I think one would be hard-pressed to find a Seventh-day Adventist – at least one who is at all familiar with our history – who would deny this basic premise: that in the years leading up to the 1888 General Conference meetings in Minneapolis, Adventism was largely characterized by legalism and an unbalanced emphasis on the law.
Read MoreA giant among men
When I first encountered the name of Herbert Douglass, I was in derision of the concepts he taught and advanced in his books and talks. I was fresh out of a long run of giving evangelistic seminars home and abroad and in the prime of my life in my mid-twenties. For me, Adventism was about filling the pews and getting people to know the Lord and the means always justified the ends. But this talk about reflecting Jesus and living a life of victory over sin was just plain silly.
Read MoreVOLUNTOURISM: MORE HARM THAN GOOD
In August, 2013, Heather Ruiz traveled through West Africa as a journalist for ADRA. After working in development for nine months, Ruiz moved to a village in the Western Sahara to find answers for her questions about responsible volunteering and empowering communities. The following article is her insight on constructive service.
Read MoreCorrupted
The earth is many things to each of us. It is a temporary home to humanity—the native venue for our work, our relationships, and our fleeting days. And ultimately earth is the setting of a cosmic combat—its peculiar blend of cold hostility and lingering beauty reminders of what happened after the “apple.” As Isaiah said, it is “growing old like a garment” and requires a complete overhaul before we enter eternity.
Read MoreMisreading Adventism's present conflict
Put simply, Ty Gibson's article "The Old Covenant Brood" seeks to view present controversies in the Seventh-day Adventist Church through the lenses of what the author holds to be the 1888 message of righteousness by faith, and considers the rejection of that message over a century ago to be the genesis of the present theological divide in the denomination.
Read MoreTy Gibson tries to bring clarity to conflicting voices in the church
The current tensions and polemics within the Seventh-day Adventist Church are not occurring in a vacuum. We have history behind us that has created the trajectory within which we are now living. To a significant degree the spirit and content of our present dialogues and debates are shaped by a tragic theological turn we took in our journey as a people more than one hundred years ago.
Read MoreWWU President answers spiritual formation accusations
The attackers—“the accusers of the brethren,” if I may call them that—offer criticisms that are low on content and high on innuendo, half-truth, and damnation by association. They offer their accusations from afar without engaging the people they accuse (see Matthew 18:15-17). Those of us who know the people being attacked, who regularly listen to them teach Sabbath School classes and preach and participate in committee meetings, simply do not recognize the extreme caricature the attackers offer.
Read MoreI WAS AN EMERGING CHURCH CHRISTIAN
Most of my brethren don't know this, but I spent most of my 20's swimming in the waters of Babylon's "emerging church" movement. I mean, I was all in. I drank the Kool-Aid.
Read MoreSaved by works
But wait! Could there be another angle to the age-old works versus grace debate? While the Bible makes it abundantly clear that our good works, or obedience does not save us, (See Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, 2 Tim 1:9, Gal 2:16, and many more) to conclude that no works, or no obedience saves us is to contradict the plainest of scriptures! Allow me to explain.
Read MoreA safe place for whom?
As much has already been said about the sermon, both pro and con, I would like to focus briefly upon the conclusion of the presentation and the appeal. Henderson’s appeal was that a safe place be established for “Adam and Steve,” at Pacific Union College. But more than that, it should not be a designated area on the campus, but rather that the college itself should be that safe place.
Read MoreParent voices concern over 'Adam and Steve' to PUC president
Unfortunately, the atmosphere [at PUC] is such that I feel I cannot, in good conscious, encourage my daughters to attend this school. Should they attend here, my concern would be that they would no longer abide by the guidance and principles I felt convicted to teach them. After listening to Pastor Henderson’s sermon, I felt the time had come to voice my disappointment and concerns and forward them to your office for your records.
Read MoreGeneral Conference 2015: Back to the Future
The conservative Ted Wilson has set up a vote that, if the conservatives lose, will give the liberals what they asked for, but if the conservatives win, will merely reiterate the 1995 vote that the liberals have already ignored with impunity. I believe Elder Wilson's heart is in the right place, but he has been completely outmaneuvered on this issue.
Read MoreINSTB
INSTB’s can leave us with the feeling that our problems are a distinctive dark cloud designed to make our lives uniquely miserable. But unique experiences don’t have to be bad experiences — they can also be instructive and necessary. In fact each of these scenarios pale by comparison to three final “firsts” that lie directly ahead for our world.
Read MorePaying the bills
Do you enjoy reading ADvindicate? Do you like having a forum in which to discuss the religious issues of the day? Is it important to you to have a fresh, unique perspective on Adventist news? Is it important for you to have a conservative Adventist perspective on church events that is not the bland, official propaganda, and certainly not the corrosive cynicism of those who would transform the church?
Read MoreWatch Operation Iceberg symposium
Qualified in the journey: a response to 'Adam and Steve'
Satan is laying hold of multitudes, which brings me to the sad case of Jonathan Henderson. In his presentation, “Adam and Steve,” in front of impressionable students during Week of Prayer, he makes a number of declarations. It’s almost as though he’s in a fist fight with God’s Word insisting on a new and different “truth.” He mocks those who believe in God’s written Word, mocks God, and mocks the sanctity of marriage.
Read MoreAdam and Steve
Pacific Union College chaplain and PUC Church associate pastor Jonathan Henderson was the featured speaker at PUC's Fall Revival last week, an annual fall quarter week of spiritual emphasis, focused on relationships. Monday began with Adam and God, and Tuesday followed with Adam and Eve, but on Wednesday, Henderson focused his attention on the issue of homosexuality in a sermon titled "Adam and Steve."
Read MoreKeep silent woman
Two passages in the New Testament have frequently caused misunderstanding regarding the application within Christian circles of the universal Biblical principle of spiritual male headship.
Read MoreAdam’s role as representative of his immediate family
We have seen that Adam was the legal representative of humanity. For those who see full equality before the fall (egalitarians), at the very least, Adam’s legal-corporate responsibility was different than Eve’s. Therefore, while it is true that Adam and Eve were similar in resemblance, constitution, and relationship, there was not full equality in representational function. We will now look at Adam’s role as representative of his immediate family.
Read MoreWatch Women’s Ordination Symposium Live
Secrets Unsealed invites you to join them for a live streaming of “Women’s Ordination: History, Issues and Implications” NOW!
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