The One Project: Christ-centered Unity and Unexplained Questions, Criticism
By AT News Team, Feb. 19, 2015: More than 1,100 Adventist pastors, lay leaders and young adults gathered in San Diego, California, for this year’s annual North American gathering of The One Project on February 8 and 9. Among the speakers were the senior pastors of some of the largest local churches in the denomination, chaplains and faculty from Adventist universities, and Pastor Ivan Williams, the ministerial director of the denomination’s North American Division.
They focused on a study of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount from the gospels. “Unity is mandated by God,” said Tim Gillespie from Loma Linda University. “Can we support someone’s intent even if we disagree with their action? … Love is required.”
Every speaker picked up the theme of unity in diversity as crucial for the Adventist denomination if it is to be centered on Christ. “God has called us to love every person … not to say to some, ‘You don’t fit.” stated Pastor Japhet
“Disagreement is not equal to rejection,” said Michaela Lawrence Jeffery. “We don’t show our integrity by assassinating the character of those who disagree with us,” stated Dr. Laurence Turner, an Old Testament scholar from Newbold College in England. He read to the group some of the criticisms of The One Project that he had found online and urged his listeners not to respond in the same manner.
Why is focusing on a Christ-centered Adventist faith so controversial, Adventist Today asked one of the planning committee later. “I don’t know. They haven’t talked to me. I just get letters saying, ‘Read this book. Watch this DVD. Then you’ll know.’ I don’t know why they are doing this. People go up to our children and say things that are really offensive and tell them their fathers or mothers are heretics.”
Evidently someone has caught the ear of someone among the General Conference officers. A number of sources have told Adventist Today that an investigation by the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) has been officially requested. Spectrum, the largest journal for Adventist academics, recently reported something similar. When AT contacted the BRI to ask about this, the reporter was told that “they don’t have a report yet. It’s too early in the research process.”
Later, Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller, deputy director of BRI, sent Adventist Today the following statement: “At the request of administration and according to BRI’s work description, the institute is always involved in reviewing documents as well as movements, ministries, and organizations. In most cases a public report is not available.”
Adventist Today asked several members of The One Project steering committee what was the goal of their gatherings. “To revitalize the church, the local churches need to be dowsed afresh every single day with who Jesus Christ is,” said Japhet de Oliveira, senior pastor of the Boulder (Colorado) Adventist church. “The church needs to encourage a vision for the local congregation. We get comfortable with just following a structure that just ticks along. What is Jesus calling us to do?”
“I hope that local congregations will have a healthier experience centered on the priorities of Jesus,” said Pastor Alex Bryan, senior pastor of the Walla Walla University Church. “I hope churches will care more for the poor and worshipping with great vibrancy; that people will go back saying, I want my local community to be filled with the life and teachings and Spirit of Jesus.”
An Adventist Today reporter talked to some of the lay leaders and young adults in the crowd. “This is my fifth year,” said James Ho. Why does he keep coming back? “To make sure we’re not doing Adventist culture just to be Adventist; let’s focus on Jesus.” It was “the discussions at the tables” that have attracted Kyle Kuehmichel, an emergency medical technician and the son of an Adventist pastor. “We need to grow … we need to be looking to serve those around us, so that our focus is all on Jesus.” In each One Project event the participants sit at round tables with about a dozen people each and following each sermon there is a time for discussion. This makes the impact more personal than most preaching events.
Is the upcoming decision about ordination at the next GC Session in July creating an atmosphere of division? Turner told Adventist Today, “You have to assume the good will of the people with whom you disagree. If you see them as the enemy … you just get warfare. You’ve got to assume this is your brother or sister in Christ. … If we had a better way of discussing these matters, we’d have [greater] integrity.”
More than 100 pastors participated in a full day at the end of the session which was specifically for ministers. The agenda included sessions on preaching, how to deal with the secular culture that is pervasive in both Europe and North America and the future of The One Project.
“It is disturbing to hear that BRI is being used to investigate initiatives of local churches, institutions and conferences,” a retired GC staff member told Adventist Today. “That is really not their role. They are not an Adventist inquisition. If things are moving that direction it is really beyond the authority of GC officers to mandate it.”
When Adventist Today asked the members of The One Project steering committee about contacts from the BRI, they responded by saying “No comment.” They were all puzzled as to why anyone would question their loyalty to the Adventist denomination or the 28 Fundamental Beliefs. None of them have any record of dissent. “I am sure you are wrong or this is just a big misunderstanding,” one pastor stated.
The BRI being used to investigate the One Project? I hope not. Even so, if I recall correctly, weren’t they formed to refute the issues raised by Desmond Ford? So such an inquisition would be consistent with their history.
I have the impression that the inquisitive mentality is well and alive among us…
Tonight as I drove home from work, I heard a spiritual sung on the radio by a magnificent female voice, that said it all:
“Ride on King Jesus, No man can a-hinder thee!”
“It is disturbing to hear…”.
Hopefully the BRI will point out the errors in the One Project teaching, so honest souls won’t be lost.
Obviously “earlysda” believes there are errors in the One Project. Why are you waiting for someone else to point them out? Have you no mind of your own? I would be most interested in what you believe those errors might be. I would also be interested to know if you have any errors of your own that you are willing to recognize.
James, it is interesting to see how acerbic you are. Does this reflect well on our lovely Saviour – Jesus Christ,
or his enemy?
Obviously earlysda is not prepared to stick his neck out…
Have you listened to any of their sermons?
Have you attended any of their meetings?
A simple Y/N answer will do it!!!
Emergent Truth; not, Present Truth.
Emergent Truth, Present Truth…all the silly code words for choosing sides and placing labels. I’m sure we can find a way to brand these upstart infidels as Jesuits along the way somehow. Pity that the old guard has to feel threatened by a group focusing on Jesus of all things!
They are focusing on a false Jesus.
talk about bearing false witness!
What do you mean by “emergent truth” as opposed to “present truth”?
Hasn’t the Present Truth been a permanent emerging truth? SO, what is the big deal???
Sorry for those who think the rest of us have no understanding of Truth ! Our poor brothers and sisters in the “one project” are focusing on another Jesus ! The one who came to Jesus as an “angel of light”; the devil himself !
This sounds similar to the pharisaic accusation leveled at Jesus that He was working under the power of Beelzebub. What did Jesus call that? Oh yes, “unpardonable.”
What is the difference between the Jesus of the One Project and your Jesus, in your view?
Is this the best Christian result you were able to reach in your life?
Did you ever attend one of those meetings?
Have you ever heard any of their preachings?
Wow! I can’t fathom this kind of talk in my church! The end is certainly near and a dividing between the sheep and goats. But it’s not too late yet.
I wish these comments showed up after the one they were replying to–this was for “Richard.”
Sadly, when one focuses on Christ and grace it is just too much for some people! It is the same spirit that kept the Pharisees away from Jesus. Probably the same spirit that opposed Jones and Waggoner in 1888. E G White said, “Of all professing Christians, Seventh-day Adventists should be foremost in uplifting Christ before the world” (Evangelism, p.188).
I am seeing more heat then light In the comments. I have no interrest in throwing accusations at people. As one who has been on the email list I guess I have not been very attentive. I happen to live in New England now (conservative and dead) but was a member of Boulder Co church. I would just say if you are following the beliefs of the church, not bringing in dangerous heresies or experimenting with what I am hearing…please set me right if this is wrong…emergent church ideology which to me amongst other things is the practicing of eastern meditative disciplines. A pseudo spiritual invasion to the truth that is dangerous and not of a pure doctrine. So I guess this is the fear of many. Please answer this concern and please don’t act is if you do not know this is what is being said. That is as bad as those who scream and use horrible accusations regarding your walk. I’ve been there so let’s shed light not coy word games.
For mutual understanding, would you please define what you mean by “emergent church ideology”? This appears to me to be just another slanderous buzz-phrase with no actual content. Define it, please.
James I did give you my limited understanding. I am not looking to discredit or find fault, just to clarify what has been said. You could have answered my query regarding practices that are foreign to Christian doctrine. Please just give me a gracious answer regarding my concerns if you wish or just ignore them. I am not your enemy I wish you success but hope you are aware of those things that can come into any movement and wreak havoc. Satan has a thousand an one methods to disrupt and neuter those things that lift our Lord to a diving world. Peace to you.
Don,
You asked: “You could have answered my query regarding practices that are foreign to Christian doctrine.” To what practices do you refer? Prayer? Contemplation? Listening? Intercession? Which, if any, of these “are foreign to Christian doctrine?”
Don —
You wrote: “Satan has a thousand an one methods to disrupt and neuter those things that lift our Lord to a diving world.” Would include false accusations, libelous rumors, logical fallacies, etc. as being among Satan’s methods?
Thank you for at least asking. So let me be clear in my response. What you are hearing is indeed wrong and grossly distorted. There are no eastern mystical practices that are a part of the One Project or most all of the other groups that also get maligned by those who criticize these groups without actually talking with the people involved, or listen to what they say in context. No mantras for the purpose of merging with the cosmic oneness of Hinduism. No spirit guides or desires for them. No secret Satanic rituals. Not even any pantheism. You will find people who values spending alone un-distracted time with God in prayer. You will find people who find the practice of living with a passage of scripture, perhaps even repeating and even memorizing it so it can remain the focus of their thoughts, and you might even find people who value the sense of God being present all around us sustaining our lives our our world moment by moment – but you won’t find any of the boggy men that are often imagined and then insisted upon. I am very aware of what is being said, and even more aware that there is great resistance to actually addressing the facts, talking to the people accused, and reading comments in context with the desire to understand and clarify rather than condemn. Honest questions and dialogue is welcome. That is not to say that if you look hard enough and long enough you might not find someone somewhere that has distorted the practices of prayer or some other aspect of the Christian life, but those are not central to or the thrust of the One Project or other other groups that are frequently attacked and the people involved in them maligned. I hope that is clear enough – and you don’t find any word games here. Clarity of conversation is welcome and long overdue – but my experience so far is that it will be unlikely to be heeded.
I see that they have a good core motive….to just get off the merry go round of adventism and actually do something in the community…the adventist church is dead in the west so its a good thing yes?
A case can be made that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is visually and thematically more identified with The Three Angels’ Message of Revelation 14 than any other biblical passage, including Genesis 1 and Exodus 20 and the whole of Daniel.
Now the One Project appears to be about focusing on the First Angel’s proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus, the lifting up of Jesus, and how can that possibly be inappropriate? After all, the Second Angel describes the impact of the Gospel of Jesus on Babylon’s claim that the Gospel of Jesus is dependent on its adulteration with human knowledge, engagement and perseverance to be effective for each person’s salvation, Babylon apparently taking advantage of our natural inclination to preserve our lives to its/our collective glory.
And what is the Third Angel’s message but the description of the present plight those who continue to mistakenly believe their salvation is dependent on their personal contribution to the Graciousness of God’s love for his creation in sending Jesus to testify by His life and death to His omnipotence in graciously and unilaterally saving, just as He unilaterally created humanity originally, with the intention that we will be in His eternal presence as John testified earlier (John 3:16).
This is, of course, antithetical to the Three Angels’ Message as Seventh-day Adventists first saw it. Yet this is actually what Ellen White seems to have sensed emerging when she wrote that the Three Angels’ Message is ‘Righteousness by Faith in verity’ following the focus on the power of grace over the power of the law that marked the 1888 General Conference meetings.
Scanning the comments here testifies to the reality that the emergent Gospel of the One Project is no more welcome today than it was in 1888, though, for some with hope, no less potent for reviving and reforming what it can be, and in deep ways must become, to love as a Saventh-day Adventist in the time of the end … and starting of course with those Seventh-day Adventists who just want the One Project to die.
The three angels’ messages are a single unit. The first angel has these elements in his message:
1–everlasting gospel
2–fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come
3–worship Him who made heaven and earth…
The second angel has the focus of the judgment — Babylon, as per part 2.
The third angel has the warning against false worship, as per part 3.
Interesting that the Everlasting Gospel is God’s answer to #2 and #3.
James,
Your presentation is widely supported historically. The proposition that there are multiple messages is deeply rooted in Seventh-day Adventist history.
What if we just read the verses, apart from the prejudices of history, and discover that every angel is unpacking the one universal proclamation of the Gospel?
If so, the Gospel is proclaimed by the First Angel, who immediately seeks to assure those overwhelmed by the Gospel reality that it is but the announcement that the hour of God’s being acknowledged by all as truly gracious and loving is upon them/us, and that there is truly nothing else for them/us to do other than to simply worship the Creator of heaven, the land, the sea, and the waters under the earth.
The Second Angel in an act of prophecy declares that the success of the Gospel is the end of Babylon’s hybrid salvation that promises nobility to humans by affirming the essential contribution they make to God’s Grace in effecting their salvation; this is truly an adulteration of the Gospel. Babylon is the condition of humanity prior to the Gospel, and its end the inevitably result of the Gospel.
The Third Angel in a further act of prophecy, declares that those who persist to think (mark in their forehead) that they can do (mark in their hand) something to contribute to their salvation will be forever tormented by the lack of any sense of the reality of the Gospel in their lives. This prophecy contrasts stunningly the torment of those still devoted to Babylon’s hybrid gospel with the peacefulness of the saints who patiently, as Babylon is collapsing all around them, keep solid hold on the declarations of God’s gracious love for them by faith in the confirmation of God’s love by Jesus who lived, died, and is resurrected as their Savior and God’s Son.
When read as it is simply written, the Three Angels’ Message may well be the prophecy of the aftermath of the Gospel for the first time being universally proclaimed. Such drama is of heroic comfort to the little ban of Christians, and it can be the same to the little band of Seventh-day Adventists today. It is not small wonder that this comfort empowered the swallowing up of the Roman Empire by Christianity. There remains a good deal more for Christianity to overwhelm today. There is no better focus for revival and reformation than the first century church and its apocalyptic hero, the one Jesus loved, John.
I’m just wondering, James …
While I enjoy reading some of the Reflections, I question others.
This led to the following email regarding the One Project and their teachings.
Hi Japhet,
It appears the One Project’s incredible statements, “Jesus but not His teachings,” and “we need to dip into other streams,” —— and the following statement by Rev Dr Gregory C. Jenkins, Forest Lake Anglican Community, that leaves very little wriggle room, if any, for Bible truths.
“Anyone with even a basic education in theology will be aware that we cannot simply take the gospels as a record of what Jesus said and did, or the Bible itself as a transcript of God’s wishes for humanity. —”
Consequently I am very interested to know in a few words what the following allegories represent.
The two wine skins, Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37.
The bond woman and the free woman, Gal. 4:23-31.
The two sons, Gen. 16:1-3, 15; 21:1-3; Romans 4:18-21; 9:8.
Flesh and spirit, Romans 8:1-6; Eph. 2:8-9
The two Israel’s, Romans 9:3, 6; Gal. 6:16.
Ranald.
And Japhet’s response.
Sorry Randy…I need to refer you as I have too much on right now.
If you can wait a month I can come back to you.
Sent from my iPhone
For the One
In my experiences in the church, and the world, when people say they are too busy, it usually means they don’t know.
Prophecy reveals it is “the truth as it is in Jesus that will gain the victory.” cf.” Genesis 49:10. {CTr 93.1}
Knowing Japhet, he really is TOO busy.
That month might be worth the wait.
Hi James,
“Jesus but not His teachings,” I doubt it.
Are you sure you did not misunderstand him? We just spent two days in San Diego exploring Jesus’ teachings. That does not square with your accusation. Nor do any of the previous gatherings I attended. You apparently hear or read what you want to hear or read; no connection with reality, however.
The One Project on the surface seems like a good way to keep the young and young in heart in the church, but when you begin to look further into what they are teaching, the books they are writing, and some of the people – albeit some are Seventh-day Adventist pastors – it is filled with mysticism and things that seem more in line with Buddhism than Christianity. I know, I used to be a Buddhist.
God has demanded that his people come out of Babylon. The angels of Revelation 14 and 18 proclaim, Babylon is fallen, is fallen…and become the habitation of devils..” Mystics originated in Babylon. So how can I, as a Christian, travel back into the very thing Christ has called me out of?
We as a church travel on dangerous ground when we ask people to “open themselves up to higher powers,” because the prince o this world is a higher power and when we presumptuously place ourselves on his ground God does not guarantee to come get us.
We are living in the final days of earth’s history. Anyone who reads the news and sees how much power Pope Francis has gained – all the world is wondering after the beast; the collusion between President Obama and Pope Francis to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba; the fact that several Protestant movements; the Evangelicals, The Methodists, the Lutherans, have signed agreements to end the protest against Rome; the leaders of the U S House of Representative and the U S Senate have invited Pope Francis to address our Congress: all these things should sound the alarm that this is not the time to be dabbling in “mysticism” and calling it a new way to “feel” Christ. My Christian walk is not about feeling, it is about standing on the truth as taught in the Bible and by the founders of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
May God have mercy on all of us.
Marilyn, having come out Buddhism, you will of course realize that many of the things that Buddhists believe, Christians also believe. There are also profound differences. If you notice overlap in some areas, that does not mean that Christianity is adopting Buddhism – only that some ideas overlap. Being kind to each other. The golden rule. Even “mindfullness” rightly understood is an idea that most Christians would find very much in line with the teachings of Jesus. There is certainly nothing in the one project that endorses the things about Buddhism upon which we clearly disagree.
I am not sure where your concern about “opening up to higher powers” is coming from. That is in fact what we do when we pray, asking God, as a “higher power” to guide and direct our lives. If you check carefully, and as I have suggested elsewhere, actually do the fact checking and talk to the real people involved, you will find that the kind of thing you are concerned about is neither advocated or practiced – although there are many who are ready to distort language or make suggestions that imply otherwise. There is nothing in the One Project or any of the other groups that are being attacked, that would do anything to undermine the commitment of people to stand with Jesus in the time of the end, and resist all efforts of any entity to force a certain brand of worship on others against their will – which is, when everything is said and done, what the “end time” issues boil down to.
Why do we reflexively equate “coming out of Babylon” with coming to Jesus? The two are not the same. The power of God is not found in the ability to identify the Beast and recognize how he is working to deceive, but in becoming lost in Jesus so we know Him intimately as our friend, savior, guide and source of power for actually doing the ministries we love to talk about but seldom actually do.
Why is there so much suspicion about The One Project? Because it highlights the failure of modern faith to actually connect people with God first and foremost as He told us to do instead of being satisfied with knowing about Him.
I have tried to stay out of the fray, but cannot resist a few words.
I personally have no problem with anyone on this blog believing anything they wish – it’s their side of the street as it were and I’ve got enough to worry about on my own.
Having said that, I am saddened to see people slinging labels around about things they know nothing about. To call The One Project emergent is just plain ridiculous! And to label those leading out and speaking there as some kind of heretic is tantamount to libel.
One of the reasons so few wish to take part in these discussions is the name calling and invective. Whatever happened to civil discourse and open minded and hearted discussion?
Why is it that those who are most ready to “defend the faith” are the very ones who are the harshest and most critical of anyone who does not see things from their perspective? I would plead with you to consider that the greatest opportunity you have to defend your church is to do so with grace and kindness and love.
I was asked one time when I was interviewing as the future pastor of a church what I thought of “conservatives” (from a lady who had arrived at the interview with a thick notebook containing every evil things I was supposed to have said and done for 40 years of ministry) I answered her that I had great respect for many of my “conservative” friends. But, at the same time I had to be honest and say that virtually every pastor I have ever known has suffered more at the hands of those who claimed to be conservative than anyone else – lies, criticism, back-biting, divisiveness, unkindness, gossip, slander, libel than from any other group and that it was awfully hard not to have a knee-jerk reaction sometimes.
I could have said, in addition, that I have a great deal of concern about the scholarship of many who would classify themselves in the “conservative” camp. I just reeceived a book that was apparently mailed to all of the pastors in North America lambasting everything that was wrong with anything outside of a very narrowly defined segment of what is going on in the church. What bothered me was not that they did not have a right to believe anything they wished – what bothered me was the shabby scholarship and the cherry-picking of things out of context and the just plain ignorance of many of the things they were attacking. My first reaction was that it was rank dishonesty, but then I realized that it was sincerely misguided desparate attempts to defend many things that just aren’t defendable.
So, I would suggest that those of us who may see things differently than some of the hypercritical on this blog, this site, and in our churches take a Nehemiah approach and just refuse to engage. No amount of argument or back and forth is going to have an effect and only fans the flames. These folks thrive on argument and debate and any response beyond graciously ignoring them only eggs them on.
Look I know I could be a victim of bad information and I agree conservatives can be very harsh and critical of that they do not understand. But I asked a very clear question and got more denial and basically ridicule for using the term emergent. Everyone here knows what that employs and the fact no one will address it is troubling. James I gave you my understanding of emergent and you still asked me to define it. Past history should tell you that when things start getting bandied about they don’t go away. I admire the Christ centered emphasis as so needed. I wish your group nothing but success. But if you are employing mystic practices with eastern meditation incorporated into prayer and your Christian walk then you will fail to bring forward your main thrust of Jesus first.
Don,
Your question reveals several of the things I talked about above. ( I am not blaming you, but rather some of what you have apparently been reading that influences what appears to be a very sincere, honest and gentle question.)
If one reads the medical literature, it is replete with the medical benefits of meditation – specifically mindfulness and a number of meditative practices that strengthen, among other things, the prefrontal cortex which is the command center of our whole nervous system. It is true that some Eastern religions of various stripes have recognized these practices and have adapted them for their worship practices. Because someone we might disagree with uses something or even makes it central in the larger context of their worship does not make it bad. Something is right because it is right and wrong because it is wrong – not because someone else does or does not do it.
By lumping all meditative practices together, many have thrown out the proverbial baby with the bathwater. Using scary references to Eastern worship to categorize, or rather miscategorize, many godly men and women who practice meditation is just plain wrong! It betrays a complete lack of understanding of the subject. Again, I am not referring to you or any other person, rather I am expressing my amazed frustration with those who have not taken the time to study the subject in a balanced way and who are using it to scare people like yourself.
This is a subject which I have no interest in debating with those on this blog or any other. At the same time, if you are interesting in studying, praying and thinking about the subject I will be very happy to point you to some resources offline.
I am truly sorry that you have been ridiculed for using the term emergent. That is not right and fair. While I am not an expert on the subject, I chafe at those who would use it as a chimera to scare and frighten the ignorant. My experience is unique in this in that I was accused of being “emergent” because I recommended a book to my leadership that was not written by Adventists. I received all manner of emails claiming that this author was a leader in the emergent church movement. So, I did what I believed to be the honest thing. I called him and asked him if it was true. He said absolutely no and thanked me for being one of the few who had bothered to call and talk with him rather than condemning him. It has been my experience that his experienbce is not at all unusual. Even when people deny it, those who insist on being critical take snippets from things they may have written or said, string them together out of context, and use them to attack others. (Witness, the book I just received in the mail)
I don’t understand people who claim to be working for God, but do it like the devil and then expect God somehow to bless their efforts.
Don,
One other thing.
Maybe the reason some may have avoided trying to define “emergent” is that it is one of those buzzwords that has as many meanings as the many people using it. It is also true that any movement that attempts to reform the church is bound to make some mistakes as its proponents feel their way to understanding God’s will
The Reformation had many who were not exemplars of the Gospel of Jesus, that does not negate the larger picture. It is a supreme irony that the ones who most loudly condemn in a blanket way the emergent church movement are a mirror reflection of those in the Roman Catholic Church who condemned the Reformation and the Reformers. Same is true of the Second Great Awakening and the Millerite Movement.
While it may be good debate tactics to take the most extreme example one can find of something to paint the whole with, it is not very Christlike.
That is why I choose, for the most part, to stay out of these discussions because they become a cycle, a whirlpool really, a whirlpool in a cesspool, of unkindness rather than a sincere looking together for truth.
Criticizing the One Project requires a real grasping at straws. I find BRI investigations seriously disturbing.
Concerning the BRI watchmen – who watches the watchers?
I wonder if the BRI is also going to investigate the GYC, where they have been teaching LGT to the naive youth, which is nothing but the old heresy called perfectionism.
If the BRI is now an agency of investigation, they should change the name to KGC! (Similarity to the old Soviet KGB)
Sorry George just saw this comment and posted the same. This was exactly what I was thinking!
Jesus said he brought division among men. Yet the world always tries to unite ever since the days of the tower of Babel.
The bible says can two walk together together except they be agreed.
The world says lets worship Jesus in spite of our difference in beliefs in the name of love.
The biblical teaching is the message of separation: called out.
The worldly message is the message of unity: ecumenism.
I seem to recall that Jesus prayed for unity for his disciples and followers (John 17). And he also told his disciples to go into ALL the world and preach the gospel instead of saying separate themselves (Matthew 28). Scripture clearly teaches that unity and agreement come to followers of the Christ who are yielded to the Spirit hence they agree. Yes, two have to agree with each other to walk together. But, we need to be led by the Spirit to be unified (in agreement) as Christ prayed and walk together in the Lord.
This discussion seems to me to be quite restrained and civil considering the legitimate concerns regarding devil influence in meditation and the deep sadness and frustration of being labeled. It seems to me that if we could see Who is in charge of this storm, we would relax and just go about doing good. Is it that simple? I believe it is. I had the privilege of being at the One Project this year. I’m a retreaded literature evangelist who loves those red books and this church and I wish all those of us who are afraid for the future could have been there. I was amazed at the genuine Adventism demonstrated there and in reading the above comments I wondered if I had missed something. I didn’t hear the word nor was there opportunity for meditation at the meetings. It would have been very appropriate though. Consider: What were Jesus and his disciples doing in the Garden of Gethsemane all those times before Judas betrayed him there, a place they had apparently frequented? “Come apart with me and get some rest.” Hmmm. Rest but don’t think/meditate? E G White suggests: take a single Bible verse in the life of Jesus, picture the scene, attempt to relive it. (Yes, it’s not empty mindedness. But we’d have to stop drinking, eating, deep breathing for sure, and speaking if we stopped doing everything that could be associated with the occult). I sincerely feel, my fellow conservatives who were not there, the One Project is a huge step toward fulfilling the end time prophecy of God’s sons and daughters finishing the work. We’re going to have to trust our Heavenly Father as he hands the reins to the next generation with all its flavors as were His disciples. Right now, Jesus is still able to sleep in the boat as the storm rages around us. “Oh ye of little faith, wherefore did you doubt?” He would say to us as we bale for all we’re worth!! Let’s rest in His loving care and act and speak like He did. I work at Hospice where the Chaplain is an Adventist. The way He treated a patient in the State Penitentiary last week so impressed our supervisor that she said, “If he was the pastor of a church I’d join it just because of him!” Going about doing good is how we’ll grow our church. I believe it’s as simple as that!
Richard —
You wrote: “We have the example of jesus. How did He pray ? Did He use the prayers of Catholic and Occult Mysticism ? Repeating a word or phrase over and over until you place yourself in a hypnotic trance.” What makes you think that when I pray, I am using Catholic and Occult Mysticism? When did you ever hear me praying repeating a word or phrase over and over again until I am in a hypnotic trance? When did you hear anyone from the One Project every recommending or teaching these things?
You further wrote: “Did Jesus “empty” His mind and develop a period of “silence” every time he went into a prayer?” If I focus my mind on events in the life of Christ, how is that emptying my mind, in your view? If I memorize passages of Scripture, how is that emptying my mind? If I express my love, admiration, and adoration of God and His grace, His mercy, His love, how is that emptying my mind?
Where do you get this stuff, accusing us in the One Project of teaching this? Certainly not from any of us.
Richard —
Continuing your libelous attack upon our relationship with the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe, you wrote: “jesus tells us that repetition such as your group is doing is a heathen practice and we are not to do as they do!” Again, what evidence do you have that we have ever taught this? Where did your imagination come up with this lie?
You continued your felonious assault:
“I remember as a boy when my Roman Catholic Aunt and Uncle would visit us and we would hear them pray over and over again, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, hear us, Jesus” ! Jesus spoke plainly that we are not to do this , it is vain repetition and He will not hear us!” I have never been a Roman Catholic, have never prayed to Mary. On what basis do you assume that I pray in this fashion?
Your attack continues: “You have accepted this Catholic-heathen manner of prayer and God does not hear you ! You can not worship God according to your own ideas, we must worship as Jesus did and pray as Jesus did and He did not use vain repetition ! He condemns the practice.” Again, from what source did you derive this false accusation?
You then use Ellen White to bolster your falsehood: “Ellen White repeated the Word’s of Jesus not to use “vain repetition” so to do so is a rejection of the Holy Spirit’s command!” Given that I don’t use vain repetition of anything during my prayers (I talk to God as to a friend, as Ellen White said we should), where did you get this attack?
You continue: “Plus “Lecto Divina”, prayer walks, the maze, the stations of the cross; are all Catholic rituals that God does not accept!” Since I don’t do these either (except that I accept Ellen White’s counsel that God speaks to us through His Word), why are you claiming that this is what I do?
Richard,
Continuing to unmask your deceptions and deceit — you continued: “How does the Laodicean message fit your method of worship ? Well again Jesus said: Revelation 2:9 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.” First of all, you are quoting the Letter to the Church of Smyrna (the persecuted Church), not the Letter to Laodicea. Given that Satan is the father of lies, a deceiver, and constantly attacks the brethren who are faithful to Jesus Christ, what makes your false accusations here any different than his tactics? You are correct: “Pretty serious My Friend, deadly serious! ”
You continue with: “And: Revelation 3:9 “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” I suspect that Jesus will do this to you shortly, since you are following Satan’s tactics.
You continue: “Laodicean Adventists think they can do as they think and “All is well in Zion”, but all is not well and God is going to spue them out of His mouth who think they can worship Him in their own way using the Mystical rituals of Antichrist!” Since I don’t follow or practice the “Mystical rituals of Antichrist,” your false accusations are moot.
Finally: “Richard Foster said that his method of praying could be dangerous and let in evil spirits! HE MUST HAVE HAD SOME SCARY EXPERIENCES that a True Christian never has when approaching The Father in the Name of Jesus and praying in the manner of Jesus!” I have not idea who Richard Foster is. And I come to the Father in the Name of Jesus, and pray as He has taught me in His word.
Your apologies for all of your false accusations, deceptions, libels, dissembling, logical fallacies in this retort are accepted.
Now I’m going to enjoy my Savior in the presence of the Holy Spirit on His day.
Be at peace, Richard. And desist from your falsehoods.
As a minister of the Adventist Church I endorse the One Project. But I cannot stand the BRI and their KGB styled tactics. What a waste of resources. The members of the BRI should be out in the field, not wasting Church monies on warming chairs. Since the sacking of Dr Desmond Ford, the BRI has not produced one descent article on Dan.8:14
and a record of 15 books on the subject and not one satisfactory answer to Dr Des’s work. What a lame duck show.
Concerning the One Project, I think the advice of Gamaliel to the Sanhedrin, described in Acts, chapter 5, applies. “Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” NIV
Thank you Gary for the most reasoned and seasoned comment of all the others on this thread. Otherwise, the discussion is all over the map with innuendo, accusation, evasiveness and malformed views. I’m not taking sides. I’m simply watching from a safe haven on the beach as the storm clouds gather. Looks like it’s going to be a major storm, but my Jesus will stand up and calm it at His chosen and appointed moment.
Can AToday please give one of these critics of the One Project an opportunity to write out their criticisms? And then in the same piece allow one of the leaders of the One Project to respond to those criticisms?
There seems to be a lot of misinformation and confusion out there. I’d also love to see these critics put their money where their mouth is!
Is the BRI also preparing a report on the GYC at the same time, perhaps looking into its legalistic last generation theology? Or is it a one-sided inquisition?
Nancy: “Emergent Truth; not, Present Truth.”
For those trying to link the One Project to the Emerging Church movement. You should all know that the SDA Inquisition (i.e. the BRI) has already carried out its investigations in the Emerging Church movement, with the link as follows:
https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Release_8_web_0.pdf
It’s actually a good piece and explains there isn’t one but actually three major models within the Emerging Truth movement: “reconstructionists”, accepting the historic understanding of the gospel but rejecting traditional notions about the Church; “relevants” accepting historic understandings of both gospel and Church but trying to make both more relevant; and “revisionists”, rejecting both the historic Church and gospel.
The BRI seems to accept “relevants” and to a lesser extent “reconstructionist” streams as ok. However, the more radical “revisionist” stream is treated with special suspicion – rightly so.
Now this may have nothing to do with the One Project, because what is the link between it and the Emerging Church movement? But even if there was a link, the BRI doesn’t consider it all heresy. Just ignorant idiots flinging accusations without checking out all the facts properly.
Thanks, Steve for the reference. Among what is “out there” in official/general Adventist publications, this would have to be considered one of the more responsible ones, and the categories are helpful. Clearly it reflects that at least two of their three designations of “Emergent” reflect contributions that can be helpful to us. Unfortunately, it does not adequately reflect that kind of careful nuanced dialogue that best reflects how those contributions can best be appreciated – and in the case of the third, reflects an understanding of the concepts of Spiritual Formation and related concepts in ways that fail to engage a more balanced picture of what those concerns actually look like and how they are actually configured in settings like ours. Particularly in that case, the sources cited do not adequately for fairly reflect what the helpful contributions are, either in terms of practice or theological understanding, leaving their analysis, in opinion at least, as a bit incomplete and disappointing – but at least it was a more honest effort than most of what is seen in print attacking the whole concept wholesale. While it does not represent as broad or as thorough a treatment of the subject as is needed for clarity or completeness in understanding, it at least provides a basis for having a more helpful conversation – or perhaps the hope of actually having one at some point.
In response to Don Lewis and his “frustration” at not getting a response. You say you defined “emerging church;” however, the only thing I read was “AMONG OTHER THINGS” (not defined) “is the practicing of eastern meditative disciplines.”
I think this is a very incomplete picture of what you define the emerging church and it seems legitimate to me to again ask you how you are defining emergent church.
I appreciate Steve Ferguson at least attempting to define it as I keep asking people what it is as well and get accusations and platitudes in response.
Frankly, this is a matter of semantics. Meditation and contemplation are attributed to King David(read the Psalms); and as stated above, EGW also recommends meditation, contemplation and talks about spiritual disciplines (prayer, meditation, reading God’s word, contemplating, possibly journaling, learning, listening for God’s response to us — certainly not an empty mind but only with first asking the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts to Truth. Because the “New Age” movement has hijacked these perfectly good words and defined them as something different is no cause for people who use the words in the traditional and ancient definitions to be accosted by people who are using new definitions and imposing those definitions on the rest of us.
We have been through a lot of this “controversy” at my church and our church board and many parishoners have advised our pastors to stop trying to answer these people who literally have held a cross up in front of our pastors presumably to protect them from the evil pastors – talk about RC and statanic practices. There is no willingness to engage in conversation. It is sad when we are so “right” we are unable to learn.
Sabbath blessings.
I’m curious about something. And I’m asking because (1) I do not know since I was not in San Diego at the most recent One Project gathering, and (2) I’m hindered by what I’ve heard and don’t know first hand.
So, I’ve seen no comments in this discussion thread relative to who, according to what I’ve been told, was the final speaker. I was “told” it was John Ortberg – an author, pastor and a Presbyterian. None of that is, within itself, terribly alarming. I’m not in that camp “Never Read Any Author That’s NOT Adventist”. Nor do I clamor after every author that comes down the pike either.
But my curiosity includes: Which of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs of the Adventist Church did Ortberg unpack and explain to everyone in attendance with a deeper understanding? Specifically, does Ortberg believe exactly the same way as the Adventist church teaches on the state in death? I very well could be incorrect, but I’m under the impression that Ortberg believes, and taught at One Project, that humans “have” a soul; as opposed to “becoming a living soul”. From what someone shared with me, Ortberg explains the “soul” as a component of a human that is similar to part of a CPU. And, my further study indicates that Ortberg believes in “soul sleep” – in contrast to what the Bible teaches. I would love to ask Ortberg, or anyone else that embraces the fallacy of “soul sleep” and the “having” vs “being” a soul, whether or not those supposed “sleeping” souls either have dreams or sleep-walk? I fear that Ortberg is holding, and teaching, some errant doctrine that is not biblical. Here’s an idea; let’s introduce and endorse Ortberg so that babes in biblical knowledge can be deceived.
I’m not laying any charges at the feet of anyone here. I’m asking some questions that I hope will ignite some soul searching.
‘By their fruits you will know them’
Look up ‘Big Face Grace’ on YouTube. Lead by Tim Gillespie and Sam Leonor, this band plays for SDA gatherings of young people. Now can you tell me that the Holy Spirit would lead out in something like this? These two men are leaders in The One Project. Alex Bryan left the SDA church and started a Sunday keeping church. (This is something that honest folks might call rank heresy.) With influence from relatives and friends in leadership in the SDA church he was invited back to a leading role in the SDA church again. Leonard Sweet, leading mystic and emerging church professor at George Fox U is invited and given a leading role in a One Project meeting recently. It seems we have Biblical and SOP counsel about going to Egypt for counsel. The actions of many of the leaders of The One Project have shown less then stellar judgment, which does lend a bad color to the whole project. Many of us so called conservative SDAs are all for a Christ centered life and theology both in our corporate and private lives. We shall see where The One Project goes, and where it ends up. Then by it’s fruits we shall know it.
Right on target dburt. I’ve listened to some of the segments presented by some of the staff. I found Sam Leonor’s exposition in one session mocking Adventism. That is inexcusable. I’m pleased to learn the BRI is checking it out.
Insofar as GYC is concerned listen to the latest session records.
http://www.philippianstwofive.com/
Reading reading the Dave Fielder publication – much thanks for the links
dburt,
Let’s see, anything that doesn’t exactly match your narrow concept of how to spread the Gospel is evil and directed by the devil, right? Well, that was the attitude of of the Jewish leaders who spread innuendo and created false claims about Jesus to justify having Him crucified.
The Emerging Church seeks to be mission-focused instead of static. It seeks to be like the Apostolic Church that was empowered by the Holy Spirit and on-fire with such fervor that the Gospel spread to the farthest corners of the world in a single century. That’s what the SDA Church is supposed to be doing, but isn’t in the industrialized world. So, why do you criticize those who are actually trying to discover the power of God so they can do the job? What are you doing to “finish the work?”
To William Noel,
it is best to not cast dispersions on folks you don’t know. I happen to know dburt and I know that he is more active in spreading the message of Jesus coming than in many places whole churches. Early on it was recommended to be kind to people, but it seems you are so bent on justifying your own actions that you just as soon slander someone you don’t know. I have found that the ones justifying the One Project and Spiritual Formation tend to cast dispersions on others due to their not using proper grammer and not being educated, so they can dismiss them out of hand.
if we take a look at what Jesus did he chose simple people that did not do word battles and He taught them what God was like. May we all be diligent in teaching people that Jesus loves them, and that He, Jesus is coming soon to save as many as love Him and are kind to others.
From the Dave Fielder publication (courtesy of interested friend, attacking the Emerging Church): “Basically, pantheism is the belief that God and the creation (i.e., everything in the uni- verse) are synonymous. God, therefore, is in- terstellar gas, rocks, water, dandelions, puppy dogs, and people. Plus everything else. Panentheism says the same thing, but adds that God also has an existence independent of the material things of creation.”
Is Fielder seriously? Isn’t the Holy Spirit everywhere – in the gas, rocks, water, dandelions and yes puppy dogs? Doesn’t the Spirit sustain everything?
But yes, God is more than just being everywhere in creation. That would indeed be heresy. God is also above creation itself, outside of time and space. That is the nature of the Father, as the source of all (see FB #3).
This is simply hilarious!
One of the perceived complaints from Dave Fielder publication against the One Project: “One Project founders once wrote, ‘Scripture is not truth. Jesus is truth, and scrip- ture merely speaks of Him. There is a difference.'”
Isn’t the One Project founder completely right? Doesn’t the Bible itself say Jesus (the person) is the Truth (capital “T”) and the Word (capital “W”). The Bible is only the truth (lower “t”) and the word (lower “w”) pointing us to Jesus. Only Jesus is “the” Truth.
Knowing the Bible doesn’t mean squat without relationship with Jesus. Even Satan knows the Bible and believes in God. The Bible isn’t perfect, because God was ‘with the penmen not in the pen’. Ellen White admits it was not given in some ‘supernatural language’ but with flawed and limited human language of men. Ellen White even acknowledges the contradictions in the Bible!
Do people seriously believe this rubbish?