Should GC Legal Stop those who impersonate the Church? Yes or No?

[Stan]

On a small scale, this whole action seems rather silly, in the global scale it could be disastrous....

They are not being mean or unreasonable, the GC Legal is looking at the big picture, which is clearly backed by the courts.

[Light Fox]

Again - worldly, legal logic accompanied with fears about what might or might not happen. I see no account of God in the equation of "We might lose the name." Rather, it seems to be nothing but the same old "Consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." (John 11:50)

What it seems to come down to is that yes, you're willing to sacrifice other people's convictions and liberties to protect yourself against an imagined threat. Where is God's protection in this equation? Is the freedom of those you disagree with so lightly esteemed a thing? Is my imprisonment, and that of other Adventists, worth it to you to not have members "yelling and screaming" at the GC?

Let me ask you this - and I want to stress that I would like an answer to this question, if none is forthcoming to any of the others I've asked so far. If the scenario you put forth were to occur, and the SDA denomination "lost the name" Seventh-day Adventist, what would you do? Would you obey the court order telling you to stop using it, and come up with another name?

If not, then you know where we are coming from. If so, then I fear you have no possible hope of doing so, given the testimonies we ought to both be familiar with by now on this issue.

[Pastor_Chick]

Please let's not forget this, if the Church does not protect their trademark name Seventh-day Adventist they lose it.

[Windsor]

Stan,

"Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." Hosea 4:17

[CoAspen]

We had that happen here in CO, only it was a branch SDA church supported by the conference.

Their pastor got to liking the big church he had started and gradually took the church over for himself. They had to stop using the SDA name and their support was taken away. Was an interesting study on how a bright mind and excellent leader with great sermon skills let what seems to be, pride, take over his life. Very sad.

[Jody]

WHY WAS THE NAME OF THIS THREAD CHANGED? WHO CHANGED IT? THIS IS NOT RIGHT!

IT WAS

It OK For a Church to Sue? Yes or No?

[Brother Peter]

Good Morning to all. What you have done by changing "My thread is really a blessing". God turns an evil into a blessing. You look into the Bible and you will see all the evil intent that he turns into a blessing for his children. I am SURE that you are familiar with this bible passage if you aren't then study it.

Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

It shows to all those around and the world how evil and wicked a person can be who does not have a regenerated heart and is not willing to repent of their sins. When a Person or Any Organisation can defend something that is wrong and that is NOT supported by the word of God, you know that they are in desperate need of help.

I will share a fitting bible passage with you that Christ shared with those who were seeking to destroy "the truth".

Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Is the conscience seared with a hot iron that is why no one can see that "the GC/SDA" should NOT sue or trade mark the name , or take anyone court , or turn their back on God's invitation to seek his protection ,or call darkness light and light darkness? Well as the word says in:1Ti 4:2 "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron";

__________________

Bro. Peter

[Brother Peter]

I keep my history records and this is the topic I open the thread with

8:57 AM

Is It OK For a Church to Sue? Yes or No? - Seventh-day Adventist's Leading Forum - Club Adventist

and NOT this "Should GC Legal Stop those who impersonate the Church? Yes or No"?

Est 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

Est 9:25 But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

I am sure you know the out come of Haman...He fell into the pit he made for the Jews.

____________________

Bro. Peter

[Pastor_Chick]

Stan,

"Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." Hosea 4:17

Windsor,

I have not appreciated anything you have contributed on this thread up to now. However, your above advice looks to be full of wisdom, at least, from a General Conference perspective.

You see, if the "GC legal" had continued holding to that attitude and not sued the CSDA, they could have proven my 1991 prophecy to be false, and the CSDA might have dispersed one by one. However, after 15 years of various skeptics jeering, "GC legal" fulfilled the prophecy, and it has caused growth in the "fourth angel's movement."

All of this wrangling and debate about who is right and who is evil does nothing but disgust "Spirit-filled" hearts. So, I appreciate your suggestion. Thank you.

[Stan]

Would not you be able to spread the message without having to impersonate the Church to do so? The message should be able to stand on its merits.

I do wonder if you are so close to the situation that you are not able to see the error in this.

[Brother Peter]

the GC Legal is looking at the big picture.

[Stan]

The scripture tell us not to steal.

[Brother Peter]

They are not being mean or unreasonable

[miz3]

Israfel,

You quote Ellen White concerning the name and how God gave it to you! Since God gave it we canNOT shrink from standing firm.

It is upon this Ellen White testimony that you now stand in regard to your CSDA name.

However, there is one striking difference between the SDA in Ellen's day and the CSDA church of today.

SDA DID NOT STEAL SOMEONE ELSE'S NAME!

CSDA DID STEAL SOMEONE ELES'S NAME!

HUGE DIFFERENCE!

God would NOT tell someone to steal. You are asserting that God told you to steal.

This is another reason why you are NOT a true church but a cult who breaks God's Law and then blasphemes His Name by saying that God told you to steal.

[Windsor]

I can make a prophecy right now that after I start my own software company called Creation Microsoft that the Microsoft legal department is going to come after me.

[Light Fox]

The first "Christians" were the Apostolic church.

The Christian church came to refer to itself as the "Catholic," or universal, church of Christians. It then joined to Rome, becoming the Roman Catholic Church. Said church even required the Emperor to rule that they were the only Christians, and disallow others from claiming that name.

Why are you stealing their name? Obviously you can't be a Christian without stealing from the Catholics.

Oh, wait. Maybe you can't "steal" a name that describes what you really are.

[Stan]

So why not call your self Adventist Apostolic Church?

That is a rather weak argument about Catholics... Christians existed before there was a Church in Rome..

[Stan]

or Creation Adventist Apostolic?

[Stan]

or CreationAdventistChurch

[skyblue888]

I can make a prophecy right now that after I start my own software company called Creation Microsoft that the Microsoft legal department is going to come after me.

Yes because it is a business corporation, a wordly enterprise based on profits.

Should the church of Christ be a corporation, a business enterprise based on profits?

To trademark the name of the church, Would that not be making the house of God a place of merchandize?

sky

[Stan]

far from it, this is a good example, they are profiting brand recognition by impersonating the Church.

All they need is another name.... they have spent do much time and money dealing with this, rather than delivering a message.

[ClubV12]

I think the injunction to not use the SDA name includes some VARIATIONS of the name as well.

Like:

"Adventist" and also "Seventh-Day" and also "SDA". So any name that includes these words would also be a problem. On a church, a website, or book, etc. etc.

When I was dealing with the Carrol Shelby Cobra trademark issue it was noted the word "Cobra" was in a similiar situation. While many web sites DO use the word "Cobra" for the most part, Ford/Shelby don't have a problem. BUT, if they don't "like you" or don't like what your doing, they CAN, will and have made life extremely miserable for their "enemies" by lengthy law suits. It's a virtual gaurentee you will "come to an agreement" out of court before you take on Ford Motor Company!

THIS web site using the word "Adventist" is not unlike another web site using the name "Cobra". Mostly it's OK, but you can bet someone is watching....

[miz3]

STEALING IS STEALING!

God's law specifically says, "Thou shalt not steal"!

It means exactly that. No fancy shmancy talk can erase the fact the CSDA stole the name and in doing so was spoiling for a fight.

These are the same group (cult, cult, cult) that claim to have "overcome all known sin".

[Windsor]

The analogy I like is the guy who punches someone in the face and when he gets hit back, he claims the second guy is the antichrist because he didn't turn the other cheek like he was supposed to. Wouldn't it have been better if guy number 1 had simply never punched the second guy? Is there any logical person on Earth who would side with the puncher?

[Jody]

Originally posted by Miz3

STEALING IS STEALING!

God's law specifically says, "Thou shalt not steal"!

It means exactly that. No fancy shmancy talk can erase the fact the CSDA stole the name and in doing so was spoiling for a fight.

These are the same group (cult, cult, cult) that claim to have "overcome all known sin".

Again Miz & Windsor & Stan

The name "Seventh Day Adventist" was given, by God to a people who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. All people who do, or any people who do. Actually, the GC SDA church took possession of something that was NOT theirs to begin with, kind of like the name Christian. And they did so under a cloak of secrecy. There was a 5 year waiting period, in which anyone IF they had KNOWN about it could have contested it, and would have won. But for 5 years the GC SDA kept a lid on it so that it went uncontested. Then when they got the trademark, to set precedent, they filed lawsuits on 100+ small congregations of fellow believers, so that they could go against the homosexual support group of Kinship international. Taking brethren to court to set precedent. Well they won against the small groups, but not against the homosexual group. IF God was in this, shouldn't they have won? So the reason God told Pastor to take this name was for this very reason, to bring this matter to honest hearts that are following the Saviours' voice. Decisions are being made, and marks or seals are being applied. Solemn times indeed.