| Author |
Message |
Lori
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 1999 - 4:11 pm: |     |
It is a difficult thing to witness to an Adventist.---Being former "believers" in the Adventist faith we have to remember the way the we too felt about those who left the church and the comments or thoughts that we spoke or felt toward them. It is most difficult for Adventist to distinguish between what is scripture and what is EGW. ( I prayed earnestly while searching for the truth that EGW's writing would be taken from my thoughts. I could hardly read a scripture without injecting her words there also.) One point that I think that we should be aware of is our attitude toward SDA believers. (for a moment, remember the 'superiority' that the SDA church exuded to you, that we had a higher knowledge of scriptures as the remnant church and with "our" prophet?) The pride and superiority of the Adventist attitude is a sin of pride (the same sin that Lucifer fell with). However, let us not be caught in a new sin of pride in the fact that we as former Adventist have seen the truth. We should not hold our new truth as a form of superiority over our Adventist friends and family members. It was not a moment that it took for God to bring you to your new birth in the gospel truths. We can not expect God to bring those that we love to our new beliefs over night. (We are powerless to change them. That is something for God to do.-----And in his own time.) I have resolved to pray for them that the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to the truth, because at this point the power of their disillusionment has them blinded. (We were blinded until we searched for the truth on our own accord.) Our family members will have to have the same experience.----- It will have to come from a diligent search for the truth on their part. I have not believed in EGW for more than 10 years but I still felt held by the church because of the Sabbath issue, for years I had been sporatic attender-----unable to leave but unable to attend another church. (I was totally unaware of how unbiblical that the church doctrines were. And I defended them with all the technics that Adventist are taught from the time they are children.) You must wait until they are eager for truth. Until that point it is just an arguement that will put them on the defensive. (The only life that you can control is your own.) I have been totally amazed by the inability of Adventist and Catholics to discuss doctrines, they are the only religions that I know of, that go immediately on the defensive. When I was an Adventist and I would enter doctrinal discussions with friends of other denominations, they simply would say, well if thats what you believe then thats what you should do. You won't find too many Adventist that can do that. The point I'm trying to make is that Paul instructs us in several places in his writings to not be a stumbling block to others that are of a weaker faith. Just because we have found a new truth we should not flaunt it in front of them. Many times Paul abode by the Jewish customs to not put them on the defensive so that he could have the opportunity to speak to them (he met them in there synagogues on the Sabbath--not because it was the only "right" day to worship, but because he knew he would find so many of them there) and to soften their hearts. I am no theologian and I hope that this makes some sense. I like you have found a greater rest than the SDA Sabbath, however no matter how much we love our families and how much we desire them to feel the new love we have found in Christ, we can not argue them into it. We will have to love them and pray for them and allow God to lead them there. Pray for God to show you how to do that. For each person it will be different and in His time he will guide our family and friends to Him. Keep the faith!!!!! |
Bruce H
| | Posted on Sunday, October 31, 1999 - 7:13 pm: | |
Lori
You said it so beautifully. I find myself
falling into this trap of pride even though I know
that it was the Lord who showed me his truths and
opened my eyes, but there is still a little Old
Covenant of works still left in me. I pray daily
that the Lord will take my pride and to give me
patients with Him and his time table. Let me give
you a bible verse that the Holy spirit hit over my
head one night.
Ezekiel 34:15-23
15 "I will feed My flock, and I will make them
lie down," says the Lord GOD.
16 "I will seek what was lost and bring back what
was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen
what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the
strong, and feed them in judgment."
17 `And as for you, O My flock, thus says the
Lord GOD: "Behold, I shall judge between sheep and
sheep, between rams and goats.
18 "Is it too little for you to have eaten up the
good pasture, that you must tread down with your
feet the residue of your pasture--and to have
drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the
residue with your feet?
19 "And as for My flock, they eat what you have
trampled with your feet, and they drink what you
have fouled with your feet."
20 `Therefore thus says the Lord GOD to them:
"Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and
the lean sheep.
21 "Because you have pushed with side and
shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your
horns, and scattered them abroad,
22 "therefore I will save My flock, and they
shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge
between sheep and sheep.
23 "I will establish one shepherd over them, and
he shall feed them--My servant David. He shall
feed them and be their shepherd.
My prayer is that I will not trample on His
pasture. I pray that I will get out of his way to
watch and have faith that if he needs me I will
know. |
Rayna
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 1999 - 8:32 am: | |
According to the Bible we will always have our sinful nature to battle with but that should not prevent us from speaking about the gospel. The devil is angry when the true gospel is presented and he will do all he can to destroy this message. Even though it is presented in love there will always be those that accuse the bearer of the gospel a troublemaker. Look what they did to Jesus and the apostles. I don't think we need to expect any better treatment. The devil is angry as he knows his time is short and will attempt to destroy anyone that is presenting the true gospel. May God bless this site, as I have found it a true blessing. |
Cas
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 02, 1999 - 9:29 am: | |
I have been receiving a newsletter from someone I don't know, all I know is she lives in NV. It angers and saddens me to see this kind of bondage being used against sda's. Here is just a sample quote she gives from EGW.
"As the great pillars of our faith have been presented the Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the sanctuary question. Over and over again the Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. But today as in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truths upon which the Spirit of God has placed his approval. Any man who seeks to present theories which would lead us from the light that has come to us on the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AS A TEACHER........let us brethern, take the things that God has given us, and which His Spirit has taught us in truth, and believe them, leaving alone those theories which his Spirit has not endorsed."(meaning which EW has not endorsed!)
Note from the newsletter sender "Those who teach that the atonement was finished at the cross are in this catagory and should not be accepted as teachers" "We know that the final work of God's true people will be for the SDA corporate Church".
"We must not loose out on eternity due to a misplaced lotalty. Perhaps you have not considered that we, the remnant of the remnant, have a time of trouble not experienced by the rest ot the world because we truly love the Remnant Church? Listen God must begin at His Sanctuary to separate His wheat from Satan's tares! That is when Eze. 9 happens!"
Of course she is a historic sda and says even the SDA corporate church is in apostacy. She also refers a lot to Ezekiel 9, which she feels is talking about a slaughter within the sda church??
Anyway just reading through this stuff brings aches to my heart and memories of been there done that, and I have been thinking of responding to her but I don't even know where to start! Anyone with a different doctrine than hers, in her eyes would be of Satan anyway. God Bless everyone. |
Rayna
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 1999 - 3:18 am: | |
"And and some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke they disciples.
And he asnwered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should not hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." St. Luke 19: 39,40 |
Lynn W
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 03, 1999 - 7:38 pm: | |
Cas, Even though you didn't print the reference, it's obvious those quotes come from Ellen White. What a great case for job security. I can say anything at all, no matter how ridiculous. If you oppose me, you don't have the light in you. |
renie
| | Posted on Sunday, November 21, 1999 - 3:09 pm: | |
There is a theme out there about former adventists. It is that, when they give up the church, they go off the 'deep end'.
Seems to me the answer is not to witness to our SDA friends and families (remember how we hate it) but to show them by our lives that we are just as centered, just as patient, MORE JOYFUL, and very tolerant now that we are no longer a member. |
Allenette
| | Posted on Monday, November 22, 1999 - 1:42 pm: | |
I think most formers would agree that it doesnt take MUCH to be considered "off the deep end"...
serving Honey-Baked Ham at Thanksgiving to the 3 SDA family members who come over amongst about a dozen non's, gets me the evil eye of reproach every year (which I ignore)--one of them DOES quietly use the black pepper, tho. LOL God forbid we should serve a little wine!!!
Happy Turkey day to all here ! |
renie
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 24, 1999 - 5:16 pm: | |
Think I'll come and eat with you, Allenette.
You do bring up something that bothers me a lot. My mom used to become so offended when she was visiting with her non-adventist relatives if they served bacon or ham for breakfast. She would go into her room and sulk.
I tried more than once to persuade her that if the relatives were to come visit her, she would not serve meat or coffee to them. To her, that was different. She needed to share her lifestyle with them, she felt.
Adventists are full of stories about standing up for their sabbath and never yielding a bit, never stopping to realize that many non-sabbathiarians go to so much extra work to please sabbath keepers. How many occasions have been cancelled to accomidate a sabbath? How many dinners add a vegetarian meal or include veggie type substitutes for the vegetarian?
I recall a story about a town that was going to honor an adventist doctor. He neglected until the last minute to let them know that he could not attend any function on his sabbath. That town knocked themselves out to accommodate him, including ending up paying a catering service even though the planning committee were not able to use the service due to the change in the date.
I have often wondered if the good doctor ever mentions the town's kindness and willingness to consider his wishes or if he only shares his stand for the sabbath.
renie |
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