Sean, Marcel Schwantes is a him. I know him well. And I am certain that if anyone intentionally removed the date of the resolution, which seems unlikely, it was done before it reached Marcel’s hands.

David Read: Sean, Marcel Schwantes is a him.

Ah, sorry Marcel for the gender confusion (I once knew a girl named Marcel) – change comment to “I believe him!” ; )

I take issue with shabby journalism, but at least they apologized. It still doesn’t excuse AToday’s obvious bias & agenda — that’s also shabby journalism. I also take issue with people calling themselves Adventist when they’re not. It’s sad that such theological liberals are in places people notice them, like at AToday. I’d say, “oh well, someday they’ll get their just reward” for promoting views against Biblical doctrine and the SDA church and just leave it at that, but these folks are taking hundreds of people with them. If you’re going to be lost, fine. But it’s a shame when a lost person is vocal about what they believe, dynamically dragging others to their spiritual death. Shame on Erv and AToday.

“The path of men who are placed as leaders is not an easy one. But they are to see in every difficulty a call to prayer. Never are they to fail of consulting the great Source of all wisdom. Strengthened and enlightened by the Master Worker, they will be enabled to stand firm against unholy influences and to discern right from wrong, good from evil. They will approve that which God approves, and will strive earnestly against the introduction of wrong principles into His cause.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 31.

“The greatest want of the world is the want of men,–men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall”.–Education, p. 57.

I applaud the decision of the board and the statement they gave out–but will this be followed by action? If so, when–and what kind of action will it be? And will other Adventist colleges or Universities also be included (by the folks in a position to do something there) before things reach this stage in them?

Where are the men (and women) in places of influence who are willing to call sin by it’s right name and cleanse the “camp” of that “abominable thing” before any more of our young people are led astray? (What secular company would tolerate one of it’s employs undermining it’s core beliefs–and all companies have certain guidelines their workers must embrace and promote–and still pay them a salary?) “Academic Freedom” cannot take president over “Academic Integrity!” If these teachers truly believe in evolution–which is certainly their privilege–they should go teach where it is accepted. It seems to me the height of outright dishonesty to come in and accept wages from the sacred tithe while trying to undermine one of the core beliefs of our church. Why do we tolerate this???

@Bob Pickle:
Ok,ok, Bob, give a rest on the date thing !! Marcel applogised. What does it matter anymore ?? Maybe it came that way, who cares ? This isn’t the crux of the problem. Now your other charges-if you can proove them-should be looked into !

In my honest opinion it sounds more deliberate. I have lately been visiting their site and have found it very disturbing. They post articles that are unChrist-like and more of the world– like posting a movie review on AVATAR and a certain Pastor twisting the Bible’s point on the Roman Catholic Church and to doubt EGW writings and the Bible.
I’m sorry but the Adventist Today had not lived up to the SDA’s calling. Sad to say their main office is also found in LSU. If they really want to show that they stand by the SDA FB, they should not post stuff that insinuates doubt and promote worldly things. They tickle our senses but leads us further away from God– this is not what the Adventists need today. Why not focus on the Bible and how the prophecies are being fulfilled in an SDA’s life each day and not use the world’s pattern of journalism.
I thank this site for upholding the truth and fighting for what is right though the heaven’s fall. God bless Educate Truth and more power.

Nanci: @Bob Pickle:
Ok,ok, Bob, give a rest on the date thing !!Marcel applogised.What does it matter anymore ??Maybe it came that way, who cares ?This isn’t the crux of the problem.Now your other charges-if you can proove them-should be looked into !  

It would appear that I haven’t raised the date question here since February 4. But I don’t think it should be given a rest.

AToday prides itself in being independent media, in not promoting a particular view or doctrine or agenda of the Adventist Church. But for AToday to engage in censorship of the simple question of how the date got deleted raises a lot of questions.

We’re talking about a document that Erv Taylor requested to be posted on AToday’s site, and any kind, simple question about the missing date gets censored from their site. They won’t allow the question to be posted. Why not, and who made that decision?

The fact that Marcel directs all further questions to Erv also seems to contradict Erv’s previous assertion that he as executive publisher does not control the content of AToday’s publications.

I don’t care what their answer was – if it is true that even one pastor is promoting the abominations of Lev 18 regarding the gay agenda – that should result in an immediate attempt to help that pastor understand the basics of Bible exegesis — followed immediatly by the choice to either accept the Bible teaching on this subject or look into being a pastor for another denomination.

There was a time not 2 years past when I was telling a large group of non-SDAs that “NO denomination has fallen into the apostasy of endorsing the gay agenda without FIRST denying the authority of scripture and swallowing the lie of evolutionism” — and when I said that – I was typically making a favorable point about Christian denominations that did not go down that slippery slope.

in Christ,

Bob

Time for

Popped back in to see where the discussion had got up to. Apparently it’s stuck on a loop of ‘Adventists who are not exactly like {me} are not Adventists at all and are bound for perdition’. It’s broadened out from creation/evolution to homosexuality and as broad as ‘liberal theology’ generally. I’m sure we’ll get to health care and liberal politics soon too: or is that already implicit? Hey “Educate Teabaggers!”

@Bravus:

Bravus says:
February 25, 2010 Popped back in to see where the discussion had got up to. Apparently it’s stuck on a loop of ‘Adventists who are not exactly like {me} are not Adventists at all and are bound for perdition’. It’s broadened out from creation/evolution to homosexuality

I think that if you ignore enough of the substance and details in the issues being raised you could gloss it all over with a dismissive “sounds to me like people here are just complaining that someone is different from me”.

What kind of dark ages straying from the path could not happen under that kind of discernment??

Would there be any limit??

in Christ,

Bob

@Bravus:

Bravus says:
February 25, 2010 If I cared enough I’m sure I could copy and paste a dozen or more statements with that particular effect, though not in those words, of course.

hmm another “I don’t actually have the data to support my latest accusation” post from Bravus??

How “unnexpected”.

Ron why are you so angry with Shane? You should be thanking the guy for allowing you to post here. He just wants you to be more congenial and there is nothing wrong with that. Name calling is not in good taste. We were all taught that when we were young.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our three weapons are. . .

Ron -

Your comment reminds me of something that I think applies to both cases equally -

The plain, straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their sins. God holds His people, as a body, responsible for the sins existing in individuals among them. If the leaders of the church neglect to diligently search out the sins which bring the displeasure of God upon the body, they become responsible for these sins.

But to deal with minds is the nicest work in which men ever engaged. All are not fitted to correct the erring. They have not wisdom to deal justly, while loving mercy. They are not inclined to see the necessity of mingling love and tender compassion with faithful reproofs. Some are ever needlessly severe, and do not feel the necessity of the injunction of the apostle: “And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.” {3T 269.2}

There are many who do not have the discretion of Joshua and who have no special duty to search out wrongs and to deal promptly with the sins existing among them. Let not such hinder those who have the burden of this work upon them; let them not stand in the way of those who have this duty to do.

Some make it a point to question and doubt and find fault because others do the work that God has not laid upon them. These stand directly in the way to hinder those upon whom God has laid the burden of reproving and correcting prevailing sins in order that His frown may be turned away from His people. Should a case like Achan’s be among us, there are many who would accuse those who might act the part of Joshua in searching out the wrong, of having a wicked, fault-finding spirit. God is not to be trifled with and His warnings disregarded with impunity by a perverse people. {3T 270.1}

I was shown that the manner of Achan’s confession was similar to the confessions that some among us have made and will make. They hide their wrongs and refuse to make a voluntary confession until God searches them out, and then they acknowledge their sins. A few persons pass on in a course of wrong until they become hardened. They may even know that the church is burdened, as Achan knew that Israel were made weak before their enemies because of his guilt. Yet their consciences do not condemn them. They will not relieve the church by humbling their proud, rebellious hearts before God and putting away their wrongs. God’s displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions. {3T 270.2}

Those who work in the fear of God to rid the church of hindrances and to correct grievous wrongs, that the people of God may see the necessity of abhorring sin and may prosper
271
in purity, and that the name of God may be glorified, will ever meet with resisting influences from the unconsecrated. Zephaniah thus describes the true state of this class and the terrible judgments that will come upon them: {3T 270.3}

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil.” “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.” {3T 271.1}

Confessions Made Too Late

When a crisis finally comes, as it surely will, and God speaks in behalf of His people, those who have sinned, those who have been a cloud of darkness and who have stood directly in the way of God’s working for His people, may become alarmed at the length they have gone in murmuring and in bringing discouragement upon the cause; and, like Achan, becoming terrified, they may acknowledge that they have sinned. But their confessions are too late and are not of the right kind to benefit themselves, although they may relieve the cause of God. Such do not make their confessions because of a conviction of their true state and a sense of how displeasing their course has been to God. God may give this class another
272
test, another proving, and let them show that they are no better prepared to stand free from all rebellion and sin than before their confessions were made. They are inclined to be ever on the side of wrong. And when the call is made for those who will be on the Lord’s side to make a decided move to vindicate the right, they will manifest their true position. Those who have been nearly all their lives controlled by a spirit as foreign to the Spirit of God as was Achan’s will be very passive when the time comes for decided action on the part of all. They will not claim to be on either side. The power of Satan has so long held them that they seem blinded and have no inclination to stand in defense of right. If they do not take a determined course on the wrong side, it is not because they have a clear sense of the right, but because they dare not. {3T 271.2}

God will not be trifled with. It is in the time of conflict that the true colors should be flung to the breeze. It is then that the standard-bearers need to be firm and let their true position be known. It is then that the skill of every true soldier for the right is tested. Shirkers can never wear the laurels of victory. Those who are true and loyal will not conceal the fact, but will put heart and might into the work, and venture their all in the struggle, let the battle turn as it will. God is a sin-hating God. And those who encourage the sinner, saying, It is well with thee, God will curse. {3T 272.1}

Confessions of sin made at the right time to relieve the people of God will be accepted of Him. But there are those among us who will make confessions, as did Achan, too late to save themselves. God may prove them and give them another trial, for the sake of evidencing to His people that they will not endure one test, one proving of God. They are not in harmony with right. They despise the straight testimony that reaches the heart, and would rejoice to see everyone silenced who gives reproof.
273
{3T 272.2}

The people of Israel had gradually lost their fear and reverence for God until His word through Joshua had no weight with them. “{3T 273.1}

Ron, I’m sorry–I didn’t realize that pointing out the faults of our leaders on publicly accessible websites was a Biblical belief. I realize our leaders vary in their commitment to upholding SDA biblical beliefs, but always believed it was better to take my concerns to the Lord on my knees in prayer than to try to convince everybody in a public venue that so-and-so and so-and-so and so-and-so are or aren’t doing such-and-such and such-and-such and such-and-such. But perhaps I’m mistaken–maybe I should try to dig up dirt on as many of our leaders, professors, physicians, etc., as I can–and let everybody know about it.