8月15日 有毒的赝品
有毒的赝品
一旦人的思想被谬误蒙蔽并开始毁谤真理，谬误就会进一步感染他的内心，用属肉体的情欲毒害他。
那些所谓的基督徒，为何要离弃福音喜乐的纯净美酒，转而接下世界这淫妇带着媚笑、用金杯递来的掺假毒酒呢？难道是因为那曾经在讲道中闪耀光芒、为哀恸者带来安慰的福音信息，如今已变得陈旧乏味了吗？难道那道历世历代在圣徒生命中流淌、从未与世俗污秽享乐同流合污的属灵喜乐之河，最终竟流入了世俗的泥沼，丧失了其属神的本性吗？绝非如此。福音始终如一，它所带来的喜乐，依然如昔日般使人苏醒、令人振奋。只要神与基督依旧是生命的源泉，这喜乐就永远甜美，因为它正是从神与基督的心中涌流而出，并不断从那里得着补给。
问题并不出在圣经上，而出在那些自称持守圣经的人身上。那些口口声声说自己顺服这福音的人，早已不像从前圣洁男女的模样。这个世界已变得越来越冷酷麻木，人的优先次序和情感也随之冰冷消退。我们的属灵味觉不再纯正，不再偏爱福音中所摆设的属天佳肴。筵席上的欢愉虽依然生机盎然，但赴席的宾客却因不断沾染世界而变得死气沉沉。我们的判断力已被败坏，我们所持守的原则也已腐化；既然如此，我们的喜乐变得属乎肉体，又有什么可大惊小怪的呢？
谬误就像一个淫妇，引诱人的心偏离基督与祂所赐的属灵喜乐。一旦人的思想被谬误蒙蔽并开始毁谤真理，谬误就会进一步感染他的内心，用属肉体的情欲毒害他。而属肉体的情欲，只愿与粗俗、肉体的罪中之乐为伍。这正是我们这个时代一切悲惨光景的病根所在。
撒但在我们中间玩弄的手段极其狡诈。牠频频将自己的差役伪装成光明的天使，哄骗那些轻信的灵魂，使他们误以为在这些人工炮制的虚假亮光中，能找到比神所赐的启示更多的恩典与大能。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：撒上5-6章，罗5章，
个人灵修：耶43章，路12章
AUGUST 15, SATURDAY
THE POISON COUNTERFEIT
Once the mind is confused by error and begins to malign the truth, it affects the heart, poisoning it with carnal affections.
Why do so-called Christians forsake the pure wine of Gospel joy for the adulterated poison which the whore of the world smilingly holds out to them in her golden chalice? Is it because the message of the Gospel, which once sparkled in the preached Word and furnished comfort to mourners, has now grown stale? Or has that stream of spiritual joy which has run through the lives of saints for so many generations, without mingling with the world’s polluted pleasures, at last fallen into them and lost its divine nature? No, the Gospel stays the same; and the joy it brings is as refreshing and restoring as it has always been. It will be lovely as long as God and Christ continue to be life, for it flows and is fed from their heart.
The problem is not in Scripture; it lies in those who say they hold to it. Those who insist they obey this Gospel are not like holy men and women of earlier times. The world has grown callous and men’s priorities and affections have chilled and become cold. Our palate is no longer chaste; it no longer prefers the heavenly foods served in the Gospel. The cheer is as lively as ever but the guests are deadened by constant contact with the world. We have grown debauched in our judgments and corrupt in our principles; no wonder that our joys are carnal.
Error is a whore that lures the heart away from Christ and His spiritual joys. Once the mind is confused by error and begins to malign the truth, it affects the heart, poisoning it with carnal affections. And carnal affections only keep company with gross and carnal joys. Here, then, is the root of the misery of our times.
Satan has played his game cunningly among us in that he has often changed his instruments into angels of light and made gullible souls think they might find more grace and power in this artificial light than in the revelation God provides.