Goldstein is correct.Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on Natural Evil, …

Comment on Clifford Goldstein: Seventh-day Darwinians, Redux by Steve Billiter.

Goldstein is correct.Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on Natural Evil, is indeed must reading for all in this discussion.His points are on target.Moreover, the authors start with a death-free eschatology in their theodicy without which they admit that they would have no answer for current natural evil in this Earth. However, in order to accomplish this starting point, they must grant a degree of univosity to biblical eschatological texts which they do not grant to biblical protologial texts. Unfortunately, the authors cannot treat Genesis 1-11 as history because they have accepted as true the macro-evolutionary deep-time model of earth history.
It is a pleasure to read the results of Goldstein’s close reading of this most important book.  

John,
A “must read?” Me thinks not.But thanks for the vocabulary lesson! Once we know thoroughly the Word of God, then errors are easily discerned.If one is writing a review for the purposes of exposing a dangerous, popular book than it has to be read. In that case,I would just chalk it up to doing an unpleasant work in the face of duty.

Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not stick to me.

Infidel Authors.–Another source of danger against which we should be constantly on guard is the reading of infidel authors. Such works are inspired by the enemy of truth, and no one can read them without imperiling the soul. It is true that some who are affected by them may finally recover; but all who tamper with their evil influence place themselves on Satan’s ground, and he makes the most of his advantage. As they invite his temptations, they have not wisdom to discern or strength to resist them. With a fascinating, bewitching power unbelief and infidelity fasten themselves upon the mind. {AH 413.2}

In order to obtain an education, many think it essential to study the writings of infidel authors, because these works contain many bright gems of thought. But who was the originator of these gems of thought? It was God, and God only. He is the Source of all light. Why, then, should we wade through the mass of error contained in the works of infidels for the sake of a few intellectual truths, when all truth is at our command? {CT 378.1}

How is it that men who are at war with the government of God come into possession of the wisdom which they sometimes display? Satan himself was educated in the heavenly courts, and he has a knowledge of good as well as of evil. He mingles the precious with the vile, and this is what gives him power to deceive. But because Satan has robed himself in garments of heavenly brightness, shall we receive him as an angel of light? The tempter has his agents, educated according to his methods, inspired by his spirit, and adapted to his work. Shall we co-operate with them? Shall we receive the works of his agents as essential to the acquirement of an education? {CT 378.2}

Science and the Bible

We would not discourage education, nor put a low estimate on mental culture and discipline. God would have us students as long as we remain in the world. Every opportunity for culture should be improved. The faculties need to be strengthened by exercise, the mind is to be trained and expanded by taxing study; but all this may be done while the heart is becoming an easy prey to deception. Wisdom from above must be communicated to the soul. It is the entrance of God’s word that “giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Psalm 119:130. His word is given for our instruction; there is nothing in it that is defective or misleading. The Bible is not to be tested by men’s ideas of science, but science is to be brought to the test of the unerring standard. {CT 425.2}

Steve Billiter Also Commented

Clifford Goldstein: Seventh-day Darwinians, Redux

According to Kevin, “…wrong ideas and wrong practices can and will lead to eternal damnation.” Assuming SDA interpretations of the Bible are true, does that mean that nobody who venerates Sunday as the sabbath will be in heaven, nobody who believes in eternal torment will be in heaven, and nobody who believes in theistic evolution will be in heaven? Is it really that simple? Does God judge us by what we believe–or how we live?  

Kevin is correct, but we can make some distinctions here. We know that God “winked at ignorance” and there will be multitudes who kept Sunday in heaven. However, 7th day Adventists teach and believe that the soon-coming mark of the beast is all about Sunday vs. Saturday worship and just who it is we give our loyalty too.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent:

I hear all the time that some doctrine “is not a salvational issue.” No doubt some aren’t-standing alone. But we also know that Satan will lead a person one wrong step at a time until he is in complete rebellion and unbelief does its baleful work. These matters have eternal consequences for sure.

Unbelief as opposed to short-term ignorance is very dangerous, as a person can only reject truth for so long and then at some point God will give them over to the lies they love. Belief starts in the mind and then affects behavior for good or evil. So just like the children of Israel were standing on the edge of the promised land and could not enter in for another 40 years; millions today stand on the brink of eternity struggling with unbelief. Who will believe the plain Word of God, and then obey Him and enter in through the gates?

2Th 2:10 And with all delusion of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.


Clifford Goldstein: Seventh-day Darwinians, Redux

No wonder Richard Dawkins and those with similar views can’t stand this distorted idea of God – the only idea that is really compatible with mainstream evolutionary ideas. It would be better to choose oblivion than to serve such a God. In this sense, I’m very sympathetic with Dawkins and those like him.

Sean Pitman
http://www.DetectingDesign.com  (Quote)

Maybe Dawkins some others can figure out what some of the rest of us have; If you want to know who and what God is, well just ask Him and read His Word with a humble, teachable attitude as a student/learner-and not someone who has already passed judgment on God. Yes it is quite sad, and we should have real sympathy and compassion like Jesus did for the unbelievers because we know their final end if things don’t change.

Mat 7:13 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.


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?