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?

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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.