No Jerusalem centers, no kingly power

[Stan]

"In the work of the Lord in these last days there should be no Jerusalem centers, no kingly power. And the work in the different countries is not to be tied up by contracts to the work centering in Battle Creek, for this is not God's plan. Brethren are to counsel together; for we are just as much under the control of God in one part of His vineyard as in another.” Ellen White, General Conference Bulletin, 1903. 

 

[debbym]

This thought glorifies the grand work of the Holy Spirit to fully direct the work in different cultures, and lands, rather than the authority of man.  To counsel together is definitely not to command one another.

[Stan]

Thank to both of you.

[Gregory Matthews]

Stan:  Thanks for bringing to our attention.  It is of value.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

what is a "Jerusalem center"?

[Gregory Matthews]

Hebrew/Jewish worship was centered in Jerusalem.  That is where the Temple was located and worship centered there.

EGW was telling us that SDA worship should not be centered in the General Conference.

IOW the General Conference should not be voting on who should be ordained in the various parts of the world.

 

 

 

[Unity]

The source of the EGW quote is in Testimonies Volume 8, Section 4, Chapter 36, Page 232 paragraph 6.  That quote must be read within the context of the letter she was writing.  Reading the foreward titled "The Times of Volume 8" would also be good.  Reading the chapter, and even the section would be good also.

The "General Conference Bulletin April 10 2003" that the original poster quoted from is entitled "Extracts From the Testimonies".  So please refer to the Testimonies for the full explanation of something that was written 112 years ago for people who were much more aware of what the issues it was addressing entailed.

[Gregory Matthews]

It should be stated that the term "no Jerusalem centers" was made in several EGW publications.  To  study  context, one look at the multiple sources.

Here is a partial example of what the EGW Estate lists a use of that term:

Church Authority Not Vested in One Man.--When this power which God has placed in the church is accredited to one man, and he is invested with the authority to be judgment for other minds, then the true Bible order is

 

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changed. Satan's efforts upon such a man's mind will be most subtle and sometimes overpowering, because through this mind he thinks he can affect many others. Your position on leadership is correct, if you give to the highest organized authority in the church what you have given to one man. God never designed that His work should bear the stamp of one man's mind and one man's judgment.--3T 493.(See 9T 260, 261.)  {PM 129.3} 
     No Jerusalem Centers.--In the work of the Lord for these last days there should be no Jerusalem centers, no kingly power. And the work in the different countries is not to be bound by contracts to the work centering in Battle Creek, for this is not God's plan. Brethren are to counsel together, for we are just as much under the control of God in one part of His vineyard as in another. Brethren are to be one in heart and soul, even as Christ and the Father are one. Teach this, practice this, that we may be one with Christ in God, all working to build up one another.  {PM 130.1} 
     The kingly power formerly revealed in the General Conference at Battle Creek is not to be perpetuated. The publishing institution is not to be a kingdom of itself. It is essential that the principles that govern in General Conference affairs should be maintained in the management of the publishing work and the sanitarium work. One is not to think that the branch of the work with which he is connected is of vastly more importance than other branches.--8T 232, 233.  {PM 130.2} 
     God has not set any kingly power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to control the whole body or to control any branch of the work. He has not provided that the burden of leadership shall rest upon a few men. Responsibilities are distributed among a large number of competent men.--8T 236.  {PM 130.3} 

[Gregory Matthews]

Here is a longer quote from 8T:

 In the past I have written much upon this subject, and I

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must now repeat the admonitions given, for it seems difficult for my brethren to understand their perilous position.  {8T 231.4} 

     "The Lord forbids that every sanitarium and bathhouse established should be brought under one control--bound up with the medical institution at Battle Creek. The managers of the Battle Creek Sanitarium have their hands full now. They should devote their strength to the work of making this sanitarium what it should be.  {8T 232.1} 

     "One man is not to think that he can be conscience for all the medical workers. Human beings are to look to the Lord God of heaven alone for wisdom and guidance.  {8T 232.2} 

     "In establishing and developing medical institutions, our brethren must not be asked to work in accordance with the plans of a kingly, ruling power. A change must be brought about. The plan to fasten every medical institution to the central organization at Battle Creek must be relinquished. This plan God forbids.  {8T 232.3} 

     "For years I have been instructed that there is danger, constant danger, that our brethren will look to their fellow men for permission to do this or that, instead of looking to God. Thus they become weaklings, and permit themselves to be bound with man-made restrictions disapproved by God. The Lord can impress minds and consciences to do His work under bonds to Him, and in a spirit of fraternity that is in accordance with the principles of His law. . . .  {8T 232.4} 

     "God knows the future. He is the One to whom we are to look for guidance. Let us trust Him to direct us in the development of the various branches of His work. Let none attempt to labor in accordance with unsanctified impulses. . . .  {8T 232.5} 

     "The division of the General Conference into District Union Conferences was God's arrangement. In the work of

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the Lord for these last days there should be no Jerusalem centers, no kingly power. And the work in the different countries is not to be bound by contracts to the work centering in Battle Creek, for this is not God's plan. Brethren are to counsel together, for we are just as much under the control of God in one part of His vineyard as in another. Brethren are to be one in heart and soul, even as Christ and the Father are one. Teach this, practice this, that we may be one with Christ in God, all working to build up one another.  {8T 232.6} 

     "The kingly power formerly revealed in the General Conference at Battle Creek is not to be perpetuated. The publishing institution is not to be a kingdom of itself. It is essential that the principles that govern in General Conference affairs should be maintained in the management of the publishing work and the sanitarium work. One is not to think that the branch of the work with which he is connected is of vastly more importance than other branches.  {8T 233.1} 

     "Educational work must be done in every sanitarium that shall be established. God has control of the work, and no one is to feel that everything done in the sanitariums established must first be submitted to one group of men. This course God forbids. The same God who has instructed the physicians at Battle Creek will instruct the men and women who are called to do service for the Master in various parts of His vineyard.  {8T 233.2} 

     "Human laws and human arrangements are being framed that are not acceptable to God. They will not prove a savor of life unto life. I am under the necessity of lifting the danger signal. The managers of every one of our institutions need to become more intelligent in regard to their individual work, not by depending upon another institution, but, while preserving the identity of their work, by looking to God as their

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instructor and by revealing their faith in Him through whole-hearted service. Then they will develop talents and capabilities."[/quote]

 

[Unity]

If someone reading those quotes concludes that they necessarily apply to what is happening in today's General Conference governance in regards to Women's Ordination, then please read the foreword of 8T (Testimonies Volume 8) that explains what was happening in the church organization in 1903.  It mentions the Review and Herald publishing ministry of the church, which will clarify the quotes by Gregory Matthews from PM (Publishing Ministry) that Ellen White partially reused in 8T.  One may also need to read the entirety of chapter 36 of 8T, which for one thing includes who specifically was being written to and should help clarify exactly what she is saying. And first few pages section 4 is helpful.

[Unity]

All of that can be found at egwwritings.org.

[Gregory Matthews]

It is in the individual advice EGW gave to people that we look for generalities to apply to us today.  Yes, context is important.

[Unity]

Quote

It is in the individual advice EGW gave to people that we look for generalities to apply to us today.  Yes, context is important.

My concern is that it is very easy to interpret generalities from EGW's writings for issues that have recently been impressed upon our view and dwelled upon.  It isn't as easy to interpret generalities from issues that occurred before any of us were born. The latter is how we must interpret generalities, because obviously the issues occurred 111 years ago.  The latter is harder than the former because we will need to do more than just read the copy & paste quotes provided above.

It will be harder because when we read about the past issues that caused EGW to write, we will now need to be carefully mindful while we read because the issues that have more recently been impressed upon the mind, or dwelled upon, will more readily influence our interpretation of what she wrote.  For example you brought up Women's Ordination. Whereas if we were reading her writing in 1904 it would be a lot easier.  But now we need to carefully rid self of the influence of that recent issue by always mindfully focusing on the past issue that the author had in mind while writing.

I can see that past issue that the quotes are dealing with most clearly after reading the foreword of Testimonies Volume 8, all of chapter 36, and the first few pages of section 4 which that chapter is contained in.  Then when I read the copy and pasted quotes I can interpret them without finding generalities that are applicable to Women's Ordination or any other issue that that the General Conference is dealing with in Maryland.

[Gregory Matthews]

Unity, there is some value in what you are saying.

Honest people can differ and do differ.