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Part One of Seven

Our Preface to

by

A T Jones

This book contains

The principle

of

separation

of religion and state

It is a series of Bible studies given by A. T. Jones sometime during the years 1888-1898. This edition has been copied from a type-written version first published in the 1950's, which was itself copied from a General Conference Bulletin of the original period. (If anyone has an original then we would appreciate a copy). Even allowing for the inevitable mistakes in copying, the message is very clear and worth much thought. The style is unusual by today's standards, but that is because it was probably taken down in shorthand and printed as it stood. All the emphasis (coloured and bold) has been added in this edition, as well as the words in square brackets.

We have been told,

"The LORD in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones ... This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel's message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure". TM 91-92.

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The word of the LORD says,

"Associate yourselves, O you people, and you shall be broken in pieces. And give ear, all you of far countries; gird yourselves and you shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves and you shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together and it shall come to nought: speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us"!

"For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should NOT walk in the way of this people, saying, Say you not 'A confederacy', [or a union of any sort], to all them to whom this people shall say, 'a confederacy'. Neither fear you their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for [you] a Sanctuary ..." Isaiah 8:9-14.

With the above statement and the following ones from the Spirit of Prophecy, it may be seen that this study by A.T. Jones is indeed a message from the LORD, designed to separate His people from the snares of Satan and from the world.

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HOWEVER,

if, in these words, we see only the separation of the literal church and state, then we have missed the entire point of the principle, for it embraces all and any union which could be formed by God's people with the people of the world!

Therefore, we must also separate Christianity from churchianity in our understanding, for if we spell church with a capital "C" in our minds then we still have within us a union of church and state. Revelation 14:4.

Some other separations

Trade Unions

Letter 200, 1903. 2SM 142.

"The trade unions will be one of the agencies that will bring upon the earth a time of trouble such as has not been since the world began".

Letter 26, 1903. 2SM 143.

"These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions, they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God; for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue".

Letter 201, 1902. 2SM 144.

"Those who claim to be the children of God are in no case to bind up with the labour unions that are formed or that shall be formed. This the LORD forbids. Cannot those who study the prophecies see and understand what is before us?"

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Politics

Fundamentals of Christian Education 475.

"The LORD would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political schemes. We cannot labour to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty, and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath ... The people of God are not to place such men in office, for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office".

Fundamentals of Christian Education 476.

"WHAT ARE WE TO DO THEN? -

LET POLITICAL QUESTIONS ALONE.

'Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?' 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. What can there be in common between these parties? There can be no fellowship, no communion. The word fellowship means participation, partnership. God employs the strongest figures to show that there should be no union between worldly parties and those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ".

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Children's Education

Ministry of Healing 403.

"It is a terrible fact, and one that should make the hearts of parents tremble, that in so many schools and colleges to which the youth are sent for mental culture and discipline, influences prevail which misshape the character, divert the mind from life's true aims, and debase the morals. Through contact with the irreligious, the pleasure-loving, and the corrupt, many, many youth lose the simplicity and purity, the faith in God, and the spirit of self-sacrifice that Christian fathers and mothers have cherished and guarded by careful instruction and earnest prayer. Many who enter school with the purpose of fitting themselves for some line of unselfish ministry become absorbed in secular studies. An ambition is aroused to win distinction in scholarship and to gain position and honour in the world".

Ms 100, 1902. Child Guidance 305.

"Parents must regard God's word with respect, obeying its teachings. To the parents in this day, as well as to the Israelites, God declares: 'These words ... shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates'."

"Notwithstanding this plain instruction, some of God's people permit their children to attend the public schools, where they mingle with those who are corrupt in morals. In these schools their children can neither study the Bible nor learn its principles. Christian parents, you must make provision for your children to be educated in Bible principles".

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Country living

Letter 5, 1904. 2SM 141.

"Again and again the LORD has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again. Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies".

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The aim of Christian living

Matthew 13:44-46.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to treasure hid in a field; the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field".

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like to a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it".

Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 2:252.

"In order to obtain a vast treasure that is supposed to be hidden in a field, or a gem that is of great and unknown value, the man who is seeking for riches invests all his substance in that field, or uses it to purchase the precious jewel, calculating that it will increase in value on his hands and bring him the fortune that he covets."

"So should the Christian, who desires the riches of heaven, set aside all considerations that interfere with his eternal welfare, and put his soul into the work of securing the riches of Christ's love. His talents, his means, his energies, should all be applied in such a way as to win the approbation of God. Jesus directs the minds of His hearers to infinite riches, hidden where all may engage in searching for them, SURE OF BEING SUCCESSFUL, never doomed to the disappointment of fruitless toil. He came from heaven to direct the search. High and low, rich and poor, stand upon an equal footing, and none need seek in vain."

"Obedience to His will [or directions] is the one condition of success, and well may the earnest seeker afford to sell all that he has to possess this blessing of divine love - the pearl of great price".

The basis for the studies is the following Scripture:

Romans 13:1-7

"Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works [or good workers], but to the evil. Will you then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you shall have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil [or wrong], be afraid; for he bears not the sword [the symbol of force] in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil".

"Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only for wrath [or fear of punishment], but also for conscience sake [because it is right to do so]. For for this cause pay you tribute [taxes] also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear [respect] to whom fear; honour to whom honour".

On to Part Two - Chapters 1-4

Christian Patriotism

To Ancient SDA's ............ To "What's New?"

On to Part Two - Chapters 1-4

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