1.帐篷大会的目的及其举办方式
帐棚大会是我们工作最重要的工具之一。这种聚会乃是吸引众人注意的最有效方法之一，可将福音的邀请传达给各界人士。我们生活在一个强烈骚动的时代。野心与战争，享乐与赚钱，迷住了人们的心窍。撒但见自己的时候不多了，就策动他全部的爪牙进行活动，使人上当受骗，忙忙碌碌，意乱情迷，直到宽容时期结束，恩典之门永久关闭。我们的工作是要向全世界——各国，各族，各方，各民——传讲第三位天使信息的救恩真理。但是懂得如何接触人口密集中心的人，一直是一个难题。我们不蒙允许进入到各教堂里去。在城市中的大会场租金很贵，而且一般说来，只有少数的人才会到那最佳的会场去。那些不熟悉我们的人，一直说反对我们的话。人们不了解我们信仰的缘由，一直把我们认作狂热派，以为我们在愚昧地守星期六替代星期日。我们在工作上一直困惑，不知怎样打破世俗与成见的阻碍，在他们面前提出那与他们有极大关系的宝贵真理。主已指示我们，帐棚大会是成就这项工作最重要的工具之一。{PH130 1.1}
我们必须聪明地计划，使人们有机会亲自听到传给世人的最后的怜悯信息。要警告人为即将临到他们的上帝的大日做好准备。我们没有时间可以浪费。我们必须尽最大努力，到人们所在之处接触他们。世人对上帝政权的律法顽梗不敬，即将超越宽容的界限。必须在我们世界的每一个城市发出警告。所能做的事应赶快去做。{PH130 2.1}
我们的帐棚大会还有一个目的，就是为这项工作做准备。大会要促进我们信徒的属灵生命。世人凭着自己的智慧不认识上帝，看不到上帝真理的荣美、可爱、良善与圣洁。为了让人明白这一点，就必须有一个渠道，藉以把真理传给世人。教会就是所设立的渠道。基督把自己显示给我们，好让我们能把祂显示给别人。通过祂的子民，要彰显出祂说不尽之恩赐的丰盛与荣耀。{PH130 2.2}
上帝已托付我们一项非常神圣的工作。我们需要聚集在一起领受教训，好使我们适于完成这项工作。我们需要明白个人蒙召要尽什么本分，好在地上增进上帝圣工，维护上帝圣洁的律法，高举救主为“上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”(约1:29)。我们需要彼此聚集，领受神圣的感触，好使我们可以了解我们在家中的工作。父母们也需明白如何使儿女在家庭圣所中受相当的教育和训练，好使他们配作世上之光，照耀人间。我们需要明白责任分工，以及各部分工作如何开展。每个人都当明白自己的角色，使大家可以齐心协力，在计划上、工作上都能配合默契。{PH130 2.3}
接触群众
基督在山边宝训中对祂的门徒说：“你们是世上的光;城造在山上，是不能隐藏的。人点灯，不放在斗底下，是放在灯台上，就照亮一家的人，你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父”(太5:14-16)。如果我们的帐棚大会照着所应当办的去办，就真的会成为世上的光。应当在真理信息还未传过的大城市和乡镇举行帐棚大会，而且应该持续两周或三周之久。有时候在同一个地方连续举行几次帐棚大会是明智之举;但通常来讲，聚会的地点年年都应迁换。我们不要只在几个地方举行大型的帐棚聚会，而是要用更好的方法，就是在许多地方举行规模小一些的聚会。这样，工作就会不断地扩展到新的地区。一旦真理的旗帜在一个地方被举起，而且离开新悔改的信徒也没有问题时，我们就必须计划进入其它新区。我们的帐棚大会具有一种力量，当在一个会引起轰动的地方举办时，其影响力远超过我们为了自己人的方便，在他们所住的地方举办，那里的人因为先前的聚会和对真理的拒绝，公众的兴趣已经消失了。{PH130 3.1}
已经犯下的一个错误是，将帐棚聚会开在偏僻的地方，而且年年都在同一个地方。为要节省经费与劳动，过去曾经这样行，然而节省应当在其它方面着眼。尤其在新的地区，因为缺少经济来源，往往很难支出款项去办帐棚聚会。应当小心处理经济，筹策节俭的计划，因为这样行就可节省许多钱。然而却不要使工作受损害。帐棚聚会乃是我们的上帝设计向人民传扬真理的方法。当为要救人，为要将真理传给还不知道的人时，就不应当因为省钱而阻碍工作。{PH130 4.1}
我们的帐棚聚会应当办得收到最好的效果。要让那些相信真理的人适当地把真理陈明并表现出来。亮光，天上的亮光，才是世界所需要的，而凡彰显主耶稣基督的，就是亮光。{PH130 4.2}
一个实际教训
每一次帐棚聚会都应成为整洁、秩序和良好品味的一次实物教学课。我们必须注意节约，避免炫耀;与会场有关的一切都当干净整洁。品味与机智跟吸引力有很大的关系。在我们一切工作中都应当显出组织纪律与秩序。{PH130 4.3}
所有的安排都应使我们的信徒和世人感到上帝圣工的神圣性和重要性。以色列人安营的规则是我们的榜样。是基督把这些特殊的指示赐给了以色列人，祂希望我们生活在末世的人也遵守这些规则。我们当仔细研究上帝圣言中的规定，并且把这些指示作为上帝的旨意来实行。凡与安营有关的一切事物都应纯洁，有益健康，并且干净。要特别注意一切卫生方面的安排，要有慎思明辩的人确保宿营时不让任何事物播撒疾病和死亡的种子。{PH130 5.1}
要把帐棚稳固地支搭起来，在有可能下雨的时候，要为每一个帐棚挖掘排水沟。这一点绝不要忽视。因忽视这一预防措施，会导致严重甚至是致命的疾病。{PH130 5.2}
我们必须意识到自己是天上真理的代表。我们要宣扬那召我们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。我们应始终记住上帝的天使正在营地中行走，观看每一个帐棚的秩序和安排。对于来到营地的大批群众来讲，一切安排都应显明聚会主办者的信仰和原则。这应该成为最好的例证。营地的一切环境都应成为一个教训。尤其是家庭的帐棚，因整洁和秩序，使人瞥见家庭生活的情况，不断见证安息日复临信徒的习惯、风尚和作法。{PH130 5.3}
PH130 - Camp-Meetings Their Object, and How to Conduct Them
【Their Object, and How to Conduct Them】
Our camp-meetings are one of the most important agencies in our work. They are one of the most effective methods of arresting the attention of the people, and reaching all classes with the gospel invitation. The time in which we live is a time of intense excitement. Ambition and war, pleasure and money-making, absorb the minds of men. Satan sees that his time is short, and he has set all his agencies at work, that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied, and entranced until probation shall be ended and the door of mercy be forever shut. It is our work to give to the whole world—to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people—the saving truths of the Third Angel’s Message. But it has been a difficult problem to know how to reach the people in the great centers of population. We are not allowed entrance to the churches. In the cities the large halls are expensive, and to the best halls but few, as a rule,?will come out to hear. We have been spoken against by those who were not acquainted with us. The reasons of our faith are not understood by the people, and we have been regarded as fanatics, who were ignorantly keeping Saturday for Sunday. In our work we have been perplexed to know how to break through the barriers of worldliness and prejudice and bring before the people the precious truth which means so much to them. The Lord has instructed us that camp-meetings are one of the most important instrumentalities for the accomplishment of this work.?{PH130 1.1}[1]
We must devise and plan wisely, that the people may have an opportunity to hear for themselves the last message of mercy to the world. The people should be warned to make ready for the great day of God, which is right upon them. We have no time to lose. We must do our utmost to reach men where they are. The world is now reaching the boundary line in impenitence and disregard for the laws of the government of God. In every city of our world the warning must be proclaimed. All that can be done should be done without delay.?{PH130 2.1}[2]
And our camp-meetings have another object, preparatory to this. They are to promote spiritual life among our own people. The world in its wisdom knows not God. The world cannot see the beauty, the loveliness, the goodness, the holiness of divine truth. And in order that men may understand it, there must be a channel through which it shall come to the world. The church has been constituted that channel. Christ reveals himself to us, that we may reveal him to others. Through his people are to be manifested all the riches and glory of his unspeakable gift.?{PH130 2.2}[3]
God has committed to our hands a most sacred work, and we need to meet together to receive?instruction, that we may be fitted to perform this work. We need to understand what part we shall individually be called upon to act in building up the cause of God in the earth, in vindicating God’s holy law, and in lifting up the Saviour as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” We need to meet together and receive the divine touch, that we may understand our work in the home. Parents need to understand how they may send forth from the sanctuary of the home their sons and daughters, so trained and educated, that they will be fitted to shine in the world. We need to understand in regard to the division of labour, and how each part of the work is to be carried forward. Each one should understand the part he is to act, that there may be harmony of plan and of labour in the combined work of all.?{PH130 2.3}[4]
【To Reach the Masses】
In the sermon on the mount, Christ said to His disciples, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”?Matthew 5:14-16. If our camp-meetings’ are conducted as they should be, they will indeed be a light in the world. They should be held in the large cities and towns where the message of truth has not been proclaimed, and they should continue for two or three weeks. It may sometimes be advisable to hold a camp-meeting for several successive seasons in the same place; but, as a rule, the place of meeting should be changed from year to year. Instead of having mammoth camp-meetings in a few localities, more good would be done by?having smaller meetings in many places. Thus the work will be constantly extending into new fields. Just as soon as the standard of truth is lifted in one locality; and it is safe to leave the converts to the faith, we must plan to enter other new fields. Our camp-meetings are a power, and when held in a place where the community can be stirred, they will have far greater power than when, for the convenience of our own people, they are located where, because of previous meetings and the rejection of truth, the public interest is deadened.?{PH130 3.1}[5]
A mistake has been made in holding camp-meetings in out-of-the-way places, and in continuing in the same place year after year. This has been done to save expense and labour; but the saving should be made in other lines. In new fields especially, a dearth of means often makes it difficult to meet the expense of a camp-meeting. Careful economy should be exercised, and inexpensive plans devised; for much can be saved in this way. But let not the work be crippled. This method of presenting the truth to the people is by the devising of our God. When souls are to be laboured for, and the truth is to be brought before those who know it not, the work must not be hindered in order to save expense.?{PH130 4.1}[6]
Our camp-meetings should be so conducted as to accomplish the greatest possible amount of good. Let the truth be properly presented and represented by those who believe it. It is light, the light of heaven, that the world needs, and whatever manifests the Lord Jesus Christ is light.?{PH130 4.2}[7]
【An Object Lesson】
Every camp-meeting should be an object lesson of neatness, order, and good taste. We must give careful regard to economy, and must avoid?display; but everything connected with the grounds should be neat and tidy. Taste and tact do much to attract. And in all our work we should present the discipline of organization and order.?{PH130 4.3}[8]
Everything should be so arranged as to impress both our own people and the world with the sacredness and importance of the work of God. The regulations observed in the encampment of the Israelites are an example to us. It was Christ who gave those special instructions to Israel, and He intended them for us also, upon whom the ends of the world are come. We should study carefully the specifications of God’s word, and practise these directions as the will of God. Let everything connected with the encampment be pure, wholesome, and clean. Special care should be given to all sanitary arrangements, and men of sound judgment and discernment should see that nothing is permitted to sow the seeds of sickness and death throughout the encampment.?{PH130 5.1}[9]
The tents should be securely staked, and whenever there is liability of rain, every tent should be trenched. On no account let this be neglected. Serious and even fatal illness has been contracted through neglect of this precaution.?{PH130 5.2}[10]
We should feel that we are representatives of truth of heavenly origin. We are to show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. We should ever bear in mind that angels of God are walking through the encampment, beholding the order and arrangement in every tent. To the large numbers of people who come to the ground all the arrangements are an illustration of the belief and principle of the people conducting the meeting. It should be the very best illustration possible.?All the surroundings should be a lesson. Especially should the family tents, in their neatness and order, giving a glimpse of home life, be a constant sermon as to the habits, customs, and practices of Seventh Day Adventists.?{PH130 5.3}[11]
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