Open letter to General Conference

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How are such faculty and administrators who think themselves so “progressive” in advance of the foundational pillars of the organized SDA Church on such basic fundamental issues going to be remotely capable of “bringing our young people home at the end of the day?”,2 as Elder Paulsen put it, if they don’t really believe in or see evidence for the home message to begin with? Ultimately, is there to be no real accountability to the organized SDA Church for what is presented as “truth” from either pulpit or classroom? – by paid representatives supported by God’s own monies in the forms of tithes and offerings?

The viability of the SDA Church, as an organization, and the developing minds of a generation of SDA young people, is largely in your hands. Who knows whether you have not attained to your positions of great responsibility for such a time as this?

Open Letter Re LSU – Jan 1 2009

References:

1. EdTruth. Yes, They Should Resign. EducateTruth.com. [Online] 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.educatetruth.com/news/jan-paulsen-says-yes-they-should-resign/.
2. Paulsen, Jan. An Appeal. Adventist News Network. [Online] 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://news.adventist.org/statements/an-appeal.html.
3. GC, SDA, Executive Committee. Response to an Affirmation of Creation. Adventist.org. [Online] October 13, 2004. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat55.html.
4. Greer, Lee. BIOL 111: Genomes and their Evolution. EducateTruth.com. [Online] December 11, 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.educatetruth.com/presentations/biol-111-genomes-and-their-evolution/.
5. EdTruth. La Sierra Evidence. EducateTruth.com. [Online] 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.educatetruth.com/category/la-sierra-evidence/page/3/.
6. Stripling, Jack. Creating Controversy. Inside Higher Education. [Online] September 21, 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/09/01/evolution?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Big+News.
7. LSU, Board. Final Board Draft Statement. Scribd. [Online] November 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.scribd.com/doc/22530002/Final-Board-Draft-Statement11-09.
8. LSU, Board. Resolution Regarding a Scientifically Rigorous Affirmation of Seventh-day Adventist Beliefs. Scribd. [Online] November 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.scribd.com/doc/22530019/Resolution-Regarding-a-Scientifically-Rigorous-Affirmation-of-Seventh-day-Adventist-Beliefs.
9. Dwyer, Bonnie. In the Eye of the Storm. 4, s.l. : Spectrum, 2009, Vol. 37.
10. Hayward, James. The Many Faces of Adventist Creationism: ’80-’95. L. 3, s.l. : Spectrum, March 1996, Vol. 25, pp. 16-34. http://www.spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive21-25/25-3hayward.pdf.
11. LSUweb. Student Perspective – Biology Student Testimonial. LaSierra.edu. [Online] November 2009. [Cited: December 21, 2009.] http://www.lasierra.edu/index.php?id=1213#c1764.
12. Loughborough, JN. Testimonies for the Church. No. 32, p. 30.
13. Loughborough, JN. Testimonies for the Church. p. 650. Vol. 1.
14. White, Ellen G. Counsels to Writers and Editors. p. 35.
15. Nichol, Francis D. SDA Bible Commentary, 7 vols. plus supplement. Washington, D.C. : Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1970. p. 1083. Vol. 6.
16. White, Ellen. G. Silver Spring, MD : Ellen G. White Estate, 1888.
17. —. Spiritual Gifts, 4 vols. Battle Creek, MI : Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, 1858, 1860, 1864. pp. 90-93. Vol. 3.
18. —. Testimonies for the Church. p. 207. Vol. 1.

110 thoughts on “Open letter to General Conference

  1. Christiane Marshall:
    I believe that people who do this are bearing false witness. (Using SOP rather than facts as proof.)

    I never claimed that The Seven Faces of Seventh-day Adventism is a proof of anything.

    The LSU issue is clear and specific, but generalizations about the entire denomination is going to far.

    Where do you think Sister White stepped over the line?

    A good example is you changing (or expanding) the definition of pantheism in order to use a Spirit of Prophecy quote.

    My definition of pantheism as it pertains to its modern-day resurgence in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the example set forth by John Harvey Kellogg.

    But I could cite numerous other examples, like your lists of sins in the church within sentences that state authoritatively that the ‘vast majority’ of SDAs believe or practice them.

    I never said that the ‘vast majority’ of SDAs believe or practice pantheism and spiritualism, only that God imputes the doctrines of demons to the whole church because pan-Gnostic Adventist spiritualism and pantheism are protected and tolerated in the Church by the hierarchy.

    If you have valid complaints about specific issues, then you don’t need to exaggerate or stretch things to make a point.

    I’m not exaggerating.

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  2. Jonathan Smith: Ignorance of the law is never an excuse in any jurisdiction. As the texts above show, lack of proper knowledge is NOT an excuse since the knowledge is accessible but they simply refused to access or believe it.

    You’re mistaken when it comes to God’s Law. Jesus himself excused wrongful acts of the ignorant saying that if a person didn’t know of the wrongfulness of a thought or act, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin (John 9:41).

    It is therefore only when one knows that something is wrong, and deliberately does it anyway, that one is guilty of sin. And, only God clearly knows what someone really does and does not know or has or has not deliberately rejected or refused to know… i.e., sinned.

    Sean Pitman
    http://www.DetectingDesign.com

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  3. Sean Pitman M.D.:
    You’re mistaken when it comes to God’s Law.Jesus himself excused wrongful acts of the ignorant saying that if a person didn’t know of the wrongfulness of a thought or act, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin (John 9:41).It is therefore only when one knows that something is wrong, and deliberately does it anyway, that one is guilty of sin.And, only God clearly knows what someone really does and does not know or has or has not deliberately rejected or refused to know… i.e., sinned.Sean Pitman
    http://www.DetectingDesign.com  

    Sean,

    The Bible does not contradict itself so we can explore the text you refer to in context.

    John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

    This was the incident when Jesus healed a man who was born blind.

    John 9:2-3 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

    In this real story, Jesus clearly states that there was no sin that caused this man to be in blindness. Instead, it appears God deliberately allowed him to be born blind so He could do a mighty work and teach some stubborn people a lesson – hopefully leading them to the light.

    The blindness the evolutionists have is quite like the blindness of the Pharisees rather than of this born-blind man. Many have shown them the word of God and you yourself has shown them what you believe to be real evidence or arguments that refute evolutionary theory and support a recent creation. For this cause, the evolutionists here – the SDA evolutionists – those Sister White stated as having disguised infidelity, have no excuse.

    There comes a time when we have to give the trumpet a certain sound, when we point out sin and its consequences, and not leave any poor soul deluded that their rebellion will be seen by God in their light. Every believer in God has a responsibility to believe and live by EVERY WORD OF GOD (Luke 4:4; Matt 4:4) and there can be no quibble.

    Commenting on the passage you referenced, she said:

    The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ’s words applied to them, inquired, “Are we blind also?” Jesus answered, “If ye were blind, ye should have no sin.” If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. “But now ye say, We see.” You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,–a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, “Your sin remaineth.” {DA 475.3}

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  4. I have been reading the comments (pro and con) on this situation for weeks now and am wondering just how long this is going to be allowed to go on. It appears to me (and, of course I don’t know any the folks involved) that the teachers (AND the administrators)know very well what the Bible based Adventist beliefs are on this subject and are deliberately trying (and permitting) to bring before our young people a “different gospel” than the one the Bible teaches. Meanwhile, souls are being lost–and God is soon going to say to those of us that just keep beating around the bush–“Where is thy flock, thy beautiful flock that I entrusted to your care?”

    I have a lot of sympathy for the teachers (an the administrators who must deal with them) who apparently have lost their way and have embraced “another gospel”. I agree that we should continue to pray for them (and with them, if possible). But I find it difficult to see why we should continue not only LETTING them–but PAYING them with the sacred tithe–to teach false doctrine to our precious young people.

    In the judgement are we not going to be just as lost for continuing to tolerate it as well as those who teach it? Where are the watchmen on the walls of Zion? The “iceberg” is right in front of us and I believe we need to hear the voice of God saying, “Meet it!” Yes, there will be a great shaking (haven’t we been told this would happen?) but we will emerge stronger and better prepared to meet Jesus when He returns–which I believe is sooner than we think.

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  5. @Sean Pitman M.D.:

    You’re mistaken when it comes to God’s Law. Jesus himself excused wrongful acts of the ignorant saying that if a person didn’t know of the wrongfulness of a thought or act, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin (John 9:41).

    It is therefore only when one knows that something is wrong, and deliberately does it anyway, that one is guilty of sin. And, only God clearly knows what someone really does and does not know or has or has not deliberately rejected or refused to know… i.e., sinned.

    “To him who knows to do right – and does it not – to him it is sin”.
    James 4:17

    “The one who knew his masters will – and did not get ready for his coming or act according to his will – will receive many lashes” Luke 12:47

    in Christ,

    Bob

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  6. Earl M.J. Aagaard, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, retired from Southern Adventist University, has added his name to Sean Pitman’s open letter.

    Will more of our scientists through their weight behind this? Who knows.

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