1. Hello, listening friends. We are glad you joined us;
亲爱的朋友，你好，很高兴你能收听我们的节目；
2. and I want to talk to you, today, about character.
今天，我想和你谈一谈品格的问题。
3. In the old days, character was very important.
以前，品格非常重要。
4. Today, as we get away from God, character is becoming less important.
今天，由于我们都远离神，品格似乎变得越来越不重要。
5. I have spent a number of years of studying the area of culture and cultural change.
我曾经花了好几年的时间，来研究文化和文化变迁的现象。
6. In fact, in those days of academia,
实际上，在那些年代，学术界里，
7. there was a standard joke
有一个经典的笑话，是这样的：
8. as to why God never receives tenure at a university.
为什么在大学里，神不能成为正式的教授。
9. There was a saying in the universities that says, "publish or perish."
因为在大学里常说的一句话，就是“若不发布论文，就要消失。”
10. Here are some of the reasons why God would never have been given a tenure at the university.
有几个原因说明，神为什么不能在大学里被聘为专职的教授。
11. They said that He had only one major publication.
他们说，因为祂只有一部主要的论文著作。
12. It was written in Hebrew and in Greek,
是用希伯来文和希腊文写成的，
13. and the book had no references.
这本书没有任何参考资料。
14. He wasn’t published in prominent journals,
也没有在主流的杂志中刊登过，
15. and some deny the fact that He wrote the Book Himself.
甚至有人否定这本书是神亲自写成的。
16. They say that the scientific community cannot replicate His results,
他们说，在科学界，无法重做实验来证明其中的结论，
17. and they said He rarely came to class;
又说，神很少来教室上课；
18. but He often told His students to read His Book;
但祂总是让祂的学生们读祂的书。
19. and that there are some that insisted that His Son taught the class,
也有些人坚持说，是神的儿子在教这门课，
20. and that He had to expel His first two students.
而且神开除了祂两个最早期的学生。
21. Although there were only ten requirements, most students have failed.
尽管只有十个必修科，但大多数学生都不及格。
22. They said that His office hours were irregular,
他们说，神没有固定的的办公时间，
23. and that He held His classes on a mountaintop;
而且祂是在山顶开课；
24. and it is that class on the mountain top on which I want to talk about,
这次我就是要跟你谈这个在山顶的课程，
25. and we will be discussing this for the next several messages.
我们将在接下来的几次节目中讨论这个主题。
26. In His class on the mountain top,
在山顶上的课堂里，
27. God’s Son taught that what is accepted in society may not be God’s standards,
神的儿子教导说，人间社会所接受的，未必合乎神的标准，
28. and what is acceptable by God may be rejected by society.
而神所悦纳的，可能又被社会拒绝。
29. What is easily perceptible, today, is this:
今天，显而易见的是：
30. we have crossed over the divide that marked the difference between worldly standards, and biblical and moral standards.
我们已经跨越了世俗与圣经道德标准之间的界限。
31. We see that secular and godless morality is accepted by most people
我们看到，大多数人都接受了世俗的，无神的道德观，
32. around the world.
全世界各地的人。
33. People are asking this question:
人们问这样的问题：
34. “What do we do in times of cultural upheaval, such as ours?
“在如今这个文化巨变的时代，我们应该做什么？
35. What do we do in times of moral upheaval?
在道德沦亡的时代，我们该何去何从？
36. What do we do when we see wholesale departure from a biblical frame of reference?
当看到社会上广泛地背离圣经的原则和标准时，我们该如何反应呢？
37. What do we do in times of cultural confusion?
文化混乱的时候，我们怎么做？
38. What do we do in times of social change?”
社会发生变革的时候，该做什么呢？”
39. We have only one option.
我们只有一个选择。
40. We are compelled to go back to our anchor.
我们必须回到下锚处，
41. We are compelled to go back to our foundation.
我们必须回到基准点，
42. We are compelled to go back to our roots.
我们必须回到我们的根本。
43. We are compelled to hold onto the truth and refuse to budge or be forced to compromise.
我们必须坚守真理，不动摇，不妥协。
44. Today, we will begin our study by examining what I call "The Master’s Manifesto."
今天，我们要开始思考一个新的题目，我称之为“主的宣言”。
45. In The Master’s Manifesto, you will find that our Master turns the world’s standards on its head.
在主的宣言中，你会发现，我们的主将属世的标准彻底改变了。
46. Our Master turns the world’s norms upside down.
我们的主，将这世界的规矩完全颠倒了。
47. Our Master reverses the secular pattern of culture;
我们的主，把世俗文化的模式整个翻转过来，
48. therefore,
因此，
49. when the secular culture says,
当世俗文化说，
50. "Happy are you who are proud and aggressive,
“骄傲自大和气势凌人的人有福了，
51. for you are going to get your way,"
因为这样就可以随心所欲，”
52. you hear Jesus say,
你却会听到耶稣说，
53. “Happy are you who are poor in spirit, for you will get the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。”
54. When the secular culture says,
当世俗文化说，
55. "Happy are you who manipulate and scheme,
“长袖善舞和诡计多端的人有福了，
56. for yours is the social ladder for climbing,"
因为你可以步步高升，”
57. you will hear Jesus say,
你却会听到耶稣说，
58. “Happy are you who mourn over your sin, for you will be truly comforted.”
“哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。”
59. When the secular culture says,
当世俗文化说，
60. “Happy are you who don’t care upon whom you can step,
“不择手段、过河拆桥的人有福了，
61. for yours is the road to success,”
因为，这是通往成功之路，”
62. you will hear Jesus say,
你却会听到耶稣说，
63. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
“温柔的人有福了，因为他们必承受地土。”
64. When the secular lords say,
当世人说，
65. "Happy is the one who accumulates more possessions
“积敛钱财的人有福了，
66. for that makes life worthwhile,"
这样的生活才有价值，”
67. you will hear Jesus say,
你却会听到耶稣说，
68. “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
“饥渴慕义的人有福了，因为他们必得饱足。”
69. When the revolutionary pundits say,
当革命学家说，
70. "Happy are you who are able to get even, for this is a mean world,"
“有仇必报的人有福了，因为这是一个卑鄙的世界，”
71. the Lord Jesus says,
主耶稣却说，
72. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
“怜恤人的人有福了，因为他们必蒙怜恤。”
73. When those who say, "live for today and live for self,"
当有人说，“只为当前活，只为自己活，”
74. you will hear Jesus say,
你会听到耶稣说，
75. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
“清心的人有福了，因为他们必得见神。”
76. When the world says,
当世人说，
77. “Happy are those who stir up trouble and scheme and manipulate and lie,
“为非作歹，唯恐天下不乱的人有福了，
78. for any selfish cause is a good cause,”
因为人不为己，天诛地灭。”
79. you will hear Jesus say,
但你会听到耶稣说，
80. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”
“使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为神的儿子。”
81. When Satan’s manifesto says,
而撒但宣告说，
82. “Happy are you who stamp out God and His Word out of public life,
“那些公开亵渎神和祂的话语的人有福了，
83. for this is how you can destroy Christianity,”
因为这样就可以摧毁基督教，”
84. The Master’s Manifesto says,
主的宣告说，
85. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.”
“人若因我辱骂你们，逼迫你们，捏造各样的坏话毁谤你们，你们就有福了。”
86. In The Master’s Manifesto, you will discover the source and the nature of the character that the world often talks about, but seldom understands.
在主的宣言里，你会发现，世人经常谈到，却很少理解的，有关品格的来源和本性的问题。
87. Listen to me very carefully please.
请仔细听我说，
88. I want to tell you something about the truth.
让我告诉你一些真相。
89. Character cannot be found,
品格难以建立，
90. or firmly established in anyone’s life,
也无法巩固在人的生命中，
91. without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
除非这人与耶稣基督保持密切的关系。
92. Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?
你和主耶稣有亲密的个人关系吗？
93. I will invite you to do so today,
今天，我就邀请你这么做，
94. because you can talk about character all the time.
因为你随时可以高谈阔论有关品格的问题，
95. You can talk about morality and its laxity in public life.
你可以谈论日渐松弛的社会道德。
96. You can talk about all the social ills;
你可以讨论社会的各种病症；
97. but, without Jesus Christ, we are putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound.
但是，如果脱离了耶稣基督，我们就像在枪伤上贴块橡皮膏而已。
98. Without Jesus Christ,
脱离了耶稣基督，
99. we are treating cancer with aspirin.
就像是用阿斯匹林来医治癌症一样。
101. Without Jesus Christ,
如果离开了耶稣基督，
102. we are putting out a brush fire with a bucket of water.
我们就像是用一小桶水来扑灭丛林火灾一样。
103. Without Jesus Christ,
没有耶稣基督，
104. we are draining a flood with a small hose.
就像是想用一根小水管来吸干洪水一样。
105. Now, to be sure, the crowd to whom Jesus was speaking could not understand everything that He was saying;
我们可以确定，当时耶稣的听众，不能完全明白祂的教训。
106. but, as God’s Messiah, He had a vision for them.
但祂是神的弥赛亚，于是对他们有个异象，
107. He did not only see them the way they were, but the way they could be.
祂不仅看到他们目前的状况，更看到他们的未来。
108. Isn’t that wonderful about the Lord Jesus Christ?
主耶稣是何等奇妙呀！
109. He did not only see their inability, but He saw their possibility.
祂不仅看见他们做不到的地方，祂也看得见他们可能做得到的。
110. He did not only see their current condition, but He saw their possible future conduct.
祂不只看到他们现在的状况，祂也看得到他们将来可能的行为。
111. As the King Who rules in the hearts of men and women,
祂是王，掌管人心，
112. He knew that, when His Kingdom was established in the life of an individual, it would be established in the life of a family.
祂知道，当祂的王国，在一个人的生命中建立起来，就会在整个家庭中建立。
113. When His Kingdom is established in the life of a family,
当祂的王国在一个家庭中建立后，
114. it will be established in the life of a community.
就会在整个社区建立起来，
115. When God’s Kingdom is established in the life of a community,
当神的国度在一个社区建立了，
116. it will be established in a society.
就会在社会全面被建立。
117. Jesus knew
耶稣知道，
118. that one person, plus The Master’s Manifesto, will make a difference,
一个人有了主的宣言，将产生很大的变化，
119. because The Master’s Manifesto tells us that character comes before conduct.
因为，主的宣言表明，品格产生在行为之先。
120. He tells us that being is more important than doing.
祂告诉我们，“所是”比“所为”更加重要，
121. Jesus tells us that being spiritual should be more important than ritual.
耶稣告诉我们，属灵的生命比宗教礼仪更加重要。
122. He is telling us that what is below the surface will shape the surface.
祂告诉我们，内在的实质决定外面的形状。
123. He is telling us that what is important is not what you have, but what you are.
祂告诉我们，重要的，不在于你拥有什么，而在于你是什么。
124. What Jesus is telling us is that what is in the private heart will shape the public life;
耶稣告诉我们的是，个人内心所想的，就会形成他外在的生活。
125. and that is why what we call "The Master’s Manifesto" is a vitally important document.
因此“主的宣言”至关重要。
126. Some of you call it the "Beatitudes."
有些人称它为“八福”。
127. Jesus has given us His manifesto and, whenever someone has obeyed it, it has made a difference.
耶稣颁布了宣言给我们，凡是遵守它的人，都会有所改变。
128. They have changed the world for good and for God.
他们为了神，将这个世界变得更加美好。
129. I’ll give you one example.
我来举一个例子，
130. William Wilberforce
威廉，韦尔伯福斯先生
131. was a British parliamentarian several hundred years ago.
在几百年前，曾经是英国的国会议员。
132. He read The Master’s Manifesto
他读到主的宣言，
133. and, then, single-handedly ended slavery;
之后，就独力推翻了奴隶制度；
134. then, Wilberforce was introduced to The Master’s Manifesto through John Wesley;
那时，他是通过约翰卫斯理才得知主的宣言的。
135. and, just in case you think that I am talking about big famous names or giant people, listen carefully.
为了避免你认为我只会举些著名的大人物为例，那就请你仔细听我说，
136. John Wesley was introduced to the Master by a porter.
约翰卫斯理是通过一个搬运工人才知道主的宣言的。
137. When John Wesley was twenty-one years of age,
那时，约翰卫斯理只有21岁，
138. he went to Oxford University.
在牛津大学读书。
139. Although he was a minister’s son,
尽管，他是一个传道人的儿子，
140. he was gifted,
很有天分，
141. he was good looking,
长相出众，
142. but he was cynical,
但他喜欢冷嘲热讽，
143. he was snobbish,
势利眼，
144. and he was sarcastic;
好挖苦人；
145. and, one night at Oxford University,
有一个晚上，在牛津大学里，
146. he was making fun of a porter
他正在取笑一个搬运工人，
147. who literally had nothing on his back except a coat.
那个人除了有件外衣，就一无所有了。
148. Wesley sarcastically said to him,
卫斯理讥讽地向他说，
149. “What else do you thank God for?”
“你还有什么可以感谢你的神的？”
150. and the porter smiled and gently said,
那个搬运工人笑笑，轻轻地说，
151. “I thank Him that He has given me my life,
“我感谢祂赐给我生命，
152. and a heart to love Him,
和一颗爱主的心，
153. and, above all, a constant desire to serve Him by serving others...”
还有，更重要的是，不断的渴望借着服侍人，就可以服侍神了……”
154. and that became the turning point in John Wesley’s life;
那成为卫斯理一生中的转折点；
155. so, every one of you can make a difference.
因此，你们每个人都可以带来改革。
156. In the year 1791,
1791年，
157. when Wesley was at his death bed,
当卫斯理生命垂危时，
158. he was about eighty-eight years of age.
那时他大约88岁了，
159. He attributed his life and his ministry to that encounter with the lowly porter.
他将自己的生命和事奉归功于那次和这个低下的搬运工人的相遇。
160. I have noticed that we have just run out of time,
我注意到，我们的时间到了，
161. and I want to tell you so much more about this;
我真想和你多谈谈这方面的话题；
162. so, will you promise me that you will tune in next time so you can hear the rest of this?
因此，你能不能答应我，下次再来收听余下的部分？
163. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessings.
下次节目再见，愿神大大地赐福于你。
