Just what is the "New Theology?" To some of us it's a needed clarification of the gospel. To others it is heretical, no doubt. But just what is it?



" Under "New Theology" Andreasen understood primarily the teachings of Christ's sinless nature and the completed atonement on the cross as presented in the book Questions on Doctrine.."

Is that what Adventists consider to be "the New Theology?" I'm not taking either side here, just asking.

In terms of Adventists' use of "New Theology," it has reference to theology which is heavily influenced by men such as Desmond Ford, who followed many of the ideas of the Evangelicals as described in Geoffry Paxton's book, The Shaking of Adventism. Its views actually go back to D.M. Canright and the theology of A.F. Ballenger about 1900. See:http://www.lmn.org/magazine/169/Ballenger.html/

Thus it denies the Investigative Judgment, 1844, and rejects sanctification as part of of Righteousness by faith, instead viewing it as consisting solely of forensic justification. Significantly New Theology calls into question the authority of the entire mission and work of Ellen White. It essentially rejects the view of Ellen White as expressed in The Great Controversy and in many of her other books concerning the purpose of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the content of the Three Angels' Message, the everlasting gospel, and the view of Christ as our role-model in obeying God's law.

I've got his book, Theology of Crisis or Ellen White's Concept of Righteousness By Faith As It Relates to Contemporary SDA Issues. Published 1979. I've only read parts of it.

Do you know this work and does Moore still stand by what he wrote in it?



I have some of the books by the BRC but not the ones you refer to. Could you briefly summarize what you see as their most significant points-- at least of the yellow covered original? How does it essentially differ from the edited edition?



How do you view 1888?



What are the essence of those accusations, in your thinking, and where do you personally stand on those issues?



I agree with most of what that book contains. I have the book and I still read it quite a lot, actually. However, I tend towards the belief that Jesus had the nature of the post-Fall Adam. I used to take the opposite view but I have been convinced by evidence in the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy that He had a fallen human nature, yet He never sinned even by a thought.

I personally knew Roy Allen Anderson and he was a friend and associate of my father's. They worked together closely in the ministry during the 1970s and early 80s, and he wrote a Forward to one of my dad's books.

One time when I was in his home to make a portrait of him, Elder Anderson talked to me about his memories of the QOD, but to be honest I was concentrating on the photography and did not listen too well to his analysis. I was more interested at that time in him as a man and as a Christian rather than as a former leader in the church. I also saw him and heard him quite a bit when he would visit the youth Sabbath school at the Loma Linda Hill Church for the purpose of encouraging the young people to dedicate their lives to Christ and work to take the Three Angels Messages to the world.



I doubt that Graham Maxwell likes his ideas and beliefs to be pitted against "historic Adventists." I attended Dr. Maxwell's Sabbath school class at the Loma Linda University Church for many years and once did an interview of him in his home for the Insight youth publication. We talked at great length about the Great Controversy theme in Ellen White and in the Bible. I like Dr. Maxwell very much and consider myself a personal friend, although, naturally, this does not mean that I agree with him on everything.

However, to be perfectly frank about this, I know that Dr. Maxwell would not want anyone to necessarily agree with his ideas. Agreeing with him is not uppermost in his priorities. Above all else, Graham Maxwell wants people to ask lots and lots of questions and study on their own and come to their conclusions on the basis of personal conviction from a reasoning, intelligent, wise examination of the weight of Biblical AND Spirit of prophecy evidence.

I don't like to put Adventists in hard and fast categories, whether that refers to liberal or conservative or New Theology or Historic Adventism.



What theologian did she quote? Do you mean the apostle Paul?

I tend to agree with you that it would have been better for them to have pointed Martin and Barnhouse to the writings of Ellen White, but they could not very well do that under the circumstances, because they said they did not believe in Ellen White as any kind of doctrinal authority and therefore they felt duty-bound to show that they could be in some measure independent of Ellen White's views.



Could you briefly state how you understand the Trinity doctrine as it particularly relates to the issues M.L. Andreasen brought up?

Also, please describe what you believe is the full truth which you believe the competing sides, New Theology and Historic Adventists, both fail to teach.

I'm very interested in this whole subject.

Thanks for a good exchange.

Oh Boy! This is gonna be another Mega-Bucket of popcorn thread. I'm glad I just loaded up. Oops, out of canola. Be right back.

You're certainly welcome to join if you like.

No thanks. This is a re-run anyhow.

If that is true, I have not seen the thread.

As I said I do not remember the name of the theologian who Mrs. White used, I just did a quick search on google and I believe that it is "Henry Melvill" but not positive.

As to the phrase that people such as Maxwell and Thompson are similar to the Historic Adventists in that they are all Wesleyan in their approach, but with the "Historic Adventists" being on Wesley's right and Maxwell and Thompson on Wesley's left comes, most directly from a quote in Adventist Today by Dr. David Larson on how both he and his dad (Ralph Larson, a well known pastor who is mostly considered a historic adventist) are both very Wesleyian in their approach, in contrast to Ford and the "New Theology" which is much more Lutheran than Wesleylan, but saying that his Dad is on Wesley's right while he is on Wesley's left, and conversations with Graham Maxwell and Alden Thompson on Dr. Larson's article. I also consider myself Wesleyan but on Wesley's left.

Here's a portrait of Elder Roy Allen Anderson as I remember him. It was made in his home in Loma Linda only about a year before his death.

Yes, she did read Henry Melvill's writings and refer to them or his views at times, as she did to many others.

Have you studied Melvill's writings themselves, apart from Ellen White's quotes of them?

If so, how do they seem to you?