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出埃及记生命读经 · 第174篇

金牛犊偶像的原则

The principle of the golden-calf idol
1读经： 出埃及记三十二章七至十四节；十九至二十九节。
1Scripture Reading: Exo. 32:7-14, 19-29
2在前面的信息里我们指出，读出埃及记三十二章必须找出这段记载中所蕴含的原则。在我们继续来看对付偶像和拜偶像的人以前，我们必须来看金牛犊偶像的原则。
2In the foregoing message we pointed out that in reading chapter thirty-two of Exodus we need to find out the principles implied in this record. Before we go on to consider the matter of the dealing with the idol and the idolaters, we need to consider the principle of the golden-calf idol.
3创世记虽然有拜偶像的人，但出埃及记三十二章的拜偶像却很独特。至少有二百万人从法老手中被救出来，并且从暴政之地出来。他们过了红海，经过旷野。这些人目睹神为他们施行许多伟大的神迹奇事，甚至在他们制造偶像、敬拜偶像的那些日子，他们还收取从天上降下来的吗哪。他们处在神奇妙眷顾的光景中，然而，他们却制造偶像，把偶像当作带他们出埃及、领他们到西乃山的神来敬拜。
3Although there were idol worshippers in Genesis, the worship of the idol in Exodus 32 is unique. At least two million people had been rescued out of the hand of Pharaoh and brought out of the land of tyranny. They crossed the Red Sea and passed through the wilderness. These people had witnessed many great miracles done for them by God. Even in the days when they were making the idol and worshipping it, they still gathered the manna that came down from the heavens. They were in a situation under God’s miraculous care. Nevertheless, they made an idol and worshipped it as the very God who had brought them out of Egypt and led them to Mount Sinai.
4摩西已经上山一次，也下了山，这件事百姓都晓得。摩西定规把神律法的典章告诉了他们，我信至少摩西曾经对百姓说到十诫。然后摩西被召回山上，留在那里四十天。照上下文来看，这个金牛犊偶像不是在四十天中的头几天制造的。我们已经题过，金牛犊也许是在四十天将近末了的时候制造的。
4Moses had already gone up the mountain once and descended. All the people knew about this. Moses must have told them something concerning the decree of God’s law. I believe that, at least, Moses must have spoken to the people about the Ten Commandments. Then Moses was called back to the mount and stayed there for forty days. According to the context, the idol, the golden calf, was not made in the earlier part of these forty days. As we mentioned already, the golden calf was probably made toward the end of these forty days.
两种景象
Two scenes
5出埃及记三十二章有两种景象：一个在山上，一个在山下。山上的景象很美妙，在这里帐幕及其器具的图样交给了摩西。很可能神用指头把律法刻在石版上的时候，亚伦和他的帮手正在山下造金牛犊。山顶上的景象是在进行刻律法的事，山脚下的景象却是在进行铸造偶像的事。这里的对比非常有意义。
5In Exodus 32 we have two scenes: one on the mountain and the other at the foot of the mountain. The scene on the mountain was wonderful. Here the design of the tabernacle and its furniture was given to Moses. It may have been that while God was inscribing the law on the tablets of stone with His finger, Aaron and his helpers were making the golden calf at the foot of the mountain. In the scene at the top of the mountain, the inscribing of the law was taking place. But in the scene at the foot of the mountain, the fashioning of an idol was taking place. The comparison here is very significant.
6今天神子民的光景就好比以色列人在西乃山的光景。主耶稣已经升到祂今天所在的天上；主在天上把神在地上居所的图样启示出来。在旧约里，摩西在山上。但照新约来看，主耶稣现今在天上。你如果仔细读希伯来书，你就会看见摩西在西乃山的经历是一个豫表。把帐幕的事启示给摩西，乃是豫表今天神居所的启示。祭司体系的事更是如此。启示给摩西的祭司体系，乃是豫表藉着主耶稣在天上，所启示新约的祭司体系。
6The situation of God’s people today can be compared to that of the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. The Lord Jesus has gone into the heavens, where He is today. In the heavens the Lord reveals the design concerning God’s dwelling place on earth. In the Old Testament Moses was on the mount. But according to the New Testament, the Lord Jesus is now in the heavens. If you read the book of Hebrews carefully, you will see that Moses’ experience on Mount Sinai was a type. What was revealed to Moses concerning the tabernacle was a type of today’s revelation concerning God’s dwelling place. This is true especially regarding the matter of the priesthood. The priesthood revealed to Moses was a type of the New Testament priesthood revealed through the Lord Jesus in the heavens.
7摩西留在山上的时候，神的百姓开始拜金牛犊偶像。原则上，今天基督徒中间的光景也是一样。主耶稣留在天上的时候，地上基督徒中间发生了甚么事？神的百姓在铸造并敬拜金牛犊。出埃及记三十二章的光景，与今天基督徒中间的光景非常相似。事实上，今天的光景几乎是旧约所发生之事的翻版。
7While Moses was tarrying on the mountain, God’s people began to worship the golden-calf idol. In principle, the situation is the same today among Christians. What is happening on earth among Christians while the Lord Jesus is tarrying in the heavens? Golden calves are being fashioned and worshipped by God’s people. The situation at the time of Exodus 32 and the situation among God’s people today are very similar. In fact, today’s situation is almost a copy of what happened in the Old Testament.
8摩西得着一个启示，是关乎作神居所的帐幕和事奉神的祭司体系。照样，主耶稣升天以后，也将神居所和神祭司体系的启示赐给人。在撰述新约各卷书信的时候，保罗、彼得、约翰这些使徒都与天上的基督同工，来启示神的图样。我们读新约书信的时候，能彀看见神居所的模型与图样，以及祂的祭司体系。在保罗、彼得、约翰的书信里面，我们能彀看见帐幕、约柜、灯台、陈设饼桌子、香坛、铜祭坛，洗濯盆，以及所有与神居所有关之器皿的式样。不但如此，在这些书信里面，我们也能彀看见祭司体系。这个启示在天上已经赐下，但在山下，基督徒却制造金牛犊。
8Moses received a revelation concerning the tabernacle for God’s dwelling place and the priesthood for God’s service. Likewise, after the Lord Jesus ascended to the heavens, He gave the revelation concerning the dwelling place of God and God’s priesthood. In writing the various New Testament books, apostles such as Paul, Peter, and John were working together with the Christ in heaven to reveal God’s design. As we read the New Testament Epistles, we can see the pattern and design of God’s dwelling place and His priesthood. In the Epistles of Paul, Peter, and John we can see the pattern of the tabernacle, the ark, the lampstand, the showbread table, the incense altar, the bronze altar, the laver, and all the utensils related to the dwelling place of God. Moreover, in all these Epistles we can also see the priesthood. This revelation has been given in the heavens. But at the bottom of the mountain Christians are making a golden calf.
敬拜上的搀杂
Mixture in worship
9要紧的是我们要看见，出埃及记三十二章的敬拜金牛犊是一种搀杂。享受敬拜的是偶像，而神的子民却以为是敬拜神。今天在许多基督徒中间，这是很普通的作法。基督徒敬拜的方式也许自认是适合敬拜神，但事实上，他们敬拜的对象却是神以外的东西。倘若你我有清楚、属天的眼光，我们就会晓得，今天基督徒中间许多的敬拜都是一种搀杂。有些假冒是神的东西受人敬拜，好像它真是神自己一样。
9It is important for us to see that the worship of the golden calf in Exodus 32 was a mixture. It was an idol that was worshipped, but it was worshipped in the way that God’s people were supposed to worship God. This is a common practice among many Christians today. Christians may worship in the way that is suitable to the worship of God, but actually the object of their worship may be something other than God. If we have a clear, heavenly view, we shall realize that much of the worship among Christians today is a mixture. Something that pretends to be God is worshipped as if it were actually God Himself.
10亚伦造好金牛犊以后，百姓就说：“以色列阿，这是领你出埃及地的神。”（三二4。）百姓敬拜金牛犊，仿佛它是领他们出埃及的神一样，这岂不是搀杂么？不仅如此，三十二章五至六节说：“亚伦看见，就在牛犊面前筑坛，且宣告说，明日要向耶和华守节。次日清早，百姓起来献燔祭，和平安祭。”这里我们看见，有一座坛筑在偶像面前，并且百姓献上燔祭和平安祭。这指明他们敬拜偶像，却以为是敬拜神，这完全是一种搀杂。换句话说，这种敬拜不纯洁。我们能彀把今天基督徒中间的敬拜与以色列人在西乃山的敬拜相比。以色列人拜金牛犊，乃是描绘今天基督徒中间不纯洁的敬拜。
10After Aaron made the golden calf, the people said, “This is your God, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (Exo. 32:4). The people worshipped the golden calf as if it were the very God who had brought them out of Egypt. Was that not a mixture? Furthermore, 32:5 and 6 say, “And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, A feast to Jehovah — tomorrow! And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings.” Here we see that an altar was built before the idol, and the people offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. This indicates that they worshipped the idol in the way that they were supposed to worship God. That was utterly a mixture. In other words, that worship was not pure. We can compare the worship among Christians today with that of the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. The worship of the golden calf by the children of Israel is a picture of the impure worship among Christians today.
11拜金牛犊与异教徒拜偶像不同。金牛犊是蒙救赎的子民奉救赎主的名所敬拜的。金牛犊造好以后，百姓宣告说，这就是领他们出埃及地的神。这指明他们奉耶和华神的 名来拜偶像。
11The worship of the golden calf was different from the pagan worship of idols. The golden calf was worshipped by a redeemed people in the name of the Lord their Redeemer. After the golden calf was made, the people declared that it was the Lord who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. This indicates that they worshipped an idol in the name of Jehovah their God.
12此外，他们按着正当敬拜神的方式，也就是神所命定的方式来拜偶像。他们把应当献给神的祭物献给了偶像，这是可耻的搀杂。
12Furthermore, they worshipped that idol in the way they should have worshipped God, that is, in the way ordained by God. They offered to the idol the kind of offerings that they should have offered to God. This is a shameful mixture.
13人们很容易定罪异教徒拜偶像，但按今天的说法，谁也不容易定罪我们在出埃及记三十二章所看见那一种不纯洁的敬拜、满了搀杂的敬拜。你有把握说，今天在天主堂和教堂里举行所谓的崇拜，是纯洁的敬拜神么？得着敬拜的真是神么？倘若得着敬拜的不是神，那么敬拜的对象是谁呢？如果不是纯粹敬拜神，定规是敬拜神以外的东西了。圣诗也许是向神唱的，祷告也许是献给神的，但事实上，敬拜乃是向着神以外的人、事、物。
13People would easily condemn the pagan worship of idols. But in its present-day expression it is not easy for anyone to condemn the kind of impure worship we see in Exodus 32, a worship that is full of mixture. Do you have the assurance that the so-called worship services that take place in today’s cathedrals and chapels are a pure worship of God? Is it really God who is being worshipped? If God is not the One who is being worshipped, then who is the object of worship? If the worship is not purely the worship of God, it must be the worship of something other than God. Holy songs may be sung to God and prayers may be offered to God, but actually the worship is to someone or something other than God.
没有为着神的目的来使用神的恩赐
Not using God’s gifts for God’s purpose
14我们接着来看这种敬拜的原则是甚么。金牛犊偶像的原则是：财富和宝贝（从神来的物质和属灵的恩赐”没有为着神的目的合式地使用。我们对于从神所领受物质的东西和属灵的恩赐，必须谨慎，因为我们可能没有为着神的目的，合式地使用这些恩赐。比方说，假定你有能力教导人圣经，而你用这种能力来建立一项工作。你教导圣经的能力是从神来的恩赐，但你是为着神的目的合式地使用这项恩赐，还是在神的目的以外用它来建造别的东西？如果你是后者，你就是在制造金牛犊。这种说法并不极端。我信有一天，不是在今世，就是在来世，我们都会晓得；原则上，这就是制造金牛犊，并且这是神所定罪的。今日的亚伦制造出许许多多的金牛犊来。
14Let us go on to see what is the principle of this kind of worship. The principle of the golden-calf idol is that wealth and treasures — gifts from God, both material and spiritual — are not properly used for God’s purpose. We need to be careful regarding both material things and spiritual gifts received from God, for we may not use these gifts properly for God’s purpose. For example, suppose you have the ability to teach the Bible, and you use this ability to establish a work. Your ability to teach the Bible is a gift from God. But do you use that gift properly for God’s purpose, or do you use it to build up something other than God’s purpose? If you are doing the latter, you are making a golden calf. This is not an extreme statement. I believe that one day, either in this age or in the next, we all shall realize that, in principle, this is the making of a golden calf and is condemned by God. Many golden calves have been made by today’s Aarons.
15有传福音恩赐的人也可能用这种能力来制造金牛犊。一位弟兄也许是个传福音者，神的确给他传福音的恩赐。但这位弟兄要问问自己，他运用这项恩赐的目的是甚么？他的目的纯洁么？真诚么？这些问题值得我们认真考虑。
15Those with the gift of gospel preaching may also use this ability to make a golden calf. A certain brother may be an evangelist. God has truly given him the gift of preaching the gospel. But this brother needs to ask himself what is his purpose in exercising this gift. Is his purpose pure? Is it genuine? These questions deserve serious consideration.
16我们需要察验自己，问问自己在作甚么，以及我们作这件事的目的是甚么。对于有恩赐的基督教工人，没有一个试探比工作本身更大。我们所作的工作就是最大的试探。如果你研读教会历史以及许多传道人、布道家的传记，你就会看见许多人建造了偶像。有些人甚至把自己铸造成偶像；也就是说，他们自己成了一个偶像，成了金牛犊。这是根据金牛犊偶像的原则，就是没有为着神的目的，合式地使用从神所领受的恩赐。
16We need to examine ourselves and ask what we are doing and what is our purpose for doing it. With Christian workers who are gifted, no temptation is greater than the work itself. The work we are doing is itself the biggest temptation. If you study the history of the church and the biographies of different preachers and evangelists, you will see that many have built idols. Some even fashioned themselves into an idol; that is, they themselves became an idol, a golden calf. This is according to the principle of the golden-calf idol, the principle of not properly using for God’s purpose the gifts received from God.
神的赎民所造的偶像
An idol made by God’s redeemed people
17金牛犊的偶像与异教的偶像不同，要描述金牛犊的偶像很不容易，我们不该称它为基督徒的偶像。也许我们可以说，出埃及记三十二章里的金牛犊，乃是神的赎民所制造的偶像。异教徒没有制造金牛犊的偶像来敬拜，惟有神所救赎的子民，就是出了埃及、蒙逾越节羊羔的血所救赎的人，甚至他们制造偶像的时候，还享受神的神迹；这些人就是制造金牛犊的人。以色列人的确不是异教徒，他们制造金牛犊的时候，甚至还在吃从天上神奇地降下来的吗哪。不但如此，他们也认识耶和华的名，并晓得怎样以祭物来敬拜神。但即使他们不是异教徒，偶像却是从他们中间制造出来。
17The golden-calf idol is different from a pagan idol. It is difficult to describe this golden-calf idol. We should not call it a Christian idol. Perhaps we may say that the golden calf in Exodus 32 is a made-by-God’s-redeemed-people idol. Pagans do not make a golden-calf idol and worship it. Only a God-redeemed people, those who were redeemed by the blood of the Passover lamb, who were brought out of Egypt, and who enjoyed the miracles of God, even while they were making the idol, were the ones to make a golden calf. The children of Israel certainly were not pagans. Even while they were making the golden calf, they were eating the manna that miraculously came from heaven. Furthermore, they knew the name of Jehovah and knew how to worship God with the offerings. But even though they were not pagans, an idol was made among them.
18不要以为今天基督徒中间没有偶像。基督徒没有异教的偶像、外邦的偶像，但他们也许有基督徒所制造的偶像。许多偶像是基督徒所制造的，尤其是基督教的领头人、布道家和圣经教师所制造出来的。
18Do not think that there are no idols among Christians today. Christians do not have pagan idols, heathen idols. But they may nonetheless have Christian-made idols. Many idols have been made by Christians, especially by Christian leaders, evangelists, and Bible teachers.
分裂、拜偶像、淫乱
Division, idolatry, and fornication
19如果你晓得新约里的原则，你就会懂得，分裂、拜偶像、淫乱这三件事彼此息息相关。分裂与拜偶像并行，而拜偶像与属灵的、肉身的淫乱并行。事实上，分裂就是属灵的淫乱。
19If you know the principles in the New Testament, you will realize that three matters are related to one another: division, idolatry, and fornication. Division goes with idolatry, and idolatry, with fornication, both spiritual and physical. Actually division is spiritual fornication.
20以色列人中间一有了金牛犊，立刻就起了分裂。假定在出埃及记三十二章，神的赎民不只造了一个偶像，那里就立刻会有另一个分裂。如果有十个偶像，就会有十个分裂。
20As soon as there was the golden calf among the children of Israel, there was a division. Suppose there had been more than one idol made by God’s redeemed people in Exodus 32. Immediately there would have been another division. If there had been ten idols, there would have been ten divisions.
21基督徒中间的分裂与奉主名所建造的偶像有关。假定有一班基督徒聚在一起敬拜主，但过了一段时间以后，有些弟兄不满意这个团体的光景，就决定在同一个地方开始另一个聚会，这就是与拜偶像有关的分裂。在林前一章保罗问了这个问题：“难道基督已经分开了么？”（林前一13，另译。）同样的原则，我们也可以问说：“我们的神是分开的么？”既然我们都敬拜同一位神，我们有甚么理由分开呢？分裂可以表明，至少暗指有些人在敬拜真神以外的东西。我们可能奉耶和华的名去拜某样东西、拜某个人，但这样东西并不是主自己。此外，我们也可能以应当献给神的祭物、以应当敬拜神的方式，来敬拜神以外的东西。
21The divisions among Christians may be related to idols built in the name of the Lord. Suppose a group of Christians meet together to worship the Lord. But after a period of time some brothers, unhappy with the situation in that group, decide to start another meeting in the same locality. That is a division which involves idolatry. In 1 Corinthians 1 Paul asks the question, “Has Christ been divided?” (1 Cor. 1:13). In the same principle we may ask, “Is our God divided?” Since we all worship the same God, what reason is there for us to be divided? Division may indicate, or at least imply, that some are worshipping something other than the genuine God. We may worship something or someone in the name of Jehovah, but that thing is not the Lord Himself. Furthermore, we may worship something other than God with offerings that should be offered to God and in the way in which we should worship God.
22我们已经看见，分裂与拜偶像有关。一个人犯了拜偶像的罪，就可能继续犯淫乱的罪。淫乱就是混乱的意思。如果人与神的关系混乱了，他怎能避免与人的关系也混乱？在启示录第二章写给推雅推喇教会的书信中，我们看见拜偶像与淫乱。拜偶像与淫乱这两个邪恶的姊妹，总是成对而行。如果一个在场，另一个也必同在。
22We have seen that division is related to idolatry. When a person commits idolatry, he may go on to commit fornication. Fornication means confusion. If anyone is confused with respect to God, how can he avoid being confused with respect to man? In the letter to Thyatira in Revelation 2 we see both idolatry and fornication. Idolatry and fornication, two evil sisters, always go in a pair. If the one is present, the other will be present also.
23分裂与淫乱主要的根源就是拜偶像。亚伦制造金牛犊，就引起分裂。以色列人中间的分裂，乃是由于拜金牛犊。
23The main source of division and fornication is idolatry. Aaron made a golden calf, and that caused a division. The division among the children of Israel was due to the worship of the golden calf.
24原则上，制造金牛犊就是滥用神的恩赐。以色列人用神奇妙地赐给他们的金子来制造牛犊。因着神奇妙地制伏了埃及人，他们就把金子交给以色列人。神的心意乃是要用交给以色列人的金子来建造祂的帐幕。但在帐幕建造以前，百姓滥用金子来自我妆饰，然后用妆饰自己的金子来变成一只金牛犊。这里我们看见一个原则：拜偶像包含了滥用神所给我们的恩赐，没有为着神的目的来使用祂的恩赐。
24In principle the making of the golden calf was a matter of abusing God’s gifts. The children of Israel used the gold miraculously given them by God to make the calf. Because God miraculously subdued the Egyptians, they gave gold to the children of Israel. God’s intention was that the gold given to the children of Israel would be used for the building up of His tabernacle. But before the tabernacle was built, the people abused the gold by using it for self-beautification. Then the gold that was used to beautify themselves was turned into a golden calf. Here we see the principle that idolatry involves abusing what God has given us and not using His gifts for His purpose.
偶像与消遣和娱乐有关
The idol related to amusement and entertainment
25百姓也为着消遣和娱乐，滥用神所赐给他们的。拜金牛犊乃是一种消遣和娱乐，以色列人用这个偶像来自娱。出埃及记三十二章六节说：“百姓…就坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。”摩西和约书亚下山的时候，听见歌唱的声音，他们“看见牛犊，又看见人跳舞。”（18～19。）这是一幅消遣和娱乐的图画。我们该因此受警戒，不要有为着消遣和娱乐的聚会。不错，我们有对主的享受，但这不是娱乐的一种形式。
25The people also abused what God had given them and used it for their amusement and entertainment. The worship of the golden calf was a kind of amusement and entertainment. The children of Israel amused themselves with this idol. Exodus 32:6 says, “The people sat down to eat and to drink, and they rose up to play.” When Moses and Joshua came down from the mountain, they heard the sound of singing, and they “saw the calf and the dancing” (vv. 18-19). This is a picture of amusement and entertainment. We should be warned by this not to have meetings for the purpose of our amusement and entertainment. Yes, we have the enjoyment of the Lord, but this is not a form of entertainment.
26我要请你们想想今天基督徒中间盼望娱乐的光景。我们很难找到一处所谓“教会的崇拜”是一点娱乐也没有的；他们用种种形式的娱乐来吸引群众。如果一个地方没有娱乐，人就不愿到那里去，他们要到有娱乐的地方去。今天许多人为着娱乐的缘故去敬拜金牛犊。
26I would ask you to consider the situation among Christians today regarding the desire for entertainment. It is difficult to find a so-called church service where there is not any entertainment. Various forms of entertainment are used to attract a crowd. If there is no entertainment in a certain place, people will not want to go there. They want to go where they will be entertained. Many today worship some kind of golden calf for the sake of their entertainment.
27我们需要谨慎，不滥用神物质或属灵的恩赐。神所给我们物质的东西，没有一样该用来消遣和娱乐。倘若我们这样使用物质的东西，我们就会有金牛犊。照样，属灵的恩赐，如教导和传讲的恩赐，也不该为着消遣和娱乐来加以滥用并篡夺。有一个危机，就是那些得着属灵恩赐的人也许会滥用这些恩赐，为着他们自己的目的，为着自己的消遣和娱乐，来建造某样东西。这就是制造金牛犊。
27We need to be careful not to abuse God’s material gifts or His spiritual gifts. None of the material things given to us by God should be used for our amusement and entertainment. If we use material things in this way, we shall have a golden calf. Likewise, spiritual gifts, such as the gifts of teaching and preaching, should not be abused or usurped for our amusement and entertainment. There is the danger that those who have received spiritual gifts may abuse these gifts to build up something for their own purpose, for their own amusement and entertainment. This is to make a golden calf.
28如果我们真看见这个原则，我们就会晓得，今天基督徒中间的光景何等可怜、何等可悲。几乎到处是金牛犊，人们向金牛犊歌唱，赞美金牛犊，在金牛犊面前欢乐。人们在金牛犊面前吃喝、运动、跳舞。他们也许说他们是在赞美神、向神歌唱，并且在神面前欢乐。但他们必须问说，得着敬拜的是谁─是耶和华神，还是金牛犊的金子？
28If we truly see this principle, we shall realize how pitiful and even tragic is the situation among Christians today. There are golden calves almost everywhere. People sing to a golden calf, praise it, and rejoice before it. In the presence of a golden calf, people eat, drink, sport, even dance. They may claim to be praising God, singing to God, and rejoicing before God. But we must ask who is being worshipped — Jehovah God, or the god of the golden calf?
29为着这种光景以及这样的交通，我一直向主迫切祷告。我必须向主的百姓指出这个原则。然而，我不愿走极端。我信我在本篇信息中论到这件事，并没有太离谱。我必须作见证，在我灵里深处，我看见出埃及记三十二章的景象适用于今天。我也能彀作见证，历年来，我一直儆醒着，不为着自己的目的、为着自己的消遣或娱乐，来建造甚么东西。在神看来，凡是为着自己的目的或娱乐所建造的东西，都是金牛犊。这样的牛犊总是会引起分裂。金牛犊一再地铸造出来，而敬拜这些金牛犊的结果就是分裂。今天这种光景的确可能在基督徒中间一再重复。
29Concerning this situation and concerning my speaking about it, I have prayed desperately to the Lord. It is necessary for me to point out the principle to the Lord’s people. However, I do not want to go to an extreme. I do not believe that in this message I have gone too far regarding this matter. I must testify that deep in my spirit I have a view of the scene of Exodus 32 as it applies today. I can also testify that through the years I have been on the alert not to build something for my own purpose or for my amusement or entertainment. In the sight of God, anything we build for our purpose or entertainment is a golden calf. Such a calf will always cause division. Again and again, golden calves have been fashioned, and the result of the worship of these golden calves has been division. There is a real possibility that this situation will be repeated among Christians today.
30我们都必须看见对主纯洁的敬拜，和搀杂的敬拜之间的不同。搀杂的敬拜就是奉主的名拜金牛犊。在这样的敬拜里，人们以应当敬拜主的方式来敬拜牛犊。我们已经看见，这与异教的敬拜不同，因为搀杂的敬拜乃是奉主的名并以应当敬拜主的方式，来敬拜偶像。
30We all need to see the difference between the pure worship of the Lord and worship that is a mixture. Worship that is a mixture is worship of a golden calf in the name of the Lord. In this kind of worship people worship a calf in the way they should worship the Lord. We have seen that this is different from pagan worship, for worship that is a mixture is a matter of worshipping an idol in the name of the Lord and in the way the Lord should be worshipped.
人造的神迹
Man-made miracles
31出埃及记三十二章二十一节说：“摩西对亚伦说，这百姓向你作了甚么？你竟使他们陷在大罪里。”亚伦想要为自己申辩，说：“他们对我说，你为我们作神，可以在我们前面引路；因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭了甚么事。我对他们说，凡有金环的，可以摘下来，他们就给了我，我把金环扔在火中，这牛犊便出来了。”（23～24。）在创世记里，雅各吩咐他的家属把耳环摘下来，埋在一棵橡树底下，使他们纯纯洁洁的，上伯特利去，给真神筑一座坛。（创三五2～4。）亚伦也吩咐百姓把耳环摘下来，但他这么作的目的大不相同。亚伦告诉摩西，他把金子扔在火中，牛犊便出来了。亚伦想要说，牛犊是藉着一种神迹制造出来的。也许亚伦说：“我把金子扔在火中，这牛犊便神奇地出来了。这岂不是属于神的东西么？我怎么会作这样的东西？这是一个神迹。”这个“神迹”不是神行出来的，而是亚伦的手行出来的。
31Exodus 32:21 says, “And Moses said to Aaron, What has this people done to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?” Aaron tried to excuse himself by saying, “And they said to me, make for us a god who shall go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt — we do not know what has become of him. And I said to them, Whoever has any gold, let him tear it off; and they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out” (vv. 23-24). In Genesis Jacob commanded his household to take off their earrings and bury them under an oak so that they may be pure to go up to Bethel to build an altar to the true God (Gen. 35:2-4). Aaron also told the people to take off their earrings, but he did so for a very different purpose. Aaron told Moses that he threw the gold into the fire and a calf came out. Perhaps Aaron was trying to say that it was through some kind of miracle that the calf was made. Maybe Aaron was saying, “I threw the gold into the fire, and this calf came out miraculously. Wasn’t that something of God? How could I do something like this? It was a miracle.” This “miracle” was wrought by Aaron’s hands, not by God.
32今天基督徒中间“人造的神迹”比比皆是。比方说，有些传道人宣称他们的聚会中有许多病得医治的事例。然而，这些医治也许不是来自神的手，而是来自那些传道人的手。许多年前，我参加过这样的聚会，观察到许多人造医治的事例。在有些情况里，人暂时得了医治，不久以后，又旧病复发。然而，那些带领这些聚会的人会夸口说，这些医治是真的。事实上，他们在聚会中所有的乃是金牛犊。他们宣称有些事情是神所行的，事实上却是人的努力、鼓动、广告所成就的。我不相信今天群众环绕着一些传道人，乃是神行神迹的结果。不，金牛犊不是神奇地从火中出来的，而是人手铸造出来的。
32Today it is common for Christians to have man-made miracles. For example, certain preachers may claim that there are many cases of healings in their meetings. However, these healings may not come from God’s hand, but from the hand of those preachers themselves. Years ago, I attended such a meeting and observed many cases of man-made healings. In some instances people are healed temporarily. After a short while, their illness returns. Nevertheless, those who conduct these meetings may boast that these healings are genuine. Actually what they have in their meetings is a golden calf. The claim may be made that certain things are done by God when they are actually accomplished by human effort, promotion, and advertisement. I do not believe that the crowds that gather around certain preachers today are the result of miracles done by God. No, the golden calf did not come out of the fire miraculously; it was fashioned by the hands of man.
33如果我们明了金牛犊偶像的原则，我们就会谨慎，不“把金子扔在火中”，也不用雕刻的器具来铸造金子。我们会恐惧战兢，免得用自己的能力来制造金牛犊。我常常与领头的和同工们交通，我们不该作得太多，原因就在这里。如果甚么东西真出于主，祂会成就，我们用不著作这么多。如果我们想要凭自己作得太多，最终就会造出金牛犊。我们都必须谨慎，因为甚至在地方教会里，我们也可能制造金牛犊。我们都必须看见金牛犊偶像的原则，并且因此受警戒。
33If we are clear concerning the principle of the golden-calf idol, we shall be careful not to “throw gold into the fire” and not to shape gold with our engraving tools. We shall be fearful lest we use our ability to make a golden calf. This is the reason I have often fellowshipped with the leading ones and the co-workers that we should not do too much. If something is truly of the Lord, He will accomplish it. There is no need for us to do so much. If we try to do too much on our own, we may end up making a golden calf. We all need to be careful, for even in the local churches it is possible for us to make golden calves. We all need to see the principle of the golden-calf idol and be warned by it.