| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker |
JudeóI love your Ratzlaff book reviews! When I stand back and look at the Old Covenant and the Israelites' relationship to it, I realize that the whole thing, from sacrifices to tabernacle to the law (inside the tabernacle) to the presence of God (residing on/in the tabernacle) was EXTERNAL. The Israelites had to look to the tabernacle to be reassured that God was with them. They had to look to the law to measure their performance. They had to live up to the Law in order to avoid punishment including stoning. Their Sabbath was encased in time so they could remember the timeless rest in God which Adam and Eve had enjoyed before the fateful fruit. But the New Covenant is INTERNAL. God's presence is in His new tabernacleóthe hearts of his followers and his church. The law is internalóthe Holy Spirit prompts all our responses. We no longer live by broad outlines of good behavior, but by moment-by-moment Spirit-prompted insights and impulses. We don't have to have anxiety about the future because we know that God has a sovereign plan, and the Holy Spirit will impress us at the right times. We can live in peace knowing we are safe in God's heart, and we're centered in his will. Nothing that happens to us is outside his will. Now we live in Sabbath rest. We're inside his rest, and his rest is inside us. We no longer have to move through a day in which we merely "remember the Sabbath". We have the Sabbath all the time! | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
A letter-to-the-editor by William Loveless, pastor, Loma Linda University Church, Loma Linda, California just appeared in the January, 2000 issue of MINISTRY, the international journal of Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association. It reads: "I have read with interest the editorial 'Why the Seventh-day?' in the July issue of MINISTRY... In light of the Ratzlaff documents and the totally unfortunate video tape being shown, I would like to suggest that you print in 'long-john' format a slightly edited version of the two articles put together. "Short, unapologetic, biblical, and to-the-point material is much needed to meet the situation in which many of our people find themselves, not knowing exactly how to explain Ratzlaff's outdated and time-worn arguments." There you have it, friends, hard evidence that Ratzlaff's light is beginning to hurt the eyes of the SDA "brethren." I read the two articles Loveless referred to in MINISTRY, and I can tell you they do not refute Ratzlaff, not even close. So take heart, the gospel is working in Adventism! Jude | ||
| Onesimus |
Thanks, Jude, for keeping us up-to-date on the progress of the gospel within Adventism. Onesimus | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Reviews Ratzlaffís ìSabbath in Crisis" Chapter 5 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Chapter V -- ìThe New Covenantî The old covenant was based on Israelís (1) deliverance from Egypt, (2) reception of the covenant at Sinai, and (3) settlement of Canaan. The new covenant is based on Christís (1) life, (2) death, and (3) resurrection. The new is better than the old in every way. The New Testament is full of laws. As SDA children we generally ignored these laws. When we learned the ìdefinitionî of sin ñ transgression of the law ñ we thought only of the Ten Commandments along with certain other Old Testament laws, such as the prohibition of pork foods and the necessity of tithing. MORAL LAW IS NOT DONE AWAY, BUT RE-SEATED IN A BETTER PLACE -- JESUS CHRIST But the New Testament record of Jesus Christís actions and sayings ñ ìa new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another,î for example ñ serves as a new and better foundation of law. Recognizing the superiority of this new body of moral laws to the Ten Commandments and other Old Testament laws frees us of all guilt trips that the SDAs still try to inflict on us. This includes the oft-heard slander, ìIf you do away with the law [meaning the Old Testament statements of laws], then you can go out and steal, commit adultery, murder and anything else you want.î This type of thinking only reflects ignorance and legalistic slavery to the letter of the Old Testament laws. By contrast, Paul writes, ìThe letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.î 1 Cor. 3:6. Writes Ratzlaff, ìWhile morality is clearly taught in the Old Testament, the New Testament writers seldom refer to Old Testament law as the reason for moral living, and when the law of the old covenant is mentioned in the epistles it is usually by way of illustration, rather than by way of commandÖ. In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul admonishes Christians to stay away from prostitution and immorality. His reason for pure living is not based upon the laws of Sinai but upon the believerís relationship with Christ.î (Pages 75,76.) WHY THE NEW TESTAMENT IS BETTER THAN THE OLD The new covenant is better than the old because itís fuller, clearer and more accurate. Hebrews 1:1-3 (NAS) is telling: ìGod, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son Ö and He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.î God had to filter his messages through fallible human beings, fathers and prophets though they may be. In Jesus Christ God himself is with us and among us. And the record of this Christ event is the New Testament. The Old Testament has served its purpose and, wonderful though it may be, it cannot begin to compare to the richness and accuracy of the New Testament. For practical purposes, the old covenant may be considered synonymous with the Old Testament, and the new covenant may be considered synonymous with the New Testament. In one of his most powerful statements, Ratzlaff writes: ìThe flickering candle of truth which lighted the shadowy pathways of Old Testament history must give way to the unveiled glory of the risen Son!î Page 79. From 2 Corinthians 3:1-18, Ratzlaff contrasts the two covenants: OLD COVENANTÖÖÖ........ÖÖNEW COVENANT written with inkÖÖÖÖÖÖ...written with the Spirit on tablets of stoneÖÖÖÖÖ.on tablets of human hearts inadequate (implied)ÖÖÖÖ.adequate servants of the letterÖÖÖÖÖÖ....ÖÖof the Spirit the letter killsÖÖÖ..ÖÖÖÖthe Spirit gives life ministry of deathÖÖÖÖÖ...ministry of the Spirit came with gloryÖÖÖ....ÖÖÖabounds in glory ministry of condemnationÖministry of righteousness glory fadesÖÖÖÖÖ......ÖÖÖglory surpasses now has no gloryÖÖÖÖÖ....remains in glory veil remains unliftedÖÖÖÖveil removed in Christ veil over their heartÖ.ÖÖveil taken away bondage (implied)ÖÖÖ...ÖÖliberty can't change heartÖÖ..Ö..being transformed In practice, writes Ratzlaff, ìWe should not accept any old covenant laws or practices on the basis of the old covenant statements themselves. Rather, we must examine every old covenant law and statement from the new covenant perspective: Jesus Christ.î Page 86. This includes your personal decision to keep the 7th-day Sabbath holy or not. 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Read "Sabbath in Crisis" for yourself. Write Life Assurance Ministries, P.O. Box 282, Sedona AZ 86340. Or call 1.520.282.4319. Do not go gentle into the SDA night, Rage against the dying of the gospel light, Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Reviews ìSabbath in Crisis" Chapter 6 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Chapter VI -- ìJubilee Sabbathî The use of Jesus as an example is limited. There are many things about Jesus that are beyond the scope of being an example for us to follow: 1. Jesus was ìborn under law.î Gal. 4:4. We are not. 2. Jesus was circumcised. Luke 2:21. We donít have to be. 3. Jesus observed the Passover. Luke 2:41. We donít have to. 4. Jesus wore tassels on the bottom of His garment. Numbers 15:38, Mt. 9:20. We donít have to. 5. Even Jesusí teaching includes demands that the people hallow the temple (Mark 11:15-18) and present old covenant sacrifices (Matthew 5:23,24). 6. Jesus died for the sins of the world. Ratzlaff writes, ìWe cannot use Christís example in Sabbath observance to enforce present-day Sabbath keeping unless we are also willing to use His example to enforce circumcision, the Passover, temple worship, the wearing of tassels on the bottom of garments and other old covenant practices.î Another function Jesus fulfilled which is outside the scope of exampleship is the Jubilee. (Luke 4:16-30, Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:53-58.) In his first sermon Jesus made three points: 1. He was the messiah. 2. The Jubilee had come. 3. His mission was to set captives free. This ministry bursts the framework of the old covenant. He said, ìI must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.î Luke 4:43. Jesus IS the covenant by fulfilling Isaiah 42:6: He, himself, is ìa covenant to the people.î In the Old Testament the jubilee (Lev. 25:8-17): 1. Started on the day of atonement. 2. Was ushered in with the blowing of a ramís horn. 3. Proclaimed release to all inhabitants of the land. 4. Had each return to his own family and property. 5. Allowed no sowing or reaping. 6. Told the people to eat crops directly out of the field. 7. Brought justice to all. Ratzlaff writes, ìThe book of Hebrews shows how this old covenant Sabbath pointed forward to the atonement brought by Christís death on the cross. In the old covenant the Day of Atonement had to be repeated every year.î Page. 95. But by contrast Jesus sacrifice was one time for all people. (Hebrews 10:1-4, 12, 14.) When that ëone offeringí was sacrificed, the function of the yearly Day of Atonement ceased to exist.î Page 95. The prophecy of eating crops directly out of the field was fulfilled when Jesus had his disciples pick the heads of grain and eat. Matthew 12:1. These are examples of how Jesus ushered in the Jubilee Sabbath rest. Ratzlaff gives many other examples: Releasing people from demons and/or Satan, from fever, from sicknesses. He preached that the kingdom of God had come. He forgave sin. He opened the eyes of the blind. All was done on the Sabbath day against the law of Moses as the people understood it. In these instances Jesus is not our example. He is our Savior. 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Read "Sabbath in Crisis" for yourself. Write Life Assurance Ministries, P.O. Box 282, Sedona AZ 86340. Or call 1.520.282.4319. Do not go gentle into the SDA night, Rage against the dying of the gospel light, Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Reviews Ch.7, ìSabbath in Crisis" by Dale Ratzlaff 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Chapter VII -- ìThe Lord of the Sabbathî An alternate title for this chapter could be: ìJesus Asserts His Authority over Old Covenant Sabbath Law.î There are two "headlines": 1. JESUS BREAKS SABBATH BY CASTING OUT DEMON, HEALING FEVER SICKNESS (Mark 1:21-34, Luke 4:31) In synagogue (church) on Sabbath Jesus was ìteaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.î SDAs under-emphasize Jesus' teaching authority and over-emphasize his obedience to the law. Thus they turn the truth on its head. The truth is that Jesus broke the letter of the law as it was understood by all Israel and taught a newer, higher form of the law seated within himself. Jesus did not just ìtake authorityî like a rebel ñ he already had all authority by virtue of his deity. Yes, Jesus was ìunder the law,î but only in the sense that, being born under it, he kept it perfectly. But he was above the written form of the law in the sense that, having inate authority over it, he re-instated it within himself in a new, more authentic form by his actions and teachings. For example, on the Sabbath day Jesus took authority over Satan in the form of an unclean spirit and ordered it out of a man. To the Jews this was ìwork.î And Jesus agreed with them that it was indeed work. In this way Jesus redefined the law and put it on a higher level, the level of God-in-the-flesh living among us. On the Sabbath Jesus also healed Simonís mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever. And after she was healed ìshe began to wait on them.î In other words, Jesus worked by healing her and she worked by ìwaiting on them.î Itís significant that she didnít need a recovery period before she could begin to work again. It is even more significant that Jesus allowed her to work on the Sabbath in violation of Mosesí prohibition. 2. JESUS LETS HIS DISCIPLES REAP AND THRESH GRAIN ON THE SABBATH AND DEFENDS THEM AGAINST JEWISH ACCUSATIONS (Mark 2:23-28, Matthew 12:1-8, Luke 6:1-5) In defending his disciples Jesus cites the example of David, who ìentered into the house of God Ö and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests.î And he gave the meaning: ìThe Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Consequently, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.î Itís time for SDA people to lift their hearts and admit with a clear conscience: Yes, Jesus broke the Sabbath in the only ways meaningful to the culture (church equivalent) of the time and had others do so. Since his life was sinless, he demonstrated that this kind of Sabbath-breaking ñ whether or not it was a violation of Exodus 20 ñ was not a violation of the new covenant law that he represented as God-in-the-flesh on earth. Need more scriptural evidence? Here it is: ìHave you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath, and are innocent? But I say to you, that something greater than the temple is here.î Matthew 12:5-7, NAS. The point is not whether SDA pastors have to work hardest on Sabbath and are blameless. At best, that point is only a legalism. The real point is: Something greater than the temple (which housed the law) was there. Jesus Christ was demonstrating that the Sabbath, which was only a shadow-pointing-to-him, was being re-centered from words-on-stone-tablets to the person of himself. This is what even we former Adventists have to struggle with. In our new way of life, which may involve work or recreation on the seventh day, are we simply reacting to the abuses of our former Adventist leaders, whom we now think are wrong? If so, weíre missing the point! The point is that the person of Jesus Christ IS our Sabbath rest. This truth must be a living reality in our lives and not just an excuse to ìgo to the moviesî or ìgo shoppingî or ìmow the lawnî on Saturday. If we are to realize the truth of the Sabbath for today, we must make sure that we are living the life of Christ, living in the kingdom of heaven, right here on earth, right now in the year 2000, 24-hours each day, seven days each week. 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Read "Sabbath in Crisis" for yourself. Write Life Assurance Ministries, P.O. Box 282, Sedona AZ 86340. Or call 1.520.282.4319. Do not go gentle into SDA night, Rage against the dying of the gospel light, Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Reviews Ch.8 of ìSabbath in Crisis" by Dale Ratzlaff 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Chapter VIII -- ìSabbath Conflictsî In three Sabbath incidents Jesus asserts powers only God can claim. Adventists typically attack Jesus Christís status as fully God-on-earth. They do this by relegating him to ìour elder brother,î ìthe son of Godî (meaning something less than fully God), or ìour exampleî (denying that he is more). Their closed minds cannot relate to these incidents as they were written. And they seek to downplay their significance by claiming that ìJesus was only trying to show the Jews HOW to keep the Sabbath of the law properly.î The three incidents may be headlined as: 1. JESUS HEALS WITHERED HAND ON SABBATH (Luke 6:6-11, Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6). In synagogue (church equivalent) Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath. A man with a withered hand was in the congregation. Jesus asked him to come forward. He did so. Jesus then asked, ìIs it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil, to save a life, or to destroy it?î No response. ìStretch out your hand,î said Jesus. The man did so, and immediately his hand was restored healthy. At the sight of this miracle the synagogue members ìwere filled with rage, and discussed together what they might to do Jesus.î In response Jesus said, ìWhat man shall there be among you, who shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.î The Adventist way of looking at this incident is to put Jesus in a one-down position. Poor little Jesus, trying to defend his actions so that they wouldnít ìdestroy him.î The gospel way of looking at it is to understand that Jesus is DECLARING and not PLEADING. He deliberately challenged the Jews in their own ìchurchî building, declared that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, and then followed through on his declaration. In so doing he was asserting his control over the law, his authorship of the law, and his interpretation of the law. This is not something that a person who is ANYTHING LESS THAN FULLY GOD can do! 2. JESUS HEALS MAN WITH EDEMA (DROPSY OR SWELLING) ON THE SABBATH (Luke 15:1-6). Again Jesus takes utter charge of the situation. He accepted a dinner invitation at a high-society home. The Pharisees and lawyers were watching him closely. Jesus looked them in the eye and asked, ìíIs it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?í But they kept silent.î Jesus then boldly healed the man, sent him on his way, then boldly asked, ëîWhich one of you shall have a son or an ox fall into a well, and will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day.í And they could make no reply.î The elite of society planned a trap for this ìupstart.î Jesus didnít fall into the trap. He destroyed it. They could not not cow this ìGod with us.î Instead Jesus single-handedly reduced them all to an enraged silence by showing that they care more for their own ìflesh and bloodî or even an animal than another human being. Note also that this was not an emergency situation. Jesus could just have well waited till the next day. But he did not, because he was demonstrating his right to redefine the law of Moses. Again, only God could do this. 3. JESUS HEALS MAN SICK 38 YEARS AND TELLS HIM TO CARRY LOAD ON THE SABBATH (Luke 5:1-18, 7:14-24). A 38-year chronic condition is not a life-threatening emergency. Jesus deliberately provoked a serious confrontation with the ìpowers that beî of his day. He not only healed the man on the Sabbath but also told him to carry his bedroll. Both actions broke the Halakah, equivalent of a legal code. (Halakah: legal portion of the Talmud and of post-Talmudic literature concerned with personal, communal, and international activities, as well as with religious observance. The term usually refers to the Oral Law, as codified in the MISHNA. This Jewish tradition sought to elicit from the biblical text directives for proper Jewish behavior, including religious and ritual activities. About A.D. 180 Halakah and Haggadah together were codified as the Mishnah.) ìFor this cause therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God [John 5:9-18, NAS].î From the Gospel of John, then, we learn that Jesus actually was breaking the Sabbath and teaching others to do so. We should not limit our understanding to thinking that he ìwasnít really breaking the Sabbath,î but only trying to show the Jews how to keep it better. Yes, John tells us that he really was breaking the Sabbath. If this goes against your grain, it is because you are still trapped in the SDA mode of thinking that subordinates Jesus to the law of Moses. Clear your mind of that claptrap and let Jesus be God! This is proof that the Sabbath is not a part of the moral law (such as ìno murder,î ìno stealing,î ìno coveting,î ìno adultery,î etc.). For Jesus never broke or had others break the moral part of the law. It is proof that the Sabbath is part of the ceremonial law (like circumcision, sewing tassels on the hems of your garments, shunning pork and shellfish, wearing clothes of wool and linen woven together, etc.). Therefore, breaking it isnít the same as breaking the eternal moral law that emanates from God who is in Christ Jesus. Further proof of Jesus Christ demonstrating that he is God incarnate: He didnít ìexplainî how working on the Sabbath wasnít really breaking the Sabbath. Instead he ìraised the stakes,î so to speak, he escalated the tension, by stating: ìMy Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.î The Jews reacted strongly to what they considered blasphemy: ìFor this cause the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking [Greek, destroying] the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.î John 5:18. When Jesus said he was Lord of the Sabbath, he meant something much more radical than the SDAs think. He was literally putting an end to the Sabbath as a legal requirement. 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay 7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay7thDay Read "Sabbath in Crisis" for yourself. Write Life Assurance Ministries, P.O. Box 282, Sedona AZ 86340. Or call 1.520.282.4319. Do not go gentle into SDA night, Rage against the dying of the gospel light, Jude |
