给牧师和传道人的证言-第22章

  第21章 结婚戒指

给牧师和传道人的证言-第22章

  Chapter 21—The Wedding Ring

给牧师和传道人的证言-第22章

  （1892年于澳大利亚）
有人认为戴婚戒是一件大事，我们传道人的妻子应该随从这种风俗。但这是不必要的。传道人的妻子应当拥有将她们的心和耶稣基督相连的金环。那就是基督徒的树上所结的果子，即纯正圣洁的品格，真正的爱心、温柔与敬虔。这样，她们无论在哪里都会发挥安全可靠的影响。漠视风俗会引起非议，但这不是我们接受风俗的正当理由。这种风俗在美国并非必不可少。美国人可以阐明自己的立场。我们不一定佩戴这个记号，因为我们并没有不忠于我们的婚约，而且戴婚戒也不一定证明我们的忠诚。我对这种随风从俗的现象如同酵母那样蔓延深感不安。我们不要化一分一厘去购买金戒指，来证明我们已婚。在这种风俗盛行的国家里，我们无须指责戴婚戒的人。如果他们心安理得，就让他们戴吧。但不要让我们的传道士感到戴婚戒会增加他们的感化力。如果他们是基督徒，就应该表现在他们基督化的品格中，表现在言语，工作，家庭生活和人际交往上，表现在他们的恒久忍耐和仁慈中。他们会彰显夫子的精神，拥有祂优美的品格，可爱的性情和同情的心肠。{TM 180.2}[1]

给牧师和传道人的证言-第22章

  [Special Testimonies, Series A 3:6, 7 (1895).]
Some have had a burden in regard to the wearing of a marriage ring, feeling that the wives of our ministers should conform to this custom. All this is unnecessary. Let the ministers’ wives have the golden link which binds their souls to Jesus Christ, a pure and holy character, the true love and meekness and godliness that are the fruit borne upon the Christian tree, and their influence will be secure anywhere. The fact that a disregard of the custom occasions remark is no good reason for adopting it. Americans can make their position understood by plainly stating that the custom is not regarded as obligatory in our country. We need not wear the sign,for we are not untrue to our marriage vow, and the wearing of the ring would be no evidence that we were true. I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. Not one penny should be spent for a circlet of gold to testify that we are married. In countries where the custom is imperative, we have no burden to condemn those who have their marriage ring; let them wear it if they can do so conscientiously; but let not our missionaries feel that the wearing of the ring will increase their influence one jot or tittle. If they are Christians, it will be manifest in their Christlikeness of character, in their words, in their works, in the home, in association with others; it will be evinced by their patience and long-suffering and kindliness. They will manifest the spirit of the Master, they will possess His beauty of character, His loveliness of disposition, His sympathetic heart.{TM 180.2}[1]

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