Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted July 21, 2011 Members Posted July 21, 2011 Pulled out of a hat: My thought is that the methods Adventists are using today to bring in new members are very similar to how Constantine brought about Christianity in a pagan society.. just my observation.. I suppose this should be in Original Thoughts, but I can't post there..sorry... Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Members phkrause Posted July 21, 2011 Members Posted July 21, 2011 Pulled out of a hat: My thought is that the methods Adventists are using today to bring in new members are very similar to how Constantine brought about Christianity in a pagan society.. just my observation.. I suppose this should be in Original Thoughts, but I can't post there..sorry... LOL, it definitely is an original thought. I kind of don't agree with you there, that's not to say that you don't have an interesting thought. I've been in the church a long time and I can't say I've seen that. I do recall that Pastors were always interested in padding there baptism numbers back a number of years, but have not seem that in the resent past. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Light Fox Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 I notice this topic has more or less died down. I was somewhat interested in seeing what the precise similarities were; if you have some specific insights, I'd be curious. I do see some similarities myself: Now no sooner were the claims presented, and restitution begun, according to the edict, than the Catholic Church raised the issue that only those in communion with her were Christians: and so insisted that only these were entitled to the restored property. She thus forced a governmental interpretation of the term 'Christians,' and a governmental decision as to who could properly bear the title of 'Christians.' [...] It having now been decided that only those of the Catholic Church were Christians, the issue was next raised as to what was in truth the Catholic Church. A division of the church in Africa, that was not just then in communion with the bishop of Rome, claimed, equally with the communion of Rome, to be the Catholic Church. This also called for a decision on the part of the emperor. [...] This final document also gave to Caecilianus and to the party who, with him, were in communion with the bishop of Rome, authority to call upon the imperial officers of the province, to enforce conformity upon those who 'wished to divert the people from the most holy Catholic Church by a certain pernicious adulteration;' and commanded him: 'If thou seest any of these men persevering in this madness, thou shalt without any hesitancy proceed to the aforesaid judges, and report it to them, that they may animadvert upon them, as I have commanded them when present.' Thus was formed the union of church and state, out of which came the Beast, and all that the papacy has ever been, or ever can be. And it all grew out of the interpretation of a governmental document that was perfectly just and innocent in itself. Quote www.Adventistry.to/Answers
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted July 23, 2011 Author Members Posted July 23, 2011 My observation is that the powers that be in Adventism are keen on showing people of other religions how much we are like them. In a kind of reverse sense, Constantine changed the day of worship to Sunday so the pagans would feel "more at home" being Christians... I just find the whole thing rather ironic.. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Light Fox Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 Are you talking about an ecumenical attitude in general? Or specific changes (like Sunday worship) made solely to appease and bring others in? Quote www.Adventistry.to/Answers
Members rudywoofs (Pam) Posted July 23, 2011 Author Members Posted July 23, 2011 I'm referring to the modern day standards of Adventism, which, IMHO, do not amount to much. There is no way anymore to distinguish an SDA institution from a non-SDA institution; there is no way to distinguish an SDA person as being separate from the world. The standards of Adventism are virtually non-existent, as far as I can see. It's a pity, really. Quote Pam Meddle Not In the Affairs of Dragons; for You Are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup. If we all sang the same note in the choir, there'd never be any harmony. Funny, isn't it, how we accept Grace for ourselves and demand justice for others?
Light Fox Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification. Quote www.Adventistry.to/Answers
teresaq Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 My observation is that the powers that be in Adventism are keen on showing people of other religions how much we are like them. In a kind of reverse sense, Constantine changed the day of worship to Sunday so the pagans would feel "more at home" being Christians... I just find the whole thing rather ironic.. I think I agree rw. I could never go elsewhere, and I do love my church now, but yes, it hurts me to see how much the current church is distancing itself from those who suffered so much for the church--and who loved God so much they didn't mind being called a cult, or heretic, or blasphemer. In my particular church I do see members who are truly seeking the Lord, mostly the "babies" of the church, but some others lack of maturity and spirituality really do bring the church down. But I am going in a different direction than that of which you speak. I think I'm also inviting unwanted comments from certain parties. : ) Quote facebook. /teresa.quintero.790
Moderators John317 Posted July 23, 2011 Moderators Posted July 23, 2011 My observation is that the powers that be in Adventism are keen on showing people of other religions how much we are like them. In a kind of reverse sense, Constantine changed the day of worship to Sunday so the pagans would feel "more at home" being Christians.... Yes, most definitely true. Usually we don't apparently like to talk about our distinctive doctrines for fear of offending someone, and we are so anxious for everyone to think we're the same as they are that we're practically ashamed of Ellen White and the Three Angels Messages, with its ideas about the the Investigative Judgment, the mark of the beast, the Sunday laws, etc. I don't get this impression in my local church where I live (Southern California), but I definitely do from the church as a whole and from some of the Adventist Forums. There's definitely a big difference in this way from how it was in 1973 when I was baptized. Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
olger Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 My observation is that the powers that be in Adventism are keen on showing people of other religions how much we are like them. In a kind of reverse sense, Constantine changed the day of worship to Sunday so the pagans would feel "more at home" being Christians... I just find the whole thing rather ironic.. Good observation, Rudy. Quote "Please don't feed the drama queens.."
ClubV12 Posted July 23, 2011 Posted July 23, 2011 Those who will follow Christ, no matter what, are those who will be sighing and crying for the sin's of the church. Not leaving the church, still in full support of the same. But very troubled by what will appear to be the imminent failure of the church. But it will not fail, it will continue to the end. Quote
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