David Read said…. “…. the local church controls its own membership. …

Comment on The Rise of Theistic Evolutionism – The Salvation of Christianity? by Bill Sorensen.

David Read said….

“…. the local church controls its own membership. If the local church says someone is a member, she’s a member, and no one at the conference, union, or GC can do anything about it.”

This is true, David. And it is equally true that any SDA church, even if it is small in number, has the authority to throw anyone out of the SDA denomination who is presently a member of that church.

Scary, ain’t it? A membership of say, 30 people can disfellowship you from being a SDA. And technically, the conference can do nothing about it. Such is the power of the local church.

Bill Sorensen

Bill Sorensen Also Commented

The Rise of Theistic Evolutionism – The Salvation of Christianity?
Thanks Wendell for your comments. No doubt at least some of your observations are correct. But many details of the parable still leave us uninformed.

And neither can we judge the wise and foolish virgins today. We can certainly see a trend that portents the soon fulfillment of it.

And of course, our first concern is to be sure we have a viable relationship with Jesus that will carry us through any and every trial and difficulty.

None the less, we can all judge doctrine and teaching and evaluate its scriptural confirmation either for or against.

Thanks again for your comment.

Bill Sorensen


The Rise of Theistic Evolutionism – The Salvation of Christianity?
Holly said…..

“Bill, I don’t know what you mean by “scary.” Local church membership means nothing as far as your salvation. Couldn’t you still go there? Would they remove you?

Many could simply go to another SDA Church. I knew of someone who did just that, even though they were not officially disfellowshipped”

Yes, you could. And my wife and I do. I was threatened with censorship and I was head elder in the past. The conference president wanted me out.

So, we eventually left and attend another SDA church. And you are absolutely correct that only church we must be sure to be members of is the one in heaven.

When the church on earth reflects the church in heaven, Jesus will come and take us home.

I doubt if many members really know the intensity of the evil that has infilterated the SDA church. We function pretty much statis quo.

The evolution/creation discussion is in some sense small potatoes compared with the spiritualistic sentiments being taught continually in various ways. Far more subtle than the issue of creation.

At any rate, we still think God can and will bless the church on some relative level until a final shaking will take place.

People are in for a huge surprise in the near future, and I suspect that most of us are numbered among the “foolish virgins” who have little or no oil when the time comes.

When it does, EGW has stated it will be “a terrible ordeal” and no one knows exactly what that means.

Bill Sorensen


The Rise of Theistic Evolutionism – The Salvation of Christianity?
Nothing is more deceptive than to assume since God is still blessing us, we must be doing OK.

The early church changed the Sabbath to Sunday and God still blessed the early church. It took years for the apostacy to come to a head in the reformation.

God’s blessing is not the sole nor final way of determing truth nor what we should do about error.

Bill Sorensen


Recent Comments by Bill Sorensen

Revisiting God, Sky & Land by Fritz Guy and Brian Bull
@Sean Pitman:

Since the fall of Adam, Sean, all babies are born in sin and they are sinners. God created them. Even if it was by way of cooperation of natural law as human beings also participated in the creation process.

Paul says, “Sold in in.” and “Children of wrath just like everyone else.”

You may not like this biblical reality, but it is true none the less.

And yes, God has also provided a way of escape so that all who He has created “in sin” can be “born again” spiritually and escape their heritage of sin and shame.

I know a lot of people don’t like this idea, but it is true anyway. We are born lost with the potential to be saved if we accept Jesus and His atonement that is provisional for “whosoever will may come.”

Cain didn’t like it either and resisted the exhortation of his brother, Abel, to offer a sin offering because he was a sinner. Cain says, “No, I’ll bring a thank offering, but no sin offering. Sin is not my fault. God created me this way.”

Most people will be outside looking in because they agree with Cain but a few will be inside looking out because they agree with Abel.

Bill Sorensen


What does it take to be a true Seventh-day Adventist?
@Sean Pitman:

Well, Sean, I was not as confrontational as Wesley who said, “Those who deny the doctrine of original sin are heathen still.” … [deleted]

[Oh please…

If you want to have a real conversation, great. However, unless you actually respond substantively to the questions and counter arguments posed to you, without your needless pejoratives, I’m not going to continue posting your repetitive comments on this topic in this forum…]
-sdp


What does it take to be a true Seventh-day Adventist?
And the topic at hand is “What does it take to be a real SDA?”

It takes someone who is willing to follow the bible and its teaching in every particular. If you don’t believe this, you are not a “Protestant” SDA.

You then bring up the Trinity. Which is fine. But that is certainly not the only thing that qualifies for the topic of your thread.

So, here is what you stated to me…..”To be morally “guilty” of something, however, requires that one is consciously aware of what is right, but deliberately chooses to do what is wrong instead (James 4:17). Without the interplay of free will, there is no moral “guilt”.”

So a person is “born” selfish, proud, coveteous, vain….etc, but not “guilty” of being, selfish, proud, coveteous, vain….etc. Your limited view of “guilt” is not biblical. Half a truth is equal to a lie. There is certainly conscience guilt. But guilt is more than awareness of right and wrong. “Sin is transgression of the law”, and the law doesn’t care what you know, or don’t know. If you break the law, you are guilty of breaking the law.

Just admit the truth, Sean. But don’t accuse me of going outside the intent of this thread when it was not specifically stated as a thread about the Trinity.

Just “man up” once in a while and admit you are wrong. We are all born guilty in the eyes of God. And our ignorance does not free us from this fact.

Bill Sorensen


Science and Methodological Naturalism
Well, Sean, this article is about Dr. Taylor and his argument to negate the bible. Maybe you and Goldstein can persuade him with your arguments.

The evidences of nature function as a “law that is a schoolmaster” to lead us to the bible. “The heavens declare the glory of God…….” but still does not tell us who God is nor the function of His government concerning the moral law.

In fact, natural law is so convoluted by sin that “survival of the fittest” is the only logical conclusion.

At any rate, I wish you well in your endeavors to support the creation account in scripture.
Take care.


What does it take to be a true Seventh-day Adventist?
@Sean Pitman:

I read Kevin Paulson’s article and he “double talks” around the obvious to deny and/or ignore the reality of what the bible teaches and EGW confirms.

Babies are born guilty of sin because they are born with the spirit of sin. They have no power to do anything but sin unless and until by the special grace of God, they are given the ability to “choose”.

If you add God’s grace to the bible definition of original sin, you can make man free to act all you want. Original sin has to do with the fall of Adam and the results. It is not about God’s grace that has been added by way of the cross. So EGW has stated clearly in support of the fall and its effects on Adam’s children.

” God declares, “I will put enmity.” This enmity is not naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became evil through apostasy. The apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy and support by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason, fallen angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not God specially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God.” {GC88 505.2}

Those who deny original sin and its effects on the children of Adam always appeal to the atonement and the grace of God. But we see that God “put” enmity between Satan and the human family.

As Luther said to Erasmus in their discussion on this matter when Erasmus claimed the will was free by way of grace,
“Once you add grace you can make the will as free as you like.”

Original sin is not about grace nor what man can do once grace is implied and involved. Original sin is about what man is after the fall apart from grace and/or God’s special action super-imposed in the situation. So, if there is no original sin, neither is there any need for grace.

Kevin Paulson convolutes the issue just like other SDA scholars by making no distinction between how man is after the fall with or without grace.

So, in light of original sin, David says, “The wicked are estranged from the womb, they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” Ps. 58

David knows apart from God’s grace, no one can do anything but sin. Original sin highlights the necessity and value of the atonement and what it truly means to be “born again.”

Hear the words of Jesus, “That which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit is spirit, ye must be born again.”

Original sin is exactly why Jesus made this comment. No one can read and understand the bible who denies the reality of original sin and its effects on all the children of Adam. We are all born guilty of sin, even before we act. So Isaiah says, “Write the vision and make it plain, that wayfareing men, though fools, need not err therein.”

In closing, original sin is not about the atonement nor its meaning and application to humanity. It is about man as he comes from Adam lost and without hope, power, choice or any ability to do anything about his situation.