初信造就 › 第三五篇　消遣

第三五篇　消遣

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　　读经：
　　林前十23：“凡事都可行；但不都有益处。凡事都可行；但不都造就人。”
　　六12节：“凡事我都可行；但不都有益处。凡事我都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。”
　　十31节：“所以你们或吃或喝，无论作什么，都要为荣耀神而行。”
　
　　消遣这一个问题，在所有奉献的人身上，从来没有难处。凡是对于消遣的问题有难处的，都是因为这一个人对于奉献不够完全。在一般奉献给神的儿女身上，消遣的问题根本不会发生。所以你们如果要解决消遣的问题，第一要解决奉献的问题。奉献的问题若没有解决，消遣的问题怎么作都不能解决。如果奉献的问题没有解决，神所以为不应该的，你要以为可以。所以奉献的问题必须先解决。
　
　　奉献的问题解决了之后，我们就要提起消遣的目的在那里。
　
　　我们提起消遣不是为着你自己，乃是为着你家里的儿女，为着比你小一辈的人。在奉献的人身上消遣根本不成问题。但是，在家庭里不只有我们，还有我们的儿女，还有我们的弟弟妹妹。这些人如果也是奉献的人，也一点难处都没有。但是，许多时候，这些人可能不是奉献的人，那么我们的态度就与他们大有关系。我们应许他们有什么种的消遣，和不应许他们有什么种的消遣，是有大的关系。所以，我们提起消遣的问题，为给我们家里的人有正当地引导。
　
　　有的时候，我们自己也得有一点调剂。到底这一个调剂到什么地步才是对的呢？到什么地步是基督徒可以作的呢？我们在神面前要寻出一个基本原则来。
　　你们作父母的人，对于家里的孩子，许可他们有什么种的消遣，才是合乎基督徒体统的呢？我们每一个作神儿女的人都要清楚。因为在这件事上一有漏洞，马上世界进到家庭里来了。世界一进到家庭里来，你再要想把世界从你儿女身上赶出去，就非常不容易。为要保守我们的家庭属乎主的缘故，我们就得在神面前注意消遣的问题。
　
　
　　消遣是合乎圣经的，是合乎主的旨意的。我们第一要承认，人需要消遣。作基督徒的人，总不应该走极端的路。人是有消遣的需要。因为许多人事情相当忙，如果没有一点调剂，这样的人很容易生病，身体的健康很容易坍下去。所以，调剂乃是消遣的基本原因。特别是那些年轻的人，你不能一天到晚要他们读书，你必须让他们有另外方式的玩。你不能一天到晚只把一件事情给他们作，你必须给他们另外一种事情作。这是一个原则，是我们必须知道的。
　　主说，孩子们在街上吹笛、跳舞。这一个跳舞，不是舞场里面的跳舞，是快乐了跳起来，吹起笛来。这是对的。的的确确有那一个需要。消遣的基本原则就是调剂。我今天作了五个钟点的事，六个钟点的事，八个钟点的事，都是作一件的事，那很容易叫我累。一直作一件事，神经容易感觉到痛苦，身体容易感觉到疲乏。所以，我需要换一件事情来作，来调剂，好叫我不觉得疲乏。换一件事情来作，就能除去我的疲劳。
　　比方说，一个孩子在学校里读了八个钟点的书，回家来玩一玩，这一个玩不是生活，这是他的调剂。如果一天蹦跳八个钟点，那就不是调剂了。我们承认调剂的需要，若是把消遣当作生活就不可以。人在疲劳的时候，换一件事情作可以，如果一天到晚玩就不行。再比方，有的人夏天喜欢到水里去游泳，在这里我们寻不出有错。在疲劳的时候到水里游泳半点钟、一点钟，没有错。如果一个人像鸭子一样，一天到晚喜欢浸在水里，这不是消遣。我要你们看见，人如果对于消遣出问题，这不是消遣出问题，乃是生活出问题。
　　有人反对我们基督徒没有消遣，他们不知道他们所说的到底是什么。一天一夜沉在里面，这叫作消遣么？他们是颠倒在里面，这不叫消遣。实在说起来，消遣出问题的人很少。有问题的是谁呢？是那些颠倒在里面的人。有的人是三天三夜沉在里面，把消遣当作生活，这样的人才会说作基督徒是难的。凡是在消遣上有难处的人都是极端的人，都是以消遣当作生活的人。所以我们必须看得准，人有调剂的需要，但没有颠倒的需要。人有调剂的需要，但没有活在里面的需要。凡事都可行，但不都有益处。凡事都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。你一天到晚倒在里面，你就受它的辖制，这是一个很大的错误。
　
　　第二，消遣有四种的方式。基督徒可以有四方面的消遣：
　
1
　
休息
　　基督徒最好的消遣就是休息。我今天累了，我就去歇一歇。主耶稣和门徒作工累了，就对门徒说，要到野地里去歇一歇。我们要注意，主的歇有消遣的意义在里面，所以主不是说去歇一歇，而是说到野地里去歇一歇。许多时候，另外寻一个地方，或者是山旁，或者是水边，去休息一下，的确能除去我们的疲劳。这是基督徒最普通的消遣。
　
　　有的时候，你作一个工作太久了，感觉到累，可以换一个工作。我本来作八点钟的事，现在我拿出一两点钟来换一个工作。你本来都是坐着作事，现在你站起来作。本来都是劳心的作，现在劳力的作。你马上看见，你能够除去疲劳。我们没有世界上人的那一种消遣，我们只要更换我们的工作，已经能够除去我们的疲劳。这一件事在我们身上很可以有安排。因为消遣的原则就是为着调剂，你把工作更换一下，就已经有了调剂。
　
3
　
喜好
　　另外一面，在基督徒的生活里，也可以有一些正当地喜好。有的弟兄，也许喜欢拍几张照。有的弟兄，也许喜欢养一两只鸟。有的弟兄，也许喜欢种一点花。有的弟兄，也许喜欢画一两张图。这都是合法的，是在基督徒范围之内的。有的人或者喜欢一点音乐，写一点谱，弹弹琴。有的人或许喜欢写写字。这些都是合法的消遣。
　　但是，无论休息也好，或者换一件事来作也好，或者有一点喜好的事来作也好，你都必须拿得起来，放得下去。放不下去就有了病。例如你拍几张照，研究一点，你学一点，作一点都无所谓。
　　我们所反对的是它影响你太厉害。必须要拿得起来，放得下去。年轻的弟兄拉一点小提琴也行，如果放不下就出事情。难处在这里，特别是才作基督徒的人，对于有的消遣放不下，那就要把它对付掉。如果不对付掉，基督徒作不来，给它扣住了。必须是作也行，不作也行，不受它的辖制，那才是消遣。这是一个原则。必须记得，我如果要消遣，无论是正当地喜好，或者是刚才所说的那两样，总是应该不受它的辖制。
　　比方有的年轻弟兄喜欢集邮，这不是错，这也有益处，能够叫他们学习认识世界各国的地理，认识世界各国的历史。问题是不能给它扣住。凡是为着帮助自己有调剂，而不被扣住的这一类消遣，都是合法的。
　　作父母的人，要教儿女往正当消遣的路上去，不叫儿女因着没有正当地消遣，而去寻另外不正当地消遣。我看见有许多非常严格的父母，把儿女带坏了。他们的家庭里像是一个机关，不像一个家庭，结果孩子们偷着到外面去玩，都是些不正当地消遣。所以你们要看准了，儿女必须有消遣。我们是有玩也行，没有玩也行，但孩子们是非玩不可的。你如果不给他们玩，他们觉得在家庭里枯燥，没有味道，就在上学的时间偷着去玩。
　
4
　
玩耍
　　有许多的玩耍，像下棋、打球、骑马，虽然里面有输赢，但这是正当地，因为这一个输赢是技术上的。所以有的时候，有的孩子多打几次乒乓，也很好。或者打篮球、打网球、骑马、下棋都可以。这些都是正当地事，这些里面没有罪。作父母的人，对于这样的事要宽大，要把儿女带到正当消遣的路上来。年长的弟兄，没有工夫去作剧烈的运动，但是不应该去拦阻年轻的人。不错，我们要他们尽量拿出时间来为着主；但我们也要顾到他们调剂的需要，让他们有一点消遣。
　　我们把四类的消遣方式摆在这里，休息也可以，改换工作也可以，有喜好也可以，玩耍也可以，这四种不同的消遣都是基督徒可以作的。可是，基督徒不应该受辖制。如果受辖制就有错。这一点，越是初信的人越是要他们注意。因为这问题在我们身上根本不发生问题。你今天弹一点琴也好，不弹琴也好，毫无分别。但是初信的时候，那一个分别非常大。你如果多作一次，你良心里多不平安一次。在起初的时候，那些事的确一多作就受它的捆绑，一受捆绑就不能作。
　
　　第三，我们必须注意，为着什么要有这些消遣？要知道，消遣乃是要叫我们的工作作得更好。消遣有一定的目的，不是消遣了就了了。不是我今天好打球，所以我去打它。乃是我打了一下球，我的工作能够作得好。不是我贪睡就去睡，乃是睡了一下我的工作能够作得好。不是我为着花去种花，乃是种一点花我的工作能作得好。所以，这些事必须是帮助我们的工作才可以，必须是帮助我们来事奉神才可以。有的人一天到晚都在作一件事，也许两个礼拜、三个礼拜，头脑就不行了，甚至体力也不行了。这样的时候，你宁可让这些弟兄姊妹有一点调剂。或者换一件事情作，或者弹弹琴、打打球。这样的作，不是为着别的，乃是为着恢复。完全是为着加增效率，不是为着减少效率。因为我消遣，我能够工作作得更好，我能够事奉神更多。　
　　有的时候，像主耶稣一样，到野地去歇一下，旅行一下，转一转回来。或者和你家里的孩子打打球，也是好事。你看见，这不是一个缠累，乃是帮助你把工作作得更好。如果会叫你的工作作得更坏，这一个原则不对。一个消遣总是要变作你工作的帮助。你一天到晚作一件事容易累，宁可跑跑路，种种花，去玩一下。我们不是提倡人去作，我们是许可人去作。这样作，反而能够帮助你的工作作得好，不会叫你的工作作得不好，这是一个基本的原则。
　　如果工作两个月、三个月，有一次假期，这是对的。如果天天放假，这是懒惰，不是放假。基督徒必须学习在地上作工，不懒惰。我们许可用消遣来增加工作的效率，但是这些事我们不给人批评的余地。我们不要作过分的事，不能让神的名在我们身上得不着荣耀。
　
　　第四，凡一切消遣的事，都必须在里面有技术，不讲机遇。或者说，有技术，而没有巧遇，那一个消遣才是对的。任何的消遣，如果有技术在里面，而又有巧遇在里面，那是赌博，不是消遣。光是巧遇，而没有技术的，那更是赌博，更是基督徒所不能作的。任何的巧遇，都是赌博。在基督徒的消遣里，不能有巧遇，只能有技术。像掷骰子，这完全是巧遇的问题。这不是基督徒所能作的，这完全是赌博。年轻的人可以下棋，因为下棋是技术的问题，不是巧遇的问题。
　　所有的消遣有两种，一种是技术的，一种是巧遇的。你去掷骰子，你要去碰巧，这是巧遇。一切的赌博，基督徒绝对不应该有。有的人在没有得救之前搓麻将，这是赌博。这是技术的，又加上巧遇的。基督徒只能技术的玩，不能巧遇的玩，也不能有技术也有巧遇的玩。
　　搓麻将就是不下钱也是巧遇的，叫我自己有另外一个希望，另外一个祷告。你希望机会来帮你的忙，你的那一个希望不对，就是不赌钱都不可以。
　　打弹子完全是技术的。打弹子就是有输赢也是对的，但是一有钱的问题就是错的，那是赌钱。
　　所以，有的事情本身就是赌博，有的事情性质不是赌博，而拿来赌钱是另外一件事。就像吃饭也能用来赌钱。像掷骰子，就是不下钱，它的本身就是赌博，那是基督徒所不可以作的。我们基督徒断定一件事是有原则的。我们说这个可以或者不可以，是有原则的。以技术来作是对的，以巧遇来作是不对的。任何的技术是可以的，任何的巧遇是错的。巧遇就是赌博。
　　凡人所以为是赌博的东西，我们也不摸。我们基督徒必须有原则。我们要寻出来什么叫作赌博，什么叫作巧遇。巧遇就是赌博。
　　有弟兄问，打猎、钓鱼、养鸟可以不可以？打猎，在圣经里是从宁录起首的（创十8~9），好像是主所不欢喜的事。
　　钓鱼，这是可以的。你只要把原则拉住，下面碰到许多的事，就容易清楚该不该作。总而言之，光是技术没有错，有巧遇就不对。赌博根本不必提。如果问基督徒应该不应该赌博，那是不知道跌到那里去了。
　　有的鸟可以养，因为多少年来一直是人养它，变作好像家鸟一样，放出去活不了。能活的当然应当让它去。鸽子也有家鸽、野鸽。这一类的事，我们只能有一个原则。
　
　　第五，我们的消遣应该合乎我们的需要才可以。我们有这一个需要，才有这一个消遣；没有这一个需要，就不应该有这一个消遣。许多弟兄相当忙，反而不需要消遣。有的弟兄一天之中没有什么事情作，反而有消遣的需要。越是需要有调剂的，越不需要调剂；越不需要调剂的，反而需要调剂。所以我们不必把调剂告诉许多人。在我们中间，我们不愿意把许可给神的儿女，好像给他们普遍的许可说，你们都可以有消遣。乃是要对神的儿女说，你自己秤你自己，看有没有需要。原则上总是这样：叫我怎样能够活着为主，我的时间就是主的。
　　你们要看见，生命是以时间来计算的。生命当然不只是时间，但是生命是以时间来计算的。人在神面前不能没有时间。度过一个钟点的时间，就是度过一个钟点的生命。度过两个钟点的时间，就是度过两个钟点的生命。如果你有时间，你花一个钟点去消遣，这一个钟点总得回来帮助你工作。如果没有那一个需要，就是浪费时间，浪费时间就是浪费生命。我们如果多出一个钟点来为着主，就多有果效。我如果花了时间去消遣，叫我的工作能够作得更好，这一个消遣就是投资，而不是浪费。
　　所以，调剂是根据于你的需要而作的，或者是凭着年长弟兄的感觉，或者是凭着医生的话。有的时候，年长的弟兄会告诉你说，你这样太紧张了，要有一点调剂。有的时候，医生要说，你不要这样作，这样下去要吃亏。消遣是因为需要而有的，不是为着玩而玩的。我不是为着我要消遣而消遣，乃是为叫我的工作作得更好而消遣。忙的人也许需要消遣，也许不需要。总是有需要的人可以有消遣，没有需要的人不必有消遣。
　　对于年轻人，我们承认有消遣的需要。对于家里十几岁的孩子，我们看他们有需要。你们作父母的人没有需要，就说他们也没有需要，结果就要把他们弄到不正当地路上去。他们的需要我们该承认，我们自己的需要反而不敢说。原则是有需要就得有消遣，没有需要就不必有消遣。
　
　　第六，所有的消遣，必须和自己的体格相合才可以。在消遣里，第一个成分乃是身体的能力。每一个人在消遣的时候，总是要记得，我是盼望我的身体能得着益处，绝不应该因着消遣而叫我的身体吃亏。如果叫身体吃亏，就反而把基本的问题推翻了。我们是要叫身体更好。如果有一个消遣，反而叫我们的身体变坏了，这一个消遣就有毛病。比方，有的人有肺病，他的消遣必须是不会加增他的肺病才可以。或者有的姊妹有心脏病，也许有的时候需要有一点消遣，但她的消遣必须是能除去她的疲劳，而不引起她的心脏病才可以。
　　我年轻的时候，有一个朋友，本来是很不好的人，相信主之后变作非常好。本来他是喜欢打球的，得救了之后，他觉得打球不大好。所以他想，我末了再打一次篮球，以后就再不打了。岂知道就是这么一打，当天就吐血，后来就死了。这不是消遣，这完全是与他的体格相反。他以为今天大大的消遣一次，以后出去传福音；那知这一次的消遣就丧了命。这是相当可惜的事。
　　盼望我们看见，我们的身体是主的。有调剂是为着主，没有调剂也是为着主，都不是为自己。你有调剂，还得记得这样调剂是为着主。你没有调剂，也得记得我没有调剂是为着主。调剂也好，不调剂也好，总以不伤身体为原则。调剂也好，不调剂也好，叫身体受伤，总是不上算的事。我们不只不该作不正当地事以致毁坏我们的身体，连作正当地事来毁坏我们的身体也不应该。神儿女的身体不是他自己的。所以要有调剂的时候，总要记得，我作这件事到底是否与我的身体有益？有益的就作，没有益的就不作。不是因为喜欢就去作。在这里，有的姊妹有心脏病，如果你看见外头有弟兄打球，你也去打一下，就要打出事情来。打球在弟兄身上没有错，在有心脏病的姊妹身上就有错。盼望神的儿女注意，我所有的一切都是为着事奉神；就是我今天有一点调剂，目的还是为叫我事奉得更好。
　　我绝不盼望信主的人，年轻的时候就去世。我总是盼望在教会里有老年的弟兄，有老年的姊妹。请记得，世界上的老年人，和教会里的老年人不一样。世界上越是老年人越退化，越年纪轻越进步。但在教会里，越老年是越进步。在世界里是老的不死，新的上不来，都被他们挡住了。但在教会里不是这样，越老越新，越摸越高，越摸越深。如果教会里缺乏了年老的弟兄姊妹，教会里反而贫穷，反而失败。所以我实在不盼望在教会里，有的弟兄姊妹不顾身体而早年去世，主给他所有的学习不能变作教会的供应。教会不应该有这一个损失，教会背不起这一个损失。
　　就是有运动，有游戏的事，也不是为着纪录，好像运动家一样。他们不是为游戏，是为了要打破纪录。我们是为着游戏，为着叫身体好。
　
　　第七，消遣不只有身体的成分，还有性情方面的成分。你去作所喜欢的事，更能叫你的脑子恢复，更能叫你的情感放松，神经舒服。你所不喜欢的事，那些就变作工作，而不是消遣。比方有一个姊妹顶喜欢花，你给她半点钟去浇浇花，她应当有些累的，但是浇了半点钟的花，她反而不觉得累。本来神经相当紧张，现在放松了。但是如果有一个人看见花讨厌的，根本不喜欢花，你要叫他浇半点钟，在他就变作是重担。所以，消遣是有性情的关系在里面。一个人消遣的挑选，必须是叫他的神经放松，情感放松，那才是对的。就像我们刚才所提的好些消遣，每一个人所要的都不一样。有的人浇花是消遣，有的人浇花不是消遣。有的人喜欢小狗小猫，有的人看见猫狗就紧张害怕。我们要学习看见什么东西是叫我们自己欢喜的，那就能够帮助我们的工作作得好。
　　比方我自己，你如果叫我到海里，我就不能消遣，到江里去我能消遣。有的弟兄就不一样，浪越大越好，船在海里侧过来侧过去，他就非常欢喜。有些事情你去作，是你所欢喜、所高兴的，能叫你精神好起来。这里面有性情的问题。所以人挑选消遣的时候，必须挑选性情所近的，那才能恢复身体的力量。你如果挑选一个性情所不喜欢的，马上觉得累，你宁可不作更好。
　
　　第八，我们是基督徒，所以我们所有的事都应该作人的榜样；就是在消遣的事情上，我们也不要作别人的绊脚石。我们活着是为主，同时也是为着弟兄。我们活着不是为自己。所以我们不能只顾到自己而不顾到别人。你不能在那里埋怨说，“他们为什么要看我？”请你记得，他们不看你，看谁？当然他们要看你。城造在山上，谁能够不看见？当然要看见。所以不管我们自己的感觉如何，我们还得顾到年轻的弟兄看见我这样作，到底会受什么影响。有的事我在这里作，到底会不会绊倒别人。你是神的儿女，已经相信了主，从今以后，必须叫你的感觉细嫩。你必须感觉，我不只对神负责，我对许多年轻的弟兄姊妹也要负责。
　　我自己觉得自己可以吃肉，这不发生问题。但是，我吃肉若叫软弱的弟兄跌倒，我就宁可不吃。我吃肉并不错，但我吃肉叫人跌倒就错了。同样，不是消遣有错，是我叫弟兄跌倒就有错。
　　所以，有许多事情要注意，到底软弱的人要以为怎样？我不要作软弱人的绊脚石。请你记得，主不是说不要作刚强人的绊脚石；主是说不要作软弱人的绊脚石。有许多人，他们的良心很软弱，他们以为不可到庙里去；所以虽然我知道偶像算不得什么，可是为着弟兄软弱良心的缘故，我就不去。按着这一个原则，如果有一个消遣能够绊倒弟兄，我就不作。
　　你作一件事的时候，你的良心是平安的，但是有别人的良心不平安，那怎么办？你不要只顾你自己良心的平安。要记得有人因为你作这一件事，他良心不平安，所以你要为着他们会跌倒的缘故，就不作。你作这件事，不能说，我不跌倒；你还得记得，人会跌倒。你不能说，我良心平安；你还得记得，人会良心不平安。你不能说，我不会因着这件事犯罪；你还得记得，人会因着这件事犯罪。你对于这一件事不出问题，人要出问题，怎么办？所以为着弟兄的缘故，有许多消遣的事就不能作。
　　我们必须看见，许多的事我们都可作，但是不一定都有益处，所以我们所有的行为必须谨慎，越谨慎越好。总是学习走在正当地路上，学习小心的走。我想，有的时候我们许可弟兄姊妹有一点消遣，消遣并不是不可以，但是有的时候会叫人跌倒，这样的事，这样的东西，还是不作；特别是在那些容易跌倒的人身上要小心，特别是在那些容易受捆绑的人身上要小心。有的人是容易受捆绑、受影响的，你要小心。有许多容易跌倒的人，你稍微不小心一点，他就跌倒了。这一件事要注意。
　
　　第九，凡一切外邦人所以为不可的消遣，我们都不可以作。凡是外邦人所以为可以的，我们不一定都可以作。这是我们和外邦人发生关系的两个原则。他们以为可以的，我们不一定都可以；他们以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。清楚么？有许多的娱乐，外邦人以为可以，但是我们不可以。他们以为看戏可以，赌钱可以，跳舞可以，这是他们基本的消遣，但是我们不可以。可是有许多外邦人所以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。
　　我们犯不着用消遣来和人辩道，那是不值得的。比方说，在一个地方的人以为打球是不可以的，我们的见证是为主作，不是为球作，我们不在那里讲一篇道理，为球作见证。我们用不着为球作见证。所以请你们记得，最少我们的程度不能低于外邦人。如果有一个地方的外教人以为说，不能下棋。以原则来说，象棋可以，围棋也可以，但是我们不替象棋围棋作见证。我们不必花许多时间来讲一篇下棋的道理。因为这是可有可无的事。我们要作主的见证，不要维持这些细微的行为，不要为着这些细微的事和他们争辩。有许多的事，他们许可，我们就作；他们不许可，我们就不作。
　　比方，有的地方认为不可以钓鱼，你就接受当地人的看法，避免这一点。我们的见证是基督，我们的见证不是钓鱼。我们把一切都牺牲了为着主，何只这一点消遣的事！我们不要因着消遣给当地的人有什么特别的感觉。无论什么地方，人认为错的，这一类的事不应该作。我们的程度总不该比外邦人低，特别在消遣的事情上。
　　有的人在消遣的问题上与人争，是非常愚昧的事。我知道有的西国教士为着要建立他的消遣，结果与本地的人弄得非常不好。我想，为着一点消遣的事，叫他们的工作作不好，这是不对的。我们是要注意主要的问题，其他的事无所谓。比方，有弟兄要到回回教的区域里去，他们是不吃猪肉的。你到他们中间去，以为我们基督徒是可以吃猪肉的，就大吃起来。这对于那个地方就不对，你在他们中间就什么都不能作。我们为着工作的缘故，千万不要在这些小事情上和人发生难处。
　　今天也许有人要到西康去，西康是不钓鱼的。他们一生一世都没有钓过鱼。你如果去钓鱼，和当地的弟兄出事，就不对。有的英国教士到印度去，为着消遣的事叫印度人不舒服，这不值得。
　　这九个原则摆在这里，我们要好好的对付。至于外邦人所提起的那些消遣，我们连题都不提。外邦人有三种主要的消遣，就是跳舞、赌博、看戏，我想我们根本不必提。我们只是在积极方面把这九个原则提出来。我们总不应该放弃这九个原则。
　
　
　　末了，讲一个简单地故事。开西聚会算作英国很大的一个聚会，可以说是世界性的特别聚会。每一年只有一个礼拜，从世界各地来的人不少，总是有五、六千，每年都有。我想，那个聚会是神所特别用的。在那些讲道的人中有慕安得烈，有梅尔，这些都是相当认识主的人。还有一位比慕安得烈还早的，訧是爱文霍浦金，他们称他作开西的神学家。霍浦金是最早看见与基督同死的事实。他是哈拿施密斯的丈夫。“信徒快乐的秘诀”是哈拿写的。当时有三个人，在德国是司督克梅尔，在法国是马尔登，在英国就是霍浦金。慕安得烈是在荷兰的。当初宾路易师母传同死的道，如果没有霍浦金的帮助，就不能传出去。因为英国不欢迎女人讲道，都是霍浦金帮助她的。霍浦金在主面前非常好，但是他有他的喜好。他有空的时候就画图。他本来是画规规矩矩的图，后来有了孙女，他就替他们画兔子。他讲道完了回来，就替孙女画兔子。他在一生中总共画了几千只兔子。后来出版家把它印出来，印了一本霍浦金的兔子。你看见霍浦金是聪明人，每一只兔子的脸都不一样。霍浦金还喜欢写小字，他能在一张先令（英国钞票）上，把整篇主祷文写上。我不是要你们学他，我是愿意你们看见，消遣对一个人的属灵绝不妨害，并且你反而摸着这一个人的人的成分。请你们记得，神的仆人们都不是那样呆板的，那是天主教，不是基督徒。基督徒乃是天真的人，简单地人，是相当自然的。
　
　　你们记得，慕勒是会祷告的人。有一次一个小女孩亚比该，要他祷告一个花色的绒线球，慕勒也为她祷告，她就得着了。后来亚比该变作英国一个最好的基督徒。你读她的传记，就知道她在主面前所受的教育有多少。所以盼望你们记得，消遣如果作得好，它不会把你拉下去。如果你在神面前守住消遣的原则，消遣反而会把你带上去，叫你的身体、思想，都摆在正当地地位上。
　　读经：
　　林前十23：“凡事都可行；但不都有益处。凡事都可行；但不都造就人。”
　　六12节：“凡事我都可行；但不都有益处。凡事我都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。”
　　十31节：“所以你们或吃或喝，无论作什么，都要为荣耀神而行。”
　
　　消遣这一个问题，在所有奉献的人身上，从来没有难处。凡是对于消遣的问题有难处的，都是因为这一个人对于奉献不够完全。在一般奉献给神的儿女身上，消遣的问题根本不会发生。所以你们如果要解决消遣的问题，第一要解决奉献的问题。奉献的问题若没有解决，消遣的问题怎么作都不能解决。如果奉献的问题没有解决，神所以为不应该的，你要以为可以。所以奉献的问题必须先解决。
　
　　奉献的问题解决了之后，我们就要提起消遣的目的在那里。
　
　　我们提起消遣不是为着你自己，乃是为着你家里的儿女，为着比你小一辈的人。在奉献的人身上消遣根本不成问题。但是，在家庭里不只有我们，还有我们的儿女，还有我们的弟弟妹妹。这些人如果也是奉献的人，也一点难处都没有。但是，许多时候，这些人可能不是奉献的人，那么我们的态度就与他们大有关系。我们应许他们有什么种的消遣，和不应许他们有什么种的消遣，是有大的关系。所以，我们提起消遣的问题，为给我们家里的人有正当地引导。
　
　　有的时候，我们自己也得有一点调剂。到底这一个调剂到什么地步才是对的呢？到什么地步是基督徒可以作的呢？我们在神面前要寻出一个基本原则来。
　　你们作父母的人，对于家里的孩子，许可他们有什么种的消遣，才是合乎基督徒体统的呢？我们每一个作神儿女的人都要清楚。因为在这件事上一有漏洞，马上世界进到家庭里来了。世界一进到家庭里来，你再要想把世界从你儿女身上赶出去，就非常不容易。为要保守我们的家庭属乎主的缘故，我们就得在神面前注意消遣的问题。
　
　
　　消遣是合乎圣经的，是合乎主的旨意的。我们第一要承认，人需要消遣。作基督徒的人，总不应该走极端的路。人是有消遣的需要。因为许多人事情相当忙，如果没有一点调剂，这样的人很容易生病，身体的健康很容易坍下去。所以，调剂乃是消遣的基本原因。特别是那些年轻的人，你不能一天到晚要他们读书，你必须让他们有另外方式的玩。你不能一天到晚只把一件事情给他们作，你必须给他们另外一种事情作。这是一个原则，是我们必须知道的。
　　主说，孩子们在街上吹笛、跳舞。这一个跳舞，不是舞场里面的跳舞，是快乐了跳起来，吹起笛来。这是对的。的的确确有那一个需要。消遣的基本原则就是调剂。我今天作了五个钟点的事，六个钟点的事，八个钟点的事，都是作一件的事，那很容易叫我累。一直作一件事，神经容易感觉到痛苦，身体容易感觉到疲乏。所以，我需要换一件事情来作，来调剂，好叫我不觉得疲乏。换一件事情来作，就能除去我的疲劳。
　　比方说，一个孩子在学校里读了八个钟点的书，回家来玩一玩，这一个玩不是生活，这是他的调剂。如果一天蹦跳八个钟点，那就不是调剂了。我们承认调剂的需要，若是把消遣当作生活就不可以。人在疲劳的时候，换一件事情作可以，如果一天到晚玩就不行。再比方，有的人夏天喜欢到水里去游泳，在这里我们寻不出有错。在疲劳的时候到水里游泳半点钟、一点钟，没有错。如果一个人像鸭子一样，一天到晚喜欢浸在水里，这不是消遣。我要你们看见，人如果对于消遣出问题，这不是消遣出问题，乃是生活出问题。
　　有人反对我们基督徒没有消遣，他们不知道他们所说的到底是什么。一天一夜沉在里面，这叫作消遣么？他们是颠倒在里面，这不叫消遣。实在说起来，消遣出问题的人很少。有问题的是谁呢？是那些颠倒在里面的人。有的人是三天三夜沉在里面，把消遣当作生活，这样的人才会说作基督徒是难的。凡是在消遣上有难处的人都是极端的人，都是以消遣当作生活的人。所以我们必须看得准，人有调剂的需要，但没有颠倒的需要。人有调剂的需要，但没有活在里面的需要。凡事都可行，但不都有益处。凡事都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。你一天到晚倒在里面，你就受它的辖制，这是一个很大的错误。
　
　　第二，消遣有四种的方式。基督徒可以有四方面的消遣：
　
1
　
休息
　　基督徒最好的消遣就是休息。我今天累了，我就去歇一歇。主耶稣和门徒作工累了，就对门徒说，要到野地里去歇一歇。我们要注意，主的歇有消遣的意义在里面，所以主不是说去歇一歇，而是说到野地里去歇一歇。许多时候，另外寻一个地方，或者是山旁，或者是水边，去休息一下，的确能除去我们的疲劳。这是基督徒最普通的消遣。
　
　　有的时候，你作一个工作太久了，感觉到累，可以换一个工作。我本来作八点钟的事，现在我拿出一两点钟来换一个工作。你本来都是坐着作事，现在你站起来作。本来都是劳心的作，现在劳力的作。你马上看见，你能够除去疲劳。我们没有世界上人的那一种消遣，我们只要更换我们的工作，已经能够除去我们的疲劳。这一件事在我们身上很可以有安排。因为消遣的原则就是为着调剂，你把工作更换一下，就已经有了调剂。
　
3
　
喜好
　　另外一面，在基督徒的生活里，也可以有一些正当地喜好。有的弟兄，也许喜欢拍几张照。有的弟兄，也许喜欢养一两只鸟。有的弟兄，也许喜欢种一点花。有的弟兄，也许喜欢画一两张图。这都是合法的，是在基督徒范围之内的。有的人或者喜欢一点音乐，写一点谱，弹弹琴。有的人或许喜欢写写字。这些都是合法的消遣。
　　但是，无论休息也好，或者换一件事来作也好，或者有一点喜好的事来作也好，你都必须拿得起来，放得下去。放不下去就有了病。例如你拍几张照，研究一点，你学一点，作一点都无所谓。
　　我们所反对的是它影响你太厉害。必须要拿得起来，放得下去。年轻的弟兄拉一点小提琴也行，如果放不下就出事情。难处在这里，特别是才作基督徒的人，对于有的消遣放不下，那就要把它对付掉。如果不对付掉，基督徒作不来，给它扣住了。必须是作也行，不作也行，不受它的辖制，那才是消遣。这是一个原则。必须记得，我如果要消遣，无论是正当地喜好，或者是刚才所说的那两样，总是应该不受它的辖制。
　　比方有的年轻弟兄喜欢集邮，这不是错，这也有益处，能够叫他们学习认识世界各国的地理，认识世界各国的历史。问题是不能给它扣住。凡是为着帮助自己有调剂，而不被扣住的这一类消遣，都是合法的。
　　作父母的人，要教儿女往正当消遣的路上去，不叫儿女因着没有正当地消遣，而去寻另外不正当地消遣。我看见有许多非常严格的父母，把儿女带坏了。他们的家庭里像是一个机关，不像一个家庭，结果孩子们偷着到外面去玩，都是些不正当地消遣。所以你们要看准了，儿女必须有消遣。我们是有玩也行，没有玩也行，但孩子们是非玩不可的。你如果不给他们玩，他们觉得在家庭里枯燥，没有味道，就在上学的时间偷着去玩。
　
4
　
玩耍
　　有许多的玩耍，像下棋、打球、骑马，虽然里面有输赢，但这是正当地，因为这一个输赢是技术上的。所以有的时候，有的孩子多打几次乒乓，也很好。或者打篮球、打网球、骑马、下棋都可以。这些都是正当地事，这些里面没有罪。作父母的人，对于这样的事要宽大，要把儿女带到正当消遣的路上来。年长的弟兄，没有工夫去作剧烈的运动，但是不应该去拦阻年轻的人。不错，我们要他们尽量拿出时间来为着主；但我们也要顾到他们调剂的需要，让他们有一点消遣。
　　我们把四类的消遣方式摆在这里，休息也可以，改换工作也可以，有喜好也可以，玩耍也可以，这四种不同的消遣都是基督徒可以作的。可是，基督徒不应该受辖制。如果受辖制就有错。这一点，越是初信的人越是要他们注意。因为这问题在我们身上根本不发生问题。你今天弹一点琴也好，不弹琴也好，毫无分别。但是初信的时候，那一个分别非常大。你如果多作一次，你良心里多不平安一次。在起初的时候，那些事的确一多作就受它的捆绑，一受捆绑就不能作。
　
　　第三，我们必须注意，为着什么要有这些消遣？要知道，消遣乃是要叫我们的工作作得更好。消遣有一定的目的，不是消遣了就了了。不是我今天好打球，所以我去打它。乃是我打了一下球，我的工作能够作得好。不是我贪睡就去睡，乃是睡了一下我的工作能够作得好。不是我为着花去种花，乃是种一点花我的工作能作得好。所以，这些事必须是帮助我们的工作才可以，必须是帮助我们来事奉神才可以。有的人一天到晚都在作一件事，也许两个礼拜、三个礼拜，头脑就不行了，甚至体力也不行了。这样的时候，你宁可让这些弟兄姊妹有一点调剂。或者换一件事情作，或者弹弹琴、打打球。这样的作，不是为着别的，乃是为着恢复。完全是为着加增效率，不是为着减少效率。因为我消遣，我能够工作作得更好，我能够事奉神更多。　
　　有的时候，像主耶稣一样，到野地去歇一下，旅行一下，转一转回来。或者和你家里的孩子打打球，也是好事。你看见，这不是一个缠累，乃是帮助你把工作作得更好。如果会叫你的工作作得更坏，这一个原则不对。一个消遣总是要变作你工作的帮助。你一天到晚作一件事容易累，宁可跑跑路，种种花，去玩一下。我们不是提倡人去作，我们是许可人去作。这样作，反而能够帮助你的工作作得好，不会叫你的工作作得不好，这是一个基本的原则。
　　如果工作两个月、三个月，有一次假期，这是对的。如果天天放假，这是懒惰，不是放假。基督徒必须学习在地上作工，不懒惰。我们许可用消遣来增加工作的效率，但是这些事我们不给人批评的余地。我们不要作过分的事，不能让神的名在我们身上得不着荣耀。
　
　　第四，凡一切消遣的事，都必须在里面有技术，不讲机遇。或者说，有技术，而没有巧遇，那一个消遣才是对的。任何的消遣，如果有技术在里面，而又有巧遇在里面，那是赌博，不是消遣。光是巧遇，而没有技术的，那更是赌博，更是基督徒所不能作的。任何的巧遇，都是赌博。在基督徒的消遣里，不能有巧遇，只能有技术。像掷骰子，这完全是巧遇的问题。这不是基督徒所能作的，这完全是赌博。年轻的人可以下棋，因为下棋是技术的问题，不是巧遇的问题。
　　所有的消遣有两种，一种是技术的，一种是巧遇的。你去掷骰子，你要去碰巧，这是巧遇。一切的赌博，基督徒绝对不应该有。有的人在没有得救之前搓麻将，这是赌博。这是技术的，又加上巧遇的。基督徒只能技术的玩，不能巧遇的玩，也不能有技术也有巧遇的玩。
　　搓麻将就是不下钱也是巧遇的，叫我自己有另外一个希望，另外一个祷告。你希望机会来帮你的忙，你的那一个希望不对，就是不赌钱都不可以。
　　打弹子完全是技术的。打弹子就是有输赢也是对的，但是一有钱的问题就是错的，那是赌钱。
　　所以，有的事情本身就是赌博，有的事情性质不是赌博，而拿来赌钱是另外一件事。就像吃饭也能用来赌钱。像掷骰子，就是不下钱，它的本身就是赌博，那是基督徒所不可以作的。我们基督徒断定一件事是有原则的。我们说这个可以或者不可以，是有原则的。以技术来作是对的，以巧遇来作是不对的。任何的技术是可以的，任何的巧遇是错的。巧遇就是赌博。
　　凡人所以为是赌博的东西，我们也不摸。我们基督徒必须有原则。我们要寻出来什么叫作赌博，什么叫作巧遇。巧遇就是赌博。
　　有弟兄问，打猎、钓鱼、养鸟可以不可以？打猎，在圣经里是从宁录起首的（创十8~9），好像是主所不欢喜的事。
　　钓鱼，这是可以的。你只要把原则拉住，下面碰到许多的事，就容易清楚该不该作。总而言之，光是技术没有错，有巧遇就不对。赌博根本不必提。如果问基督徒应该不应该赌博，那是不知道跌到那里去了。
　　有的鸟可以养，因为多少年来一直是人养它，变作好像家鸟一样，放出去活不了。能活的当然应当让它去。鸽子也有家鸽、野鸽。这一类的事，我们只能有一个原则。
　
　　第五，我们的消遣应该合乎我们的需要才可以。我们有这一个需要，才有这一个消遣；没有这一个需要，就不应该有这一个消遣。许多弟兄相当忙，反而不需要消遣。有的弟兄一天之中没有什么事情作，反而有消遣的需要。越是需要有调剂的，越不需要调剂；越不需要调剂的，反而需要调剂。所以我们不必把调剂告诉许多人。在我们中间，我们不愿意把许可给神的儿女，好像给他们普遍的许可说，你们都可以有消遣。乃是要对神的儿女说，你自己秤你自己，看有没有需要。原则上总是这样：叫我怎样能够活着为主，我的时间就是主的。
　　你们要看见，生命是以时间来计算的。生命当然不只是时间，但是生命是以时间来计算的。人在神面前不能没有时间。度过一个钟点的时间，就是度过一个钟点的生命。度过两个钟点的时间，就是度过两个钟点的生命。如果你有时间，你花一个钟点去消遣，这一个钟点总得回来帮助你工作。如果没有那一个需要，就是浪费时间，浪费时间就是浪费生命。我们如果多出一个钟点来为着主，就多有果效。我如果花了时间去消遣，叫我的工作能够作得更好，这一个消遣就是投资，而不是浪费。
　　所以，调剂是根据于你的需要而作的，或者是凭着年长弟兄的感觉，或者是凭着医生的话。有的时候，年长的弟兄会告诉你说，你这样太紧张了，要有一点调剂。有的时候，医生要说，你不要这样作，这样下去要吃亏。消遣是因为需要而有的，不是为着玩而玩的。我不是为着我要消遣而消遣，乃是为叫我的工作作得更好而消遣。忙的人也许需要消遣，也许不需要。总是有需要的人可以有消遣，没有需要的人不必有消遣。
　　对于年轻人，我们承认有消遣的需要。对于家里十几岁的孩子，我们看他们有需要。你们作父母的人没有需要，就说他们也没有需要，结果就要把他们弄到不正当地路上去。他们的需要我们该承认，我们自己的需要反而不敢说。原则是有需要就得有消遣，没有需要就不必有消遣。
　
　　第六，所有的消遣，必须和自己的体格相合才可以。在消遣里，第一个成分乃是身体的能力。每一个人在消遣的时候，总是要记得，我是盼望我的身体能得着益处，绝不应该因着消遣而叫我的身体吃亏。如果叫身体吃亏，就反而把基本的问题推翻了。我们是要叫身体更好。如果有一个消遣，反而叫我们的身体变坏了，这一个消遣就有毛病。比方，有的人有肺病，他的消遣必须是不会加增他的肺病才可以。或者有的姊妹有心脏病，也许有的时候需要有一点消遣，但她的消遣必须是能除去她的疲劳，而不引起她的心脏病才可以。
　　我年轻的时候，有一个朋友，本来是很不好的人，相信主之后变作非常好。本来他是喜欢打球的，得救了之后，他觉得打球不大好。所以他想，我末了再打一次篮球，以后就再不打了。岂知道就是这么一打，当天就吐血，后来就死了。这不是消遣，这完全是与他的体格相反。他以为今天大大的消遣一次，以后出去传福音；那知这一次的消遣就丧了命。这是相当可惜的事。
　　盼望我们看见，我们的身体是主的。有调剂是为着主，没有调剂也是为着主，都不是为自己。你有调剂，还得记得这样调剂是为着主。你没有调剂，也得记得我没有调剂是为着主。调剂也好，不调剂也好，总以不伤身体为原则。调剂也好，不调剂也好，叫身体受伤，总是不上算的事。我们不只不该作不正当地事以致毁坏我们的身体，连作正当地事来毁坏我们的身体也不应该。神儿女的身体不是他自己的。所以要有调剂的时候，总要记得，我作这件事到底是否与我的身体有益？有益的就作，没有益的就不作。不是因为喜欢就去作。在这里，有的姊妹有心脏病，如果你看见外头有弟兄打球，你也去打一下，就要打出事情来。打球在弟兄身上没有错，在有心脏病的姊妹身上就有错。盼望神的儿女注意，我所有的一切都是为着事奉神；就是我今天有一点调剂，目的还是为叫我事奉得更好。
　　我绝不盼望信主的人，年轻的时候就去世。我总是盼望在教会里有老年的弟兄，有老年的姊妹。请记得，世界上的老年人，和教会里的老年人不一样。世界上越是老年人越退化，越年纪轻越进步。但在教会里，越老年是越进步。在世界里是老的不死，新的上不来，都被他们挡住了。但在教会里不是这样，越老越新，越摸越高，越摸越深。如果教会里缺乏了年老的弟兄姊妹，教会里反而贫穷，反而失败。所以我实在不盼望在教会里，有的弟兄姊妹不顾身体而早年去世，主给他所有的学习不能变作教会的供应。教会不应该有这一个损失，教会背不起这一个损失。
　　就是有运动，有游戏的事，也不是为着纪录，好像运动家一样。他们不是为游戏，是为了要打破纪录。我们是为着游戏，为着叫身体好。
　
　　第七，消遣不只有身体的成分，还有性情方面的成分。你去作所喜欢的事，更能叫你的脑子恢复，更能叫你的情感放松，神经舒服。你所不喜欢的事，那些就变作工作，而不是消遣。比方有一个姊妹顶喜欢花，你给她半点钟去浇浇花，她应当有些累的，但是浇了半点钟的花，她反而不觉得累。本来神经相当紧张，现在放松了。但是如果有一个人看见花讨厌的，根本不喜欢花，你要叫他浇半点钟，在他就变作是重担。所以，消遣是有性情的关系在里面。一个人消遣的挑选，必须是叫他的神经放松，情感放松，那才是对的。就像我们刚才所提的好些消遣，每一个人所要的都不一样。有的人浇花是消遣，有的人浇花不是消遣。有的人喜欢小狗小猫，有的人看见猫狗就紧张害怕。我们要学习看见什么东西是叫我们自己欢喜的，那就能够帮助我们的工作作得好。
　　比方我自己，你如果叫我到海里，我就不能消遣，到江里去我能消遣。有的弟兄就不一样，浪越大越好，船在海里侧过来侧过去，他就非常欢喜。有些事情你去作，是你所欢喜、所高兴的，能叫你精神好起来。这里面有性情的问题。所以人挑选消遣的时候，必须挑选性情所近的，那才能恢复身体的力量。你如果挑选一个性情所不喜欢的，马上觉得累，你宁可不作更好。
　
　　第八，我们是基督徒，所以我们所有的事都应该作人的榜样；就是在消遣的事情上，我们也不要作别人的绊脚石。我们活着是为主，同时也是为着弟兄。我们活着不是为自己。所以我们不能只顾到自己而不顾到别人。你不能在那里埋怨说，“他们为什么要看我？”请你记得，他们不看你，看谁？当然他们要看你。城造在山上，谁能够不看见？当然要看见。所以不管我们自己的感觉如何，我们还得顾到年轻的弟兄看见我这样作，到底会受什么影响。有的事我在这里作，到底会不会绊倒别人。你是神的儿女，已经相信了主，从今以后，必须叫你的感觉细嫩。你必须感觉，我不只对神负责，我对许多年轻的弟兄姊妹也要负责。
　　我自己觉得自己可以吃肉，这不发生问题。但是，我吃肉若叫软弱的弟兄跌倒，我就宁可不吃。我吃肉并不错，但我吃肉叫人跌倒就错了。同样，不是消遣有错，是我叫弟兄跌倒就有错。
　　所以，有许多事情要注意，到底软弱的人要以为怎样？我不要作软弱人的绊脚石。请你记得，主不是说不要作刚强人的绊脚石；主是说不要作软弱人的绊脚石。有许多人，他们的良心很软弱，他们以为不可到庙里去；所以虽然我知道偶像算不得什么，可是为着弟兄软弱良心的缘故，我就不去。按着这一个原则，如果有一个消遣能够绊倒弟兄，我就不作。
　　你作一件事的时候，你的良心是平安的，但是有别人的良心不平安，那怎么办？你不要只顾你自己良心的平安。要记得有人因为你作这一件事，他良心不平安，所以你要为着他们会跌倒的缘故，就不作。你作这件事，不能说，我不跌倒；你还得记得，人会跌倒。你不能说，我良心平安；你还得记得，人会良心不平安。你不能说，我不会因着这件事犯罪；你还得记得，人会因着这件事犯罪。你对于这一件事不出问题，人要出问题，怎么办？所以为着弟兄的缘故，有许多消遣的事就不能作。
　　我们必须看见，许多的事我们都可作，但是不一定都有益处，所以我们所有的行为必须谨慎，越谨慎越好。总是学习走在正当地路上，学习小心的走。我想，有的时候我们许可弟兄姊妹有一点消遣，消遣并不是不可以，但是有的时候会叫人跌倒，这样的事，这样的东西，还是不作；特别是在那些容易跌倒的人身上要小心，特别是在那些容易受捆绑的人身上要小心。有的人是容易受捆绑、受影响的，你要小心。有许多容易跌倒的人，你稍微不小心一点，他就跌倒了。这一件事要注意。
　
　　第九，凡一切外邦人所以为不可的消遣，我们都不可以作。凡是外邦人所以为可以的，我们不一定都可以作。这是我们和外邦人发生关系的两个原则。他们以为可以的，我们不一定都可以；他们以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。清楚么？有许多的娱乐，外邦人以为可以，但是我们不可以。他们以为看戏可以，赌钱可以，跳舞可以，这是他们基本的消遣，但是我们不可以。可是有许多外邦人所以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。
　　我们犯不着用消遣来和人辩道，那是不值得的。比方说，在一个地方的人以为打球是不可以的，我们的见证是为主作，不是为球作，我们不在那里讲一篇道理，为球作见证。我们用不着为球作见证。所以请你们记得，最少我们的程度不能低于外邦人。如果有一个地方的外教人以为说，不能下棋。以原则来说，象棋可以，围棋也可以，但是我们不替象棋围棋作见证。我们不必花许多时间来讲一篇下棋的道理。因为这是可有可无的事。我们要作主的见证，不要维持这些细微的行为，不要为着这些细微的事和他们争辩。有许多的事，他们许可，我们就作；他们不许可，我们就不作。
　　比方，有的地方认为不可以钓鱼，你就接受当地人的看法，避免这一点。我们的见证是基督，我们的见证不是钓鱼。我们把一切都牺牲了为着主，何只这一点消遣的事！我们不要因着消遣给当地的人有什么特别的感觉。无论什么地方，人认为错的，这一类的事不应该作。我们的程度总不该比外邦人低，特别在消遣的事情上。
　　有的人在消遣的问题上与人争，是非常愚昧的事。我知道有的西国教士为着要建立他的消遣，结果与本地的人弄得非常不好。我想，为着一点消遣的事，叫他们的工作作不好，这是不对的。我们是要注意主要的问题，其他的事无所谓。比方，有弟兄要到回回教的区域里去，他们是不吃猪肉的。你到他们中间去，以为我们基督徒是可以吃猪肉的，就大吃起来。这对于那个地方就不对，你在他们中间就什么都不能作。我们为着工作的缘故，千万不要在这些小事情上和人发生难处。
　　今天也许有人要到西康去，西康是不钓鱼的。他们一生一世都没有钓过鱼。你如果去钓鱼，和当地的弟兄出事，就不对。有的英国教士到印度去，为着消遣的事叫印度人不舒服，这不值得。
　　这九个原则摆在这里，我们要好好的对付。至于外邦人所提起的那些消遣，我们连题都不提。外邦人有三种主要的消遣，就是跳舞、赌博、看戏，我想我们根本不必提。我们只是在积极方面把这九个原则提出来。我们总不应该放弃这九个原则。
　
　
　　末了，讲一个简单地故事。开西聚会算作英国很大的一个聚会，可以说是世界性的特别聚会。每一年只有一个礼拜，从世界各地来的人不少，总是有五、六千，每年都有。我想，那个聚会是神所特别用的。在那些讲道的人中有慕安得烈，有梅尔，这些都是相当认识主的人。还有一位比慕安得烈还早的，訧是爱文霍浦金，他们称他作开西的神学家。霍浦金是最早看见与基督同死的事实。他是哈拿施密斯的丈夫。“信徒快乐的秘诀”是哈拿写的。当时有三个人，在德国是司督克梅尔，在法国是马尔登，在英国就是霍浦金。慕安得烈是在荷兰的。当初宾路易师母传同死的道，如果没有霍浦金的帮助，就不能传出去。因为英国不欢迎女人讲道，都是霍浦金帮助她的。霍浦金在主面前非常好，但是他有他的喜好。他有空的时候就画图。他本来是画规规矩矩的图，后来有了孙女，他就替他们画兔子。他讲道完了回来，就替孙女画兔子。他在一生中总共画了几千只兔子。后来出版家把它印出来，印了一本霍浦金的兔子。你看见霍浦金是聪明人，每一只兔子的脸都不一样。霍浦金还喜欢写小字，他能在一张先令（英国钞票）上，把整篇主祷文写上。我不是要你们学他，我是愿意你们看见，消遣对一个人的属灵绝不妨害，并且你反而摸着这一个人的人的成分。请你们记得，神的仆人们都不是那样呆板的，那是天主教，不是基督徒。基督徒乃是天真的人，简单地人，是相当自然的。
　
　　你们记得，慕勒是会祷告的人。有一次一个小女孩亚比该，要他祷告一个花色的绒线球，慕勒也为她祷告，她就得着了。后来亚比该变作英国一个最好的基督徒。你读她的传记，就知道她在主面前所受的教育有多少。所以盼望你们记得，消遣如果作得好，它不会把你拉下去。如果你在神面前守住消遣的原则，消遣反而会把你带上去，叫你的身体、思想，都摆在正当地地位上。
　　读经：　　哥林多前书十章二十三节：“凡事都可行；但不都有益处。凡事都可行；但不都造就人。”
--------本段经节汇集--------
林前10:23  
凡事都可行，但不都有益处；凡事都可行，但不都建造人。
------------------------
　　六章十二节：“凡事我都可行；但不都有益处。凡事我都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。”　　十章三十一节：“所以你们或吃或喝，无论作什么，都要为荣耀神而行。”
　
　　消遣这一个问题，在所有奉献的人身上，从来没有难处。凡是对于消遣的问题有难处的，都是因为这一个人对于奉献不够完全。在一般奉献给神的儿女身上，消遣的问题根本不会发生。所以你们如果要解决消遣的问题，第一要解决奉献的问题。奉献的问题若没有解决，消遣的问题怎么作都不能解决。如果奉献的问题没有解决，神所以为不应该的，你要以为可以。所以奉献的问题必须先解决。
　
　　奉献的问题解决了之后，我们就要提起消遣的目的在那里。
　
　　我们提起消遣不是为着你自己，乃是为着你家里的儿女，为着比你小一辈的人。在奉献的人身上消遣根本不成问题。但是，在家庭里不只有我们，还有我们的儿女，还有我们的弟弟妹妹。这些人如果也是奉献的人，也一点难处都没有。但是，许多时候，这些人可能不是奉献的人，那么我们的态度就与他们大有关系。我们应许他们有什么种的消遣，和不应许他们有什么种的消遣，是有大的关系。所以，我们提起消遣的问题，为给我们家里的人有正当地引导。
　
　　有的时候，我们自己也得有一点调剂。到底这一个调剂到什么地步才是对的呢？到什么地步是基督徒可以作的呢？我们在神面前要寻出一个基本原则来。　　你们作父母的人，对于家里的孩子，许可他们有什么种的消遣，才是合乎基督徒体统的呢？我们每一个作神儿女的人都要清楚。因为在这件事上一有漏洞，马上世界进到家庭里来了。世界一进到家庭里来，你再要想把世界从你儿女身上赶出去，就非常不容易。为要保守我们的家庭属乎主的缘故，我们就得在神面前注意消遣的问题。
　
　
　　消遣是合乎圣经的，是合乎主的旨意的。我们第一要承认，人需要消遣。作基督徒的人，总不应该走极端的路。人是有消遣的需要。因为许多人事情相当忙，如果没有一点调剂，这样的人很容易生病，身体的健康很容易坍下去。所以，调剂乃是消遣的基本原因。特别是那些年轻的人，你不能一天到晚要他们读书，你必须让他们有另外方式的玩。你不能一天到晚只把一件事情给他们作，你必须给他们另外一种事情作。这是一个原则，是我们必须知道的。　　主说，孩子们在街上吹笛、跳舞。这一个跳舞，不是舞场里面的跳舞，是快乐了跳起来，吹起笛来。这是对的。的的确确有那一个需要。消遣的基本原则就是调剂。我今天作了五个钟点的事，六个钟点的事，八个钟点的事，都是作一件的事，那很容易叫我累。一直作一件事，神经容易感觉到痛苦，身体容易感觉到疲乏。所以，我需要换一件事情来作，来调剂，好叫我不觉得疲乏。换一件事情来作，就能除去我的疲劳。　　比方说，一个孩子在学校里读了八个钟点的书，回家来玩一玩，这一个玩不是生活，这是他的调剂。如果一天蹦跳八个钟点，那就不是调剂了。我们承认调剂的需要，若是把消遣当作生活就不可以。人在疲劳的时候，换一件事情作可以，如果一天到晚玩就不行。再比方，有的人夏天喜欢到水里去游泳，在这里我们寻不出有错。在疲劳的时候到水里游泳半点钟、一点钟，没有错。如果一个人像鸭子一样，一天到晚喜欢浸在水里，这不是消遣。我要你们看见，人如果对于消遣出问题，这不是消遣出问题，乃是生活出问题。　　有人反对我们基督徒没有消遣，他们不知道他们所说的到底是什么。一天一夜沉在里面，这叫作消遣么？他们是颠倒在里面，这不叫消遣。实在说起来，消遣出问题的人很少。有问题的是谁呢？是那些颠倒在里面的人。有的人是三天三夜沉在里面，把消遣当作生活，这样的人才会说作基督徒是难的。凡是在消遣上有难处的人都是极端的人，都是以消遣当作生活的人。所以我们必须看得准，人有调剂的需要，但没有颠倒的需要。人有调剂的需要，但没有活在里面的需要。凡事都可行，但不都有益处。凡事都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。你一天到晚倒在里面，你就受它的辖制，这是一个很大的错误。
　
　　第二，消遣有四种的方式。基督徒可以有四方面的消遣：
　
1
　
休息
　　基督徒最好的消遣就是休息。我今天累了，我就去歇一歇。主耶稣和门徒作工累了，就对门徒说，要到野地里去歇一歇。我们要注意，主的歇有消遣的意义在里面，所以主不是说去歇一歇，而是说到野地里去歇一歇。许多时候，另外寻一个地方，或者是山旁，或者是水边，去休息一下，的确能除去我们的疲劳。这是基督徒最普通的消遣。
　
　　有的时候，你作一个工作太久了，感觉到累，可以换一个工作。我本来作八点钟的事，现在我拿出一两点钟来换一个工作。你本来都是坐着作事，现在你站起来作。本来都是劳心的作，现在劳力的作。你马上看见，你能够除去疲劳。我们没有世界上人的那一种消遣，我们只要更换我们的工作，已经能够除去我们的疲劳。这一件事在我们身上很可以有安排。因为消遣的原则就是为着调剂，你把工作更换一下，就已经有了调剂。
　
3
　
喜好
　　另外一面，在基督徒的生活里，也可以有一些正当地喜好。有的弟兄，也许喜欢拍几张照。有的弟兄，也许喜欢养一两只鸟。有的弟兄，也许喜欢种一点花。有的弟兄，也许喜欢画一两张图。这都是合法的，是在基督徒范围之内的。有的人或者喜欢一点音乐，写一点谱，弹弹琴。有的人或许喜欢写写字。这些都是合法的消遣。　　但是，无论休息也好，或者换一件事来作也好，或者有一点喜好的事来作也好，你都必须拿得起来，放得下去。放不下去就有了病。例如你拍几张照，研究一点，你学一点，作一点都无所谓。　　我们所反对的是它影响你太厉害。必须要拿得起来，放得下去。年轻的弟兄拉一点小提琴也行，如果放不下就出事情。难处在这里，特别是才作基督徒的人，对于有的消遣放不下，那就要把它对付掉。如果不对付掉，基督徒作不来，给它扣住了。必须是作也行，不作也行，不受它的辖制，那才是消遣。这是一个原则。必须记得，我如果要消遣，无论是正当地喜好，或者是刚才所说的那两样，总是应该不受它的辖制。　　比方有的年轻弟兄喜欢集邮，这不是错，这也有益处，能够叫他们学习认识世界各国的地理，认识世界各国的历史。问题是不能给它扣住。凡是为着帮助自己有调剂，而不被扣住的这一类消遣，都是合法的。　　作父母的人，要教儿女往正当消遣的路上去，不叫儿女因着没有正当地消遣，而去寻另外不正当地消遣。我看见有许多非常严格的父母，把儿女带坏了。他们的家庭里像是一个机关，不像一个家庭，结果孩子们偷着到外面去玩，都是些不正当地消遣。所以你们要看准了，儿女必须有消遣。我们是有玩也行，没有玩也行，但孩子们是非玩不可的。你如果不给他们玩，他们觉得在家庭里枯燥，没有味道，就在上学的时间偷着去玩。
　
4
　
玩耍
　　有许多的玩耍，像下棋、打球、骑马，虽然里面有输赢，但这是正当地，因为这一个输赢是技术上的。所以有的时候，有的孩子多打几次乒乓，也很好。或者打篮球、打网球、骑马、下棋都可以。这些都是正当地事，这些里面没有罪。作父母的人，对于这样的事要宽大，要把儿女带到正当消遣的路上来。年长的弟兄，没有工夫去作剧烈的运动，但是不应该去拦阻年轻的人。不错，我们要他们尽量拿出时间来为着主；但我们也要顾到他们调剂的需要，让他们有一点消遣。　　我们把四类的消遣方式摆在这里，休息也可以，改换工作也可以，有喜好也可以，玩耍也可以，这四种不同的消遣都是基督徒可以作的。可是，基督徒不应该受辖制。如果受辖制就有错。这一点，越是初信的人越是要他们注意。因为这问题在我们身上根本不发生问题。你今天弹一点琴也好，不弹琴也好，毫无分别。但是初信的时候，那一个分别非常大。你如果多作一次，你良心里多不平安一次。在起初的时候，那些事的确一多作就受它的捆绑，一受捆绑就不能作。
　
　　第三，我们必须注意，为着什么要有这些消遣？要知道，消遣乃是要叫我们的工作作得更好。消遣有一定的目的，不是消遣了就了了。不是我今天好打球，所以我去打它。乃是我打了一下球，我的工作能够作得好。不是我贪睡就去睡，乃是睡了一下我的工作能够作得好。不是我为着花去种花，乃是种一点花我的工作能作得好。所以，这些事必须是帮助我们的工作才可以，必须是帮助我们来事奉神才可以。有的人一天到晚都在作一件事，也许两个礼拜、三个礼拜，头脑就不行了，甚至体力也不行了。这样的时候，你宁可让这些弟兄姊妹有一点调剂。或者换一件事情作，或者弹弹琴、打打球。这样的作，不是为着别的，乃是为着恢复。完全是为着加增效率，不是为着减少效率。因为我消遣，我能够工作作得更好，我能够事奉神更多。　　　有的时候，像主耶稣一样，到野地去歇一下，旅行一下，转一转回来。或者和你家里的孩子打打球，也是好事。你看见，这不是一个缠累，乃是帮助你把工作作得更好。如果会叫你的工作作得更坏，这一个原则不对。一个消遣总是要变作你工作的帮助。你一天到晚作一件事容易累，宁可跑跑路，种种花，去玩一下。我们不是提倡人去作，我们是许可人去作。这样作，反而能够帮助你的工作作得好，不会叫你的工作作得不好，这是一个基本的原则。　　如果工作两个月、三个月，有一次假期，这是对的。如果天天放假，这是懒惰，不是放假。基督徒必须学习在地上作工，不懒惰。我们许可用消遣来增加工作的效率，但是这些事我们不给人批评的余地。我们不要作过分的事，不能让神的名在我们身上得不着荣耀。
　
　　第四，凡一切消遣的事，都必须在里面有技术，不讲机遇。或者说，有技术，而没有巧遇，那一个消遣才是对的。任何的消遣，如果有技术在里面，而又有巧遇在里面，那是赌博，不是消遣。光是巧遇，而没有技术的，那更是赌博，更是基督徒所不能作的。任何的巧遇，都是赌博。在基督徒的消遣里，不能有巧遇，只能有技术。像掷骰子，这完全是巧遇的问题。这不是基督徒所能作的，这完全是赌博。年轻的人可以下棋，因为下棋是技术的问题，不是巧遇的问题。　　所有的消遣有两种，一种是技术的，一种是巧遇的。你去掷骰子，你要去碰巧，这是巧遇。一切的赌博，基督徒绝对不应该有。有的人在没有得救之前搓麻将，这是赌博。这是技术的，又加上巧遇的。基督徒只能技术的玩，不能巧遇的玩，也不能有技术也有巧遇的玩。　　搓麻将就是不下钱也是巧遇的，叫我自己有另外一个希望，另外一个祷告。你希望机会来帮你的忙，你的那一个希望不对，就是不赌钱都不可以。　　打弹子完全是技术的。打弹子就是有输赢也是对的，但是一有钱的问题就是错的，那是赌钱。　　所以，有的事情本身就是赌博，有的事情性质不是赌博，而拿来赌钱是另外一件事。就像吃饭也能用来赌钱。像掷骰子，就是不下钱，它的本身就是赌博，那是基督徒所不可以作的。我们基督徒断定一件事是有原则的。我们说这个可以或者不可以，是有原则的。以技术来作是对的，以巧遇来作是不对的。任何的技术是可以的，任何的巧遇是错的。巧遇就是赌博。　　凡人所以为是赌博的东西，我们也不摸。我们基督徒必须有原则。我们要寻出来什么叫作赌博，什么叫作巧遇。巧遇就是赌博。　　有弟兄问，打猎、钓鱼、养鸟可以不可以？打猎，在圣经里是从宁录起首的（创十8~9），好像是主所不欢喜的事。
--------本段经节汇集--------
创10:8  
古实又生宁录，他是地上最早的勇士。
创10:9  
他在耶和华面前是个英勇的猎户，所以有话说，像宁录在耶和华面前是个英勇的猎户。
------------------------
　　钓鱼，这是可以的。你只要把原则拉住，下面碰到许多的事，就容易清楚该不该作。总而言之，光是技术没有错，有巧遇就不对。赌博根本不必提。如果问基督徒应该不应该赌博，那是不知道跌到那里去了。　　有的鸟可以养，因为多少年来一直是人养它，变作好像家鸟一样，放出去活不了。能活的当然应当让它去。鸽子也有家鸽、野鸽。这一类的事，我们只能有一个原则。
　
　　第五，我们的消遣应该合乎我们的需要才可以。我们有这一个需要，才有这一个消遣；没有这一个需要，就不应该有这一个消遣。许多弟兄相当忙，反而不需要消遣。有的弟兄一天之中没有什么事情作，反而有消遣的需要。越是需要有调剂的，越不需要调剂；越不需要调剂的，反而需要调剂。所以我们不必把调剂告诉许多人。在我们中间，我们不愿意把许可给神的儿女，好像给他们普遍的许可说，你们都可以有消遣。乃是要对神的儿女说，你自己秤你自己，看有没有需要。原则上总是这样：叫我怎样能够活着为主，我的时间就是主的。　　你们要看见，生命是以时间来计算的。生命当然不只是时间，但是生命是以时间来计算的。人在神面前不能没有时间。度过一个钟点的时间，就是度过一个钟点的生命。度过两个钟点的时间，就是度过两个钟点的生命。如果你有时间，你花一个钟点去消遣，这一个钟点总得回来帮助你工作。如果没有那一个需要，就是浪费时间，浪费时间就是浪费生命。我们如果多出一个钟点来为着主，就多有果效。我如果花了时间去消遣，叫我的工作能够作得更好，这一个消遣就是投资，而不是浪费。　　所以，调剂是根据于你的需要而作的，或者是凭着年长弟兄的感觉，或者是凭着医生的话。有的时候，年长的弟兄会告诉你说，你这样太紧张了，要有一点调剂。有的时候，医生要说，你不要这样作，这样下去要吃亏。消遣是因为需要而有的，不是为着玩而玩的。我不是为着我要消遣而消遣，乃是为叫我的工作作得更好而消遣。忙的人也许需要消遣，也许不需要。总是有需要的人可以有消遣，没有需要的人不必有消遣。　　对于年轻人，我们承认有消遣的需要。对于家里十几岁的孩子，我们看他们有需要。你们作父母的人没有需要，就说他们也没有需要，结果就要把他们弄到不正当地路上去。他们的需要我们该承认，我们自己的需要反而不敢说。原则是有需要就得有消遣，没有需要就不必有消遣。
　
　　第六，所有的消遣，必须和自己的体格相合才可以。在消遣里，第一个成分乃是身体的能力。每一个人在消遣的时候，总是要记得，我是盼望我的身体能得着益处，绝不应该因着消遣而叫我的身体吃亏。如果叫身体吃亏，就反而把基本的问题推翻了。我们是要叫身体更好。如果有一个消遣，反而叫我们的身体变坏了，这一个消遣就有毛病。比方，有的人有肺病，他的消遣必须是不会加增他的肺病才可以。或者有的姊妹有心脏病，也许有的时候需要有一点消遣，但她的消遣必须是能除去她的疲劳，而不引起她的心脏病才可以。　　我年轻的时候，有一个朋友，本来是很不好的人，相信主之后变作非常好。本来他是喜欢打球的，得救了之后，他觉得打球不大好。所以他想，我末了再打一次篮球，以后就再不打了。岂知道就是这么一打，当天就吐血，后来就死了。这不是消遣，这完全是与他的体格相反。他以为今天大大的消遣一次，以后出去传福音；那知这一次的消遣就丧了命。这是相当可惜的事。　　盼望我们看见，我们的身体是主的。有调剂是为着主，没有调剂也是为着主，都不是为自己。你有调剂，还得记得这样调剂是为着主。你没有调剂，也得记得我没有调剂是为着主。调剂也好，不调剂也好，总以不伤身体为原则。调剂也好，不调剂也好，叫身体受伤，总是不上算的事。我们不只不该作不正当地事以致毁坏我们的身体，连作正当地事来毁坏我们的身体也不应该。神儿女的身体不是他自己的。所以要有调剂的时候，总要记得，我作这件事到底是否与我的身体有益？有益的就作，没有益的就不作。不是因为喜欢就去作。在这里，有的姊妹有心脏病，如果你看见外头有弟兄打球，你也去打一下，就要打出事情来。打球在弟兄身上没有错，在有心脏病的姊妹身上就有错。盼望神的儿女注意，我所有的一切都是为着事奉神；就是我今天有一点调剂，目的还是为叫我事奉得更好。　　我绝不盼望信主的人，年轻的时候就去世。我总是盼望在教会里有老年的弟兄，有老年的姊妹。请记得，世界上的老年人，和教会里的老年人不一样。世界上越是老年人越退化，越年纪轻越进步。但在教会里，越老年是越进步。在世界里是老的不死，新的上不来，都被他们挡住了。但在教会里不是这样，越老越新，越摸越高，越摸越深。如果教会里缺乏了年老的弟兄姊妹，教会里反而贫穷，反而失败。所以我实在不盼望在教会里，有的弟兄姊妹不顾身体而早年去世，主给他所有的学习不能变作教会的供应。教会不应该有这一个损失，教会背不起这一个损失。　　就是有运动，有游戏的事，也不是为着纪录，好像运动家一样。他们不是为游戏，是为了要打破纪录。我们是为着游戏，为着叫身体好。
　
　　第七，消遣不只有身体的成分，还有性情方面的成分。你去作所喜欢的事，更能叫你的脑子恢复，更能叫你的情感放松，神经舒服。你所不喜欢的事，那些就变作工作，而不是消遣。比方有一个姊妹顶喜欢花，你给她半点钟去浇浇花，她应当有些累的，但是浇了半点钟的花，她反而不觉得累。本来神经相当紧张，现在放松了。但是如果有一个人看见花讨厌的，根本不喜欢花，你要叫他浇半点钟，在他就变作是重担。所以，消遣是有性情的关系在里面。一个人消遣的挑选，必须是叫他的神经放松，情感放松，那才是对的。就像我们刚才所提的好些消遣，每一个人所要的都不一样。有的人浇花是消遣，有的人浇花不是消遣。有的人喜欢小狗小猫，有的人看见猫狗就紧张害怕。我们要学习看见什么东西是叫我们自己欢喜的，那就能够帮助我们的工作作得好。　　比方我自己，你如果叫我到海里，我就不能消遣，到江里去我能消遣。有的弟兄就不一样，浪越大越好，船在海里侧过来侧过去，他就非常欢喜。有些事情你去作，是你所欢喜、所高兴的，能叫你精神好起来。这里面有性情的问题。所以人挑选消遣的时候，必须挑选性情所近的，那才能恢复身体的力量。你如果挑选一个性情所不喜欢的，马上觉得累，你宁可不作更好。
　
　　第八，我们是基督徒，所以我们所有的事都应该作人的榜样；就是在消遣的事情上，我们也不要作别人的绊脚石。我们活着是为主，同时也是为着弟兄。我们活着不是为自己。所以我们不能只顾到自己而不顾到别人。你不能在那里埋怨说，“他们为什么要看我？”请你记得，他们不看你，看谁？当然他们要看你。城造在山上，谁能够不看见？当然要看见。所以不管我们自己的感觉如何，我们还得顾到年轻的弟兄看见我这样作，到底会受什么影响。有的事我在这里作，到底会不会绊倒别人。你是神的儿女，已经相信了主，从今以后，必须叫你的感觉细嫩。你必须感觉，我不只对神负责，我对许多年轻的弟兄姊妹也要负责。　　我自己觉得自己可以吃肉，这不发生问题。但是，我吃肉若叫软弱的弟兄跌倒，我就宁可不吃。我吃肉并不错，但我吃肉叫人跌倒就错了。同样，不是消遣有错，是我叫弟兄跌倒就有错。　　所以，有许多事情要注意，到底软弱的人要以为怎样？我不要作软弱人的绊脚石。请你记得，主不是说不要作刚强人的绊脚石；主是说不要作软弱人的绊脚石。有许多人，他们的良心很软弱，他们以为不可到庙里去；所以虽然我知道偶像算不得什么，可是为着弟兄软弱良心的缘故，我就不去。按着这一个原则，如果有一个消遣能够绊倒弟兄，我就不作。　　你作一件事的时候，你的良心是平安的，但是有别人的良心不平安，那怎么办？你不要只顾你自己良心的平安。要记得有人因为你作这一件事，他良心不平安，所以你要为着他们会跌倒的缘故，就不作。你作这件事，不能说，我不跌倒；你还得记得，人会跌倒。你不能说，我良心平安；你还得记得，人会良心不平安。你不能说，我不会因着这件事犯罪；你还得记得，人会因着这件事犯罪。你对于这一件事不出问题，人要出问题，怎么办？所以为着弟兄的缘故，有许多消遣的事就不能作。　　我们必须看见，许多的事我们都可作，但是不一定都有益处，所以我们所有的行为必须谨慎，越谨慎越好。总是学习走在正当地路上，学习小心的走。我想，有的时候我们许可弟兄姊妹有一点消遣，消遣并不是不可以，但是有的时候会叫人跌倒，这样的事，这样的东西，还是不作；特别是在那些容易跌倒的人身上要小心，特别是在那些容易受捆绑的人身上要小心。有的人是容易受捆绑、受影响的，你要小心。有许多容易跌倒的人，你稍微不小心一点，他就跌倒了。这一件事要注意。
　
　　第九，凡一切外邦人所以为不可的消遣，我们都不可以作。凡是外邦人所以为可以的，我们不一定都可以作。这是我们和外邦人发生关系的两个原则。他们以为可以的，我们不一定都可以；他们以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。清楚么？有许多的娱乐，外邦人以为可以，但是我们不可以。他们以为看戏可以，赌钱可以，跳舞可以，这是他们基本的消遣，但是我们不可以。可是有许多外邦人所以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。　　我们犯不着用消遣来和人辩道，那是不值得的。比方说，在一个地方的人以为打球是不可以的，我们的见证是为主作，不是为球作，我们不在那里讲一篇道理，为球作见证。我们用不着为球作见证。所以请你们记得，最少我们的程度不能低于外邦人。如果有一个地方的外教人以为说，不能下棋。以原则来说，象棋可以，围棋也可以，但是我们不替象棋围棋作见证。我们不必花许多时间来讲一篇下棋的道理。因为这是可有可无的事。我们要作主的见证，不要维持这些细微的行为，不要为着这些细微的事和他们争辩。有许多的事，他们许可，我们就作；他们不许可，我们就不作。　　比方，有的地方认为不可以钓鱼，你就接受当地人的看法，避免这一点。我们的见证是基督，我们的见证不是钓鱼。我们把一切都牺牲了为着主，何只这一点消遣的事！我们不要因着消遣给当地的人有什么特别的感觉。无论什么地方，人认为错的，这一类的事不应该作。我们的程度总不该比外邦人低，特别在消遣的事情上。　　有的人在消遣的问题上与人争，是非常愚昧的事。我知道有的西国教士为着要建立他的消遣，结果与本地的人弄得非常不好。我想，为着一点消遣的事，叫他们的工作作不好，这是不对的。我们是要注意主要的问题，其他的事无所谓。比方，有弟兄要到回回教的区域里去，他们是不吃猪肉的。你到他们中间去，以为我们基督徒是可以吃猪肉的，就大吃起来。这对于那个地方就不对，你在他们中间就什么都不能作。我们为着工作的缘故，千万不要在这些小事情上和人发生难处。　　今天也许有人要到西康去，西康是不钓鱼的。他们一生一世都没有钓过鱼。你如果去钓鱼，和当地的弟兄出事，就不对。有的英国教士到印度去，为着消遣的事叫印度人不舒服，这不值得。　　这九个原则摆在这里，我们要好好的对付。至于外邦人所提起的那些消遣，我们连题都不提。外邦人有三种主要的消遣，就是跳舞、赌博、看戏，我想我们根本不必提。我们只是在积极方面把这九个原则提出来。我们总不应该放弃这九个原则。
　
　
　　末了，讲一个简单地故事。开西聚会算作英国很大的一个聚会，可以说是世界性的特别聚会。每一年只有一个礼拜，从世界各地来的人不少，总是有五、六千，每年都有。我想，那个聚会是神所特别用的。在那些讲道的人中有慕安得烈，有梅尔，这些都是相当认识主的人。还有一位比慕安得烈还早的，訧是爱文霍浦金，他们称他作开西的神学家。霍浦金是最早看见与基督同死的事实。他是哈拿施密斯的丈夫。“信徒快乐的秘诀”是哈拿写的。当时有三个人，在德国是司督克梅尔，在法国是马尔登，在英国就是霍浦金。慕安得烈是在荷兰的。当初宾路易师母传同死的道，如果没有霍浦金的帮助，就不能传出去。因为英国不欢迎女人讲道，都是霍浦金帮助她的。霍浦金在主面前非常好，但是他有他的喜好。他有空的时候就画图。他本来是画规规矩矩的图，后来有了孙女，他就替他们画兔子。他讲道完了回来，就替孙女画兔子。他在一生中总共画了几千只兔子。后来出版家把它印出来，印了一本霍浦金的兔子。你看见霍浦金是聪明人，每一只兔子的脸都不一样。霍浦金还喜欢写小字，他能在一张先令（英国钞票）上，把整篇主祷文写上。我不是要你们学他，我是愿意你们看见，消遣对一个人的属灵绝不妨害，并且你反而摸着这一个人的人的成分。请你们记得，神的仆人们都不是那样呆板的，那是天主教，不是基督徒。基督徒乃是天真的人，简单地人，是相当自然的。
　
　　你们记得，慕勒是会祷告的人。有一次一个小女孩亚比该，要他祷告一个花色的绒线球，慕勒也为她祷告，她就得着了。后来亚比该变作英国一个最好的基督徒。你读她的传记，就知道她在主面前所受的教育有多少。所以盼望你们记得，消遣如果作得好，它不会把你拉下去。如果你在神面前守住消遣的原则，消遣反而会把你带上去，叫你的身体、思想，都摆在正当地地位上。
　Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 10:23, 10:31; 6:12
　
Ⅰ
　
THE PREREQUISITE
　The matter of recreation is never a problem to a consecrated person. Anyone who is not absolute in his consecration has a problem with recreation. Among God’s children, the matter of recreation does not exist to those who are consecrated. In order to settle the matter of recreation, one must first settle the matter of consecration. As long as our consecration is not settled, the matter of recreation cannot be settled. A man who has not settled the matter of consecration may approve what God disapproves. This is why we must first deal with our consecration.
　
Ⅱ
　
THE PURPOSE OF RECREATION
　After the matter of consecration is settled, we can speak about the purpose of recreation.
　
A
　
For Taking Care of the Family
　We speak about recreation not because of our personal need, but because of the children in our family, that is, our next generation. Recreation is not a problem at all to those who are consecrated, but there are other people in our family. We have children, and we also have brothers and sisters. If they, too, are consecrated, then we will not have a problem. But often they are not consecrated, and our attitude is very much related to them. The kind of recreation we allow or do not allow makes a great difference to them. We speak of the matter of recreation because we want to lead our family in the proper direction.
　
B
　
For Ourselves
　Sometimes we ourselves also need diversion. To what extent should this diversion be considered proper? How far can a Christian go? We need to see some basic principles before the Lord.
　What kind of recreation should parents permit for their children? What recreation is considered proper as far as Christians are concerned? As God’s children, we should all be clear about this. If we have a breach in this matter, the world will come into our family. It will be difficult to drive the world away from our children once it enters our family. In order to preserve our family for the Lord, we have to pay attention to the matter of recreation.
　
Ⅲ
　
THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND RECREATION
　
A
　
Man’s Need
　Recreation is scriptural and is compatible with the Lord’s will. First of all, we have to acknowledge man’s need for recreation. A Christian should not go to the extreme. Man has a need for recreation. Many people are very busy with their schedules. If they do not have some kind of diversion, it is easy for them to become sick; their health can quickly deteriorate. The basic principle of recreation is that it should offer some diversion in our life. This is especially necessary for the young ones. We should not expect them to study from morning until night. They must have some kind of recreation. We should not expect them to do the same thing all day long. They must have diversions. We must be clear first about this underlying principle.
　The Lord spoke of children playing flutes and dancing in the streets (Luke 7:32). This dancing is different from the dancing in a ballroom. This dancing and flute-playing are the result of joy. There is nothing wrong with such merry-making. In fact, there is the need for such things. The basic principle of recreation is diversion. A person has been working for five, six, or eight hours. He has been doing the same thing over and over again. This easily can tire him out. Doing the same thing over and over again easily strains one’s nerves and tires one’s body. There is the need to have a change, a diversion. This diversion will relieve one’s tiredness. A change in work recovers a person from his fatigue.
　After a child studies for eight hours in school, he needs to come home to play. This kind of playing affords him a break from his regular schedule. However, jumping and playing around for eight hours is not a break. We must acknowledge the need for a break and diversion in our lives, but we cannot make recreation our whole life. A man can turn away from his work to something else when he is tired, but he cannot pursue recreation all day long. Some people like to go for a swim in the summer. I do not see anything wrong with this. It is all right to swim for half an hour or an hour when one is tired, but if a person stays in the water all day long like a duck, it is not recreation. I would like to point out to you that when a man has a problem with recreation, the recreation in itself is not his problem; rather, his problem is with his living.
　Some people charge that Christians have no recreation, but they really do not know what they are saying. Can something be recreation when one indulges in it all day and all night? These activities are bondages to a person; they are not recreation. Strictly speaking, very few people have problems with recreation itself. Most problems come from man’s indulgence in recreation. Some people indulge in activities three days and three nights in a row. Their recreation has become their life. Only such people will say that it is difficult being a Christian. Everyone who has a problem with recreation is an extreme person. They have made recreation their whole life. We must be clear that man has a need for diversion, but he does not have a need for indulgence. He has a need for respite, but he does not have a need for his whole life to revolve around respite. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for us, but we will not be brought under the power of anything. If we indulge in something day and night, it means that we are enslaved by that thing. It is a great mistake to indulge in something this way.
　
B
　
Four Kinds of Recreation
　Next, there are four kinds of recreation. A Christian can find recreation in four things:
　
１
　
Rest
　The best recreation for a Christian is rest. If you are tired, you should take a rest. When the Lord Jesus and His disciples became tired from their work, He told the disciples, “Come by yourselves privately to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). We must realize that the Lord’s rest was a kind of recreation to Him. He did not say to go and rest a while, but to go to a deserted place and rest a while. Often a change in place, a solitary place in the hills or by a river, affords a person the necessary relief from his tiredness. This is the most common recreation for a Christian.
　
２
　
A Change in Work
　If a person feels tired after doing the same work for too long, he can do something else after a while. Instead of working eight hours at one task, he can spend one or two hours on something else. Perhaps he sits down to work most of the time. He can give himself a break by working in a standing position once in a while. Perhaps he works with his mind most of the time. He can divert himself by doing some physical work. As soon as he does this, his tiredness disappears. We are not after the kind of recreation that the world is after. As long as we have a change in the things we do, we have a means to relieve our fatigue. We can rearrange our lives a little. The principle of recreation is diversion. As long as we have a change in the kind of work we do, we have the necessary break we need.
　
３
　
Hobbies
　At the same time, the Christian life has room for some proper hobbies. Some brothers like to take photographs. Others like to keep birds, plant flowers, or paint. These are legitimate hobbies within the bounds of the Christian life. Some like music; they may write some songs and play them on the piano. Some like calligraphy. All of these are proper forms of recreation.
　But no matter what kind of recreation it is, whether it be rest, a change in work, or a hobby, it has to be something that a person can pick up and drop at will. If a person cannot drop an activity, something is wrong with it. It is all right for a person to take photographs, study them, and learn a little about them. However, we are against anything that controls a person’s life. The recreation must be easy to pick up and easy to drop. It is all right for a young brother to play the violin. But if he cannot put it down, he has a problem. The trouble with many young believers is that they cannot put their recreation down. When they find that they are bound by these things, they have to deal with them. They have to sever them, or else they will not be able to go on properly as Christians; they will be enslaved. Recreation must be something that one can pick up freely and drop freely. He must not be enslaved by it. This is an underlying principle. We must remember that in order for something to be proper recreation, whether it be a hobby, a change in work, or rest, a person must not be bound by it.
　Some young brothers like to collect stamps. There is nothing wrong with stamp-collecting. In fact, there are many benefits to such a hobby. It can teach a person about the geography and history of all the countries in the world, but it is a problem when one becomes ensnared by it. Any recreation that affords proper diversion without putting one under its bondage is a lawful recreation.
　Parents must teach their children to have proper recreation. They must not drive their children to improper recreation by failing to provide them with the proper kind. I have seen many strict parents who have ruined their children this way. Their homes are like institutions rather than homes. As a result, the children sneak away from home to engage in improper recreation. We must be clear that children need recreation. We can go with or without entertainment, but our children must have some entertainment. If we deprive them of their right to play, they will be bored and restless at home, and they will sneak away to do things behind our back.
　
４
　
Games
　There are many games, such as chess, ball games, and horse-riding, which can be considered proper activities, even though they contain the element of winning and losing. The element of winning and losing is related to skill. It is all right for children to engage in table-tennis, basketball, volleyball, riding, or chess. All these are proper activities and do not involve any sin. Parents should be generous toward these matters and should guide their children to the proper recreation. Elderly ones may not have time for strenuous sports, but they should not forbid the young ones from them. We want our children to set aside their time for the Lord, but we also need to take care of their need for diversion. We should allow them some recreation.
　We have mentioned four kinds of recreation: rest, a change in work, hobbies, and games. A Christian can engage in these four kinds of recreation, but he should not be under the power of any of them. It is wrong to be bound by any of them. The younger a believer is in the Lord, the more he has to be careful not to be bound. This matter may not be a problem to us today. It may not make any difference to us whether or not we play the piano, but it makes a great difference to a new believer. His conscience will bother him every time he engages in these activities. At the beginning of the Christian life, the more one is involved in a recreation, the more he is bound by it. As soon as he experiences bondage in any activity, he should stop immediately.
　
C
　
The Purpose of Recreation Being to Enhance One’s Work
　Third, we must ask why we need recreation. The purpose of recreation is to enhance our work. Recreation has a purpose; it is not recreation for the sake of recreation. I do not engage in a ball game because I love ball games. I play because I want to work better. I do not sleep because I love to sleep but because I can work better after I sleep. I plant flowers not for the sake of planting flowers but so that I can work better after my gardening diversion. All of these things are for the purpose of enhancing our work. They must help us to serve God better. Some people break down mentally or physically after doing the same thing day and night for two or three weeks. Such brothers and sisters should be allowed some kind of diversion. They can change their work. They can play the piano or engage in some ball games. They should do these things only for the purpose of recovering from fatigue. It is altogether for the purpose of increasing one’s efficiency. After they are done with their recreation, they can work better and serve the Lord in a stronger way.
　Sometimes a person may take a respite in a rural place, as the Lord Jesus did, or travel and tour a little. This is also good. He may play games with his children at home as well. These activities are not entanglements; they are for the purpose of helping a person in his work. If an activity results in the lowering of one’s performance, it is in the wrong principle. A recreation must always enhance a person’s work. It is easy to become tired after doing the same thing over and over again day and night. This is why one should jog, garden, or play for a while. We do not promote these things, but we acquiesce in them. The basic principle is that these activities must enhance our performance rather than frustrate it.
　Having a holiday after working for two or three months is right. But having a holiday every day is laziness, not vacationing. A Christian must learn to work on earth and not be lazy. We allow people to have recreation for the purpose of increasing their work efficiency, but we must not give others any ground for criticism. We do not want to be extreme, and we do not want to bring shame to God’s name.
　
D
　
Not Having the Element of Chance in Recreation
　Fourth, all recreation must involve skill. It must not involve games of chance. We may say that the only kind of recreation that is proper is that which involves pure skill and nothing of chance. Any recreation that involves both skill and chance is a kind of gambling, not recreation. If an activity involves only chance and has nothing to do with skill, it is gambling, and Christians should turn away from it. Anything that involves chance is a kind of gambling. Christian recreation should involve only skill; it should not have any element of chance. A game of dice is altogether a matter of chance; a Christian should never engage in this. It is altogether gambling. Young people can play chess, because chess is a matter of skill, not a game of chance.
　There are two kinds of recreation: One involves skill, and the other involves chance. A game of dice involves one’s luck. Therefore, it is a game of chance. A Christian must not engage in any kind of gambling. Some love to play mahjong before they are saved. That is gambling. It involves a little skill plus a good element of chance. A Christian can play only with skill, not with anything that involves chance. He cannot even have games that depend partly on skill and partly on chance.
　Mahjong is a game of chance, even when it does not involve any money. It gives the player a kind of hope, a kind of prayer. He hopes that chance will be on his side. This kind of hope is wrong. Mahjong is wrong even when no betting is involved.
　Billiards involve skill. Even though there are wins and losses, there is nothing wrong with the game itself. However, when money is involved, it is wrong; it becomes a kind of gambling.
　We can say that some games are a kind of gambling in themselves, while others are not. However, one can take a game that does not involve gambling and turn it into a kind of gambling. This is another matter altogether. Even something as harmless as a meal can become a kind of gambling. Throwing dice is a gambling game in itself, even though money is not involved. A Christian should not engage in this kind of game. As Christians, we have principles that govern our judgment. When we say that we can do something or we cannot do certain things, we are guided by principles. It is right to play a game that involves skill, and it is wrong to play something that involves chance. Any kind of game that involves skill is permissible. But any game that depends on chance is not permissible; it is a kind of gambling.
　Moreover, we should not touch anything that the world would consider a kind of gambling. We must have our principles. We must find out what gambling is and what games of chance are. Anything that involves chance is gambling.
　Some brothers ask whether hunting, fishing, and keeping birds is permissible. In the Bible, hunting began from Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-9), and the Lord did not seem to like it. Fishing is permissible. Once you are clear about the principle, you will know what to do with many other things. In conclusion, it is right if it involves skill only, and it is wrong if chance is involved. Gambling is completely out of the question. One would have to be very fallen to ask whether it is permissible for a Christian to gamble.
　Some birds can be kept because they have been domesticated for years and are like house pets; they would not live if they were freed. But we must free those that can survive by themselves. There are domestic pigeons as well as wild pigeons. We can apply the same principles to these matters.
　
E
　
Recreation Meeting One’s Need
　Fifth, our recreation must meet our need. We have a certain recreation because we have a certain need. We should not have any recreation without having the need for it. Many brothers are so busy that they think they have no need for recreation. Other brothers have nothing to do all day long, and they think about recreation all the time. Those who have a genuine need for diversion do not feel the need for it, while those who do not need diversion think that they have a need for it. We do not need to tell everyone about the need for diversion. We do not like to grant license to God’s children. We do not want to give a blanket endorsement for any kind of recreation. What we want to tell God’s children is to judge for themselves whether they have such a need. The principle is always to live for the Lord and to recognize that all our time is His.
　Life is measured by time. Life is not time itself, but it is measured by time. A man cannot waste his time on everything and then find that he has no more time for God. To waste an hour of time is to waste an hour of one’s life. To waste two hours of time is to waste two hours of one’s life. If you take an hour for recreation, that hour must eventually be of benefit to you in your work. If there is not the need for this hour, the recreation is a waste of your time. To waste your time is to waste your life. If we can spend an hour more for the Lord, we can reap one more hour of results. If we spend an hour on recreation, and this recreation can enhance our work, it is an investment, not a waste.
　Hence, diversion is based on need. It can also be based on the advice of elderly brothers or the instruction of doctors. Sometimes an elderly brother may advise you to take some diversion because he can sense a buildup of tension within you. At other times a doctor may advise you against certain activities and warn you of dire consequences. Recreation is to take care of need, not for the sake of play. I have my own kinds of recreation. I participate in recreation not for the sake of recreation, but for the sake of enhancing my work. A busy person may need recreation, or he may not need it. The general rule is that recreation is for those who have the need for it. Those who do not need it are not obligated to have it.
　We realize that young people need recreation. We can see the need for our teen-agers to have recreation. Some parents do not have such a need, so they think that their children have no such need. However, depriving children of recreational activity will drive them down the road to evil. We have to recognize their need even though we may not be altogether certain of our own need. The principle is that recreation is for those who need it; those who do not need it can live without it.
　
F
　
Recreation Matching One’s Fitness
　Sixth, all recreation must match a person’s fitness. The first consideration in recreation is physical fitness. Everyone must remember this while engaging in recreation. We expect our body to reap profit, not suffer loss through our recreation. If our body suffers through our recreation, we are violating the principle of recreation. We are here to improve our body. If a certain kind of recreation damages our body, something is wrong with that recreation. Suppose a man is sick with tuberculosis. If he wants to have any recreation at all, his recreation must not bring his health down. A sister who has a heart disease may need some recreation at times, but her recreation must serve to relieve her fatigue rather than to aggravate her heart disease.
　When I was young, I had a friend who was a very evil person. After he believed in the Lord, he turned and became a wonderful person. Before his conversion, he loved basketball. After he was saved, he felt a little guilty about playing it. He decided to play it one more time and then quit. After that last game, he vomited blood and died. This was not recreation. It did not match his physical fitness at all. He thought that he could preach the gospel after he had enjoyed his game. He did not expect that he would die after that game. What a waste that was!
　I hope we will realize that our body is the Lord’s. Our diversion is for the Lord. Our not having a diversion is also for the Lord. We do not do anything for ourselves. If we engage in some kind of diversion, we must remember that it is for the Lord. Also, if we forfeit diversion, we must remember that we are doing it for the Lord. Whether or not one has diversion, the principle is to not do harm to the body. It is always unwise to harm the body. It is not only wrong to harm our body with improper activities, but also wrong to harm our body with proper activities. The bodies of God’s children do not belong to them. In any kind of diversion, we must ask ourselves whether or not it will profit our body. Do it only if it is profitable. Do not do it just because you like to do it. Suppose a sister has a heart disease. If she sees a brother playing ball in the field and wants to join him, she may end up with more trouble. It is not wrong for the brother to be in the ball game, but it is wrong for the sister who has the heart disease to be in the game. We hope that God’s children will pay attention to this matter. Everything we do should be done for the service of the Lord. Even if we have a little diversion today, our goal in having it should be to better serve the Lord.
　I do not want to see believers dying at a young age. I have always hoped that there would be more elderly brothers and sisters in the church. Please remember that being elderly in the world is different from being elderly in the church. In the world, the older one becomes, the more senile he becomes. The younger ones are the more progressive ones. However, in the church the older one becomes, the more advanced he becomes. In the world the younger ones cannot move forward unless the older ones die first, because the older ones are always a hindrance to the younger ones. However, it does not happen this way in the church. The older one becomes, the fresher he becomes, and the higher and deeper are the things he touches. A church is poor and defeated if it does not have any elderly brothers and sisters. I do not like to see brothers and sisters in the church passing away at a young age through the neglect of their own body. Instead of becoming a supply to the church, the lessons that the Lord has given them are wasted. The church should not incur such a loss. It cannot afford such a loss.
　When we have sports and games, we cannot strive to break records as if we were athletes. Professional athletes are not motivated by the games themselves but by the desire to break records. We must play it as a game and play it to the benefit our body.
　
G
　
Choosing the Recreation That Matches One’s Disposition
　Seventh, recreation has to do not only with physical fitness but also with one’s disposition. When a person is doing what he likes to do, he tends to be more mentally relaxed and psychologically happy. Doing something that you do not enjoy doing is a labor; it is not a recreation. Some sisters love flowers. If you ask them to water flowers for half an hour, they show no sign of fatigue, even though the same task may tire others out. Before they do it, they may be quite tense, but after they work, they feel relaxed. However, if you ask a person who has an aversion for flowers and who hates gardening to water for half an hour, this will be a burden. Therefore, recreation is related to disposition as well. In choosing a certain form of recreation, you must choose the kind of activity that will relax your nerves and calm your mind, like the examples we have just mentioned. Everyone has some kind of recreation that suits him. Gardening is a recreation to some; to others, it is not. Some like dogs and cats, while others are nervous and fearful when they are around them. We must find something we like. These things will enhance our work.
　Asking me to go to the sea would not be recreational to me, but a river does provide recreation to me. Some brothers are different. The stronger the waves, the better it is for them. They are happy to see a boat tossing back and forth in the sea. These are things they like, and they are happy when they do them. Such activities refresh their minds. This has to do with disposition. You must choose the kind of recreation that matches your disposition so that it will restore your physical strength. If you choose something which goes against your disposition, you will feel tired and will not want to continue with it.
　
H
　
Taking Note Not to Stumble Others
　Eighth, as Christians, we must be an example to others in all things. We do not want to be a stumbling block to others even in the matter of recreation. We live for the Lord as well as for the brothers; we do not live for ourselves. We must not care just for ourselves and neglect others. Do not complain saying, “Why must they look at me?” Who will they look at if they do not look at you? Of course, they will look at you. If a city is built on a hill, who will not see it? Of course, others will see it. No matter what our conviction is, we must take care of our influence on the young brothers when they see us doing what we are doing. We must ask whether the things we do will stumble others. We are children of God; we have believed in the Lord. We must have sensitive feelings. We must realize that we are responsible to God as well as to many young brothers and sisters.
　It does not pose a problem if someone thinks that he can eat meat, but if his eating stumbles a brother, he should not eat. It is not wrong for him to eat meat, but it is wrong if his eating stumbles others. In the same way, it is not wrong to have recreation, but it is wrong to stumble the brothers.
　We must consider what the weak ones will think about the many things that we do. I do not want to be a stumbling block to the weak ones. The Lord did not say that we should not be a stumbling block to the strong. Rather, He said we should not be a stumbling block to the weak. There are many whose conscience is weak. They think that they should not go to the temple. In order to take care of the weak conscience of the brother, I will not go to the temple, even though I know that idols are nothing. In the light of this principle, we should not engage in any recreation that will stumble a brother.
　What should you do if you are peaceful in your conscience about something, but someone else is not? You must take care of more than the peace in your conscience. You must remember that someone else’s conscience will be bothered by your action. You must refrain from the things that stumble him. It is not enough to say that you will not be stumbled. Remember that others may be stumbled. It is not enough to say that your conscience is at peace; you must remember that someone else’s conscience may not be at peace. Do not say, “This will not lead me to sin.” Remember that others could sin because of this. You may not have any problem with this matter, but others may have a problem with it. What should you do? We have to turn away from many kinds of recreation for the sake of the brothers.
　We must see that many things are lawful but not all things are expedient. Therefore, we must be very careful with our conduct, the more careful the better. We must always learn to take the proper way. We must learn to walk carefully. We allow our brothers and sisters to have some recreation. Recreation is permissible, but sometimes this recreation may stumble others. If this happens, it is better not to do such things at all. We must be careful especially with those who easily come under bondage. Some are easily affected; they easily come under bondage. We must be careful with them. Many people fall easily. If we are a little careless with them, they will fall. This is why we must pay attention to this matter.
　
I
　
Not Doing What the Gentiles Consider to Be Improper
　Ninth, we should not take up any recreation that is improper in the eyes of the Gentiles. This does not mean that we can do anything that the Gentiles consider to be proper. These are the two principles in dealing with the Gentiles. We may not necessarily do what they approve of, but we certainly will not do anything that they do not approve of. Are you clear? There are many kinds of entertainment which the Gentiles approve of, but we cannot be involved in them. They approve of movie-going, gambling, and dancing. These are their basic kinds of entertainment, but we do not approve of them. Of course, we would never do any of the things which the Gentiles themselves disapprove of.
　It is not worthwhile for us to argue with people about our recreation. Some people in certain places think that ball games are not permissible. Our testimony is for the Lord, not for a ball game. Our preaching does not testify of a ball game. It is not necessary for us to bear witness for a ball game. Our standard must not be lower than the Gentiles’ standard. Unbelievers in some places may think that chess is improper. In principle, both the game of chess and the game of “Go” (a board game) are proper, but these things are not our testimony. We do not need to waste our time giving a sermon on chess. We can play it, and we can give it up. Our testimony is for the Lord, not for upholding these minor things. Do not argue with the unbelievers over these minor things. We may do many of the things which they approve of, and we will not do any of the things they do not approve of.
　For example, in certain places fishing may be considered improper. We must accept their view and stop fishing. Our testimony is Christ, not fishing. We have sacrificed everything for the Lord. What is this little recreation to us? We must not give anyone any uneasy feeling because of our recreation. Wherever we are, we should not do what others consider to be wrong. Our standard must not be lower than the Gentiles’ standard, especially when it comes to the matter of recreation.
　It is foolish for some to argue with others over their recreation. I know of Western missionaries who had bad relationships with the natives just because they wanted to have their own kind of recreation. It is foolish to damage the Lord’s work for the sake of a little recreation. We must pay attention to the major issues and be liberal about the other matters. Some brothers have to work among the Muslims, who do not eat pork. When they are among them, they may want to eat pork openly because they think that it is all right for Christians to eat pork. But pork is forbidden in that place. If they eat pork, they will not be able to work among the people at all. In order to take care of the work, we must not come into conflict with others over these small matters.
　Today some may want to go to the province of Sikang. Fishing is unheard of in Sikang. The people there have never fished in their whole lives. It is wrong for you to insist on fishing and thus develop friction with the local brothers. Some British missionaries went to India and irritated the Indians over matters of recreation. It is not worthwhile to do this.
　I have laid these nine principles before you. We must deal with them carefully. The usual kinds of entertainment that the Gentiles commonly speak of are out of the question here. These kinds of recreation include three main categories: dancing, gambling, and movie-going. They are entirely out of the question for us. We are burdened to only present these nine principles on the positive side. We must not sacrifice these nine principles.
　
Ⅳ
　
PROPER RECREATION NOT AFFECTING SPIRITUALITY
　
A
　
Hopkins’s Rabbits and Small Prints
　Finally, let me tell you a simple story. The Keswick Convention is a big gathering in England, a somewhat international conference. Every year approximately five or six thousand people from all over the world gather there for a week. I think that God has greatly used these conferences. Andrew Murray and F. B. Meyer, both of whom had a deep knowledge of the Lord, have been among the speakers at these conferences. During this period of time, Stock Meyer was in Germany, Melton was in France, Andrew Murray was in Holland, and Evan Hopkins was in England. Hopkins was known as the Theologian of Keswick. He was the first person to see the truth of the believers’ crucifixion with Christ. He was the husband of Hannah Whitall Smith, the author of The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. Mrs. Penn-Lewis would not have been able to propagate the truth of crucifixion with Christ without the help of Hopkins, because Britain could not quite accept a female preaching. Hopkins was a very proper person before the Lord. Yet he had a hobby; he loved to draw whenever he was free. At first he drew serious subjects. Later when he had a granddaughter, he began to draw rabbits for her. When he came back from giving a sermon, he would draw rabbits for his granddaughter. During his lifetime, he drew thousands of rabbits. Later some publishers put out a book on Hopkins’s rabbits. Hopkins was an intelligent man. He made the face of every rabbit look different. He also liked to print fine calligraphy. He wrote the whole of the Lord’s prayer on a shilling note. I am not saying that you should imitate him. I am merely saying this to show you that recreation does not affect one’s spirituality. On the contrary, one touches the human element of a person through his hobbies. Please remember that God’s servants are not staid people; that is Catholicism, not Christianity. Christians are plain, simple, and natural people.
　
B
　
George Müller Praying for Woolen Yarn on Behalf of a Little Girl
　George Müller was a person who was experienced in prayer. Once a girl named Abigail asked him to pray for colored woolen yarn. He prayed about this and she received the yarn. The girl grew up to become one of the best Christians in England. In reading her biography, one is impressed by the lessons she learned in the Lord. Recreation will not drag a person down if it is done properly. If you keep the proper principle of recreation before the Lord, recreation will uplift you and restore your body and mind to proper health.
 
　　读经：

　　哥林多前书十章二十三节：“凡事都可行；但不都有益处。凡事都可行；但不都造就人。”

　　六章十二节：“凡事我都可行；但不都有益处。凡事我都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。”

　　十章三十一节：“所以你们或吃或喝，无论作什么，都要为荣耀神而行。”
 
　Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 10:23, 10:31; 6:12
　　消遣这一个问题，在所有奉献的人身上，从来没有难处。凡是对于消遣的问题有难处的，都是因为这一个人对于奉献不够完全。在一般奉献给神的儿女身上，消遣的问题根本不会发生。所以你们如果要解决消遣的问题，第一要解决奉献的问题。奉献的问题若没有解决，消遣的问题怎么作都不能解决。如果奉献的问题没有解决，神所以为不应该的，你要以为可以。所以奉献的问题必须先解决。
 
　The matter of recreation is never a problem to a consecrated person. Anyone who is not absolute in his consecration has a problem with recreation. Among God’s children, the matter of recreation does not exist to those who are consecrated. In order to settle the matter of recreation, one must first settle the matter of consecration. As long as our consecration is not settled, the matter of recreation cannot be settled. A man who has not settled the matter of consecration may approve what God disapproves. This is why we must first deal with our consecration.
　　奉献的问题解决了之后，我们就要提起消遣的目的在那里。
 
　After the matter of consecration is settled, we can speak about the purpose of recreation.
　　我们提起消遣不是为着你自己，乃是为着你家里的儿女，为着比你小一辈的人。在奉献的人身上消遣根本不成问题。但是，在家庭里不只有我们，还有我们的儿女，还有我们的弟弟妹妹。这些人如果也是奉献的人，也一点难处都没有。但是，许多时候，这些人可能不是奉献的人，那么我们的态度就与他们大有关系。我们应许他们有什么种的消遣，和不应许他们有什么种的消遣，是有大的关系。所以，我们提起消遣的问题，为给我们家里的人有正当地引导。
 
　We speak about recreation not because of our personal need, but because of the children in our family, that is, our next generation. Recreation is not a problem at all to those who are consecrated, but there are other people in our family. We have children, and we also have brothers and sisters. If they, too, are consecrated, then we will not have a problem. But often they are not consecrated, and our attitude is very much related to them. The kind of recreation we allow or do not allow makes a great difference to them. We speak of the matter of recreation because we want to lead our family in the proper direction.
　　有的时候，我们自己也得有一点调剂。到底这一个调剂到什么地步才是对的呢？到什么地步是基督徒可以作的呢？我们在神面前要寻出一个基本原则来。

　　你们作父母的人，对于家里的孩子，许可他们有什么种的消遣，才是合乎基督徒体统的呢？我们每一个作神儿女的人都要清楚。因为在这件事上一有漏洞，马上世界进到家庭里来了。世界一进到家庭里来，你再要想把世界从你儿女身上赶出去，就非常不容易。为要保守我们的家庭属乎主的缘故，我们就得在神面前注意消遣的问题。
 
　Sometimes we ourselves also need diversion. To what extent should this diversion be considered proper? How far can a Christian go? We need to see some basic principles before the Lord.

　What kind of recreation should parents permit for their children? What recreation is considered proper as far as Christians are concerned? As God’s children, we should all be clear about this. If we have a breach in this matter, the world will come into our family. It will be difficult to drive the world away from our children once it enters our family. In order to preserve our family for the Lord, we have to pay attention to the matter of recreation.
　　消遣是合乎圣经的，是合乎主的旨意的。我们第一要承认，人需要消遣。作基督徒的人，总不应该走极端的路。人是有消遣的需要。因为许多人事情相当忙，如果没有一点调剂，这样的人很容易生病，身体的健康很容易坍下去。所以，调剂乃是消遣的基本原因。特别是那些年轻的人，你不能一天到晚要他们读书，你必须让他们有另外方式的玩。你不能一天到晚只把一件事情给他们作，你必须给他们另外一种事情作。这是一个原则，是我们必须知道的。

　　主说，孩子们在街上吹笛、跳舞。这一个跳舞，不是舞场里面的跳舞，是快乐了跳起来，吹起笛来。这是对的。的的确确有那一个需要。消遣的基本原则就是调剂。我今天作了五个钟点的事，六个钟点的事，八个钟点的事，都是作一件的事，那很容易叫我累。一直作一件事，神经容易感觉到痛苦，身体容易感觉到疲乏。所以，我需要换一件事情来作，来调剂，好叫我不觉得疲乏。换一件事情来作，就能除去我的疲劳。

　　比方说，一个孩子在学校里读了八个钟点的书，回家来玩一玩，这一个玩不是生活，这是他的调剂。如果一天蹦跳八个钟点，那就不是调剂了。我们承认调剂的需要，若是把消遣当作生活就不可以。人在疲劳的时候，换一件事情作可以，如果一天到晚玩就不行。再比方，有的人夏天喜欢到水里去游泳，在这里我们寻不出有错。在疲劳的时候到水里游泳半点钟、一点钟，没有错。如果一个人像鸭子一样，一天到晚喜欢浸在水里，这不是消遣。我要你们看见，人如果对于消遣出问题，这不是消遣出问题，乃是生活出问题。

　　有人反对我们基督徒没有消遣，他们不知道他们所说的到底是什么。一天一夜沉在里面，这叫作消遣么？他们是颠倒在里面，这不叫消遣。实在说起来，消遣出问题的人很少。有问题的是谁呢？是那些颠倒在里面的人。有的人是三天三夜沉在里面，把消遣当作生活，这样的人才会说作基督徒是难的。凡是在消遣上有难处的人都是极端的人，都是以消遣当作生活的人。所以我们必须看得准，人有调剂的需要，但没有颠倒的需要。人有调剂的需要，但没有活在里面的需要。凡事都可行，但不都有益处。凡事都可行，但无论哪一件，我总不受它的辖制。你一天到晚倒在里面，你就受它的辖制，这是一个很大的错误。
 
　Recreation is scriptural and is compatible with the Lord’s will. First of all, we have to acknowledge man’s need for recreation. A Christian should not go to the extreme. Man has a need for recreation. Many people are very busy with their schedules. If they do not have some kind of diversion, it is easy for them to become sick; their health can quickly deteriorate. The basic principle of recreation is that it should offer some diversion in our life. This is especially necessary for the young ones. We should not expect them to study from morning until night. They must have some kind of recreation. We should not expect them to do the same thing all day long. They must have diversions. We must be clear first about this underlying principle.

　The Lord spoke of children playing flutes and dancing in the streets (Luke 7:32). This dancing is different from the dancing in a ballroom. This dancing and flute-playing are the result of joy. There is nothing wrong with such merry-making. In fact, there is the need for such things. The basic principle of recreation is diversion. A person has been working for five, six, or eight hours. He has been doing the same thing over and over again. This easily can tire him out. Doing the same thing over and over again easily strains one’s nerves and tires one’s body. There is the need to have a change, a diversion. This diversion will relieve one’s tiredness. A change in work recovers a person from his fatigue.

　After a child studies for eight hours in school, he needs to come home to play. This kind of playing affords him a break from his regular schedule. However, jumping and playing around for eight hours is not a break. We must acknowledge the need for a break and diversion in our lives, but we cannot make recreation our whole life. A man can turn away from his work to something else when he is tired, but he cannot pursue recreation all day long. Some people like to go for a swim in the summer. I do not see anything wrong with this. It is all right to swim for half an hour or an hour when one is tired, but if a person stays in the water all day long like a duck, it is not recreation. I would like to point out to you that when a man has a problem with recreation, the recreation in itself is not his problem; rather, his problem is with his living.

　Some people charge that Christians have no recreation, but they really do not know what they are saying. Can something be recreation when one indulges in it all day and all night? These activities are bondages to a person; they are not recreation. Strictly speaking, very few people have problems with recreation itself. Most problems come from man’s indulgence in recreation. Some people indulge in activities three days and three nights in a row. Their recreation has become their life. Only such people will say that it is difficult being a Christian. Everyone who has a problem with recreation is an extreme person. They have made recreation their whole life. We must be clear that man has a need for diversion, but he does not have a need for indulgence. He has a need for respite, but he does not have a need for his whole life to revolve around respite. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for us, but we will not be brought under the power of anything. If we indulge in something day and night, it means that we are enslaved by that thing. It is a great mistake to indulge in something this way.
　　第二，消遣有四种的方式。基督徒可以有四方面的消遣：
 
　Next, there are four kinds of recreation. A Christian can find recreation in four things:
1
　
休息
　　基督徒最好的消遣就是休息。我今天累了，我就去歇一歇。主耶稣和门徒作工累了，就对门徒说，要到野地里去歇一歇。我们要注意，主的歇有消遣的意义在里面，所以主不是说去歇一歇，而是说到野地里去歇一歇。许多时候，另外寻一个地方，或者是山旁，或者是水边，去休息一下，的确能除去我们的疲劳。这是基督徒最普通的消遣。
 
　The best recreation for a Christian is rest. If you are tired, you should take a rest. When the Lord Jesus and His disciples became tired from their work, He told the disciples, “Come by yourselves privately to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). We must realize that the Lord’s rest was a kind of recreation to Him. He did not say to go and rest a while, but to go to a deserted place and rest a while. Often a change in place, a solitary place in the hills or by a river, affords a person the necessary relief from his tiredness. This is the most common recreation for a Christian.
　　有的时候，你作一个工作太久了，感觉到累，可以换一个工作。我本来作八点钟的事，现在我拿出一两点钟来换一个工作。你本来都是坐着作事，现在你站起来作。本来都是劳心的作，现在劳力的作。你马上看见，你能够除去疲劳。我们没有世界上人的那一种消遣，我们只要更换我们的工作，已经能够除去我们的疲劳。这一件事在我们身上很可以有安排。因为消遣的原则就是为着调剂，你把工作更换一下，就已经有了调剂。
 
　If a person feels tired after doing the same work for too long, he can do something else after a while. Instead of working eight hours at one task, he can spend one or two hours on something else. Perhaps he sits down to work most of the time. He can give himself a break by working in a standing position once in a while. Perhaps he works with his mind most of the time. He can divert himself by doing some physical work. As soon as he does this, his tiredness disappears. We are not after the kind of recreation that the world is after. As long as we have a change in the things we do, we have a means to relieve our fatigue. We can rearrange our lives a little. The principle of recreation is diversion. As long as we have a change in the kind of work we do, we have the necessary break we need.
3
　
喜好
　　另外一面，在基督徒的生活里，也可以有一些正当地喜好。有的弟兄，也许喜欢拍几张照。有的弟兄，也许喜欢养一两只鸟。有的弟兄，也许喜欢种一点花。有的弟兄，也许喜欢画一两张图。这都是合法的，是在基督徒范围之内的。有的人或者喜欢一点音乐，写一点谱，弹弹琴。有的人或许喜欢写写字。这些都是合法的消遣。

　　但是，无论休息也好，或者换一件事来作也好，或者有一点喜好的事来作也好，你都必须拿得起来，放得下去。放不下去就有了病。例如你拍几张照，研究一点，你学一点，作一点都无所谓。

　　我们所反对的是它影响你太厉害。必须要拿得起来，放得下去。年轻的弟兄拉一点小提琴也行，如果放不下就出事情。难处在这里，特别是才作基督徒的人，对于有的消遣放不下，那就要把它对付掉。如果不对付掉，基督徒作不来，给它扣住了。必须是作也行，不作也行，不受它的辖制，那才是消遣。这是一个原则。必须记得，我如果要消遣，无论是正当地喜好，或者是刚才所说的那两样，总是应该不受它的辖制。

　　比方有的年轻弟兄喜欢集邮，这不是错，这也有益处，能够叫他们学习认识世界各国的地理，认识世界各国的历史。问题是不能给它扣住。凡是为着帮助自己有调剂，而不被扣住的这一类消遣，都是合法的。

　　作父母的人，要教儿女往正当消遣的路上去，不叫儿女因着没有正当地消遣，而去寻另外不正当地消遣。我看见有许多非常严格的父母，把儿女带坏了。他们的家庭里像是一个机关，不像一个家庭，结果孩子们偷着到外面去玩，都是些不正当地消遣。所以你们要看准了，儿女必须有消遣。我们是有玩也行，没有玩也行，但孩子们是非玩不可的。你如果不给他们玩，他们觉得在家庭里枯燥，没有味道，就在上学的时间偷着去玩。
 
　At the same time, the Christian life has room for some proper hobbies. Some brothers like to take photographs. Others like to keep birds, plant flowers, or paint. These are legitimate hobbies within the bounds of the Christian life. Some like music; they may write some songs and play them on the piano. Some like calligraphy. All of these are proper forms of recreation.

　But no matter what kind of recreation it is, whether it be rest, a change in work, or a hobby, it has to be something that a person can pick up and drop at will. If a person cannot drop an activity, something is wrong with it. It is all right for a person to take photographs, study them, and learn a little about them. However, we are against anything that controls a person’s life. The recreation must be easy to pick up and easy to drop. It is all right for a young brother to play the violin. But if he cannot put it down, he has a problem. The trouble with many young believers is that they cannot put their recreation down. When they find that they are bound by these things, they have to deal with them. They have to sever them, or else they will not be able to go on properly as Christians; they will be enslaved. Recreation must be something that one can pick up freely and drop freely. He must not be enslaved by it. This is an underlying principle. We must remember that in order for something to be proper recreation, whether it be a hobby, a change in work, or rest, a person must not be bound by it.

　Some young brothers like to collect stamps. There is nothing wrong with stamp-collecting. In fact, there are many benefits to such a hobby. It can teach a person about the geography and history of all the countries in the world, but it is a problem when one becomes ensnared by it. Any recreation that affords proper diversion without putting one under its bondage is a lawful recreation.

　Parents must teach their children to have proper recreation. They must not drive their children to improper recreation by failing to provide them with the proper kind. I have seen many strict parents who have ruined their children this way. Their homes are like institutions rather than homes. As a result, the children sneak away from home to engage in improper recreation. We must be clear that children need recreation. We can go with or without entertainment, but our children must have some entertainment. If we deprive them of their right to play, they will be bored and restless at home, and they will sneak away to do things behind our back.
4
　
玩耍
　　有许多的玩耍，像下棋、打球、骑马，虽然里面有输赢，但这是正当地，因为这一个输赢是技术上的。所以有的时候，有的孩子多打几次乒乓，也很好。或者打篮球、打网球、骑马、下棋都可以。这些都是正当地事，这些里面没有罪。作父母的人，对于这样的事要宽大，要把儿女带到正当消遣的路上来。年长的弟兄，没有工夫去作剧烈的运动，但是不应该去拦阻年轻的人。不错，我们要他们尽量拿出时间来为着主；但我们也要顾到他们调剂的需要，让他们有一点消遣。

　　我们把四类的消遣方式摆在这里，休息也可以，改换工作也可以，有喜好也可以，玩耍也可以，这四种不同的消遣都是基督徒可以作的。可是，基督徒不应该受辖制。如果受辖制就有错。这一点，越是初信的人越是要他们注意。因为这问题在我们身上根本不发生问题。你今天弹一点琴也好，不弹琴也好，毫无分别。但是初信的时候，那一个分别非常大。你如果多作一次，你良心里多不平安一次。在起初的时候，那些事的确一多作就受它的捆绑，一受捆绑就不能作。
 
　There are many games, such as chess, ball games, and horse-riding, which can be considered proper activities, even though they contain the element of winning and losing. The element of winning and losing is related to skill. It is all right for children to engage in table-tennis, basketball, volleyball, riding, or chess. All these are proper activities and do not involve any sin. Parents should be generous toward these matters and should guide their children to the proper recreation. Elderly ones may not have time for strenuous sports, but they should not forbid the young ones from them. We want our children to set aside their time for the Lord, but we also need to take care of their need for diversion. We should allow them some recreation.

　We have mentioned four kinds of recreation: rest, a change in work, hobbies, and games. A Christian can engage in these four kinds of recreation, but he should not be under the power of any of them. It is wrong to be bound by any of them. The younger a believer is in the Lord, the more he has to be careful not to be bound. This matter may not be a problem to us today. It may not make any difference to us whether or not we play the piano, but it makes a great difference to a new believer. His conscience will bother him every time he engages in these activities. At the beginning of the Christian life, the more one is involved in a recreation, the more he is bound by it. As soon as he experiences bondage in any activity, he should stop immediately.
　　第三，我们必须注意，为着什么要有这些消遣？要知道，消遣乃是要叫我们的工作作得更好。消遣有一定的目的，不是消遣了就了了。不是我今天好打球，所以我去打它。乃是我打了一下球，我的工作能够作得好。不是我贪睡就去睡，乃是睡了一下我的工作能够作得好。不是我为着花去种花，乃是种一点花我的工作能作得好。所以，这些事必须是帮助我们的工作才可以，必须是帮助我们来事奉神才可以。有的人一天到晚都在作一件事，也许两个礼拜、三个礼拜，头脑就不行了，甚至体力也不行了。这样的时候，你宁可让这些弟兄姊妹有一点调剂。或者换一件事情作，或者弹弹琴、打打球。这样的作，不是为着别的，乃是为着恢复。完全是为着加增效率，不是为着减少效率。因为我消遣，我能够工作作得更好，我能够事奉神更多。　

　　有的时候，像主耶稣一样，到野地去歇一下，旅行一下，转一转回来。或者和你家里的孩子打打球，也是好事。你看见，这不是一个缠累，乃是帮助你把工作作得更好。如果会叫你的工作作得更坏，这一个原则不对。一个消遣总是要变作你工作的帮助。你一天到晚作一件事容易累，宁可跑跑路，种种花，去玩一下。我们不是提倡人去作，我们是许可人去作。这样作，反而能够帮助你的工作作得好，不会叫你的工作作得不好，这是一个基本的原则。

　　如果工作两个月、三个月，有一次假期，这是对的。如果天天放假，这是懒惰，不是放假。基督徒必须学习在地上作工，不懒惰。我们许可用消遣来增加工作的效率，但是这些事我们不给人批评的余地。我们不要作过分的事，不能让神的名在我们身上得不着荣耀。
 
　Third, we must ask why we need recreation. The purpose of recreation is to enhance our work. Recreation has a purpose; it is not recreation for the sake of recreation. I do not engage in a ball game because I love ball games. I play because I want to work better. I do not sleep because I love to sleep but because I can work better after I sleep. I plant flowers not for the sake of planting flowers but so that I can work better after my gardening diversion. All of these things are for the purpose of enhancing our work. They must help us to serve God better. Some people break down mentally or physically after doing the same thing day and night for two or three weeks. Such brothers and sisters should be allowed some kind of diversion. They can change their work. They can play the piano or engage in some ball games. They should do these things only for the purpose of recovering from fatigue. It is altogether for the purpose of increasing one’s efficiency. After they are done with their recreation, they can work better and serve the Lord in a stronger way.

　Sometimes a person may take a respite in a rural place, as the Lord Jesus did, or travel and tour a little. This is also good. He may play games with his children at home as well. These activities are not entanglements; they are for the purpose of helping a person in his work. If an activity results in the lowering of one’s performance, it is in the wrong principle. A recreation must always enhance a person’s work. It is easy to become tired after doing the same thing over and over again day and night. This is why one should jog, garden, or play for a while. We do not promote these things, but we acquiesce in them. The basic principle is that these activities must enhance our performance rather than frustrate it.

　Having a holiday after working for two or three months is right. But having a holiday every day is laziness, not vacationing. A Christian must learn to work on earth and not be lazy. We allow people to have recreation for the purpose of increasing their work efficiency, but we must not give others any ground for criticism. We do not want to be extreme, and we do not want to bring shame to God’s name.
　　第四，凡一切消遣的事，都必须在里面有技术，不讲机遇。或者说，有技术，而没有巧遇，那一个消遣才是对的。任何的消遣，如果有技术在里面，而又有巧遇在里面，那是赌博，不是消遣。光是巧遇，而没有技术的，那更是赌博，更是基督徒所不能作的。任何的巧遇，都是赌博。在基督徒的消遣里，不能有巧遇，只能有技术。像掷骰子，这完全是巧遇的问题。这不是基督徒所能作的，这完全是赌博。年轻的人可以下棋，因为下棋是技术的问题，不是巧遇的问题。

　　所有的消遣有两种，一种是技术的，一种是巧遇的。你去掷骰子，你要去碰巧，这是巧遇。一切的赌博，基督徒绝对不应该有。有的人在没有得救之前搓麻将，这是赌博。这是技术的，又加上巧遇的。基督徒只能技术的玩，不能巧遇的玩，也不能有技术也有巧遇的玩。

　　搓麻将就是不下钱也是巧遇的，叫我自己有另外一个希望，另外一个祷告。你希望机会来帮你的忙，你的那一个希望不对，就是不赌钱都不可以。

　　打弹子完全是技术的。打弹子就是有输赢也是对的，但是一有钱的问题就是错的，那是赌钱。

　　所以，有的事情本身就是赌博，有的事情性质不是赌博，而拿来赌钱是另外一件事。就像吃饭也能用来赌钱。像掷骰子，就是不下钱，它的本身就是赌博，那是基督徒所不可以作的。我们基督徒断定一件事是有原则的。我们说这个可以或者不可以，是有原则的。以技术来作是对的，以巧遇来作是不对的。任何的技术是可以的，任何的巧遇是错的。巧遇就是赌博。

　　凡人所以为是赌博的东西，我们也不摸。我们基督徒必须有原则。我们要寻出来什么叫作赌博，什么叫作巧遇。巧遇就是赌博。

　　有弟兄问，打猎、钓鱼、养鸟可以不可以？打猎，在圣经里是从宁录起首的（创十8~9），好像是主所不欢喜的事。

　　钓鱼，这是可以的。你只要把原则拉住，下面碰到许多的事，就容易清楚该不该作。总而言之，光是技术没有错，有巧遇就不对。赌博根本不必提。如果问基督徒应该不应该赌博，那是不知道跌到那里去了。

　　有的鸟可以养，因为多少年来一直是人养它，变作好像家鸟一样，放出去活不了。能活的当然应当让它去。鸽子也有家鸽、野鸽。这一类的事，我们只能有一个原则。
 
　Fourth, all recreation must involve skill. It must not involve games of chance. We may say that the only kind of recreation that is proper is that which involves pure skill and nothing of chance. Any recreation that involves both skill and chance is a kind of gambling, not recreation. If an activity involves only chance and has nothing to do with skill, it is gambling, and Christians should turn away from it. Anything that involves chance is a kind of gambling. Christian recreation should involve only skill; it should not have any element of chance. A game of dice is altogether a matter of chance; a Christian should never engage in this. It is altogether gambling. Young people can play chess, because chess is a matter of skill, not a game of chance.

　There are two kinds of recreation: One involves skill, and the other involves chance. A game of dice involves one’s luck. Therefore, it is a game of chance. A Christian must not engage in any kind of gambling. Some love to play mahjong before they are saved. That is gambling. It involves a little skill plus a good element of chance. A Christian can play only with skill, not with anything that involves chance. He cannot even have games that depend partly on skill and partly on chance.

　Mahjong is a game of chance, even when it does not involve any money. It gives the player a kind of hope, a kind of prayer. He hopes that chance will be on his side. This kind of hope is wrong. Mahjong is wrong even when no betting is involved.

　Billiards involve skill. Even though there are wins and losses, there is nothing wrong with the game itself. However, when money is involved, it is wrong; it becomes a kind of gambling.

　We can say that some games are a kind of gambling in themselves, while others are not. However, one can take a game that does not involve gambling and turn it into a kind of gambling. This is another matter altogether. Even something as harmless as a meal can become a kind of gambling. Throwing dice is a gambling game in itself, even though money is not involved. A Christian should not engage in this kind of game. As Christians, we have principles that govern our judgment. When we say that we can do something or we cannot do certain things, we are guided by principles. It is right to play a game that involves skill, and it is wrong to play something that involves chance. Any kind of game that involves skill is permissible. But any game that depends on chance is not permissible; it is a kind of gambling.

　Moreover, we should not touch anything that the world would consider a kind of gambling. We must have our principles. We must find out what gambling is and what games of chance are. Anything that involves chance is gambling.

　Some brothers ask whether hunting, fishing, and keeping birds is permissible. In the Bible, hunting began from Nimrod (Gen. 10:8-9), and the Lord did not seem to like it. Fishing is permissible. Once you are clear about the principle, you will know what to do with many other things. In conclusion, it is right if it involves skill only, and it is wrong if chance is involved. Gambling is completely out of the question. One would have to be very fallen to ask whether it is permissible for a Christian to gamble.

　Some birds can be kept because they have been domesticated for years and are like house pets; they would not live if they were freed. But we must free those that can survive by themselves. There are domestic pigeons as well as wild pigeons. We can apply the same principles to these matters.
　　第五，我们的消遣应该合乎我们的需要才可以。我们有这一个需要，才有这一个消遣；没有这一个需要，就不应该有这一个消遣。许多弟兄相当忙，反而不需要消遣。有的弟兄一天之中没有什么事情作，反而有消遣的需要。越是需要有调剂的，越不需要调剂；越不需要调剂的，反而需要调剂。所以我们不必把调剂告诉许多人。在我们中间，我们不愿意把许可给神的儿女，好像给他们普遍的许可说，你们都可以有消遣。乃是要对神的儿女说，你自己秤你自己，看有没有需要。原则上总是这样：叫我怎样能够活着为主，我的时间就是主的。

　　你们要看见，生命是以时间来计算的。生命当然不只是时间，但是生命是以时间来计算的。人在神面前不能没有时间。度过一个钟点的时间，就是度过一个钟点的生命。度过两个钟点的时间，就是度过两个钟点的生命。如果你有时间，你花一个钟点去消遣，这一个钟点总得回来帮助你工作。如果没有那一个需要，就是浪费时间，浪费时间就是浪费生命。我们如果多出一个钟点来为着主，就多有果效。我如果花了时间去消遣，叫我的工作能够作得更好，这一个消遣就是投资，而不是浪费。

　　所以，调剂是根据于你的需要而作的，或者是凭着年长弟兄的感觉，或者是凭着医生的话。有的时候，年长的弟兄会告诉你说，你这样太紧张了，要有一点调剂。有的时候，医生要说，你不要这样作，这样下去要吃亏。消遣是因为需要而有的，不是为着玩而玩的。我不是为着我要消遣而消遣，乃是为叫我的工作作得更好而消遣。忙的人也许需要消遣，也许不需要。总是有需要的人可以有消遣，没有需要的人不必有消遣。

　　对于年轻人，我们承认有消遣的需要。对于家里十几岁的孩子，我们看他们有需要。你们作父母的人没有需要，就说他们也没有需要，结果就要把他们弄到不正当地路上去。他们的需要我们该承认，我们自己的需要反而不敢说。原则是有需要就得有消遣，没有需要就不必有消遣。
 
　Fifth, our recreation must meet our need. We have a certain recreation because we have a certain need. We should not have any recreation without having the need for it. Many brothers are so busy that they think they have no need for recreation. Other brothers have nothing to do all day long, and they think about recreation all the time. Those who have a genuine need for diversion do not feel the need for it, while those who do not need diversion think that they have a need for it. We do not need to tell everyone about the need for diversion. We do not like to grant license to God’s children. We do not want to give a blanket endorsement for any kind of recreation. What we want to tell God’s children is to judge for themselves whether they have such a need. The principle is always to live for the Lord and to recognize that all our time is His.

　Life is measured by time. Life is not time itself, but it is measured by time. A man cannot waste his time on everything and then find that he has no more time for God. To waste an hour of time is to waste an hour of one’s life. To waste two hours of time is to waste two hours of one’s life. If you take an hour for recreation, that hour must eventually be of benefit to you in your work. If there is not the need for this hour, the recreation is a waste of your time. To waste your time is to waste your life. If we can spend an hour more for the Lord, we can reap one more hour of results. If we spend an hour on recreation, and this recreation can enhance our work, it is an investment, not a waste.

　Hence, diversion is based on need. It can also be based on the advice of elderly brothers or the instruction of doctors. Sometimes an elderly brother may advise you to take some diversion because he can sense a buildup of tension within you. At other times a doctor may advise you against certain activities and warn you of dire consequences. Recreation is to take care of need, not for the sake of play. I have my own kinds of recreation. I participate in recreation not for the sake of recreation, but for the sake of enhancing my work. A busy person may need recreation, or he may not need it. The general rule is that recreation is for those who have the need for it. Those who do not need it are not obligated to have it.

　We realize that young people need recreation. We can see the need for our teen-agers to have recreation. Some parents do not have such a need, so they think that their children have no such need. However, depriving children of recreational activity will drive them down the road to evil. We have to recognize their need even though we may not be altogether certain of our own need. The principle is that recreation is for those who need it; those who do not need it can live without it.
　　第六，所有的消遣，必须和自己的体格相合才可以。在消遣里，第一个成分乃是身体的能力。每一个人在消遣的时候，总是要记得，我是盼望我的身体能得着益处，绝不应该因着消遣而叫我的身体吃亏。如果叫身体吃亏，就反而把基本的问题推翻了。我们是要叫身体更好。如果有一个消遣，反而叫我们的身体变坏了，这一个消遣就有毛病。比方，有的人有肺病，他的消遣必须是不会加增他的肺病才可以。或者有的姊妹有心脏病，也许有的时候需要有一点消遣，但她的消遣必须是能除去她的疲劳，而不引起她的心脏病才可以。

　　我年轻的时候，有一个朋友，本来是很不好的人，相信主之后变作非常好。本来他是喜欢打球的，得救了之后，他觉得打球不大好。所以他想，我末了再打一次篮球，以后就再不打了。岂知道就是这么一打，当天就吐血，后来就死了。这不是消遣，这完全是与他的体格相反。他以为今天大大的消遣一次，以后出去传福音；那知这一次的消遣就丧了命。这是相当可惜的事。

　　盼望我们看见，我们的身体是主的。有调剂是为着主，没有调剂也是为着主，都不是为自己。你有调剂，还得记得这样调剂是为着主。你没有调剂，也得记得我没有调剂是为着主。调剂也好，不调剂也好，总以不伤身体为原则。调剂也好，不调剂也好，叫身体受伤，总是不上算的事。我们不只不该作不正当地事以致毁坏我们的身体，连作正当地事来毁坏我们的身体也不应该。神儿女的身体不是他自己的。所以要有调剂的时候，总要记得，我作这件事到底是否与我的身体有益？有益的就作，没有益的就不作。不是因为喜欢就去作。在这里，有的姊妹有心脏病，如果你看见外头有弟兄打球，你也去打一下，就要打出事情来。打球在弟兄身上没有错，在有心脏病的姊妹身上就有错。盼望神的儿女注意，我所有的一切都是为着事奉神；就是我今天有一点调剂，目的还是为叫我事奉得更好。

　　我绝不盼望信主的人，年轻的时候就去世。我总是盼望在教会里有老年的弟兄，有老年的姊妹。请记得，世界上的老年人，和教会里的老年人不一样。世界上越是老年人越退化，越年纪轻越进步。但在教会里，越老年是越进步。在世界里是老的不死，新的上不来，都被他们挡住了。但在教会里不是这样，越老越新，越摸越高，越摸越深。如果教会里缺乏了年老的弟兄姊妹，教会里反而贫穷，反而失败。所以我实在不盼望在教会里，有的弟兄姊妹不顾身体而早年去世，主给他所有的学习不能变作教会的供应。教会不应该有这一个损失，教会背不起这一个损失。

　　就是有运动，有游戏的事，也不是为着纪录，好像运动家一样。他们不是为游戏，是为了要打破纪录。我们是为着游戏，为着叫身体好。
 
　Sixth, all recreation must match a person’s fitness. The first consideration in recreation is physical fitness. Everyone must remember this while engaging in recreation. We expect our body to reap profit, not suffer loss through our recreation. If our body suffers through our recreation, we are violating the principle of recreation. We are here to improve our body. If a certain kind of recreation damages our body, something is wrong with that recreation. Suppose a man is sick with tuberculosis. If he wants to have any recreation at all, his recreation must not bring his health down. A sister who has a heart disease may need some recreation at times, but her recreation must serve to relieve her fatigue rather than to aggravate her heart disease.

　When I was young, I had a friend who was a very evil person. After he believed in the Lord, he turned and became a wonderful person. Before his conversion, he loved basketball. After he was saved, he felt a little guilty about playing it. He decided to play it one more time and then quit. After that last game, he vomited blood and died. This was not recreation. It did not match his physical fitness at all. He thought that he could preach the gospel after he had enjoyed his game. He did not expect that he would die after that game. What a waste that was!

　I hope we will realize that our body is the Lord’s. Our diversion is for the Lord. Our not having a diversion is also for the Lord. We do not do anything for ourselves. If we engage in some kind of diversion, we must remember that it is for the Lord. Also, if we forfeit diversion, we must remember that we are doing it for the Lord. Whether or not one has diversion, the principle is to not do harm to the body. It is always unwise to harm the body. It is not only wrong to harm our body with improper activities, but also wrong to harm our body with proper activities. The bodies of God’s children do not belong to them. In any kind of diversion, we must ask ourselves whether or not it will profit our body. Do it only if it is profitable. Do not do it just because you like to do it. Suppose a sister has a heart disease. If she sees a brother playing ball in the field and wants to join him, she may end up with more trouble. It is not wrong for the brother to be in the ball game, but it is wrong for the sister who has the heart disease to be in the game. We hope that God’s children will pay attention to this matter. Everything we do should be done for the service of the Lord. Even if we have a little diversion today, our goal in having it should be to better serve the Lord.

　I do not want to see believers dying at a young age. I have always hoped that there would be more elderly brothers and sisters in the church. Please remember that being elderly in the world is different from being elderly in the church. In the world, the older one becomes, the more senile he becomes. The younger ones are the more progressive ones. However, in the church the older one becomes, the more advanced he becomes. In the world the younger ones cannot move forward unless the older ones die first, because the older ones are always a hindrance to the younger ones. However, it does not happen this way in the church. The older one becomes, the fresher he becomes, and the higher and deeper are the things he touches. A church is poor and defeated if it does not have any elderly brothers and sisters. I do not like to see brothers and sisters in the church passing away at a young age through the neglect of their own body. Instead of becoming a supply to the church, the lessons that the Lord has given them are wasted. The church should not incur such a loss. It cannot afford such a loss.

　When we have sports and games, we cannot strive to break records as if we were athletes. Professional athletes are not motivated by the games themselves but by the desire to break records. We must play it as a game and play it to the benefit our body.
　　第七，消遣不只有身体的成分，还有性情方面的成分。你去作所喜欢的事，更能叫你的脑子恢复，更能叫你的情感放松，神经舒服。你所不喜欢的事，那些就变作工作，而不是消遣。比方有一个姊妹顶喜欢花，你给她半点钟去浇浇花，她应当有些累的，但是浇了半点钟的花，她反而不觉得累。本来神经相当紧张，现在放松了。但是如果有一个人看见花讨厌的，根本不喜欢花，你要叫他浇半点钟，在他就变作是重担。所以，消遣是有性情的关系在里面。一个人消遣的挑选，必须是叫他的神经放松，情感放松，那才是对的。就像我们刚才所提的好些消遣，每一个人所要的都不一样。有的人浇花是消遣，有的人浇花不是消遣。有的人喜欢小狗小猫，有的人看见猫狗就紧张害怕。我们要学习看见什么东西是叫我们自己欢喜的，那就能够帮助我们的工作作得好。

　　比方我自己，你如果叫我到海里，我就不能消遣，到江里去我能消遣。有的弟兄就不一样，浪越大越好，船在海里侧过来侧过去，他就非常欢喜。有些事情你去作，是你所欢喜、所高兴的，能叫你精神好起来。这里面有性情的问题。所以人挑选消遣的时候，必须挑选性情所近的，那才能恢复身体的力量。你如果挑选一个性情所不喜欢的，马上觉得累，你宁可不作更好。
 
　Seventh, recreation has to do not only with physical fitness but also with one’s disposition. When a person is doing what he likes to do, he tends to be more mentally relaxed and psychologically happy. Doing something that you do not enjoy doing is a labor; it is not a recreation. Some sisters love flowers. If you ask them to water flowers for half an hour, they show no sign of fatigue, even though the same task may tire others out. Before they do it, they may be quite tense, but after they work, they feel relaxed. However, if you ask a person who has an aversion for flowers and who hates gardening to water for half an hour, this will be a burden. Therefore, recreation is related to disposition as well. In choosing a certain form of recreation, you must choose the kind of activity that will relax your nerves and calm your mind, like the examples we have just mentioned. Everyone has some kind of recreation that suits him. Gardening is a recreation to some; to others, it is not. Some like dogs and cats, while others are nervous and fearful when they are around them. We must find something we like. These things will enhance our work.

　Asking me to go to the sea would not be recreational to me, but a river does provide recreation to me. Some brothers are different. The stronger the waves, the better it is for them. They are happy to see a boat tossing back and forth in the sea. These are things they like, and they are happy when they do them. Such activities refresh their minds. This has to do with disposition. You must choose the kind of recreation that matches your disposition so that it will restore your physical strength. If you choose something which goes against your disposition, you will feel tired and will not want to continue with it.
　　第八，我们是基督徒，所以我们所有的事都应该作人的榜样；就是在消遣的事情上，我们也不要作别人的绊脚石。我们活着是为主，同时也是为着弟兄。我们活着不是为自己。所以我们不能只顾到自己而不顾到别人。你不能在那里埋怨说，“他们为什么要看我？”请你记得，他们不看你，看谁？当然他们要看你。城造在山上，谁能够不看见？当然要看见。所以不管我们自己的感觉如何，我们还得顾到年轻的弟兄看见我这样作，到底会受什么影响。有的事我在这里作，到底会不会绊倒别人。你是神的儿女，已经相信了主，从今以后，必须叫你的感觉细嫩。你必须感觉，我不只对神负责，我对许多年轻的弟兄姊妹也要负责。

　　我自己觉得自己可以吃肉，这不发生问题。但是，我吃肉若叫软弱的弟兄跌倒，我就宁可不吃。我吃肉并不错，但我吃肉叫人跌倒就错了。同样，不是消遣有错，是我叫弟兄跌倒就有错。

　　所以，有许多事情要注意，到底软弱的人要以为怎样？我不要作软弱人的绊脚石。请你记得，主不是说不要作刚强人的绊脚石；主是说不要作软弱人的绊脚石。有许多人，他们的良心很软弱，他们以为不可到庙里去；所以虽然我知道偶像算不得什么，可是为着弟兄软弱良心的缘故，我就不去。按着这一个原则，如果有一个消遣能够绊倒弟兄，我就不作。

　　你作一件事的时候，你的良心是平安的，但是有别人的良心不平安，那怎么办？你不要只顾你自己良心的平安。要记得有人因为你作这一件事，他良心不平安，所以你要为着他们会跌倒的缘故，就不作。你作这件事，不能说，我不跌倒；你还得记得，人会跌倒。你不能说，我良心平安；你还得记得，人会良心不平安。你不能说，我不会因着这件事犯罪；你还得记得，人会因着这件事犯罪。你对于这一件事不出问题，人要出问题，怎么办？所以为着弟兄的缘故，有许多消遣的事就不能作。

　　我们必须看见，许多的事我们都可作，但是不一定都有益处，所以我们所有的行为必须谨慎，越谨慎越好。总是学习走在正当地路上，学习小心的走。我想，有的时候我们许可弟兄姊妹有一点消遣，消遣并不是不可以，但是有的时候会叫人跌倒，这样的事，这样的东西，还是不作；特别是在那些容易跌倒的人身上要小心，特别是在那些容易受捆绑的人身上要小心。有的人是容易受捆绑、受影响的，你要小心。有许多容易跌倒的人，你稍微不小心一点，他就跌倒了。这一件事要注意。
 
　Eighth, as Christians, we must be an example to others in all things. We do not want to be a stumbling block to others even in the matter of recreation. We live for the Lord as well as for the brothers; we do not live for ourselves. We must not care just for ourselves and neglect others. Do not complain saying, “Why must they look at me?” Who will they look at if they do not look at you? Of course, they will look at you. If a city is built on a hill, who will not see it? Of course, others will see it. No matter what our conviction is, we must take care of our influence on the young brothers when they see us doing what we are doing. We must ask whether the things we do will stumble others. We are children of God; we have believed in the Lord. We must have sensitive feelings. We must realize that we are responsible to God as well as to many young brothers and sisters.

　It does not pose a problem if someone thinks that he can eat meat, but if his eating stumbles a brother, he should not eat. It is not wrong for him to eat meat, but it is wrong if his eating stumbles others. In the same way, it is not wrong to have recreation, but it is wrong to stumble the brothers.

　We must consider what the weak ones will think about the many things that we do. I do not want to be a stumbling block to the weak ones. The Lord did not say that we should not be a stumbling block to the strong. Rather, He said we should not be a stumbling block to the weak. There are many whose conscience is weak. They think that they should not go to the temple. In order to take care of the weak conscience of the brother, I will not go to the temple, even though I know that idols are nothing. In the light of this principle, we should not engage in any recreation that will stumble a brother.

　What should you do if you are peaceful in your conscience about something, but someone else is not? You must take care of more than the peace in your conscience. You must remember that someone else’s conscience will be bothered by your action. You must refrain from the things that stumble him. It is not enough to say that you will not be stumbled. Remember that others may be stumbled. It is not enough to say that your conscience is at peace; you must remember that someone else’s conscience may not be at peace. Do not say, “This will not lead me to sin.” Remember that others could sin because of this. You may not have any problem with this matter, but others may have a problem with it. What should you do? We have to turn away from many kinds of recreation for the sake of the brothers.

　We must see that many things are lawful but not all things are expedient. Therefore, we must be very careful with our conduct, the more careful the better. We must always learn to take the proper way. We must learn to walk carefully. We allow our brothers and sisters to have some recreation. Recreation is permissible, but sometimes this recreation may stumble others. If this happens, it is better not to do such things at all. We must be careful especially with those who easily come under bondage. Some are easily affected; they easily come under bondage. We must be careful with them. Many people fall easily. If we are a little careless with them, they will fall. This is why we must pay attention to this matter.
　　第九，凡一切外邦人所以为不可的消遣，我们都不可以作。凡是外邦人所以为可以的，我们不一定都可以作。这是我们和外邦人发生关系的两个原则。他们以为可以的，我们不一定都可以；他们以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。清楚么？有许多的娱乐，外邦人以为可以，但是我们不可以。他们以为看戏可以，赌钱可以，跳舞可以，这是他们基本的消遣，但是我们不可以。可是有许多外邦人所以为不可以的，我们定规不可以。

　　我们犯不着用消遣来和人辩道，那是不值得的。比方说，在一个地方的人以为打球是不可以的，我们的见证是为主作，不是为球作，我们不在那里讲一篇道理，为球作见证。我们用不着为球作见证。所以请你们记得，最少我们的程度不能低于外邦人。如果有一个地方的外教人以为说，不能下棋。以原则来说，象棋可以，围棋也可以，但是我们不替象棋围棋作见证。我们不必花许多时间来讲一篇下棋的道理。因为这是可有可无的事。我们要作主的见证，不要维持这些细微的行为，不要为着这些细微的事和他们争辩。有许多的事，他们许可，我们就作；他们不许可，我们就不作。

　　比方，有的地方认为不可以钓鱼，你就接受当地人的看法，避免这一点。我们的见证是基督，我们的见证不是钓鱼。我们把一切都牺牲了为着主，何只这一点消遣的事！我们不要因着消遣给当地的人有什么特别的感觉。无论什么地方，人认为错的，这一类的事不应该作。我们的程度总不该比外邦人低，特别在消遣的事情上。

　　有的人在消遣的问题上与人争，是非常愚昧的事。我知道有的西国教士为着要建立他的消遣，结果与本地的人弄得非常不好。我想，为着一点消遣的事，叫他们的工作作不好，这是不对的。我们是要注意主要的问题，其他的事无所谓。比方，有弟兄要到回回教的区域里去，他们是不吃猪肉的。你到他们中间去，以为我们基督徒是可以吃猪肉的，就大吃起来。这对于那个地方就不对，你在他们中间就什么都不能作。我们为着工作的缘故，千万不要在这些小事情上和人发生难处。

　　今天也许有人要到西康去，西康是不钓鱼的。他们一生一世都没有钓过鱼。你如果去钓鱼，和当地的弟兄出事，就不对。有的英国教士到印度去，为着消遣的事叫印度人不舒服，这不值得。

　　这九个原则摆在这里，我们要好好的对付。至于外邦人所提起的那些消遣，我们连题都不提。外邦人有三种主要的消遣，就是跳舞、赌博、看戏，我想我们根本不必提。我们只是在积极方面把这九个原则提出来。我们总不应该放弃这九个原则。
 
　Ninth, we should not take up any recreation that is improper in the eyes of the Gentiles. This does not mean that we can do anything that the Gentiles consider to be proper. These are the two principles in dealing with the Gentiles. We may not necessarily do what they approve of, but we certainly will not do anything that they do not approve of. Are you clear? There are many kinds of entertainment which the Gentiles approve of, but we cannot be involved in them. They approve of movie-going, gambling, and dancing. These are their basic kinds of entertainment, but we do not approve of them. Of course, we would never do any of the things which the Gentiles themselves disapprove of.

　It is not worthwhile for us to argue with people about our recreation. Some people in certain places think that ball games are not permissible. Our testimony is for the Lord, not for a ball game. Our preaching does not testify of a ball game. It is not necessary for us to bear witness for a ball game. Our standard must not be lower than the Gentiles’ standard. Unbelievers in some places may think that chess is improper. In principle, both the game of chess and the game of “Go” (a board game) are proper, but these things are not our testimony. We do not need to waste our time giving a sermon on chess. We can play it, and we can give it up. Our testimony is for the Lord, not for upholding these minor things. Do not argue with the unbelievers over these minor things. We may do many of the things which they approve of, and we will not do any of the things they do not approve of.

　For example, in certain places fishing may be considered improper. We must accept their view and stop fishing. Our testimony is Christ, not fishing. We have sacrificed everything for the Lord. What is this little recreation to us? We must not give anyone any uneasy feeling because of our recreation. Wherever we are, we should not do what others consider to be wrong. Our standard must not be lower than the Gentiles’ standard, especially when it comes to the matter of recreation.

　It is foolish for some to argue with others over their recreation. I know of Western missionaries who had bad relationships with the natives just because they wanted to have their own kind of recreation. It is foolish to damage the Lord’s work for the sake of a little recreation. We must pay attention to the major issues and be liberal about the other matters. Some brothers have to work among the Muslims, who do not eat pork. When they are among them, they may want to eat pork openly because they think that it is all right for Christians to eat pork. But pork is forbidden in that place. If they eat pork, they will not be able to work among the people at all. In order to take care of the work, we must not come into conflict with others over these small matters.

　Today some may want to go to the province of Sikang. Fishing is unheard of in Sikang. The people there have never fished in their whole lives. It is wrong for you to insist on fishing and thus develop friction with the local brothers. Some British missionaries went to India and irritated the Indians over matters of recreation. It is not worthwhile to do this.

　I have laid these nine principles before you. We must deal with them carefully. The usual kinds of entertainment that the Gentiles commonly speak of are out of the question here. These kinds of recreation include three main categories: dancing, gambling, and movie-going. They are entirely out of the question for us. We are burdened to only present these nine principles on the positive side. We must not sacrifice these nine principles.
　　末了，讲一个简单地故事。开西聚会算作英国很大的一个聚会，可以说是世界性的特别聚会。每一年只有一个礼拜，从世界各地来的人不少，总是有五、六千，每年都有。我想，那个聚会是神所特别用的。在那些讲道的人中有慕安得烈，有梅尔，这些都是相当认识主的人。还有一位比慕安得烈还早的，訧是爱文霍浦金，他们称他作开西的神学家。霍浦金是最早看见与基督同死的事实。他是哈拿施密斯的丈夫。“信徒快乐的秘诀”是哈拿写的。当时有三个人，在德国是司督克梅尔，在法国是马尔登，在英国就是霍浦金。慕安得烈是在荷兰的。当初宾路易师母传同死的道，如果没有霍浦金的帮助，就不能传出去。因为英国不欢迎女人讲道，都是霍浦金帮助她的。霍浦金在主面前非常好，但是他有他的喜好。他有空的时候就画图。他本来是画规规矩矩的图，后来有了孙女，他就替他们画兔子。他讲道完了回来，就替孙女画兔子。他在一生中总共画了几千只兔子。后来出版家把它印出来，印了一本霍浦金的兔子。你看见霍浦金是聪明人，每一只兔子的脸都不一样。霍浦金还喜欢写小字，他能在一张先令（英国钞票）上，把整篇主祷文写上。我不是要你们学他，我是愿意你们看见，消遣对一个人的属灵绝不妨害，并且你反而摸着这一个人的人的成分。请你们记得，神的仆人们都不是那样呆板的，那是天主教，不是基督徒。基督徒乃是天真的人，简单地人，是相当自然的。
 
　Finally, let me tell you a simple story. The Keswick Convention is a big gathering in England, a somewhat international conference. Every year approximately five or six thousand people from all over the world gather there for a week. I think that God has greatly used these conferences. Andrew Murray and F. B. Meyer, both of whom had a deep knowledge of the Lord, have been among the speakers at these conferences. During this period of time, Stock Meyer was in Germany, Melton was in France, Andrew Murray was in Holland, and Evan Hopkins was in England. Hopkins was known as the Theologian of Keswick. He was the first person to see the truth of the believers’ crucifixion with Christ. He was the husband of Hannah Whitall Smith, the author of The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life. Mrs. Penn-Lewis would not have been able to propagate the truth of crucifixion with Christ without the help of Hopkins, because Britain could not quite accept a female preaching. Hopkins was a very proper person before the Lord. Yet he had a hobby; he loved to draw whenever he was free. At first he drew serious subjects. Later when he had a granddaughter, he began to draw rabbits for her. When he came back from giving a sermon, he would draw rabbits for his granddaughter. During his lifetime, he drew thousands of rabbits. Later some publishers put out a book on Hopkins’s rabbits. Hopkins was an intelligent man. He made the face of every rabbit look different. He also liked to print fine calligraphy. He wrote the whole of the Lord’s prayer on a shilling note. I am not saying that you should imitate him. I am merely saying this to show you that recreation does not affect one’s spirituality. On the contrary, one touches the human element of a person through his hobbies. Please remember that God’s servants are not staid people; that is Catholicism, not Christianity. Christians are plain, simple, and natural people.
　　你们记得，慕勒是会祷告的人。有一次一个小女孩亚比该，要他祷告一个花色的绒线球，慕勒也为她祷告，她就得着了。后来亚比该变作英国一个最好的基督徒。你读她的传记，就知道她在主面前所受的教育有多少。所以盼望你们记得，消遣如果作得好，它不会把你拉下去。如果你在神面前守住消遣的原则，消遣反而会把你带上去，叫你的身体、思想，都摆在正当地地位上。
 
　George Müller was a person who was experienced in prayer. Once a girl named Abigail asked him to pray for colored woolen yarn. He prayed about this and she received the yarn. The girl grew up to become one of the best Christians in England. In reading her biography, one is impressed by the lessons she learned in the Lord. Recreation will not drag a person down if it is done properly. If you keep the proper principle of recreation before the Lord, recreation will uplift you and restore your body and mind to proper health.

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