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Showing content with the highest reputation on 02/23/2020 in all areas

  1. Gregory Matthews

    SDA Evangelism

    As I understand a comment made by Gustave, he has asked for a specific date as to when the SDA Church converted from an anti-Trinitarian belief to a Trinitarian position. I consider this question to be fair and worthy of an answer. However, I do not believe that a clear, good, response can be made to this question. * Fundamental Belief # 2, in the 1988, so-called 27 Fundamental Beliefs, is a clear Trinitarian position. * Substantially all of the early SDA Founders held a view of the Godhead that was not the classic Trinitarian view held across Christianity today. * However, as I have posted before, those views were not unified. In actual fact they ranged from a mild Arian view to a total rejection of the Trinity. * Part of the problem resulted from the fact that those early SDA founders often totally misunderstood what the actual doctrine of the trinity taught. IOW, they rejected something that was not aught by the classical doctrine of the Trinity. * As an example, some (Frisbie) confused the doctrine of the Trinity with Docetism. Bates confused it with Modalistic Monarchianism. Loughborough confused it with Tritheism. * In addition, among those early founders, there was an anti-Catholic bias that associated the doctrine of the Trinity with the Catholic churches. I do not consider this to be a major aspect. But, it was present. * One suggestion has been that the SDA Church had shifted to a Trinitarian position by about 1900. * In any case, I can not give Gustave a clear, specific date for this development of SDA understanding of the Trinity. It was a progress that took place over a period of time. NOTE: I am not repeating here some aspects of this question that I have posted before. I consider the following book to be of value to consideration of this issue, but, it does not give a comprehensive, clear answer to the question as I have stated the question. Much of what I have posted above has come from this book. Paul Petersen & Rob McIver, Editors. Biblical and Theological Studies on the Trinity. Avondale Academic Press, 2014. 251 pages.
    2 points
  2. Gregory Matthews

    SDA Evangelism

    Gustave has pointed us to the following URL, in SDA literature: https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/12/13/no-longer-neglected-biblical-doctrine-trinity I consider it to be of immense value to many of us and suggest that you read it.
    1 point
  3. Gustave

    SDA Evangelism

    I'll try to squeeze that Book in, still engrossed by those two theologians (Fritz & Guy) you pointed out. Likable & smart gents these two. I read this morning: https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/12/13/no-longer-neglected-biblical-doctrine-trinity And also listened to some of the video lectures presented by these folks. I did note the below paragraph in the article: "Moon and Burt raise awareness that the anti-Trinitarianism that predominated among the early Adventists was not a momentary lapse in doctrinal understanding, a lapse that Ellen White could easily correct with the stroke of a pen, but a heresy that has lasted for generations. Many children of the Adventist Movement, as Seventh-day Adventists, descended into the grave six, seven, and eight decades later believing that the Son and Holy Spirit are lesser beings. We should infer from Moon and Burt’s historical overviews that there is still a struggle between Trinitarians and anti-Trinitarians in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The dispute regarding women’s ordination is a manifestation of that ongoing struggle". All in all it does look like the leadership of the Church is doing its diligence in addressing the early Adventist groups errors pertaining to the Trinity. Another thing I appreciate was how Dr. Burt was frank about how the other Adventist Churches such as the JW's are still in the same camp as the SDA's were at the time of Ellen White whereas the Trinity Doctrine is concerned. Burt also claimed the SDA Trinity Doctrine departs from the Catholic Doctrine in the area of Impassibility and Eternal Generation - he didn't go into WHY but implied that Impassibility made God less personal. Lot of material there in this article by spectrum.
    1 point
  4. B/W Photodude

    Who's fooling who?

    Perhaps you should have studied science instead of history. Living organisms while created by God can be manipulated in the genes up to and including human beings. Designer babies is one of the futures of dna manipulation in humans. Also, to be considered, there is the prophecy that Satan himself will bring pestilences about and will even cause illnesses and provide cures to magnify himself. His lab need not be equiped with the latest in scientific equipment, he need only mix the right pigs and sheep together! Numerous other examples of animal to human disease transfer could qualify. Lastly, viruses are not even alive!: Why is a virus considered Non-living A. a virus does not have a nucleus B.a virus does not contain genetic material (I question this one!) C.a virus is to small to be considered a cell D.a virus cannot reproduce itself without a host cell A virus is considered non-living because it cannot reproduce itself without a host cell. Cells, which are considered living, use cell-division to replicate themselves. However, a virus must invade a cell in order to create more viruses, thus are not considered alive. https://brainly.com/question/2276383 I tend to believe that with the scientific knowledge out there today, a man made virus is not far away. There are some valid beneficial reasons for a man made virus.
    1 point
  5. Over 100 years ago, Archbishop Quigley suggested that what power would rule when America rules?
    1 point
  6. Gustave

    SDA Evangelism

    Not at all. We don't know (no one does) what it is & that's why we call it 'Substance'. All we know is that God is ONE and the meaning is definitely past 'of the same mind, purpose, etc! Scripture calls it a mystery for a reason.
    1 point
  7. debbym

    The Status of the NAD Today

    It is a good thing to fine tune organizational structure to become more effective. I cannot see the full picture of our administration from conferences to unions to the NAD. It could well be the Holy Spirit is impressing you with a helpful change, and if that could be effected positive results could happen. What organizational circle of individuals are in a position to address this level of change? And would it be done by those who are impressed to do God's will? Regardless of this kind of change we need members, pastors, administrators and Spiritual leaders all through the organization to be in obedience to the Holy Spirit, who is the mighty General in the winning side of the battle of Good and evil. In spite of the weaknesses of our structure, God can still work and bring every heart to their decision for or against God for eternity. For me, finding a group of individuals committed to prayer, meeting regularly outside of Church to seek God and pray for the Holy Spirit and for other's salvation, has been the greatest blessing in a long time. This is the Church organized in the smallest unit above the unit of the household. And God adds His sufficiency by the Holy Spirit. "My grace is sufficient for you." Perhaps this is also the experience of our leadership. If so, if changes are needed Spirit led persons could present it and it could well take place. I know there is no limitation with God on changes that can happen when we are united to seek His will. The leadership issues at every level are the problems of the human nature, and this is the same as the problems of every individual. Change is not simple at any level from the micro the the macro church body. Thanks for bringing up this concerns, Debbym
    1 point
  8. Rahab

    3 word devotional

    ? Sweeter than honey ? Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
    1 point
  9. Gustave

    SDA Evangelism

    I've never said Ellen taught a failed Christ - what I've said was that she taught Christ COULD HAVE sinned (or failed).
    1 point
  10. Gregory Matthews

    SDA Evangelism

    Standard SDA belief would agree that God knows exactly what will happen in the future. But, it would also say that God's knowledge of the future does NOT mandate that such a future will happen. As an example, Let us say that God knew that in the future, due to God's gift of "free will" to created beings, there would be a rebellion among the angelic beings, and sin would arise. But, foreknowledge did not mandate that one of the angels would rebel and it did not mandate that Adam and Eve would also sin. It is from this perspective that a SDA would agree that both the OT and the NT agree that Christ would not fail and yet at the same time such agreement does not preclude the idea that Christ could have failed. My point is to establish that area of mutual agreement (The Biblical teaching that Christ would not fail.) and to narrow the point of disagreement to the idea that Christ could have failed.
    1 point
  11. BlessedMan

    Who's fooling who?

    Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, (Ezekiel 22:26) Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. (Zech 3:4) Very many feel impatient and jealous because they are frequently disturbed with warnings and reproofs which keep their sins before them. Says the True Witness: "I know thy works." The motives, the purposes, the unbelief, the suspicions and jealousies may be hid from men, but not from Christ. The True Witness comes as a counselor: "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." {3T 256.3} Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin. Those who despise the warning will be left in blindness to become self-deceived. But those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of separating their sins from them in order to have the needed graces, will be opening the door of their hearts that the dear Saviour may come in and dwell with them. This class you will ever find in perfect harmony with the testimony of the Spirit of God. {3T 257.1}
    1 point
  12. BlessedMan

    Report Sexual Abuse

    I see that "SHOP" button comes up pretty quick on her web site.
    1 point
  13. There is such a thing as "pure religion:" God is smarter and He draws the lines In some ways yes; but in other ways no. The personal agency of The Holy Spirit expressly uses said ecclesial divisions by which to "finsh the work," Darkness is just like the light, to God:
    1 point
  14. I highly doubt that you have ever read the Bible in paleo-Hebrew to actually make such a statement. I doubt that anyone has read the Bible in paleo-Hebrew in thousands of years.
    1 point
  15. BlessedMan

    SDA Evangelism

    Your use of the word "numerical" here is based upon a presumption to KNOW the physical Substance of divinity, something no one can know.
    0 points
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