@Ron Stone M.D.: Blindness versus darkness Many people do not understand …

Comment on Dr. Geraty clarifies his “Challenge” to literal 6-day creationism by Phil Mills.

@Ron Stone M.D.: Blindness versus darkness

Many people do not understand the difference between being in darkness and being in blindness. Turning on the light differentiates between those who respond to light (sight) and those who do not respond to light (blindness). Everyone gropes around in the darkness, but only the blind grope around in the full light of the day.

In the Bible, light is the symbol for truth (Ps 43:3). The world around is in darkness (Isa 60:2). When the light shines (i.e., truth from the Bible is presented) and we cannot OR will not respond, the problem is not simply darkness, it is blindness. There is light (truth) in the church, but when we fail to respond to this light (truth) by bringing our lives into conformity with the light whether it is from neglecting OR rejecting the truth, we are said to be blind, that is, not responsive to truth. More light cannot solve this problem. The problem of the Jewish leaders was called blindness 5 times by Christ in the woes pronounced on the Jewish nation (Matt 23:16, 17, 19, 24, 26). It is important to understand that wilful rejection of truth is blindness (Hardness of heart, deafness, and foolishness are all Biblical “synonyms” for blindness).

Sometimes rejection of truth is because of the manner of its presentation. “When the theory of the truth is repeated without its sacred influence being felt upon the soul of the speaker, it has no force upon the hearers, but is rejected as error, the speaker making himself responsible for the loss of souls” (4T 441).

Sight is the biblical symbol for love for the truth (2 Thes 2:9). When we accept God’s gift of love for the truth we have been healed of blindness. Our eyes are said to be open. (Eph 4:18).

Blindness has a number of symptoms: Some examples include:
1. The blind have to rely on feelings to guide them (Deut 28:29; Isa 59:10).
2. The blind have to rely on others to guide them (Job 29:15). The blind are not capable of determining whether or not they have a good guide and often choose blind guides (Matt 15:14; Joh 12:35).
3. The blind do not see imminent danger and fail to warn others of coming danger (Prov 4:19; Isa 56:10).
4. The blind may mistake their imaginary mental ideas with actually seeing. (Joh 9:39-41; Isa 50:11; Luke 11:35).
5. They do not recognize the light of good coming (Jer 17:6).

There are a number of causes for blindness mentioned in Scripture. Some examples include:
1. A bribe/”gift” blinds (Ex 23:8; Deut 16:19; 1Sam 12:3).
2. Prolonged darkness, like the cave dwelling fish (1 Joh 2:11).
3. Blindfold/Vail (Lu 24:64; 2 Cor 3:14).
4. Congenital causes (John 9:20).
5. Ignorance (Eph 4:18).
6. Lack of the qualities of the eight qualities founded on faith described by Peter (1 Pet 1:9).
7. Judgment of God (Acts 13:11).

The leaders in “progressive” Adventism have all the Biblically diagnostic signs and symptoms of blindness. But so do all of us. Only God can heal our blindness. This is not a small or unimportant matter. For this healing we must cry out like blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:47). We must have the eyesalve prescribed in Rev 3:18. Our prayer should be, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Ps 119:18).

Phil Mills Also Commented

Dr. Geraty clarifies his “Challenge” to literal 6-day creationism
Ron, blindness is not my diagnosis, that is diagnosis of the Great Physician. Throughout history blindness in Israel has been its great problem. Of the ~22 recorded healings of Jesus, 5 were for blindness. On the cross Jesus pitied the blindness of the Jews when He said, “They know not what they do.”

Sadly, like the Jews crucifying Jesus, these men do not know what they are doing. Though they call darkness light and light darkness, they are deceived. Many prefer the darkness to light (John 3:19). They truly believe they are representing God. They serve as a beacon of warning for the areas in our own lives where we may be blind.

1888 930.3 Satan will come in through every avenue that is left unguarded, to blind minds as to the true and vital interests that are at stake for this time. If he can becloud the minds of our responsible men, the leaven will work. They will not see nor understand the workings of God any more than did the Jews in the days when the greatest blessings were within their reach. By their impenitence, self-confidence, and self-righteousness, they were closing the door to their peace. They were closing the door to their only hope, because they were unwilling to accept of God’s way and submit their minds and hearts to the light of truth.

Of course, the greatest blindness is the blindness of closing our eyes to the truth.

RH 12/23/1890 Those who love their own way, who worship their idols of opinion, and do not love God and obey his word, will continue to walk in darkness. O, how terrible is unbelief! As well let light be poured upon the blind, as to present truth to these souls; the one cannot see, and the other will not see.


Dr. Geraty clarifies his “Challenge” to literal 6-day creationism
Dr. Geraty said, “I wish its critics would also circulate the fact that enrollment (including in biology) is at an all time high.”

That statement reveals the source of the problem: “If you lower the standard in order to secure popularity and an increase of numbers, and then make this increase a cause of rejoicing, you show great blindness. If numbers were evidence of success, Satan might claim the pre-eminence; for in this world his followers are largely in the majority” (5T 31).

Poor man, he is simply blind. Treat him with the gentle tenderness his condition demands. He is not alone. Unfortunately, all of us share the problem.

How accurate is the diagnosis of Jesus of all of our condition today: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17).

Lord, give me the eye-salve that can restore my sight.


Dr. Geraty clarifies his “Challenge” to literal 6-day creationism
How kind of God to send these things to arouse His people!

5T 707 God will arouse His people; if other means fail, heresies will come in among them, which will sift them, separating the chaff from the wheat. The Lord calls upon all who believe His word to awake out of sleep.

How helpful to know that these disbelieving administrators and teachers have been anointed by God for a special work. Elijah was commissioned to anoint Elisha, Jehu, and Hazael. Hazael, king of Syria, was to administer punishment upon the unfaithful northern kingdom. That is a story that has instruction for us today, for we are told, “these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge to our people.” It is interesting to examine the context of this statement. What men are the modern Hazaels anointed as a scourge to our people?

5T 79.1 There is a spirit of opposition to the plain word of God and to the testimony of His Spirit. There is a spirit of idolatrous exaltation of mere human reason above the revealed wisdom of God.

5T 79.2 There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit.

5T 79.3 God has shown me that these men are Hazaels to prove a scourge to our people. They are wise above what is written. This unbelief of the very truths of God’s word because human judgment cannot comprehend the mysteries of His work is found in every district, in all ranks of society. It is taught in most of our schools and comes into the lessons of the nurseries. Thousands who profess to be Christians give heed to lying spirits. Everywhere the spirit of darkness in the garb of religion will confront you.

This is a time that should bring us hope and courage. Though the scourge is here, God is sending the necessary chastisements to us. This is a time for earnest self-examination and prayer. This is a time for us to draw close to the Lord. The battle is His. We claim the promise, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” This necessary chastening at the hand of God is the ultimate proof of His love. Though it gives Him pain to have to cause us pain, He administers the discipline until we are broken in humility and contrition. I pray that this chastening proves restorative for me.


Recent Comments by Phil Mills

Back to Square One…
David, here is a familiar statement I like with instruction for what I can do AT THIS TIME:

“At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason” (5T 136).

If apostates are fearless about trumpeting their apostasy, why should I not be even more emboldened with the truth. Error has no future. Gaddafi was a strong man yesterday, where is he today?

What we sow we reap (Gal 6:7) is a law throughout the universe. Sow faith, reap faith. Sow hope, reap hope. Sow love, reap love.

There are two sources of seeds to sow. One source is the word of God. The other is the enemy. One sows good seed, the other tares. By the command of God, the tares must grow till harvest (Mt 13:30). The fruit alone can expose the seed for what it is. The seeds of darkness and doubt that have been sown for 6,000 years must fully ripen.

We are not surprised by anything today, because the harvest is near and the fruit is ripening. But though there will be a pitiful harvest of evil, I rejoice that there is a much more abundant harvest of righteousness. We can see it by faith. The word of God is not going to return void. The weeds of sin are not sufficient to crowd out the harvest of righteousness. The death of Christ, his mediation in heaven are not in vain. Sin, and those who insist on clinging to it, will be destroyed, while those who cling to Jesus have a sure refuge.


Board of Trustees Addresses Curriculum Proposal
@David Read:

It is interesting how easily three can be dropped from the board when leadership decides to act.

How wise God is. As He has done in the past, so He works in the present. He removes our excuses and lets us reveal reveal our true character by the varying circumstances of life.

We could multiply examples. The Cain that was too kind to “cruelly” kill a lamb for a sacrifice in obedience to God’s command, could easily kill Abel in defiance of God’s command. King Saul, who was too merciful to execute Agag in obedience to God’s command, could kill the high priest in disobedience to God’s command.

Thus it has been through history. Ellen White makes insightful observations about Uriah Smith’s being too weak to provide energetic leadership for right, yet being plenty strong to provide energetic leadership for wrong in the original Battle Creek College crisis of the early 1880’s.

We have certainly seen this same pattern at La Sierra. The same leaders that could not seem to act decisively and firmly when God’s character and truth were under attack, suddenly found the decision and firmness to fire the four men who attacked their own character.

Now other LSU leaders who can’t act decisively in the face of rebellion against the church can suddenly act decisively against those who are seeking harmony with the church. All this reveals that these leaders could have acted decisively and firmly all along, IF THEY CHOSE.

Of course, it should help us reflect on our own lives. What are we revealing by our own inconsistencies?


Former board member never talked with biology faculty
I wonder if “due process” was afforded those who were dropped, since that is very important for accreditation. I wonder if this is being explored.


Back to Square One…

ken: If I understand Phil correctly, the SDA church is a form or a representative democracy where each local church gets to vote upon and elect its delegates to the GC

No. That is not true. Each local congregation votes it’s representatives to a conference constituency meeting. The constituency votes the conference officers. Conferences then may vote representatives for unions and union constituencies. Unions and division organizations then have representatives at the general conference. At the general conference level it is quite removed from the local church representative. But I am still over simplifying.


Back to Square One…
@ken:

Ken, you couldn’t be farther from understanding me.

This is NOT doctrinal change, it is merely attempting to better express the doctrine that has always been taught in the Bible and generally held by the membership of the Seventh-day Adventist church. There isn’t a marginal doctrine in the lot of the 28 fundamental beliefs.

The church doesn’t make doctrines only the Bible can make doctrine. Bible truth and Bible doctrines don’t care a straw about committees or majorities, neither does it change regardless of the views and votes of others.

To understand the phrase commonly used by Adventist “truth is progressive” is to understand that a first grader learns simple truth, then building on the truths he moves to second grade and continues to add to the basic truths and how to apply them to life.

1. Truth is objective, not merely subjective. Truth has evidence. The best possible evidence of truth is that God says it. But other evidence, such as the evidence of science, while weaker, is available. Science cannot “prove” God’s word, but when properly understood, will always provide documentation to the truthfulness of God’s word.

2. Progression is not a rejection of old truth, but a building on, an amplification of previously discovered truth.

Error never will evolve into truth, it simply mutants into greater and greater error.

Truth never changes. It remains far more stable than the Rock of Gibralter. God creates in my heart a love for the truth. As I investigate more and more carefully the word of God, my understanding of life becomes more and more accurate. I can change, but truth does not.

In the area of doctrine: Only the Bible can make true doctrine. The church can only express a summary of key Bible doctrines in a statement of belief.

There is no contemplation of changing doctrine in the modification of the wording of the churches belief. It is simply clarifying its original intent.

And if the church abandoned its fundamental beliefs, as the Jews did, and many Christians did, the truth has not changed. Because truth and doctrine is not democratically determined, all that has happened is that a group of people have united to leave the truth. We call it apostasy. Sadly it has happened to groups in the past (see John 6 and the multitudes leaving Jesus) and sadly it happens sometimes to individuals even within the Seventh-day Adventist church today.