Books
以弗所书生命读经 · 第88篇

宇宙的建造与地方的建造

UNIVERSAL BUILDING AND LOCAL BUILDING
1读经：以弗所书二章二十一至二十二节。以弗所二章结束于建造的事。在二十一节，我们看见宇宙的建造；在二十二节，我们看见地方的建造。二十一节说，『在祂里面，全房联结一起，长成在主里的圣殿。』『全房』指明宇宙的建造，就是全宇宙的召会。22二十二节所说『你们也在祂里面』，指明地方的建造，就是这卷书信所送达之城里，那些人中间的建造。因此，建造有宇宙的一面和地方的一面。以弗所二章结束于召会这两面的建造，乃是很有意义的。
1Scripture Reading: Eph. 2:21-22 Chapter two of Ephesians concludes with the matter of the building. In verse 21 we see the universal building, and in verse 22, the local building. Verse 21 says, “In Whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.” The phrase “all the building” denotes the universal building, the church throughout the universe. The words “in Whom you also” in verse denote the local building, the building among those in the city to which this Epistle was sent. The building, therefore, has a universal aspect and a local aspect. It is significant that this chapter of Ephesians concludes with the building of the church in these two aspects.
2许多世纪以来，建造这件事一直被人忽视。很少主的仆人对这事给与彀多的注意。一九三八年开始，主在我们中间开始强调建造的重要性。一篇篇论到这紧要题目的信息释放了出来。有些信息刊印在『神建造的异象』这本书里；书中的信息，论到圣经从起头到末了所启示之神的建造。
2For centuries, this matter of the building has been neglected. Very few servants of the Lord have given it adequate attention. Beginning in 1938, among us the Lord began to emphasize the importance of the building. Message after message has been given on this crucial subject. Among them are the messages printed in The Vision of God’s Building. The messages in that book cover God’s building as revealed from the beginning of the Bible to the end
弃绝一切规条
FORSAKING ALL ORDINANCES
3我们若要在宇宙一面并地方一面得以建造起来，就必须弃绝一切规条。持守某些规条，就是不在正确的根基上，不以基督为独一的根基而建造。许多基督徒不清楚基督是独一的根基，他们也不认识神的建造。因此，他们浪费年日，在各公会或基督教团体之间游荡。这样的基督徒也许是神建造的石头，但他们还没有建造进来。有些在各公会游荡的基督徒也许宣告说，他们之所以在一个团体又一个团体之间游荡，原因乃是不满意。然而，基本的原因乃是规条。
3If we would be built up universally and locally, we must forsake all ordinances. To hold to certain ordinances is to build without a proper foundation, that is, without Christ as the unique foundation. Many Christians are not clear about Christ as the unique foundation, and they do not know God’s building. Therefore, they have spent years wandering from one denomination or Christian group to another. Such believers may be stones for God’s building, but they have not yet been built in. Some church-traveling Christians may claim that the reason for their wandering from group to group is a sense of dissatisfaction. However, the underlying reason is ordinances
4规条也许与我们天然的性情有关。有些人天性是安静的，喜欢安静敬拜的基督徒聚会。他们从一个团体游荡到另一个团体，要找一个合他们性情的聚会。他们也许以为某一个团体适合他们的胃口，却发现有些作法不合他们的性情。这种基督徒不能满意于任何团体，他们不能找到一个完全符合他们性情的团体。
4Ordinances may be related to our natural disposition. Some have a quiet disposition and prefer Christian meetings where the believers worship in silence. They wander from group to group in quest of a meeting to match their disposition. They may think that a particular group suits their taste, only to learn that certain practices there do not match their disposition. Such Christians are not satisfied with any group. They cannot find a group that is fully in accord with their disposition.
5我们若清楚看见神经纶的异象，并知道恢复是甚么，就会乐意忘掉我们的性情，否认我们的口味，而只在意主的恢复。恢复不是基于任何作法；恢复乃是基于那是我们的和平、根基、房角石和一切的基督。神经纶的异象必须控制我们、指引我们、并限制我们。这样的异象，必定使我们站立在作独一根基的基督上。这样，我们就不会是流荡的星，（犹13，）乃是那些能与别人建造在一起的人。我们要永远安定在神的经纶里。惟有看见这异象，并受这异象管制的人，才能在包罗万有之基督这独一的根基上，与别人同被建造。这样的人不会容许任何规条成为他们的根基。我要再一次用祷读为例。我们为著祷读感谢主。虽然我们没有把祷读弄成规条，但有些人只因为不喜欢祷读，就离开了召会生活。你以为因著这种原因离开召会的人，真的看见甚么是召会么？我不这么认为。看见召会异象的人，绝不会离开召会。
5If we have seen a clear vision of God’secon o my and know what the recovery is, we shall be willing to forget our disposition, to deny our taste, and to care only for the Lord’s recovery. The recovery is not based on any practice; it is based on Christ who is our peace, our foundation, our cornerstone, and our everything. The vision of God’secon o my must control us, direct us, and restrict us. Such a vision will surely cause us to stand on Christ as the unique foundation. Then instead of being wandering stars (Jude 13), we shall be those who can be built up with others. We shall be eternally settled in God’secon o my. Those who have seen this vision and are governed by it can be built up with others on the unique foundation of the all-inclusive Christ. They will not allow any ordinances to become their foundation. Once again I wish to use pray-reading as an example. We thank the Lord for pray-reading. Although we have not made pray-reading an ordinance, some have left the church life simply because they did not care for this practice. Do you think that someone who leaves the church for such a reason has truly seen what the church is? I do not think so. One who has seen the vision of the church will never leave
6有些基督徒不仅为祷读的实行批评我们，也为大声赞美主、呼喊主名、以及容许信徒再次受浸，就是『埋葬』，而批评我们。有些人批评我们强调基督与宗教相对的事实。若是我们在地方召会里的人，与偶像、不道德、分裂、或否认基督神性的事有牵连，我们就当被批评。然而，为著祷读主话、呼喊主名这样的事而批评我们，这就不对了。信徒若因这些实行在属灵上得著帮助，别人有甚么权利批评他们？那些不这样实行的人，仍然该与这样实行而得帮助的人是一。假若有一位弟兄承认自己老旧、死沉，并受主引导在浸水里埋葬自己。埋葬之后，他得著复苏和更新，并活泼起来；他也许甚至大声且兴奋的赞美主。他是否该因著他再次受浸或大声赞美主而被定罪？当然不！然而，有些信徒也许批评这个人，因为他们仍然有关于受浸或大声赞美的规条。
6Some Christians have criticized us not only for the practice of pray-reading, but also for praising the Lord loudly, for calling on the name of the Lord Jesus, and for allowing believers to be baptized again, that is, to be “buried.” Others have criticized us for emphasizing the fact that Christ is versus religion. If we in the local churches have something related to idols, immorality, division, or the denial of the deity of Christ, we should be criticized. However, it is wrong to criticize us for such things as pray-reading the Word or calling on the name of the Lord Jesus. If believers are helped spiritually by these practices, what right have others to criticize them? Those who do not follow these practices should nevertheless be one with those who receive benefit by following them. Suppose a certain brother is convicted of his oldness and deadness and is led of the Lord to bury himself in the waters of baptism. After his burial, he is refreshed, renewed, and living. He may even praise the Lord in a loud, excited way. Should he be condemned because he was baptized a second time or because he praises the Lord with aloud voice? Certainly not! Nevertheless, some believers may criticize such a one because they still have ordinances related to baptism or to loud praises.
7多年前有一位长老会的牧师，在中国他是拔尖的神学家。身为长老会的信徒，他的教训应该反对受浸，而倾向点水礼。然而，有一天他在山上祷告时，经历了圣灵的浇灌。当他奔下山时，他看见一个水池，就自己跳进去。在那次经历以后，他完全变成了另一个人，在主里非常活泼。持守规条的人也许批评他，但主不称许规条。在基督里，受割礼不受割礼，都无关紧要，要紧的乃是作新造。（加六15。）
7Many years ago there was a certain Presbyterian pastor who was the top theologian in China. As a Presbyterian, in his teaching he should have opposed the practice of immersion and favored sprinkling. However, as he was praying one day on a mountain, he experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As he was running down the mountainside, he saw a pool of water and threw himself into it. After that experience, he became a different person, very living in the Lord. Those who hold to ordinances may criticize him. But the Lord does not honor ordinances. In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, only a new creation (Gal. 6:15).
只在意基督
CARING ONLY FOR CHRIST
8今天地上虽然有千万基督徒，但很少有人与别人建造在一起。缺少建造的原因，乃是许多信徒仍然持守规条。也许你是某一公会的一员，然而因著你的规条，你与别人不是一，你不能与他们建造在一起。你反倒等候环境改变，以符合你的规条。若是没有改变或改进，你就转到另一个团体，希望能找到符合你喜好的环境。这就是许多人从一个公会游荡到另一个公会的原因。有些人见证，他们在进入召会生活前，一直没有满足。不错，我们在召会里，在属灵上得著满足，但我们应该小心，不要持守任何规条。在我们的经历里，基督必须是我们的一切：我们的和平、根基和房角石。我们不该在意基督之外的任何事物。不管聚会是吵闹或安静，都没有分别。我们不是为著吵闹，也不是为著安静，我们乃是为著基督。我们若只在意基督，就很容易与别人是一，而在地方一面并在宇宙一面，与他们在基督这独一的根基上同被建造。
8Although there are millions of Christians on earth today, very few have been built up with others. The reason for this lack of building is that so many believers still hold on to ordinances. Perhaps you were a member of a certain denomination. However, because of your ordinances, you were not one with others, and you were not able to be built up with them. Rather, you were waiting for the situation to change to fit your ordinances. When there was no change or improvement, you moved to another group, hoping to find there a situation to suit your preference. This has caused many to travel from one denomination to another. Some have testified that they were not satisfied until they came into the church life. Although it is true that we are satisfied spiritually in the church, we must be careful not to hold to any ordinances. In our experience Christ must be everything to us: our peace, our foundation, our cornerstone. We should not care for anything other than Christ. Whether the meetings are noisy or quiet makes no difference. We are not for noise or for silence—we are for Christ. By caring only for Christ, we can easily be one with others and be built up with them locally and universally on Christ as the unique foundation
9最近我有从主来的负担，释放一些对付规条的信息。我信在我们里面主的灵，知道我们必须清楚这点，这是何等重要。当更多的圣徒转到主恢复的路上，也许会有规条带进来，或有人发表异议的意见。因此，我们应当学习只在意基督，这是非常要紧的；特别当我们访问一些地方，他们聚会的方式与我们所习惯的不同时。我们不该根据圣徒是否实行祷读，操练说方言，作长祷告或短祷告，来衡量一个聚会。我们该在意基督，并且单单在意祂。我们若只在意基督，我们在一的事上就不会有难处。我们越在意基督，越弃绝所有的规条，我们就越在地方一面并宇宙一面，在基督里同被建造。
9Recently I have been burdened of the Lord to give a number of messages dealing with ordinances. I believe that the Spirit of the Lord within us realizes how important it is for us to be clear about this matter. As more saints turn to the way of the Lord’s recovery, it is possible for ordinances to be brought in or for dissenting opinions to be expressed. There fore, it is crucial that we learn to care only for Christ, particularly as we visit localities where the way of meeting differs from that to which we are accustomed. We should not evaluate a meeting according to whether or not the saints practice pray-reading, exercise tongues-speaking, or pray long prayers or short ones. We should care for Christ and for Christ alone. If we care only for Christ, we shall not have any problems with oneness. The more we care for Christ and drop all manner of ordinances, the more we shall be built up in Christ locally and also universally.
没有组织
NO ORGANIZATION
10说到宇宙的建造，我们必须谨慎的分辨建造与组织。虽然我们绝对为著正当的建造，但我们反对组织。众召会要在宇宙一面建造在一起，但这不是说众召会要在宇宙一面组织起来。
10In speaking of the universal building, we must be careful to distinguish such building from organization. Although we are absolutely for the proper building, we are opposed to organization. The churches will be built together universally, but this does not mean that they will be universally organized
没有隔离
NO ISOLATION
11按照基督身体的真理，基督的身体在宇宙一面乃是一。因这缘故，各地方召会不该彼此隔离。隔离就违背基督身体是一的真理。因为每一地方召会都是宇宙身体的一部分，所以没有一个地方召会该与其他的召会隔离。在今天现代通讯与交通工具能快速在全球传播消息与资讯的情形下，更是如此。今天在洛杉矶释放一篇生命的信息，数小时内，几十个地方都知道了。一个召会想独立，这真是何等的错误！基督的身体正在接受一种不断的传输。倘若我们将自己与其他的召会隔离，我们就把自己从基督身体里的传输和生命的循环切断了。这样的事违反基督身体的律。虽然我们必须避免组织，但我们却需要在宇宙一面被建造成为一个身体。
11According to the truth of the Body, the Body is universally one. For this reason, the local churches should not be isolated from one another. Isolation is contrary to the truth concerning the oneness of the Body. Because each local church is part of the Body universally, no local church should be isolated from the others. This is especially true today with modern means of communication and transportation that permit the rapid spread of news and information around the world. Something of life may be released in Los Angeles today and be known in dozens of other places within hours. How wrong it is for a church to try to be independent! The Body is receiving a continual transfusion. If we isolate ourselves from the other churches, we cut ourselves off both from the transfusion and from the circulation of life in the Body. Such a thing violates the law of the Body. Although we must shun organization, we need to be built up universally as the one Body
在基督里被建造
built up in Christ
12在二章二十二节，保罗说到地方的建造：『你们也在祂里面同被建造，成为神在灵里的居所。』『你们』这辞是指地方上的圣徒。不仅如此，『也』这辞指明，二十二节的建造是地方的。按照上下文，这节里神的居所是地方的，而在前一节里的圣殿乃是宇宙的。
12In 2:22 Paul speaks of the local building: “In Whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.” The word “you” refers to the local saints. Furthermore, the word “also” indicates that the building in verse 22 is local. According to the context, the dwelling place of God in this verse is local, whereas the holy temple in the preceding verse is universal
13保罗小心的指出，地方上的圣徒乃是在基督里被建造，成为神在灵里的居所；他们不是在规条、在作法、或是在意见里被建造起来。我们只能建造在包罗万有的基督里；祂是我们的和平、根基和房角石。
13Paul is careful to point out that it is in Christ that the local saints are built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit. They are not built in ordinances, in practices, or in opinions. We can be built up only in the all-inclusive Christ who is our peace, foundation, and cornerstone
惟有藉著地方的建造才能完成
ONLY THROUGH LOCAL BUILDING
14看见宇宙的建造惟有藉著地方的建造才能完成，这是顶要紧的。我们若不能在自己的所在地与别人建造在一起，就不该盼望能在任何别的地方被建造。凡是有负担为著开展召会生活而移民的人，首先必须在他们的所在地有建造。你们若还没有在你们自己的地方召会被建造，我劝你们不要移民。我们能在宇宙一面被建造起来之前，应当先在地方上实际的被建造起来。倘若你在一个地方过一段时间还没有与其他人建造起来，这样缺少建造必定有原因。也许是你天然的聪明，或是你对召会生活还有所保留。不错，你已经不从一个团体游荡到另一个团体，你也进入召会生活并留下来。然而，你若要在地方一面被建造起来，你的性情、你的所是必须受对付。没有一事比建造更试验你属灵的成熟。不仅如此，地方上的建造，对你属灵的长大有极大的帮助。你若乐意在你的所在地被建造到召会里面，你就会有丰盛生命的长进。建造必须由地方这一面开始，然后开展到宇宙的一面。有些圣徒没有多少的长进，因为他们没有在地方一面被建造到召会里。缺少建造的原因，乃是他们有太多的保留。虽然他们在地方召会里，但是当某种情形在召会里发生时，他们就有退缩或退后的倾向。就是这种退后使他们不能被建造。我们不要退缩，不要退后，乃要乐意被破碎，甚至被『损毁』，好与别人建造起来。这对我们生命的长进将会带来何等的不同！我们若这样长大，召会生活就要藉著我们并随著我们开展出去，并且将来若要移民往那里，我们都会很有用处。然而，我们若不在地方上被建造，我们对于将来任何移民的事都不会是帮助。只有那些已经在地方上被建造的人，才能藉著移民有助于召会生活的开展。凡对召会有所保留，却想要有分于移民的人，都会成为拦阻的原因。
14It is important to see that the universal building can be accomplished only through the local building. If we are not built up with others in our own locality, we should not expect to be able to be built up in any other locality. All those who are burdened to migrate for the spread of the church life must firstly be built up in their own locality. If you have not yet been built up in your local church, I encourage you not to migrate. Be fore we can be built up universally, we must be built up in a practical way locally. If you have been in a locality for a period of time without being built up with others, there must be a reason for this lack of building. The reason may be your natural cleverness or your reservations concerning the church life. Yes, you have stopped wandering from group to group, and you have come into the church life to stay. However, in order for you to be built up locally, your disposition, your being, must be dealt with. Nothing tests your spiritual maturity as much as this matter of building. Furthermore, the local building is a great help in your spiritual growth. If you are willing to be built into the church in your locality, you will have the abundance of the growth in life. The building must begin with the local aspect and then spread to the universal aspect. Some saints have not grown very much because they have not been built into the church locally. The reason for the lack of building is that they have too many reservations. Although they are in the local church, they have the tendency to withdraw or to hold back when certain situations arise in the church. It is this holding back that keeps them from being built up. Instead of withdrawing or holding back, we should be willing to be broken and even “wrecked” in order to be built up with others. What a difference this makes to our growth in life! If we grow in this way, the church life will spread both through us and with us, and we shall be useful in any coming migration. However, if we are not built up locally, we shall not be a help to any future migration. Only those who have been built up locally can support the spread of the church life through migration. Any who have reservations about the church, yet who desire to participate in a migration, will be a cause of frustration.
主恢复的开展
THE SPREAD OF THE LORD’S RECOVERY
15主恢复的开展，乃是活的基督在我们灵里团体的行动。主的行动是在圣徒身上，不是个别的，乃是团体的。我们这些寻求主的人，不该对祂有任何的保留。相反的，我们该一直向祂降服，并乐意被破碎，好使我们在我们的所在地被建造到召会里。这样，无论我们到那里，主的恢复都会藉著我们开展出去。这与人的运动或组织完全不同。为著那作赐生命之灵的基督在祂身体里真正的行动，我们需要地方一面的建造。
15The spread of the Lord’s recovery is the move of the living Christ in our spirit in a corporate way. The Lord’s move is with the saints not individualistic ally, but corporately. As those who seek the Lord, we should not hold anything back from Him. On the contrary, we should always give in to Him and be willing to be broken so that we may be built into the church in our locality. Then wherever we may be, the recovery of the Lord will spread through us. This is altogether different from a movement of man or an organization. For the genuine move of Christ as the life-giving Spirit in His Body, we need the local building
16为著藉移民而兴起的许多召会，我们感谢主。为著那许多在移民上有用的人，我们也感谢主，因为在他们移民之前，他们已经经历了在地方上某种程度的建造。但同时，我们也必须承认，在某些地方仍有拦阻。拦阻的原因，乃是有些人仍然有保留，他们还有从召会生活中退去的倾向。这表明一个事实，就是移民的成功乃在于建造的程度。如果我们绝对的被建造起来，移民也要以绝对的方式来进行。但是我们若在地方的建造上妥协，在将来任何移民的事上，我们也会是妥协的。总之，我愿意再次强调：我们有多少宇宙的和地方的建造，乃在于我们放弃规条，并实际的看见在神的经纶里基督是一切有多少。祂既是那包罗万有的一位，我们就不该持守任何顶替祂的东西。我们若持守基督作我们的一切，就要经历真实的建造，首先是地方的，然后是宇宙的。这要使我们在为著召会生活扩展的移民上有用。
16We thank the Lord for the many churches raised up through migration. We also thank Him for the many who have been useful in migration because they had experienced some amount of local building before they migrated. At the same time, we must admit that there has been some frustration in certain places. The reason for this frustration is that certain ones still have reservations. They still have the tendency to hold back from the church life. This underscores the fact that the success of migration depends on the degree of building. If we are built up in an absolute way, migration will proceed also in an absolute way. But if we compromise with the local building, we shall also compromise in any future migration. In conclusion, I wish to emphasize again that how much building we have universally as well as locally depends on how much we give up the ordinances and realize in a practical way that Christ is everything in God’secon o my. Since He is the all-inclusive One, we should not hold on to anything in place of Him. If we hold to Christ as everything to us, we shall experience the genuine building, first locally and then universally. This will make us useful in migration for the expansion of the church life