Leaderboard

For some thought on this subject, see: https://www.quora.com/Do-Seventh-Day-Adventists-teach-that-the-archangel-Michael-was-Jesus-in-the-primordial-existence/answer/Gregory-Matthews-13

The decline of churches: See: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-closing-religion-covid-christianity

February 14 is National Cow Hug Day in India. See: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/09/india-urges-citizens-to-hug-a-cow-on-valentines-day

(N). Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Dar, EGW asked Jesus if His Father had a form like Himself. He responded by saying "I am in the express image of my Father's person." There is a word in the NT for "form." It's the word from which the English word icon is made. There is nothing in Hebrews 1:3 about a "form." Hebrews 10:1 includes the word image in "contrast" to "shadow." Neither of these words are in verse 1:3. The word "person" is not in verse 1:3 in many versions. Actually you are building on a YouTuber, EGW, and a word that is not even in the text. In that sense, there is not even sand to build upon. It sounds that you are saying that, as a non-SDA I'm OK if I reject your interpretation of EGW's interpretation of the Bible but as an SDA I'm lost if I reject your interpretation of EGW's interpretation. Is that right?

The Northern California Conference is sponsoring several Religious Liberty activities on March 3 & 4 that would be well worthwhile. https://nccsda.com/religious-liberty-weekend/ Note: I will attempt to find out if any of these will be live-streamed or placed on the Internet.

(N). 1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

The following article addresses of the biggest issues that the SDA Chruch faces today. It is not an issue with an easy solution. I do not claim to have an answer and therefore I am not advocating a position. It is not the desire of this forum that this issue should become the major issue discussed. Therefore, I am going to close this thread for discussion. Simply consider, think about it and take it to God in Prayer. https://atoday.org/my-day-with-kinship/

"I am now instructed that I am not to be hindered in my work by those who engage in suppositions regarding its nature, whose minds are struggling with so many intricate problems connected with the supposed work of a prophet. My commission embraces the work of a prophet, but it does not end there. It embraces much more than the minds of those who have been sowing the seeds of unbelief can comprehend." (Letter 244, 1906 [see also Selected Messages 1:31-35]).

Gary Venden is a current pastor of a SDA Chruch in Glendale, AZ. He is probably best known for a series of 13 revival sermons that he preaches on salvation by faith alone without works. That statement can be confusing and misunderstood. The following links will take you to his sermons. It will be well worth your time and effort to review them. https://www.bing.com/searchq=All+about+JEsus+Revival+sErmons+at+Antioch&form=ANSPH1&refig=0bb4f0f6b9134e778c117b96ef995e9a&pc=U531 or also https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=All+about+Jesus+revival+sermons NOTE: The following link is audio only and not video. https://sermons.faithlife.com/series/129473-all-about-jesus-revival-seminar

(N) Psalm 77:10-11 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord : surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

This sounds like a variant of the Rapture as taught in many Evangelical "Bible" Churches.

(N). Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Trapped in Adventism: The following response written to a person who felt trapped in Adventism has been read some 4,600 times. https://www.quora.com/I-was-raised-as-a-Seventh-Day-Adventist-Growing-up-I-always-wondered-about-this-religion-I-am-24-now-and-I-feel-trapped-I-believe-in-God-but-I-do-not-want-to-be-an-Adventist-anymore-Am-I-still-considered-a-Christian/answer/GregoryMatthews13comment_id=314898633&comment_type=2&__filter__=all&__nsrc__=notif_page&__sncid__=35998493539&__snid3__=48316845126

12 SDA Congregations: Over the next year, 12 SDA congregations will be visited and a report written as to what it was like to worship with that congregation. This first report comes from the Crosswalk SDA congregation in California. NOTE: It also has services in other States. https://spectrummagazine.org/news/2023/what-its-worship-crosswalk-redlands

Church hurt: Sometimes a church that should be a hospital for sick people actually injures them. In March, Melissa Schiffbauer in coordination with the NAD will feature a podcast for such people to get together and discuss their struggle with the church. For more on this, see: https://atoday.org/upcoming-church-hurt-podcast-offers-practical-ways-to-heal/

(N) Proverbs 12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

(N) Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

We have forgotten who we are as Americans. Our leaders have had many Christians who protected liberty of conscience and the freedoms that grew out of the thought and effects from practicing these thoughts by Roger Williams, William Penn, Thomas Jefferson/James Madison (the team where their strong and weak points complemented each other) and how these ideas deepened under the age of Jackson. These actually lead to people seeing a widening of these ideas to try to allow everyone to enjoy them; and thus bring it farther than how Jefferson/Madison and Jackson could imagine. America has been in a fight in the wanting to stop where these men were, and those to bring these principles to every race and women. It's a shame that we have been dragging our feet, but this has been our ideal and we have had many Christian leaders who have been supporting this. When Al Smith ran for President; since he was a Catholic and because of the role of the Catholic Church in European politics, we were afraid of him and he lost. We were worried that Al Smith would make us a Catholic nation. We wanted to guarantee the separation of Church and State. When John Kennedy was running he of course faced the same issue. He was able to give a speech showing that he knew the difference between being a Catholic candidate and a candidate for President who happened to worship in the Catholic church. When in office he lived up to his speech maintaining the separation of Church and State. This has been the practice of our politics over the centuries. Sadly, there were people in the Catholic clergy who have been upset with Catholic politicians who maintained the separation of Church and State, saying that they would not give communion to these politicians. Protestants had been supporting the separation. But today not only are Catholic clergy pushing for Catholics in government to push Catholic ideas; but Protestant leaders have been joining them in a united McGospel that they want to place on the country. The concern that made sure that Al Smith lost; and that Kennedy had to tell us that he understood the issue and would continue to defend the issue despite his denomination, is now no longer a concern. What our forefathers feared we are now embracing. Joan of Arc was a crusader for freedom. Living where she did in history; she was looking for freedom in working with King and Pope; Church and state. However, they turned against her and her ministry and murdered her. Her devotion to both was unfailing. Her murder shook up Europe. If King and Church could treat someone with both an unblemished life and complete devotion to them; what can King and Church do to the rest of us? This loosened the soil of Europe where a few decades later a monk was able to nail 95 thesis and it take root and sprout. Her murder shook up the world leading to people questioning what happened to her and what can be done about it and this lead to our freedoms through the separation of church and state. We developed a country without king or pope. We are about to make her martyrdom of no effect. We want to change our country into the type of country that murdered her. This is burning her afresh.

(N) John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.