Problem Hour Discussions

1. How Long Should Studies Be Given?

Question: What should one do with a per­son who desires to continue with studies, and 'vet will not accept the points of doctrine al­ready presented?

Rose E. Boose (Santa Ana, California): It is a bit difficult to answer a question like this without knowing the background. It depends somewhat on the conditions that obtain between the Bible worker and her reader. If they have drifted into periods of entertainment. 

making it a social hour, and other things de­mand their attention, then the studies should be dropped. But if the individual really desires to study and is willing to give earnest atten­tion to the word of God, whether or not he accepts all the points of faith already presented, I would continue.

Some people have difficulty in making a decision. The truth may be accepted in the heart and life, but not manifest on the outside. In a few instances I have studied with the same people for a year and a half or two years, but a circumstance or something in their life prevented their taking a definite stand soon after the message was presented. Of course, if one is working in a large effort and there is a great interest, there is not time to give studies to people who are not willing to accept. But I would say, Keep in touch with them with lit­erature and calls, and as soon as opportunity presents itself, call back and try to bring them to a decision. I think it is a mistake to drop an individual who is willing to study, even though we see no immediate indication of his accepting the truth.

Elizabeth Beck (New York City) : That is true. I studied with one woman for some time. Once when I called I did not find her at home; so I did not go back to her home. But after that I sent her literature, and a year later I happened to find out that her husband had read the literature I sent to her and had come to our lectures, having missed only three. I visited in her home again and began giving Bible studies.

Mary Walsh: I have endeavored, by the help of God, to rule out everything of a social nature. You cannot mix the two. I have known workers who have gone months and sometimes years to the same home giving Bible studies. Should we do that? Surely we are agreed on the right answer. When should we look for a decision ? Take the Sabbath ques­tion, for instance. The first time we give a study on the Sabbath question, should we look for an individual to take his stand ? No. But if after we have gone over the law of God and various subjects, our readers still continue to disregard God's Sabbath, how long should we continue to study with them ? I think we should encourage them to attend the meetings, but time should not be consumed unless they take some stand.

Mrs. D.D. Darst (Dinuba, California) : I always try to get them to accept some point on the Sabbath and the law. If they do not accept, after we have gone over that, they are hardly able to accept what follows. But if they still show a desire to have me study with them, I continue. It takes almost a year to give a full series. If they do not show any response at all, and do not attend the Sabbath service, I say, "Now, we are a very busy people, and if you do not feel you can accept what we have studied, we will just leave you literature and let you study it a while. And when you are ready to study further, get in touch with us." (Or we try to get in touch with them.) But I think that when they study further and show no sign of accepting. we should not spend more time giving them studies.

Miss Walsh: I have seen God work mar­velously. I have seen hesitant people take a definite stand. I believe our work is goin_g call for more fasting and praying. At times I say, "Lord, what am I going to do ?" And I hear the answer, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." I have tried out the Lord, and I have seen results. How many of you have certain subjects that you have found to be of great value when it comes to getting a person to make a decision on certain points of truth ? [Many hands raised.] I wish we could have a list that you have found helpful.

List of Decision Subjects:

1. The New Birth.

2. Walking in the Light.

3. Abiding in Christ.

4. Walking With God.

5. Is God Particular ?

6. The Elijah Message.

7. The Israel of God.

8. Crossing the Jordan.

Mabel A. Vreeland (Albany, New York): I use a chart like a wheel, with Christ on the cross as the hub, and various doctrinal points as the posts or spokes. Around the rim I have the plan of redemption, and at the top Israel restored. Then I follow with a study or two to make plain the sanctuary service, and point out distinctive doctrines that many of the other churches do not have. This solves the problem, and has brought many to the light.

Miss Walsh: I trust that when we as Bible workers come to a certain point of truth for which we wish an individual to take his stand, we ask, "What are you going to do about it?" I believe sometimes we are a bit too retiring when it comes to making direct appeal to an individual.

Irene B. Anderson (Sacramento, Califor­nia) : I believe we should not give up too soon. If a certain Bible worker had done that, I would not be here today. I have never seen anyone make it as hard for me as I did for that worker. I made her explain everything before I would accept. I was active in my church and I knew what I really believed, and it was hard for me, and yet in my heart I was honest and sincere. I was afraid I would be led into some offshoot. So I have always tried to think of that. Sometimes people grasp things, but many times they do not. As long as a person is willing to listen to me, I keep going, and I do not give up if I can help it.

Aliss Boose: There is a statement in "The Great Controversy" which speaks of bringing the truth home "to their heart and conscience." I never forget that. It is that continual culti­vation of the soil, bringing it deeper and deeper, that gets results. But sometimes it takes a long time. Remember : There are just as many ways of bringing people to a decision as there are different types of individuals. The thought. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments," appeals to some, and there are some who have to be taken to Mt. Carmel. A friend of mine for many years said that sometimes she took the people and held them over the lake of fire. Whatever the need, we must be "all things to all men," that we "might by all means save some."

Grace Stewart (South Dakota Confer­ence) : One of the most important things is to get people to study in their homes after we have presented a subject. I find that the people who study make progress and become substantial Christians.

2. Use of Pictures in the Home

Oleta Butcher (Eagle Rock, Cali­fornia) : We are living in an age of pictures. Everybody likes pictures. I can take a picture machine and create interest almost anywhere, especially among young people and children. I have an AA model Picturol, and a 3 x 4 foot screen that folds up. I bought the • size that would fit in a car, and I take it where-ever I go. I make my own outlines and select my own pictures. I like to have a few intro­ductory pictures on nature. After showing these it is easier to go into the deeper subjects, either immediately or at another time.

As you know, the eye takes in more than the ear, and when we appeal to both the eye and the ear, we create a more lasting impres­sion. Reading a verse in the Bible makes an impression, but when pictures are shown to illustrate the text, people remember it even better. They have come to me afterward and told me so. A picture machine surely is a help in gaining an entrance into new homes.

After we have had two or three weeks of evangelistic meetings, with people handing in their names and requesting more literature, I call at their homes and incidentally ask them if they would like to see some pictures on the subjects about which they are asking.

I tell them I have that subject illustrated in pictures, and I will bring them for them to see. Do you think I get refusals ? No. They always want to see the pictures. After they see the pictures once, it is easy to get another appointment.

The picture on the screen helps the people to get the verse in mind when we are having Bible studies. They read the texts as they are thrown on the screen, and reading them to­gether makes an impression that is lasting. Pictures are surely an entering wedge. I can start down the street and get an interest almost anywhere with pictures.

I collect my own pictures, because I am developing certain lines of thought. I have always been in the habit of keeping pictures. I collect from various sources pictures of natural scenery or of anythino.₆ of interest, both from our own papers and from other maga­zines. I dislike to cut our papers, but I find that I must do so to get certain pictures. So when the papers come, I cut out the pictures and put them into large envelopes, under various topics.

I have a file of about a hundred large envelopes, on different subjects. I have as many as eighty to a hundred pictures on one subject. You may think that is a good many pictures, but the number does not necessarily mean that a subject is long. I have the pictures photographed, and they look attractive. I also have a color outfit, and I color my pictures. They tell my story. I use the thirty-five-millimeter machine. I like the strip films, rather than the slides. They are made for me by Brother Mayse, at the Mayse Studio, in San Diego.

Much can be said in pictures. I use two or three verses, of Scripture, then follow with the pictures. That is what makes the lasting impression--illustrating the verse that has just been read. As an example of a study I have just developed on the subject of the Sabbath,

begin by illustrating what was made on each day of creation week. I use a great many pic­tures in this study, but people like to see them, and it gives them opportunity to see the true origin of the Sabbath.

Question: Doesn't having set studies keep you from adapting your story to the individual?

Answer. That's what is convenient about the picture method. You can use the picture or not use it. It is very easy to put the picture aside and take the Bible.

Question: How many use those little ma­chines at least part of the time ? [About half of the audience raised their hands.]

Mrs. Anderson: During the Voice of Prophecy meetings a man and his son were baptized, but his wife never attended the meet­ings. Her husband was burdened for her. I called on her, and I could see that she was interested in her children. I suggested that I had a picture machine, and that I would like to come and give studies to the children. (I use the slides. I have more than a hundred.) So I started by giving a study on the life of Christ. This is for the children, but the adults need it, too. The second evening about twenty children from the neighborhood were present, and we went over the series. Then I suggested that we have another study. As a final result, this woman was baptized last Sabbath. In an­other place where I gave studies for the chil­dren, the mother was baptized, and as a result we organized a branch Sabbath school with an attendance of about forty-two.

Mrs. H.A. Curran (Pacific Union Confer­ence): Some of the Bible workers might be interested to know what these little picture ma­chines will do. This is a three-hundred-watt machine, but we have built a motor under ours, and are using a thousand-power light, throw­ing it nearly a hundred feet. Thus at our last meeting we accommodated many more people. You must have a motor attached if you put in anything larger than a five-hundred-watt bulb.

L.E. Froom: What about a combination of the two methods—a face-to-face Bible study part of the time and pictures part of the time? I have seen some who have "gone to seed," as it were, on pictures. I knew of a certain evan­gelist who was invited to come to a college to hold a Week of Prayer. "Could I use my stereopticon machine?" he asked the president. He didn't know how in the world to conduct a Week of Prayer without a stereopticon ma­chine. I think nothing in the world can take the place of the eye-to-eye, face-to-face appeal. Use the pictures to advantage, and then switch off to a Bible study, looking the individual squarely in the eye.

Mrs. Anderson: I give a study with the Bible first; then the next time I review with pictures.

Mrs. Darst: We found that by using the slides we were able to interest some in the church to go out and give studies. But after they were all through with their studies, we had to go out and teach the people to use their Bibles. Where the slides are used, we must review with the Bible. I think there is a defi­nite loss if we do not give the people the Bible to have in their hands, part of the time at least.

Question: Do you use the study you give or a copy of Present Truth or one of the Hope of the \Vorld Series?

Miss Walsh: I leave a copy of the study I give. It takes time to prepare this study in printed form to give out, but I love to have people turn and read the texts. Many times it is embarrassing to them because they cannot readily find the texts. So I purposely delay, and write the subheading and the text and per­haps a seed thought alongside the text, while they find it. I am so conscious of people's being embarrassed. The first time I had a Protestant Bible in my hands I attended a Bible class and was using my new Bible. I looked around at the group, and they were able to go from one place to another quickly. Some of the books of the Bible I had never heard of, and so I had to refer to the index. By the time I got the page of the book, I had forgotten the chapter and the verse, and by the time I had that, the leader already had called another text, and I was embarrassed. So I have been conscious of other people's feelings. It makes them feel more at home and relaxed if you do not hurry them and appear to be busy yourself. Most people are a little sensitive about their lack of knowledge of the word of God.