关于巴特尔克里克教会的特别证言
人岂可夺取上帝之物呢?
1896年8月
“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我”(可8:34)。那些因为这是正确的事而乐意这么做，省去一切不必要的东西的人;那些愿意研究基督的生活，在家里尽心尽性用声音祈祷，当走在街上、从事业务时，始终谨记主所赐的劝勉：“不住的祷告。”“祷告要恒切。”“警醒祷告”的人(帖前5:17;罗12:12;彼前5:7)，将有一位神圣的伙伴与他们同行，引导他们走安全的道路。不要让你的思想转离这一点，而要说：“我要跟从祢，我的救主，”并让你的话成为现实。{PH087 1.1}
受托才干是一件严肃的事。这是一种奇妙的责任。我有一些非常明确的声明要向凡自称跟从主、要忠心顺从祂话语的人说。关于定期捐献问题，主的话已经临到了我。十分之一的问题在上帝的道中说得如此清楚，以至于没有一个活着的人需要误解。主已赐给我才干，用来荣耀祂的名;但祂保留了一份。{PH087 1.2}
祂在伊甸园中对亚当夏娃说：“园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃，只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃”(创2:16,17)。这就是那个试验，要检验亚当夏娃的忠诚。但他们却做了主所禁止的事，结果向我们的世界敞开了祸患的洪闸。{PH087 2.1}
上帝已经厚赐给人。祂说：“我要将我的货财借给你去做买卖;但我要求你将所有收益的十分之一归还给我。”主已藉着摩西赐下指示，说明当怎样运用祂的银子;祂又在《玛拉基书》中重述了这个指示。祂告诉人应当如何使用祂所赐的一切福气;顺从祂的旨意，就有安全和保障。然而当人们制定自己的想法和计划，做上帝已禁止用祂所委托给他们的才干去做的事情时，祂就认为他们“悖逆、忘恩负义、不圣洁”(见提后3:2)。{PH087 2.2}
《旧约》比以往更需要成为我们学习的课本。我们需要学习和顺从主在云柱中对摩西讲话时所赐的指示。至高者在诸天掌权;祂的资源是无限的。祂的良善和祂的爱在祂的手所做的一切事上都显明出来。祂天意的整个进程都证明祂的品格和祂慈怜的计划。“万民都举目仰望祢;祢随时给他们食物。祢张手，使有生气的都随愿饱足”(诗145:15,16)。{PH087 2.3}
为什么这些福气如此不断地被赐下，尽管那些蒙主惠赐这些尘世财宝之人的心是刚愎任性、忘恩负义的呢?答案很容易理解，而且人人都能理解。这是因为上帝儿子的道成肉身。祂本来富有威严、尊贵和荣耀;却为了拯救上帝的产业而成为了贫穷，“叫你们因祂的贫穷，可以成为富足”(林后8:9)。圣灵的拯救之能奉差来引导人们进入一切的真理。亮光、生命和不朽因着上帝独生子的无限牺牲而显明出来了。而且这种舍己和自我牺牲应当在所有真基督徒——不是那些只在口头上作信徒的人，而是那些正在听从耶稣基督要求的人——的品格上向世人表现出来。上帝希望我们都像基督一样，具有祂的形像，效法祂的榜样，像祂一样在我们的日常生活中实践上帝的律法。{PH087 3.1}
自私自利、属世的策略，属世的原则都与基督徒的品格不一致。没有人能过取悦自己的生活而仍享有上帝的嘉许。效法世俗和依恋世俗在上帝的道中是被明确禁止的。警告已经扬声：“不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化。”圣灵的大能要运行，产生一个新品格，一个新的生命，“叫你们察验何为上帝的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意”(罗12:2)。{PH087 3.2}
藉着真理，藉着以上帝的道为粮，藉着让圣经的原则流遍全身，并在品格上实行出来，可以抵制效法世界之风。基督通过使徒约翰劝勉我们“不要爱世界和世界上的事。人若爱世界，爱父的心就不在他里面了”(约壹2:15)。这句话说得很清楚，是上帝衡量每一个人品格的标准。“因为凡世界上的事，就像肉体的情欲，眼目的情欲，并今生的骄傲，都不是从父来的，乃是从世界来的。”“那些想要发财的人[那些以各种可能的方式获得金钱并在世界上享受金钱的人]，就陷在迷惑、落在网罗和许多无知有害的私欲里，叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财，就被引诱离了真道，用许多愁苦把自己刺透了”(提前6:9,10)。这是多么真实啊!它可以追溯到每个教会的经验中。{PH087 3.3}
正是自私、不圣洁的思想和行为才使主忧伤，且使祂的福气离开了祂的百姓。《玛拉基书》第三章对住在地上的所有的人来说都是极其重要的一章;因为这里清楚地启示了上帝的旨意和目的，显明那些自称是主的百姓的人转身走入了歧途和禁路。你愿意在上帝圣灵的影响下，拿起你的圣经并认真庄严地阅读这一章吗?要将这些明确的话语应用在你自己身上。第5节适用于许多人：“万军之耶和华说：‘我必临近你们，施行审判。我必速速作见证，警戒行邪术的、犯奸淫的、起假誓的、亏负人之工价的、欺压寡妇孤儿的、屈枉寄居的，和不敬畏我的。’”在上帝接受悔改，或医治罪所造成的创伤之前，还有一项恢复的工作要做。“因我耶和华是不改变的，所以你们雅各之子没有[在你们的恶行中]灭亡。万军之耶和华说：从你们列祖的日子以来，你们常常偏离我的典章而不遵守。现在你们要转向我，我就转向你们。你们却问说：‘我们如何才是转向呢?’”{PH087 4.1}
有多少人在他们的经历中的这个时候正在问这个问题，好像他们完全没有做错什么似的?答复来了：“人岂可夺取上帝之物呢?你们竟夺取我的供物。你们却说：‘我们在何事上夺取你的供物呢?’就是你们在当纳的十分之一和当献的供物上。”你扣留了我的那一份，那份是我所保留的，以便推进我的工作，使我国度的福音可以传到世界各地，对万民作见证。你们过了取悦自己的生活;你们表现出了自私;你们拿我所保留的银子去利己了。你们不愿舍己，背十字架跟从我，你们的主。并不是因为你们不能这么做，而是因为你们不愿意。你们没有选择你们的救赎主已经给你们树立为榜样的谦卑舍己的生活。你们宁愿冒险,冒着你们灵魂得救的危险实行抢夺上帝的制度，抢夺我为推进我在世上的工作以便它在世界各地受到称赞而保留的财宝。在工作的中心，你们已将手伸进我的库中，本应该对你们来说是一种神圣信托的资金，你们已经消耗在杂费上了，那些杂费是你们本来可以通过舍己和自我牺牲，限制你们一些自私的放纵来提供的。但是自我、自我、自我却得到了放纵，我的库房却被抢夺了所带给它为要使我家有粮好供给我的仆人向远近的人讲解圣经的资金。{PH087 5.1}
在巴特尔克里克已经花了很多钱，要是把这些钱投资到外国的传道工作，原会给上帝带来尊荣。我们在这个传道区多么需要资金，而利益却仍在集中到巴特尔克里克!我们需要一些你们那里已经拥有的设施;但却没有一个人有负担要分出一些你们的丰富供应。甚愿主开瞎了的眼睛，叫你们看清你们一直在做什么!主的财宝一直按照人的设计进行自私地投资，为了隆重亮相，“给圣工增光添色。”{PH087 6.1}
“这是耶和华指示所罗巴伯的。万军之耶和华说：不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事”(亚4:6)。在给圣工增光添色方面，上帝的灵会比任何昂贵的建筑成就得更多。困难已累积多年。骄傲已经萌芽。{PH087 6.2}
我蒙指示，用十分之一来支付教会的杂费是错误的。在这方面有人偏离了正确的做法。倒不如藉着抑制自己的放任、穿着不那么昂贵的衣服、实行克己牺牲，来解决这些开支。你们这么做，就会有清洁的良心。如果把手伸进库房，挪用资金来支付教会的日常开支，就是一次次抢夺上帝之物了。{PH087 6.3}
能做最宝贵工作的传道人被排除在园地之外，因为没有钱维持他们。那些胆敢削减用来维持传道事工的资金的人，可以在玛拉基所发的警告中看到必然结果。{PH087 7.1}
在工作的中心树立的是什么榜样呢?那些自称跟从柔和谦卑的耶稣的人，应该除掉他们的一些偶像，比如自行车，和其它各种各样的东西。这样，就没有必要为了教会的开支而抢劫上帝的库房了。基督为了我们的缘故成了贫穷，叫我们因祂的贫穷，可以成为富足。但自称跟从基督的人却不效法祂的榜样。每一个人都应研究如何在国内和国外帮助推进上帝的工作。主与那些行事与祂给他们的劝勉完全相反的人有一份严肃的账要清算。他们占用在巴特尔克里克的资金乃是传道园地所需要的，以提供哪怕最简陋的设施。工作无法推进，因为没有钱去开垦园地。{PH087 7.2}
你们在巴特尔克里克违背上帝明示的旨意，在你们的建筑物和你们自私地接受工资上伸展了自己的人，难道愿意让库房被抢夺，以致在国内外从事传道工作的人得不到维持吗?上帝不悦地看着你们自私地挪用为特殊的目的而奉献的资金。你们遵循了这个计划，以便有更好的机会去放纵自我，不为基督做出什么舍己。这是你们需要迅速调整的事。不要拖延。人岂可夺取上帝之物呢?当传道事工需要每一块钱时，他岂可盗取上帝的钱来结算外出的费用吗?{PH087 7.3}
这件事应该让我们所有的人都睁开眼睛，看到当我们想要走某条路，而上帝并不领路的时候，偏离正义、真理和对主的道的持守是多么容易。对那些同意抢夺上帝财宝的人来说，这些侵权行为意味着什么呢?让先知说吧：“因你们通国的人都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上”(玛3:9)。现在请念先知的话，直到这一章的结尾，然后，让我们静默一会儿，五到十分钟，仔细检查所有读这一章之人的内心。总的来说太少听从来自主的警告、督责和劝勉了。在每一个人都要按照自己的行为受审判的那个大日，许多人将不得不面对一份庄严的记录。{PH087 8.1}
根据上帝已经赐给我的亮光，研究给以色列人的指示对我们有利。(请阅读《玛拉基书》第4章)尤其是第4节有一个大家都没有理解的意思。我们应当仔细考虑一下。{PH087 8.2}
最近上帝赐给我特别的证言，是关于祂藉着玛拉基所发出的警告和应许。我在悉尼的教会发表了非常坦诚的演讲之后，正在更衣室里穿外套，有人问我：“怀姊妹，你认为我的父亲应该缴纳十分之一吗?他最近遭受很大的损失。他说自己一旦还清了债务就立即缴纳。”我问：“你是怎样看待我们对上帝的义务呢?祂赐给我们生命、呼吸和所享受的一切福气。你要继续增加对祂的亏欠吗?你要抢夺祂的物吗?就是祂从未赐给我们派作其它用途，只限于推展祂的圣工和供养传道人的那一部分。先知玛拉基回答你的问题说：‘人岂可夺取上帝之物呢?……你们却说：我们在何事上夺取祢的供物呢?’似乎是故意误解这个问题。答案是：‘就是你们在当纳的十分之一，和当献的供物上。因你们通国的人，都夺取我的供物，咒诅就临到你们身上。’看到这句话，我还敢对你说，只要你负债，就可以不缴纳十分之一吗?我岂可告诉你说，宁可夺取上帝之物，也要偿还人的一切债务吗?” {PH087 8.3}
如果所有的人都不折不扣地接受圣经，敞开心门领会主的话语，他们就不会说：“我无法明白十分之一的问题，也看不出在我的处境中应该缴纳十分之一。”“人岂可夺取上帝之物呢?”这样做的后果已经清楚地说明了。我是不会冒这种险的。凡全心全意坚决顺从上帝的人，凡不愿意使用上帝的储备金——祂自己的金钱——来偿还债务的人，凡将上帝宣称属于祂自己的那部分归还给祂的人，都会得到祂应许给凡顺从祂之人的福气。
怀爱伦夫人{PH087 9.1}
PH087 - Special Testimony to Battle Creek Church
【Will a Man Rob God?】
(August, 1896.)
“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Those who will do this willingly, because it is the right thing to do, dispensing with everything unnecessary; those who will study the life of Christ, and pray with heart, and soul, and voice, in the family circle, when walking the streets, when engaged in business, always bearing in mind the exhortations the Lord has given, “Pray without ceasing.” “Continuing instant in prayer,” “Watch unto prayer,” will have a divine Companion with them who will lead them in paths of safety. Let not your thoughts be diverted from the point; but saying, “I will follow thee, my Saviour,” make your words true.?{PH087 1.1}[1]
It is a solemn thing to be entrusted with talents. It is a wonderful responsibility. I have some very decided statements to make to all who claim to follow the Lord, to be faithful and obedient to his word. The word of the Lord has come to me upon the subject of systematic benevolence. The tithing question is a matter that is so plainly stated in God’s word that not one living soul need to misunderstand it. The Lord has given me talents to use to his name’s glory; but he makes one reserve.?{PH087 1.2}[2]
To Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden he said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it.” Here was the test that was to prove the loyalty of Adam and Eve. But they did the very thing the Lord had forbidden, and as a result the flood-gates of woe were opened to our world.?{PH087 2.1}[3]
God has given to man abundantly. He says, “I will lend you those goods of mine to trade upon; but I will require you to return to me the tenth of all your increase.” Through Moses directions had been given how the Lord’s talents of means should be appropriated; and again in Malachi this instruction is repeated. With all the blessings that the Lord bestows upon man, he tells him how they are to be used; and in obedience to his will there is safety and security. But when men set up their own ideas and plans, and do what God has forbidden with the talents he has entrusted to them, he counts them as “disobedient, unthankful, unholy.”?{PH087 2.2}[4]
The Old Testament needs to become our study-book more than it has been. We need to learn and obey the directions there given by the Lord when speaking to Moses in the pillar of cloud. The Most High ruleth in the heavens. His resources are without limit. His goodness and his love are manifested over all the works of his hands. The whole course of his providence attests his character and his merciful designs. “The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.”?{PH087 2.3}[5]
And why is it that these blessings are so continually given, notwithstanding the perversity and ingratitude of the human hearts that are blessed with these earthly treasures? The answer is easy of comprehension, and all may understand it. It is through the incarnation of the Son of God. He was rich in majesty, in honor, and in glory; but for the sake of saving the heritage of God, he became poor “that ye through his poverty might be rich.” The saving power of the Holy Spirit was sent to guide men into all truth. Light, life, and immortality were brought to light through the infinite sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God. And this self-denial and self-sacrifice is to be represented to the world in the character of all who are true Christian,—not professors merely, but those who are following the requirements of Jesus Christ. God desires that we shall be Christlike, that we shall bear his image, imitate his example, and like him, live the law of God in our daily life.?{PH087 3.1}[6]
Selfishness, worldly policy, and worldly principles are not consistent with Christian character. No man can live to please himself, and still enjoy the approval of God. Worldly conformity and worldly attachments are expressly forbidden in the word of God. The warning voice is lifted, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The mighty power of the Holy Spirit is to work, producing a new character, a new birth, “that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”?{PH087 3.2}[7]
Conformity to the world can be prevented by the truth, by feeding on the word of God, by its?principles circulating through the entire life current, and working out that word in the character. Christ exhorts us by the apostle John to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” This is plain language, but it is God’s measure of every man’s character. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” “They that will be rich [those who are resolved by every possible way to obtain money and enjoy it in the world] fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some covet after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” How true this is! It can be traced in the experience of every church.?{PH087 3.3}[8]
It is the selfishness, the unsanctified thoughts and works, that have grieved the Lord, and have turned away his blessing from his people. The third chapter of Malachi is one of weighty importance to all who live upon the earth; for here is plainly revealed the will and purpose of God, and the turning away of those who claim to be the people of the Lord into false and forbidden paths. Will you take your Bible and read this carefully and solemnly, under the influence of the Holy Spirit of God? Make an application to yourself of these decisive words. Verse 5 it applicable to many: “I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false?swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts.” There is a work of restoration to be done before God will accept the repentance, or heal the wounds that sin has made. “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed [in your evil doings]. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”?{PH087 4.1}[9]
How many are asking this question at this point in their experience, as if they were altogether innocent of any wrong-doing? The answer comes, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.” You have withheld from me the portion that I had reserved that I might advance my work, that the gospel of my kingdom might be sent to all parts of the world, as a witness to all nations. You have lived to please yourselves; you have manifested selfishness; you have taken my reserved talents to use for your own advantage. You would not deny self, take up your cross, and follow me, your Lord. It is not because you could not do this, but because you would not. You have not chosen the humble, self-denying life of which your Redeemer has given you an example. You preferred to run the risk, to venture the salvation of your souls in practising a system of robbery toward God, robbing me of treasure that I had reserved to carry forward my work in the world,?that it might be a praise in all parts of the earth. At the center of the work you have put your hands into my treasury, and the funds which should have been to you a sacred trust, you have consumed in incidental expenses which self-denial and self-sacrifice, a limiting of some of your selfish indulgences, would have provided for. But self, self, self has been indulged, and my treasury has been robbed of the funds brought to it in order that there might be meat in my house to sustain my servants in opening the Scriptures to those who are nigh and afar off.?{PH087 5.1}[10]
In Battle Creek much money has been expended which would have brought honor and glory to God had it been invested in foreign missions. O, how we have needed money in this mission, and still the interests are centering in Battle Creek! We need some of the facilities you have there; but no one feels a burden to spare some of your abundance. O that the Lord would open blind eyes to discern what you have been doing! The Lord’s treasures have been selfishly invested according to the devising of men, to make a grand appearance, “to give character to the work.”?{PH087 6.1}[11]
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.” In giving character to the work, the Spirit of God will accomplish more than any expensive buildings. Difficulties have been accumulating for years. Pride has budded.?{PH087 6.2}[12]
I was shown that it is wrong to use the tithe for defraying the incidental expenses of the church. In this there has been a departure from correct?methods. It would be far better to dress less expensively, cut down your indulgences, practise self-denial, and meet these outgoings. By so doing you will have a clear conscience. But you are robbing God every time that you put your hands into the treasury for funds to meet the running expenses of the church.?{PH087 6.3}[13]
Ministers who could do a most precious work are kept out of the field because there is no money to sustain them. Those who dare to reduce the means to be used for supporting the ministry, may see the sure result in the warnings given by Malachi.?{PH087 7.1}[14]
What is the example given at the center of the work? Let those who profess to be followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, dispose of some of their idols, such as bicycles, and various other things. Then there will be no need of robbing the treasury of God for church expenses. Christ for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. But the professed followers of Christ do not follow his example. Let every one study how to help forward the work of God in home missions and in foreign countries. The Lord has a serious account to settle with those who have done exactly opposite to that which he has counseled them to do. The money they have bound up in Battle Creek is needed in missionary fields, to supply even the most meager facilities. The work cannot be advanced because there is no money to work the fields.?{PH087 7.2}[15]
Will you in Battle Creek, who have spread yourselves contrary to the expressed will of God, in your buildings, and in your selfish acceptance of wages, allow the treasury to be robbed that the?laborers shall not be sustained in home and foreign ministerial work? God looks with disfavor upon your selfish appropriation of the means that is consecrated for a special purpose. You have followed this plan that you might have a better opportunity to indulge self, and make little self-denial for Christ’s sake. This is something you need to adjust quickly. Make no delay. Will a man rob God? Will he steal God’s means to settle outgoing expenses when the ministry needs every dollar??{PH087 7.3}[16]
This matter should open the eyes of all our people, to see how easy it is to depart from justice, truth, and the keeping of the way of the Lord, when there is a desire to follow a certain course, and God does not lead the way. What do these infringements mean to those who give their consent to this robbery of God’s treasure? Let the prophet speak: “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” Read now the words of the prophet to the close of the chapter, and then let there be a short time of silence, five or ten minutes, of close examination of the hearts of all who read. There has been altogether too little heed given to the warnings, reproofs, and counsels from the Lord. It is a solemn record that many will have to meet in that great day when every man shall be judged according to his works.?{PH087 8.1}[17]
From the light which God has given me it would be for our advantage to study the directions given to Israel. (Read?Malachi 4.)?Verse 4?especially has a meaning which all have not comprehended. Let it be carefully considered.?{PH087 8.2}[18]
The Lord has of late given me special testimonies?to bear in regard to the warnings and promises he has given through Malachi. After I had spoken with great plainness to the church in Sydney, and was putting on my wraps in the dressing-room, the question was asked me, “Sister White, do you think my father should pay tithes? He has met with great loss recently, and he says that as soon as he cancels his debt, he will pay tithes.” I asked, “How do you regard our obligations to God, who gives us life and breath, and all the blessings we enjoy? Would you have our indebtedness to God continually increasing? Would you rob him of the portion which he has never given us to use for any other purpose than to advance his work, to sustain his servants in the ministry? For the answer to your question the prophet Malachi asks, ‘Will a man rob God? ...But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?’—as though there was a willingness to misunderstand this subject. The answer comes: ‘In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.’ After such a statement, would I dare say to you, You need not pay tithes as long as you are in debt? Shall I tell you to be sure to pay all you owe any man, although you rob God to do so?”?{PH087 8.3}[19]
If all would take the Scripture just as it reads, and open their hearts to understand the word of the Lord, they would not say, “I cannot see the tithing question. I cannot see that in my circumstances I should pay tithes.” “Will a man rob God?” The consequence of doing so is plainly stated, and I would not risk the consequence. All who will take a whole-hearted, decided position to obey God; who will not take the Lord’s reserved?funds—his own money—to settle their debts; who will render to the Lord the portion that he claims as his own, will receive the blessing of God which is promised to all who obey him.?{PH087 9.1}[20]
---Mrs. E. G. White[21]
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