Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted August 18, 2013 Administrators Share Posted August 18, 2013 I have long preferred the term "progressive" as being more accurately descriptive than the pejorative (strangely, it seems) term "liberal". I am not inclined to like useless and increasingly meaningless labels. Yet I have not been as quick to find a better term for those in the Church oriented in an opposite or contrary direction. Conservative is not accurate. Too often those wearing that label, even with a token of pride, are really not about conserving anything. That would sort of imply holding steady, maintaining a fixed position. While some may well be inclined to that quality of stasis, increasingly I am seeing more of an effort to actually move away from the present state of things, but really to move the Church backwards. Then it hit me in something I saw posted on Facebook. The better term is Regressive. Despite what some would have us believe, this Advent Movement was from its beginning a progressive movement, forward looking, anticipating the better future, but also growth oriented, reforming and adapting to changing times and never being satisfied that we have everything just right, being open to new ideas and new light. It disturbs me to see what is a growing sentiment and driving force to move the Church backwards to a bygone era, but not one that really existed but one that is almost a cruel caricature of some vision of the past. It is regressive and those that are pushing us in that direction are not really Conservatives, but Regressives. Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Gail Posted August 18, 2013 Administrators Share Posted August 18, 2013 Tom, you have outdone yourself! Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planey Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Graeme Quote Graeme____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted August 18, 2013 Members Share Posted August 18, 2013 Excellent thought Tom Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 What if the regression points further back in history, say closer toward Jesus' own ministry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators debbym Posted August 19, 2013 Administrators Share Posted August 19, 2013 most excellent choice of a word. Quote deb Love awakens love. Let God be true and every man a liar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. T. Cross Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 What if the regression points further back in history, say closer toward Jesus' own ministry? That would be reconstructionist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Bravus Posted August 19, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 19, 2013 What if the regression points further back in history, say closer toward Jesus' own ministry? Does it? Quote Truth is important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Bravus Posted August 19, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 19, 2013 WDJD - what *did* Jesus do? Quote Truth is important Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Originally Posted By: cricket What if the regression points further back in history, say closer toward Jesus' own ministry? Does it? I don't know. I don't pay close enough attention. I was just curious as to "What if" so that's why I said, "What if". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Gerr Posted August 19, 2013 Moderators Share Posted August 19, 2013 No matter the label, it would have some shortcomings. Not every forward looking change is progressive, and not every backward or regressive change is bad. There are things I want to change for the better - progressive, and there are things I wish would revert back to what it was - regressive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phkrause Posted August 19, 2013 Members Share Posted August 19, 2013 I like the way you worded that Gerry. Quote phkrause By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. {5T 451.1} Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windsor Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Nice try, Tom. The only people I know of trying to take us back to the days of Noah are the liberals. If anything, these so-called progressives should instead be called regressives. Quote Remember Adventists Online? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil D Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 Ut-oh...a gauntlet has been thrown down....a line has been drawn... unfortunately, one has to just look at the topics and see where the discussions have gotten bogged down and see plainly that the ubber-conservative person has been the 'progressive' in acts of intellectual convolution and abandonment of biblical principals. this gauntlet is nothing more than a 'straw man argument' and is being used to bolster the ego that something must be done to stop the gushing onslaught of progressive thought..... wanna try again? this time with more conviction..... Quote Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. George Bernard Shaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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