... being a recent creationist?

Since our baptismal vows do not require one to be a recent creationist, I would say one can be an Adventist and be a recent creationist.

However since many of our mainstream Adventist ministries like Voice of Prophecy, It Is Written, SafeTV, Amazing Facts, Hope Channel and Geoscience Research Institute are incorporating creation science into evangelistic efforts, any Adventist that is not a young-earth creationist may want to avoid trying to proselytize others in the church to their own theology.

When an old-age creationist does come into the church and try to expound on his or her method of reading the Bible, he or she should not be surprised at all when others in the church are not receptive. It is like an Adventist going into a Sunday-keeping church and preaching on the Sabbath, going into a Catholic church and revealing the pope as the little horn of Daniel 7 or going into a Jewish synagogue and proclaiming Jesus to be the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. I wouldn't advise anyone to do any of those things.

So basically what you're saying is that they can get in under a technicality but they're not really welcome?

Well, I don't think their views on an ancient-creation or death before Adam are welcome. But that is not to say they are not welcome as individuals. People have a lot to offer besides their beliefs on origins. Theistic evolutionists sing just as well in the choir. They can sing at nursing homes. They can teach Pathfinders how to tie knots and make camp fires. They can teach Sabbath School and organize food drives. They can go into jails and prisons with the gospel. And the list goes on and on. Simply because they do not accept the creation account from a literal Biblical reading doesn't mean there is no place for them in the church.

I will give an example of a belief I hold which is different from Adventism. I do not believe wearing jewelry is forbidden by the Bible. This is not one of the baptismal vows either. Now I don't push the issue with any of the Adventist churches I attend. If I am asked about it I explain my position. I do not ever take up the issue when preaching from the pulpit or teaching Sabbath school. I think to do so would be betraying the trust of those that ask me to fill such a position.

???



OG

This is a very good position to take. I appreciate it. Unfortunately .... I've witnessed hard nosed ... in your face people who do not share your method.

I'd say the answer is yes, without having a clearly formed opinion as to how it all works. There are, in fact, Seventh-day Adventists who are not recent creationists.

So perhaps a different question might be "How can one be a Seventh-day Adventist and not believe in recent creation?" or "How can one be a Seventh-day Adventist and believe that evolution is true?" These are real questions that real people have, and if they can't talk about them within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they'll certainly talk about them elsewhere.

Sola scriptura might be a great principle, but we're still left with humans doing the real work of interpreting the Bible. And I definitely mean to suggest that there are ways of reading the creation stories of the Bible other than literally.

For more than one reason, it would be personally inappropriate for me to talk about my evolving views within my local church. That's one of the reasons I'm here. And there, too.

Guess I'd better brush up on my knot-tying skills.

<ot>And Shane? If it were up to me, I would institute a five-year church-wide moratorium on the jewelry issue--no one gets to talk about it, write about it, keep members out of leadership because of it, otherwise discriminate on the basis of it. But I'm not the GC president yet--and never will be, for at least one obvious reason.</ot>

First, I like you as a person Bravus. I enjoy talking with you on here. You seem to be a pleasant person.

As to creation, the official church understanding differs from yours (rather widely, I'd say).

If I joined the Amish and insisted on driving a Volvo, only four choices would be available to me.

1) Go somewhere where they drive Volvos (or minivans etc..). Noble choice.
2) Pick & choose cafeteria style among the doctrines of the Amish and hide the Volvo under a haystack in the barn. Leads to hypocrisy.
3) Lobby for the church to accept my position as equally valid as theirs. (postmodern response). This requires me to live in rebellion to the church whether quiet or loud rebellion).
4) Give up the volvo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (noble choice).

All the best,


olger

Choice #5 Become a Mennonite