| Author | Message | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 804 Registered: 7-2007 |
I just wrote a letter to an SDA relative whom I've been writing to for nearly three years now. I'm worried about her and my other relatives - worried about their souls. I'll put my letter down here: quote: Dear ______, I'm praying for you. You are in a tough situation, in that everybody you know and care about in the area where you live is a Seventh-day Adventist. It would be hard to even begin to know that the Bible says something different than what you believe, because you don't want to disappoint your husband and your friends. I had the feeling though, not long after I got saved; that you were starting to "get" it, and then you didn't anymore. I'm wondering if you did start to "get" it and then closed down really fast because you were afraid of disappointing your husband and your friends. Here's some verses that explain why people don't "get" the simple truth of the gospel. I've noticed that your answers to my Biblical questions are often long and convoluted in order to "explain" the Adventist doctrines and force them to fit the Bible. II Corinthians 4:3,4 says: "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God." I'm concerned for you because if you HAVE at some point, backed away from the truth, then you've given the devil legal ground to keep you blinded. Otherwise, why wouldn't you "get" the fact that Ellen White said Jesus did not enter the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary until 1844, when Hebrews 6:19,20 says that He went there already. And why wouldn't you "get" that the reason God told Israel not to eat "unclean" meats was to show separation between Jew and Gentile (see Leviticus 20:24-26) and that when Jesus died, the wall of separation was torn down between Jew and Gentile (see Ephesians 2:14-17 and Peter's vision in Acts 10). Now the law to avoid "unclean" meats, no longer is in force. (see Romans 14:14 and 1st Timothy 4:1-5) In fact, 1st Tim. 4:1-5 says that the doctrine to abstain from meat is a "doctrine of demons." You don't "get" that the Sabbath was only given to Israel under the Mosaic covenant (see Deuteronomy 4:13 and Deuteronomy 5) - it was actually given just weeks before Sinai at the giving of the manna (see Exodus 16:23-29) - and that the Sabbath was the sign of the covenant between Israel and God. (see Exodus 31:13) You don't "see" that the New Testament IS the new covenant. Can you say without a doubt that if a tornado hit your house tonight and you died, that you would go to Heaven? Love, Dianne | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 805 Registered: 7-2007 |
I hope I wasn't too blunt with her. I've been writing emails back and forth to her for nearly three years now. Usually my emails are gentler than this and tactful, but this one.... maybe I came on too strong. I can't really pin her down on anything because when I try, she will finally admit that she doesn't know and then refuse to talk about it anymore. (She did that with what Ellen White said on "amalgamation.") Anyway, I put this email down here in the discussion so that hopefully some Adventists, reading the forum, would see how the Bible refutes the Adventist doctrines I mentioned. I've noticed that since I've been freed from a false religion, I have a burden for anyone trapped in a false religion - whether Adventist, Catholic, Mormon, etc. etc.... | ||
| Sparrow Registered user Username: Sparrow Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2008  |
Asurprise, thank God for your direct questions, supplied with the answers. | ||
| Jrt Registered user Username: Jrt Post Number: 560 Registered: 10-2008 |
Dianne, Sometimes directness is definitely needed. Jesus was direct with people at times. The woes to the Pharisees were very direct. Your letter shared the reality of scripture that supports what you are saying. Well done. I'll pray for your friend that the veil will be lifted. Keri | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 808 Registered: 7-2007 |
Actually it's my sister, but thank-you! She and the rest of my relatives need all the prayer they can get!  (I think she must skim over the verses I put down. Her own answers are really convoluted.) | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 1087 Registered: 7-2004 |
If I may, I'd like to recommend that you and your sister start a whole-book bible study together. As an Adventist she has studied the scriptures on a verse-by-verse basis. That is the only way that the Adventist unique beliefs can be supported. Once she gets to see some of the books of the bible as an integral whole it might open her eyes to the truths contained therein. The book of Romans is a primer on Christianity, and Galatians is a primer on the covenants. It would be best to begin with an in-depth study of John so that she can get acquainted with the real Jesus Christ. Stay with those studies until you see the lights come on in her eyes. Of course, I'm assuming that you and your sister live in close proximity. Oh, and as you already know, pray, pray, pray. Be direct and straight-forward in prayer. As a wonderful prayer warrior I knew a while back liked to say, "If you are praying for an in-grown toenail on the second toe of your left foot, then actually map it out and be clear that you are praying for healing of the in-grown toenail on the second toe of your left foot." Praying for, and reaching out to family members is the most anxiety laden form of outreach that one can engage in. Surround yourself with those who agree with your desire for your sister--the more the better. You have a ready-made support system right here at FAF. In Christ, Belva | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 532 Registered: 2-2008  |
I really liked how you ended your letter Dianne. I am curious to hear what her response is to that. What I have found is that when I asked that question to a more conservative Adventist... they are VERY hesitant to answer that. They say that they are saved, but you can tell that there is no confidence in their voice. Now the cultural Adventist who is only Adventist to have his/her Sabbath will answer that question with more confidence on the outside... but I think they still question it on the inside. ~vivian | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 809 Registered: 7-2007 |
Unfortunately, she lives in Wisconsin and I live in Oregon. She hasn't replied to that email. She kind of picks and chooses what she replies to and also wants to restrict all discussion of such things to email. She doesn't want to discuss them over the phone. She must suspect, at least, that she wouldn't be able to answer what I have to say. I think that perhaps the reason she doesn't "get" it is that she doesn't want to disappoint her SDA husband and friends, but I'm not sure. Dianne | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9926 Registered: 12-2003  |
Belvalew!! Wow, how good to see you! I always love your solid-ground posts! Colleen | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 1088 Registered: 7-2004 |
Hi Colleen. As you know, I've spent most of my on-line time at CARM for the past couple of years. At present I'm tired of repeating myself over and over. I'm praying now that if God wants me or needs me there that he will help me re-energize for the task. I'm still willing to stay up all night and search my Strong's, etc., but the people we are encountering over there are ministers in many cases and one of the methods that are used to make people such as myself stop wresting with the subjects, mostly Sabbath, is to lapse into discussing things in Greek or Latin. Anyway, I'm posting a lot less than I used to, but I still read, and when I cannot keep quiet I post. It's not uncommon for me to sit with two or three Bibles open, my concordance, and a few other references. Many of the people who are sustained by you people here are wonderful warriors over at CARM and need your supporting prayers. Your wonderful Proclamation is a great assistant, too. I'm grateful for your dedication to the work that you have committed yourselves to. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9941 Registered: 12-2003 |
You're awesome, Belvalew! When I grow up I want to be like you and your side-kick Qweary. Colleen |
