牧师灵命自省清单Aspiritual checklist for pastoral integrity
作者:James Meikle译者: Duncan Liang
摘自《牧师的性质、重要性、本分与资格》The Nature, Importance, Duties and Qualifications of
the Pastor
不要在世上交游过广。
Do
not contract many worldly acquaintances.
学习忍受苦待,不动怒气。
Learn
to be abused without becoming angry.
不要世务缠身。
Do
not meddle much with the affairs of this life.
冷静论辩,本于良心——不是为了争胜。
Argue
coolly, and from conscience—not for victory.
不要在人面前“装敬虔”。
Do
not be ashamed of piety in any company.
与任何人在一起时,都不要以敬虔为耻。
Do
not pretend a ‘show of sanctimony’ before men.
不管读什么书,读双倍真理的圣经。
Whatever
else you read, read a double portion in the scriptures of truth.
避免与世人亲昵交往,否则由你说出口的真理就要遭人藐视。
Shun
familiarity with the men of the world—else celestial truths, as uttered by you,
will be despised.
不要太过关注你自己的名声——只要真理和福音并无受损。
Do
not be much concerned about your own reputation—as long as the truth and the
gospel do not suffer.
每天更认识基督和你自己——否则你在其他方面的认识就于你没有多少益处。
Learn
daily more of Christ and more of yourself—else your other studies will profit
little.
不要为自己求大事。不求大名、极多的赏赞,极大的舒适或极多的收入。而是为基督求大事。为祂求大荣耀,许多人归正和多结义果。
Seek
not great things for yourself. Seek not great fame, great applause, great
comforts, or a great income. But seek great things for Christ. Seek for him
great glory, many converts, and much fruits of righteousness.
思想灵魂的宝贵,得救的价值,神圣托付的重任,全能神的可怕,审判日的肃穆,还有你自己的全然无力。这样你就必不会有虚妄的自信,而是单单依靠神。
Consider
the preciousness of souls, the value of salvation, the weight of the sacred
charge, the terrors of the Almighty, the solemn day of judgment, and your own
utter inability. Then shall you have no vain confidence, but depend on God
alone.
只要你与真理一致,就要叫众人喜欢——但不要为叫任何人喜欢而伤害真理。
Please
all men so long as you are consistent with the truth—but do not wound the truth
to please any.
要思念上面的事——好让属灵的事成为你的喜乐,而不是你的负担。
Set
your affections on things above—so shall spiritual things be your delight, and
not your burden.
在人群中,总要尽力说造就人的话。这样,你就既是在礼拜天,也是在每一天讲道。
In
company, always study to say something for edification. In this way, you preach
every day—as well as on Sundays.
在隐秘处多多与神同在——这样,神就必然在众人面前与你同在。
Be
much with God in secret—so shall God be with you in public.
确保你家中每一个人的行为在观察之人的眼中堪称榜样,而不是受人责备,让神的仇敌欢喜。
See
that the behavior of every person in your family is a pattern to all observers;
and not matter of reproach—to the joy of God’s enemies.
让你心中不断思想你的群羊。不仅公开,在各人家里为他们祷告——还把他们带进你的密室,在私下为他们祷告。
Let
your flock be continually on your mind. And not only pray with them in public,
and from house to house—but carry them to your closet, and pray for them in
private.
在一切恰当时候,都不要忽略对他们的探访,但要特别抓住这些黄金机会,就是生病和遭遇患难的时候。
Do
not neglect to visit them at all proper times, but especially embrace those
golden opportunities—sickness and affliction.
同情你受苦的群羊。
Have
sympathetic feelings with the sufferings of all your flock.
让你的生活与你的信息一致。你在礼拜天传讲的,贯穿一周加以实践。
Let
your life be consistent with your message. What you preach on Sunday—practice through
the week.
不要只强烈要求富有的人施舍行善;而是要按你的能力,以身作则,向人表明正道。
Do
not only press charity on the wealthy; but let your example, according to your
ability, show the way.
让你的耳朵听责备,而不是夸奖声。责备可能让我们看到我们一些愚昧或失败之处,但称赞很容易点燃自欺的火焰——而各人身上的自欺已经够多。
Lend
your ear to reproaches–rather than applauses. Reproaches may let us see some of
our foibles or failings. But commendation is very apt to kindle self-conceit—of
which everyone has enough.
饮食节制。不要其他时候节制,但赴宴时贪食好饮。
Be
temperate in eating and drinking. Do not, when at a feast, though temperate at
other times—be a glutton or a wine-bibber.
至于你的群羊,当思想神让你作一家的管家,因此必须按那伟大主人许可的,为所有人供应食物——为刚强的人供应干粮,为软弱的人供应灵奶。
With
respect to your flock, consider that you are made the steward of a family, and
therefore must, seeing the great Master allows it—provide food for all—meat for
the strong, and milk for the weak.
准确记录你羊群的光景——谁是敬虔或放荡,谁是富足或贫穷,谁是健康或生病——常常回顾这份记录。
Keep
an exact list or catalogue of your flock—who is pious or profligate; who is in
affluence or poverty; who is in health or sick—and read it often.
其他人受表彰时要乐于听见,但总要向当面表扬你的朋友表明不悦。
Give
a pleasant ear when others are commended. But always frown away the friend that
would commend you to your face.
要甚少展示“你学问的成果”,或按原文解经。因为一位娴熟的文法专家,可能只不过是敬虔和福音方面的新手。
Be
scant in exhibiting ‘specimens of your learning’, or comments on the Scriptures
in their original languages. For a fine grammarian may be but a novice in piety
and the gospel.
讲道时追求神的荣耀和人灵魂的益处。然后,爱不偏离这原则的前提下,尽力叫众人喜欢。
In
preaching, aim at God’s glory and the good of souls. And then, without
deviating from that rule—please all men as much as possible.
让你的讲道总是多多学习和应用的成果,绝不胆敢用不费你丝毫心血的讲道服侍神或祂的百姓。
Let
your sermons be always the fruit of much study and application. And never dare
to serve God or his people with that which cost you nothing.