Comment on La Sierra University Resignation Saga: Stranger-than-Fiction by Faith.
Bill:
I think there is a slight misunderstanding here. I can only speak for myself, of course, but there is no question in my mind that the main work of the church is taking place in the heavenly sanctuary and that we follow Jesus, not the GC.
In my mind, the SDA church is the earthly representation of God’s church in heaven. And, because human beings are running this church, and because all human beings are fallible, there are things that go on in the church that shouldn’t–case in point the issues we are here to protest.
However, that doesn’t mean we should leave the church and close it down. To paraphrase what Peter said, “To whom would we go?” There is no other church on earth with the pure Bible-based doctrine that has been given to the SDA church.
These liberals are striving to change our doctrines–it is up to us, the conservatives, to see that our precious doctrines are preserved. And, frankly, I believe we have Jesus on our side, so I don’t see how we can fail. Now perhaps that is a childish faith speaking–but aren’t we supposed to have the faith of a child?
Even with all the problems we are having to deal with, there is no thought in my mind of ever leaving the church. God will have to plainly show me if He wants me to leave this church. I have no doubt that He can do that if that is what He wants. And until then, I will remain faithful to the doctrines of this church as I have been taught them from the cradle.
I have not, nor will I (God willing), ever subscribe to the liberal sect that has crept into this church and is trying to sully our doctrines and our faith. I raise my voice against the wretched music they are playing, against the idea that the commandments are no longer valid, against evolution being taught in our schools, against night club churches, against contemplative prayer, and any other heresy that raises its ugly head. I believe we are soldiers of Christ and need to do our best (with His help of course) to save His church from Satan’s assaults, not just turn and run from the enemy.
Never forget, Bill, that Christ is keeping His watchcare over the church whom He loves so much He refers to her as His bride. I believe He will see her through to the very end. As I said before, I don’t think we will be a physical organization right to the end, but I believe we will be for some time during the process. I wouldn’t be surprised that after the people from the other churches take the places of those who are shaken out, the movements will be very rapid and the church as a physical organization will not exist very long after that event.
We have been given a bit of an insight into the future events that we face at the end of time, but the details have yet to be revealed. Our only safety is to fill our lamps with the Word of God so that we may know with certainty what we believe and why, and so that we can light our lamps and let them shine forth to the world–both for their benefit and our own. We need it also to show us the way to go.
I seem to remember that Ellen White says the church will appear about to fall, but it will not. Perhaps we have now arrived, or soon will arrive, at that point.
Happy Sabbath Bill and all.
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Faith Also Commented
La Sierra University Resignation Saga: Stranger-than-Fiction
Charles: “I think there comes a point of futility as well.”
Come on, Charles, buck up. Don’t give in so easily. This fight is righteous, and if God is for us, who can be against us? In God’s own time this will be won. In the meantime, we need to continue to uphold God’s truth and stand firmly for the right. Courage, brother.
La Sierra University Resignation Saga: Stranger-than-Fiction
Bill said: “I hope all of us listen more carefully and read the Spirit of Prophecy more often. She is in harmony with the bible and its clear testimony. And the straight testimony needs to be revived. Not ignored and passed over by the church as so many do today.”
You are so right, Bill! And if we truly believed what we were reading, there would be no progressives or TEs among us.
La Sierra University Resignation Saga: Stranger-than-Fiction
Charles: “My point is that I was just sharing that I am coming to the conclusion that we are not accomplishing anything here”
In one way you are right, Charles. As I have said in an earlier post, all this discussion on evolution vs creation hasn’t changed anyone’s viewpoint one iota. But don’t despair, Charles. One thing we have accomplished here is dragging the sins of LSU out into the open and light of day. It is no longer evil growing in the dark. I continue to hope that the leadership will yet make the necessary changes to bring this all to a satisfactory end.
BTW I appreciate your posts as well. Keep up the fight of good faith.
Recent Comments by Faith
Changing the Wording of Adventist Fundamental Belief #6 on Creation
And you are correct, Sean, PK must consider where his influence is going–for God or against Him.
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
Mr Taylor,
After reading your comment above, I must say PK isn’t the only one in that boat.I would make some comment as to how I really feel about you, but I know Sean will only delete it and you won’t benefit from my insight anyway–seeing as Sean is more concerned about other people’s feelings than you seem to be.
How you have the nerve to come to this website and call us all a bunch of morons (which is really what you are doing) is beyond me. You and your cronies are the ones drowning in error. Anyone who dares to accept man’s opinions over the Bible or SOP isn’t to be trusted to define truth for anyone.
Too straight-forward in my comment? Trust me, I have restrained myself admirably. If you only knew….
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
Further to my comment on skeptism and our professors, I’ve got to tell you that I found Prof Kent to be extremely annoying in his comments on EGW. He seems to think that she is an embarrassment to the church when she speaks on Science.
Personally I find people who dis her to be the embarrassment to the church. I really don’t see how they dare to contradict and mock God’s prophet. By doing this they undermine a lot of our church’s beliefs to outsiders as well as church members. God will hold them accountable for that.
Furthermore, David’s unpublished manuscript plus other books I have read on archaeology have reported skeletons of the type that EGW mentions. Also found were artifacts such as huge iron bedsteads made for and buried with kings of huge stature.
Just because you haven’t done your research, PK, don’t jump to the conclusion the evidence isn’t there. It’s there, all right, and you make yourself look a little foolish for not knowing about it.
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
David Read said:
“Ellen White’s statements about larger antediluvian life forms are well attested with regard to many different types of flora and fauna. They’re not even controversial…
Hi David,
As you know, I took advantage of your kind offer and I read your manuscript as well as I purchased 3 of your books, one for me, one for my sisters, and one for the church library. It took me a week to finish the book, and I and my sisters are very impressed with it. My one sister calls it “one incredible book”. It has answered a lot of the questions we had on the subject of evolution vs creation science, and, yes, I believe we (you and I and my sisters) are on the same page in our beliefs. We have immensely enjoyed discussing the various aspects of the subject as we read. It makes perfect sense to us.
I still have a couple of questions–new ones will probably always keep popping up–but I would say you have covered the subject admirably. Thanks so much for this book.
I agree with Elder Wilson, this is something every Adventist should read. In my opinion it should be used as required reading for science courses. It is exactly the way I would want science courses in the universities to treat the Creation/evolution debate in the classroom. And if the professors at LSU and the other SDA institutions would do this we wouldn’t be constantly losing our young people and, for that matter, our professors, to skeptisism.
Thank God someone has the courage to publish the truth and expose error.
God Bless you, David.
Southern Adventist University opens Origins Exhibit
Hi Sean and Bill,
I am wondering if the difference of opinion here is due to varying definitions of the word ‘science’. As we all know there is true science and there is worldly psuedo-science.
If Bill’s understanding of ‘science’ in this case is actually worldly psuedo-science, then he is correct in not wanting any truth to be compromised with it.
From Sean’s post, I believe he is referring to true science, which is definitely part of our beliefs on origins and is well supported by the Bible and SOP, as Sean admirably demonstrated.
Not having seen the exhibit myself, I cannot comment on whether or not they are mixing psuedo-science into it. (Perhaps a few of you posters out there can see the exhibit and report back to us.) Knowing the general philosophy of SAU, I would be surprised if they did.
Their goal is “to provide scientific evidence that substantiates the Bible’s account of creation.” Sounds good to me.
They also say: “Religion and science don’t need to be at odds.” And that is true when you are referring to true science, which I believe they are.
However, I do understand Bill’s reaction in that these days when people use the word ‘science’ without qualification it so often means evolutionary pseudoscience, that we tend to be suspicious.
I think, Bill, that in this case we don’t need to worry. I believe SAU’s heart is in the right place and I am so glad that at least one of our institutions is willing to stand up and be counted on the side of Creation, even though they will probably draw much criticism from the ‘scientific’ community as well as from the TEs in their own church.
God bless them for their fidelity to Him. And may God strengthen them to meet the onslaught that is most likely to follow, is my prayer for them.
