译者序

译者序 　　

　　我在中国作传教士已经十五年了。这十五年中我大部分的时间都与中国人生活在一起，而且我打算一辈子都住在中国，因为神呼召我来这里，并且“祂赏赐那寻求祂的人。” 　　

　　在中国，我发现了一件很有趣的事，那就是虽然基督教在中国已经有将近两百年的宣教历史了，然而到目前为止，基督教对中国社会“没有任何”的影响。这并不是我个人的看法，乃是一个无庸置疑的事实。这个事实对于我、神，和一切在中国神的选民而言，是极其痛苦的。我带领查经的时候常常会问一个问题：“你是基督徒的中国人，还是中国的基督徒？”　　

　　对出入教会的中国人而言，这是非常关键的问题。因为大多数出入教会的中国人是基督徒的中国人，而不是中国的基督徒。那么，什么是基督徒的中国人？而且，什么是中国的基督徒？一个基督徒的中国人常常会去教会。或许他每一个礼拜都会去教会，甚至他还可能是一位长老或牧师。那么，基督徒的中国人有什么问题呢？当一个基督徒的中国人读圣经时，如果圣经上的任何一个教导与他的背景、文化，或风俗习惯有冲突的时候，一个基督徒的中国人会相信自己的文化而把圣经丢弃。他常常称之为他个人的“领受”。　　

　　我们的主耶稣基督说：“你若继续遵守我的道就真是我的门徒。”但大部分出入教会的中国人刚好是相反的。他们会继续在自己的文化里而同时他恨基督。你或许认为我这样说是太严厉，缺乏爱心。但主耶稣自己曾经说过：“一个人不能事奉两个主；不是恶这个、爱那个，就是重这个、轻那个。你们不能又事奉神，又事奉玛门。”出入教会的中国人爱玛门。玛门是世俗的财富。基督的意思是说：“你若爱玛门就必定恨我！”　　

　　若你问一般出入教会的中国人，他为何与自己的太太两个人都在外面工作，虽然圣经清楚的教导母亲的职分是在家庭里，或问他的小孩为什么要与外邦人一样，什么功课都要补习，但他的小孩对圣经上的教义几乎都不认识，他很可能会说：“没办法！”这是谎言！真理是真基督徒行事为人凭信心不凭眼见，但这些人都是凭眼见。　　

　　那么什么是中国的基督徒呢？他刚好相反。当他的背景、文化、风俗习惯与圣经冲突时，他不理会自己的文化。他爱基督，恨世界。他也知道神赏赐寻求祂的人并不是因为他为了考试背过这经文，而是因为他经历过这事实。他的基督教是他自己的基督教，不光是那些白皮肤的传教士的。他是快乐的基督徒，并他的财宝不在乎出人头地，乃在天堂。

　　一个人要如何才能成为中国的基督徒呢？汤姆·华森（Thomas Watson）在这本书刚开始的地方告诉我们：“只要我们在所信的道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移”（西一22-23）。意思是我们若不是在真道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移，我们就在那引到灭亡的路上！汤姆·华森在这极有助益的书上教导我们如何在真道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移。中国的基督徒啊，你必须听从这教导为了逃避地狱和上天堂！这并不只是给与众不同的基督徒看的！一切在真道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移的人都会上天堂，而其余的人都会下地狱！但愿神借着祂所重用的仆人汤姆·华森帮助你成为一位真正的基督徒，一位中国的基督徒，而不是基督徒的中国人！

Translator's Preface

　　I have been a missionary in China now for nearly fifteen years. I have lived with the Chinese people for the majority of these fifteen years, and I plan to live with Chinese people for the rest of my life, because God called me to China and He is a rewarder of them that seek Him.

　　One thing that I have discovered that is a very conspicuous phenomenon in China is that after nearly 200 years of Christian missions in China the Chinese church has ZERO influence on Chinese society. This is not just an opinion of mine. This is an undeniable fact, and an extremely disturbing fact both to me and to every Chinese who is truly a member of the body of Christ. I frequently ask Chinese Christians in Bible studies the following question:

　　"Are you a Christian Chinese or a Chinese Christian?" This is an important question to ask Chinese churchgoers, because the vast majority of Chinese who go to church are Christian Chinese and not Chinese Christians. What is a Christian Chinese? What is a Chinese Christian? A Christian Chinese is a person who goes to church frequently, or maybe even every Sunday. He might even be an elder or a pastor. What is the problem with Christian Chinese? When a Christian Chinese reads the Bible and something in the Bible conflicts with his background, his culture, or his customs he keeps his background, culture and customs and throws away the Bible. He calls this "what he has received."

　　Our Lord Jesus stated, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." But most Chinese people who go to church do the opposite. They continue in their culture, and they hate Christ. Maybe you think that I'm being too harsh. But the Lord Jesus himself said, "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Chinese churchgoers love mammon. Mammon is worldly riches. And Christ said that if you love mammon you will hate me!

　　If you ask the average Chinese churchgoer why both he and his wife work when the Bible clearly teaches that a mother's position is at home taking care of the children, or if you ask why they take their children to remedial English and math classes like all other heathen and their kids know almost nothing about Christian doctrine, they will probably say, "Nothing I can do." But this is not the truth. The truth is that true Christians walk by faith and not by sight, but these people walk by sight and not by faith.

　　So now what is a Chinese Christian? He's just the opposite. Whenever his background, culture, or customs conflict with the Bible he believes the Bible and throws away his culture. He loves Christ and hates the world. He knows that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him not because he memorized the verse for a quiz, but because he has experienced it. His Christianity is HIS Christianity, not the white missionary's. He is a joyful Christian, and his treasure is not in keeping up with the Joneses, but it is in heaven.

　　How does a person become a Chinese Christian? Thomas Watson tells us at the beginning of his book. Col. 1:22-23 tells us that we are reconciled to God, "If we continue in the faith grounded and settled." Which means that unless we are grounded and settled in the faith we are not reconciled to God and are on the broad road that leads to destruction. Watson tells us in this very helpful book how we can be grounded and settled, Chinese churchgoer, you　MUST　be grounded and settled in order to eschew hell and reach heaven. It is not an option for special Christians. All persons who are grounded and settled in the faith go to heaven, and those who are not go to hell. May God use his eminent servant Thomas Watson to help you to become a true Christian, a Chinese Christian and not a Christian Chinese!

　　Winnen Russ, Dec.1997,Deerfield,FL.