Free Book.

[catlover]

I like to browse the internet looking at different churches in different parts of the country.

Lately, I noticed a good handful of Adventist churches are offering a free book by Ellen White.

Is that a campaign on the part of the Adventist church as a whole for the new year?

I did order a book out of curiousity.:)

[ThirdAngel]

I like to browse the internet looking at different churches in different parts of the country.

Lately, I noticed a good handful of Adventist churches are offering a free book by Ellen White.

Is that a campaign on the part of the Adventist church as a whole for the new year?

I did order a book out of curiousity.:)
What book is it?

Because of the recent popularity of the movie "The Passion of the Christ," the SDA church has issued a booklet called "The Passion Of Love." The book is composed of the last few chapters of The Desire Of Ages," which covers the same time span as that of the movie.

[catlover]

What book is it?

Because of the recent popularity of the movie "The Passion of the Christ," the SDA church has issued a booklet called "The Passion Of Love." The book is composed of the last few chapters of The Desire Of Ages," which covers the same time span as that of the movie.


It's called "Steps To Christ." http://mcdonald.southern.edu/bible/script/steps.html

Do Adventists as a whole object to "The Passion of Christ".

[ThirdAngel]

It's called "Steps To Christ."
Do Adventists as a whole object to "The Passion of Christ".
Oh. Steps to Christ is the basics of the gospel, it has been used as an evangelistic tool for a long time. If you have not read it yet, I would highly recommend it. I doubt that most evangelical Christians (SDA or not) would have any disagreement with it. It does not touch upon controversial doctrines and it basically just points to Jesus as our savior.

I think most SDA's would consider "The Passion" to be a fair depiction of what really happened, but one legitimate problem with it is that it is impossible to accurately portray the true sufferings of Christ which were more spiritual than physical. His separation from the Father and the inexpressible pain that He was forsaken by God was more of an agony to Him than any of the physical torture He endured. But unfortunately, the movie emphasises the physical aspect to the point where we are led to believe that it is the whole reason for His agony.

Many other people have suffered terrible physical torture as well. In that sense, Christ cannot be sympathized with any more than anyone else who has endured torture. But when you consider that He was with the Father in heaven from eternity, and had never been separated from Him even while on earth until the crucifixion, you can begin to understand what it might have been like to descend from bliss to hell. None of us has or ever will experience such a loss. Also, the weight of the world was literally on His shoulders. The movie could never hope to illustrate how much He loved us all, even those who were killing and maiming Him.

The book "The Passion of Love" (Desire of Ages) does a good job of making Christ's sufferings real to us, and it does so in more than just a physical sense like the movie. It also makes us appreciate what He did, instead of just making us sympathize with Him, as the movie did.

I don't have not made enough posts here to post a link, but go to the E. G. White Estate and pick the on-line books link. Then go to "Desire of Ages," and pick link (Chapter) #74 (Gethsemanie).

[catlover]

Thank-you, Third Angel!

[Seraph1m]

I think most SDA's would consider "The Passion" to be a fair depiction of what really happened, but one legitimate problem with it is that it is impossible to accurately portray the true sufferings of Christ which were more spiritual than physical. His separation from the Father and the inexpressible pain that He was forsaken by God was more of an agony to Him than any of the physical torture He endured. But unfortunately, the movie emphasises the physical aspect to the point where we are led to believe that it is the whole reason for His agony.

Would it be more accurately stated most SDA's you know? :)

[ThirdAngel]

Would it be more accurately stated most SDA's you know? :)
Well, I did qualify my statement with "I Think." That would mean it is my opinion. As an SDA in a large mainstream church, I have talked with a good number of people (both liberal and conservative minded) about the movie, and I think my opinion is a pretty good indicator of the majority.

Did you come to a different conclusion?

[StormyOne]

I don't consider it to be a fair depiction at all....

[catlover]

I don't consider it to be a fair depiction at all....

Why do you think that?

[seangoh]

hmm..i think that The Passion has been criticised mainly because of its doctrinal flaws. Adventist and non-Adventist scholars picked out unbiblical material in the movie and also took note of the source of Mel Gibson's inspiration.

Apart from that, it's a film that cannot accurately depict Christ's sufferings but it was a good attempt.