| Author | Message | ||
| Ernie |
Hello, Lydell your question is very important. In the years since I left the Adventist ministry, I have identified four things that are eye openers for sincere Adventists. First, the role of EGW within Adventism. Second, the Investigative Judgement. Third, the Sabbath question. Fourth, the eschatological scheme in which Adventism is the sole representative of God's truth in the world. If you find a person that tells you he/she is Sabbath keeper, do not react negatively. All the contrary, immediately introuduce yourself as a person that knows "a little bit" about Sabbath keeping. Try ask some questions like, how do you think Sabbath keeping helps you to attain salvation? On which Scriptures do you base your Sabbath observance? Can you help me to find a single verse in the New Testament where Jesus or the apostles command Sabbath observance for the church? Again, do not become aggressive. After a while tell that person what Christ and the gospel message means for you. Adventism claims to be extremely Christcentred; use that to your advantage and confront them with Galatians 2:21. Use also Romans 7 and 8, etc. May God bless you, Ernie | ||
| Susan |
Ernie, Thanks for your messages. They are so helpful and such a blessing to me. We've started a FAF group here in Maryland. It's so exciting to see God at work! Anyway, my question is, do you have any advice on reaching out to former sda's who've lost interest in religion/God altogether? I love the advice you've given on reaching sda's , but I'm curious about the ones who've left. My heart really aches for them. They've been taught that adventists are the only ones who've "got it" and when they leave it's difficult for them to go anywhere else (this is also very typical of those who leave mormonism, JW's and other cults). I have family members in this prediciment and would love to know how to reach out. My previous attempts have not gone to well. Thanks! | ||
| Lynn W |
My experience has always been that the only difference between the way SDAs keep the Sabbath & the way I keep it is that I don't claim to. If they can cook & clean, go to restaraunts, stores, go biking, hiking, etc. on the Sabbath, why can't I? Is it sanctioned by first going to church in the morning? Or is it by mouthing the pious words "I'm a sabbath-keeper and you're not." | ||
| Timo K. |
Ernie, in many ways I agree what you write so far. Out of the 4 "eye openers" I agree with 3. Investigative Judgement I dropped in the 1970s and the role of EGW as an all-knowing authority about the same time. I went to a Adventist seminar class for a year in Ekebyholm Sweden, where my teacher Dr Ingemar Linden taught these things even before Dr Ford crisis. At least in Sweden (more than Finland) Invsetigative Judgement has not been a big deal in teaching. The Sabbath question, in my opinion, is different. Instead of trying to "help" people out of sabbath-keeping, my witnessig is aimed to present Sabbath Christ-centered. Starting that our Sabbath Rest is Jesus. The same way, I do not witness to my Lutheran and Pentacostal friends about Saturday. I start what they teach, and then try to make them (and myself) see their teaching more Christcentered. Usually witnessig goes both ways, we get mutually refreshed. | ||
| Bruce H |
Cas Here are some writings from the early church fathers. THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO THE MAGNESIANS ABOUT 194 A.D. Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, and things in which the Jews make their boast. Old things are passed away: behold, all things have become new. For if we still live according to the Jewish law, and the circumcision of the flesh, we deny that we have received grace. For the divinest prophets lived according to Jesus Christ. If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death, whom some deny, by which mystery we have obtained faith, and therefore endure, that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only Master how shall we be able to live apart from Him, whose disciples the prophets themselves in the Spirit did wait for Him as their Teacher? And therefore He whom they rightly waited for, being come, raised them from the dead. merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men's possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ! let every friend of Christ keep the Lord's Day as a festival, the resurrection-day, the queen and chief of all the days [of the week]. Looking forward to this, the prophet declared, To the end, for the eighth day, on which our life both sprang up again, and the victory over death was obtained in Christ, whom the children of perdition, the enemies of the Savior, deny, whose God is their belly, who mind earthly things, who are lovers of pleasure, and not lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. These make merchandise of Christ, corrupting His word, and giving up Jesus to sale: they are corrupters of women, and covetous of other men1s possessions, swallowing up wealth insatiably; from whom may ye be delivered by the mercy of God through our Lord Jesus Christ! It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believeth might be gathered together to God. | ||
| Bruce H |
Here is anotherone. THE CHURCH HISTORY OF EUSEBIUS ABOUT 280 A.D. Who else has commanded the nations inhabiting the continents and islands of this mighty globe to assemble weekly on the Lord1s day, and to observe it as a festival, not indeed for the pampering of the body, but for the invigoration of the soul by instruction in Divine truth? And on the day called sunday all who live in cities or in the country gather to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read as long as time permits. and they who are well-to-do, and willing, give what each thinks fit: and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors the orphans and widows, and those, who through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds, and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead. For he was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday), and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the sun, having appeared to his apostles and disciples, he taught them these things which we submitted to you also for your consideration. BH | ||
| Bruce H |
As for these writings, I have a lot more and I will put them with my study notes as soon as possible. |
