Comment on Ricardo Graham clarifies LSU Board releases by Steve Billiter.
“Request” sounds too weak to me. Since when does an employer “request” his employee to correctly do his job? Never. It can be nicely stated and should be; “please” is an excellent word to get familiar with. Does administration continue to let the professors ignore the “requests?
Did God request the children of Israel to keep the commandments? Was there accountability? Of course.Did Jesus make requests or give commands?
What good will it do to give years to develop curriculum; has not this gone on for ten years already? One cannot teach the Bible correctly if that truth is not written in their hearts. There must be committed professors.
To many of our youth there is great danger in listening to the discourses that are given by those who in the world are called great men. These discourses are often of a highly intellectual nature, and prevailing errors of science falsely so-called and of popular religious doctrine are mingled with wise sayings and observations, but they undermine the statements of the Bible and give the impression that there is reason for questioning the truth of the inspired Word. In this way the seeds of skepticism are sown by great and professedly wise men, but their names are registered in the books of record in heaven as fools, and they are an offense to God. They repeat the falsehoods that Satan put into the mouth of the serpent, and educate the youth in delusions. {3SM 232.3}
This is the kind of education the enemy delights in. It is sorcery. The great apostle inquired, “Who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth?” Those who receive and admire the sentiments of these so-called great men are in danger, for through the subtlety of the enemy the sophistical reasoning of these false teachers takes root in the heart of our youth, and almost imperceptibly they are converted from truth to error. But the conversion should be just the other way. Our young men who have seen the evidences of the verity of truth should be firmly established and able to win souls to Christ from
233
the darkness of error. {3SM 232.4}
Steve Billiter Also Commented
Ricardo Graham clarifies LSU Board releases
@Erik: Erik, while you are certainly correct as to your views that God and His Word are our ultimate authority in the matter of LSU and the teaching of evolution, the SDA church is still God’s remnant church and still has His approval if they do not stray from his Word. In this matter, in my opinion the church itself has not departed from Gods Word, but certain individuals it seems have.
SDA belief # 6 says:
6. Creation:
God is Creator of all things, and has revealed in Scripture the authentic account of His creative activity. In six days the Lord made “the heaven and the earth” and all living things upon the earth, and rested on the seventh day of that first week. Thus He established the Sabbath as a perpetual memorial of His completed creative work. The first man and woman were made in the image of God as the crowning work of Creation, given dominion over the world, and charged with responsibility to care for it. When the world was finished it was “very good,” declaring the glory of God. (Gen. 1; 2; Ex. 20:8-11; Ps. 19:1-6; 33:6, 9; 104; Heb. 11:3.)
So Sean is correct in saying the professors should comply with the teachings of the church as the church owns LSU. If the professors do not teach the doctrines of the church and instead teach something opposing that, they should be given their walking papers. So in the matter of the 28 beliefs, the church speaks with God authority.
Ellen White says;
This statement holds its force in all ages. On the church has been conferred the power to act in Christ’s stead. It is God’s instrumentality for the preservation of order and discipline among His people. To it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions respecting its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the responsibility of excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who by their un-Christlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever the church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God’s word will be ratified in heaven. {7T 263.3}
This does not mean the church is infallible, we are only to comply with the church as it complies with God.
God Bless, Steve
Ricardo Graham clarifies LSU Board releases
Gentlemen, it is always right to stand for Bible truth, and we should, and never back down. However, let us also remember these times in which we live;just before the close of probation. In the light of the LSU dilemma:
Ordeal of the Sifting Time.–Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out–the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths. . . . The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy (Letter 55, 1886). {7BC 911.6}
We will see much worse than this happening in our schools and churches.
Let us be strong in the Lord’s might!
God Bless, Steve
Recent Comments by Steve Billiter
Biblical Interpretation and Credibility
Professor Kent: You have listed five supernatural events (virgin birth, resurrection of dead, future life in heaven, Noachian flood, and recent fiat creation of life) that cannot be validated empirically.
@Professor Kent,
There is scientific evidence for the flood, although not for Christs’ Resurrection, or His resurrection of Lazarus, etc. The remains of fossilized fish have been found buried at the tops of the highest mountains on earth–which by far precludes fairly recent climbing expeditions eating the fish, and burying the remains which would leave no time for fossilization. Please see Dr. Vieth’s Lecture # 102, http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/c/9/Science/ And I quote from the site:
“Science today denies a universal flood, as it would destroy the continuity of the fossil record in the geological column. In this video, evidence for precisely such a universal phenomenon is presented with fascinating video material from modern day catastrophes on a smaller scale.”
Moreover, we need not make Bible study so convoluted by presenting this or that theory which has no bearing on truth, or that just muddies the waters on how we are to understand the Bible. God has granted to each person a measure of faith, and we know that without faith it is impossible to please Him. How do we increase our faith? It is not wholly by considering the scientific evidence or the lack thereof:
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So it is by diligent Bible study that our faith increases. We come to God humbly asking Him for understanding–after all, He gave the Word. It is that longing after righteousness and the doing of His will that reveals truth to us:
John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
By and large, a secular/scientific education even at some Adventist colleges tends to undermine true faith in the Bible. I know from my own experience as a junior now at the University of Nevada, Reno–that if my own Bible knowledge and faith had not been so strong, then academia would have naturally destroyed what little faith I might have had under different circumstances. Many times I have questioned my present course as to its wisdom (Social Work) but its far to late to turn back. Every semester I deal with un-Biblical teachings in my classes. I’ve seen how Satan has moved on faculty and admn. who know not Jesus to attack me in different ways assaulting my character.
That aside, how can we presume to teach anyone how to understand the Bible without presenting a single Bible/EGW text as support in a comprehensive manner? Is this a denial of the Master? I believe so.
Mat_10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
We don’t need to guess–we don’t need to present speculations and theories, Christ tells us in John 7:17 (and elsewhere) precisely how we are to understand His Word.
God gives light to guide those who honestly desire light and truth; but it is not His purpose to remove all cause for questioning and doubt. He gives sufficient evidence to found faith upon, and then requires men to accept that evidence and exercise faith. {5T 303.1}
He who will study the Bible with a humble and teachable spirit will find it a sure guide, pointing out the way of life with unfailing accuracy. But what does your study of the Bible avail, brethren and sisters, unless you practice the truths it teaches? That holy book contains nothing that is nonessential; nothing is revealed that has not a bearing upon our actual lives. The deeper our love for Jesus, the more highly we shall regard that word as the voice of God directly to us. {5T 303.2}
The Heroic Crusade Redux
As a fledging writer myself still at the University of Nevada Reno, I highly object to the style of writing that Dr. Kime exhibits. While we note he is obviously highly educated and very intelligent to boot, this article reeks of me, me, me, look what I can do, see how clever I can write and spin these matters with my crafty words. I simply prefer a straightforward, no-nonsense style that presents my thesis or argument logically and systematically, while attempting to abide by the rules of good expository writing. Furthermore, his information is not correct concerning the scientific community. [edit]
Many other scientists such as Dr. Walter Vieth (http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/c/9/Science/) lectures on the flaws found in evolution, and on the scientific evidence for creation. The carbon-14 dating system has long been known by many scientists to be flawed—it is based on assumptions. Indeed, considering the scientific evidence, and the Bible evidence, for which a serious study of prophecy proves the Bible true—creationists have the luxury of solid, irrefutable evidence proving creation, while evolutionists must exist on blind faith, assumptions, and lies.
The crux of the matter is this: evolutionists have virtual control of America’s public school system aside from Christian Bible–based schools, and because they have rejected the claims of the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, found in Holy Writ–to simply come to Jesus and have eternal life—they have therefore rejected the entire Bible including the Genesis account. Because they have rejected the truth that will save them, God has given them over to the delusions they love (2Thess. 2:9-11). Through it all, evolutionary scientists have attempted the impossible, which is to apply the human measuring system to understand God’s creation—an impossibility. Sadly, the evolutionary scientific community will continue to suffer the results of misconceptions, false science, assumptions, blind faith, and quite simply, the most abject lies.
Job 11:7 Can you by searching find out God? Can you find out the Almighty to perfection?
Job 11:8 It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than hell; what can you know?
Job 11:9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
LSU, Pacific Union Conference and North American Division Sued
Are not all professors, faculty and admn. staff SDA church members? I suppose anyone who teaches any form of evolution has no qualms concerning violating some other “selected” Bible concepts that they don’t accept. Once again, the church takes it on the chin;
1Co 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Co 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
1Co 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
1Co 6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
1Co 6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
1Co 6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
My Goal for La Sierra University
“Bradley says he won’t undercut decades of peer reviewed scientific research in the interest of religious consistency.”
“I am not OK with getting up in a science course and saying most science is [b_s_],†he said.
Good article Sean. What I’m hearing from Dr. Bradley is that if given the chance, he will continue to teach the peer-reviewed “false science” as if it were true; and I’m sure he thinks it is true.
No one with Bradley’s beliefs should ever darken the door of a fully tenured (or otherwise) professorial study, much less receive a paycheck from the 7th Day Adventist Church for essentially teaching errors in origins.
Although it is true that Christ died for all of the worlds inhabitants, each person must decide whether he/she will have the Lord reign over the life or not. It was Christ Himself that laid down the foundations of the worlds, creating the earth and all that is in it in 6 literal days, and He rested the 7th. Nothing could be plainer than Genesis 1 and 2.
My suggestion for prof Bradley is to find himself a secular university to teach at–mine will do fine. However, I avoid all such classes and all my science is finished! Evolutionists are well aware of my position when I’ve been in their class.
LA SIERRA: Four resign after recording emerges
Ron Stone M.D.:
@Steve Billiter, Campolo (along with his wife) is also one of the most vocal “gay marriage†and “gay is A-OK†proponents in America.
Ron, I guess that Tony just names his poison that he likes. What does he say about gay’s who do contemplative prayer? Is he trapped?