Lesson Study #3 - All That My Eyes DESIRED

It's time to get into this week's study, therefore, here is the direct link:

http://www.ssnet.org/qrtrly/eng/07a/less03.html

Let the discussion begin.

By the way, it seems to be a continuation from last week's study in the sense that all is vanity.

I found this interesting sentence in the Sabbath Afternoon section:


Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

How can there be a wrong study of theology?

Are any of us guilty of that in any of our theological discussions/studies here at MSDAOL?

It seems like many Christians in the past interpreted Eccl. 2:2 as stating that laughing is a sin.

I never saw my father laugh, and hardly even smile. But then my Mother, a real saint, told me the story of the little girl watching a cow by the fence, asking her mother if that cow was a Christian.

- Why, asked the mother.

- Because it has such a long face!

It amazed me reading the story of the famous M. L. Andreasen, which I have referred to elsewhere here on MSDAOL, when he discovered that Ellen White was laughing.

Doesn't Scripture elsewhere tell us to be happy?

======

Edited BSDAOL to MSDAOL. - Daryl

Laughing is a sin?

I think we can find many Bible references that will tell us that laughing isn't a sin.

Then again, it may depend on the type of laughter.

Context is important.

More than being possible, I think this is common.

The "humble and seeking heart" is crucial. I must be humble enough to know that I have error to unlearn, and seek the truth that I must learn. Unless I am ready to be taught what I need, then theology doesn't do me any good.

How many of us are guilty of studying the Bible to prove someone else wrong? How about reading a verse and having "So and so needs to read this!" immediately pop into our heads? How about going through devotions where every verse is "perfect" for somebody, but none for us?

Lucifer knew all about God, but it didn't do him any good. Knowing about God will do us the same amount of good. What we need is to know God to the point of turning us into new creatures.

Sometimes studying the Bible to prove somebody wrong is a good thing, as this is how I ended up in the SDA Church.

Sometimes one proves oneself wrong in bible study.

Once when Ellen White was preaching in the Battle Creek Tabernacle she wondered why so many in the audience were smiling and subduing their amusement. When she turned around she saw the reason behind her.

Then she remarked that she had always taken her son Willie along to church in a baby cradle. As soon as the service started he'd fall asleep.

- As you see, he still follows that same habit, she remarked.

So there is a difference between telling trifling anecdotes to create special effects, and having a sense of humor.

And there is nothing wrong with having a sense of humour.

In connection with Sunday's study, it seems that Solomon, in his earlier years, didn't always see things the way he did in his later years.

What brought about this change in his attitude?

vs.



There are several ways to understand this. Here are some:

1. EGW did not follow her own advice
2. We do not understand what is meant by the 1st quote
3. We do not understand what really happened in the 2nd quote
4. The TM quote is wrong

Anything else?

Which one is most likely to be correct?

This is a reminder of the EGW counsel to go on searching if you have a question. Then assemble it all before you draw a conclusion. This prevents you from establishing a doctrine on one quote alone. Go on studying until you see the issue from all sides. This goes for Scripture and it goes for the writings of EGW as well.

Our official guide at Elmshaven told us the story from Battle Creek.

More context:

What can the minister do without Jesus? Verily, nothing. Then if he is a frivolous, joking man, he is not prepared to perform the duty laid upon him by the Lord. "Without Me," says Christ, "ye can do nothing." The flippant words that fall from his lips, the trifling anecdotes, the words spoken to create a laugh, are all
143
condemned by the word of God and are entirely out of place in the sacred desk. {TM 142.2}

I tell you plainly, brethren, unless the ministers are converted, our churches will be sickly and ready to die. God's power alone can change the human heart and imbue it with the love of Christ. God's power alone can correct and subdue the passions and sanctify the affections. All who minister must humble their proud hearts, submit their will to the will of God, and hide their life with Christ in God. {TM 143.1}

What is the object of the ministry? Is it to mix the comical with the religious? The theater is the place for such exhibitions. If Christ is formed within, if the truth with its sanctifying power is brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul, you will not have jolly men, neither will you have sour, cross, crabbed men to teach the precious lessons of Christ to perishing souls. {TM 143.2}


It appears to me that this does not speak against such an event as for instance when Ellen would comment her son sleaping, but rather the kind of preacher who has nothing to say and therefore replace substance with jokes.


When the worshipers enter the place of meeting, they should do so with decorum, passing quietly to their seats. If there is a stove in the room, it is not proper to crowd about it in an indolent, careless attitude. Common talking, whispering, and laughing should not be permitted in the house of worship, either before or after the service. Ardent, active piety should characterize the worshipers. {5T 492.1}
If some have to wait a few minutes before the meeting begins, let them maintain a true spirit of devotion by silent meditation, keeping the heart uplifted to God in prayer that the service may be of special benefit to their own hearts and lead to the conviction and conversion of other souls. They should remember that heavenly messengers are in the house. We all lose much sweet communion with God by our restlessness, by not encouraging moments of reflection and prayer. The spiritual condition needs to be often reviewed and the mind and heart drawn toward the Sun of Righteousness. If when the people come into the house of worship, they have genuine reverence for the Lord and bear in mind that they are in His presence, there will be a sweet eloquence in silence. The whispering and laughing and talking which might be without sin in a common business place should find no sanction in the house where God is worshiped. The mind should be prepared to hear the word of God, that it may have due weight and suitably impress the heart. {5T 492.2}


This obviously is concerned with behaviour in the church of congregation and pastor. The point appear to be, 'you are in church for one purpose only, to meet with God, and whatever else you may want to do should be done outside of the church'. This might be a problem with Ellen commenting on her sons sleap.

Seeing nobody answered my question for me, I believe the following quote from Sunday's section answers my question:


So what did Solomon do?

Monday's section tells us that "Solomon, finding wisdom a vain endeavor, goes after pleasure instead." This is obvious in the lifestyle he lived re wine, women, and song. Solomon pursued all that his eyes desired, which corresponds to the title of this week's study, which bring me to the quote from Wednesday's section.


In the end, both Solomon and this person felt that way.

What about us? Are we pursuing material things to the neglect of spiritual things? Isn't this what finally happened to Solomon? He didn't start out that way, however, his material gain crowded out whatever he once had spiritually.

Could we also be guilty of crowding out God in our daily life?

I did a bit of research a few years ago, and found more than one SOP quote relating to levity, jesting, joking, etc. After reading through the 120 pages of material, I concluded that levity, jesting, joking, etc. have no place in the Christian's life. But to this day, I'm still trying to see all sides of the issue.

So, Pastor Johann, what do you think is going on between what EGW wrote and what she did? Is there a discrepancy there? Or do we just not understand what's really happening?

That is very true for many of us. But Satan has an even more sneaky attack.

He can use church positions and activities to gratify our fleshly desires for fame and success. Many crowd out God by being active in church.

That's an interesting thought.

Is this what happened to the Scribes, the Pharisees, etc???

Those who are active in the church today had better do some self-examining as the Scriptures says.

And a guy named Arnold. And the struggle to extricate himself from the trap continues to this day.

As you well know many conservative SDAs regard M L Andreasen as one of the greatest authorities of SDA doctrine. Many do not realize that one of the most vivid descriptions of Ellen White was told by MLA. You find quite a few of his unpublished manuscripts in the book Without Fear or Favor by Virginia Steinweg, R&HPA 1979.

“Hitherto I had accepted the testimonies of others without any critical appraisal or profound conviction one way or the other. Now, however, [in 1909] I had come to a point in life where I must make definite decisions for myself . . .

“This led me to consider a journey to St. Helena, California, where Mrs. White resided at that time. I wished to have firsthand knowledge as far as it was obtainable . . .

“I arrived in St. Helena and was cordially received by Mrs. White . . .. I had brought with me many quotations from her writings that were of outstanding interest either for their theological import or their beauty of expression.

“In my own mind I was convinced that Sister White had never written them as they appeared in print . . .

He goes on to tell that on this visit he discovered in Ellen’s own handwriting a quotation that “was revolutionary and compelled a complete revision of my former view—and that of the denomination—on the deity of Christ.” – but that is another subject.

“When I knew her, Sister White was an aged woman, but in full possession of her faculties… I visited her once early in the morning but at whatever hour I came, she was already at work. There were some who claimed that she was already in her dotage. She must have heard this, for one morning she gave me eight pages to read of what she had written that morning. After I had read it, she smiled at me and said in a playful voice, ‘That’s pretty good, isn’t it, for an old woman in her dotage!’ and then she laughed. The first time I heard Sister White laugh I was shocked, for I did not think that a person in her position should laugh. But laugh she did at times, a sweet, quiet, girlish laugh, altogether appropriate. She was good company and not all the stern, demanding, and commanding personality I had pictured her to be. She was a mother in Israel, and I came to love her.

“When I finally bade her farewell, it was with the profound conviction that I had been face to face with a manifestation and a work I could account for only on the grounds of divine guidance . . . The writings of Sister White are true messages of God for this church and that no one can ignore them and disobey them except at great, infinitely great loss.” Excerpts from pp. 75-78.

That was a very touching post, with very good quotes, regarding EGW, especially the last paragraph.

This post is deserving being reproduced in the appropriate and already existing topic regarding EGW the person and the writings of EGW.

When I get a chance, and if I don't forget, I will locate that topic and reproduce this post there, or ask Pastor Johann to do that for me.

As we were getting deep into the topic on laughter, from this point onward, that is any posts previous to my last post here and the response I made to Pastor Johann's post, to the Christian Living forum for further discussion there.

Here is the link to the new topic created from posts from this one:

http://www.maritime-sda-online.org/forum...age=1#Post84170

From Thursday:

This is very true, especially the part about someone coming along and wrecking your legacy. Is there a way to have a lasting legacy, one that's safe?

This week's study, like last week's, are all about how Solomon sees everything, including wisdom, as all vanity.

In the end Solomon sees the same fate for both the fool and the wise. Both die, and somebody else takes their place. Not a very good legacy in Solomon's mind, as well as in many people's minds, but not so in the minds of the people of God.

There is a legacy for the people of God, that even Solomon, with all his wisdom, has lost sight of. The bottom of Thrusday's section speaks to this legacy.