An Open Letter to My Pastoral and Academic Colleagues
My purpose in writing this open letter to you, my theological and academic colleagues, is to thank you for the dedication and care you have shown to students and parishioners. The contributions you have made to the Seventh-day Adventist church are significant.
When I read General Conference president Ted Wilson’s speech addressed to the theologians and teachers who attended the ten-day Bible and Science Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, and St. George, Utah, as reported in the Adventist News Network (ANN) Bulletin of August 19, 2014, I could not help but wonder what thoughts his statements generated. (The GC News Network Bulletin for the same date has a link to the transcript of his speech.)
What thoughts surfaced when you heard Wilson say that if you, an employee of a Seventh-day Adventist institution, do not believe in a recent creation, meaning 6,000 years, that took place in six literal 24-hour days followed by the seventh day Sabbath rest, you should resign? He claimed the Bible and Ellen White as the authorities that led to his conclusions. The same books you read, but with very different interpretations and conclusions!
In explicit language, Wilson throws down the gauntlet: Believe as I say Seventh-day Adventists believe or do the honorable thing. Resign!
I thought how Wilson’s statements impact you scientists. How unfortunate, if not unreasonable, for a church administrator to demand that you ignore or deny the evidence that leads to a conclusion on the earth that is far removed from what the GC president stated. What are you anthropologists to do when when the evidence you’ve seen in your field of study leads to conclusions that exceed the model that Wilson demands? Resign? Ignore? Be patient—take a “this too shall pass” attitude?
I ponder how scholars, trained to pursue where evidence leads, will respond when a person who has potential to impact careers makes demands upon those who spend their lives examining data he knows little to nothing about.
Little surprise that some will question who gave this man authority to define a “genuine” Adventist. Where is it written that the president of the General Conference is empowered to be the judge of who is and who is not a “true” Seventh-day Adventist? He is certainly aware that only one entity within the Seventh-day Adventist structure has authority to define who is and who is not a Seventh-day Adventist, and that is the local Seventh-day Adventist congregation!
My theological colleagues, our scientists are not the only ones under threat. You theologians have not escaped Wilson’s demands. The devil’s work, he said, is evidenced in the methods associated with the historical-critical method. There is no place in the Adventist church, he declares, for this demonic practice, nor are those welcome who make use of this heinous method. (Is he unaware that Adventists have for decades employed the methods of textual criticism to support and promote Ellen White and her writings? When the GC “baptizes” a demonic source, is it then exorcised?) A similar question: When the GC president invites non-Seventh-day Adventists to address a conference he sponsors, it is acceptable. When others invite non-Seventh-day Adventists to address their meetings, it is not. How so?
Some may wonder how it is that this man is so free to make such sweeping pronouncements about a system he apparently little understands. Does he, with limited theological expertise, have the gift of defining what is and what is not a tool of the devil? Will this man’s mandate force some of our responsible theologians, like the Waldenses of old, to practice their craft in secret places? I join you in asking who bestowed upon this man authority to remove an important tool that is part of the theologian’s trade?
When Wilson’s remarks are considered in a package, why does not one of his peers look him in the eye and say, “Sir, enough of this!” Surely there are others than “Yes” men who occupy administrative posts. Or is what he said reflective of what church administrators believe?
The concern I have for our biblical scholars and science teachers reaches beyond one man’s statements. He, in fact, cannot terminate any scholar. What he can do is use his Bully Pulpit as GC president to proclaim his opinions. In the statements he made to those assembled at the Bible Science conference he has opened the door and given a welcome to those who will make it their work to report, and at times persecute, loyal and honorable Seventh-day Adventists whom they perceive deviate from the “Truth,” as they understand it. When this occurs, and it will, who will stand to support our scholars? Pastors have some insulation from the darts church administrators and others may toss their way. A congregation in their corner gives a pastor some security. There is recognition, however reluctant, among church administrators that there is only one goose in this denomination that lays the Golden Eggs—the local parish! Fry that goose and the denomination’s goose is cooked, too. Who is in the teachers’ corner? Do church administrators give a hoot when in-debt students protest because a favorite science or religion teacher is terminated? As the military responds when armament directed toward the enemy takes out civilians, including women and children, “It is collateral damage.” An educational organization’s governing board may offer some protection, although church administrators have significant presence and influence on college and university boards.
In the process of exploring how various Seventh-day Adventist professionals are affected by Wilson’s mandates, give some thought to the parish minister. Not every Seventh-day Adventist church member shouts Amen when, in their view, a bureaucrat in Silver Spring, Maryland, tells them what to believe about creation, the age of the earth and what theological tools are and are not acceptable. Be assured, there will be people, no one knows how many, who will say, “That’s what I must believe to be a Seventh-day Adventist? Not a problem. I’m out-a-here!” The pastor is left holding the bag. The pastor is the one responsible to struggle with the fall-out created by someone geographically, theologically and logically far removed. The pastor attempts to calm the distressed alienated members. The pastor’s best efforts to bring some solution to a problem she/he did not create do not make for a pleasant experience.
President Wilson’s statements that threaten and intimidate honorable men and women cause one to contemplate whether his chosen methods to purify the church have some antecedent in the Inquisition. History informs us that the Inquisition was intended to bring unity to the True Church, save men’s souls and assure a unified and purified body. It failed. Church employees and others are confronted, not with physical threat, but threats of another kind. “Believe as I say or find other employment and another church.” The years of service given? Let them go! Financial responsibilities and career decisions? Let them go! We who look from the outside cannot imagine the negative impact this statement has had on the families of those under threat. Suddenly, spouses and children face an uncertain economic future. The established social and spiritual lives may end. Questions multiply: “Shall I resign or continue?” “How will this decision affect our marriage and our children?” It is unfortunate you are confronted with this unnecessary trauma. May the Almighty One be with you and guide you as you seek a satisfactory response. We can but pray a better day awaits.
The abuse of spiritual power is one attribute by which Adventists identify the Beast Power. Spiritual intimidation and manipulation is a common trait cult leaders use to impose their will on their followers.
My hope for you, my valued and respected colleagues, is that life will not be made more difficult by Wilson’s pronouncements. There is sufficient challenge that comes through the ordinary run of your respective professions. Once, from a more ancient time than ours, it is reported that a man said something to this effect: “If you are attempting to carry the world on your shoulders, come to me. I will help you and give you rest.” He it is who is quoted as saying, “I will in no way cast you out.” These revolutionary statements, some suggest, apply even to Adventist scientists, theologians and pastors. And so they do!
Shalom aleichem,
Larry Downing
Colleague in Ministry
Dear Lord God, I thank you for Pastor Downing! Where now is the GC Executive Committee who saved this church from a few financially questionable dealings of a previous GC president in 1999? This church could have easily recovered from a few millions of dollars endangered by that man’s missteps.
On the other hand the potential spiritual damage done by this present schismatic president would be hundreds of times more damaging to our church. Stand up Oh Men of God, and do the right thing. Inform Pastor Wilson that he services are needed elsewhere. His opinions might be right, that is not the issue. His methods are so clearly wrong.
Wonder how many would still be adventists if everybody who did not agree with TW in everything left the church?
I am so thankful I left the denomination years ago. Still love the people deeply and thankful for much of the biblical interpretation, but the organizational myopia can be absolutely criminal to the role of the local church.
Believe me, it will happen soon. That’s what the shaking is, and if we don’t leave rebellion and self-reliance in one’s grand intelligence behind, we will be among those blown away with the chaff. I do not wish to stand with Korah.
I may not be someone whose viewpoint many of you care to hear… I left the SDA church, her theology and eschatology behind over 14 years ago. I did so, after being raised in the church I loved and serving, both as a volunteer an employee, for my entire life.
I came to realize that Adventism was a franchise, like McDonald’s or Wendy’s. It’s global headquarters and authority DOES indeed speak for the organization… and the individual is faced with real practical and legal choices. The fullness of those choices are to:
1. – adhere to what the General Conference says it means to be an SDA, or
2. – to realize and admit that you don’t believe Adventism and to be honest with yourself and NOT BE an SDA.
Seventh-day Adventist is the name of a global corporation… one that claims a divine and spiritual purpose… but is still a legal entity holding property and trademark authority. It has all the rights, power and privileges of a corporation. Among those rights are the right to outline what “being an SDA” means… just as General Motors has a right to outline what an automobile is and does and where and how it’s made if it carries one of the General Motors brands.
The Seventh-day Adventist church is a recent and entirely man-made construct… all the visionary and miraculous mythology notwithstanding. There is no mention of SDA or the General Conference in scripture. No mention of a branded church affiliation, or denomination, at all. In the New Testament we see local churches and the global “capital C church” made up of all who profess the name of Christ.
Perhaps it’s heresy for me to say this… but if your historical perspective is deeply held, if your theological and scientific viewpoints are well developed and you are convinced they are true… you need to stand by them and leave the man-made, and human-run straight-jacket of Adventism. If you don’t hold your viewpoints and opinions that deeply, perhaps some soul-searching is in order… perhaps you don’t really believe what you claim to believe… on either side of the SDA fence!
There is an old saying… “just because you sleep in a garage… that doesn’t make you a car.” Just because you have carried the identity of Adventism, in some way, that doesn’t make you an Adventist. The only thing that REALLY makes you an Adventist is assent and adherence to what the Maryland-based Seventh-day Adventist corporation SAYS constitutes “being” an Adventist.
That is a practical and legal reality… and dare I say a spiritual one as well. The flavor of corporate identity and policy may shift slightly, depending on who the CEO is in any particular season… But you do not own your denominational identity, it is granted to you by the corporation. You are either an SDA in “good and regular standing with all the rights privileges, beliefs and obligations OUTLINE BY AND GRANTED BY the Seventh-day Adventist Church…” or you are in apostasy. I chose to live out my apostasy far removed from the shadow of the corporation. I saw no other choice that I could follow with enough integrity to allow me peaceful sleep at night. 😉
I’ve been out for thirteen years… I’ve never been more free… or closer to Christ. He’s ALL I ever really needed! I just repent for all the wasted years I spent trying to serve both God and a man-made institution that had falsely come between us.
Allan, I appreciate your perspective, and agree with your franchise analogy, but not with the idea that the GC President has the right to determine the definition of “the mold” or who “fits the mold.” As a corporation, the SDA church has defined in its constitution where various powers reside. The power to decide theological questions does not reside in the GC President’s office. The GC President has hiring/firing power over only a few people in his office. The power of the church, according to its constitution, resides in the local congregation; some of that power ascends to the conference, some on to higher levels, but it is very limited. Some powers belong to various boards rather than to individuals. Some powers exist only when the entire body of the church is represented when the General Conference is in session, briefly every five years; only some of that power is granted to the entire GC Executive Committee between sessions, but not to the GC President.
So the issue here is that Wilson is acting as if he has powers he does not have. He does not have the power to determine which of various understandings of the creation story are acceptable or not, so he cannot take it upon himself to tell those to leave, those whose interpretation is different from his, but acceptable within the current official church statements. To make another analogy, the church has defined the road we are on, and like a six lane freeway it has several lanes of traffic moving together, but Wilson is saying only those in the jersey barrier lane, farthest from the exit lane are true Adventists, and saying everyone else should get off the road.
It is as if he said “You can stay here if you drive a Volkswagen, but not if you drive a Honda” (which of course is not a matter of official Adventist theology, only a matter of Adventist preacher history and culture) or as someone at another level of corporate life was once told “You cannot drive a Lexus (that doesn’t look right in our parking lot) but you can drive a Volvo (which actually costs more than the particular Lexus in question).” Some matters are not in the Franchisee rule book; this issue is that Wilson is making up his own rules that aren’t in the Adventist Franchise rule book and hoping people will be intimidated enough to comply.
Thank you for this timely consolation.
However, where are the theologians that are able and willing to take on the pseudo theology of F.Canale, the eminenced grise in all this.
eminence grise
I agree 100% with our GC President !! If we can’t accept the Bible by faith, then we are not really Christians, and if we don’t believe EGW, we should not call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists. Get a job for someone who believes as you do, Don’t expect to get paid to discredit the faith of your fellow Adventists. God’s Word comes ahead of any scientists’s beliefs. God created you. Don”t assume you know more than He does!
Amen!
Lawrence,
I am proud of ‘men who will not be bought or sold’, like you. What a wonderful response
to ignorance and blasphemy. Let us rise up to the errors being perpetrated by Elder Wilson 11. We must have a change of leadership. We need a change of mindset. Let him take a little spot in the field where his influence will be nil and he can humbly become a servant,not a dictator.
To Larry & followers….it always hurts when someone steps on our toes. If one cannot abide by the beliefs of any organization then they have no business or right belonging to that organization. Go to an organization whose beliefs you do believe in and be happy with.
Just trying to see if this works.
In Numbers 16 we read how Korah, Dathan, and Abiram with certain of the children of Israel rose up before Moses, saying that all the congregation is holy, everyone of them, and The Lord is among them. They had received honor and blessing from The Lord, but decided to turn against their leader that God Himself chose. Jesus is in control of His church and the shepherds have lost sight of that. Rejecting the men of God’s appointment is to reject Jesus as our leader! We know how Korah and his companions ended, just read the whole chapter of Numbers 16. Finally Jesus said to the apostles, leaders of The first church, in Matthew 18:18: “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Read what Ellen G White writes about this verse in the Desire of Ages chapter 48: ‘Who is the Greatest?’ Thank you.
Yes. The divine right of kings. This is a good argument.
Hi, Larry. You and I were colleagues at the seminary a hundred or so years ago. (Actually, 1964.)
My comments about this whole matter take an entirely different approach. With all due respect to sincere individual scientists and teachers and their scientific findings, and recognizing my inadequacy to match their expertise, I would like to suggest that there are serious philosophical and soteriological challenges that seem not to have been addressed by them. True, the physical earth as an uninhabited planet could possibly have existed prior to the creation of life, giving rise to the age-old dates produced by carbon dating. That part would not bother me. But the Bible version portrays life before sin as totally perfect, the animals at peace with one another, no killing, etc. And of course, life will return to that utopia in the new earth. So the implications of evolution then become:
1. There was always violence, predation, etc., a picture totally opposite of that of the Bible;
2. “Sin” was always prevalent; there was never a point in time when sin began;
3. Man is just an animal with a “higher” intelligence;
4. There is no need of a Savior;
5. There is no Sabbath, because there was never really a seven-day week;
6. God as Creator is dishonored.
Ergo: Those who believe in this fashion have already forfeited their Adventism, even though not necessarily officially.
All this bashing of Ted Wilson is very unchristian. He is a fine, sincere individual, known personally by me and my wife.
And you perhaps will not agree with this, but to me, a genuine Adventist holds solidly to the Bible, because any other view is nothing but humanism, man seeking to play god.
Furthermore, if even half the energy expended by all the critics were employed in sharing Jesus with others, what a wonderful church this would be!
Jim
If you wish to respect scientists, Jim, do not use soteriological arguments to end debate on the meaning of nature. Science is a remarkably successful communal enterprise that has benefited from the contributions of dedicated individuals from a wide variety of belief systems. This has only been possible because Christians and non-Christians, Adventists and Mormons, have agreed to pursue the most utilitarian explanations of the natural world, regardless of the religious implications of those views. We may consider this a poor substitute for Truth; but, like democracy, it has worked better than the alternatives.
Wilson and the other conveners of this conference are not just affirming traditional Adventist theology, they are advancing an additional dogma: that the Phanerozoic geology of Earth was produced by the Flood and related events within the last ten thousand years. That is an entirely extra-Biblical claim, no matter how well it resonates with our traditions and satisfies our soteriological concerns. Should this religiously attractive hypothesis be legislated as truth within Adventism? No, it should be tested scientifically. Let it live or die by Occam’s razor.
I would like to hear more about the philosophical challenges not being addressed by our “sincere individual scientists and teachers”; but if you comment, please also analyze the scientific arguments mustered in support of Wilson’s edict in the context of Popper’s definition of “pseudo-science”.
Gerry, Perfectly stated. Thanks.
The earth may well be older then 6000 yrs old or but the Genesis account is written as an allegory. It dis not intended to be a scientific document .It i intended to be a descriptive account of the creation to sow that God is omnipotent. I think that God leaves out details to test our faith in him. If you are really objective it is hard to swallow Darwins deeption.
While I understand your sentiments, it is, I think, somewhat more complicated that you suggest. First of all, we have no clear idea of what pre-fall life would look like. Do plants in a pre-fall world not go to seed (a form of death)? How would the “balance” of nature work? Since we don’t know the answer to those questions, the only thing we can say with relative certainty is that what science observes and studies now is what a post fall world looks like. We simply are not sure what evidence of a pre-fall world would be, or if we would be able to interpret it correctly if we were to find it. Second, that does not mean that sin has always been with us, but rather that we don’t fully know what a world without it would look like, or how all the processes would operate to keep things in balance. What it might well be is that a sinful world is the only point of view we know. Third, man actually is an animal with a higher intelligence, created in God’s image. Not sure what the point was here. Fourth, there is no reason why one would have to reject either the idea of sin or the need of a Savior. Fifth, a literal 7 day creation week is not necessary to establish the meaning or significance of the Sabbath. However you read the creation stories in Genesis, it is clear that the experience of Sabbath is intended to be understood as something that is rooted in very beginning of human life. It’s place in the weekly cycle is clearly attested to later in scripture, as is it’s meaning, so a strictly literalistic reading of the Hebrew creation stories is not necessary to establish the significance of the Sabbath. And finally, God is not dishonored in any way by the suggestion that God may have created in a manner that may have taken longer and occurred earlier than we might have supposed. The wonders of creation remain, and God is still awesome. However God did what He did, and however we do or don’t understand the particulars of the way the world was before sin, and what changed afterwards, there is lots of room for variation in understanding the meaning of the Creation stories that do not detract at all from its central point. Even if we have to rethink some of the arguments we have traditionally used, the core remains as strong and solid as ever. My point here is not to argue for against a particular time line, but rather to point out that making straw man arguments does not help clarify anything. What we need to do is continue to talk together and look for ways that take all that we do know and observe, and being as honest as we can be about the data we are looking at, whether it is from scientific observation or a careful reading of scripture in its context, and find ways to integrate it. But however we do that, the central points still hold pretty well.
Jim, I do not doubt that Wilson is sincere or that he is a dedicated Seventh-day Adventist Christian. Whether you know him personally or not is irrelevant to the question of whether he is acting within the scope of his office or not. I think he is sincerely wrong. First of all, he is wrong about the power he has. He does not have the power to determine that his interpretation of Genesis is the official SDA position (in fact it is not.) He does not have power over the employment or non-employment of people who different-but-acceptable understandings of the issues; that is why he is using the intimidation tactic, trying to get people to remove themselves.
This is not “bashing” Wilson. This is asking him to live within the framework of the actual power and authority of his office, not to let the apparent power of the visibility of the office go to his head, not to unnecessarily divide the church, not to unnecessarily harm other people who also are sincere seekers of truth and who are also scholars and educators.
This is not an appeal to accept evolution. This is not an appeal for absolute academic freedom. It is an appeal to allow room for all truth, not just half a truth (which is no truth at all.)
People sometimes don’t understand the informal power of position and how easily that can be misused. I have a friend from academy days who was a waitress near one of our church headquarters offices. She often served large tables of church dignitaries who came for meetings. She made this observation: The person who placed the first food order at the table unknowingly determined the available menu choices for everyone around the table who ordered after him. If he ordered a pizza with meat on it, half the subsequent orders would be meat, half vegetarian. If he ordered a vegetarian pizza, EVERY subsequent order would also be vegetarian. Day after day, week after week, year after year. That’s an amazing demonstration of the informal power of position to elicit compliance to cultural expectations that are narrower than what is actually permitted by church doctrine. If the person wielding power is unaware of how he is carrying that power it is the responsibility of the rest of us to inform him. That is what Downing’s article is doing. That is being a “weighty friend” in a role of Christian accountability.
AMEN!! Thank you, Jim. I hope some listen…
JIm, I keep stumbling into old acquaintances on this forum! Thanks for identifying yourself!
Thank you Larry. Well stated! I hope it gives courage to all who have been discouraged by the statements of Ted Wilson.
This article strayed far from the authors stated purpose as he articulated in paragraph one! Instead it was a verbal assault on Ted Wison……..just saying!
Pastor Downing may have a short memory, or at least a selective one: In 2009, I believe, Pastor Jan Paulsen, then president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, spoke at a faculty forum and according to one report: “Someone posted on another forum that on August 15 at Andrews University, during a question and answer session, someone anonymously submitted a question to Jan Paulsen. ‘I am a professor at an Adventist universty and I do not believe in the biblical 6 day creation. Should I resign?’ (Paraphrased) Paulsen’s answer: ‘Yes.'”
It is one thing to believe in a biblical 6 day creation; quite another to exclusively embrace the specific interpretation advanced at the LV/St George conference.
Mr. Wilson should simply be impeached and removed as General Conference President.
Interesting that you are calling for the same thing that you are mad at him about. Amazing how liberals are actually everything they say they hate.
What is your evidence that you are talking to a “liberal?” You use the word as a pejorative as if it is automatically worthy of bad judgement, but there is no evidence in the writer’s statement that he is “a liberal.”
I feel strongly that those with voices much louder than mine need to lead a cry that this is not the right leader for our church at this time.
I admire Larry’s critical thinking and the way he expressed himself to his “Pastoral and Academic Colleagues”. While I have known him since 1959 when we attended Pacific Union College [both members of Class ’63], I am not one of his colleagues. However, I agree with his opinion. I wish there were more SDA pastors like him who have the guts to express their opinion publicly either in print or verbally even when it is against that of the leadership of the World Church.
Should I leave the church because I do not believe exactly the same way the GC President believes all 28 of the Church’s Fundamental Beliefs? I do not think so. I am in the third generation of currently five generations of SDAs in my family. I do not intend to leave the Church I love.
What other kind of article would I expect from Adventist Today and people who see themselves as “scholars” who understand the Bible and EGW better than those who interpret it as it is written. Of course, when the Words of God are so plain as to be next to impossible to twist, they’ll still twist it, and then say that there is something wrong with that particular passage–out of context or rife with cultural prejudice.
I stand by Elder Wilson. He is not out of line in expecting people who want to wear the label of SDA, to stand for the principles and doctrines that make up and SDA. How is that wrong?
Why do you rebels even want to be in this church? Are you afraid that you couldn’t make it out there in the world?
No one “interprets it as it is written.” That is a popular non-thinking myth. Every method of deriving any meaning from it beyond exactly what it says is making an interpretation. Therefore, Elder Wilson’s particular interpretation of Genesis is one possible interpretation. The Bible certainly does not draw a line in the sand about how one’s belief about this should affect membership or church employment; that is all additional interpretation. Do you realize that in the biblical judgement story there is not one question about doctrinal belief? Every judgement question is about how we treated others. Look it up. Then decide whether this divisiveness is necessary or biblical.
Well spoken words, Larry. This reminds me of 1961/62 at PUC. We lost five terrific department heads because they encouraged students to think.
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Thank you Dr. Downing for saying what so many feel they cannot say! So blessed to have you as a mentor, friend, colleague, member of my congregation, and one of the two coolest former pastors ever!
Thank you for your remarks, Larry. Count me among those who tend in the same direction, or go beyond it.
Most of the SDA discussions of science/morality/ethics/beliefs (at least, the ones I have seen) founder on one insupportable presupposition: the heterogeneous collection of writings of those scientifically illiterate and morally bankrupt semitic tribespeople of about 3000 years ago constitute a complete and infallible guide to what we should believe and how we should live.
I believe we can do better than that. I commend the following:
1) Observe what things cause suffering, do what is possible to remove the causes, and endeavor to alleviate the irreducible consequences thereof.
2) Take possession of things only on the basis of a fully-informed consent of all parties to the exchange.
Human-centric paraphrase: don’t hurt people, and don’t take their stuff.
Serious question: how many people really need to be told that lying/stealing/murdering are not acceptable behavior? Do they have to have a voice from on high to guide them in this regard? I hope not. Behavior motivated solely by fear of punishment or hope of reward scarcely qualifies as moral and ethical. It is nothing but self-interest.
Exclusive reliance on ancient claims to authority is fraught with inner contradictions and misdirection. Instead, we must take responsibility for our actions and beliefs, judge carefully when we must, share our insights with one another, and look to life here and now as the most rewarding focus of our energies. That is the perspective I share with many lifelong good friends at the church I attend regularly, Green Lake Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Seattle, WA. This attitude is welcome at GLC, and I doubt very much that our local congregation would disfellowship anyone for being that way. Live and let live…
And you pastor Lawrence Downing are not expressing your own opinions here and making them more important than the basic beliefs of SDA church?!?
You are assuming that Elder Wilson’s proclamations represent and are the same as “the basic beliefs of SDA church.” They are not, and that is the heart of the problem. He is demanding that people agree with him RATHER THAN with the actual stated beliefs of the SDA church. He simply does not have the right to do that.
Pastor Downing has pointed out several problems as identified by the persona of Ted Wilson. I have never met Mr. Wilson and I am certainly not in a place to cast any stones. However I have noticed as I have done mission outreach work including civil projects, medical outreach campaigns,and worked with Country governments and local authorities on 4 different continents plus a good share of the South Pacific that it is best to work outside the constraints of the SDA church.
I have experienced the lack of financial responsibility within the SDA church as wellas other church organizations, as well has selfish leadership which makes sure that the leaders are well taken care of at the expense of the dedicated clueless workers in the field that suffer financial neglect while the leaders take advantage of the funds and other situations that should be allocated to the field workers. I have met a few sincere dedicated leaders but for the most part I have noted self interest and leaders with a low integrity level. I thank God in his mercy that I do not have to work with these type of individuals on a regular basis and that I am not tied into the Social circles of their influence that would jeopardize my spiritual or financial welfare!
The financial problem is just the tip of the ice berg! Meaning that there is a carry over of the problems noted with financial irresponsibility into other areas of the church corporate leadership style. For example the leadership is made up primarily of Pastors that utilize prayer as a weapon to prove that they are infallible for their decision or that they are justified in waiting to make a decision. In fact no decision is in itself a decision. I have personally experienced the church’s financial lack of responsibility as well as the leadership style that should be described as that of the foolish
Each of us as well as Pastors can go along almost being Christians but never really being Christians. Never coming to the point where our experience is what it should be. I think that most Christian Pastors feel that a relationship with Christ is important—but each have various concepts of how that relationship should be developed and different ways of worship.
Would all Pastors regardless of denomination agree on the commonality and the scriptural interpretation of the Bible message and various Doctrines noted within the covers of the Bible? For example would Pastors or religion experts that belong separately to the Baptists, Presbyterians, Jehovah Witness, Mormon, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, Moslem, Seventh Day Adventist, Pentecostal, Four Square, and so on, agree with each other whole heatedly on the meaning of every bible passage?
No, of course not! Each Denomination and Pastor has special and various ways of interpreting what they have personally gathered from studying the scriptures. None of them agree nor accept what is presented as infallibly true by one of their associates even within their own religious affiliation let along agree with a Pastor from another denomination or belief system.
We as individuals cannot be infallibly correct in all that we say. There is no one in this world that is infallibly perfect. I have met some people that are so sure of self that they consider themselves infallible—yet that day comes when each of the Self Righteous as well as you and I will be served a helping of humble pie full of errors!
Taking this a bit further there is not anything in the world that we know as we ought to know! Each of us is so damage by sin and so ignorant, so week and so fallible, that it is not possible to be right all the time.
As a people we are in great danger as we consider our ideas and long cherished bible doctrines on every point as being infallible. Then to add insult to injury we measure every one of those that surround us by the rule of our interpretation of bible doctrines, as we understand them in our infallibility! The greatest evil that each of us risk as we live an “ideal” in our preferred denomination is that we forget that we are fallible humans and thinking that our long cherished ideas are infallible. Infallibility is heresy!
How can we ascertain truth from error…is this important? God is looking for something more than just believers! God tells us “You believe that there is one God…Even the demons believe and tremble … When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, … I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings.” (James 2:19; Jer 29:13; Hosea 6:6 GW)
Give this thought a twirl! God is looking for a solid relationship and good company to discuss the details of his universe with us as his sons and daughters!
With this in mind, why is the church leadership fighting over low priority items instead of working on the two greatest commandments…as Jesus noted in Matt 22:38-40 that Love the Lord with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. Both of these directives is based on a relationship with God and those that are around us.
The real tragedy in all of this is that while all of this “dialogue” ensues, there are THOUSANDS eager to know God’s love in the context of the myriad of modern life’s challenges. The Gospel mandates would be better served by all of these brilliant minds to address reaching a hungry world with a Gospel that is meaningful and compelling.
I am thankful that my calling resulted in finally working outside the church where (thank GOD) I have been able to continually share a redemptive and loving God with thousands of students and adults. I guess I don’t see Wilson’s “mandates” as a threat, but as an invitation to be about the Father’s business and revel in the joy of fully ministering to the needs of those who seek him.
When doing so, the finances, security, and fulfillment will be taken care of. . . God promises that.
I have been blogging about Christians struggling with their identity. While I am not a member of the SDA Church, I feel your pain when these sorts of needless schisms are created and perpetuated. I hope and pray the body of Christ can find a way to move forward together to build His Kingdom. There is a growing movement of Christians considering to abandon their Christian identities because of rhetoric of the likes of Wilson’s. http://www.pdbekendam.blogspot.com/2014/09/struggling-on-fringes.html
my Dear fellow SDAs, with certain brevity within this comment forum, may I comment on two points brought out by elder Wilson, namely the 6,000 years and using ‘the historical-critical method’ for Bible interpretation. Comments have already been stated about the manner of delivery and audience addressed.
Though most folks know it not, we as a people, have drifted quite FAR from the platform of Truth that was delivered to us when God established us at the beginning as His Remnant to given the last solemn warning to the world, to proclaim the everlasting gospel ~ The Three Angels Message!
Brother Wilson may well realize this. And his words are pointing back to the Truths that identified us as the remnant in the beginning! Back then, a platform of TRUTH was established. Truth is eternal and does not pass away. We but faintly recognize the Truth or understand it as clearly as our pioneers did. If we would understand those Truths, God has more for us to understand today that even they could not know, because more sacred history has taken place and we, with His eye salve, can see 20:20.
Back then, we used 14 Rules to study the Bible as documented by William Miller and backed up by inspiration. See RH Nov 25, 1884 par22-26 Google it: “Miller’s 14 Rules” We had not been miss directed into using ‘the historical-critical method’. As God raised up the SDA people He sent Gabriel to the side of William Miller. Note: “God sent His angel to move upon the heart of a farmer who had not believed the Bible, to lead him to search the prophecies. Angels of God repeatedly visited that chosen one, to guide his mind and open to his understanding prophecies which had ever been dark to God’s people. The commencement of the chain of truth was given to him, and he was led on to search for link after link, until he looked with wonder and admiration upon the Word of God. He saw there a perfect chain of truth. That Word, which he had regarded as uninspired, now opened before his vision in its beauty and glory. He saw that one portion of Scripture explains another, and when one passage was closed to his understanding, he found in another part of the Word that which explained it. He regarded the sacred Word of God with joy, and with the deepest respect and awe. {SR 356.3}
The foundation and pillars of the remnant people were documented on two charts, known as the 1843 chart and the 1850 chart. These two charts we are told by inspiration were the fulfillment of Hab 2:1-4 Inspiration uses words such as “a solid, immovable platform “, “Rock of Ages”. Look it up for yourself. FYI: God “hid a single mistake” on the 1843 chart that affected 2 numerical figures. Everything else was spot on. God had things go as they did so to sift out his true followers from critics. This singular mistake that God allowed was recognized after Oct 22, 1844 and subsequently stated correctly on the 1850 chart. We are told they (the 1843 & 1850 charts) represent humanity and Divinity. God allowed them to get buried and lost sight of until recent years, that they would startlingly wake up His people to do an exclusive internal work to prepare us for the greatest ingathering of all time. Note: there was a chart made in 1863 which rebelliously omitted many things. This 1863 chart is not endorsed by inspiration and stands as a testament to the roots of apostasy that were already becoming established within the ranks even then.
From the early 1840s to 1850 God gave His people what they needed to do His will, proclaim His Messages, and safely walk all the way to Heaven. PLEASE read Ellen White’s first vision (EW13 and onward) only a small excerpt here: “I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe…. Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.” How sad is that?
So what is this light from behind? What was the Midnight Cry message that the angel said was the light from behind? What information does it contain that is so important to us here at the end of time? It was formally delivered by Samuel Snow at the Exeter, New Hampshire camp meeting on Aug 15, 1844. (See pioneer writings as chronicled by a current SDA theologian Damsteegt): The Midnight Cry Message contained 5 main points:
1. The 6,000 years of man;
2. The 7 Times (2520 time prophecies);
3. The 2300 year prophecy;
4. The 70 week prophecy; and
5. Understanding type and antitype.
Please do NOT just believe what any man says, in this forum, (including me) or just follow currently accepted fundamental beliefs! Study The Word of God for yourself ~ The Truth! Jn17:17 The Spirit of Prophesy is The testimony of Jesus. Rev19:10 The Remnant of God’s people at the end of time will keep God’s commandments and have the Testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:17 The scriptures are our only safeguard! Jesus is the center of all prophecy!
We are the Laodician Church: Sadly,…. spiritually we have become luke warm, thinking we are rich, needing nothing (that we don’t already think we know), yet are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. What a sorry spiritual description! Just as Jesus with tearful voice pronounced woes on the religious leaders in His day ~ He is Lovingly PLEADING with us to recognize our true condition before Him today before probation for SDAs and then the world will close! See Rev 3:14-22. We need to follow Jer 6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” God’s word will be fulfilled to the letter: Some sadly will not walk therein.”
Let us plead for discernment from The Holy Spirit that we may KNOW THE TRUTH, else, scripture says we will believe a lie and strong delusion. Even in Noah’s day they embraced science over God’s Word, and even when the animals neatly filed into the ark ~ they were not alarmed and knew not that their probation was about to close.