“An Urgent Prophetic Calling”
by Andrew Hanson
By Andrew Hanson, March 20, 2014
By Ted N. C. Wilson in the March 2014 issue of Adventist World, with commentary by Andrew Hanson.
In his essay, Ted lists his “four great concerns for the church today”:
1. A loss of Seventh-day Adventist identity among some of our pastors and church members.
2. The growing tide of worldliness in many of our churches.
3. The danger of disunity.
4. A spiritual complacency and apathy that leads to a lack of involvement in the mission of the church.
It seems to me that Ted’s worries echo the concerns of the Papacy when confronted by the scientific discoveries published by Galileo.
Galileo confused revealed truths with scientific discoveries by saying that in the Bible are found propositions which, when taken literally, are false; that Holy Writ out of regard for the incapacity of the people, expresses itself inexactly, even when treating of solemn dogmas; that in questions concerning natural things, philosophical [i.e., scientific] should avail more than sacred." Hence, we see that it was Galileo's perceived attack on theology (which is the unique domain of the Magisterium and not of scientists) that elicited the alarmed response from the Church.*
Let’s see if I can make the case using Ted’s own words.
A LOSS OF IDENTITY
Now, here is precisely my concern: too many of our pastors and members have failed to recognize, or have forgotten, the divine prophetic calling God has given us as a church. There’s a growing tendency to minimize our differences with other denominations. Much of this comes from the neutralization of the Bible as God’s Word. It is so important that we base our beliefs on the Word of God, using the historical-biblical method of studying the Scriptures, and approaching prophetic understanding from the historicist perspective. God’s Word must be foundational to our belief, faith, and practical living. The Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth if we will study, pray, and listen to God’s voice.
The “historical-biblical method,” sola scriptura, while useful in supporting the notion of a six day creation and Sabbath rest must be explained away when considering the first of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.”
When pastors and members challenge the historical-critical method, Ted argues that church members have rejected the leading of the Holy Spirit or forgotten God’s “divine prophetic calling.”
It seems to me that Wilson’s fundamental concern stems from his belief that questions concerning natural things, philosophical [i.e., scientific] should avail more than sacred. He argues that these questions undermine the Church’s identity as the home of God’s remnant people.
Loss of identity can create a GROWING TIDE OF WORLDLINESS.
Wilson argues that change minimizes our differences with other Christian denominations.
Standards that were once cherished by Seventh-day Adventists in the areas of diet and dress, recreation and amusement, and Sabbathkeeping are fast becoming things of the past… This is no time to flirt with the devil’s dress, diet, amusement, and worldly influences. Christ living in our lives and dwelling in our hearts makes a dramatic difference in how we live.
Standards required of Sabbath keepers have undoubtedly “changed” during my lifetime. Wedding and engagement rings, earrings, Sabbath meals “out,” shorter dresses, swimming, roller-skating, movie attendance, and praise music are almost universally tolerated today. Ingathering has lost steam. Attitudes toward television, “worldly” universities, saxophone solos in church, beauty salons, coffee drinking, appropriate church dress, and divorce have changed. Discussions regarding the legitimacy of homosexual partnerships and women’s ordination also indicate changing attitudes.
Loss of identity can create THE DANGER OF DISUNITY.
This is a time for all to unite in Christ under the banner of His truth, to preach His message to the world. God has given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church a divinely inspired church organization, and mutual agreements called church policies, which under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are part of what helps to hold us together as a worldwide family. To discard or ignore these mutual agreements violates a sacred trust and creates unnecessary discord.
Loss of identity can lead to SPIRITUAL COMPLACENCY AND APATHY.
Increased spiritual apathy and complacency is prevalent in the lives of many. We need to examine our lives to make sure that God is working in us in a vital way. Recent surveys indicate that the overwhelming majority of church members believe the doctrinal essentials of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but there is a growing complacency about sharing their faith. They’re part of the culture of the uninvolved, rather than the culture of the involved. There is little passion for sharing their faith in Jesus Christ. There’s no urgency in their souls.
It’s no wonder that Ted’s concerns mirror the official reaction of Pope Paul III. Ted, like Pope Paul III, makes the assumption that members and pastors advocating a scientific literary analysis of scripture, compromise Church authority, thereby challenging its exclusive theology and “divinely inspired” church hierarchy. This advocacy is identified as a demonic distraction that results in a membership that lacks unity, passion, and urgency when it comes to sharing their faith.
Ted, the good news is that the Catholic Church survived Galileo, and the Adventist Church can survive biblical literary analysis.** You say so yourself.
Of course, we do not get to heaven by what we eat, or by how we show ourselves to be religious. We have salvation through the power and the blood of Jesus Christ…God is in control and leading His people. Does the church have challenges? Yes, but I see evidence of the Holy Spirit moving powerfully among His people.
________________________________________________________________
* Patrick Madrid, The Papacy and Gallileo https://catholiceducation.org/articles/science/sc0033.html
** A literary analysis is not merely a summary of a literary work. Instead, it is an argument about the work that expresses a writer's personal perspective, interpretation, judgment, or critical evaluation of the work.
A recent article in the British Union Messenger was entitled, "The Past is a Foreign Country." Sad if our administrators want us to live there. Really, Back to Yesterday is leadership?
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It is time to leave the dead issues of the past alone, and move the Kingdom of God forward to today and tomorrow. I am happy to see that our administrators can see God moving us forward, even it it "worries" them. Gallileo was right and the church administration was wrong. Progressive moves by Adventist member sand pastors are right and trying to return this church to the dead past is still wrong.
Jesus spoke to a disciple concerned about taking care of the past in this incisive way, (Matthew 8:22) "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."
If Adventism doesn't find a viable alternative (such as attaching itself to the teachings of Christ), forgetting the rubbish from the past, it will never offer any attraction of value to Christians. The Holy Spirit is a voice crying in the wilderness as long as the "distinctive" Adventist doctrines of the past are the retreat of hope for the church.
What attraction is there for "new" believers in the 2300 days and the "investigative judgment? Is there any fine explanation for the "great disappointment" that will rush the masses to Adventism? Can Sabbath keeping become a mental elixir the world can joyously adopt and find Saturday sunset to sunset observance an inviting enterprise?
The majority of Adventist members were born into the faith. They tend hang on for a variety of reasons, most of them obvious. Their slipping toward the slope most feared by Pastor Ted is not intellectually based but experientially motivated since there is no good reason not to slide toward that door. Fear and guilt have lost their retaining power. Minutiae, Adventist principles, are powerless, leaving in place social attachments that tend to bind the faithful tentatively to their church.
Solution? Develop a theology of God as Love. Adventism would be at the forefront of a bright new day for itself and perhaps all of Christianity.
Ted Wilson's concerns should be taken seriously by every faith based group. We cannot prioritize and resolve those concerns simply by invoking principles which most reasonable people think are valid. And it makes no sense at all to use Galileo as an analogy. Galileo's dispute with the Church was factual. Wilson's dispute with liberalism concerns values. The church is no longer disputing the validity of Galileo's empirical observations. The value-based concerns of Wilson have been in dispute since the dawn of civilization. They will not be resolved by science or an appeal to methodological naturalism.
While I think Ted Wilson is raising some good issues, I also think his concept that all will be cured by returning to his concept of historic Adventism reveals how much he misunderstands the both the root problem and historic Adventism. How can we expect church members to remain loyal to a church where the historic basis for claiming distinctiveness appears irrelevant in our modern world, where claims about power often are refuted by reality, and our leaders keep pointed us to the past instead of the future?
The passage of time tends to reveal detritus from religious systems creating serious distress, and even crisis, for true believers. Pastor Wilson personifies this process and the dilemma facing the Adventist Church. He is to be admired as a leader who is willing to confront the degeneration of the denomination. However, his efforts, in the long term are doomed. Humpty Dumpty is broken and he can't put him back together again. If he had the power of the Pope to speak "ex cathedra" and the tradition of authority to forcefully steer the organization back to its roots, he might have a chance to halt the natural evolution, or devolution, of Adventism away from its roots.
The church was founded with a plethora of perceived devouring wolves at the door which, in fact, were never there. The threat of the papacy to kill Sabbath keepers and the second advent with its attendant judgment motivated early believers to devise a faith that fit those fears. It led early Adventists to build a belief system without a legitimate base. The debris of Adventism is revealed in its terms: spirit of prophecy, remnant church, the Truth, Sabbath, investigative judgment, the great controversy and many others. Without the specter of persecuting wolves, these teachings don't create convicted followers.
The Adventist Church can never be what it was, in spite of Pastor Wilson's four great laments. In fact, those four concerns will be the exact basis of new Adventism.
Hi Andy,
Re An Urgent Prophetic Calling.
Few informed people would disagree with the four points Wilson presents.
1. A loss of Seventh-day Adventist identity among some of our pastors and church members.
2. The growing tide of worldliness in many of our churches.
3. The danger of disunity.
4. A spiritual complacency and apathy that leads to a lack of involvement in the mission of the church.
Consequently your closing remark below, regarding the Holy Spirit moving powerfully among His people appears to be a future event.
"Of course, we do not get to heaven by what we eat, or by how we show ourselves to be religious. We have salvation through the power and the blood of Jesus Christ…God is in control and leading His people. Does the church have challenges? Yes, but I see evidence of the Holy Spirit moving powerfully among His people."
It appears Wilsons concerns are the result of a slow and incideous process that has resulted in the current situation whereby no one from the President's office down is prepared to confirm which interpretation of Daniel 8:9-14, and which interpretation of Fundamental Belief 24, is the preferred teaching of the Church today. Something for the church to think about before the Fundamental Beliefs are voted next year.
Historically it has generally been accepted the sanctuary message of Daniel 8:9-14 was the basis of the Millerite movement, and subsequently was considered to be the central pillar of the SDA Church. Until recently attacks against this fundamental belief were stoutly rebutted by the church.
There is another attack taking place within the church today. Churches around the world are embracing various new age, or emerging church programs, and there appears to be no excuse for this, cf. the following counsel. "we have far more to fear from within than from without," and "I knew that the omega would follow in a little while; and I trembled for our people."
I trust that the situations mentioned above are not part of what you consider "is evidence of the Holy Spirit moving powerfully among His people."
As it appears Wilson can do little more than express his concerns at this time in church history, perhaps it is time people paid more attention to prophetic warnings such as the following.
"A loss of Seventh-day Adventist identity among some of our pastors and church members."
"the sanctuary message of Daniel 8:9-14 was the basis of the Millerite movement, and subsequently was considered to be the central pillar of the SDA Church."
If our indentity as a church is based on last day perfection standing in the judgement without a mediator Adventism then we are sooo lost!
Concern about prophecy, such as those in Daniel, is a symptom of the disease that ails Adventism and is contributing to its decline. Interpretations of prophecies are mental exercises, a form of mental self stimulation. They have no definitive meaning and therefore no eternal value. They are opinion based and have little value to average Christian people coping with the struggles of life and a search for hope.
If Adventism doesn't find a viable alternative (such as attaching itself to the teachings of Christ), forgetting the rubbish from the past, it will never offer any attraction of value to Christians. The Holy Spirit is a voice crying in the wilderness as long as the "distinctive" Adventist doctrines of the past are the retreat of hope for the church.
What attraction is there for "new" believers in the 2300 days and the "investigative judgment? Is there any fine explanation for the "great disappointment" that will rush the masses to Adventism? Can Sabbath keeping become an elixir the world can gulp mindlessly down and find Saturday sunset to sunset observance an inviting enterprise?
The majority of Adventist members were born into the faith. They tend hang on for a variety of reasons, most of them obvious. Their slipping toward the slope most feared by Pastor Ted is not intellectually based but experientially motivated since there is no good reason not to slide toward that door. Fear and guilt have lost their retaining power. Minutiae, Adventist principles, are powerless, leaving in place social attachments that tend to bind the faithful tentatively to their church.
Solution? Develop a theology of God as Love.
What is your concern about a oncern about prophecy, such as in Daniel Bugs?
What is your concern about the concern about prophecy, such as in Daniel Bugs?
Right you are Larry!!!
There are so many who are in love with doctrines. There are so many who are living in the 19th Century. There are so many daily still quoting the many testamonies of Ellen G White. Folks, this is cultist. This is legalism. Where is Jesus??This is denying the Holy Spirit into a repentant's heart. In the1844 Disappointment, they quickly cobbled a face saving doctrine, so their hearts would be pacified. It was a bad beginning, that is now bearing sad tidings for the SDA Church, with the legalists about to tear asunder what they thought was the exclusive Remnant. Wake up all ye still asleep, accept Jesus as your Lord and God.
Darrel, it's my observation that if you want to stem the tide addressed in Pastor Wilsons four concerns you can't do it by emphasizing Daniel's prophecies. In fact, there are no peculiar (I mean specific to) Adventist doctrines that are powerful enough to halt the group skid toward moderation and modernization. Yes, it raises the specter, what does it mean to be SDA? The outcome is not likely to please you and most of the "old guard."
what it meant to be "Darrel" 30 years ago, is different than Today. I was very much "old guard" then.
But I am still, and always have been myself. Adventism or parts of Adventism is in process of 'Modernization,' which is healthy, but should not challenge the core of our identity in Christ or our mission. If the earth and life is millions of years old does that challenge the evidence of Creation? NO!
If Ellen White is not a prophet in the Biblical meaning, does that mean we as a people are not lead by God for a specific mission? No! If there is no such thing as prophecy in Daniel or anywhere and if the materialist world view is correct then that is a different matter.
“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. Revelation 6:4
The concern to forget “How God has led us in the past.” By Ted N. C. Wilson, is evidence we have forgotten, it is G-d who started this chosen Priesthood, to be the Remnant Church with the Gift of Prophecy, we are the Sons and Daughters of God. The work of the Prophetess and Prophet is to point us back to the Bible. Without E. G. White and Mervyn Maxwell, we would not be humbled! What you are about to read, will decide Who you Worship God or man?
Rev 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was made bright by his splendor.
Rev 18:2 He cried out in a powerful voice, "Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every unclean spirit, a prison for every unclean bird, and a prison for every unclean and hated beast.
Rev 18:3 For all the nations have drunk from the wine of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her. The world's businesses have become rich from her luxurious excesses."
Rev 18:4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you don't participate in her sins and also suffer from her diseases.”
Rev 18:24 The blood of the world's prophets, saints, and all who had been murdered was found within her."
Or
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
GOD is waiting for his remnant Church that has the Gift of Prophecy, to acknowledge He wants to gather His Children under His Wings, like a Mother hen. Like a Mother who wants to teach her children, God forgives those who tresspass against us, so I forgive you for your sins against me!
“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.” (Luke 18:11 ). Then the Pharisee’s killed Jesus. They had no compassion, just as David had no compassion for killing “The Lamb of God,” one of David’s highest officials in his army.
G-d has humbled us all.
Humility ain’t that bad! It is the woman that reaches into the garbage to pull out the silver spoon. Eve, was deceived, but Adam knowingly sinned. Let’s put a stop to G-d giving women the right to sit down and shut up! Can I change my name? Will that help you think of me as “man enough” to stand up to defend the Spirit of Prophecy? You want to crucify Ellen White? And Jesus too?
How did I come to reread Revelation 18? And translate Revelation 8:8,9 myself?
My son Walter came home from spring break from Pacific Union College, 2002. He asked the question, "What Happens after 9-11-2001?" I thought the question was stupid! Until he sat down and read OUT LOUD to me, Volume 9 of the Testimonies to the Church, starting on page 11. Walter concluded Ellen White did propehcy 9-11-2001. His question has an answer. If Ellen White did predict 9-11-2001 and Mervyn Maxwell, pointed to the fulfillment of the Second Angel to the Seven Churches, there would be a third, forth, fifth, sixth and 7th Angel. Then to my horror, I found the FIRST ANGEL SOUNDED, and “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (I Peter 4:17).
CREATOR, is found in the 4th Commandment and ends all controversy on who created the world in six days. It ends the controversy over evolution. And it suggests we be holy 24/7, not just sitting in the pew, on the 7th day of the week.
Do we want to be found guilty of killing those God has sent us?
August 3, 1903, Mrs. White further wrote regarding this sensational report:
“How comes the word that I have declared that New York is to be swept away by a tidal wave? This I have never said. I have said, as I looked at the great building going up there, story after story: ‘What terrible scenes will take place when the Lord shall arise to shake terribly the earth! Then the words of Rev. 18:1-3 will be fulfilled.’ The whole of the eighteenth chapter of Revelation is a warning of what is coming on the earth. But I have no light in particular in regard to what is coming on New York, only I know that one day the great buildings there will be thrown down by the turning and overturning of God’s power. From the light given me, I know that destruction is in the world. One word from the Lord, one touch of His mighty, power, and these massive structures will fall. Scenes will take place the fearful need of which we cannot image.” Life Sketches p. 411-412 Ellen White
The Second Angel to the Seven Churches speaks up in Revelation 8:8,9 just as Mervyn Maxwell pointed out by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in his book GOD CARES II when he translated this verse he mentioned in one paragraph. “Image a Third World army today invading Washington and setting fire to the Pentagon and White House.” (Revelation 8:8,9).
“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” Rev 8:8,9.
Pro_25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2).
“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:34-35).
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:7).
“And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” (Revelation 10:11).
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1)
“And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:25-27).
The Royal Priesthood, the Sons and Daughters of God, repair the breach, restore the unity in the Ten Commandments, The Testimony of Jesus, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” And the Spirit of Prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.
The Elijah Message is a call to humility and repentance. "You should not be sleeping with your brother's wife." You should not be commit adultery and walking away from your Salvation, as found in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
Freeom purchased by the Blood of the Lamb, gives you a choice! To be saved or to use Jesus as a SCAPEGOAT, and nail Jesus and YOUR SIN, into HIS HANDS AN FEET and recrucify OUR LORD!
The REAL GOAT WHO HAS ESCAPED PUNNISHMENT is trembling….his day of doom is making Lucifer angry! The finger is pointed at HER the FALSE CHURCH, who seeks to destroy the true prophets and saints. "Come out of her My People….into the Remanant Church, with the gift of Prophecy."
I met a man along the roadside picking up trash at a Rest Area in Nebraska. He idenfied my by my liscense plate, in country 38. He said, I went to the SDA Church, I believe everything they said, but, I believe everyone has a "soul." And my Bible says so. I turned to him and said, "There is a fear you would talk to the dead, and ask them questions." He said, "No! I would never do that." Then he wanted to know if I knew Dale Fults, my uncle. Then he wanted to know if I knew a friend of his in Beaver City.
I would like to think, the 7th Angel to the 7 Churches, is Michael the Archangel, in charge of all the angels, who are comign down NOW, to protect and defend us, so no one will die as a martyr! Last week Walter was broad sided, he was driving his brother's care, it was totaled. He and those who hit him, were ok. Is this just another one of the miralces that started when Walter was pulled from the near death grave, from the swimming pool, and ended up with three hospitals and being released from the Oaklands Children's Hospital, the only child without brain damage?
"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:4-6).
THE RED HORSE, bolts out of heaven, daily we crown Jesus Christ/Michael the Archangel our King of kings and Lord of lords!"
"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (We are hearing the voices come from HEAVEN! COME AND SEE). And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." SWORD OF TRUTH! (Revleation 6:3,4)
Study for yourself. We do not enter into The Ark of the Covenant, like animals, two by two. We enter single file, like Sons and Daughters praising our King! Knowing our sins can cause Our Saviour to be recrucified, want to enter his Presence by first seraching our hearts for sin. Sin cannot enter the Presence of God, leave that sin, at the feet of Jesus, do not crucify HIM AGAIN! Turn around and go into obedience!
God Bless all who come in the Name of the Lord. "Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." (Romans 10:13).
THE RED HORSE is a logo, we might expect from a GOD who calls to us from the Orion Constellation with the HORSE HEAD NEBULA. His patience endures forever! The rider is the "stone" who crushes the gold, silver, brass, but protects the trees, grass and anyone that has the Holy Spirit.
"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." (Revelation 9:4).
"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land." (Zechariah 13:2).
God is on our side, are we on His? Has Our Creator has the ability to humble us, and our neighbors? Is this all about GOD, wanting to receive THE GLORY….
Ted Wilson has my vote! And in this we are all humbled!
To Connie and her Son, and others,
May I suggest the issue is not whether Ted Wilson gets my vote or not, but which application of Fundamental Beliefs such as 6, and 24, will be enforced by various churches when the revised Beliefs are ratified.
For example as our leaders are currently unwilling to state which interpretation of FB 24 is the preferred teaching of the church today, it appears Wilsons concerns are justified.
As it is acknowledged various voted FB statements have alternative interpretations, we can expect to see a rise in "back door" numbers as various individuals, continue to to use the Church Manual's provisions regarding doctrine and discipline, to silence, or rid the church of so called "troublemakers." (doctrinal disunity).
As these actions by the Church are claimed to be sealed in Heaven, and the Church is not bound to provide the accused the right of appeal, (unless the the person is disfellowshipped) it it little wonder many find they have no alternative other than to leave by the back door. Then to add salt into the wound, unless the person returns, his/her name is taken off the church roll.
Is it any wonder Ted Wilson sees a culture of "spiritual complacency and apathy that leads to a lack of involvement in the mission of the church."
Thus the question. What will Wilson do about it, or more importantly, what will Church members do about it, after all, the church is the church of the members, or is it??
Any faith which is so fragile that it fears extinction due to critical analysis of its scriptures is not worth adopting
To all you naysayers out there:
Let me just say that I belong to a very conservative SDA church, and it is by far one of the most loving congregations I have ever been in. It is straight on doctrine, yet accepting of all who come into its fellowship. For someone to suggest that conservatism is out of touch with the times or not attractive to unbelievers is preposterous. God's plan has always been a perfect blend of law and grace, truth and acceptance. To err on one side is legalism, and on the other side libertinism. God has always wanted a people who exemplify before the world what His transforming grace can accomplish. This is God's last-day message and His last-day people. This is not arrogance—it is humbling and a distinct honor, and worthy of sharing. I invite you to come in out of the cold!
Furthermore, all the bickering over social issues and theology plays right into Satan's hand! We should leave all that behind, grow up, and spend our energies serving and witnessing for Jesus.
Pastor Jim,
Right on! I'm curious what ministries the Holy Spirit is nurturing in your church that are sharing God's love and turning hearts to following Him.