| Author | Message | ||
| Bruce H |
You know how you can tell a cerimonial Law from a moral Law. All Laws that you dont want to keep are cerimonial law | ||
| BRUCE H |
Hey Commandment Keepers, which one of these Commandments in the Book of the Law or the Cerimonial Law to the side of the ark should we keep, are they all cerimonial laws. Fill in Blank C = cerimonial we do not have to keep. Or M = moral we have to keep. 1. Commandment # 24 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Exo 16:29, the prohibition against walking beyond permitted limits on the Sabbath (REMEMBER THE SABBATH IS A MORAL LAW AND GOD COMMANDED THIS NOT MOSES, EXO 16:11, 16, 23, 28). C____ or M____ 2. Commandment #62 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Exo 22:17 The prohibition of witchcraft. C____ or M____ 3. Commandment # 114 in The Book of the Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Exo 35:3, you shall kindle no fire through your dwellings on the Sabbath day (REMEMBER THE SABBATH IS A MORAL LAW AND GOD COMMANDED THIS NOT MOSES, EXO 35:1) . C____ or M____ 4. Commandment #209 in the Book of the Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Lev 18:22, prohibition of male homosexuality. C____ or M____ 5. Commandment #212 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Lev 19:3, to have reverence for one's parents. C____ or M____ 6. Commandment # 243 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant Lev 19:18 (THIS IS THE SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT, MATT 22: 36-40), Love your neighbor as self. C____ or M____ 7. Commandment # 249 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant lev 19:26, the prohibition against eating blood. C____ or M____ 10. Commandment #251 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant Lev 19:27, you shall not shave around the sides of your head. C____ or M____ 11. Commandment # 418 in the Book of Law, beside the ark of the covenant, Deut 6:5 (THIS IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT, MATT 22: 36-40), Love God with all your heart. C____ or M____ Know which ones do we keep and which one dont we keep. Bruce H | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Yes, I'll add my thanks, Bruce, and especially Lynn. I read every word. You both are amassing a formidable armamentarium. -Jude | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
What does everyone think about: Preparing a brief book titled something like, "Ten Biggest Myths of Seventh-day Adventism" or "Myths of Seventh-day Adventism Exploded" or "What Evangelicals Don't Know About Seventh-day Adventism" or "What Seventh-day Adventists Don't Want You to Know" or ..... but you get my drift. Select the ten-or-so most important misconceptions. State them factually. Or, better, UNDERstate them factually. Then lay out in nailed-down fashion the really damning EGW quotes to back up the assertions. No need to refute. Just state the undeniable facts, those covered up, such as: Who the SDAs think the remnant is. Who the SDAs think merits "the mark of the beast." What happens to people who knowingly reject the binding nature of the seventh-day Sabbath. Things like that. Things that USED to be fairly common knowledge among Evangelicals and Fundamentalists .... Before the likes of Martin Marty came along. From my years in journalism and mass communications I would say that the most successful formula, by far, would be this: Be sweet. Be Christian. Not one word of irony. NO implications of hypocrisy or indications of injustices done to anybody, difficult as this may be to carry out. STICK ONLY TO THE FACTS AS OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED BY THE SDA CHURCH ITSELF. Bend over backwards to give the full benefit of every possible doubt. No horror stories, even if they could "be proven beyond the shadow of a reasonable doubt." Keep the thing short and simple. Then . . . . . MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET to the Evangelical world! The cover could state that all contributers are former SDAs who've left the church over DOCTRINAL issues (if that's true, and nobody should be allowed to contribute who didn't) and who did not find salvation in SDAism and who did find salvation in Christ. Game? Faint of heart? Think the Lord won't be in it? Want to set out the fleece overnight first? It could be as short as 64 pages self-cover and saddle stitched. Cheap paper, even newsprint. No pix. Nothing fancy. The idea, obviously, would not be to make money. And in fact, contributors could be found who would donate money to keep the cost low low low and to even give away copies to selected persons. Review copies could be sent to thought leaders in the Evangelical world with requests for them to review the booklet in their publications. Sooooo, what do y'all think? -Jude | ||
| Lynn W |
Bruce, the answers for me are the same as the answers for all my Adventist friends - whichever ones are convenient for me to keep, and whichever ones you're not keeping (so I can point my finger at you.) Jude, where have you been all my life? I've already done a manuscript about 70 pages long (so far) in about 3 parts. I'll send you a brief intro on one section. If it looks useful, I can send more. | ||
| Lynn W |
OK, I won't send it e-mail. Here's the message, but I won't take the time to change all the fonts & colors. If you're interested, you can e-mail me & I'll send more. Jude, the testimony I printed before entitled "So why pick on Adventists?" Was the introductory to a manuscript I've been working on. It's in 3 parts: a) Every ocurrence of law, sabbath, 7th day etc. from Genesis to Revelation, with texts compared to Ellen White's writings. b) An expose on the 5 books of the Conflict of the Ages Series from P&P to The Great Controversy with key sections compare to scripture (some of which has been printed on the FAF web under articles). c) The following section which covers doctrine. (although I think c would be the first section) The book is always growing and expanding. I'm afraid I haven't looked at this stuff much since I had to retype it all when I got a new computer. I need to go back through & proof-read & all that, but if it looks like the kind of stuff you're interested in, I'd like to submit it to you in sections after I fix it up. Maybe we could work together on it. I don't know how practical colored print is, but I've been using colored print and various fonts. Whatever you think is best. Ellen White Doctrine Oddly enough, Seventh Day Adventism and Catholicism have at least six of their most important doctrines in common. The following list is not descriptive of the beliefs of any particular individual Adventists, but rather, of the official position of the church on these matters: 1) They donít believe that the Holy Bible alone is the "continuing and authoritative source of truth" for Godís people. They need someone else to interpret it for them. Someone else has the final authority. [Seventh Day Adventists Believe (SDAB), doctrine #17] (Adventist books and lessons rely heavily on Mrs. White quotes to support their teachings.) 2) They each have their own official Bibles. 3) They donít believe that the work of Atonement which Jesus did on the Cross is sufficient for salvation. They believe the atoning work is still going on. [SDAB, doctrine #23] 4) That our salvation is not dependent on Christ alone, it is dependent upon our works. Including the need to keep a special "day of worship" (a non-Biblical term). 5) We can never have assurance of salvation in this life. We have to wait for the judgment to see if our good works outweigh our bad. 6) There is no salvation outside their church. SDA teaches that all other churches are Babylon. [SDAB, doctrine #12.] Of course it would be wrong for me to make these statements without being willing to back them up from official Adventist publications. Source "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" Acts 2:17-18 Adventists use these verses as proof texts that Ellen Whiteís gift of prophecy is valid. See for example Early Writings Preface pg. VI. But if youíll read it again, youíll notice that it describes six different groups of people, young & old, male & female, who receive the gift of prophecy in the last days. Yet the Adventists teach that this entire prophecy was fulfilled in one person: Ellen White. According to their beliefs, she alone fulfills this entire prophecy. She is the only prophet they recognize since the days of the New Testament. Ask yourself, is this a reasonable fulfillment of this prophecy? The Adventist doctrinal book, Seventh Day Adventists Believe...(SDAB), statement #17, says in part, "This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lordís messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative SOURCE of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, INSTRUCTION, and CORRECTION." (All emphases are mine except where noted.) This last phrase should sound familiar to anyone acquainted with their Bibles. Compare it with what 2 Timothy 3:16 says of scripture, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" Regardless of what an individual may think about Ellen White, for the purpose of this writing, what matters, is the official church position on her. According to SDAB, pages 224 & 226, "The gift of prophecy was active in the ministry of Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She has given inspired instruction for Godís people living during the time of the end... ëher influence shaped the Seventh-day Adventist Church more than any other factor except the Holy Bibleí. She was the moving force behind the establishment of the churchís publishing work..." Some Adventists say they donít read much Ellen White, but if they read other Adventist authors, they will find that those authors are merely parroting her ideas as indicated by their references and footnotes. You can disregard Whiteís writings and say you donít believe in her, only the Bible, but when you attend an Adventist church, you will be saturated with Ellen White from the pulpit, in Sabbath class, at the Seminars, Crusades, & in conversations. You may not hear her name mentioned, but she is quoted extensively, and the credit given to "The Spirit of Prophecy" or "the pen of inspiration", Adventist synonyms for Ellen White. To explore the source of this term more thoroughly, look at SDAB pg. 221 where Rev. 19:10 and 22:9 are combined to conclude that, "These parallel expressions make it clear that it is the prophets who have ëthe testimony of Jesusí." It also points out that the scripture tells us that "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." This is sound reasoning so far. But, somehow, they then jump to the conclusion: "So the expression the Spirit of prophecy can refer to ...the medium of prophecy itself." (emphasis in original). Here the "medium of prophecy" is referring to a specific person. The question is, how do they jump from sound scriptural reasoning of the prophets (who are among the brethren) having the spirit of prophecy (small s) to one person being the Spirit of prophecy (capital S, as in the title for a person)? Nowhere does scripture ever refer to any person as being the Spirit of prophecy. But Ellen White is called "the Spirit of prophecy" by Adventist authors, preachers, and laymen. This elevates Ellen White above prophets of the Bible. SDAB speaking of "the prophetic gift" says on pages 222-223, "In post-Biblical times it is not to supersede or add to Scripture, because the canon of Scripture is now closed...messages of any prophet ought to be in harmony with Godís law and testimony throughout the Bible...The Holy Spirit never contradicts His previously given testimony..." We can probably all agree with this. However, the following statement from the same chapter does not hold true. Quoting Ellen White herself, from page 228, "ëAdditional truth is not brought out...The written testimonies are not given to give new light...í" (quoting from Testimonies, vol. 5, pg. 665). You can see by the examples given in the reviews of her books [section b] that, in fact, Ellen White not only adds to scripture, often without a single verse of support, but also contradicts it, misquotes it, and contradicts herself. Even some of Ellen Whiteís own followers refer to her writings as "new light". If you believe that itís OK for her to add to the Bible as long as she doesnít contradict it, read Deut. 4:2 which says, "You shall not add unto the word which I command you..." And Proverbs 30:6 which says, "Add not unto His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar." Ellen White does not write as commentary or speculation. Commentary is when someone makes a comment on teachings that are already in the Bible. Speculation should be presented as oneís own personal opinion. Ellen White doesnít present any of her writings as commentary or personal opinion, but as the Word of God. They are presented as fact. Note, for example, DOA ch. 71, pg. 645 where she says, "Judas, in choosing his position at table, had tried to place himself first, and Christ as a servant served him first. John toward whom Judas had felt so much bitterness, was left till the last." Or in P&P ch. 10, pg. 120, speaking of the tower of Babel: "Lightnings from heaven, as an evidence of Godís displeasure, broke off the upper portion of the tower, and cast it to the ground." Notice she does not say "perhaps" or "could have been" or "probably," but makes these statements as if they were historical fact even though the Bible gives no hint of these things. This is typical throughout her writings. Revelation Seminar, lesson 18 says, "she firmly believed that her visions were of divine origin." But, does God give visions that contradict His existing Word? Let the official book on Adventist doctrine answer that itself: "...messages of any prophet ought to be in harmony with Godís law and testimony throughout the Bible...The Holy Spirit never contradicts His previously given testimony..." From reading Ellen Whiteís writings, youíll find that she fully intends for her writings to be received as if they were the Word of God. Notice how frequently she refers to "the Testimonies" in the following sample of her own opinion of her writings from Testimonies Vol. 5, pg. 672-683. "A prevailing skepticism is continually increasing in reference to the Testimonies of the Spirit of God; and these youth encourage questionings and doubts instead of removing them, because they are ignorant of the spirit and power and force of the Testimonies. I was shown that many had so little spirituality that they did not understand the value of the Testimonies or their real object. They talked flippantly of the Testimonies given by God...If you lose confidence in the Testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth... But those who seek to make my labor doubly hard by their misrepresentations, jealous suspicions, and unbelief, thus creating prejudice in the minds of others against the Testimonies God has given me, and limiting my work, have the matter to settle with God, while I shall go forward as Providence and my brethren may open the way before me...The volumes of Spirit of Prophecy, and also the Testimonies, should be introduced into every Sabbathkeeping family, and the brethren should know their value and be urged to read them. It was not the wisest plan to place these books at a low figure and have only one set in a church. They should be in the library of every family and be read again and again. Let them be kept where they can be read by many....Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin...Some have taken the position that the warnings, cautions, and reproofs given by the Lord through His servant, unless they come through special vision for each individual case, should have no more weight than counsels and warnings from other sources...There have been those who claimed that testimonies purporting to be given by the Spirit of God were merely the expression of my own judgment, based upon information gathered from human sources. This statement is utterly false." By "humble instrument" and "His servant," itís not hard to see that Ellen White is referring to herself. By "Testimonies" (usually capitalized) Ellen White means her own writings from a set of books called "Testimonies to the Church," Volumes 1 through 9. By "The volumes of Spirit of Prophecy" Mrs. White is again referring to her own writings. By complaining that they were not charging enough or selling enough of her books, she reveals her real motivation. From these statements and many others, one can see the value Mrs. White placed on her own writings and where she believed them to be from; and this should come as no surprise considering she said that, "my work includes much more than the word ëprophetí signifies." (From "A Messenger," Review and Herald, July 26, 1906, p. 8; as quoted in SDAB pg. 224.) While demanding absolute obedience to her every "Testimony," Ellen White herself was subject to no person on earth. She considered herself completely above reproach and was, therefore, accountable to no one. In Testimonies Vol. 5, pg. 19-20, and again on pg. 677-678, she records, "Let none entertain the thought that I regret or take back any plain testimony I have borne to individuals or to the people. If I have erred anywhere, it is in not rebuking sin more decidedly and firmly. Some of the brethren have taken the responsibility of criticizing MY work and proposing an easier way to correct wrongs. To these persons I would say: I take Godís way and not yours. What I have said or written in testimony or reproof has not been too plainly expressed...I take back nothing. I soften nothing to suit their ideas or to excuse their defects of character. I have not spoken as plainly as the case required. Those who would in any way lessen the force of the SHARP REPROOFS which God has given me to speak, must meet their work at the judgment...To those who have taken the responsibility to reprove me and, in their finite judgment, to propose a way which appears wiser to them I repeat: I do not accept your efforts. Leave me with God, and let Him teach me. I will take the words from the Lord and the reproof and reform their lives, but I must discharge MY duty all the same. I will walk in humility before God, doing MY work for time and for eternity. God has not given my brethren the work that He has given me... With a sorrow- burdened heart, I have performed my unpleasant duty to my dearest friends, not daring to please my self by withholding reproof, even from my husband, and I shall not be less faithful in warning others, whether they will hear or forbear. When I am speaking to the people.. I see their error and dangers and feel compelled to speak of what is thus brought before me. I dare not resist the Spirit of God." (emphasis added) Note that Ellen White will be doing her work "for time and for eternity." Apparently, she believes that we will still need her rebukes in Heaven. Anyone who joins the church, must, like her husband, submit to rigid, non-biblical requirements which she has made into matters of salvation. This attitude certainly appeals to people who enjoy rebuking others for their sin. More Ellen White: "...the Spirit of God rests upon me with power, and I can not but speak the words given me. I dare not withhold one word of the testimony.... I have no retraction to make. I speak the words given me by a power higher than human power, and I can not, if I would, recall one sentence. In the night season the Lord gives me instruction in symbols, and then explains their meaning. He gives me the word, and I dare not refuse to give it to the people..." The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, ch. 68, pg. 578-579. Now if those to whom these solemn warnings are addressed say, "It is only Sister White's individual opinion, I shall still follow my own judgment," and if they continue to do the very things they were warned not to do, they show that they despise the counsel of God, and the result is just what the Spirit of God has shown me it would be--injury to the cause of God and ruin to themselves. Some who wish to strengthen their own position will bring forward from the Testimonies statements which they think will support their views, and will put the strongest possible construction upon them; but that which questions their course of action, or which does not coincide with their views, they pronounce Sister White's opinion, denying its heavenly origin and placing it on a level with their own judgment. Testimonies Volume 5, pg 687,688. "We must follow the directions given through the Spirit of Prophecy ... God has spoken to us through His Word. He has spoken to us through the Testimonies to the church and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position that we should now occupy." Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 298. "The Holy Ghost is the Author of the Scriptures and of the Spirit of Prophecy." Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 30. "In ancient times God spoke through the mouths of prophets and apostles. In these days he speaks to them by the Testimonies of his Spirit" Testimonies, Vol. 4, p. 148; Vol. 5., p. 661. "God has outlined His plan in His Word, and in the Testimonies He has sent to His people." Battle Creek Letters, p. 74. "The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from His word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217. "If you lessen the confidence of God's people in the testimonies he has sent them, you are rebelling against God as certainly as were Korah, Dathan and Abirum" Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 66. "These books, giving the instruction that the Lord has given me during the last sixty years, contain light from heaven, and will bear the test of investigation." Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 35. "I am presenting to you that which the Lord has presented to me. I do not write one article in the paper expressing merely my own ideas. They are what God has opened before me in vision - the precious rays of light shining from the throne" Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 63-67. Claims for herself "Early in my youth I was asked several times, Are you a prophet? I have ever responded, I am the Lord's messenger. I know that many have called me a prophet, but I have made no claim to this title...my work includes much more than the word 'prophet' signifies." (Review and Herald, July 26, 1907) "My commission embraces the work of a prophet, but it does not end there." (Selected Messages, vol. 1, p. 36. "God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and strengthening their faith, or He is not. This work is of God, or it is not. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. My work . . . bears the stamp of God or the stamp of the enemy. There is no halfway work in the matter. The Testimonies are of the Spirit of God, or of the devil." Testimonies Volume 5, page 671 "One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit." Selected Messages, vol. 3, pg. 84. "The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ëWhere there is no vision, the people perishí (Prov. 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony." Selected Messages, vol. 1, pg. 48. "...all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, WILL BE SAFE FROM the many delusions that will come in these last days." Selected Messages, vol. 3, pg. 84. You may still be thinking that it doesnít matter what Ellen White says because you get your doctrine from the Bible. Have you looked at your Sabbath class quarterly lately? Have you listened to any sermons lately? Take another look at the Baptismal Certificate (statement #17) which you must sign that you agree to in order to become a member. The official doctrinal book, "Seventh Day Adventists Believe..." devotes an entire chapter to trying to prove her to be the Prophet for the SDA church. They donít merely use her writings as a guide for some ideas; the church and its leaders exalt them to the same level as the Holy Bible. They have given her the title "The Spirit of Prophecy: (SDAB pg. 221). Look at the Revelation Seminar lesson book, supplement to lesson #18. One should wonder, why is this even included in a so-called Bible study? And why do seminar and crusade leaders devote entire lessons to her in their meetings? Receiving Ellen White doctrine is inescapable as long as you are part of the Church. Remember these are not just obscure little lessons which depict the personal opinions of someone of no importance to the church. They are the evangelistic outreach to the public nation-wide. Itís not Ellen White alone who holds unbiblical doctrine, but the church affirms those doctrines. Because of its position on Ellen White, if she said something, the church is obliged to accept it, even if it cannot be found in scripture or it contradicts scripture. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt 24:24, Mark 13:22 Bibles The Adventists have two of their own Bibles. One is the "Study Bible." With Ellen White commentaries on every page. The other is The Clear Word Bible (Now known as "The Clear Word" because there was so much criticism). As the author points out in the preface, this is not a translation, just a paraphrase, but with Ellen Whiteís writing inserted throughout. If a person is not familiar with a real Bible, they will have no way of knowing where scripture ends and Ellen White begins as there is no indication. The most recent edition of "Ministry" magazine, (an Adventist publication to Pastors), was wholly devoted to arguing that the Bible is NOT the inerrant Word of God. This just echoes what several Adventist authors have been writng for years. Uriah Smith (one of the main founders) said on page 93 in his book on Spiritism, "Communications from spirits are offered in place of the Bible as a better source of instruction, the Bible being denounced, as above quoted, as "vague, inaccurate, and difficult to believe." If you change the word "spirits" to angels or prophets, this describes Adventism well. Then he says on page 94, "The spirits have undertaken to produce a new Bible..." How can Adventists criticize others for what they themselves have done? Atonement On page 52 of Steps to Christ, Ellen White criticizes people for holding the erroneous doctrine that, "Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now." Where do you suppose they got this strange idea? From Ellen White herself. "God allows men a period of probation..." P&K pg. 276. "In these final hours of probation for the sons of men..." P&K pg. 716. "Jesus has purchased redemption for us. It is ours; but we are placed here on probation to see if we will prove worthy of eternal life.: Testimonies vol. 1, pg. 199. This "Testimony" begins with the words, "I was shown," then later, "I was also shown." By this she is claiming that these things were given to her by visions from God. But as we have seen before, "The Holy Spirit never contradicts His previously given testimony." The concept of "probation" can be found throughout nearly all of her books (see for example, TGC pg. 428-9, 662). This whole concept contradicts 1 John 5:11-13, John 1:12, 3:16-18, 5:24. See under "Investigative Judgement" for much more on this. Quicksand and Mudpuddles Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14 The road to Heaven is straight and narrow, bordered on the left by the quicksand of sin and on the right by the mudpuddles of side issues. Fall off on either side and you can get bogged down and hindered on your way. Legalistic religions may not entice you to fall into the quicksands of immorality, but they will often try to pull you into the muck and mire of side issues. If not careful, you can find yourself in a mud-wrestling match, with each side trying to prove its point regarding issues which have no bearing whatsoever regarding salvation. These side-tracks have no place in evangelistic outreach to a lost and dying world. People who are lost do not need legalism, they need Jesus. Justification by Works The early Adventist Church originally taught salvation by works. Since receiving "new" information, in what is known as the 1888 message, many Adventists now teach salvation by grace through faith as the Bible teaches. However, the denominational position is that "...in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience..." Selected Messages Book 1, p. 366. Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved. This is misleading. p. 155. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is submerged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought in captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. p. 312. Steps to Christ - "The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been, - just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents, - perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized." p.62. "To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain His favor." Testimonies vol. 4, p. 28 "In order to let Jesus into our hearts, we must stop sinning." ST 3-3-1898 "He [man] must be reconciled to God through obedience to His law." Testimonies vol.4, 294 But what does the scripture say? "God hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ..." 2 Cor 5:18 "We were reconciled to God by the death of his son..." Romans 5:10 "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6. "Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith'" Galatians 3:11. Diet & Food Itís one thing to encourage a good diet for the sake of oneís health; itís quite another to make it a matter of salvation as Mrs. White did. Counsels on Diet and Foods (CDF): "At the time the light of health reform dawned upon us, and since that time, the questions have come home every day, ëAm I practicing true temperance in all things?í ëIs my diet such as will bring me in a position where I can accomplish the greatest amount of good?í If we cannot answer these questions in the affirmative, we stand CONDEMNED before God, for He will hold us all responsible for the light which has shone upon our path." p. 19-20. "God demands that appetites be cleansed, and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are no good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people." p. 36. "Grains and fruits prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to be preparing for translation to heaven." p. 314. "Is it not time that all should aim to dispense with flesh foods? How can those who are seeking to become pure, refined, and holy, that they may have the companionship of heavenly angels, continue to use as food anything that has so harmful an effect on SOUL and body?" p. 380. "The more largely flesh composes the diet of teachers and pupils, the less susceptible will be the mind to comprehend spiritual things." p. 395 "Let not any of our ministers set an evil example in the eating of flesh meat." p. 399 "The light God has given on health reform IS FOR OUR SALVATION AND THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD." p. 461. And in Testimonies vol. 2, pg. 538. "Mothers, instead of seeking to give your daughters a musical education...Teach them all the mysteries of cooking. Show them that this is a part of their education and ESSENTIAL FOR THEM IN ORDER TO BECOME CHRISTIANS." A simple verse comparison should give a clear picture of what Jesus and Paul thought of the subject. Matt. 14:16-19; 15:11-17; 34-37; Mark 6:38-42; 7:15-19; 8:7-8; Luke 5:4-7; 9:13; 10:8; 22:14-15; 24:41-43; John 6:5-11; 21:9-13; Rom. 14:1-4, 10-20; 1 Cor. 10:25-28; Col. 2:16. 1 Tim 4:1-5 calls this teaching "doctrine of demons." Besides eating fish, as a Jew, Jesus ate the Passover feast which by commandment included lamb - Compare Ex. 12:3-8 with Luke 2:41-42, and John 2:23. So, did Christ have an enfeebled intellect? "...spices, butter, cheese...do their work of deranging the stomach... and enfeebling the intellect." Testimonies vol. 3 pg. 136 "Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat..." Isaiah 7:14,15 Notice the direct contradictions to Godís word: "Cheese is wholly unfit for food." CDF p. 368 "Now Jesse said to his son David, ë...Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit.í" 1 Samuel 17:17-18 "They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat." 2 Samuel 17:28-29 "The Lord would bring His people into a position where they will not touch or taste the flesh of dead animals." CDF p. 380. "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" Col 2:20-22 "Eggs should not be placed upon your table. They are an injury to your children." Testimonies vol. 2 pg. 400 "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?...Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father...." Luke 11:11-13 "God did not provide for the flesh of dead animals to compose the diet of man." CDF pg. 410. "And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying...These are the beasts which ye shall eat..." Lev 11:1-2. "...thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee..." Deut 12:15. "God granted their desire, giving them flesh, and leaving them to eat till their gluttony produced a plague." CDF 148 "While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed...the Lord smote the people with a very great plague..." Num. 11:33. Galatians 1:6-9 says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Has Ellen White preached "another gospel"? Look at her quote from page 75 of Counsels on Diet and Foods: "The Lord has given instruction that the gospel be carried forward; and the gospel includes health reform in all its phases...The gospel of health is to be firmly linked with the ministry of the word. It is the Lordís design that the restoring influence of health reform shall be a part of the last great effort to proclaim the gospel message." pg. 75. Notice, of course, that no supporting scripture is offered. Search the entire Bible. You will not find any "gospel of health." Any such gospel is "another gospel." Every New Testament occurrence of the word health can be found in the following two verses: Acts 27:34; 3 John 1:2. Tithing Even tithing has become a matter of salvation. Page 408 of Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, under the chapter on "Tithes and Offerings," says, "God calls for talents of influence and of means. Shall we refuse to obey? Our heavenly Father bestows gifts and solicits a portion back, that He may test us whether we are worthy to have the gift of everlasting life." There are two problems with this that should be immediately apparent. First, to say that God uses tithes to "test" us is a reversal of what the Word says in Malachi 3:10. The only testing God reveals in regards to the tithe is that we may test Him, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. (NAS) Second, to think that we could ever possibly be "worthy to have the gift of everlasting life," contradicts the Biblical teaching that eternal life is a gift from Christ which cannot be earned - Romans 3:24; 5:15-18; 6:23; 1 Co. 2:12. A lost and dying person needs Jesus, not a long list of barriers to keep them out of heaven. She has also made it a test of whether we should pray for someone. "We should first find out if the sick one has been withholding tithes or has made trouble in the church." Healthful Living PG.237 No Assurance of Salvation "Those who accept the Savior, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or feel that they are saved. This is misleading." p. 155 Christís Object Lessons. "We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement, saying, ëI am savedí...No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come...As long as man is full of weakness... he should never dare to say, "I am saved."...it is stating a falsehood to say, ëI am saved.í No one is saved who is a transgressor of the law of God..." Selected Messages Book 1 p. 314. "...they pervert the truth, and make it serve the cause of error. They declare that we have only to believe on Jesus Christ, and that faith is all-sufficient: that the righteousness of Christ is to be the sinner's credentials... This class claim that Christ came to save sinners, and that He has saved them. ëI am saved,í they will repeat over and over again. But are they saved while transgressing the law of Jehovah?--No... they teach, both by precept and example, that Christ, by His death, saves men in their transgressions." Bible Echo and Signs of the Times date: 02-08-97. But again, what does the scripture say? Check John 3:16-18; "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." 5:24, 1 John 5:11-13. No Other Salvation "I saw the state of the different churches since the second angel proclaimed their fall [in 1844]. They have been growing more and more corrupt.... Satan has taken full possession of the churches as a body.... The churches were left as were the Jews; and they have been filling up with every unclean and hateful bird. I saw great iniquity and vileness in the churches; yet they profess to be Christians. Their professions, their prayers and their exhortations are an abomination in the sight of God. Said the angel, God will not smell in their assemblies. Selfishness, fraud and deceit are practiced by them without the reprovings of conscience." Spiritual Gifts, Vol. I, page 189, 190. "I saw them look up to the throne and pray, Father give us thy spirit; Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence." Early Writings, page 47. "The nominal churches are filled with fornication and adultery, crime and murder, the result of base, lustful passion; but these things are kept covered." Testimonies, Vol. II, page 449. The very fact that they consistenly refer to all other Christians as the whore of Babylon speaks for itself. If they truly believe that Sunday churches are the whore of Babylon, yet they are not above making money off "the whore" by renting their buildings to it, what does that make them? | ||
| Lynn W |
Colleen, anytime I double-post like that, please feel free to knock out the spare. Thanks. My computer doesn't always indicate that anything's going on on those long ones. |
