@George: How would you suggest the Adventist lay-people go about …

Comment on PUC responds by Johnny Vance.

@George: How would you suggest the Adventist lay-people go about asking the church as an organization to uphold its Fundamental Beliefs? Just because you love somebody doesn’t mean you allow them to do whatever they want as long as they do it in a loving manner.

Jesus kicked out the money-changers in the Temple when He was on earth. He was pretty strong and firm about it too. Do we now conclude that Jesus is not loving? At the very least we can conclude that God is love; He is also a god that is not to be trifled with. People forget that true love does not mean a “free-for-all” in tearing down His word, which is btw, His character as well.

Johnny Vance Also Commented

PUC responds
@Scott Brizendine: Scott, don’t take offense to this, but you must realize that the Seventh-day Adventist church is not a country club to be kicking back in. The church as an organization has a clearly stated mission and structure of discipline and guidelines that define what it is. Professors and pastors and any paid representative of the church whom decides to teach and promote ideas anti-thetical to the stated mission are seeking to redefine Adventism and strip it of its true essence. Hijacking it from within is an accurate portrayal.

A continuance of these ecumenical efforts would result in making the Seventh-day Adventist church just like any other church that has strayed from the Biblical model. As undesirable as it is to address these issues in a public forum, they must be addressed nonetheless.

It is an enormous misreading of the character of God (as revealed in Scripture) to believe that because He is love, He will accept everything and keep quiet to not offend anyone who may believe or do differently. He takes us as we are and then transforms us into His image, if we allow Him. Just imagine what would happen if the military of the United States admitted just anybody into their ranks. Consider this carefully.

As for your assertions about PUC, I sincerely hope you’re right. No matter what the case may be, if your professors and pastors are not making you grow in your faith and reliance on the Word of God as something to be trusted, then they are committing one of the biggest betrayals that could ever be. The Bible–as opposed to “science”–is either your ultimate and FINAL authority, or it is not. Compromising Biblical truths in order to be accepted by the community at large is a shameful betrayal. Truth will never be popular in this world, and it is a sad…sad day when people conform to the world in order to be accepted by it.

It makes more sense to just start a new church from scratch and allow it to create its own theology. That’s what it comes down to. Isaiah 8:20 says, “To the law and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this, it’s because there’s no light in them.”

Blessings,

Johnny Vance


PUC responds
@Scott Brizendine: I believe that Lisa is trying to make the point that young adult minds are very impressionable still. Even more mature adults are often deceived by people they look up to. How much more impressionable would college-aged adults (18-22) be to professors they look up to? This is the age at which most young adults make a decision whether to stay in the church, or leave it. And unfortunately, many students at PUC probably don’t read the Bible or pray on a daily basis to receive wisdom from the Lord. Hence, the issue of the kinds of professors they are exposed to becomes very important because students are so moldable.

You are also confusing the difference between being book-smart, and wisdom and discernment that comes with years of experience. Furthermore, even Ellen White warned parents to not send their kids to certain “Adventist” schools because of what they were teaching. Now, can you honestly say that many students from PUC come out of there with a closer relationship with the God of the Bible, as opposed to the whitewashed version of post-modernism that strips Adventism of its Biblically distinct features?

@Samantha Owens: In response to the second half of your post, I’d like to ask you to consider what the ultimate authority is in your life…

First of all, keep in mind that as John 1:1 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This was referring to Jesus. If anyone causes you to doubt God’s word (the Bible) for the sake of tearing it down, they are bringing His character into question. It is an assault on who He is.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Scripture has NEVER been discredited in any meaningful way by history, archaeology, science, medicine, astronomy, etc. In fact, it’s been proven correct more and more. If you’re sincerely searching for truth and you find that you’re honestly wanting to know how reliable the Bible is, the presentation at the bottom will answer many if not most of your questions. Unfortunately for many students, their professors have not given them the solid evidence that strenghtens their faith in God’s word. This is why I refer you to the audio presentation below. May the Lord lead you in all you do.

http://www.audioverse.org/sermons/recordings/2116/is-the-bible-just-another-book-.html


PUC responds
@Eddie: As Sean has stated about salaries, I’m in full agreement. Even though money shouldn’t determine the quality and Biblical faithfulness of professors, it’s only fair to compensate them accordingly. There are leaders in our church who have called for the youth to be professors at our colleges. For one, I’ve heard David Asscherick preach a powerful sermon, encouraging the youth “to study biology for Jesus.” I wish that the church at large would echo this call and back it up with their actions and with their wallets.


Recent Comments by Johnny Vance

Two Adventist Universities Promote Six-Day Creation
@PUC Student: As a recent graduate of PUC, I strongly disagree with your assertion. Please provide proof to the contrary. If there’s nothing to hide, then providing it in any form should not be a problem 😉


Back to Square One…
On the issue of Harvard’s accreditation: I stand corrected! My apologies for my incomplete understanding of the matter…


Back to Square One…
I don’t understand why our educational institutions have ignored counsels from the Spirit of Prophecy. We are clearly told to NOT seek secular accreditation. Why do we care about WASC? Do we lack in faith to believe that God will uphold the credibility of His institutions?

Let all be reminded that Ivy league schools like Harvard DO NOT have accreditation. Their reputation precedes them. The Lord can do the same for His.


WASC Reviews LSU’s Accreditation
At what point do we stop casting pearls to the pigs? I’m getting weary of this controversy.


Panda’s Thumb: ‘SDAs are split over evolution’
@Professor Kent:

@ Johnny VanceSo, YOU claim to be able to judge from the many student comments their philosophy and spirituality? And YOU can decipher, whilst I cannot, that the vast majority were “postmodern” and “lacking in spirituality?” And I can be deceived while YOU cannot?When you choose to believe the very few, Johnny, you reveal your obvious and very selective bias. You can cherry-pick as well as anyone here. And you’ve proven your arrogance.  (Quote)

I’m not offended by Sean’s assertions about faith and evidence. I’m with Sean to a large extent (as far as I can tell). God gives us evidence to believe and back up His word, although there will be some things we’ll just have to take by faith until it’s made clear to our minds (maybe in Heaven?). But don’t try to use me as a pawn in your dislike of Sean.

You also neglect to note that in the great controversy between good and evil, the majority does not constitute the right side, unfortunately. Only 8 chose to enter the ark. Only a minority believed in Christ. Only a minority will resist the popular waves of anti-biblical worship. I can say that your judgment of students’ comments and Dr. Ness’s video are wrong, but how dare I say that you are wrong? I don’t believe it’s arrogant to say you are wrong. I’m not insulting you as you are insulting me. If we’re having an honest and open dialogue about the situation, then you should be able to AT LEAST take back what you dish out without threatening to leave the church because some of us dare to say you are wrong, or this and that is wrong. Don’t try to blackmail people for stating their mind.

I really wonder if you read the same Bible and the same Testimonies to the Church that I read, because I can’t for the life of me figure out how you can come up with such drastically opposed conclusions. I just state the former because you claim to believe in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and I am truly perplexed by your conclusion.