examining yourselves, whether you be in the love of Christ. If you are individually attending to your soul’s interest, you will have a sense of your own shortcomings, and will not sow the seed that Christ calls tares. If the truth you profess to know in theory is in your heart, you will reveal the truth as it is in Jesus. In every sphere of action you will represent his character. Our maxim should be, “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” This is the great restoring influence of all our moral ills. With any lower incentive than to honor and glorify God, the principles become full of disease. Little by little self strives for the mastery, and the man will never rise to moral rectitude in word and action.?{PH162 1.2}[2]
Whatever is to benefit you in your personal experience, as a fallen human being, can only derive its vitalizing power from the Life-giver, he who is truth. Apart from him whatever you may do in religious lines will be found to be as worthless as a tinkling cymbal.?{PH162 2.1}[3]
There is a great dearth of the Spirit of life from Jesus Christ in the church. But the members can not be reached and impressed until those who labor for them are feeding upon Christ, the Bread of Life, and drinking his blood. Then?their experience in religious things will be of a healthier order, and in the place of unrest and dissatisfaction, because the spirit is restless, they will heed the admonition God has given them. But if they have a desire to draw away from the work, if their hearts are not in it, they will sow seeds in the minds of those connected with them that will surely lead into false paths. And all this will be because they do not appreciate the work and cause of God as anything but common work.?{PH162 2.2}[4]
God wants every one to walk in the light he has given. If men do not take heed to the warning, seeds will be sown that will create disaffection and uneasiness. This influence will strengthen. No one can tell how it came; but it did come, and has entered the hearts of those who ought to be, after the light that has been given, sincere and as true as steel to principle.?{PH162 3.1}[5]
A sentiment prevails that commercial work should be divorced from the Office. This is one of the seeds that has been sown. Words have been spoken here and there, and these are taking root to bring about certain results. There are no vital reasons for this, only that minds that ought not to be allowed to run in certain channels unless guarded, have yielded to temptation. Satan will tempt them again and again. Again and again they will pass over the same ground over which he has carried them.?{PH162 3.2}[6]
Christ Jesus is the great Power for correcting all the threads of influence that Satan would appropriate to compose his web. But the enemy’s work is so subtle that those who ought to be wise seem to be blind. They discern nothing of the effect of their words dropped to divert minds to?false theories. The time given to this devising and planning might better be devoted to work in which God has called men to act their part. Let them give counsel when they are sure that they have words from the Lord. Quite enough haphazard work has been done by catching at ideas which, if carried out, prove to be mistakes.?{PH162 3.3}[7]
The commercial work is not to be divorced from the Office. When the Lord would have this done, he will make the matter so plain that we shall understand his mind and will. Connection with outside parties need be no more detriment to any one than was Daniel’s work as a statesman a perversion of his religious faith and principles. There are many sides to this matter, and it is a great pity that seeds of thought are dropped in regard to changes that keep minds in an unsettled condition, or leave them in uncertainty. Ideas that are positively misleading strike the mind, and are expressed. This is always fruitful of evil results. All such influences are unsettling. They create disorder and disorganization.?{PH162 4.1}[8]
Every Christian needs to be guarded in his expression of opinion. One thing he may settle forever. True prosperity can never come to the soul that is constantly aspiring to get higher wages, and who yields to the temptation that leads him away from the work that God has appointed him. There never can be prosperity for any man, or any family, or any firm or institution, unless the wisdom of God presides. Every right effort should be made to know what we are voicing. We must know whether it is the mind of the Lord, or the suggestions of minds controlled by the stealthy foe of righteousness. Now, just now, every right effort should be made?to bring the minds of men under the influence and power of truth, that our work, our merchandise and hire, shall be holiness unto the Lord. The workmen may rank themselves as doing worldly business, when they are doing the very work that will call out questions. If they are of the right spirit, they will be able to speak a word in season. Thus it may be said of our workers, our artisans, as it was said of those of old, of whom we read, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.”?{PH162 4.2}[9]
When those connected with our institutions have new hearts, they will exert a saving influence on all connected with the work. They will make no suggestions that will make the workmen uneasy, unless there is positive need of speech. If we keep guard over the disposition and over the unruly member, a great victory is gained. All who connect with the Office should be taught that Bible principles are to be brought into contact with the work in every department. But too often suggestions are made that set in operation a train of thought that is detrimental.?{PH162 5.1}[10]
No persons should be placed as directors in the Office, or in any of our institutions, who have not a knowledge of the truth. Yet this will do far less harm than to put in as managers those who claim to believe the truth, and who do not manage under the influence of the Spirit of God; because these can do tenfold more harm to mislead the workers. Men who abide in the truth, who?have a conscientious regard for the glory of God, who value the salvation of the soul as higher than money, position, or self-aggrandizement, who are conscientiously walking and working in the way of the Lord, should be trained to carry responsibilities. Men may have ever so much ability and knowledge; but if it is used in such a way as to administer to self, they will to the greatest damage to the work.?{PH162 5.2}[11]
If those who are connected with the work will place themselves in a humble, teachable position, they will be blessed by God, and will be more precious than fine gold, even than the golden wedge of Ophir, to our publishing institutions; for they will adorn their own character with the virtue and grace that dwelt in Christ. The entire nature will be sanctified, and they will be fitted through grace for the grand work of being laborers together with God. But when any man in our institutions trusts to his own devices and wisdom, he declines the authority of God, and the sooner he goes where he will have ample room to work out his devising without interference, and thus reveal the true principles that control him, the better it will be for all who are connected with him.?{PH162 6.1}[12]
There is today in our world an unceasing unrest among the nations. Yet the nations are as if held back from action by unseen forces. In their moral disorder, the powers are in terrible confusion. This will be seen in every church, in every institution that claims to believe the truth for this time. These are the objects of Satan’s special work. He strives to unsettle the workers, to make them discontented. If there are among them unconsecrated ministers or teachers, who?have attributes of character that Satan delights to handle, he will use them to plant the seed that yields thorns.?{PH162 6.2}[13]
A moral tonic needs to be given to every branch of the work in the Office. Too many words that yield no good fruit are spoken. It is very easy to pick flaws; but it is not so easy to restore, purify, ennoble, and elevate, by personal devoted labors, and a godly example. Satan is doing his utmost to seduce, and if he can control the human element as his agents, he will do it. He will use individuals who are in such blindness that they can not discern on which side they are working. Christ calls for every one who names the name of God to open the door of the heart, that he may be an abiding presence, restoring the moral image of God in man.?{PH162 7.1}[14]
---Mrs. Ellen G. White[15]
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