Commentary on "The Environment"

STEVE PITCHER

 

Day 6: Thursday, April 29, 2010

 

Today’s lesson is titled "Sun Worshipers". I must admit that when I first saw the title I thought that it was going to be a lesson about Sabbath keepers versus “Sunday keepers.” I was pleasantly surprised. However I must admit that other than the mention of the importance of sunlight and vitamin D, there simply is no spiritual substance to the lesson.

The one question in today’s lesson refers to three Bible texts. Then the questions are asked:

What was going on here? Why, in one sense, would it make sense to worship the sun?

After reading the texts given, there is no reason given, not even from the unbelievers about why it would make sense to worship the sun. To extrapolate from these passages issues related to health, sunlight and vitamin D is, again, to fall into the practice of eisegesis. (See commentary on Monday’s lesson for definition.)

Simply stated, there is no Biblical reason (from God or from any unbelievers mentioned in the Bible) as to why worshipping the sun would be a good thing. In effect, it is a non-issue. Oh yes, it is an issue when people worship false gods, but the lesson author takes the discussion away from the Scriptural passages mentioned and leads into a discussion of the importance of sunlight.

Perhaps we can read the Biblical texts mentioned (in full, not just the few verses mentioned in the lesson) and come to understand how important it is to avoid worshipping false gods, or how important it is to avoid worshipping God falsely.

 

Summary

1. Sunlight and vitamin D are important.
2. There is no spiritual lesson to be had from today’s lesson, but much eisegesis has taken place.
3. We can read the Biblical texts and learn how important it is to avoid worshipping false gods, and how important it is to avoid worshipping God falsely.

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

Copyright 2010 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 22, 2010. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 5

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 5

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 5

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings