A Sunday church service called “Surge Church” was launched by the First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 8 to an audience of about 250 people in hopes it would reach those who felt more comfortable worshipping on Sunday. "Why not create a forum where the truth can be taught on a Sunday morning in a context where people are used to coming to church,” said First SDA Church Senior Pastor Debleaire Snell in an interview with PELC Power Tools Podcast.
Read More'Old Fashioned' offers alternative to porno '50 Shades of Grey'
The nationwide face off between wholesome relationship boundaries and the mainstream idea there’s nothing wrong with pre-marital sex, even sadistic sex, went live Valentine’s Day weekend with the release of films “Old Fashioned” and “50 Shades of Grey.”
Read MoreC.D. Brooks weighs in on Adventist Sunday services
In light of the recent decision of the Huntsville First SDA church to hold regular worship meetings on Sunday mornings, some have justified this action by saying that Adventist evangelists in the past have held meetings on Sunday. Elder C.D. Brooks was asked about this in a telephone interview posted on YouTube Feb. 12, 2015. What follows is a transcription of the audio recording posted above. He had this to say.
Read MoreAdventists and Sunday worship
Seventh-day Adventists, Methodists, and Baptists have something in common: All three denominations offer one of their doctrines in their name. Can a Baptist forget the truth of baptism by immersion? Can a Methodist forget their methodical spiritual disciplines? Similarly, I've often wondered how a Seventh-day Adventist could forget the history of the Seventh-day Sabbath.
Read MoreWriters wanted, will pay
ADvindicate is in the process of expanding its news coverage, so we're looking for journalists. Experience or training in news coverage is preferred. Our pay rate ranges from $50-$150 and is based on an article's popularity. The article's popularity is measured over a two-week span by Google Analytics, and payment is issued after the 14th day of publication. If your article is published, you are guaranteed a base payment of $50 for your article no matter its popularity.
Read MoreNothing to see here
Chances are, if you pick up the histories of 1888 that are published by official Adventist publications, about 99% of them will say – when you cut through everything else – something to this effect: nothing of lasting significance really happened at the 1888 General Conference that has any relevance for us today. Indeed, there is “nothing to see here,” so we may as well move on to more pressing and relevant topics.
Read MoreADvindicate surpasses its goal of $30,000
We're excited to announce ADvindicate raised over $33,000 for its 2015 budget. ADvindicate's goal has been to publish a biblical perspective on trending Adventist issues. With the ability to pay for content, we now have more control over the quality and quantity of our articles, but beyond that, it allows us to begin expanding our news coverage. So thank you for your dedication to ADvindicate's goal and mission.
Read MorePride
Each of us struggle with pride. This particular sin caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven.
Then it infected 33% of the holy angels. Next pride passed to the entire human race. It’s so bad that a pack of lions are appropriately named after it: Pride.
THE ROCKS ARE CRYING, 'HEALTH!'
The cry often goes out among God’s people, “We must finish the work!” Yes, there are those who are longing to obey that command, but they honestly wonder what what we should do. As we look to our Example, the life of Jesus, we cannot help but notice that He spent more time healing physical needs than preaching. If we are followers in His footsteps, then shall we not do the same?
Read MoreA troubling precedent
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 More