譯 者 序
我在中國作傳教士已經十五年了。這十五年中我大部分的時間都與中國人生活在一起，而且我打算一輩子都住在中國，因為神呼召我來這里，并且“瓷賞賜那尋求瓷的人。”
在中國，我發現了一件很有趣的事，那就是雖然基督教在中國已經有將近兩百年的宣教歷史了，然而到目前為止，基督教對中國社會“沒有任何”的影響。這并不是我個人的看法，乃是一個無庸置疑的事實。這個事實對于我、神，和一切在中國神的選民而言，是極其痛苦的。我帶領查經的時候常常會問一個問題：“你是基督徒的中國人，還是中國的基督徒？”
對出入教會的中國人而言，這是非常關鍵的問題。因為大多數出入教會的中國人是基督徒的中國人，而不是中國的基督徒。那么，什么是基督徒的中國人？而且，什么是中國的基督徒？一個基督徒的中國人常常會去教會。或許他每一個禮拜都會去教會，甚至他還可能是一位長老或牧師。那么，基督徒的中國人有什么問題呢？當一個基督徒的中國人讀聖經時，如果聖經上的任何一個教導與他的背景、文化，或風俗習慣有沖突的時候，一個基督徒的中國人會相信自己的文化而把聖經丟棄。他常常稱之為他個人的“領受”。
我們的主耶穌基督說：“你若繼續遵守我的道就真是我的門徒。”但大部分出入教會的中國人剛好是相反的。他們會繼續在自己的文化里而同時他恨基督。你或許認為我這樣說是太嚴厲，缺乏愛心。但主耶穌自己曾經說過：“一個人不能事奉兩個主﹔不是惡這個、愛那個，就是重這個、輕那個。你們不能又事奉神，又事奉瑪門。”出入教會的中國人愛瑪門。瑪門是世俗的財富。基督的意思是說：“你若愛瑪門就必定恨我！”
若你問一般出入教會的中國人，他為何與自己的太太兩個人都在外面工作，雖然聖經清楚的教導母親的職分是在家庭里，或問他的小孩為什么要與外邦人一樣，什么功課都要補習，但他的小孩對聖經上的教義几乎都不認識，他很可能會說：“沒辦法！”這是謊言！真理是真基督徒行事為人憑信心不憑眼見，但這些人都是憑眼見。
那么什么是中國的基督徒呢？他剛好相反。當他的背景、文化、風俗習慣與聖經沖突時，他不理會自己的文化。他愛基督，恨世界。他也知道神賞賜尋求瓷的人并不是因為他為了考試背過這經文，而是因為他經歷過這事實。他的基督教是他自己的基督教，不光是那些白皮膚的傳教士的。他是快樂的基督徒，并他的財寶不在乎出人頭地，乃在天堂。
一個人要如何才能成為中國的基督徒呢？湯姆·華森（Thomas
Watson）在這本書剛開始的地方告訴我們：“只要我們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移”（西一22-23）。意思是我們若不是在真道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，我們就在那引到滅亡的路上！湯姆·華森在這極有助益的書上教導我們如何在真道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移。中國的基督徒啊，你必須聽從這教導為了逃避地獄和上天堂！這并不只是給與眾不同的基督徒看的！一切在真道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移的人都會上天堂，而其余的人都會下地獄！但愿神借著瓷所重用的仆人湯姆·華森幫助你成為一位真正的基督徒，一位中國的基督徒，而不是基督徒的中國人！
Translator's Preface
I have been a missionary in China
now for nearly fifteen years. I have lived with the Chinese people for the majority of
these fifteen years, and I plan to live with Chinese people for the rest of my life,
because God called me to China and He is a rewarder of them that seek Him. One thing that I have discovered that is a very conspicuous phenomenon
in China is that after nearly 200 years of Christian missions in China the Chinese church
has ZERO influence on Chinese society. This is not just an opinion of mine. This is an
undeniable fact, and an extremely disturbing fact both to me and to every Chinese who is
truly a member of the body of Christ. I frequently ask Chinese Christians in Bible studies
the following question: "Are you a Christian Chinese or a Chinese Christian?"
This is an important question to ask Chinese churchgoers,
because the vast majority of Chinese who go to church are Christian Chinese and not
Chinese Christians. What is a Christian Chinese? What is a Chinese Christian? A Christian
Chinese is a person who goes to church frequently, or maybe even every Sunday. He might
even be an elder or a pastor. What is the problem with Christian Chinese? When a Christian
Chinese reads the Bible and something in the Bible conflicts with his background, his
culture, or his customs he keeps his background, culture and customs and throws away the
Bible. He calls this "what he has received." Our
Lord Jesus stated, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed."
But most Chinese people who go to church do the opposite. They continue in their culture,
and they hate Christ. Maybe you think that I'm being too harsh. But the Lord Jesus himself
said, "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon." Chinese churchgoers love mammon. Mammon is worldly riches. And Christ said
that if you love mammon you will hate me! If you ask the
average Chinese churchgoer why both he and his wife work when the Bible clearly teaches
that a mother's position is at home taking care of the children, or if you ask why they
take their children to remedial English and math classes like all other heathen and their
kids know almost nothing about Christian doctrine, they will probably say, "Nothing I
can do." But this is not the truth. The truth is that true Christians walk by faith
and not by sight, but these people walk by sight and not by faith. So now what is a Chinese Christian? He's just the opposite. Whenever
his background, culture, or customs conflict with the Bible he believes the Bible and
throws away his culture. He loves Christ and hates the world. He knows that God is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him not because he memorized the verse for a quiz,
but because he has experienced it. His Christianity is HIS Christianity, not the white
missionary's. He is a joyful Christian, and his treasure is not in keeping up with the
Joneses, but it is in heaven. How does a person become a
Chinese Christian? Thomas Watson tells us at the beginning of his book. Col. 1:22-23 tells
us that we are reconciled to God, "If we continue in the faith grounded and
settled." Which means that unless we are grounded and settled in the faith we are not
reconciled to God and are on the broad road that leads to destruction. Watson tells us in
this very helpful book how we can be grounded and settled, Chinese churchgoer, you MUST
be grounded and settled in order to eschew hell and reach heaven. It is not an option for
special Christians. All persons who are grounded and settled in the faith go to heaven,
and those who are not go to hell. May God use his eminent servant Thomas Watson to help
you to become a true Christian, a Chinese Christian and not a Christian Chinese! Winnen Russ, Dec.1997,Deerfield,FL. |