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Jrt
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Post Number: 346
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 7:29 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)


quote:

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. NASB 29:29




In my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) notes it writes, "The verse teaches that we have no right to know (nor can we know) many things about God, the future, and God's ways, however curious we may be. All we have a right to know or need to know is what is revealed in Scripture ... Therefore, instead of trying to pry into things that are not revealed, we should occupy ourselves with learning, appropriating, and obeying the things that are. The end is not that we may be more knowledgeable than others, knowing "secret" things that might boost our pride, but that we might 'follow all the words of this law.'"

This quote and scripture passage seemed to scream a warning against the Adventist Church. EGW constantly writes about things we could never know - the feelings of the patriarchs; the spiritual battles behind scriptural stories; etc. All these things are not given as fictional musings - BUT as an authoritative understanding of the "unseen" and unrevealed things.

It was interesting to me and I thought I'd pass it on.

Keri
Helovesme2
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Post Number: 1941
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 7:50 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

:-) This was used as an argument stopper in the SDARM. If there was something that was not clear it was discussed - to a point. But then, if the answers given did not make sufficient sense to the questioner they were referred to this verse.
Jrt
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Post Number: 347
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 8:06 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Curious ... Helovesme2 - can you explain a little more - I'm not real familiar with SDARM.

How was this verse used, again? Was it used to stop discussion so that everyone would agree on the already set of beliefs?

Keri
Helovesme2
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Post Number: 1943
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 8:22 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

SDARM is Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, a separate denomination formed by SDAs who were kicked out of the SDA church (generally in Europe) circa 1914 who organized into a separate church in circa 1925 after failed attempts to reunite with the 'big church'. Reasons understood for the church split vary - the SDARM version is that they refused to carry weapons and to fight on Sabbath during a time when the European Conference Officials were repudiating non-combatancy and were promising that their members would fight whenever called for. There are interesting letters that seem to substantiate this. The SDA version does not deny this but adds that these people were also 'date-setting' that Jesus would return sometime around the 'stone-fruit' harvest (stone-fruit being plums, peaches, etc).

It has since split once more, creating the SDARM with General Conference offices in Roanoke, VA, and the IMS-SDAs with headquarters (I think) in Sacramento, CA. The majority of members in both groups are divided between Brazil and Eastern Europe. In the US I'd estimate around 2000 between the two of them.

As an example of how Deuteronomy 29:29 was used, I recall asking one church official why so many gemstones were described as part of the adornment of the New Jerusalem, a bride prepared for her husband, when jewelry is forbidden to Christians. The response involved the idea that heaven has different rules, observing the AntiTypical Day of Atonement, not causing a brother to stumble, and wrapped up with Deut. 29:29
Jrt
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Post Number: 348
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 8:43 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks so much for the information!

My apologies if the Deut. 29:29 text was "triggering". I can understand if it was. I've been "triggered" a couple of times lately with some things preached from the pulpit.

Thanks for the information and interesting response the church official gave to you.

For me - reading Deut. 29:29 was more along the lines of the extra information that EGW included in her writings . . . I hadn't even thought of it in the manner that the church official used on you. Thanks for the eye opener.

Keri
Psalm107v2
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Post Number: 207
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9:03 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I seem to remember having a discussion on an Facebook SDA forum and one guy actually tried to pull the above verse to say taht the verse speaks directly to the revelation of EGW as the SOP as she revealed the message for the last day adn the "true" meaning of Daniel 8 &9.

Even when the scripture is clear as a day it is amazing what people will do to defend their unbiblical view

Helovesme2---I don't know how you handled being in the SDARM

Enoch
River
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Post Number: 4656
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9:07 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Keri,

Just about whatever you use to honor a thought that honors God, there are people who can and will, use the same thing to dishonor that thought.
River
River
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9:12 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Not you Mary, I meant various religions.

River
Helovesme2
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9:16 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Enoch,

Simple! I was raised SDA in mostly 'self-supporting' circles, was taught that the SDA church had fallen away from the pure message, was pulled from membership in the SDA church at 10 because my parents refused to support abortion, and then later went along with them when they found a church that claimed (and appeared) to hold the historical SDA positions and to live lives in active obedience to 'the truth'. I mean, if you're going to believe SDAism, you might as well live it! I joined when I was 19. I have to say though, I'm so glad God didn't leave me there!!

Keri,

No harm done. I wasn't 'triggered' so much as I was amused to think how many ways that verse has been twisted. So many times false teachers use the very verses that SHOULD wake them up to 'prove' their points instead.
Helovesme2
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Post Number: 1946
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 9:20 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You lost me there, River, what are you referring to? Or did this belong in that other thread?
Jrt
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Post Number: 349
Registered: 10-2008
Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 10:08 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I got what you were saying River, I think ...

As a former - it is getting harder and harder to "think" like I used to ... I guess that sounds strange. But I have to really think about things to remember what and how I perceived texts, etc. as an Adventist ... Kinda like a person learning a new language - they have to cognitively translate words in their head ... now I have to cognitively "translate" back to the way an SDA would think - in my head.

I still have my moments of SDAism ... and I don't always catch it - ahhhh (groan:-))

Don't know if that makes sense :-)

Keri

P.S. Helovesmeto - So glad it wasn't triggering, but amusing. Yes, it is amusing to go back to what we used to hear and see ... Amusing and sometimes very sad - at least for me.
Akweavers
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 10:13 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

With what was quoted you would think they would use that to say, "See, you have to keep the law"
Helovesme2
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Post Number: 1948
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 10:55 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Oops, I get what you were saying now, River.

And yes, Keri, it is very sad.
River
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 11:40 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

:-)
Colleentinker
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 4:58 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Keri, I also found that verse to be hugely comforting and confirming when I first actually "saw" it. I can't remember exactly when that was, but I think it was a couple years ago in women's Bible study when we were doing an overview of the OT, walking briefly through the books (or divisions) of the OT.

Yes, that idea that we're NOT INTENDED to understand everything is so security-producing!

Colleen
Seekinglight
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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 5:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

It's okay not to have perfect, airtight answers to everything. I have to keep reminding myself of that.

God gives us sufficient information for each step of our journeys. That is quite a relief.
Psalm107v2
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Post Number: 208
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Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 7:48 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Keri,

I know what you mean about having "SDA" moments. I find that as I walk with Christ the more I desire to be of the mind of Chirst and learn/walk/talk etc as He would have me do (and of course this is born of a desire to fellowship with Him not work my way to heaven like before)

This may sound silly but a couple of weeks back my son had a dvd in the dvd player that he had only partially watched (about 30 minutes in). I took his dvd out and put mine in and rather than start at the beginning, this particular player has a "memory" and started at that 30 minute mark. My mind immediately thought of how in some ways my life is like that now. My old history is not erased and there are times when I jump back to my "old SDA memory". It could be an old hymn, it could be passing by an auditorium where meetings are held etc. But those are becoming less and less and because the Bible still feels fresh and new every day I continue to unlearn those things from the SDA days --but I still like Fri-ChiK and Swiss Stakes!! :-)

Enoch
Flyinglady
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Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 7:49 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

One of the things I gave up when leaving adventism was the right to have ALL the answers. What a relief to be able to say, I do not know. I will pray about it and if God wants to show me He will.
What an awesome God we have.
Diana L
Psalm107v2
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Post Number: 209
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Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 7:50 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

River,

Got the book. I continue to love your writing. I literally can picture the places you write about (whether I've been there or not) in my minds eye as the stories unfold

Thanks Bro

Enoch
River
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Username: River

Post Number: 4668
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Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 8:45 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Your welcome Bro :-)

That puts a huge smile on my face that you can picture the places.

Now my smile is as wide as yours in your picture.
:-) River
River
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Post Number: 4669
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Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 - 8:50 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Enoch,

My brother, you have made my day!! :-) :-)

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