@Elizabeth Iskander: “The enemy of souls has sought to bring …

Comment on “Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU by D. Fender.

@Elizabeth Iskander:

“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.
Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our Bibles. We have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?” Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, pages 204, 205.

Books of a new order have been written, a system of intellectual philosophy has taken over, the giving up of doctrines is well under way, nothing is being allowed to stand in it’s way, our religion has been changed. What’s next? World turmoil, and then the second coming!

D. Fender Also Commented

“Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU
Ken, yes we are all God’s children. He loves us all the same and wants good for every one of us. No one has a special ownership of God, but some do seek Him more than others and maintain a closer relationship. I hope you will respond to His offer of forgiveness of your sins and offer of eternal life. Jesus is coming very soon. The world is falling apart right before our eyes.


“Autonomy and Academic Freedom”: WASC’s 2010 Review of LSU
Ken, my agnostic “friend,” whom I do not know. If you are an agnostic, why do you bother with or care about what happens at an SDA Church owned university?

Sean and Shane do not need to start a competing college or university to teach church beliefs, that was the reason LSU and all of our schools were started. We just need to get them back on track!

We should not forget what happened in our history. When Battle Creek College went off track, it was cut loose from the denomination and failed miserably. I believe Andrews and Loma Linda took its place. If the apostate professors at LSU don’t want to return to the denomination, maybe it is time for the General Conference to cut them loose too.

Unfortunately, we have some very weak administrators and pastors in our denomination who are not willing to do what is right, and are allowing this to go on way too long. They have their reward coming for their lack of backbone and principles.

EGW says, “The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to “science falsely so called” will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster.”

     “The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness.”
5T 80-81


Recent Comments by D. Fender

An apology to PUC
Shane, it takes a big man to stand up publicly and own that he made an error. Especially as public as this has become. Congratulations Shane for showing us what an honorable man you are!

I call those at La Sierra (and all of our other Colleges and Universities for that matter)- all those professors who have deceived the members of the church, those who pay their salaries, to do the same. It is time for the biology and religion professors to apologize to the church publicly for teaching contrary to our church’s beliefs. You can all point your fingers at Shane, but are you big enough to stand up and do as he did.

It is preposterous to say that church members don’t have a right to know what is being taught in our schools and that we should have to register for the class to get that information. ARE YOU NUTS! We ARE the parents, the grandparents, the ones who pay to keep these schools afloat financially. We give our offerings and tithes, and pay the tuition. THE SECRET NATURE THAT YOU USE TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING CONVICTS YOU. If you are doing nothing wrong, then there is no reason that all of your materials cannot see the light of day and prove that you are the honorable people that you claim to be.


For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists
@Eddie: and EMK

I hear you both very well. Don’t think that I am a spectator just sitting on the sideline, because I am not. I have been in Adventist higher education for nearly two decades.

I don’t believe this problem is fixable. The generation that gives tithes and offerings faithfully is dying off. The younger generation that is less dedicated to the church, both financially and relationally, is poised to take over.

Besides, political correctness is now the god of the nation and is quickly making in roads into the SDA church. Very few people today are ready to do what is right, because it is right, and let the chips fall where they may. Until we have people of faith who follow truth and do what is right because it is right, we will continue to flounder.


For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists
Eddie, do you suppose that those loyal professors that are teaching solid SDA doctrine, but remaining quiet on error being taught at their schools are exempt from saying something or standing up for the truth? It must be quite troubling to want to be loyal but be worried about standing up against error for fear of losing one’s job. We sure live in troubled times.


For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist has much to be proud of in the sick, sinful world! We have a great set of Biblical beliefs and a great philosophy of wholistic living.

I once heard a funny spin on our church. Someone said “the SDA church is a school system masquerading as a church.” Education is a life long process for all if us. Thank goodness we had the council to build and run our schools as we do.


For real education reform, take a cue from the Adventists
Johnny, there is no solution to this problem short of a divine solution. After having worked in Adventist higher education for a long time, Eddie has it right. Our schools pay peanuts and expect people to want to make a career on that kind of income. If you pair that with graduates who just want to finish so the can buy their BMW and having a horrendous amount of school loan debt, the pool of qualified people is very small to non-existent. So it is easy for church members to complain about what kind of product they are getting at our schools, but the proverbial one finger pointing at the university and professors, leaves the other fingers pointing right back at them!

Unfortunately, the progressive ultra-liberal professors at our colleges and universities have one purpose in mind, to capture the minds of our young people. It only takes one generation to make the SDA church believe that we evolved, that homosexuality is OK, that our doctrines are flawed, and that we are no different than any other Christian church. We are almost there!