NightEternal
19th July 2007, 11:51 PM
The Adventist church in 2007 is going to have to, more than ever, be able to prove every single one of her doctrines from the Bible alone or be cast into the heterodox/cult trash bin. It's clear that if she unable to do this, her future does not look good as a Sola Scriptura denomination.
Indeed, even the founders of this denomination encouraged that this should, nay, had to be done:
James White: "There is a class of persons who are determined to have it that the Review and its conductors make the views of Mrs. White a test of doctrine and Christian fellowship.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! The SOP has most definitely been elevated to have final say in matters of doctrine in the church today. There is also no question that belief in the SOP and Ellen White as a prophetess is, in fact, a strong test of fellowship and membership in the SDA church today. So much so, it is included in the fundamental beliefs where she is specifically mentioned by name. There is no question who candidates are pledging thier belief to when they agree to that vow, as the vows and the fundamental beliefs are closely connected. Some try to say that the vow is only referring to the gift of prohecy in God's remnant church, but it that is nonsense. Anyone with a passing knowledge of SDAism knows very well it is referring to EGW, and her name is included in the fundamental beliefs to hammer home this point.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
What has the Review to do with Mrs. White's views? The sentiments published in its columns are all drawn from the Holy Scriptures. No writer of the Review has ever referred to them as an authourity on any point.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! The SOP has most definitely been elevated to an authourity on every aspect of life, be it doctrinal, historical, theological, medical, geological, educational, scholarly, scientific, exegetical, social or personal. This has gotten to be so bad in the church, that SDA scholars and theologians have been forced to keep quiet if thier conclusions ever deviate from the SOP on any point, or face termination. She IS the final word in all matters, and has been given carte blanche authourity all across the board. So much so, it has been included in the fundamental beliefs that she is a 'continuing source of authourity' which, it is assumed, includes doctrinal authourity. Many Adventists have even gone so far as to proclaim she is equal to the Bible in authourity, including the authourity of the apostles of the New Testament, in clear violation of Scriptural guidelines for the office of prophet.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
It's motto has always been 'the Bible and the Bible alone, the only rule of faith and duty.' Every Christian therefore is duty bound to take the Bible as the perfect rule of faith and duty. He should pray fervently to be aided by the Holy Spirit in searching the Scriptures for the whole truth and for his whole duty. He is not at liberty to turn from them to learn his duty through any of the gifts.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! In the church today, far too many are not making a move without consulting the Red Books first. If EGW says it, that is the final word on the matter. No deviation is tolerated. It is prevalent in Bible studies, Sabbath Schools and prayer meetings where the SOP is consulted to settle doctrinal disputations time and again. If I've seen it once, I've seen it a thousand times: When the Bible has nothing to say on a matter, EGW is consulted as the final clincher and undisputed arbiter. Every aspect of thier spiritual understanding, theological understanding, personal and public life is kept strictly in line with the SOP. The inevitable result of this cultish behavior, is that many behavioral and lifestyle restrictions are imposed upon the membership simply on the basis of 'thus sayeth the SOP' without one shred of Biblical support. Too many are more than willing to let EGW and the SOP do thier thinking for them.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
We say the very moment he does he places the gifts in a wrong place, and takes an extremely dangerous position. The revival of any or all of the gifts, will never supercede the necessity of searching the Word to learn truth."
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! No question, the SDA church today gives lip service to Sola Scriptura, but in practice she has elevated the SOP to be the final say on doctrinal matters. Sad to say, even if a doctrine endorsed by EGW was proven to be unScriptural, the church would blindly plow ahead with her words. If it came down to the Bible or EGW, too many Adventists would go with EGW. We see this with how the church continues to stubbornly cling to the SOP endorsement of the IJ, recklessly disregarding Biblical concerns that continue to arise with this doctrine. There is a tendency in the SDA church to immediately assume that the EGW has 100% correctly interpreted Bible truth simply by virtue of the level of doctrinal authourity she has automatically been given. This is an atrocious hermeneautic for Biblical interpretation.
Tradtion will rule the day, even at the expense of the Bible.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
I also submit that James White would have never been considered an Adventist in good standing today while holding these positions. In fact, he would most likely have been dragged before a GC committee where his Adventist integrity would have been called into question and he would be eyed suspiciously as an enemy of EGW. Some of the more idiotic membership would probably declare him a Jesuit plant in the church.
Sound familiar? I've got five names for you: Bradford, Cottrell, Heppenstall, Ford and Bacchiocchi. James would have been in good company.
The church is supposed to be a dynamic, ever-changing entity. What we now have is a behemoth of an administrative structure that is stagnating, theologically rotting in neutral, content to not accept any new interpretation of Scripture if it conflicts with traditional interpretation. We have a church where dangerous heresies are tolerated and even encouraged amongst it's ranks, such as sinless-perfection, final-generation theology and the belief that Christ had a sinful nature. We have a church with certain ultra-fundamentalist pastors who hate Luther's salvation theology have declared open war against him and the reformers. We also have a church in complete denial that thousands are leaving her ranks over doctrinal matters. There is far too much theological bullying, spiritual extortion and a deliberately created atmosphere of fear and dread to keep the rank and file firmly in line with the SOP going on against the membership and especially the clergy. There is also too much obscurantism, fear-mongering and strangling of theological free thought and discussion being used against the membership and especially the clergy.
It has been made clear in the church time and again that truth is not something to be gained through honest Bible study, but a pre-manipulated process whereby all conclusions must fall in line with the SOP no matter what.
Ellen White: "The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God's Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take place of the Word. Let all prove thier positions from the Scriptures alone and substantiate every point the claim as truth from the revealed Word of God. But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrine, and the basis of all reforms."
Ellen White: "The fact that there is no controversy or agitation amongst God's people should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is a reason to fear that they may not clearly be discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises or is tolerated which will send men searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what."
Indeed, even the founders of this denomination encouraged that this should, nay, had to be done:
James White: "There is a class of persons who are determined to have it that the Review and its conductors make the views of Mrs. White a test of doctrine and Christian fellowship.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! The SOP has most definitely been elevated to have final say in matters of doctrine in the church today. There is also no question that belief in the SOP and Ellen White as a prophetess is, in fact, a strong test of fellowship and membership in the SDA church today. So much so, it is included in the fundamental beliefs where she is specifically mentioned by name. There is no question who candidates are pledging thier belief to when they agree to that vow, as the vows and the fundamental beliefs are closely connected. Some try to say that the vow is only referring to the gift of prohecy in God's remnant church, but it that is nonsense. Anyone with a passing knowledge of SDAism knows very well it is referring to EGW, and her name is included in the fundamental beliefs to hammer home this point.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
What has the Review to do with Mrs. White's views? The sentiments published in its columns are all drawn from the Holy Scriptures. No writer of the Review has ever referred to them as an authourity on any point.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! The SOP has most definitely been elevated to an authourity on every aspect of life, be it doctrinal, historical, theological, medical, geological, educational, scholarly, scientific, exegetical, social or personal. This has gotten to be so bad in the church, that SDA scholars and theologians have been forced to keep quiet if thier conclusions ever deviate from the SOP on any point, or face termination. She IS the final word in all matters, and has been given carte blanche authourity all across the board. So much so, it has been included in the fundamental beliefs that she is a 'continuing source of authourity' which, it is assumed, includes doctrinal authourity. Many Adventists have even gone so far as to proclaim she is equal to the Bible in authourity, including the authourity of the apostles of the New Testament, in clear violation of Scriptural guidelines for the office of prophet.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
It's motto has always been 'the Bible and the Bible alone, the only rule of faith and duty.' Every Christian therefore is duty bound to take the Bible as the perfect rule of faith and duty. He should pray fervently to be aided by the Holy Spirit in searching the Scriptures for the whole truth and for his whole duty. He is not at liberty to turn from them to learn his duty through any of the gifts.
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! In the church today, far too many are not making a move without consulting the Red Books first. If EGW says it, that is the final word on the matter. No deviation is tolerated. It is prevalent in Bible studies, Sabbath Schools and prayer meetings where the SOP is consulted to settle doctrinal disputations time and again. If I've seen it once, I've seen it a thousand times: When the Bible has nothing to say on a matter, EGW is consulted as the final clincher and undisputed arbiter. Every aspect of thier spiritual understanding, theological understanding, personal and public life is kept strictly in line with the SOP. The inevitable result of this cultish behavior, is that many behavioral and lifestyle restrictions are imposed upon the membership simply on the basis of 'thus sayeth the SOP' without one shred of Biblical support. Too many are more than willing to let EGW and the SOP do thier thinking for them.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
We say the very moment he does he places the gifts in a wrong place, and takes an extremely dangerous position. The revival of any or all of the gifts, will never supercede the necessity of searching the Word to learn truth."
VIOLATED BY THE SDA CHURCH! No question, the SDA church today gives lip service to Sola Scriptura, but in practice she has elevated the SOP to be the final say on doctrinal matters. Sad to say, even if a doctrine endorsed by EGW was proven to be unScriptural, the church would blindly plow ahead with her words. If it came down to the Bible or EGW, too many Adventists would go with EGW. We see this with how the church continues to stubbornly cling to the SOP endorsement of the IJ, recklessly disregarding Biblical concerns that continue to arise with this doctrine. There is a tendency in the SDA church to immediately assume that the EGW has 100% correctly interpreted Bible truth simply by virtue of the level of doctrinal authourity she has automatically been given. This is an atrocious hermeneautic for Biblical interpretation.
Tradtion will rule the day, even at the expense of the Bible.
I submit that the pioneers would have been appalled that this has happened in total disregard for thier positions on the matter.
I also submit that James White would have never been considered an Adventist in good standing today while holding these positions. In fact, he would most likely have been dragged before a GC committee where his Adventist integrity would have been called into question and he would be eyed suspiciously as an enemy of EGW. Some of the more idiotic membership would probably declare him a Jesuit plant in the church.
Sound familiar? I've got five names for you: Bradford, Cottrell, Heppenstall, Ford and Bacchiocchi. James would have been in good company.
The church is supposed to be a dynamic, ever-changing entity. What we now have is a behemoth of an administrative structure that is stagnating, theologically rotting in neutral, content to not accept any new interpretation of Scripture if it conflicts with traditional interpretation. We have a church where dangerous heresies are tolerated and even encouraged amongst it's ranks, such as sinless-perfection, final-generation theology and the belief that Christ had a sinful nature. We have a church with certain ultra-fundamentalist pastors who hate Luther's salvation theology have declared open war against him and the reformers. We also have a church in complete denial that thousands are leaving her ranks over doctrinal matters. There is far too much theological bullying, spiritual extortion and a deliberately created atmosphere of fear and dread to keep the rank and file firmly in line with the SOP going on against the membership and especially the clergy. There is also too much obscurantism, fear-mongering and strangling of theological free thought and discussion being used against the membership and especially the clergy.
It has been made clear in the church time and again that truth is not something to be gained through honest Bible study, but a pre-manipulated process whereby all conclusions must fall in line with the SOP no matter what.
Ellen White: "The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front. God's Word is the unerring standard. The Testimonies are not to take place of the Word. Let all prove thier positions from the Scriptures alone and substantiate every point the claim as truth from the revealed Word of God. But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrine, and the basis of all reforms."
Ellen White: "The fact that there is no controversy or agitation amongst God's people should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is a reason to fear that they may not clearly be discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises or is tolerated which will send men searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what."