Northern California Conference Votes to Act Independent of the General Conference

S&#046&#032Heisey: To create a doctrine where there is no direct instruction appears to be ADDING to the Holy Scriptures.

This reminds me of the following incident. John and James complained that someone who was not a disciple was performing miracles in Jesus’ name. Notice how Jesus responded to this departure from accepted policy:

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.” [Mark 9:38-39]

Some unions have slightly departed from the traditional manner in carrying the Gospel forward, and the church has reacted by producing a plethora of documents and wasted millions of dollars in order to forbid what is nowhere forbidden in Scripture. We would be wise, I believe, in stopping this nonsense.

Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
Yes, but if they reveal their intent to discredit the theory of evolution, then the door is closed to the publication of the material.

Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
@David Read:”What Jesus do you think you have a relationship with? The Jesus of the Bible is the Creator God. (Jn. 1:3; Heb. 1:2) Do you think He created by predation and death and disease over the course of 600 million years? The Jesus of the Bible is the second Adam who succeeded where the First Adam failed. (1 Cor. 15:22; Rom. 5:12-21) If there was no actual Adam and Eve, and in the mainstream origins narrative there certainly is not, how can Christ have been the second Adam? The Jesus of the Bible spoke of the creation and the Flood as literal events. (Mat. 19:4; 24:38-39) Was Jesus wrong about this, or did He simply lie to his listeners to make a point?

And of course, Jesus came to die for and redeem fallen humanity, but in the mainstream view of origins there absolutely has been no fall whatsoever. To the contrary, there has been an astonishing rise from amoeba to Mozart, from slime to Einstein. There certainly is no need whatsoever of a redeemer. Darwinism makes absolute nonsense out of Christ’s identity and mission on earth, and out of Christianity. You can’t be an evolutionist and be a Christian. They do not go together. So again, what Jesus do you think you have a relationship with? …”

David, You said it so well, I could not resist the temptation of quoting you on this.

My hope is that Professor Kent will read it several times until he realizes the truth contained therein!

Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
@Phill: “I think we can trust Ted Wilson to help reformation in the schools.”

I do trust his intentions; what I am not so sure is about his ability to effect such a major transformation. The doctrine of long ages bug has infiltrated so deep into the biology and the religion departments that only a miracle would be able to bring said school back to the Adventist fold.

We do need Adventist schools, but when an institution persistently departs from a doctrine so foundational to Adventism like Creation, the educational entity has crossed the line and must be given its freedom to go its own way.

It is hard for a parent to let a son or daughter assert its independence, but in every case the time comes when this must be done. The same is true about fiercely independent shools that value their freedom more than their loyalty to the parent entity that has given them their life.

La Sierra University can function on its own without its dependence on the GC. It is high time to cut the umbilical chord. If the school is so enamored with Darwinian evolution, let them experiment on their own dime.

This never ending controversy between LSU and the church is not healthy to the parties. Let them function independently like 3ABN, The Quiet Hour, Adventist Today, Advindicate, and many other similar organizations.

Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
@Sean: “My only disagreement probably is that I am not sure that a divorce of the Church […]”

I meant a friendly divorce like when a parent grants his/her grown up child its independence and cuts the emotional and physical umbilical chord.

Gary Gilbert, Spectrum, and Pseudogenes
@Kent: “Moreover, the Church, like you and me, will never accept Sean Pitman’s position that we follow the science rather than inspiration.”

I believe that this is a misrepresentation of Pitman’s beliefs. My understanding is that he teaches that there is no contradiction between what nature teaches and biblical Revelation.