As I read negative reports in publications such as Spectrum Magazine and articles from SDA Kinship, there is something quite blazingly apparent to me. The accepted rule of faith and practice appears to be that of “political correctness” and “conventional thinking” rather than a plain “thus saith the Lord.”
Read MoreA house divided: why regional ordination is the wrong answer
Good friends of mine, people I love and respect, have suggested that the best way to end the strife is to let the various sectors of the church follow their own convictions on the issue. Based on Scripture and history, I believe this is the wrong approach. But before I tell you why, let me first share two things that are not motivating me.
Read MoreGalatians 3:28 is the magna carta of humanity?
Galatians 3:28 has been styled the “magna carta of humanity” (Paul Jewett, Man as Male, 142) by some egalitarians. They say “this verse shows that the church has, in past generations, maintained unbiblical support of a paternalistic church and family order. This has kept Christian women from rising to their God-ordained place of equality of position and authority alongside men in the leadership of the church and in the family."
Read MoreRethinking Uriah Smith's assessment of Laodicea
A friend recently posted the excerpt below from Uriah Smith’s renowned commentary on the books of Daniel and Revelation. Smith unwittingly fulfills the Laodicean prophecy of Revelation 3, claiming that Seventh-day Adventists have actually received all that they need, they just need to use or apply it better.
Read MoreThe illusory refuge of complexity
In a cover article of the Adventist Review called “Jesus Claims the Center: Between Sadducees and Pharisees" by Gerald A. Klingbeil, a popular paradigm through which many persist in viewing current Adventist controversies is again being promoted.
Read MorePharmakeia: prescription for global deception
War has always been present among different philosophies throughout history, and in the realm of medicine this is certainly no exception. But man can turn to a Source whose passages will enlighten the earnest seeker of truth for a correct understanding of healing methods.
Read MoreMars Hill Christian
The first time I talked with somebody who didn’t agree with me about who Jesus was, hands-down, I was right and they were wrong! But in my “rightness,” I was obnoxious—and wrong. I won the argument but lost an opportunity to make a friend, and more important, lost an opportunity to use apologetics in order to have a continuing discussion with that person about what Jesus wanted to do in their life.
Read MoreWhat might have been, what can be, and what definitely cannot be
In the past few days, a short video titled “What Might Have Been,” which contains an enactment of one of Ellen White’s dreams from the early 1900s, has surfaced. At the close of the acted segment, at least four appeals are made by church leaders calling for the church to fulfill its mission by submitting to God and experiencing the revival that God wanted to bring at the 1901 General Conference Session.
Read MoreIncomplete church film leaked
An unauthorized version of Adventist Church-produced film “What Might Have Been” was leaked online last week before its orgionally planned release date of May 16. The film portrays the moments at the 1901 General Conference Session and Ellen White’s 1903 vision regarding that session. It was produced by the General Conference Ministerial Association as a call for the church to finally be part of hastening the second coming through revival and reformation.
Read MoreSanctuary message vs. Ballenger
Do you suppose that careful Bible study will preserve you from doctrinal apostasy? Albion F. Ballenger did. He was having doubts about the harmony between the Adventist message he had been preaching and the book of Hebrews. To be particular, he thought he found abundant evidence in Hebrews 6-10 to show that Jesus had entered the Most Holy Place when he ascended to heaven two thousand years ago.
Read MoreMissionary finance: boon or bane?
The history of Seventh-day Adventism places Jesus’ Great Commission at the very heartbeat of its existence. Today the church has planted its logo in 215 of the 237 countries and areas of the world that are recognized by the United Nations. Hundreds of missionaries have left the comfort of their homes to take Christ to the nations of the world. We are one of the most dedicated and active Christian missionary agencies on the planet.
Read MoreThe game of life: it's no contest
The first competition took place in Heaven and began with the desire to be number one. This high-ranking angel was not satisfied with his position; he wanted more. He initiated a competition with Jesus Christ. Ultimately, this resulted in a war with dire consequences for Lucifer and his sympathizers. The losers miss out on their prime spots in Heaven.
Read MoreFinancial troubles spur Texas conference to close Valley Grande Academy
Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventist’s executive committee voted Feb. 26 to close Valley Grande Adventist Academy, a 100-year-old boarding school in Weslaco, Texas. This seems to be the final chapter for an institution founded in 1911 that has long been a feeder school for Southwestern Adventist University. This decision was taken despite a 39 percent increase in enrollment at the K-12 educational facility, from 121 students last year to 168 students in the current school year.
Read MoreThe god of Ekron and a prosthetic right arm
The right arm of the gospel—a phrase commonly heard in Adventist circles—is a work that has been too long neglected and underestimated. In a talk given by Mrs. White in the sanitarium at St. Helena’s chapel, she plainly stated, “There is to be no division between the medical missionary work and the gospel ministry. Medical missionary work is to be to the third angel's message as the right arm to the body. Both are to work in harmony. Then the salvation of the Lord will be revealed” (Sermons and Talks, Volume Two, 141-2). Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we, as Seventh-day Adventists, understand what “medical missionary” work refers to, and what it does not.
Read MoreTheistic evolution incompatible with Adventist doctrine
An outright hand-wave dismissal of theistic evolution would be unfair to those in our church that sincerely believe that a compromise is possible. Indeed, it is only fair to give the matter a proper treatise and confront the issue face-to-face. For this reason, this article seeks to provide rational and theological arguments that show the incompatible partnership of theistic evolution and Adventism and why any attempt to prove the contrary is futile and damaging.
Read MoreGiving as God commands
Paul commends the Christian brethren in Macedonia who, though themselves suffering economic want after three subsequent wars reduced the Macedonians to petitioning Tiberius for a reduction of taxes, nevertheless managed to raise a considerable offering for the church in Jerusalem. The Macedonians had faced famine conditions following widespread crop failures in Judea.
Read MoreAn Adventist church begins Sunday services as evangelism tool
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 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 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.
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