Anyone paying attention to Western political leaders in the years since September 11, 2001, will have noticed that they often opine about what Islam is or is not. To cite a recent example, in responding to the massacre of the senior staff of Charlie Hebdo, a Paris magazine that published cartoons deriding Muhammad, French President Francois Hollande said this: “Those who committed these acts, these fanatics, have nothing to do with the Muslim religion.”
Read MoreMonster Energy Drink Is Anti-Christ: A Case Study In Occult Epistemology
Occult epistemology teaches that there are two levels of knowledge. The lower level is the knowledge that can be gained by observation and reason through the normal and boring disciplines of history, science, philosophy, etc. The higher level of knowledge that leads to supernatural power is not laid open to ordinary observation and disciplined reason but is secretly layered on top of ordinary reality in a system of hidden symbols that only the initiated can interpret.
Read MoreTrue obedience comes from the heart
Multiple times I have heard well-meaning Adventists–in an attempt to prove that we should force ourselves to obey even if we don't want to–quote Ellen White where she says we are to "do right because it is right." This has perplexed me and given me quite a bit of anxiety, because while I have seen a lot of evidence against this, the phrase still seemed to back up their belief.
Read MoreDr. Herbert Douglass Memorial
A Memorial Service will be held at 4:00 PM on Sabbath, February 14, 2015, at the Carmichael SDA Church, 4600 Winding Way, Sacramento, CA 95841.
Read MoreMy take on Dr. Rogers’ arguments
My first thought after reading “Old Universe But Young Life?” by Dr. Lynden J. Rogers in the recent issue of Christian Spirituality and Science published by Avondale College was that Mrs. White would be rolling over in her grave if she knew what the school she helped to found in the late 1800s was promoting in its “Christian Spirituality and Science” journal. How can one of our own schools be publishing articles like this that strike as the very basis of the church’s existence? – the very basis of the name “Seventh-day Adventist”? And, how can the Adventist Church continue to be associated with a school that is so willing to publicly thumb its nose that the organized church and its leadership?
Read MoreAvondale College arguing in favor of Darwinian evolution?
In the most recent 2015 issue of Christian Spirituality and Science published by Avondale College (a Seventh-day Adventist institution under the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists) there are three articles, all of which appear to challenge the firm position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the literal nature of the creation week described in Genesis. The authors of these papers suggest that the church should put aside such antiquated 19th century notions and accept or at least tolerate the idea that life has existed and evolved on this planet over the course of at least a couple billion years or so.
Read MoreAnd that's final
In the December edition of Adventist World, an article titled "Question on Women's Ordination Sent to GC Session" by Andrew McChesney reported, "Annual Council delegates agreed to ask the General Conference session next year to decide whether each division may decide for itself whether to ordain women. Many expressed hope that a final decision on the matter will allow the church to focus more fully on its mission of proclaiming Jesus’ soon coming."
Read MoreSymbolism matters
Christ represents the Husband, and the church represents the bride. They are expected to be symbolically intimate one with another. Speaking of Christ and the church Isaiah says, “For thy Maker is thine Husband” (54:5). If the local pastor represents Christ, and the local church represents the bride, then what would it mean if we took the male pastor out of his position to place a female pastor there?
Read MoreRyan Bell and the fall of man
I think at this point, you know, I've looked at the majority of the arguments that I've been able to find for the existence of God. And on the question of God's existence or not, I have to say I don't find there to be a convincing case, in my view. I don't think that God exists. I think that makes the most sense of the evidence that I have and my experience, ... I want to have a closer relationship to reality. --Ryan Bell
Read MoreChristianity Today assesses Adventists' struggle to be distinct
Christianity Today published an article called "The Season of Adventists: Can Ben Carson's Church Stay Separatist Amid Booming Growth?" by Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra in its January/February edition about the denomination's worries the church is becoming too mainstream. A picture of Ellen White and Billy Graham's faces posed opposite of each other in a venn diagram illustrates the article.
Read MoreEmergence Christianity's Impact on the Seventh-day Adventist Movement
Many people are aware of the existence of the emerging/emergent church movement, but few know that the idea of “emerging/emergent church” goes back to the early 20th century. The emerging/emergent church movement is a tangible manifestation of a new way of thinking, a new way of doing Christianity, and a new worldview increasingly referred to as Emergence Christianity.
Read MoreADvindicate readership almost doubles again
ADvindicate experienced another year of tremendous growth. An average of 13,379 people visited the site per month for a total of 160,558 in 2014. Compare that to 88,518 in 2013 and you'll see ADvindicate's readership increased by 81 percent. ADvindicate had a total of 741,657 pageviews in 2014, an average of 61,804 per month. We are nothing without our readers, so we are thankful for you and your continued prayers and support.
Read MoreTime's up! Give now
After almost two and a half years, we decided it was time to fundraise and take ADvindicate to the next level. With no money and a reliance on voluntary submissions for the first couple years, there was only so much we could offer. One of our readers approached ADvindicate president Gerry Wagoner at a convention and asked why ADvindicate wasn't covering more news. All of us at ADvindicate have full-time jobs and write and run the website in our spare time. In spite of this, God has blessed the site and we're doing well. There are many things we would have liked to cover, but due to lack of money and available writers, we were unable to deliver.
Read MorePope Francis to issue encyclical on climate change.
According to Bishop Marcelo Sorondo, the chancellor of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope wants to have a direct influence on the 2015 UN climate conference in Paris, the culmination of decades of negotiations that will help determine the planet’s future.
Read MoreWho is calling?
It was nearly Christmas and a friend of mine handed me a beautiful little book she had just been given for her personal worship during the coming year. Its softly padded cover was a palette of autumn hues, blending deep earthen browns and bright tangerine. At the center was an oval, framing an out-stretched hand. The book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, had a comforting subtitle, Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Only four by six inches, the attractive little book, perfectly sized for bedside-table use, was laid out in an easy read page-a-day format. A lovely gift!
Read MoreSanctification by faith
Many times, when I hear people talk about “1888,” there seems to be a preoccupation with a narrow explanation of the event and message. This emphasis usually comes from the more “conservative” end of the spectrum and it essentially goes thusly: the main point, and grand theme, that Jones and Waggoner brought to our attention is that we can, by faith, live completely victorious lives. We can overcome sin, attain perfection, live righteously by faith.
Read MoreToo much Jesus?
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.
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