Comment on Beyond the Creation Story – Why the Controversy Matters by Ron D Henderson.
Let me make it quite clear, gentlemen and ladies, that I respect reason. God has given us that ability. I do not discount it.
The problem with Sean and others, as with atheists and their theistic bedfellows, however, is that they allow reason to be their chief guide, if not only.
when God gave us the ability to reason in a perfect world (pre-fall) man was fully in dwelt with God’s Holy Spirit, and therefore man’s reasoning was in harmony with God’s guide and wishes for mankind.
However, when sin arrived, man lost this unity with God and lost his ability to reason according to God’s purpose and guide; God therefore gave man external help, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to help his reasoning ability. God gave him HIS Word, the Bible. In old times it was the instructions of the prophets.
So therefore when man seeks to ‘reason’ something out, he must do it with the help of the guide, the Word, in order to better and fully comprehend the object he is contemplating.
And yes, we need to use our reason when reading a book or the Book of books, however, we must at all times submit our reasoning to the Holy Spirit’s influence in order to fully comprehend the subject.
And that is where others and perhaps Sean slip; they put reason first, and they interpret according to reason first instead of reason sanctified by the Spirit through the Word.
That is why atheists can never arrived at complete truth, nor can theistic evolutionists. They are unable to submit their reasoning ability to the light of the Word of God.
So while we must use our God given reasoning ability, we must remember that sin has perverted this ability and the only way out is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide our reasoning; short of this we will never arrive at complete truth; and even then our ability to reason as God would have us is ‘almost’ impossible.
And more, the man with the greatest ability to reason will win the day! He may be a Dawkins or Hawkins or whoever, and the word of God will be rejected, precisely as we see happening today.
Secular scientists and religious secular scientists do not put much or any emphasis on God’s Word; they effectively lock themselves away from the truth of science by so doing. That is why they must come up with the fables they teach for science.
Let us as SDAs use our God given reason; however, let us always submit our reasoning and conclusions to the light of God’s Word. Only then can we arrive at the truth that God has for us.
Ron D Henderson Also Commented
Beyond the Creation Story – Why the Controversy Matters
I see, Ken you are getting to know about our church; that is good. Let me say, Ken, I have never had any issue with Sean, barring that discussion on ‘reason.’ I do not know what Sean believes or teaches. I have never had any contact with him that I am aware of. I used to know a Pitman from the West Indies, I believe Grenada, years ago, do not know whether he’s the same person.
As regards prophecy, since you mentioned EGW and ‘worms of for food,’ there’s something known as ‘conditional’ prophecy where it will be fulfilled at the time delivered if all conditions are met.
For example, the case with Jonah and Nineveh in the Bible; God told him to tell those Ninevites that they will be destroyed in 40 days due to their wickedness. However, they repented and sought God’s mercy, so he accepted their repentance (that’s mercy) and postponed the destruction. The text brings this point.
There are other examples in the Bible of conditional prophecy. EGW’s reference you quoted falls in that category; had the brethren rallied to the cause and sought God as they should have done the prophecy would no doubt have been fulfilled.
The thing about the church, ours, is that we follow biblical teachings that as an organisation we have written down. When anyone strays from this then we take measures, as any other organisation, atheists, secular, or religious, does and is entitled to do. Our church does not morph or change to please anyone who might have some ‘bright’ ideas.
However, we do believe that, and have experienced, individuals arise and seek to change the structure and beliefs of the church; Desmond Ford is one you mentioned.
How do we know whether they are right or wrong, you ask? We test them by the biblical beliefs which the body of believers have agreed upon and have written down. Is it a matter of interpretation? Well, regardless, we subscribe to the interpretation that the body of believers as an organization hold in common. We believe that this is the biblical approach to take concerning ‘new light.’
Of course we also believe that ‘new light’ is in order and can be accepted by the organisation. However, we do that by having the appropriate groups study the issue, communicate with the rest of the organisation, and if they all agree, then we vote that practice or belief into our system of beliefs at the appropriate time when the church meets in plenary sessions.
We are also aware that along the road of any organisation apostasy, rebellion, or disenchantment does arise. We have experienced, and are experiencing this in the church.
But we believe that God will guide the church through to the end, so we encourage members to stay on board in spite of the rebellion or apostasy of others. Hope this sheds some further light for you.
Everyone is free to believe whatever he or she wishes. However, if you join a body of believers, and are baptised, you are bound to continue in the beliefs you have previously ascribed to.
You may have other thoughts, that’s fine; but if you teach these, and they are opposed to what the church believes and teaches, then you create an obstacle that in the end will destroy your membership if you persist in teaching and promoting those beliefs.
Again, this is the normal procedure for dealing with people who try to turn their church, their organisation, their club, or whatever entity, unto another path or direction. This procedure of dealing with such individuals is a biblical injunction.
Cheers my friend,
Ron.
Beyond the Creation Story – Why the Controversy Matters
Ken! I appreciate your point as always; and as always I have a counter to make. This situation in our church is an ongoing episode though out the annals of historical time. Men arise with erroneous views arise and seek to destabilize, subvert, and destroy the very organisation that gave them birth and future. It is not new. Protests are in order, as was Luther’s and the reformers. Your comparison with Camping is actually out of place, however. Certainly he cannot be likened to Behi, and others who have spoken out against the scientific organisation of which they are part. And certainly science will not die due to protests of others-be it good or bad. What you do not know, my friend, is that this church will survive, as will science, simply because God is in charge. The same God which to you at present is but a mist. We speak what we know and have experienced. Soon you will hopefully understand this point!
Ron.
Beyond the Creation Story – Why the Controversy Matters
Correction on the texts in my previous post. That should be Job 11:7 and Ps. 132:5 should be removed. Thankfully I could reason that one out!
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This is so sad but not surprising. One can add to this article the intimidation at universities of creationists, and even the threat of not graduating those who hold creationist world views. And even the governments’ educational systems support these frauds one way or the other. I guess the devil must do his work of obfuscation and deceit. Unfortunately some of humanity will learn the truth too late.
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Excellent article! However this is not unique or strange for the truth presenters. How many times in the Bible we read of the ‘truthers’ accommodating error? Legion; just check the record of the kings of Israel and Judea. Did not our mother inherit that from satan in the Garden under the forbidden tree? Check how she evangelized her husband, our father! But then again, God had and still has His remnant!! Good to know that. Evolution? Just open satan’s box of strategies for planet earth and see some of His plans!
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Let us not forget that God is in charge of this work and of his church. And yes, we do suffer for our negligence, procrastination and compromise. But God is still in charge. If the men at the helm of his church on earth are delinquent and refuse to rock the boat, then they will be removed in His good time. In the mean while we must be faithful and do all in our power to correct the situation in our sphere of control, regardless of the ‘feelings’ of the ‘peace, peace’ lovers in the church.
