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以弗所书生命读经 · 第42篇

都是建造的肢体，没有等级

ALL BUILDING MEMBERS WITHOUT RANK
1历世纪以来，基督徒有个天然的观念，认为召会只是个社会组织。事实上，召会不是组织。保罗在他的书信中说，召会是基督的身体。我们的肉身是基督奥秘身体的一幅图画；牠不是组织，乃是生机体。一个生机体，完全在乎生命。当生命了了，身体就成为尸体，那也许可以当作组织了。
1Throughout the centuries Christians have held the natural concept that the church is merely a social organization. Actually the church is not an organization. As Paul says in his Epistles, the church is the Body of Christ. Our physical body, which is a picture of the mystical Body of Christ, is not an organization, but an organism. As an organism, it is altogether dependent upon life. When the life is gone, the body becomes a corpse, which could possibly be regarded as an organization
功用的次序，而非等级的次序
AN ORDER OF FUNCTION, NOT OF RANK
2认为召会是个社会组织的这种观念，造成了莫大的损害。社会组织需要有一些成员在顶层，成为最高的等级。在宗教里，乃是采取阶级制度的形式。但我们的身体没有阶级制度。不错，有些肢体是在另一些肢体之上，但这是功用次序上的事，而非等级的事。譬如，为著尽功用，鼻子高于嘴巴。如果说鼻子的等级比嘴巴高，那是可笑的。照样，我们的指头在我们的手臂和肩膀底下，但这并不表示指头较低一级；这完全是照著功用而有的次序。指头若是连著肩膀，怎么能尽功用？所以，我们的肉身是一幅图画，给我们看见基督的身体是活的生机体，没有等级或阶级制度的次序，只有功用上的次序。已往我遇见有些妇女不同意保罗在以弗所五章的话，说妻子要服从丈夫。照样，她们不能接受保罗在林前十一章的话，说男人是女人的头。在女性解放运动的摩登观念影响下，她们质问为甚么女人一定要在男人之下。我向她们指出我们身体上肢体的安排，来回答她们。我试著给她们看见，这个安排不是等级的事，乃是功用的事。譬如，鼻子是在对的地方尽牠特殊的功用。身体上所有的肢体也都是这样。然而，鼻子在功用的次序上比嘴巴高，并不表示牠比嘴巴高一级。把等级这件事用在基督的身体上，乃是受堕落人类观念的影响。许多的麻烦、难处，都是这种观念造成的。
2The concept that the church is a social organization has caused a great deal of damage. In social organizations there is the need for certain members to be on the top, to be of the highest rank. In religion this may take the form of hierarchy. But there is no hierarchy in our physical body. No doubt, certain members are above others, but this is a matter of functional order, not of rank. For example, for the purpose of function, the nose is higher than the mouth. It would be absurd to say that the nose has a higher rank than the mouth has. In like manner, our fingers are below both our arms and shoulders. But this does not mean that the fingers have a lower rank. This is entirely a matter of order according to function. How could the fingers function if they were attached to the shoulders? Therefore, in the physical body, a picture of the living organism of the Body of Christ, there is no rank nor hierarchal order, but only order according to function. In the past I have met some women who did not agree with Paul’sword in Ephesians 5 about wives submitting to their husbands. Likewise, they could not accept Paul’sword in 1 Corinthians 11 about the man being the head of the woman. Under the influence of the modern concept of female emancipation, they questioned why the woman had to be under the man. I answered them by pointing to the arrangement of the members in our physical body. I tried to show them that this arrangement is not a matter of rank, but a matter of function. For example, the nose is in the right place for its particular function. The same is true of all the members of the body. However, the fact that the nose is higher than the mouth in functional order does not mean that it is of a higher rank than the mouth. To consider the matter of rank with respect to the Body of Christ is to be under the influence of the fallen human concept. Many troubles and problems have been caused by this very concept
3当我们来看新约中所说的使徒、申言者和长老时，我们必须放下天然的观念。我们若守住天然的观念，就会自然而然的以为使徒、申言者和长老是高一级的。等级的观念完全是天然的，圣经上没有这观念。使徒、申言者和长老尽某些功用，但是尽这些功用并不使他们列在高于其他圣徒的水平上。在基督的身体里有许多肢体，这些肢体有不同的功用。功用虽然不同，却没有等级上的差异。在生机体里没有等级的感觉。我们的肩膀若会说话，牠们会说，牠们从未想过在我们的身体上有任何等级；牠们要说，牠们从不认为自己比其他的肢体高。
3As we consider the apostles, prophets, and elders spoken of in the New Testament, we need to drop the natural concept. If we hold to our natural concept, we shall automatically think that the apostles, prophets, and elders have a higher rank. The concept of rank is altogether a natural concept, a concept foreign to the Scriptures. The apostles, prophets, and elders carry out certain functions, but fulfilling these functions does not place them on a level above the other saints. In the Body there are many members, and these members have different functions. Although there is a difference of function, there is no difference of rank. In an organism there is no consciousness of rank. If our shoulders could speak, they would say that they have never thought of having any rank in our body; they would say that they have never regarded themselves as higher than the other members.
4有些长老颇以自己的地位为傲，也期望圣徒们给他们地位。有的弟兄有野心要作长老，但召会生活没有给这样的野心留余地。我们若认识圣经，就会看见长老乃是奴仆。等级的思想必须清除。使徒和长老不是高级官员；反之，他们乃是将基督供应众召会和众圣徒的人。
4Some of the elders have been rather proud of their position and have expected the saints to give place to them. Other brothers have been ambitious to become elders. There is no room for such ambition in the church life. If we know the Bible, we shall realize that an elder is a slave. The thought of rank must be purged away. The apostles and elders are not high officials. On the contrary, they are those who serve Christ to the churches and to the saints
成全圣徒，
THE PERFECTING OF THE SAINTS
目的是为著职事的工作
UNTO THE WORK OF MINISTRY
5我在本篇信息的负担，是要指出众圣徒都该是建造的肢体。以弗所四章十一节说，『祂所赐的，有些是使徒，有些是申言者，有些是传福音者，有些是牧人和教师。』这些有恩赐的人不是有特殊等级的高级官员；赐下他们，乃是为著成全圣徒。（12。）圣徒需要被成全、得装备、得供备，目的是为著职事的工作。这职事的工作，乃是建造基督的身体。因著有这么多的圣徒尚未作职事的工作，他们就需要十一节所题那些有恩赐的人来成全他们，装备他们，使他们有资格作职事的工作，为著建造基督的身体。成全或装备是与生命的长大有关，也与技能的训练有关。这几节的光，从未像今天这样明亮清楚。我们已经看见，职事的工作就是建造基督的身体。这工作不该只是由使徒、申言者、传福音者、牧人和教师完成，乃该由身体的众肢体完成。因此，众圣徒都是建造的肢体。我们不仅是被建造的肢体，我们也是建造身体的肢体。首先是使徒、申言者、传福音者、牧人和教师成全圣徒，这意思是说，他们把圣徒建造起来；然后被成全的圣徒，就成为建造的肢体。在这些日子，圣徒们正在被成全。但是过一段时间后，我期望那些现在被成全的圣徒，也成为建造的人。
5My burden in this message is to point out that all the saints should be building members. Ephesians 4:11 says, “And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers.” These gifted ones are not high officials with a special rank. Rather, they are given for the perfecting of the saints (v. 12). The saints need to be perfected, equipped, furnished, unto the work of ministry. This work of ministry is the building up of the Body of Christ. Because so many saints are not yet doing the work of ministry, they need the gifted ones mentioned in verse 11 to perfect them, to equip them, that they may be qualified to carry out the work of ministry for the building up of the Body of Christ. The perfecting or equipping is related both to growth in life and to training in certain skills. The light on these verses has never been as bright and clear as it is today. We have seen that the work of ministry is simply the building up of the Body of Christ. This work should be carried out not only by the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers, but by all the members. Hence, all the saints are building members. We are not only members who have been built up, but we are also members who build up the Body. Firstly, the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers perfect the saints. This means that they build up the saints. Then the perfected saints become the building members. In these days the saints are being perfected. But after another period of time I expect that the saints who are being perfected now will also become the building ones.
直到我们都达到
UNTIL WE ALL ARRIVE
6十三节说，『直到我们众人都达到了信仰上并对神儿子之完全认识上的一，达到了长成的人，达到了基督丰满之身材的度量。』注意保罗在这节说『我们』，而不说『你们』。保罗写这节时，他自己已经成熟了。然而，他在等待不成熟的人长大。换句话说，他在等待，直到我们众人都达到。保罗不愿在年幼的人之先达到目的地。他乃是在等，直到我们都达到三件事：达到信仰上的一，达到长成的人，达到基督丰满之身材的度量。这节有三句话都以『达到』开始，其间没有连接词；这事实指明，第二句与第一句是同位语，第三句与第二句是同位语。因此，这三句事实上是指同一件事。保罗期望众圣徒都达到他的标准，并且与他一样。保罗是建造的人，我们也该是建造的人。保罗不是甚么达官显要，他顶多不过是身体的肢体。我们大多数人和他之间的不同，乃在于保罗是建造的肢体，而我们大多数的人不过是被建造的肢体。不管怎样，那日子要来到，也许再过几年，我们都要成为建造的肢体。这样，我们都要一同达到目的地。
6Verse 13 says, “Until we all arrive at the oneness of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, at a full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Notice that in this verse Paul says “we,” not “you.” When Paul wrote this verse, he himself was already mature. However, he was waiting for the immature ones to grow up. In other words, he was waiting until we all arrive. Paul did not want to arrive at the destination ahead of the younger ones. Rather, he was waiting until we all arrive at three things: at the oneness of the faith, at a full-grown man, and at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In this verse there are three phrases beginning with the word at. The fact that there is no conjunction indicates that the second is in apposition to the first and that the third is in apposition to the second. Thus, the three phrases actually refer to one thing. Paul expected all the saints to come up to his standard and to be the same as he was. Paul was a builder, and we all should be builders also. Paul was not some great official. At most, he was simply a member of the Body. The difference between him and most of us is that Paul was a building member, whereas most of us are just builded members. Nevertheless, the day is coming, perhaps after a few years, when we all shall be building members. Then we shall all arrive at the destination together
长大和训练
GROWTH AND TRAINING
7十四节接著说，『使我们不再作小孩子，为波浪漂来漂去，并为一切教训之风所摇荡，这教训是在于人的欺骗手法，在于将人引入错谬系统的诡诈作为。』小孩子不能作建造者，他首先必须成为被建造的人。故此，属灵的小孩子需要长大。我们若愿意作被建造的肢体，特别是作建造的肢体，就必须长大。不仅如此，我们也必须发展一些技能。在前一篇信息里，我们指出成全圣徒的路就是𫗪养他们，使他们能长大；并且训练他们，使他们学到一些技能。学习技能与在生命中长大有关。我们越成熟，就越能受训练。譬如，较大的孩子比起较小的孩子能学更多数学的技巧。生命的长大使我们有能力学习某种技能。
7Verse 14 continues, “That we may be no longer babes tossed by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching in the sleight of men, in craftiness with a view to a system of error.” A babe cannot be a building one. He first needs to become a builded one. For this, a spiritual babe needs to grow. If we would be a builded member and especially a building member, we must grow. Furthermore, we need to develop certain skills. In the foregoing message we pointed out that the way to perfect the saints is to feed them so that they may grow and to train them so that they may learn certain skills. The learning of skills is related to our growth in life. The more mature we are, the more we are able to be trained. For example, an older child is able to learn more skills in mathematics than a younger child. It is the growth in life that gives us the capacity to learn certain skills.
8今天没有多少基督徒注意生命的长大。不仅如此，很少人关心训练的事。所以今天在大多数的基督徒中间，没有长大，也没有训练。这就是为何许多人参加所谓的『教会崇拜』多年，却仍然是个小孩子。这样的人永远不能作使徒和申言者所能作的，因为他没有得著𫗪养，也没有受过训练。在主恢复里的情形，必须与以上所说的完全不同。我们必须兴起，并宣告我们要在生命中长大，且要发展必要的技能，好成为建造的肢体。我盼望几年后，众圣徒都能成为建造的肢体，在生命上长大，并且也有技能。这就是被成全、受装备、得供备的意思。
8Not many Christians today pay attention to the growth in life. Furthermore, very few concentrate on the matter of training. Therefore, among most Christians today there is no growth and there is no training. This is the reason that one can attend so-called church services for many years and still remain a babe. Such a one can never do what the apostles and prophets were able to do, because he has been neither fed nor trained. The situation in the Lord’s recovery must be altogether different from this. We need to rise up and declare that we want to grow in life and that we want to develop the necessary skills to become building members. I hope that after a few years all the saints will become building members with the growth in life and with the skills. This is what it means to be perfected, completed, equipped, and furnished
由长大显明我们的潜能
OUR POTENTIAL REALIZED BY GROWTH
9十五节说，『惟在爱里持守著真实，我们就得以在一切事上长到祂，就是元首基督里面。』这节清楚的说到长大。哦！我们何等需要长大！我们都能作与使徒、申言者、传福音者、牧人和教师所作同样的工作；我们得著这话的激励，的确美好。我们都有这样的潜能，但这潜能只有藉著长大才能显明。没有长大，潜能就算不了甚么。我们若要长大，就必须进入主的话，在主的话中得𫗪养，操练我们的灵祷告，并且每天接受主。藉著在主的话上得𫗪养，并藉著接受主，我们就会得到生命长大所需要的滋养。每一部分依其度量而有的功用接下去的十六节，启示身体是本于元首的：『本于祂，全身藉著每一丰富供应的节，并藉著每一部分依其度量而有的功用，得以联络在一起，并结合在一起，便叫身体渐渐长大，以致在爱里把自己建造起来。』这节指明，乃是身体叫身体渐渐长大，以致在爱里把自己建造起来。这里的『每一供应的节』，是指像十一节所说特别有恩赐的人；但『每一部分』是指身体的每一肢体。基督身体的每一肢体，都有依其度量而有的功用；这指明每一肢体都是建造的肢体。这节里建造的肢体，是那些在生命里长大且在功用上发挥技能的人。
9Verse 15 says, “But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, Who is the Head, Christ.” This verse clearly speaks of growth. Oh, how we need to grow! It is good to be encouraged by the word that we all can do the same kind of work as was done by the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. We all have the potential for this, but this potential can be realized only by growth. Without growth, the potential does not mean any thing. If we would grow, we need to get into the Word, feed on the Word, and exercise our spirit to pray and to receive the Lord each day. By feeding on the Word and by receiving the Lord, we shall receive the nourishment required for the growth in life. THE OPERATION IN THE MEASURE OF EACH PART The following verse, verse 16, reveals that the Body comes out of the Head: “Out from Whom all the Body, fitted and knit together through every joint of the supply, according to the operation in measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.” This verse indicates that the Body causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love. Here “every joint of the supply” refers to the specially gifted persons, such as those mentioned in verse 11. But “each one part” denotes the members of the Body. There is an operation in the measure of every member. This indicates that every member is a building member. The building members in this verse are those who have grown in life and who have developed the skills in function.
训练的需要
THE NEED FOR TRAINING
10我们都要在生命中长大，并要接受训练好尽功用；我对此事负担非常重。我们在这里，是要对主绝对。召会的聚会，不是休闲或娱乐的时间。主需要一班人，愿意长大，愿意受训练，也愿意受管教。因此，每处召会应该每周划出一个晚上为著训练。我们若在训练的事上对主忠信，几年后众圣徒都会在祂手中成为有用的。愿我们都乐意的说，『主，我们要受训练。我们要知道如何实际的在生命中长大，我们也要发展所有必要的技能。』我们需要在如何说话、如何传福音、如何教导、并牧养别人的事上受训练。每一位搆得上主标准的正当基督徒，都该是受差遣、为神说话、传扬福音、并照顾别人的人。我们不该是仅仅得救或是只等著上天堂的人。这样的信徒实际上和世人没有两样。相反的，我们必须是那些不断受差遣出去为主说话的人。我们必须传福音，并且牧养那些藉我们传福音得救的人。我们若是这样，就会与世人和大多数的基督徒不同。我们将是完成属天托付的属天子民。
10I am extremely burdened that we all grow in life and that we all receive training in order to function. We are here to be absolute with the Lord. The church meetings are not a time for relaxation or entertainment. The Lord needs a people who are willing to grow, to be trained, and to be disciplined. Thus, every church should set aside one evening a week for training. If we are faithful to the Lord in this matter of training, after a few years all the saints will be useful in His hand. May we be willing to say, “Lord, we want to be trained. We want to know how to grow in life in a practical way, and we want to develop all the necessary skills.” We need training in how to speak, how to preach the gospel, and how to teach and shepherd others. Every proper Christian who is up to the Lord’s standard should be one who is sent out, who speaks for God, who preaches the gospel, and who takes care of others. We should not be those who are merely saved and who are just waiting for heaven. Such believers are actually not very different from the people in the world. In contrast, we must be those who are continually sent out to speak for the Lord. We must preach the gospel and shepherd those who are saved through our gospel preaching. If we are like this, we shall be different both from the worldly people and from most Christians. We shall be a heavenly people carrying out a heavenly commission
11不要等别人兴起来成为主的仆人，或兴起来作职事的工作。我们都必须尽使徒、申言者、传福音者、牧人和教师的功用。我们都必须是建造的肢体，也都能作建造的肢体。我们不在乎空洞的名称或虚空的地位，我们愿意实际的作今天的使徒和申言者。我们必须作真正传扬高品且丰富之福音的传扬者，也必须作真知道如何牧养初信者的人。愿我们都迫切的到主面前祷告，求祂训练我们成为祂身体上这样的肢体。除非我看到主恢复中的众圣徒都这样受训练，我才能得安息。我们的负担乃是成全圣徒，目的是为著职事的工作，为著建造基督的身体。
11Do not wait for others to be raised up to be the Lord’s servants or to do the work of ministry. We all must function as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. We all must be and we all can be the building members. We do not care to have some vain title or empty position. We would like to be today’s apostles and prophets in a practical way. We need to be genuine preachers of the high and rich gospel and also those who truly know how to shepherd the new ones. May we all go to the Lord in a desperate way and pray that He train us to be such members of His Body. I cannot be at rest until I see that all the saints in the Lord’s recovery are being trained in such away. Our burden is to perfect the saints unto the work of ministry, unto the building up of the Body of Christ
作个肯定的决定
MAKING A DEFINITE DECISION
12我信主已经清楚的把这异象向我们众人开启，现在要紧的事乃是圣徒该如何反应。我信所有在我们中间的人，都是向主真诚、忠信的。惟一剩下的事，就是我们要在祂面前作个肯定的决定，甚至许愿说，我们不要落在后面，我们要作那些答应主呼召，满足祂愿望，使祂快乐的人。我们若不是为著这个，我们在地上的生活就毫无意义。
12I believe that the Lord has made this vision clear to us all. Now the crucial matter is how the saints will respond. I believe that all those among us are sincere and faithful to the Lord. The only thing remaining is that we make a definite decision before Him, even a vow, that we do not want to be left behind. Rather, we want to be those who answer the Lord’scall, satisfy His desire, and make Him happy. If we are not for this, then our life on earth is meaningless
13对今天宗教里的那些基督徒，我们也许作不了甚么；但是因著主的怜悯和恩典，我们自己能得帮助，在实际上并在实行上成为建造的肢体。一面，带头的人必须竭力成全圣徒。另一面，圣徒必须向主作肯定的决定，愿意受训练成为建造的肢体。我们若在这两面是忠信的，神就会为著祂对基督与召会之经纶的缘故，极其充盈的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。
13Perhaps we can do little to help those Christians in today’s religion, but by the Lord’s mercy and grace we ourselves can be helped to become building members in reality and in practicality. We believe that even the weakest one among us can become a building member. On the one hand, the leading ones must endeavor to perfect the saints. On the other hand, the saints must make a definite decision with the Lord regarding their willingness to be trained to be building members. If we are faithful on both sides, then God will do superabundantly above all we ask or think for the sake of His economy concerning Christ and the church
基督─独一的师尊
CHRIST, THE UNIQUE LEADER
14在基督身体里建造的肢体中间，不该23:10有等级。主耶稣在马太二十三章十节说，『也不要受师尊的称呼，因为只有一位是你们的师尊，就是基督。』我们在主里都是弟兄，我们中间不该有师尊。主的话清楚说到，我们中间不该有任何人称为师尊，因为主自己是我们独一的师尊。
14Among the building members in the Body of Christ there should be no rank. In Matthew the Lord Jesus said, “Neither be called leaders, because One is your Leader, the Christ.” We all are brothers in the Lord, and there should be no leader among us. The Lord’s clear word is that none of us should be called the leader, for He Himself is our unique Leader.
帮助的和治理的
HELPS AND GOVERNMENTS
15在林前十二章二十八节，保罗把『帮助的』摆在『治理的』之前，这是很有意义的。帮助的，是指执事的服事；治理的，是指长老的职任。保罗在这一节，特地把执事的服事放在长老的职任之前。他这样作，可能是要加深哥林多人的印象，使他们认清在召会里不该有等级的观念。我们不该认为长老的治理比执事的服事高。
15It is quite significant that in 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul places “helps” before “governments.” The helps refer to the service of the deacons, whereas governments denote the function of the elders. In this verse Paul purposely places the service of the deacons ahead of the function of the elders. He may have done this to impress the Corinthians with the fact that in the church there should be no concept of rank. We should not regard the governing of the elders as higher than the service of the deacons
神恩典的管家
STEWARDS OF THE GRACE OF GOD
16我们已经看见，保罗在以弗所三章说，神恩典的管家职分已经赐给他。他题到这事，目的是要帮助圣徒看见，他们都要作神恩典的管家。相同的思想也可见于彼前四章十节：『各人要照所得的恩赐，将这恩赐彼此供应，作神诸般恩典的好管家。』因此，不仅使徒是管家，众圣徒都该是管家。长老不该把自己列在特别的一类，他们应该看自己是管家，正如众圣徒是管家一样。
16We have seen that in Ephesians 3 Paul said that he had been given the stewardship of the grace of God. He mentioned this with the intention of helping the saints to realize that they all are to be stewards of God’s grace. The same thought is found in 1 Peter 4:10: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Thus, all the saints, not just the apostles, should be stewards. The elders should not place themselves in a special category, but they should consider themselves stewards, just as all the saints are stewards.
不是辖管召会，
NOT LORDING IT OVER THE CHURCH
乃是立下榜样
BUT SETTING AN EXAMPLE
17在彼前五章三节，彼得劝长老不要辖管召会，把召会当作他们私有的产业。召会是基督的身体，不是长老的私人财产。所以，长老不该把召会据为己有。然而，在有些地方，我知道长老有这种态度。他们把召会放在自己的『口袋』里，好像是他们的东西，而且一言一行好像他们就是『上司』一样。这种态度完全错误。长老必须记住，他们是一群管家中间的管家。长老既为管家，就该立下榜样让圣徒跟随。在读主的话、祷告、把自己献给主、生命长大、召会的实际服事、以及一切其他的事上，他们都该是榜样。长老不是皇帝，也不是主人；他们是奴隶，是仆人。他们也是神恩典的管家。作为这样的管家，他们在牧养、教导、传福音上，都该作圣徒的模范。我们若在这事上都清楚，我们中间在带领上就不会没有难处。
17In 1 Peter 5:3 Peter encouraged the elders not to lord it over the church as if the church were their private possession. The church is the Body of Christ; it is not the personal property of the elders. The elders, therefore, should not regard the church as their own possession. However, in certain places I have known elders who had such an attitude. They kept the church in their “pocket” as their possession and conducted themselves as if they were the “boss.” Such an attitude is utterly wrong. The elders must remember that they are stewards among a company of stewards. As stewards, the elders should set an example for the saints to follow. In reading the Word, in prayer, in offering themselves to the Lord, in the growth in life, in the practical service of the church, and in all other things as well, they should be examples. The elders are not lords or kings; they are slaves, servants. They are also stewards of the grace of God. As such stewards, they should be models for the saints in shepherding, in teaching, and in preaching. If we are all clear about this, then there will be no problem among us as far as leadership is concerned
彼此服从
MUTUAL SUBMISSION
18有些人问我，他们该不该服从他们召会中的长老。圣徒当然该服从长老。彼得在彼前五章五节说，『照样，年幼的，要服从年长的。』然而，在同一节里彼得继续说，『你们众人彼此相待，也都要以谦卑束腰。』这指明不仅年幼的要服从年长的，年长的也要服从年幼的。年长的和年幼的，彼此都该以谦卑束腰。要叫年幼的服从年长的有点困难，但要年长的服从年幼的更难。虽然如此，在召会生活中应该有这样彼此的服从。
18Some have asked me whether or not they should submit themselves to the elders in their church. Certainly the saints should be submissive to the elders. In 1 Peter 5:5 Peter says, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.” However, in the very same verse Peter goes on to say, “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility.” This indicates that not only should the younger ones submit to the older ones, but that the older ones should also submit to the younger ones. Both the older ones and the younger ones need to be clothed with humility. For the younger to submit to the elder is somewhat difficult, but for the elder to submit to the younger is even more difficult. Nevertheless, in the church life there should be such a mutual submission
关于权柄的问题
A QUESTION ABOUT AUTHORITY
19曾有人问我，长老到底有没有权柄。这个问题是从我们对等级的天然观念产生的。我们若不在天然观念的影响下，就不会发这个问题。我再重复一次，在召会中没有等级这回事。相反的，我们都是神恩典的管家，并且我们都彼此服从。主若把你放在长老职分中，你不可骄傲。不要以为你比别人高，也不要辖管召会，好像召会是你自己的东西。相反的，作为带领的人，你应当立下榜样给圣徒跟随。当圣徒们看见带领的人给他们立下榜样，他们会说，『主，为著这些好榜样，谢谢你。我们渴望在祷告、读主的话、传福音、教导和牧养圣徒的事上跟随他们。』藉著立下榜样并跟随榜样，至终我们都一同服事，作神诸般恩典的管家。这是正当的召会生活，没有组织，没有等级，没有阶级制度，没有圣品阶级和平信徒之分。为使召会正确的往前，有些弟兄需要顾到行政一面的事务；但这并不就使他们成为主管，而使其他圣徒成为他们的下属。这种天然的观念必须丢掉；这种观念在神的国里没有地位。在召会生活中，就是在今日实际的神国里，我们只有一位王，就是主耶稣基督，我们都是祂的属民。
19Others have asked me if the elders have authority. This question springs from the natural concept concerning rank. If we were not under the influence of the natural concept, we would not raise this question. I repeat, in the church there is no such thing as rank. Rather, we all are stewards of the grace of God, and we submit ourselves one to another. If the Lord has placed you in the eldership, you should not be proud. Do not regard yourselves as higher than others, and do not lord it over the church as if the church were your possession. On the contrary, as a leading one, set an example for the saints to follow. When the saints see such examples established for them by the leading ones, they may say, “Lord, thank You for these good examples. We desire to follow them in praying, in reading the Word, in preaching and teaching, and in shepherding the saints.” By the setting of the example and the following of the example, we all shall eventually serve together as stewards of the manifold grace of God. This is the proper church life, where there is no organization, no rank, no hierarchy, and no clergy-laity. In order for the church to go on in a proper way, there is the need for some brothers to take care of the administrative affairs. But this does not make them high officials with all the other saints as their subordinates. This natural concept must be dropped. There is no place for it in the kingdom of God. In the church life, which is the kingdom of God in a practical way today, we have one King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and we all are His subjects.