What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "May the congregation collect or receive money on the Sabbath?"
Answer
The provided documents suggest that in early Adventist practice, regular collections on the Sabbath in the church were not customary. Instead, it was emphasized that the biblical instruction from 1 Corinthians 16:2 (“let each one set aside a sum of money in his own house”) describes a private action at home at the beginning of the week.
Instead, the funds were often gathered through private collection boxes in households, which were emptied quarterly. However, it is also reported that on special occasions such as tent meetings on Sundays or during missionary events, donations were accepted.
No regular Sabbath collections during the year
»No regular Sabbath collections are taken throughout the year. Their method of raising funds is somewhat unusual. Each household is equipped with a small box, similar to a child's piggy bank, into which regular weekly offerings are inserted through a slot. At the end of each quarter, the church secretary collects these boxes, removes the money, and sends it to the treasurer of the association...«
The meaning of “set aside for oneself”
»This passage is cited as proof for Sunday, under the pretext that public collections were taken on that day... But does this text say that public collections were taken on the first day of the week? The whole question revolves around the phrase “set aside for oneself.” Would the act of taking money from one’s purse and placing it in a box or on a plate be a “set aside for oneself”? Certainly it would be the exact opposite; it would be laying aside from oneself. The money would be gone. This is clearly an action to be done not in a public meeting, but at home.«
Acceptance of donations at missionary events (example Sunday)
»A man... asked for the opportunity to say a few words and take a collection for the home for the homeless. ... A collection of forty dollars was taken, a donation for the home for the friendless. ... This concluded the efforts for Sunday.«
- Systematic charity in the early Adventist congregation
- Sabbath sanctification and the handling of money
- Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 16:2 by Adventists
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
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